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www.rcan.org The community newspaper of the Archdiocese of Newark Vol. 64 No. 8 August 19, 2015 Archdiocese files suit challenging state cemetery law By Al Frank are defendants in the action. Associate Publisher The law was passed at the behest of the New Jersey Monument Build- NEWARK —A public interest ers Association, after the trade group law firm has filed a federal case on lost a 2013 challenge in state court behalf of the Archdiocese of Newark that upheld Catholic Cemeteries’ challenging a New Jersey law that rights under long-standing state law, barred its Catholic Cemeteries unit according to the suit. from selling headstones. “This is one of the most egre- “This case addresses one of the gious examples of economic protec- most important unanswered ques- tionism in the country,” said Greg tions in constitutional law: how far Reed, another institute attorney, government power can act for pri- adding that the “sole purpose” of marily private gain,” said Jeff Rowe, the new law was to limit economic senior attorney for the Institute of choice, stifle competition and enrich Justice. monument builders. The Arlington, VA-based institute Archbishop John J. Myers, who offered to litigate the case without attended the July 21 news confer- charge after Gov. Chris Christie en- ence explaining the filing, branded acted a law last year barring the 11 the law arbitrary and unconstitution- Advocate photos Al Frank archdiocesan cemeteries from selling al and noted how it infringed on a Left to right, Rev. Msgr. Michael A. Andreano, Executive Director headstones to parishioners. Christie fundamental Church ministry. of Catholic Cemeteries Andrew P. Schafer and Jeff Rowe, senior and Attorney General John Hoffman Continued on page 2 attorney for the Institute of Justice, at the July 21 press conference. From convent to monastery: stained glass windows find a new home by Sister Judith Miryam, O.P. I volunteered to take on the items from closed churches. The project and began by searching the office sent a few photos of available s Dominicans, we very Internet. I found a helpful website windows (none met our needs). But often respond spon- about repurposed stained glass, with the archdiocese also offered to let us taneously to a timely photos of windows available from visit churches to see more. gift with the excla- the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. By this time, I had developed an mation, “God always Most of them featured images of image of what the windows should Aprovides…etiam ad minima!” That saints (no Dominicans among them, look like: a matching set of three, in Latin expression (which is an abbre- alas), which ranged from the exqui- a symbolic or ornamental design. I viated version of a phrase used often site to the unfortunate. The majority entrusted my window “wish list” to by our brother Saint Thomas Aqui- were also too large. I realized that the Lord, confident that He would nas) is roughly translated as “down finding the windows would not be take care of finding them. to the smallest detail.” easy. In early May, I received per- The story of the acquisition of In the meantime, Justin had con- mission from our prioress to spend our stained glass windows for our tacted the Archdiocese of Newark’s a few days at my family home in new wing proves the Lord’s inter- Office of Property Management, Bayonne to assist in the care of my est in providing for our every need which is a clearinghouse for stained mother. My brother had spoken to etia ad minima. When our architect, glass windows and other liturgical Continued on page 2 Justin Mihalik, presented us with revised architectural drawings of our new wing, he included two sets of SUFFERING MIDDLE EASTERN CHRISTIANS three arched windows in the fascade. Page 3 Justin suggested we might want to SPECIAL REPORT: Laudato Si’ have stained glass in one or both. Page 4 The idea appealed to us, particular- ly for the windows in the lobby. But CLASSIFIEDS where to find the windows, since we Page 8 had agreed that incorporating vin- AROUND THE ARCHDIOCESE tage stained glass of the same time Page 10 period and style of the stained glass APPOINTMENTS Sister Judith Miryam in our chapel was the best option? Page 11 2 Our Archdiocese August 19, 2015 demand, said Andrew P. Schafer, sales helps pay for perpetual care at Law suit executive director. the cemeteries. However, it is only an option; One of the plaintiffs, Emilio Continued from page 1 cemetery customers are free to con- Mazza of Edison, said he was angry “From the