For the Church around the world, Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas, is celebrated Dec. 12, her feast day. But Catholics throughout the Diocese of Trenton have been celebrating the beloved tradition locally since October. The Diocese’s observance spanned some 50 churches, schools and other sites across Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean Counties, culminating locally in a 3.8 mile pilgrimage, featuring music, singing, dancing and prayer, through the streets in and around Trenton. Taking prayer requests collected from the Trenton celebration,
Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., led a diocesan delegation to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe outside Mexico City, visiting the sacred sites and remembering the messages of the Virgin of Guadalupe to the Mexican peasant, Juan Diego.
Go to
TrentonMonitor.com for
reportingand
photosfrom the Mexico pilgrimage. In its Dec. 13 issue,
The Monitorhas published a 16-page bi-lingual special section filled with stories and photos that chronicle the Diocese’s Guadalupe experience. The issue will be sent to all subscribers and parishes, and the special section will be distributed to the Hispanic Centers for Ministry throughout the Diocese of Trenton.
Registration is now open for the annual
Diocesan Youth Conference (DYC), slated for Feb. 9 in Holy Cross Prep Academy, Delran. Hosted by the
Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries, this year’s DYC theme is “Servant”, drawing inspiration from the bible verse Luke 1:38 when the Blessed Virgin Mary says, “ I am the servant of the Lord.”
The DYC is a gathering of the young Church of the Diocese of Trenton, and is an opportunity for students in grades 8-12 to encounter God in a new dynamic way through the gift of inspiring speakers, challenging witnesses and time with Christ in the Eucharist. There will be time for adoration, confession and Mass with Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M.
The keynote speaker for the event will be
Brian Greenfield, a national speaker who has been leading retreats for 20 years, and was most recently featured as the keynote speaker at the 2017 National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC).
Youth who are interested in attending the DYC are asked to contact their youth ministers or key parish leaders. Youth ministers will register the attendees and adult chaperones in the parish. If registered by Jan. 23, each registrant will receive a free DYC t-shirt. Cost is $25 per person if registering before Feb. 6. After Feb. 6, all registrations will be considered “walk-ins” and must be purchased the morning of the event at a cost of $35 per person.