BISHOP DAVID M. O’CONNELL, C.M., HAS SHARED THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE for the World Day of Prayer for Grandparents and the Elderly, July 23.
With a call to honor and never abandon grandparents, 86-year-old Pope Francis issued his third annual Message for World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly to be celebrated on the weekend of July 22-23, close to the feast of Jesus' own grandparents, Saints Joachim and Anne.
Taking as his theme “His mercy is from age to age (Luke 1:15),” the Holy Father wrote:
… let us remember that our life is meant to be lived to the full, and that our greatest hopes and dreams are not achieved instantly but through a process of growth and maturation, in dialogue and in relationship with others. Those who focus only on the here and now, on money and possessions, on “having it all now”, are blind to the way God works. His loving plan spans past, present and future; it embraces and connects the generations. It is greater than we are, yet includes each of us and calls us at every moment to keep pressing forward.
Read the full message HERE.BISHOP O’CONNELL IS AGAIN INVITING PARISHIONERS in the Diocese of Trenton to support the second annual collection for the Retired, Elderly and Infirm Priests Fund scheduled for Masses July 22 and 23. The collection is part of the diocesan observance of World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly – established in 2021 by Pope Francis to be held on or near the Feast of Jesus’ own grandparents, Saints Joachim and Anne. The collection, which will be taken up in all Catholic churches across Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean Counties, will be used to help fund the needs of the retired and elderly priests of the Diocese whose numbers have now reached 85.
In announcing this year’s collection, Bishop O’Connell stated, “As we celebrate the feast of the grandparents of Jesus, I am also mindful of the priests of the Diocese who have ‘borne the heat of the day’ in our parishes and institutions, serving and ministering to us and who are now retired. They are truly our ‘spiritual grandparents’. Many continue to offer Masses and share the Sacraments in our parishes.
“As Bishop, I invite all the clergy and faithful of the Diocese, once again, to show the generosity for which I have come to know you so well by contributing to the annual collection for the retired, elderly and infirm priests of the Diocese. They, too, deserve our love and gratitude in their twilight years!”
Learn more HERE.THE UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS’ OFFICE OF NATIONAL COLLECTIONS sent recognition July 12 of the Diocese of Trenton’s generous 2023 contribution to its Collection for the Church in Central and Eastern Europe. In total, faith communities of the Diocese contributed $73,802.65.
“I am grateful for your assistance in facilitating the generous gifts of the parishioners in your Diocese,” wrote Mary Mencarini Campbell, executive director of the USCCB Office of National Collections.
Contributions to the collection will help provide emergency relief to the people of Ukraine, rebuilding the Church in former Soviet-held Georgia, and other communities of the region that have been oppressed by communism, world wars and crimes against humanity. For more information on how aid is used, visit https://www.usccb.org/ccee.THE DIOCESAN DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT MINISTRIES announced that 20 high school teens from Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean Counties were recently honored with a St. Timothy Award, recognizing them as being a true witness to the Catholic faith and exhibiting outstanding service in their parishes, schools and wider communities.
This year’s honorees, all of whom are in high school or graduated this year, were nominated by their pastors or other parish staff, such as youth ministers, parish catechetical leaders or catechists, are actively involved in parish life in ministries such as youth group, liturgical or music ministries, as aides in the religious education program or Vacation Bible School. The St. Timothy Award is named after the disciple, St. Timothy. Many of the students are also active in their communities at school or in their towns and hold part-time jobs.