Diocese hosts Church leaders, delegates for Regional Encuentro

The Church’s national initiative to strengthen ministry to the Hispanic Catholic community and equip its members to grow in faith and leadership took root locally April 28 as the Diocese of Trenton hosted the V Regional Encuentro for Region 3.

St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral in Freehold welcomed 355 delegates from throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania, along with many of their bishops for a day of prayer, fellowship, learning and consultation. Fifty delegates represented the Diocese of Trenton.

Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., formally welcomed the delegation during the 11 a.m. Mass. Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., of the Archdiocese of Newark, served as principal celebrant and homilist and was joined by Auxiliary Bishop Manuel A. Cruz of Newark; Bishop James F. Checchio of the Diocese of Metuchen; Bishop Dennis J. Sullivan of the Diocese of Camden; Auxiliary Bishop Edward M. Deliman of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, and Bishop Joseph Bambera of the Diocese of Scranton.

To watch the Concelebrated Mass during the Regional meeting, click here.

The Region 3 gathering is one of 14 across the country in advance of the national V Encuentro set for Sept. 20-23 in Grapevine, Texas.

For full coverage of this landmark gathering in Freehold, click here.