St. Patrick Parish

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Monday- Friday 8 am

Except First Fridays, No 8 am Mass
Mass is at 12:30 pm every First Friday

* * *
MASS SCHEDULE
Saturday 5 p.m.
Sunday 7:30 am, 9:30 am, 11:30 am, 5:00 pm
 

                   ✞    CONFESSIONS    ✞ 

offered on Saturday afternoons

from 4:00-4:30 pm in the church
or
by Appointment: 973-635-0625 
phone extensions:

152 Fr. Bob                     156 Fr. Artur
[email protected]        [email protected]

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     The Saint Patrick Parish Office:
Monday - Thursday, 9 am- 3 pm and Fridays 9 am - 12 pm or by appointment.

Church: 85 Washington Avenue, Chatham NJ 07928
Saint Patrick School:  45 Chatham Street, Chatham, NJ  07928  (973) 635-4623

Fr. Robert J. Mitchell, Pastor
Fr. Artur Prazak, Parochial Vicar



 

Lent:  Carrying the Cross

     There is a story about a man who left his brand new bicycle unattended at a marketplace while he did his shopping and walked home. The next morning, he remembered his parked bicycle, and rushed to the marketplace expecting it would be stolen. The bicycle was exactly where he left it. Overwhelmed with joy, the man rushed to a nearby church to thank God for having kept his bicycle safe only to discover that when he got out of the church the bicycle was stolen. One popular devotion throughout Lent is the Stations of the Cross, which bring to light the crosses every person carries through life. The Stations make known that favor with God does not equate with an easy existence, but God’s presence is in our lives even while our bicycle gets stolen during actions of prayer and good works.

       In past weeks an assortment of ministries at the parish have led the assembly in the Stations of the Cross, which includes, the Knights of Columbus, the Pastoral Council, the Student Council of St. Patrick School, Walking with Purpose Ministry and last Friday, the Faith Formation. Next Friday it will be the RCIA team, and on Good Friday our Youth Ministry. Each ministry engenders a different version of the Stations, which reveals the multiplicity of roads traveled with personal crosses that lead to the celebration of the Resurrection of the Lord.

          The history of the Stations of the Cross dates back to Emperor Constantine who made the practice of Christianity legal, and erected the Church of the Holy Sepulcher at a site where it was believed Jesus’ tomb had been. Soon thereafter processions of pilgrims began, especially during Holy Week. As the practice of the Stations triggered popularity, pilgrims began to journey from long distances whereby a fixed route gained prominence among believers in desire to follow in the footsteps that Jesus walked with his cross. The route became known as the “Via Dolorosa” (Latin) translated to, “Sorrowful Way.”  Through time the journey to the Holy Land became dangerous due to wars and conflicts. This led people in Europe to make the Stations of the Cross in their own geographical areas.

           Since not everyone was able to travel to the holy land, many churches and chapels erected images of numerous aspects of the passion of Christ which led the devotion to gain popularity. In 1342 the Franciscans were given custody of the holy sites of the Holy Land, and centuries later in 1726, Pope Clement XII permitted “Stations” to be part of the church environment. He also fixed the number of stations to 14 in that there were as many as 37 different Stations at one time. Many artists painted or sculpted scenes of Christ’s journey to Calvary. These artworks were placed at intervals along a procession route or inside a church. The word, “Stations” was first used by an English pilgrim, William Wey, who made frequent visits to the Via Dolorosa in the 15^th century.

      Praying the Stations helps us identify with the cross Christ carried, yet today the devotion is losing its popularity. The Stations generate a miniature pilgrimage so that an equation of our Lenten journey with Christ is discovered. A reflection of the three falls of Jesus (3^rd, 7^th and 9^th Station) reminds us of the perpetual times we fall in perseverance of carrying our cross, and are forced to accept our weaknesses, moods and defects; yet, challenged like Jesus to get back on our feet. The 5^th Station illustrates the desire of Simon of Cyrene to help Jesus carry his cross, which sparks occasions that we need help with personal crosses, but fearful of seeking assistance. We may also strive to imitate Simon’s ability to see the face of Christ in all those who need assistance from us even if they are afraid to ask for it.  

      This weekend’s Gospel from John gives prominence to the “Raising of Lazarus.”  We hear words from Martha and Mary that often come to our mind through an unanticipated death, illness, natural disaster, war, conflict or hard to manage family issue, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” (John 11:32). The grief of Martha and Mary unfolds the way Christ shares in the pain of loved ones as well as in the crosses we carry through life.

 In Christ's Love,
Fr. Bob