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Blessed Pope Paul VI, scheduled to be canonized a saint on October 14 of this year, was the first pope I ever saw in person. The date was May 25, 1975. The place was St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome at the canonization Mass for Saints Juan Garcia Lopez-Rico, O.SS.T., and Vincenta Maria Lopez y Vicuña. I had no particular attachment to either new saint but just happened to be in Rome at the time, prior to entering the novitiate of the Congregation of the Mission (C.M.). I did have an attachment to Pope Paul VI, however, who was Pope since I first entered the seminary in 1969. I admired him greatly.

Blessed Pope Paul VI, scheduled to be canonized a saint on October 14 of this year, was the first pope I ever saw in person. The date was May 25, 1975. The place was St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome at the canonization Mass for Saints Juan Garcia Lopez-Rico, O.SS.T., and Vincenta Maria Lopez y Vicuña. I had no particular attachment to either new saint but just happened to be in Rome at the time, prior to entering the novitiate of the Congregation of the Mission (C.M.). I did have an attachment to Pope Paul VI, however, who was Pope since I first entered the seminary in 1969. I admired him greatly.

El beato Papa Pablo VI, quien será canonizado a la santidad el 14 de octubre de este año, fue el primer papa a que yo conocí en persona. Pasó el 25 de marzo de 1975 en la Basílica San Pedro en Roma durante la Misa de canonización de los Santos Juan García López-Rico, O.SS.T., y Vicenta María López y Vicuña. Por casualidad me encontré en Roma antes de que yo entrara a noviciado de la Congregación de la Misión (C.M.), no era que me sentía especialmente cerca a ninguno de los santos. Sin embargo, yo sí me sentía muy conectado al papa Pablo VI, que era el papa cuando entré al seminario en el 1969. Yo le admiraba muchísimo.

OLPH-St Agnes, serving families in Ocean County, is looking for a full-time Director of Religious Education or DRE.   The DRE will work closely with the pastor to coordinate all aspects of the religious education program for children in first through Confirmation (eighth) grades. This individual will be responsible for the sacramental preparation of the children and their families and for the recruitment, training, certification and spiritual formation of the Catechists. is individual will work with the Coordinator of Youth Ministry to insure that the parish maintains a vibrant youth program and act as the liaison between the Diocesan Office of Catholic Schools and the parish.              

On July 18, over 400 seniors gathered in St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square yesterday for the “Senior Spirituality Day and So Much More” event hosted by the Department of Pastoral Care.

El gran regalo de envejecer es una tesorería de recuerdos, recuerdos de familiares y amigos, recuerdos de celebraciones alegres y momentos difíciles, recuerdos que nos hacen reír y sonreír, recuerdos que nos hacen llorar, recuerdos de una vida larga compuesta de décadas del pasado y que nos sostienen ahora en el presente hacia el futuro. Algunas de las personas más cercanas han fallecido y están con Dios mientras otras aún nos rodean con amor. Oramos por todas ellas. Hoy es una celebración de todos nuestros recuerdos y del Dios que nos brindó todos los dones que han llenado nuestras vidas. Hoy es una celebración de la fe que nos une en el presente y de nuestra gratitud por esa fe.

The great gift of growing older is a cherished treasury of memories, memories of family and friends, memories of joyful celebrations and difficult moments, memories that make us laugh and smile, memories that bring a tear to our eyes, memories of a long life most of which has filled decades of our past and which sustain us in the present, for the future. Some of the people closest to us have gone home to God while many others continue to surround us with love. We pray for them all. Today is a celebration of all our memories and of the God who gave us all the gifts that have filled our lives. Today is a celebration of the faith that joins us all together in the present and of our gratitude for that faith.

St. Mary of the Lake has available a part time position for a School Bookkeeper.  The bookkeeper is responsible to the Business Administrator and Parish Bookkeeper to manage the school’s financial record keeping, process tuition payments, create purchase orders, order school books/supplies and reconcile school class accounts.  Oversee vendor contracts, assist with the preparation of the school budget, process school stewardship queries and support the order process for the school carnival. 

Con un saludo al pasado y esperanza abundante para el futuro, los católicos de Keyport abrieron una puerta a un nuevo capítulo en la vida de su comunidad el 1 de julio bajo el nuevo patrocinio de Nuestra Señora de Fátima.

Bringing good news for Catholic schools across New Jersey, the state budget signed by Gov. Phil Murphy July 1 will restore full funding for nonpublic school transportation, technology and nursing and retain funding for security.

The annual “Senior Spirituality and So Much More” Day, is scheduled for July 18 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in St. Gregory the Great Church and parish hall, Hamilton Square. Sponsored by the diocesan Department of Pastoral Care, the event is intended for adults ages 55 and over and features speakers and musical entertainment designed with seniors in mind.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help, a preschool through eighth grade school in Maple Shade, NJ is seeking an enthusiastic and committed preschool teacher for the 2018-2019 school year

The Diocese of Trenton is seeking applications for the position of Director of the Department of Catechesis

We are witnesses to history in the making in the Diocese of Trenton. We hold in prayer the 14 former parish communities who, this past weekend, became seven new merged parishes as part of the Diocese's Faith in Our Future process. They are:

La Iglesia acaba de celebrar la Solemnidad de los Santos Pedro y Pablo el 29 de junio, conmemorando el martirio de los Apóstoles, San Pedro como el líder de los Apóstoles y San Pablo como el Apóstol a las Naciones. Cada año, se reconoce esta solemnidad como día feriado en Roma y suele marcar el principio de las vacaciones veraniegas para los oficiales del Vaticano después de una Misa pública celebrada por el Santo Padre en la Basílica San Pedro.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Maple Shade is seeking an enthusiastic and committed first grade teacher for the 2018-2019 school ye

A message from Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M. The Church just observed the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul on June 29, commemorating the martyrdom of the Apostles, St. Peter as Chief of the Apostles and St. Paul as the Apostle to the Nations. Each year, this solemnity is a national holiday in Rome and has traditionally marked the beginning of the summer vacation period for Vatican officials following a public Mass celebrated by the Holy Father in St. Peter’s Basilica.

Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. reflected on the subject of joy after paying a visit to the Sisters of Life, June 23, at their Motherhouse in Suffern, New York. There, he celebrated Mass during which the renewal of vows for four of the sisters was conducted.

A message from Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M. It is not often that I am surrounded by the experience of pure joy. My visit to the Motherhouse of the Sisters of Life in Suffern, New York, this past Saturday was such an occasion. Mother Agnes Mary Donovan, SV, Superior General, invited me late last year to celebrate Mass for her Sisters of Life during which four of the Sisters would renew their vows. The special attraction of her invitation was the opportunity to celebrate Mass for the Sisters on the altar I gave them from the chapel of the Bishop’s Mansion in Trenton along with a tabernacle for reservation of the Blessed Sacrament.

Five priests who have been assigned by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M as first-time pastors or administrators gathered this week for a two-day orientation session. Based in Spring Lake, the June 20 and 21 event featured presentations by the Bishop and other diocesan leaders, clergy and laity, who provided insights and experience to benefit the new parish leaders in the months and years to come.