St. Lucy's Church The National Shrine of Saint Gerard

The National Shrine of Saint Gerard at Saint Lucy's Church


Who is Saint Gerard?

St. Gerard was born in Muro, a small town in the South of Italy on April 6, 1726. His mother was left in poverty to raise him and his two younger sisters after his father died when Gerard was very young. Gerard was sickly throughout his short life. Even so, he desired to become a religious Brother. Several communities turned him away because of his weak condition. But he persisted after hearing Redemptorist missionaries preach in the local parish church. They were hesitant, as well, but finally sent him to the monastery believing he would be merely, “a useless lay Brother.”

Yet in spite of his infirmities, Gerard became a powerful missionary among the people of the region. Although weak in body, he worked very hard. His great charity earned for him the title of Father of the Poor.

He served as sacristan, gardener, porter, infirmarian, tailor and clerk of works on the new buildings at Caposele. However, because of his great piety, extraordinary wisdom, and his gift of reading consciences, he was permitted to counsel communities of religion woman. He is said to have been a miracle-worker.

Gerard Maiella lived a simple life and was very close to God. He was afflicted with tuberculosis and died on October 16, 1755 in Caposele, Campagnia at the age of twenty-nine. This great saint is invoked as a patron of expectant mothers as a result of a miracle affected through his prayers for a woman in labor. Shortly after Saint Gerard’s death, word of the countless miracles spread and mothers throughout Italy began to pray for his intercession during their pregnancy. The maternal devotion spread rapidly throughout the world and Saint Gerard quickly became known as “The Mothers’ Saint.” Although no one has officially been designated as the Patron of Mothers, the title has been given to him by popular acclaim in many countries, including the United States.

From heaven he continues to help all people with all kinds of needs, just as when he was alive on earth.

Saint Gerard Maiella (April 6, 1726 – October 16, 1755) is a Roman Catholic saint whose intercession is sought for children, unborn babies, childbirth, mothers, expectant mothers, motherhood, various diseases, the poor and the falsely accused. Gerard Maiella was beatified in Rome on January 29, 1893, by Pope Saint Pius X. He was a member of the Redemptorists (Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer) founded in 1732 by Saint Alphonsus Liguori (1696 – 1787) at Scala, near Naples. They are essentially a missionary order dedicated to “preaching the word of God to the poor.”


The Spirituality of Saint Gerard

Love for God
Gerard was so attracted by God that his whole life was immersed in the greatness of God. In a letter to a nun, he wrote, “The center of true love for God consists in surrendering totally to him….” His perfect love for God translated into a perfect love for his fellow human beings. For Gerard, prayer and hard work had the same purpose: to be transformed into Christ.

The Passion of Christ
Gerard dearly loved our crucified Lord. That image that describes the soldiers painfully stretching Christ’s arms with ropes to fit nail holes already drilled in the cross seared Gerard’s mind and he once asked to be tied to a cross with his arms stretched enough to cause great discomfort because he wanted to be transformed even visibly into the person of Jesus crucified. Gerard realized that Christ continues to suffer through the trials and pains we endure and through the pain and anguish of people.

Reliance on the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit was at work in Gerard his entire life. In fact, after receiving the sacrament of confirmation, Gerard often spoke of “my Holy Spirit.” During one early morning reflections Gerard wrote, “I choose the Holy Spirit as my only consoler and protector in all things.” Mystical love like Gerard had is a gift from the Holy Spirit.

The Eucharist
The Eucharist nourished Gerard’s burning love for God and people. At age seven Gerard approached the sanctuary to receive Holy Communion but the priest refused him because he was too young. A story is told that later in the day Saint Michael the Archangel appeared to him with a communion host.

Gerard’s spirituality was rooted in the desire to be one with God. He wanted to imitate Christ putting into practice: “do this in memory of me”, love your neighbor giving yourself until the end.

