Bishop preaches on ‘new life’ at Easter Vigil

GLASSBORO – Twenty-year-old Jimmy Sharkey is steadfast when he talks about being part of the Catholic Church.

“It means you are part of one Church, one family, one Body of Christ,” he said. “There are plenty of good Christians in the world, but I truly believe there is one Church. And I want to share in that Body and receive the Eucharist.”

Sharkey was among the eight young adults to be initiated into the Catholic Church during the Easter Vigil Mass celebrated April 16 by Bishop Dennis Sullivan in Saint Bridget University Church.

“Prayer and the Eucharist – that is what I feel is important to feel close to God,” said Sharkey, who received the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and First Communion.

At the start of Mass, the faithful and seminarians of the Diocese joined Bishop Sullivan, Father John Rossi, pastor, and Deacon Samuel Soto on the steps of the church for the lighting of the Paschal candle.

Speaking of the fire from which the candle was lighted, the Bishop preached in his homily, “We began our vigil lighting a fire to scatter the dark and gloom of the Cross. Let the light of Christ shine. In and through us who are children of the light, let the fire of God’s love, which returned Jesus from the dead, burn in in us. May that flame of faith help us to know and love God.”

He explained that the Easter Vigil was the holiest of nights, with “new life for Christ lifted out of the tomb. New life for those washed clean in Baptism. For those in whom the Holy Spirit is sealed in Confirmation. New life for those who eat his body and drink his blood. New life for those who profess the faith of our Church. Ever ancient, ever new.”

Sydney Hartman, 22, a graduate student at Rowan University, Glassboro, said she felt that “new life.” Hartman was raised Catholic, and had the Sacraments of Baptism and First Communion but was never confirmed in the Catholic faith. She started attending Mass while studying at The Catholic University of America, Washington.

“At Catholic University, I was surrounded by a lot of people who did not pressure me, but guided me throughout my journey. I had a lot of mentors there,” she said. “Once I hit my senior year of college, I was going to Mass frequently and realized I really did want to return to the Church and do my Confirmation. It was important to me to finish the sacraments. And I had a lot of friends willing to support me in this process and show me what it’s like to be part of the Church.”

As a current parishioner and graduate student at Rowan, she said, “I’m very grateful I went through this process as an adult with a strong community. I think it’s been more fruitful for me.”

Fellow Rowan student Justin Haugland, 20, grew up in the Lutheran faith. When he got to college, he and his girlfriend, a Catholic, got involved with the Newman Center Catholic Campus Ministry.

“Everyone was very open, even though I didn’t have all the same beliefs as them,” he said. After about two years of involvement, he decided he wanted to begin the RCIA process.

“It was during Adoration and Confession that it really clicked in me that I wanted to be Catholic,” he said.

“It’s very special knowing that the Bishop is here,” he said of coming into the Catholic Church. “This is one of the highlights of my college career so far, and I can’t wait for the time after as well. It’s important that once you go through this process, that you don’t abandon it. You continue to learn the faith.”

Sharkey, also part of the Newman Center, is looking forward to learning more about the faith, too. He says he wants to read Saint Thomas Aquinas, Saint Augustine and continue studying the Catechism.

“The Church is all about Jesus Christ. You can look up who started the Baptist Church, who started the Methodist Church, who started the Church of England, but you look up who started the Catholic Church, it leads you right to Christ,” he said. “I think that’s very important. There’s so much history to unpack and continue to learn about. I don’t think I’ll ever be done learning about the Catholic faith.”