NEWARK, NJ – Gov. Christopher Christie returned to his childhood ties in Newark Tuesday by attending a thanksgiving Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart Tuesday before being sworn in as the state's 55th governor.
About 1,000 attendees gathered at the basilica including Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno, Newark Mayor Cory A. Booker, Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, Essex County Sheriff Amando B. Fontoura, Donald Trump, Cong. Donald Payne, Sr. (D-Newark) and former Jersey City Mayor Bret Schundler.
Newark Archbishop John J. Myers presided over the Mass and communion and gave a 20-minute homily highlighting the importance of wisdom in leadership. Myers referred to the readings of I Kings 3:5-14.
"Governing is not an easy task today and, in all honesty, it has always been an arduous undertaking," said Myers. "God appeared to King Solomon early in his reign and offered to give him whatever he asked. Solomon said 'Give your servant ... an understanding heart to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong.'
Christie, who was born in Newark and lived along North 14th Street before his family moved to Livingston, departed the basilica to take the oath of office at the State House in Trenton.
Christie is the 11th state chief executive who was born or resided in Essex County. He is the first governor to hold an Inauguration morning Mass in Sacred Heart cathedral basilica, an arrangement that archdiocese spokesman James Goodness said came about when Christie attended the Blue Mass in November.
"We've never had an Inauguration thanksgiving Mass," said Goodness. "The Governor asked Archbishop Myers about having a Mass here, and the archbishop granted his request."
Although the basilica sanctuary can hold up to 1,500 to 1,800 worshipers, the invitation-only Mass was limited to 1,000 to accommodate security details and media access. Goodness added that a 7:30 a.m. Mass be canceled and the City of Newark's annual "In Praise of King" service had to move to St. Patrick's Pro-Cathedral.
"The city called me and asked about a King service Jan. 17," said Goodness. "With the security concerns and all the work for the inauguration that weekend, we told them that we couldn't do it. We also told the 12 to 20 parishioners at the Lady Chapel that their 7:30 Mass was canceled."
Myers said the basilica cathedral, which he considers to be the most beautiful building in Newark and in the state, took more than half a century to build.
"It's combining the best of Old and New Worlds draws its inspiration from France and its marble statuary from Italy but is constructed of Vermont granite, Montana copper and Pennsylvania steel," Myers said. "Most importantly, it was built by the workers of New Jersey, [who] today, as a century ago, still drawn from every corner of the globe."
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