The Virgin Mary
Very early in life Gerard developed a strong devotion to the Blessed Virgin. His closeness to his own mother is evident by the intensity with which he also loved the Mother of God, whom he called “Mamma Maria.” Once during the celebration of the Immaculate Conception, he stepped forward and placed a ring on the finger of our Lady’s statue. Then he announced, “I have wedded the Virgin.” Mary truly was one of Gerard’s greatest loves. His constant protection of mothers and children flows from his loving attentiveness to our Mother.

Loving God serving the poor
The first miracle-legend passed on to us involving Gerard took place when he was little. He often visited a church dedicated to our Lady. Once inside, the child Jesus stepped down from the arms of the Virgin’s statue to play with Gerard. After their games, Jesus would give Gerard a loaf of bread to take home. Since he was a little boy Gerard learned to be sensitive for the needs of people and helping them.


How the devotion of Saint Gerard arrived at Saint Lucy's Church and how Saint Lucy's Church became the National Shrine of Saint Gerard in the United States.

In the 1890’s the economic situation and natural disaster in the South of Italy were so bad people were forced to seek a better life in “America” in New Jersey. It was the first and largest Italian colony in the State. They brought with them their language, traditions and religious beliefs especially their devotion to the saint of their town. In response to the great influx of Italian immigrants to the area, the Dioceses of Newark establish a national parish. Each group of immigrants sent for a statue of their patron from their town in Italy. Gradually Saint Lucy’s became a permanent home for each of these statues. Saint Lucy’s became the Italian Cathedral.

A lot of families from Caposele, center of the province of Avellino, disembarked in Newark, NJ and they brought with them the devotion to Saint Gerard.

In 1899 Father Joseph Perotti was appointed pastor of Saint Lucy. This was the beginning of the Feast of Saint Gerard Maiella. In the autumn of 1900 arrived a statue and relic of Saint Gerard from Materdomini, Italy.

They walked in procession pinning monetary donations on the black habit of the Saint Gerard statue. This is an expression of asking for a favor or giving thanks to the saint who interceded for them before God. Music, especially a band for the procession, is an integral part of the annual celebration.

On December 13, 1926, at the feast of Saint Lucy, the church was consecrated. Due to the depression Father Perotti had to focus his attention on the need of his struggling parishioners. In 1933 the Circolo Progressivo Caposelesi or C.P.C. Club was formed and organized. This organization solicited funds for the feast and also ran the feast of Saint Gerard. Because of the ever-growing popular devotion to Saint Gerard, it was decided that an annex would be added to the beautiful church of Saint Lucy, and so in 1933 construction began on the Saint Gerard chapel that would be called the Sanctuary of Saint Gerard.

In 1934 Father Ruggiero took leadership as pastor of Saint Lucy’s. Father Ruggiero saw how the people contributed generously to the feast of their patron saint. The societies controlled every aspect of the feast not the church. Father Ruggiero had the courage and foresight to realize that if he wanted to put the church in good financial standing and secure the survival of these feasts the church had to take complete control of everything.

The feast of Saint Gerard flourished throughout the years. For many it was a Holy day of obligation. The feast eventually became a festival: enriched by vendors and bancarelle, decorations, streetlights and fireworks. The capes of money got larger and larger, and the band started to perform concerts. The stops along the procession route were a feast or prayers and many families erected homemade shrines in front of their homes. It was time to dedicate a song to Mom or another dear friend and sharing food and drink. People continued to enjoy the nuts and torrone candy, the clams, sausage and peppers, zeppole, calzones and other delicious treats. It became a moment of enjoying the company of relatives and friends. The Guards of Honor during the feast assisted at all the masses; they pinned the money on the statue and carried the saint out of the church for the procession. During the procession they are close to the statue to assist the faithful in pinning their annual donation.

On October 16, 1977, at the 10:00 am Solemn High Mass at Saint Lucy’s, Archbishop Peter Leo Gerety stood in the pulpit before thousands of worshipers and declared that the Church of Saint Lucy, the Sanctuary of Saint Gerard, be henceforth called the National Shrine of Saint Gerard in the United States. He also made an announcement: he named Father Joseph Granato the pastor of the church.

