Unto dust you shall return

Traditional Jewish meal can help deepen Catholics’ Lenten journey

By Elizabeth Landry
Staff writer

On March 27 from 6 to 9 p.m., the Good News Center in Utica will host a traditional Messianic Passover Seder led by Rabbi Stephen Galiley of Beit Shalom. Rabbi Galiley celebrates Jewish customs and traditions but also believes that Jesus is the Messiah. For those in attendance, he will draw the connections between the celebration of the Last Supper and the Passover meal, the Seder.

Lent 2025 began on Ash Wednesday, March 5. Here, the faithful are in line at the noon Mass to receive ashes at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Syracuse.
Sun photo | Chuck Wainwright.

For those unfamiliar with the traditional Jewish holiday of Passover or the Jewish Seder meal, it may be unclear why this event can bring a deeper meaning to our Lenten journey as Catholics. Father Dan Muscalino, pastor at St. Francis Xavier parish in Marcellus, spoke with the Sun to share his insight into the significance the Passover Seder holds for not only Jews, but for Catholics by extension because of the Last Supper. Fr. Muscalino explained that the Passover is the event Jesus and the disciples were celebrating at the Last Supper, and so many of the symbols involved in the Jewish celebration of Passover are carried over into Catholicism.

“If you understand the symbolism of the power of the Passover event, you know the blood of the Lamb that was sacrificed had to be an unblemished lamb, and the blood was put on the doorposts of the Hebrew slaves in Egypt. And when the angel of death visited Egypt, [it] passed over the houses with blood on [them] – that is why it’s called Passover. We [as Catholics] believe that Jesus, the blood of the Lamb, our Lord, Jesus Christ, saves us not from physical death, but saves us from spiritual death and forgives our sins. It’s important that we remember that Jesus and the apostles were Jews … so many of our symbols are from them, because that’s what Jesus was doing, and that’s who they all were,” explained Fr. Muscalino, adding that other symbols carried over from Passover to the Last Supper and Catholicism are unleavened bread and the cup of blessing.

Fr. Muscalino shared a close friendship with Rabbi Dan Feldman, formerly local but now Chief Rabbi of Pittsburgh, and he attended many Passover celebrations at Rabbi Feldman’s home over the years. “It was always a wonderful experience,” Fr. Muscalino said.

He absolutely encourages Catholics who are interested to attend the Passover Seder meal at the Good News Center if they’re able to, and Fr. Muscalino emphasized that Catholics should spend time beforehand researching the Passover celebration and the Seder meal in order to bring with them a better understanding of these Jewish rituals.

“I strongly encourage if someone wants to go … to do it with a sense of respect, a sense of reverence, and have a previous understanding of the symbolism and the beauty of it … this is a very sacred ritual for the Jewish people.”

The interactive Messianic Seder dinner will consist of chicken or lamb skewers, rice pilaf, matzah ball soup, flat bread, charoset (an apple dish), tzimmes (a sweep potatoes side dish), baklava and beverages. Prepaid reservations are required by March 20 and the admission cost is $45 per person, or $40 for 1992/300 Club members.

For more information or to place a reservation, call 315-735-6210 or visit the events page at thegoodnewscenter.org.