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Bishop O’Connell on Advent · Giving Tuesday · Papal honors bestowed · CCHD recipients announced
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December 3, 2024THE WORD “ADVENT” COMES FROM THE LATIN TERM ADVENTUS, literally meaning “coming to.” The four weeks of the season of Advent before Christmas create a unique season of hope-filled preparation for all of us in the Catholic Christian community — although it can easily be missed by society at large as simply an extended, early celebration of Christmas. True enough, Christ has come, and we should rejoice in his Incarnation every day of our lives. But Advent gives us all time for a prayerful “retelling” of the story of the “Hope of Israel.” We prepare ourselves for the commemoration of Christ’s coming in history in Bethlehem, his coming in mystery each day in the Church and the sacraments, and his coming in majesty at the end of time.
This year, permit me as your Bishop to offer some thoughts each week of Advent for your reflection, meditation and prayer, drawn from the Church’s rich spiritual treasury.
Read more HERE.
AS GIVING TUESDAY APPROACHES ON DEC. 3, Catholic grammar schools in the Diocese of Trenton are poised for the sixth year to campaign for donors to remember Catholic education through charitable gifts.
Now a global phenomenon, Giving Tuesday started in 2012 to prompt people to give to organizations that support their values, particularly on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. Comprising countless nonprofits and donors, the nomenclature follows the pattern of shopping days like Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday.
Campaign letters announcing Giving Tuesday went out to past supporters and other non-donors early in November. In 14 of the Diocese’s Catholic schools, students will help donation efforts by wearing wristbands promoting the Diocese’s LeadInFaith.org site, where collections for Giving Tuesday are directed.
Read more about Giving Tuesday in the Diocese of Trenton HERE.
DURING THE NOV. 30 ANTICIPATED MASS FOR THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT in St. Mary Church, Colts Neck, and during a Mass Dec. 1 in St. Joseph Church, Toms River, Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M., welcomed the Holy Season of Advent and also used the occasions to present papal honors to the pastors. Father Jeffrey Lee is pastor of St. Mary Parish, and Father Scott Shaffer is pastor of St. Joseph Parish.One of the highest honors bestowed by the Pope upon select members of the clergy and lay faithful is “The Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Medal.”
Translated “On Behalf of the Church and the Pope,” the honor recognizes long and distinguished service to the Catholic Church. The honor was first established by Pope Leo XIII in 1888 to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of his priestly ordination. Ten years later, Pope St. Pius X made it a permanent papal distinction.
Read more HERE.
RESPONDING TO NEEDS OF SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES IN THE DIOCESE OF TRENTON, the diocesan Office of Catholic Social Services has announced the programs that will receive grants from the 2023 collection for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.
As the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ domestic anti-poverty campaign, CCHD aims to support programs that uphold human dignity with a preferential option for the poor.
“In the Trenton Diocese, grants are awarded from those retained funds to support social service organizations helping to break the poverty cycle,” said Brenda Rascher, diocesan Office of Catholic Social Services’ executive director. “Those organizations considered for either a national or a local grant undergo a rigorous examination by a review committee to confirm eligibility and ensure their agreement with Catholic teaching.”
Seven applications for a grant from the 2023 CCHD funds were received in the Diocese, totaling $47,000.00 in requests.
Read about the grant recipients HERE.