Devotees visit the Shrine also throughout the year to pray to and petition the help of this Miraculous Wonder Worker. Every year, during the feast of St. Gerard, hundreds of parents report the graces they have received through the intercession of St. Gerard. People come from all over the tri-state area and beyond. They come from various ethnic groups and ages. Only those who have participated in a Feast of Saint Gerard celebrated at our National Shrine can really appreciate the unique character of this truly remarkable devotion. People from near and far, old and young, those in sickness or in health, make any sacrifice, overcome any obstacle to be present on October 16th to demonstrate their faith, confidence and love for Saint Gerard.


Who is Saint Gerard for Saint Lucy Parish and the United States?

People - our ancestors and we their descendants - build churches where the community gathered to worship God. Only God builds shrines. The earth belongs to God. A shrine is a place on earth chosen by God. In a very special way, God attracts people and manifests a presence among believers. In a shrine, God listens to people's voices and provokes the transformation of society. On October 16, 1977, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops recognized "the constancy of the love and devotion of the faithful" to St. Gerard and that God had created a Shrine in St. Lucy's.

The passage of Exodus 3:1-10 gives us the best description of what a shrine is and what has happened at St. Lucy.

When "Moses was leading a flock across the desert, he came to the mountain of God, Horeb. There Lord appeared to him in the burning bush. As Moses looked on, he was surprised to see that the bush was not consumed, even though it was on fire. God called out to him from the bush, "Moses! Moses!" He answered: "Here I am." Then God said: "come no nearer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground." The Lord continued: "I have witnessed the affliction of my people and a have heard their cry...Therefore I have come down to rescue them. Come, now! I will send you to Pharaoh to lead my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt."

The Lord has visited St. Lucy and left it as holy ground.

The people experience the personal presence of God through Saint Gerard Twenty-Four hours a day, 7 days a week you can find people, particularly women with a difficult pregnancy, visiting the Shrine of Saint Gerard. In their need, pregnant women experience God's protection mediated by Saint Gerard. It is as if Saint Gerard assures them that God is listening and answering their prayer. St. Lucy's community bears witness to the fact that St. Gerard is a patron of new life, expressed powerfully in the symbol of expectant women.

You can see that the people who enter Saint Lucy’s go around visiting with the saints, touching the statues, crying in front of them, and recounting their story. When they leave the church, they are convinced that they have been heard. From this perspective, we can say the entire church is a shrine, not just the chapel of Saint Gerard. The saints are “sacrament” of God. They present a simple way to communicate with God. This is not a complicated theology, but a life of faith. It is dialogue with God in a popular and profound manner (Popular religiosity). The statues are a point of passage for people to reach the presence of God in their life - a God who listens to them.

Saint Lucy’s Church has preserved many of the Italian immigrant traditions of the people who founded and built the parish in 1891. Generations of families have worshipped here. Every year we honor Saint Michael, Our Lady of the Snow, Our Lady of Fatima and Our Lady of the Rosary with special celebrations and a procession around the plaza.


Saint Gerard Handkerchief

It was toward the end of August, 1755, the last year of St. Gerard's earthly life. During this time, while he was staying at Oliveto Citra in the hopes of some improvement from the serious illness which would soon end his life. Gerard visited some of the families of the town.

As he was leaving one of the homes, a young lady present there observed that he had left his handkerchief on a chair. Thinking he had forgotten it, she picked it up, handing it to him. He, however, reading into the future, was inspired by God to say to her, "No. Keep it. One day it will be of service to you.” That handkerchief was the symbolic heritage that the Saint left to God's creatures who have the sacred duty on earth to render, in pain, the continuation of human life.

In fact, a few years later, the young lady married. The birth of her first child was so difficult that she was at the point of death. Invoking her patron saints to deliver her appeared to be in vain until she suddenly remembered Saint Gerard's handkerchief. She asked for it and held it to herself. Not only did the pain of delivery immediately cease, but she experienced the joy of the immediate birth of her child.

