For nearly a half century, the Catholic Church in the United States has celebrated National Migration Week, which is an opportunity for the Church community to reflect on the circumstances confronting migrants, including immigrants, refugees, children and victims and survivors of human trafficking.

¡Feliz Año Nuevo! Estoy de la edad ya en que la Víspera del Año Nuevo me encuentra en casa en el sillón, comiendo bocadillos y esperando que bajara la bola en Nueva York para poder ir a la cama.

Happy New Year! I am at the age now when New Year’s Eve finds me at home on the recliner, 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.

¡Feliz Navidad! “En verdad, Dios ha manifestado a toda la humanidad su gracia, la cual trae salvación”, escribió San pablo a Tito en la segunda escritura de hoy, “mientras aguardamos la bendita esperanza, es decir, la gloriosa venida de nuestro gran Dios y Salvador Jesucristo. Esto es lo que celebramos esta noche...

Sometimes, when we’re all alone, we hear things differently, more clearly than when we’re surrounded by others in a crowded room, in a class, or in an office where the phone keeps ringing and people file in and out. Things sound different when on a busy street, a crowded train or bus, or maybe sitting in traffic that doesn’t seem to move. Sometimes an empty church may be the place where things sound different than they do when preachers preach and choirs sing.

 Donovan Catholic High School in Toms River is seeking a qualified applicant to fill the position of Part-Time Religion Teacher effective January 2020

Donovan Catholic High School in Toms River is seeking an individual to assume the responsibilities of Vice Principal.

Donovan Catholic High School in Toms River is seeking a qualified applicant to fill the position of Database Administrator starting January 2020 

I don’t know how you feel but preparations for Christmas seem to be coming earlier and earlier every year. The leaves haven’t even begun to change color and fall from the trees when evergreens and Christmas lights find their way into malls and department stores.

Yo no sé cómo se sienten ustedes pero me parece a mía que las preparaciones navideñas empiezan más temprano cada año. Las hojas ni han empezado a cambiarse de color y caerse de los árboles y ya vemos arboles pinos y luces navideñas en los malls y mercados.

El viernes, 13 de diciembre, nuestro Santo Padre Papa Francisco celebra su quincuagésimo aniversario al sacerdocio. Los aniversarios son hitos en todas nuestras vidas y ciertamente merecen nuestra atención. Dado que el papa Francisco, como Vicario de Cristo y Sucesor de San Pedro, es el Padre y el Pastor de la Iglesia Católica de por todo el mundo, debemos celebrar este hito maravilloso con él en oración.

On Friday, December 13, our Holy Father Pope Francis celebrates his Fiftieth Anniversary of Ordination to the Priesthood. Anniversaries are milestones in all of our lives and certainly worthy of our notice. Because Pope Francis, as Vicar of Christ and Successor of St. Peter, is the Father and Shepherd of the Catholic Church throughout the world, we should celebrate this wonderful milestone with him in prayer.

Faced with declining enrollment and significant financial shortfalls, two Catholic elementary schools in the Diocese of Trenton will close this June. The news was shared Dec. 10 in separate meetings with the faculty, staff and families of Pope John Paul II Regional School in Willingboro, which is overseen by the Diocese, and Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Maple Shade, which is sponsored by OLPH Parish.

The Catholic Church does not seek to dominate, control or convert the United States of America as a whole or any individual state within it, including New Jersey. It merely wants its members to be allowed to live and practice their faith in the freedom that was envisioned, encouraged and enjoyed by American citizens from the very beginning of our country, without governmental interference. That is all.

State residents are being urged to contact their state senators in opposition to a bill that would force Catholic organizations such as schools, dioceses and social service agencies to offer employees health benefits that violate fundamental Catholic principles.

La Diócesis de Trenton se une a las otras diócesis católicas de New Jersey en seguir nuestro alcance a víctimas de abuso sexual por el clero. Nuestra meta ha sido y sigue siendo ofrecer sanación y justicia a las personas que han sido abusadas sexualmente cuando fueran menores de edad y, a la vez, proveer cada esfuerzo para proteger a nuestros niños y prevenir que el abuso pase de nuevo dentro de la Iglesia Católica y sus instituciones.

The Diocese of Trenton joins with the other Roman Catholic Dioceses of New Jersey in continuing our outreach to victims of clergy sexual abuse.  Our goal has been and remains to offer healing and justice to those who have been sexually abused as minors, while making every effort to protect our children and to prevent such abuse from ever happening again within the Catholic Church and its institutions. 

I confess, I’m guilty. Once Thanksgiving is over my thoughts turn to Christmas. I put up my tree and decorate the house for that “most wonderful time of the year.” I pull out my Christmas CDs and watch all those great Christmas specials and movies on TV. All these preparations —-admitted secular —- put me in a happy frame of mind and give me a good feeling to welcome my favorite holiday. I don’t want to miss a minute!

I love holidays and all the traditions that make them special and different from other days in the calendar. One of my favorites is Thanksgiving! Three things single out the last Thursday in November for me: FAITH, FAMILY AND FOOD!

In his 2019 message for World Day of Prayer for Vocations, our Holy Father Pope Francis wrote: The Lord’s call is not an intrusion of God in our freedom; it is not a “cage” or a burden to be borne. On the contrary, it is the loving initiative whereby God encounters us and invites us to be part of a great undertaking. He opens before our eyes the horizon of a greater sea and an abundant catch. … We are called to be bold and decisive in seeking God’s plan for our lives. Gazing out at the vast “ocean” of vocation, we cannot remain content to repair our nets on the boat that gives us security, but must trust instead in the Lord’s promise.