When the Mandate from the Holy See transferring Bishop-elect James F. Checchio to the Diocese of Metuchen is read at his Episcopal Ordination, it will refer to him in this way, “until now a priest of the Diocese of Camden.” Those words “a priest of the Diocese of Camden” are packed with significance both for the Bishop-elect and for the Catholic faithful of Camden.
Bishop Checchio was Baptized, received First Holy Communion and Confirmation in parishes of the Diocese of Camden. The Diocese of Camden is the place of his initiation into Christ and into the Church. Both his primary school education at Saint John’s, Collingswood, and his secondary education at Paul VI High School took place in the diocese. His Catholic education provided him with a solid academic and religious foundation for college, for theological studies in the seminary and for graduate school. He was accepted by the Diocese of Camden as a seminarian for the priesthood and after completing seminary formation Bishop James McHugh, the fifth Bishop of Camden, on June 20th, 1992, ordained James Checchio a priest for the church of Camden.
As a priest he served the church of Camden in a variety of assignments, including associate pastor; secretary to the late Bishop James McHugh; vice chancellor; and director of the Office of Communications. Priests of the diocese are among his closest friends and the diocese is home for his parents and other family members.
Being a priest of the Diocese of Camden is in the spiritual DNA of Bishop-elect Checchio. Here he was formed and grew in our faith. Influenced first by his parents and family and then by parish priests, priest teachers and Religious women, all of whom encouraged his vocation to the priesthood. In his parish and diocesan assignments the People of God with whom he was associated in ministry would also influence his growth as a priest.
This local church is very proud of this priest of our diocese. He is one of us. His selection by our Holy Father Francis as a successor of the Apostles is a credit to his family and also to the church in Camden, its priests, religious and laity. The fraternal pride of his brother priests in him was very obvious at the dinner for the clergy following the Mass of Chrism. He was graciously toasted; loudly applauded and rousingly cheered by his brother priests who share in the joy of his selection as a bishop of the church.
As the Bishop of Metuchen he will shepherd that flock with priestly fervor and a pastoral heart which were formed, developed and shaped in our diocese. Of course, his recent assignment as the Rector of the North American College in Rome provided him with administrative skills and talents that will also assist his overseeing the church in Metuchen. However, it is his upbringing, his South Jersey neighbors, boyhood and adolescent education experiences, his diocesan assignments after ordination to the priesthood and the lay faithful of this local church of Camden that have had a lasting and formative effect on him as a priest of Jesus Christ and soon to be Bishop of the Catholic Church.
Count on our prayers, Bishop-elect Checchio. Count on our heartfelt concern for you as you travel north to Central Jersey. We are delighted that you are near to home and in the summer look forward even to seeing you down the shore. We are so very proud that in Camden you learned to be a priest. The Holy Father’s selection of you as a Bishop, a successor of the Apostles, brings honor to our diocese and above all to you, until now a priest of the Diocese of Camden.
Most Reverend Dennis J. Sullivan, D.D.
Bishop of Camden
[imic_button colour=”btn-primary” type=”enabled” link=”http://catholicstarherald.org/a-message-from-the-bishop-until-now-a-priest-of-the-diocese-of-camden/” target=”_self” extraclass=”” size=”btn-lg”]Read in April 29, 2016 Catholic Star Herald[/imic_button]
