Aun puedo escuchar su voz, tan dulce y suave. Su rostro está siempre en el ojo de mi mente al recordar sus ojos brillantes y sonrisa alegre. Nunca había duda de su amor por su familia. Éramos su vida, mis hermanos y yo, y la extrañamos cada día.

I can still hear her voice, so sweet and gentle. Her face is always in my mind’s eye as I remember her bright eyes and happy smile. There was never a doubt how much she loved her family. We were her life, my brothers and I, and we miss her every day.

Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., issued instructions for the reopening of churches in the Diocese of Trenton for private prayer only, following all public health guidelines. The reopening may happen as early as May 13, the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, or once pastors determine they can safely do so. 

Cada católico fiel ha anticipado el día cuando podremos reabrir nuestras iglesias para la oración y la liturgia. Contrario a lo que algunos piensan o sienten, abrir nuestras iglesias parroquiales no será nada fácil. Se tiene que considerar muchas precauciones para poder asegurar la salud y seguridad de los fieles antes de abrir las iglesias. No trata solamente de abrir las puertas y “prender la luz”. Reabrir las iglesias para la oración privada – sin la Misa, los Sacramentos, los grupos de oración – todavía requiere incorporar algunas de las restricciones que hemos practicado durante estos meses: no más de 10 personas en el espacio al mismo momento, llevar máscaras en público, la distancia social, etc.

Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., has issued instructions for the reopening of churches in the Diocese of Trenton for private prayer only, following all public health guidelines, beginning May 13, the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima or following, once pastors determine they can safely do so.

Los expertos nacionales de salud y científicos siguen expresando preocupaciones graves de que la proliferación del COVID-19 ni es cerca de terminar. Están de acuerdo de que la mitigación y otras medidas que se ha tomado por el país han funcionado, pero todavía urgen a las personas no complacerse sobre este virus tan contagioso. Algunos expertos se preocupan de que nos encontramos frente a “muchos meses más” con la proliferación del coronavirus.

National health experts and scientists continue to express grave concerns that the spread of COVID-19 is far from over. While they agree that mitigation and the other precautions that have been taken throughout the country seem effective, they are urging people not to lower their guard about this exceedingly contagious virus.  Some experts fear that we are facing a “slow burn” in the U.S. with coronavirus continuing to spread “for many months to come.”  

Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., has announced the following clergy appointments, effective July 1, 2020.

Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., announced May 1 that Dr. Vincent de Paul Schmidt has been selected as the Diocese’s new superintendent of Catholic schools. Dr. Schmidt will fill the position being vacated by JoAnn Tier, who is retiring at the end of June. Tier has served the Department of Catholic Schools for 20 years, 11 of which were as superintendent.

As the Lord Jesus was dying on the Cross, he looked down and saw his Beloved Mother standing next to John, his Beloved Disciple.  In his final moments, their eyes met, and Jesus spoke: “Women, behold your son … son, behold your Mother.”  In those sad but powerful words of love, John became a symbol of the whole Church for all time.  Jesus gave the Church to his Mother … and his Mother to the Church.  It was the Lord’s dying wish; it was the Lord’s dying prayer; it was his dying gift!

The coronavirus pandemic that has gripped most of the world is a crisis on so many levels that very few parts of our society have been spared its impact.  Our own state has been one of the regions in our country hardest hit, so much so, that the things that have been, and are, an ordinary part of our everyday life have been put “on hold” in virtually every sphere of endeavor, including our life in the Church.