Bishop celebrated Christmas Mass, Pope released World Day of Peace message

More than 1,000 faithful from around the Diocese of Trenton gathered in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold Township, to welcome in Christmastide during the celebration of Midnight Mass by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M.

This was the first Christmas Vigil celebrated by Bishop O’Connell in St. Robert Bellarmine since the church’s formal elevation to the status of Co-Cathedral in 2017.

In his homily, Bishop O’Connell said, “The whole world becomes different at Christmas but truly, deeply, profoundly, only if we allow Christmas to touch us and move our hearts.”

The Bishop posed the question, “What about tomorrow and the day after and the day after that?” He continued, “Faith has to be stronger because of this night. Hope must be stronger because of this night. Love must be easier because of Christmas. Those things are the grace that has appeared for all people.”

Christmas “must continue to make those days different too, must continue to make us all different too or (Christmas) makes no difference at all,” he said.

You can read Bishop O’Connell’s full homily by following this link.

To see more photos from this Mass, click here.
 

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Parishes throughout the Diocese of Trenton worked hard to prepare a poignant and joyful celebration of the Christmas season for their communities. From choir concerts, beautifully decorated churches and special activities to commemorate the birth of Christ, each parish brings its own unique character to these sacred days.

The Monitor has compiled a collection of photo galleries depicting Christmastime around the Diocese that you can access here.
 

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Pope Francis shared a message for World Day of Peace, which is celebrated annually Jan. 1. The Pope's message, which focuses on "good politics at the service of peace," was released in Rome Dec. 18.

Pope Francis' wish and prayer for peace in 2019 "is that politics -- this oversight, through policies and laws, of resources of domestic, national and global households -- may bring peace to all the citizens of the households, especially its youth, who may not be robbed of their hope in the future, because politics is so badly done that it deprives them of peace."

In his message, Pope Francis also says that politics are the essential path for building up a "human community and institutions, but when political life is not seen as a form of service to society as a whole, it can become a means of oppression, marginalization and even destruction.”

To read Pope Francis’ message in full, please click here.