Roman catacombs tract for such services independent- the law will prevent his sons from to the cemeteries of the archdi- ly, he said. getting the same level of service he ocese, there is a 2,000-year old “With this new law, parish- has received in the last five years tradition of the Church, honoring ioners are prohibited from their since he built a mausoleum for him- the bodies of those who have died, freedom of choice to select us as a self at Saint Gertrude Cemetery in providing a final resting place on memorial provider,” Schafer said. the Colonia section of Woodbridge. sacred ground, and supporting their “Simply put, this new law protects “The great thing is they take family and friends who want to only the interests of funeral direc- care of it forever,” Mazza said, honor them and pray for them,” the tors and monument dealers while adding that he believed the law archbishop said. “This law harms eliminating the rights of our minis- would mean his sons—for whom he consumers, and our mission and try and our families.” bought two lots for future use—will tradition.” The income generated by the not receive the same care. Catholic Cemeteries, which ad- ministers archdiocesan cemeteries, TO SEE THE INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE ANIMATED VIDEO was challenged after it began offer- Advocate photo-Al Frank ing inscription rights to head stones ON THE CASE VISIT HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/ Greg Reed, attorney for the in 2013 in response to consumer Arlington, VA-based Institute of WATCH?V=XYSpjIKTFII. Justice. answered my prayers Stained Glass Studio sisters. Their example planted the with such speed. in Clifton. They will first stirrings in my heart of a voca- Stained glass The stained glass eventually be incor- tion to the religious life. Continued from page 1 windows have an un- porated into the new In a few years, visitors and me about visiting the closed convent usual repeating design wing, relocating from guests to our monastery will pass by of our parish, Our Lady of Mount of what appears to be one sacred space to those same windows, enjoying their Carmel; the convent was always a a stylized represen- another. beauty as they walk through the new place of mystery to us. tation of elderberries I think of the foyer, browse our gift shop or head Built in 1921, it had served as featuring hues of pale Felician Sisters to the parlor or chapel. For now, we the residence of the Felician Sis- yellow, gold, and ame- who once passed by rejoice in the first physical compo- ters who taught for decades at the thyst. As we continued these windows each nents of our new wing: that demon- parish school. I arranged for Father our tour, we discov- day on their way to strate how “God always provides... Michael Barone, parochial vicar, to ered that two windows and from the parish etiam ad minima!” give me a tour. We walked through of the same design school. These ded- Sister Judith Miryam, O.P. is Di- the convent, and as we reached the had already been re- icated teachers in rector of Advancement for the Cen- stairs leading to the second floor, I moved and restored. their black veils and tennial Campaign of the Dominican stopped and looked up. There, in the We would later find a brown habits were Nuns of the Monastery of Our Lady stairwell wall, were three large iden- third. When I got back to the mon- my first encounter with religious of the Rosary, Summit. tical stained glass windows, emitting astery, I shared the photos with the a lovely, pale yellow glow. I was so sisters, and received the approval of HE THREE STAINED GLASS WINDOWS ARE AMONG THE transfixed, that Fr. Michael looked our prioress, Sister Mary Martin, to T at me with alarm and asked if I was make inquiries about the windows’ NAMING/UNDERWRITING oppoRTUNITIES IN SUppoRT OF okay. “I don’t believe it!” I blurted availability. I phoned Monsignor THE ONASTERY S ENTENNIAL AMPAIGN OR MORE out. “Father, these windows would Ronald Marczewski, the pastor, who M ’ C C . F be perfect for our new wing! Do you graciously agreed to give them to us. INFORMATION, CONTACT MARYANN COCOZIELLO, know if we can have them?” I quick- The windows were carefully re- IRECTOR OF EVELopMENT AT OR ly took some photos with my cell moved from the convent and are be- D D , (201)452-4996 phone, stunned that the Lord had ing restored by Hiemer & Company [email protected]. • Tel: 973- 497-4200 • Fax: 973-497-4192 Most Reverend John J. Myers President and Publisher • Web: www.rcan.org Deacon Al Frank, D.Min. 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