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Final Mass at St. Francis• Acolytes installed• Pro-Life event• Catechist formation• Priest Retreat
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December 15, 2022Nearly 150 years ago, a group of Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia were given $40 to start a school in the City of Trenton. But through their work and with the advisement of others, the Sisters realized they the city had a far greater need to address – healthcare. The Sisters’ efforts resulted in the establishment of the city’s first hospital in 1874 – later known as St. Francis Medical Center – which has stood ever since as a beacon of hope and healing as it served the health care needs of the city and surrounding county’s diverse population.
In his homily for a special Mass Dec. 13, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., praised the inspiring history and impactful legacy that St. Francis Medical Center has had on generations of people living in the region. It was to be the last Mass before Dec. 21 when St. Francis will cease to operate as an acute care hospital and instead merge into the Capital Health network of health care services.
Citing the well-known passage from Ecclesiastes, the Bishop began by proclaiming: “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” He acknowledged the mixed emotions experienced by many of those gathered in the medical center’s chapel. “This is a tough day. While there is sadness in our hearts as we reflect upon so many cherished memories, there is also a spirit of profound gratitude to God for all that has been accomplished here by so many, for so many,” he said.
Read more HERE.
Twelve men preparing to serve as deacons in the Diocese of Trenton reached a milestone in their formation Dec. 13 when Bishop O’Connellinstalled them into the Ministry of Acolyte during a Mass in St. Ann Church, Lawrenceville.
Acolytes are commissioned to serve at the altar and to assist the priest and deacon, and as special ministers to administer Holy Communion to the faithful during the liturgy and to the sick.
“My brothers, as acolytes, preparing for your ordination as deacons, you will be given the care and custody of the altar and what it contains and offers: the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ,” Bishop O’Connell, C.M., said in his homily.
The deacon candidates included: Nelson Abreu, Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony, Hamilton; Stuart Altschuler, Our Lady of Good Counsel, Moorestown; Mark Degenhart, St. James, Red Bank; Vincent Delle Grotti, Sr., St. Gregory the Great, Hamilton Square; Richard Gerbino, St. Mary, Colts Neck; Richard Huegi, St. Mary, Barnegat; John Italia, St. Paul, Princeton; Thomas McDonald, St. Mary of the Lakes, Medford; Edward Mayer, St. Mary of the Lakes, Medford; Michael Shuflat, St. Pius X, Forked River; Joseph Stillo, St. Mark, Sea Girt, and James Turro, St. Pio of Pietrelcina, Lavallette/Sacred Heart, Bay Head.
Continue reading HERE.
On Jan. 20, 2023, t
he faithful of the Diocese of Trenton will come together in prayer and solidarity to proclaim the sanctity of all human life.
All are invited to a Mass for Life celebrated by Bishop O’Connell in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold, beginning at 11 a.m.
Mass will be livestreamed on Youtube.com/trentondiocese
Lunch and seminar to follow, from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., featuring author and speaker Dr. Charles Camosy
Dr. Camosy’s talk and conversations that follow are intended to help us build a Culture of Life in this post-Roe world by working together as one church and stepping out of the politics and divisions that often separate us.
Advanced registration required for lunch and seminar. Click HERE to register.
A catechist formation day is planned March 18 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, 61 Georgia Road, Freehold. The event is co-sponsored by the diocesan Department of Catechesis and Loyola Press.
Designed to encourage and equip catechists in becoming more intentional in catechizing about the Eucharist to their learners, the day will include the celebration of Mass, lunch and breakout groups led by parish catechetical leaders, who will provide catechists with practical tips and ideas on how to make the Eucharist come alive in their teaching.
Keynote speaker for this formation day is Joe Paprocki, the National Consultant for Faith Formation for Loyola Press, where he works on the development team for faith formation curriculum resources, including “Finding God: Our Response to God’s Gifts.”
For more information and to register click HERE.
Holy Trinity Church, part of Christ the King Parish, Long Branch, was the site for this year’s “Advent Spirituality Day of Recollection for Priests” Dec. 15, sponsored annually by the Office of Clergy and Consecrated Life of the Diocese of Trenton.
Dominican Father Hyacinth Cordell, pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Philadelphia, Pa., was the featured guest speaker. Appropriate to the Eucharistic Revival occurring throughout the Catholic Church in the United States, Father Cordell took as his theme “The Transformative Effect of the Eucharist in the Life of the Priest.” Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., and 95 diocesan and religious order priests serving in the Diocese of Trenton participated.
In his talk, Father Cordell addressed the relationship of priests to the Blessed Trinity and the role the sacraments he administers to his parishioners play in his life and ministry. He also discussed the spiritual motivation for developing good health habits including diet and exercise as well as daily prayer habits.
Read more HERE.