Afterwards, that handkerchief was passed from one mother to another of the town as each was about to give birth, and when the first fortunate woman died, she left the precious relic to her niece. As time passed, the handkerchief was cut into so many pieces that, when the process for Gerard's canonization began, there remained only a shred of it.

The news of this miraculous handkerchief traveled farther than the borders of Oliveto Citra. Even expectant mothers who did not own a piece of the handkerchief invoked this Saint during hours of labor with great faith and their prayers were not said in vain.

We know that during the beatification process in 1845, an image of Gerard was distributed bearing a reference to, and thus, making him known as the Protector of Expectant Mothers. Today, the miraculous deeds of Saint Gerard Maiella are universally known and recognized, not only by the Faithful, but also by the authorities of the Church.

Handkerchiefs which are taken to the Sanctuary at Materdomini and touched to his tomb carry blessings of the Saint to expectant mothers of the world, who, with the protection and help of Saint Gerard, experience the purest joys of a healthy and safe delivery.

May the symbolic, blessed handkerchief of St. Gerard help us to understand how, in these difficult times, the beauty of maternity can become clouded by the pressures of life. May the knowledge of it give strength to mothers to embrace with faith and hope the Christian duties enjoined by motherhood.

Anyone who may be in need of the Saint Gerard medal, handkerchief, prayer card or novena book please call - (973) 803-4200


Would you like to receive the sacraments in Saint Gerard’s Shrine and be part of the Saint Lucy’s community?

Baptisms:
In English: Sunday at 1:30 pm
In Spanish: Saturday at 1:30 pm

First Communion and Confirmation:
From September to May:
Tuesday afternoons 3:45 – 5:15 pm
Sunday 9:30 – 11:00 am
Adults: Wednesday 6:30 – 7:30 pm

Reconciliation (Confession):
In the Church before or after each mass.
Saturday: 5:30 – 6:00 pm
In the rectory, any time, just call ahead.

Marriages: Arrangements are to be made
6 months before the date of the wedding

Sick calls: Any time of the day or night
973-803-4200

Funeral: Arrangements are made through
the Funeral Home. Many families are
coming for a funeral mass and to ask for
Saint Gerard’s final blessing.

Celebrate Mass with Saint Gerard
Weekdays:
7:00, 7:30, 8:00, 8:30, 9:00, 9:30 am
Evening Mass:
5:30 pm

Saturday: 6:00 pm (in English)
Sunday: 8:00 am (in Italian)
9:30 am (in Spanish)
11:00 am (in English)
12:30 pm (in English)
5:30 pm (in English)
The 5:30 pm mass of the first Sunday of the
month is dedicated in a special way to
St. Gerard: Expectant Mothers, blessing
of newborn babies, and woman praying
to conceive.

Please call the rectory for further information at
973-803-4200.


FACEBOOK HOUSE RULES

The National Shrine of Saint Gerard at Saint Lucy’s Church wants to promote a friendly, informative and enjoyable online experience for members of our Facebook page. Therefore, content and comments containing any of the following are not allowed for posting on our page and will be removed as soon as possible:

• Commercial or private solicitations or offers for goods and services.
• Abusive, defamatory, offensive and hateful language.
• Incitement to hatred, racism, obscenity; discriminatory or pornographic content.
• Spam or irrelevant comments which do not pertain to The National Shrine of Saint Gerard’s mission statement.
• Content or comments on politics.
• Trolling or deliberately disruptive discussions.
• Violations of any intellectual property.
• Suspicious links e.g. phishing.
• Malicious content.
• Inaccurate, misleading or inappropriate statements About the National Shrine of Saint Gerard, the clergy or staff.
• Personal or confidential information.
People who are continually detrimental to others’ enjoyment of this page risk being permanently removed as fans.
Help us keep Facebook suitable for all audiences. If you think that a post or comment has broken any of our house rules, contact the rectory at - Stlucysnwk@yahoo.com or 973-803-4200