Children from the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson were running, jumping, and playing with frisbees on the new Pope Leo XIV Field on the night it was dedicated on June 24. The field, which sits on a parcel of land next to the Paterson Diocese’s “mother church,” might be the first field anywhere named in honor of the new pontiff, who was elected in Rome on May 8.
After the dedication, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney celebrated a Mass in the cathedral to commemorate the Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, the patron saint of the cathedral, and the Paterson Diocese. The English and Spanish liturgy also marked the 205th anniversary of the cathedral.
Bishop Sweeney with Msgr. Geno Sylva, the cathedral’s rector and diocesan vicar for special projects, blessed and dedicated the Pope Leo XIV Field, which features green artificial turf. An existing iron fence surrounds the field on the sides it shares with DeGrasse and Main streets. There are several raised flower beds, allowing children to plant and grow flowers and vegetables.
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During the dedication, Bishop Sweeney thanked the benefactors for their contributions to the project and St. John’s many outreach efforts. The event attracted a broad cross-section of the St. John’s community, including families.
Msgr. Sylva called the field a “beautiful space for our children to play and learn gardening.” He said it has another purpose: to let everyone know that “what we do out here [in the garden] is a reminder of what God does in there [the cathedral].”
“Here, your hands will touch the soil. In there, God’s hands will touch the soil of your souls. Here, with your hands in the soil, you will plant vegetable and flower seeds. In there, God, with his hands in the soil of your soul, will plant the tiny seed of the great saint that you will one day become in heaven,” Msgr. Sylva said to the children. “Here, your hands will water these seeds so that they grow and produce fruit. In there, God will water the saint that you will become in heaven by the water of Baptism and the sacraments that you will receive.”
In his homily during the Mass in honor of St. John the Baptist, Bishop Sweeney praised the cathedral’s faith community.
“You live lives of faith, hope, and love on this Block of Mercy. Even though you may not have a lot, you share with your neighbors who have less. That is the Eucharist: love in action,” Bishop Sweeney said.
Msgr. Geno Sylva also marked the second ordination anniversary of Father Starli J. Castanos, a St. John’s parochial vicar, during the liturgy.
After the Mass, worshippers returned to DeGrasse Street for a celebration that included music, treats, and fellowship. Many children played on the field with special frisbees bearing an image of the cathedral.
