Few would argue that the pastoral visit of His Holiness Pope Francis for the World Meeting of Families 2015 did not move our hearts deeply. The reason? Because Pope Francis moved our hearts deeply.
As Bishop of the Diocese of Trenton, I have the joyful privilege of extending to our Holy Father Pope Francis a heartfelt word of welcome to the United States of America on behalf of all the clergy, religious and lay faithful of the Diocese.
The revisions of canon law concerning the marriage annulment process promulgated by Pope Francis in his September 8 motu proprio letter Mitis Iudex Dominus Jesus (The Lord Jesus, the Meek Judge) take effect December 8, 2015. Until that date, the annulment process in the Diocese of Trenton will continue as it currently exists and those with cases currently pending will not be affected.
Our Holy Father Pope Francis has issued a letter pertaining to the upcoming Holy Year of Mercy which begins December 8, 2015 and ends November 20, 2016. In this letter, the Pope extends universally to all priests during the Holy Year the faculty or power to absolve in the Sacrament of Penance / Reconciliation those who confess the sin of abortion with true contrition and to lift the penalty of excommunication attached to it, without first having to obtain permission of the Diocesan Bishop.
As much as we love summers at the shore in New Jersey, the devastation of Hurricane Sandy remains etched in our memories. How could we ever forget that natural disaster of late October 2012 and the destruction left in its wake?