Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney visited St. Francis of Assisi in the Haskell neighborhood of Wanaque, N.J., on Oct. 4 to celebrate the parish’s popular patron saint on his feast day, with a well-attended Mass. The bishop also confirmed 11 people — 10 youths and an adult —during his visit.
St. Francis is known for his ministry to the poor and underprivileged, his care for nature and animals, his promotion of peace, and his founding of the Franciscan order, one of the largest in the Church.
Father Greg Golba, St. Francis’ pastor, concelebrated the Mass with Bishop Sweeney, serving as main celebrant and homilist. In honor of the Feast of St. Francis, the parish offered refreshments after the weekend Masses. Outside the church stands a new statue, crafted by artisans in Italy and flown to the United States, made possible by a parishioner’s donation.
“It was wonderful to welcome Bishop Sweeney for the Feast of St. Francis. He spoke about how St. Francis is dedicated to others, nature, to God, to the poor, to the Church, and bestowed the Gifts of the Holy Spirit upon our confirmandi,” Father Golba said.
Bishop Sweeney visited St. Francis on Aug. 29, at 11 a.m. to commemorate the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’ Transitus (his passing from earthly life to eternal life with God). It was part of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., celebrations for the 800th anniversary, the Jubilee Year of St. Francis, which the universal Church is commemorating.
For the anniversary year, faithful are invited to draw inspiration from St. Francis of Assisi and gain a plenary indulgence by making prayerful pilgrimages to any of five designated St. Francis-related parishes in the diocese, N.J., until Jan. 10, 2027. A plenary indulgence is remission of temporal punishment that may remain after sacramental confession.
On April 29, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney issued a decree designating the five parishes in the diocese where pilgrims can avail themselves of a plenary indulgence.
These parishes are St. Francis of Assisi in the Haskell neighborhood of Wanaque, N.J.; St. Mary’s Parish in Pompton Lakes, N.J.; St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Butler, N.J.; St. Clare Parish in Clifton, N.J., and St. John Kanty Parish in the Athenia neighborhood of Clifton. Each designated parish in the diocese is connected to St. Francis.
To gain the plenary indulgence, pilgrims must show detachment from sin, receive the Eucharist, go to confession, pray for the Holy Father’s intentions, and recite the Lord’s Prayer and the Creed. Those unable to travel due to illness or caregiving responsibilities may obtain the indulgence by offering their suffering to God.
Click here for a list of Masses and confessions at pilgrimage sites in the Diocese of Paterson for the Year of St. Francis.
In a recent bulletin reflection, Father Golba wrote that St. Francis “remains one of the most beloved saints in the history of Christianity.”
“St. Francis shows us that holiness does not require us to become famous or powerful. Holiness begins
when we allow Christ to transform our hearts, Francis became great not because he sought greatness, but because he became small before God and available to others,” Father Golba wrote.
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