Press Releases

We have recently confirmed that a serious breach of compliance with our child protection policies has taken place in one of our parishes. As a result, Father Michael Fugee, a priest of the Archdiocese of Newark, who would not have been given clearance to minister in this diocese if procedures had been followed, was present among some of our youth during several parish events. more...

Most Rev. David M. O'Connell, C.M., J.C.D., Bishop of Trenton, has announced the following changes in pastoral assignments. These supersede assignments previously announced on April 25. more...

Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M., has accepted the resignation of Father Thomas J. Triggs as pastor of St. Mary Parish, Colts Neck, effective immediately. The May 4 resignation follows recent reports that Father Michael Fugee, a priest of the Archdiocese of Newark, had assisted in several activities of the parish's youth group despite having been restricted from such ministry in an agreement with law enforcement authorities in Bergen County. more...

With stunned sadness, I learned this morning of the sudden death of Bishop Joseph P. McFadden, Tenth Bishop of Harrisburg. continue reading...

Catholics nationwide can support Church communications through contributions the weekend of May 11-12 to the Catholic Communication Campaign’s (CCC) annual collection. more...

Homily given by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., April 20 during the Mass in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, marking the 200th anniversary of the birth of Blessed Frederick Ozanam, the founder of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. more...

Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., and those who serve in St. Vincent de Paul Societies throughout the diocese, will commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Blessed Frederic Ozanam, the founder of the St. Vincent de Paul Society during a Mass, April 20, at 11:30 a.m., in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, 151 North Warren St., Trenton. more...

Finding meaning and purpose in life, navigating through relationships and understanding the call of social justice are among the topics that will be explored at the Diocese of Trenton’s first-ever young adult conference set for May 4 in St. Mary Church, Colts Neck.  more...

Praised be Jesus Christ! With the Church throughout the world, the Diocese of Trenton offers prayers of joyful and hope-filled gratitude at the election of His Eminence Jorge Cardinal Bergoglio, S.J., as the Vicar of Christ and Successor of St. Peter. A truly inspired choice, our new Holy Father Pope Francis brings to the Chair of Peter pastoral gifts and ecclesial experience especially well-suited to his new role as universal Shepherd of the Catholic Church. more...

Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. will celebrate a public Mass for the Election of the Pope on Tuesday, March 12 at 12:10 p.m. in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton.  All are invited to participate in this opportunity for prayer and community, set to coincide with the beginning of the papal conclave in Rome...[more]

Declining enrollment and mounting financial difficulties have made it necessary for St. Mary School in Bordentown to bring its long-standing ministry of Catholic school education to an end, it was announced March 8.  The school will officially close its doors at the end of the current school year...[more]

The Diocese of Trenton, in conjunction with law enforcement agencies throughout the region, will host the 14th Annual Celebration of Law Enforcement March 19, 10:30 a.m. in St. Mary of Assumption Cathedral, 151 N. Warren St., Trenton. more...

On this World Day of the Sick, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, the world awoke to the stunning news that Pope Benedict XVI has decided to resign the papacy, effective February 28, 2013.  Having been appointed Bishop of Trenton by him and, before that, approved as President of the Catholic University of America, I feel a genuine closeness to him. more...

The importance of Catholic education in the U.S. will be recognized during Catholic Schools Week Jan. 27 to Feb. 2, when Catholic elementary and secondary schools throughout the nation celebrate the academic excellence of the largest private education institution in the land. more...

While standing in a grocery store checkout line recently, I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw the cover of Time magazine which read: “40 Years ago, abortion-rights activists won an epic victory with Roe v. Wade … they’ve been losing ever since.” more...

I was approached early in my tenure as Diocesan Bishop to give permission to build an "all-girls Catholic High School" in Monmouth County. This was not the first time such a request was made of the Diocese although it was the first time I was asked. more...

Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., Diocese of Trenton, will celebrate a Mass honoring law enforcement personnel in Mercer, Monmouth, Ocean and Burlington Counties March 19, 10:30 a.m. in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, 151 N. Warren Street, Trenton, followed by a luncheon in the church hall. more...

As Bishop of the Diocese of Trenton, I am delighted to welcome our new neighbor to the south, Bishop Dennis J. Sullivan, until now an auxiliary bishop from the Archdiocese of New York, as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Camden. more...

‘Sleep in heavenly peace...’

The immortal Christmas hymn of Franz Gruber, "Silent Night," will certainly take on a different meaning in the homes of twenty children and six adults in Newtown, Connecticut this Christmas.  With little over a week before the celebration of Christ's birth and all its attendant excitement, anticipation and joy, silence descended upon the homes and families of those who lost their lives in the senseless, cruel shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School there. more...

Special collection to be taken in all parishes Nov. 17, 18

With many Catholic parishes and schools in Monmouth and Ocean Counties fully engaged in the effort of keeping Hurricane Sandy victims warm and fed, the Diocese of Trenton is turning its attention to the next phase of outreach to local residents who were most profoundly impacted by the late October superstorm. more...

The Diocese of Trenton is coordinating a relief effort to assist those who have been left without basic provisions in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. more...

Catholics across the region are invited to gather over three historic days in Octo­ber to celebrate their faith in Jesus Christ during the Diocese of Trenton’s first Eucharistic Congress. more...

TRENTON -- A change in management and a new name is on the horizon for the Martin House Learning Center, located at 794 E. State Street. The learning center, which was built in 1995 and has been an entity of the Diocese of Trenton under the auspices of the Martin House Foundation, will become an operation of the Catholic Youth Organization of Mercer County effective Aug. 27. more...

Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., Diocese of Trenton, will lead a special prayer service at the New Jersey Viet­nam Veterans’ Memorial, Holmdel, Oct. 13, 10:30 a.m. to remember and give thanks to God for living and deceased veterans and for those currently serving in the military. more...

The Diocese of Trenton was informed today by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office that Benedictine Father Velanmarukudiyil J. Christudas, who has been serving as an adjunct priest in Visitation Parish, Brick, since 2001, was arrested July 14, 2012 on several charges of sexual misconduct.  Father Christudas was formally charged July 16 on one count of sexual misconduct involving an adult; one count of sexual misconduct involving a minor, and one count of endangerment of a minor. More...

I have been informed by a number of priests about several attempted celebrations of marriage within the Diocese of Trenton (Mercer, Burlington, Monmouth and Ocean Counties) by former priests or others posing as bishops or priests who are not authorized by the Roman Catholic Church and the Diocese of Trenton to witness or officiate at weddings, thus making any attempted marriages of Catholics performed by them invalid. More...

The diocese’s Migration and Refu­gee Services in Trenton will close its doors June 30, referring the immigrant families it serves to Catholic Chari­ties’ more robust Immigration and Legal Assistance Services and ending its work with the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in resettling refugees. Read on...

Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., will celebrate a Mass in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, in advance of the “Stand Up for Religious Freedom Rally” that will take place June 8 on the New Jersey State House steps.  The Mass will begin at 10:30 a.m., after which communicants will walk to the nearby rally that begins at noon. Catholics from across the state are invited to take part in the Mass, and begin their efforts to protect religious freedom with prayer and the Eucharist. Read on...

WASHINGTON—The U.S. bishops are strongly united in their ongoing and determined  efforts to protect religious freedom, the Administrative Committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) said in a March 14 statement.

The Administrative Committee, chaired by Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York, president of the USCCB, is the highest authority of the bishops’ conference outside the semi-annual sessions of the full body of bishops. The Committee’s membership consists of the elected chairmen of all the USCCB permanent committees and an elected bishop representative from each of the geographic regions of the USCCB.  Read on..

