News RSS Feed

St. Michael’s Church in Long Branch, New Jersey is accepting applications for the position of Director of Religious Education (DRE). The Director will be responsible for all Faith Formation programs, including grades K-8, Adult Faith Formation, RCIA and Vacation Bible School. The position requires a Master Degree in Religious Education or related field, as well as significant experience in parish ministry. The DRE will promote the catechetical guidelines of the Diocese of Trenton that will promote and preserve our Faith for the Future.

Please hold in prayer Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., and the four transitional deacons who are completing their journeys towards the priesthood June 2 as they participate in a retreat this week to prepare for ordination.

“Big title, big topic!” Those are the words of Bishop O’Connell as he explains and reflects on ethical discernment when it comes to economics, finance based on a document released May 17 by the Holy See

On Thursday, May 17, two Vatican departments — the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development — released a jointly issued document from Jan. 6 entitled “Oeconomicae et pecuniariae quaestiones: Considerations for an Ethical Discernment Regarding Some Aspects of the Present Economic-Financial System (hereinafter, CED).”

Taking the next step on his journey toward the priesthood, diocesan seminarian Christopher Pinto will receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders when he is ordained a deacon by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. during a 10 a.m. Mass on May 19 in St. Raphael-Holy Angels Church, Hamilton.

Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., gathered with diocesan officers May 15 to formally sign the decrees for the mergers that will create seven new parish communities out of 14. The mergers, which take effect July 1, 2018, are part of a multi-year implementation phase that followed the Diocese’s Faith in Our Future pastoral planning initiative.

Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., gathered with diocesan officers May 15 to formally sign the decrees for the mergers that will create seven new parish communities out of 14.

Come Holy Spirit, Renew the Hearts of your Faithful! Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M., offers his reflection as the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of Pentecost, the end of the Easter Season.

The Easter Season comes to an end as the Church celebrates the Solemn Feast of Pentecost, traditionally called the “birthday of the Church.” Before returning to his Father, Jesus promised in the Gospel of John that he would send the Holy Spirit to those who believe in him (John 7: 39); that he would ask the Father to give us another, the Advocate, to be with us forever — the Spirit of Truth (John 14: 16-17); that he would not leave us orphans: “I will come to you (John 14: 18),” that when the Spirit comes, “he will guide you into all Truth (John 16: 13).” As Jesus ascended into heaven, described in the Gospel of Matthew, he proclaimed, “Behold, I will be with you always, even until the end of time (Matthew 28: 20).”

The New Jersey Catholic Conference and the New Jersey Network of Catholic School Families seek to restore the per-pupil transportation ceiling to $1,000 by using funds currently in the Fiscal Year 2019 Governor’s Budget. Among the various issues currently facing our Catholic School student population, this is THE major issue for the Catholic schools.

The Jersey Shore parishes of Ascension/St. Elizabeth, St. Catharine-St. Margaret, St. Mark and St. Rose, located in southern Monmouth County, are looking for a dynamic, energetic and passionate individual to develop and coordinate youth ministry programs that will foster personal and spiritual growth for our teens. The Director of Youth Ministry will provide support to the individual parish youth ministry coordinators and organize programs both within and across this group of parishes.

Catholic Communications Campaign slated for this weekend, Bishop O'Connell hosts a breakfast meeting with New Jersey Legislators and the Chancery offices are closed for the holiday weekend.

Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., shares a personal reflection for this Mother’s Day about his relationship with his own mother and the gift that all mothers truly are to us. “Mothers’ Day brings a million cherished memories to mind every year, a few quiet tears, yes, but many, many more smiles. That’s what it’s supposed to do”.

I miss her every day. It’s been three years since my Mother passed away. I still find it hard to believe she is gone. She was a wonderful Mom who loved her husband and family without reservation. That’s what mothers do. That’s who mothers are. Unconditional love. Mothers’ Day has come once again and our attention turns to the women who gave us life, who took care of us, who raised us and who stood beside us come what may. What a blessing our mothers are, what a gift from God. They deserve more than a single day set aside in their honor. We owe them a lifetime of gratitude and love.

In the latest installment of The Shepherd’s Voice on Domestic Church Media, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., discusses with co-host Jim Manfredonia just some of the many events, programs and initiatives that make this one of the busiest times of the year.

“Hearts to Hospitals: Hearts to Lead – Hands to Help,” was a coordinated effort to collect and package gifts for hospitalized children . The 31 Catholic grammar schools in the Diocese of Trenton collected over 10,000 gifts and $11,000 in gift cards to be distributed to hospitals in the diocese.

Diocesan departments and ministries are busy preparing for a full slate of activities in May. Her is a sampling:

Bishop David M. O'Connell released the following message on honoring Mary during the month of May:

Love for Mary, the Blessed Mother of the Lord Jesus Christ, is as natural to the Christian as love for one’s own mother. Mary is, after all, the Mother of the Lord and he is, at once, our Savior and our Brother. “We never give more honor to Jesus than when we give honor to his Mother and we honor Her simply and solely to honor Him all the more perfectly. We go to Her only as a way leading to the goal we seek, Jesus Her Son (St. Louis Marie de Montfort).” We worship him as God. We love her as his Mother.

St. Mary of the Lakes in Medford, a growing parish of 4,200 families with a school of 275 students, seeks one full-time dynamic Administrative Assistant for the parish office.