New Archbishop of Newark Celebrates Mass in Springfield

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His Eminence Joseph William Cardinal Tobin, the newly installed Archbishop of Newark, celebrated a mass for the Northwest Deanery of Union County at St. James the Apostle Church in Springfield on Tuesday, May 9, 2017. The Northwest Deanery consists of St. Rose of Lima in Short Hills, Our Lady of Peace in New Providence, Our Lady of Lourdes in Mountainside, Little Flower in Berkeley Heights, and St. Teresa of Avila in Summit.
 
"The Parish of Saint James the Apostle and I are honored and privileged to welcome Cardinal Joseph Tobin to our parish to celebrate the Mass for the parishes of our deanery," said Rev. Joseph F. Barbone, pastor of St. James, at the opening of the mass.
 
At a Town Hall-style meeting which immediately followed the mass, the Springfield Township Committee presented Cardinal Tobin with a proclamation acknowledging his arrival in Newark as Archbishop, and as such, his connection to the Springfield community. Rev. Barbone presented the Cardinal with a scroll containing messages of welcome and good wishes written by members of St. James parish and the families of children attending St. James School. Rev. Barbone also presented Cardinal Tobin with a dedication cross symbolic of the 12 apostles.
 
The Town Hall setting allowed for an easy exchange between the Cardinal and those in the audience. “I want to know what you would do if you were in my shoes,” he told them. Cardinal Tobin also answered questions and heard comments from the audience about a diversity of Catholic topics from observing the Triduum to the possibility of women deacons. He admitted that he doesn’t as yet have a plan for the Archdiocese of Newark, but will soon, “with the help of the Holy Spirit.”
 
Fitst Photo:
 
Rev. Joseph F. Barbone, pastor of St. James the Apostle Church, stands to Cardinal Tobin’s left as the gospel acclimation is sung immediately preceding the reading of the gospel at the mass for the Northwest Deanery of Union County at St. James the Apostle Church in Springfield on Tuesday, May 9, 2017.