On June 22, Paterson Diocesan Catholics joined other Christians in sharing their hope in the risen Christ by reciting together the Nicene Creed, a statement of belief that unites most Christians, at a historic prayer service in Paterson to celebrate the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea.
That afternoon, local leaders and faithful from the Roman Catholic and Reformed traditions of the East, as well as the Orthodox tradition of the West, came together for the diocesan Jubilee of Christian Unity ecumenical prayer service at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson. Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney presided over the event on the Feast of Corpus Christi, one of many observances the diocese is holding to mark the Jubilee Year of Hope 2025, which the Universal Church is celebrating.
At the prayer service’s conclusion, Bishop Sweeney quoted St. Pope John Paul II’s 1995 encyclical on Christian unity, “That They All May Be One.” In it, the pope expressed a strong desire to renew the call for Christian unity “with determination.” He also urged Christians to persevere in prayer and dialogue, acknowledging the difficulties and issues that arise.
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In light of the recent renewed armed conflict between Israel and Iran, Bishop Sweeney quoted Pope Leo XIV’s first words to the world after being elected pope on May 8: “Peace be with all of you.”
“We are united in prayers for peace that only Jesus can give as disciples of Jesus,” Bishop Sweeney said.
During the prayer service, Bishop Sweeney, along with other Catholic leaders and representatives of various Christian traditions, gathered at the altar of St. John’s to lead the congregation in reciting the Nicene Creed.
The prayer service was the culmination of the diocese’s recent ecumenical activities, which included three ecumenical roundtables held in March at local parishes. These informal gatherings provided opportunities for people of Christian faiths to listen, share, and learn from one another. Many of those on St. John’s altar on June 21 participated in the roundtables.
Msgr. Raymond Kupke, pastor of St. Anthony Parish in Hawthorne and the diocesan archivist, profiled many of the influential Church leaders who helped develop the creed at the Council of Nicaea, inspired by the Holy Spirit.
“This is a very special day,” Msgr. Kupke spoke about the prayer service to mark the anniversary of the creed. He noted that the creed served as the catechism in the early Church when most faithful couldn’t read or write. “It survived forces that pulled us [Christians] in different directions,” he said.
In a homily, Father Arshen Aivazian, instructor of liturgical studies at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary for the Eastern Tradition (Orthodox), urged all Christians to focus on the Holy Trinity of God in three persons as a way to unite them, despite their differences.
Several Jubilee ecumenical committee members recited prayers during the prayer service. They included Sister of Charity Rosemary Moynihan, vice president of mission integration of Trinitas Regional Medical Center; Rev. Susan R. Ironside, rector of Grace Episcopal Church in Madison; Rev. Jeff Markay, senior pastor of the United Methodist Church of Chatham; and Rev. Elizabeth Ivell, rector of the Church of the Messiah in Chester and St. Mary’s in Sparta.
Msgr. George Hundt served as the master of ceremonies for the prayer service. He is pastor of St. Gerard Parish and Our Lady of Pompei Parish, both in Paterson and chairs the Jubilee ecumenical planning committee with Msgr. Kupke.
The diocese’s recent ecumenical efforts build on the Black History Month prayer service held at the cathedral in 2023 with Bishop Sweeney and Msgr. Geno Sylva, St. John’s rector and diocesan vicar for special projects, and the work of the late Father Charles Parr, former diocesan ecumenical officer, Msgr. George Hundt said.
“It’s hoped that [the recent ecumenical work] will be a springboard to further ecumenicism and ecumenical dialogue in the future,” Msgr. Hundt said.