Retired Bishop John C. Reiss, who served as the eighth bishop of the Diocese of Trenton, died Sunday, March 4, 2012, at Morris Hall in Lawrenceville, N.J., at age 89. Bishop Reiss held the distinct honor of being the only priest born in the Trenton Diocese to serve as both an auxiliary bishop and then bishop in his home diocese. Read on...

Since we last wrote to you concerning the critical efforts we are undertaking together to protect religious freedom in our beloved country, many of you have requested that we write once more to update you on the situation and to again request the assistance of all the faithful in this important work. We are happy to do so now. Read on...

The final call has gone out to young, aspiring and seasoned filmmakers to enter their work in the third annual RE:IMAGE Film Festival, which will take place May 6 in Algonquin Arts Theater, Manasquan, from noon to 10 p.m. Read on...

The Diocese of Trenton, in conjunction with law enforcement agencies throughout the region, will host the 13th Annual Celebration of Law Enforcement March 20, 10:30 a.m. in St. Mary of Assumption Cathedral, 151 N. Warren St., Trenton. Offered in thanksgiving for the sacrifice and service to the communities given by police officers and law enforcement agents at every level, the celebration – also known as the Blue Mass – begins with a Mass celebrated by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. followed by a luncheon. Read on...

The Catholic bishops have long supported access to life-affirming healthcare for all, and the conscience rights of everyone involved in the complex process of providing that healthcare. That is why we raised two serious objections to the "preventive services" regulation issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in August 2011. Continue reading...

WASHINGTON— The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) sees initial opportunities in preserving the principle of religious freedom after President Obama’s announcement today. But the Conference continues to express concerns. “While there may be an openness to respond to some of our concerns, we reserve judgment on the details until we have them,” said Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan, president of USCCB. More...

Marriage as a union of a man and a woman has its roots in natural law.  Throughout all of human history marriage has been held to be a union of man and woman.  Marriage as a union of man and woman existed long before any nation, religion, or law was established.  Marriage which unites mothers and fathers in the work of childrearing is the foundation of the family and the family is the basic unit of society. More...

Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M., will lead a contingent of an estimated 2,000 Catholics of the Diocese of Trenton in the 39th annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. More...

Illness always seems different when it’s our own we are facing. As difficult as it may be to handle sickness in others, especially those we love most, an adverse medical diagnosis presented to us can be, no, is particularly sobering. Read on...

Great day for First Amendment, says Bishop Lori who chooses ministers, chooses message ‘Ministerial Exception’ grounded in First Freedom

WASHINGTON—“It’s a great day for the First Amendment,” said Bishop William E. Lori of Bridgeport, Connecticut, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee on Religious Liberty. More...

Happy New Year!

I am at the age now when “New Year’s Eve” finds me at home on the couch, snacking on Hickory Farms cheese and summer sausage with a Coke Zero chaser waiting for the “ball to drop” in Times Square on TV at midnight so that I can go to bed! This year was no exception although an added feature was my iPhone in hand furiously sending and receiving New Year’s greetings through the miracle of text messaging. More...

After more than two years of study and collaboration by the Catholic community in and around Asbury Park, it was announced by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. that two parish mergers will take place effective July 1, 2012. St. Peter Claver Parish, Asbury Park, will be merged into Holy Spirit Parish, Asbury Park, and Our Lady of Providence Parish, Neptune, will be merged into Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Asbury Park. MORE...

A message from Bishop O'Connell
“Please consider joining me on this special pilgrimage to the great Marian Shrines of France. As a member of St. Vincent de Paul's Congregation of the Mission, I would like to introduce you to our special devotion to the Mother of God, our mother”. Click HERE for more information.

A waiting world welcomes the dawn of salvation

I wake up very early most days.  I rarely, if ever, have to set my alarm clock.  I love the early morning when everything is peaceful and quiet.  And in the silence of those first moments, it seems that God and I have some of our best conversations.  My mind is not cluttered with schedules and busyness.  The crush of meetings, travel and the day’s activities appear far distant at that time.  I watch the dark of night slowly give way to the light of another day. More...

