On Dec. 15 in St. James Church, Pennington,
Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. gathered with seminarians from the Diocese of Trenton to celebrate Mass and the Rite of Candidacy and share a festive dinner filled with camaraderie. This annual Christmas tradition gives the Diocese’s seminarians an opportunity to come together to further their priestly formation and develop fraternal bonds, especially because they are studying at three different seminaries.
The Mass was celebrated for the third Sunday of Advent, known as Gaudete Sunday, and Bishop O’Connell, in his homily, spoke about homecoming and joy.
"When I think of Advent, I think of a homecoming," a return to the Church and all that it offers…a family of faith, things that are familiar, an opportunity to be at home with God and with one another, said Bishop O'Connell, "All these things we celebrate with joy.”
José Sánchez del Río was born in the western Mexican state of Michoacán de Ocampo on March 28, 1913. When the Cristero War erupted in 1926, he begged his mother to allow him to join his brothers as a soldier supporting Catholic efforts. She refused but he persisted. Even at his tender age, José possessed a remarkable faith. When his mother relented, the boy performed menial tasks for the Cristeros forces. His dedication to Christ the King — mature beyond his years — never wavered. Despite governmental prohibition of the public practice of religion, José attended Mass whenever possible, received Holy Communion and never hesitated to proclaim his faith.