More than 700 gather with Bishop for annual Catholic Schools Mass

St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral in Freehold was filled to capacity Oct. 11 as more than 700 representatives of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Trenton gathered  for the annual Catholic Schools Mass. Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., was principal celebrant and homilist for the annual celebration that brought the school community together in prayer, to give thanks for the gift of Catholic schools. 
 
Students, educators and parent volunteers hailing from 40 schools throughout the Diocese’s four counties began the event with the recitation of a decade of the Rosary and talk about the Missions in advance of World Mission Sunday Oct. 21. Schools and parish religious education programs that collected the most money for the Missions were acknowledged.
 
Attending schools were represented in a Procession of School Banners leading into the Mass, which was concelebrated by more than 50 priests of the Diocese.
 
In his homily, Bishop O’Connell noted that Catholic schools afford students the freedom to learn and speak about God.  He added, “Catholic schools teach us that everything is a gift from God: our lives, our minds, our souls, our hearts, our emotions, our talents; and every gift has a special purpose also given us by God.  We celebrate our Catholic schools because they are God’s gift, the Church’s gift to us and we, in turn, are God’s gift and hope and blessing to our world!”
 
A highlight of the Mass was the announcement of five schools in the Diocese of Trenton that were just recognized as 2018 National Blue Ribbon Schools.
 
The Mass was seen on live video stream by schools across the Diocese and many viewers at home. To replay the video, click here.
 
The Monitor will provide expanded coverage on the Mass. Go to TrentonMonitor.com for reporting and photo galleries, which will be available beginning Oct. 12.