St. A's Receives Relic of John Paul II

St. Augustine of Canterbury Parish officially received the First Class Relic of Blessed John Paul II on Divine Mercy on April 7, during the 10:30 a.m. Mass.

Over 750 people attended the Mass from the parish and the Diocese of Metuchen, as well as from dioceses in the surrounding region.

Jeff Hussey, of Manville, was honored to carry the relic into the church in gratitude for a grace he received through the intercession of Blessed John Paul II. Also recognized during the Mass were the First Class Relics of St. Lucy Filippini and Blessed Pauline Von Mallinckrodt, foundresses of the Religious Teachers Filippini and the Sisters of Christian Charity.

They were carried in by Sr. Domenica Troina, MPF, and Sr. Ruthann McGoldrick, SCC, respectively. On October 24, 2012, Fr. Robert G. Lynam, Pastor of St. Augustine of Canterbury Parish received a letter from Monsignor Slawomir Oder, Postulator of the Cause of Blessed John Paul II, accompanying the Relic. In part, the letter read:

Dear Fr. Lynam,

Gladly I respond to your request, putting in your hands the relic ex capillis of Blessed John Paul II. … I am sure that the presence of this tangible sign of the closeness of Blessed John Paul II among the people of God [in the Diocese of Metuchen] will contribute to the growth of faith and produce abundant spiritual fruits. 

After the Mass, many of those in attendance remained to venerate the relic. A number became emotional as they venerated the relic, openly weeping as they came into the presence of the relic.

St. Augustine of Canterbury Parish and School are located in the Kendall Park section of South Brunswick, New Jersey. Established as a mission of St. Peter’s, New Brunswick in 1953, St. Augustine of Canterbury was elevated to the level of parish in 1958. Additional information on the parish may be found at http://www.staugustinenj.org/.