Throughout his papacy, our Holy Father Pope Francis has used the word “encounter” quite often in his homilies, addresses and writings, so much so that it might even be considered a “theme” of his pontificate. In this Jubilee Year, he has taken “hope” as his theme.

People will occasionally ask me what the letters “CM” mean after my name. As a member of a religious community in the Church, I am identified as belonging to that religious community by its initials. “CM” designates membership in the Congregation of the Mission, more popularly known as “the Vincentians.”

People will occasionally ask me what the letters “CM” mean after my name. As a member of a religious community in the Church, I am identified as belonging to that religious community by its initials. “CM” designates membership in the Congregation of the Mission, more popularly known as “the Vincentians.”

The Catholic Church teaches that parents are the primary educators of their children and have both the right and responsibility to direct their child’s education,” said Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Catholic Education. Bishop O’Connell offered the following comments in response to the Executive Order signed by President Trump, “Expanding Educational Freedom and Opportunity for Families.”

The Catholic Church teaches that parents are the primary educators of their children and have both the right and responsibility to direct their child’s education,” said Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Catholic Education. Bishop O’Connell offered the following comments in response to the Executive Order signed by President Trump, “Expanding Educational Freedom and Opportunity for Families.”

IN A LETTER TO ALL CATHOLIC SCHOOL COMMUNITIES IN THE DIOCESE OF TRENTON, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., marked the opening of the Jubilee Year’s Catholic Schools Week, which runs from Jan. 26 through Feb. 1. The Bishop expressed a sense of gratitude for all involved in the essential ministry of Catholic education, and assured them that he continues to pray for them.

In a letter to all Catholic school communities in the Diocese of Trenton, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., marked the opening of the Jubilee Year’s Catholic Schools Week, which runs from Jan. 26 through Feb. 1. The Bishop expressed a sense of gratitude for all involved in the essential ministry of Catholic education, and assured them that he continues to pray for them.

In a letter to all Catholic school communities in the Diocese of Trenton, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., marked the opening of the Jubilee Year’s Catholic Schools Week, which runs from Jan. 26 through Feb. 1. The Bishop expressed a sense of gratitude for all involved in the essential ministry of Catholic education, and assured them that he continues to pray for them.

Every generation has the obligation and responsibility to educate the next generation. That involves the teaching of subjects like math and science, language and literature, history and health, among others.

Every generation has the obligation and responsibility to educate the next generation. That involves the teaching of subjects like math and science, language and literature, history and health, among others.

Mindful of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) urgent declaration in 2023 that abortion would remain "a preeminent priority" for the Catholic Church in our country, I invite all the clergy and faithful of the Diocese of Trenton to join together prayerfully on this national "Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children."

Mindful of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) urgent declaration in 2023 that abortion would remain "a preeminent priority" for the Catholic Church in our country, I invite all the clergy and faithful of the Diocese of Trenton to join together prayerfully on this national "Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children."

ENCOURAGING CATHOLICS ACROSS THE NATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ANNUAL COLLECTION for the Church in Latin America the weekend of Jan. 25-26, Bishop Octavio Cisneros, auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Brooklyn, N.Y., and chair of the USCCB’s subcommittee for the Church in Latin America, said that “Catholics have always followed the teachings of Scripture and Tradition by recognizing Christ in the faces of our brothers and sisters. By helping those in need, we honor Christ and imitate him in teaching, preaching and living the Gospel.”

In Harper Lee’s 1960 novel “To Kill A Mockingbird,” Atticus Finch is appointed as defense lawyer for Tom Robinson, a black man falsely accused of raping a young white girl in Depression-Era Alabama. Toward the end of Chapter Three, Finch shares his uncompromisingly noble moral philosophy regarding racism and its attendant stereotyping with his six-year-old daughter, Scout. “You never really understand a person,” Atticus tells her, “Until you consider things from his point of view, until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.”

In Harper Lee’s 1960 novel “To Kill A Mockingbird,” Atticus Finch is appointed as defense lawyer for Tom Robinson, a black man falsely accused of raping a young white girl in Depression-Era Alabama. Toward the end of Chapter Three, Finch shares his uncompromisingly noble moral philosophy regarding racism and its attendant stereotyping with his six-year-old daughter, Scout. “You never really understand a person,” Atticus tells her, “Until you consider things from his point of view, until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.”