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‘24 Hours for the Lord’ • Rite of Election • New monsignor • Fund for those in need • Rice Bowl
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March 8, 2022BISHOP DAVID M. O’CONNELL, C.M., ANNOUNCED THAT the Diocese of Trenton will once again participate in Pope Francis’ Lenten initiative “24 Hours for the Lord,” a call to the Church at large to set aside an entire day for the celebration of Mass, Eucharistic Adoration and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
On March 25 numerous parishes of the Diocese will keep their doors open for worship and prayer. During this time, the faithful will have the opportunity to pray before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, reserved in the tabernacle or exposed in the monstrance. Confessions will also be made available during this period.
To view the schedule of the parishes hosting "24 Hours For the Lord," click HERE.
MORE THAN 162 MEN, WOMEN AND YOUNG PEOPLE from around the four-county Diocese took the next step in their journey to becoming Catholic when they gathered March 6 with Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold, for the Rite of Election.
There, the catechumens, supported by their sponsors, godparents, family members and parish ministers, declared their intention to become fully initiated “Catholic Christians” when they receive the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil, which this year is April 16.
“The name we focus upon today is that of Christian, Catholic Christian. The name Christian means ‘follower of Christ.’ Being a Catholic is how we do that, through the Catholic Church and its teachings, worship, practices, customs and laws,” Bishop O’Connell said in his homily. “Sometimes a name trumps other things. It is important. It is significant. It carries with it a depth of meaning and purpose and identity.”
Read the full story with links to the photo gallery HERE.
MSGR. DENNIS A. APOLDITE was named in October by Pope Francis as a Chaplain of His Holiness. Bishop O’Connell formally conferred papal honors as hundreds of people from around the Diocese gathered in Sacred Heart Church, Trenton.
Msgr. Apoldite, has been pastor of Sacred Heart Parish since 2007 and currently serves as episcopal vicar of Mercer County. Read more HERE.
REQUESTS ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED for grants from the Bishop George W. Ahr Endowment Fund. These grants are available to any parish, office, apostolate or ministry within the Diocese of Trenton attempting to provide services for individuals in need and vulnerable. Approximately $10,000 is available for distribution annually. The deadline to apply is Friday, June 3, 2022.
Applications may be downloaded HERE or obtained by contacting Grace Magee at the Chancery & Pastoral Center of the Diocese of Trenton, [email protected].
THE ANNUAL CRS RICE BOWL program returns this Lent to the Diocese of Trenton with a new option for giving that seeks to provide local impact.
Long celebrated as a means to alleviate poverty on a global level, Catholic Relief Services program is featuring a new 25 percent Initiative this year, which will allow parishes the choice of retaining a quarter of the collection for support of parish ministries working to stem hunger and need. This includes food pantries, St. Vincent de Paul conferences, soup kitchens and homeless shelters.
Father Michael Kennedy, diocesan director for CRS Diocese of Trenton, announced the new giving option in a letter to parish pastors.
“If your parishioners raise $5,000 using their Rice Bowls, your parish hunger and poverty ministries get $1,250 to serve your parish community,” he wrote. “Let us pray and fast for each other and our parishioners and let us give for the poor in our communities and around the world this Lent.”
Read more about Project Rice Bowl and the new parish initiative HERE.
