St. Augustine Mass Celebrates Anniversary of Beatification of John Paul II

A Solemn Mass of Thanksgiving will be held on Tuesday, May 1, on the occasion of the First Anniversary of the Beatification of Blessed John Paul II beginning at 7 p.m. at St. Augustine of Canterbury Church in Kendall Park. Reverend Monsignor Slawomir Oder, from Rome, Italy, the Postulator of the Cause of the Canonization of Blessed John Paul II, will be the principal celebrant.

The Mass will be the penultimate in a series of Masses that have been held throughout the past year at St. Augustine’s in celebration of the Beatification of Blessed John Paul II that took place on May 1, 2011. It will be an opportunity for the Faithful from all over the State of New Jersey to gather and offer continued prayers and witness as the Cause for Canonization of Blessed John Paul II is prepared. During the Mass, Rev. Msgr. Oder and the Faithful will pray for the continued progress of the Cause for Canonization. 

For 27 years, Pope John Paul II served as head of the Roman Catholic Church, providing spiritual guidance and support through historically tumultuous years beginning in 1978 and culminating in 2005. During that time, Pope John Paul II visited over 100 different countries, including three separate visits to the United States in 1979, 1987, and 1995. He worked tirelessly to build connections with many different peoples while encouraging all people to turn to God in their thoughts, words, and deeds by promoting the Gospel of Life. He was an ardent defender of the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death.

Blessed John Paul II’s tremendous connection to the world was evident during his Funeral Mass on April 8, 2005, when it is estimated that over four million mourners gathered in Rome, including over 70 heads of state and 14 leaders of other religions.

Reverend Monsignor Slawomir Oder was ordained on May 14, 1989, in the Diocese of Toruń (Poland). Since September 1992, he has been Rector of the Annexed Church of St. Mary Immaculate and St. Joseph Benedict Labre in Rome. He is also the judicial vicar of the court of appeal of the Diocese of Rome. On June 28, 2005, Pope Benedict XIV installed Rev. Msgr. Oder as Postulator for the Cause of Canonization of John Paul II.

The postulator is the individual designated by the Pope to guide the Cause of a deceased person for beatification and canonization through the significant judicial processes that are required by the Roman Catholic Church and detailed in the Norms to be Observed in Inquiries made by Bishops in the Cause of Saints.

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/