Essays and Messages

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and its Committee on Pro-Life Activities have encouraged the dioceses of the United States to join in fasting and prayer for a renewed national commitment to the sacredness of all human life from conception through natural death this Friday, May 13, the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima.  As Bishop of the Diocese of Trenton, I invite the clergy, religious and faithful of the Diocese to pray the Rosary this Friday, May 13, for this intention.  Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us!

“Religious Brothers Day,” celebrated on 1 May 2022, is an opportunity to celebrate and offer gratitude for the gift of religious brotherhood, a special vocation and call to men who offer their life in the service of God’s people through vows, prayer and the charisms of various religious orders.

Jesus said to Thomas: “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed!” ​​​​​​​ This line from today’s Gospel according to John catches my attention every time I hear it.  We are all familiar with the Gospel account of Thomas the Apostle who we refer to as the so-called “doubter.”  He is known as “doubting Thomas” and that expression has even found its way into our everyday conversation when we encounter those who don’t believe in something.

I was a freshman in high school when I first heard the word “ecology.” Our science teacher distributed a copy of a February 1970 TIME magazine article about American environmentalist Barry Commoner and his efforts to raise consciousness about the environmental crisis confronting the world. A few months later, the same science teacher spoke to us enthusiastically about the establishment of the first annual “Earth Day” in the United States on April 22, 1970.

St. Paul wrote, “If there is no Resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.  And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith (1 Cor 15: 13-14).” Those are some pretty big “ifs,” especially as we grapple with the damage from a lengthy pandemic and the reality of a war with worldwide ramifications.

IN HIS LETTER TO MOST REVEREND BORYS GUDZIAK, ARCHBISHOP OF UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC ARCHEPARCHY OF PHILADELPHIA, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., writes As Bishop of the Diocese of Trenton, I write to express my own prayerful support and that of my Diocese for you, the clergy and faithful of your Archeparchy and Ukraine. We are honoring the request of the Holy Father that we devote our prayers and fasting today as we begin the holy season of Lent for the cause of peace in Ukraine. I will offer noon Mass in the Cathedral here for that special intention.

In nostalgic moments, Catholics of my generation and older reflect on their experience of the Catholic Church while growing up. It would be no exaggeration to say that the scene looks very different now from that of the 40s, 50s and early 60s. When Catholics of my “vintage age” get together, it is not uncommon that these memories surface – good and/or bad – in conversation.

As the attention of the entire world is riveted on the unfolding military crisis in Ukraine, I ask all the faithful of the Diocese of Trenton to pray fervently for peace in that region of the world and the protection of our Ukrainian sisters and brothers there. In his General Audience in Rome on Wednesday, our Holy Father spoke of “the great pain in my heart because of the worsening situation in Ukraine.” 

With the Christmas Season behind us, Catholics enter into a period referred to as “Ordinary Time” in the Church’s liturgy.  In our vernacular usage, the word "ordinary" describes what is commonplace, "everyday" or without uniqueness or special distinction.