Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney led the Paterson Diocese in giving thanks to Jesus for the Holy Eucharist and for the priests who bring this “powerful gift” to the people in the liturgy while celebrating a bilingual Mass of the Lord’s Supper at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson on Holy Thursday evening, April 17.
The Mass commemorates Jesus’ institution of the Holy Eucharist and the priesthood in Holy Orders. Just as Jesus washed his disciples’ feet at the Last Supper, Bishop Sweeney washed the feet of members of St. John’s Special Needs Ministry, mostly youth, to symbolize the service and charity of Christ, who came “not to be served, but to serve.” By example of washing his disciples’ feet, Jesus demonstrated how Christians are to love one another through humble service.
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
“Tonight, we give thanks for priests who serve and bring us Jesus — his body, blood, soul, and divinity — at each Mass. Jesus comes to us at each Mass and says, ‘If you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you shall have eternal life,’” Bishop Sweeney said in his homily in English and Spanish. He called the Eucharist a “powerful gift” and a “miracle.” The bishop then urged the faithful to be “pilgrims of hope, mercy, love, and healing. We can do that if we learn from Jesus at Mass: the school of love.”
Msgr. Geno Sylva, the cathedral’s rector and diocesan vicar for special projects, concelebrated the Mass with Bishop Sweeney. Father Starli J. Castanos, a St. John’s parochial vicar, was the liturgy’s master of ceremonies. The Mass was followed by an outdoor procession with the Blessed Sacrament to the gym, where adoration was held until midnight.