So many of us from the Philadelphia area have known Cardinal Foley for such a long time, a fixture there. He was always a "man of the Church" and a consummate gentleman.  I was always impressed by his kind and gentle manner. Although he had a profound and engaging intellect, he possessed a sense of humor that was quick and put people at ease.

He loved puns and limericks. He was as comfortable with popes and presidents as he was with simple, good people. He rose in the Church's hierarchical ranks but never forgot what it meant to be a priest and servant. His "voice" was the stuff of legends and became synonymous with Christmas Midnight Mass at St. Peter's. May he find peace with the Lord whom he loved.

Cardinal John P. Foley Obituary

Click HERE for the Diocese of Rockville Center Office of Communications media advisory and more information on where to watch the Solemn Funeral Mass for Cardinal John P. Foley.

Watch it now HERE.

By Michael C. Gabriele | Special Contributor and staff reports

NEWARK — The Catholic bishops of New Jersey have sounded an urgent alarm that the time is now to move forward in an interfaith, community-based approach to find ways to end poverty, which has gripped 800,000 residents of the Garden State.

Archbishop John J. Myers, president of the Trenton-based New Jersey Catholic Conference, and Auxiliary Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., chair of the NJCC’s Public Policy Committee, addressed the media on behalf of the state’s five arch/dioceses and two eparchies during a Nov. 21 press conference at the Archdiocesan Center. More...

A Statement on Poverty in New Jersey by The Catholic Bishops of New Jersey:
English (.pdf) | Spanish (.pdf)

The terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 in New York City, Washington and central Pennsylvania took a heavy toll on Catholics in the Diocese of Trenton as it did all Americans across the nation. 

But the fall of the Twin Towers was particularly devastating in parish communities of the diocese whose memberships included a significant number of New York City commuters. It was determined that some 160 persons who lived within the four counties of the diocese – Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean Counties – lost their lives in the attack, many of them hailing from Catholic parishes.

In remembrance of the lives lost, and in the spirit of forgiveness and healing, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. will lead the diocesan observance and commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks at the noon Mass, Sept. 11, in Mary, Mother of God Church, New Monmouth.

Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M., announced that Pope Benedict XVI has awarded papal honors to one priest and eight lay Catholic women and men in the Diocese of Trenton.

To celebrate the bestowal of the papal honors, Bishop O'Connell will preside at a special prayer service Sept. 8 at 7:30 p.m. in St. Ann Church, Lawrenceville.

WASHINGTON - Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), and Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas, chairman of Catholic Relief Services (CRS), have asked the bishops of the United States to encourage pastors and parishioners to support emergency relief efforts in the Horn of Africa, possibly by taking up a second collection.

WASHINGTON — Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the apostolic nuncio to the United States, died at Johns Hopkins Hospital July 27. He was 73. Staff at the nunciature, his residence in Washington, on July 22 asked for prayers of the Catholic community for him. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Gay rights activists filed suit June 29, 2011 in State Superior Court to overturn New Jersey's Civil Union law.  New Jersey passed a domestic partnership law in 2002 and legalized civil unions in 2006. Advocates for same sex marriage in New Jersey contend that the provisions in the civil union law do not ensure equal rights under the law and that only marriage can provide equality. An attempt to pass same sex marriage in New Jersey failed again in January, 2010.

TRENTON, N.J. -- Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M. ordained six men to the priesthood for service in the Diocese of Trenton during a Mass and ceremony June 4 in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral.

WASHINGTON—A landmark study by researchers at John Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City University of New York, which examined the causes and context of the clergy sexual abuse crisis in the U.S. Catholic Church, concluded that there was no single cause or predictor of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy. The report added that that situational factors and opportunity to abuse played a significant role in the onset and continuation of abusive acts.

