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LISTEN TODAY TO “THE SHEPHERD’S VOICE” which airs on First Fridays at 3 PM and encores Saturdays 4 PM, Sundays 10 AM and Mondays 8 AM on Domestic Church Media.

During these high holy days celebrated by our Jewish brothers and sisters, our Holy Father has called upon all Catholics to pray and, if possible, to fast on October 7, 2024, the first anniversary of the terrorist attack on Israel. Days of fasting and prayer for warzones have been a constant throughout the pontificate of Pope Francis. “On October 7,” the Holy Father pleaded, “I ask everyone to live a day of prayer and fasting for peace in the world. … There is a need for this, especially in this dramatic hour of our history, while the winds of war and the fires of violence continue to disrupt entire peoples and nations.”

The Catholic Church has been blessed with the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God through the Rosary since the early 13th century when, according to Catholic tradition, she appeared to St. Dominic (1170-1221) in 1214 offering him the idea of the Rosary. There are various legends and stories regarding how the Rosary initially came to be but its current form of 15 mysteries called “decades” – five joyful, five sorrowful, five glorious– was formally established by Pope Pius V (1504-72) in 1569. Pope St. John Paul II added five “luminous” mysteries to the decades of the Rosary in 2002.

I was driving back from a priest’s funeral on Long Beach Island last week. Now those of you who have made that trip know that you pass through a long, monotonous stretch of New Jersey called “the Pinelands.” Driving along, my attention was drawn to a huge billboard ---appearing out of nowhere --- reaching across the pine trees, posting a picture of a mother holding her newborn child with the words, “Duty to Protect” printed across the picture in big, white letters. For the last week, knowing that this Mass was coming, I could not get that image and those words out of my mind. “Duty to Protect.”

Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M., has shared this message for Respect Life month. The atmosphere in society today is charged with words and with the realities conveyed by these words: change, accountability, responsibility and, above all, hope! The people of life and for life (cf. Evangelium Vitae, n. 78) are fundamentally a people of hope! We are people of life and for life because we are a people of hope.

I was driving back from a priest’s funeral on Long Beach Island last week. Now those of you who have made that trip know that you pass through a long, monotonous stretch of New Jersey called “the Pinelands.” Driving along, my attention was drawn to a huge billboard ---appearing out of nowhere --- reaching across the pine trees, posting a picture of a mother holding her newborn child with the words, “Duty to Protect” printed across the picture in big, white letters. For the last week, knowing that this Mass was coming, I could not get that image and those words out of my mind. “Duty to Protect.”

Catholic faithful and pro-life advocates from across the state will gather in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral Sept. 26 for the first statewide Mass for Life ahead of the NJ March for Life in Trenton. Thousands are expected to convene in the state’s capitol to pray at Mass, hear speeches at a rally and offer peaceful witness to the sanctity of unborn life while they march along a one-mile trek through the city.

CATHOLIC FAITHFUL AND PRO-LIFE ADVOCATES FROM ACROSS THE STATE will gather in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral Sept. 26 for the first statewide Mass for Life ahead of the NJ March for Life in Trenton. Thousands are expected to convene in the state’s capitol to pray at Mass, hear speeches at a rally and offer peaceful witness to the sanctity of unborn life while they march along a one-mile trek through the city.

Anticipation is growing as pro-life advocates from across New Jersey prepare to convene in the state capitol as peaceful witnesses for New Jersey’s first annual Mass for Life and March for Life Sept. 26.

It has become almost normative these days for political candidates of every stripe to end their speeches at campaign appearances, town halls or rallies with some form of the expression “God bless you and/or God bless the United States of America.” Perhaps you, too, have noticed its appearance more frequently than in the past. I actually wait for it now while watching television broadcasts of these events, especially in this election year.

A MESSAGE FROM BISHOP DAVID M. O’CONNELL, C.M., ON FAITHFUL CITIZENSHIP It has become almost normative these days for political candidates of every stripe to end their speeches at campaign appearances, town halls or rallies with some form of the expression “God bless you and/or God bless the United States of America.” Perhaps you, too, have noticed its appearance more frequently than in the past. I actually wait for it now while watching television broadcasts of these events, especially in this election year.

As Bishop O’Connell and the priests of the Diocese of Trenton gather together for their annual convocation, they offer their Mass and prayers on the 23rd anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, for the victims, their families and all those impacted, especially those from within our Diocese.

I had the privilege of celebrating Mass at the Chancery for all the principals of our 31 Catholic schools in the Diocese on August 19, joined by superintendent Dr. Vincent Schmidt and assistant superintendents Daniel O’Connell and Bonnie Milecki from our Department of Catholic Schools. It was wonderful to experience their excitement and enthusiasm for the coming school year.

A message from Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. This year’s World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, September 1, 2024, continues the annual tradition established by our Holy Father Pope Francis after the release of his May 24, 2015 encyclical “Laudato Si’: Care of Our Common Home.” Each year for September 1, Pope Francis selects a theme and publishes a message which “focuses on care for the natural environment and all people, as well as broader questions of the relationship between God, humans, and the earth (Christopher Rice, “Best Summary of “Laudato Si’”,May 5, 2022).

This year’s World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, September 1, 2024, continues the annual tradition established by our Holy Father Pope Francis after the release of his May 24, 2015 encyclical “Laudato Si’: Care of Our Common Home.” Each year for September 1, Pope Francis selects a theme and publishes a message which “focuses on care for the natural environment and all people, as well as broader questions of the relationship between God, humans, and the earth (Christopher Rice, “Best Summary of “Laudato Si’”,May 5, 2022).