Representing many different careers – in the corrections system, the Red Cross, state and federal agencies, trucking, newspaper publishing and the health care industry – and hailing from places nearby and far-reaching – including Philippines, Haiti, Guatemala, Uruguay, Nigeria and Brooklyn, N.Y. -- the 12 men who will be ordained this year as permanent deacons for service in the Diocese of Trenton make up a diverse and dedicated group.

Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., of the Diocese of Trenton will again take to the airwaves April 1 in his live, call-in radio show, “The Shepherd’s Voice” on Domestic Church Media Catholic Radio.  The show airs live every first Friday of the month from 3 to 4 p.m. on WFJS 1260 AM and 89.3 FM.  

The link to the website where it streams live is:  http://www.domesticchurchmedia.org/

The Diocese of Trenton will commemorate the May 1 Beatification of Pope John Paul II with a concelebrated Mass beginning at 11 a.m. in St. Hedwig Church, 872 Brunswick Avenue, Trenton.

Movie lovers with a hunger for entertaining films that pack an uplifting, faith-filled message can look forward to sitting back, grabbing some popcorn and enjoying a one-of-a-kind cinematic experience as the Diocese of Trenton’s second annual RE:IMAGE Film Festival unfolds in the Algonquin Arts Theater, Manasquan, April 16, from noon to 10 p.m.

The Diocese of Trenton, in conjunction with law enforcement agencies throughout the region, will host the Twelfth Annual Celebration of Law Enforcement April 5, 10:30 a.m. in St. Mary of Assumption Cathedral, 151 N. Warren St., Trenton. Offered in thanksgiving for the sacrifice and service to the communities given by police officers and law enforcement agents at every level, the celebration -- also known as the Blue Mass -- includes a Mass celebrated by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. followed by a luncheon.

Bishop brings together more than 900 students, educators and parents to celebrate gift of Catholic schools

For the first time in recorded history of the Diocese of Trenton, representatives from all of its Catholic schools gathered in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, to participate in a Catholic Schools Mass celebrated by their bishop.

For nearly 100 years, the pastoral needs of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Asbury Park, have been entrusted to the care of the Order of the Most Holy Trinity, which has shepherded the community of predominantly Italian immigrants through a century of growth, development and socioeconomic challenges.

Catholic men of all ages from Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean Counties are invited to come together for a day of prayer and fellowship at the 14th annual Catholic Men for Jesus Christ Men’s Rally.

Couples throughout the Diocese of Trenton will join their fellow Catholics worldwide on Feb. 13 in proclaiming the joy, sanctity and life-giving power of the sacrament of marriage during World Marriage Day observances.

In observance of World Day of the Sick, area health care providers and their spouses are invited to a Mass, sponsored by the Diocese of Trenton and celebrated by Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M., Feb. 11 at 6 p.m. in St. Robert Bellarmine Church, 61 Georgia Rd., Freehold.

The Aquinas Institute at Princeton University will present a lecture by Harvard law professor and former U.S. ambassador to the Holy See Mary Ann Glendon, entitled "Cicero and Burke on Politics as a Vocation," Feb. 7 at 4:30 p.m.

Special events planned under theme of ‘A+ for America, Catholic Schools’.  Students, educators and parents across Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean Counties will join in the national celebration of Catholic Schools Week, set for Jan. 30 to Feb. 5.

Marlene Lao-Collins, director for social concerns of the New Jersey Catholic Conference, has been named to the position of executive director of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton, replacing Francis E. Dolan upon his retirement March 11.

Seeking the help of Catholics across the Diocese of Trenton and members of the community at large, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. announced today an effort to raise $1 million to specifically fund the important and growing needs of Catholic education.

A Call for Entries is underway for the Diocese of Trenton’s 2011 diocesan RE:IMAGE Film Festival, which will take place April 16 beginning at noon in the historic Alogonquin Arts Theatre, 173 Main St., Manasquan.