More than 1,000 faithful from around the Diocese of Trenton gathered in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold Township, to welcome in Christmastide during the celebration of Midnight Mass by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. This was the first Christmas Vigil celebrated by Bishop O’Connell in St. Robert Bellarmine since the church’s formal elevation to the status of Co-Cathedral in 2017.
In my Christmas Message to the Diocese this year, I wrote “The whole world becomes different at Christmas.” Those are my words, yes, but they are not my idea. The prophet Isaiah —- 800 years before the birth of Christ —- expressed the idea this way, as we heard in our First Reading tonight, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” Light makes the dark world “different.” It enables people to see. And what do we see at Christmas? “A child is born for us,” Isaiah explains, “A son is given us. Upon his shoulders dominion rests.” This is what we see; this is whom we see at Christmas. A Child. A Son. “They name him: Wonder Counselor, God-Hero, Father Forever, Prince of Peace.” It is the Child, the Son who shatters the darkness of this world and brings his light.
In keeping with The Monitor’s posted schedule of publishing 23 issues per year, the issue of Dec. 13 is the only one that will be published in December 2018. The next issue will be published on Jan. 10.
On Dec. 18, Msgr. Ken Tuzeneu, pastor of St. Mary Parish, Barnegat, announced that All Saints Regional Catholic School in Manahawkin will move away from its regional model and reopen in July 2019 as St. Mary Academy under the administration of St. Mary Parish, Barnegat.
All Saints Regional Catholic School in Manahawkin, which has provided education to children in five Ocean County parishes for more than 20 years, will move away from its regional model and reopen in July 2019 as St. Mary Academy under the administration of St. Mary Parish, Barnegat.
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.
La Basílica Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe en las afueras de la Ciudad de México es el santuario Mariano más visitado en el mundo. Millones de personas pasan por las puertas de la Basílica cada año, especialmente cuando se acerca el día festivo del 12 de diciembre. Este año, casi cuarenta fieles de la Diócesis de Trenton – obispo, sacerdotes y laicos en peregrinación – se contaron entre esa cantidad durante la primera semana de Adviento. La experiencia fue profundamente conmovedora y espiritual mientras celebramos la Misa en este lugar sagrado donde se ve milagrosamente en la tilma de San Juan Diego la imagen de la “Virgen de Guadalupe” cerca del crucifijo arriba del altar principal. Un indígena, Juan Diego, tuvo el privilegio de cuatro apariciones de la Santa Madre, María, en el 1531. En sus conversaciones con Juan Diego, Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe intentaba calmar sus miedos con preguntas que, a la vez, revelaban su identidad: “¿No estoy aquí yo, que soy tu madre? ¿No estás bajo mi sombra”?
The Roman Catholic Bishops of New Jersey announced today their decision to retain Kenneth R. Feinberg and Camille Biros to design, implement and administer a statewide Victims Compensation Program for the submission, evaluation, and settlement of individual claims of sexual abuse of a minor.
Cuando María Arriola, feligresa de la Parroquia San José, Trenton, visitó a la Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe en la Ciudad de México, ella tuvo una misión específica – dedicar a su hijo a la Santa Madre, cumpliendo una promesa que hizo hace muchos años.
The Roman Catholic Bishops of New Jersey announced today their decision to retain Kenneth R. Feinberg and Camille Biros to design, implement and administer a statewide Victims Compensation Program for the submission, evaluation, and settlement of individual claims of sexual abuse of a minor.
Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. has released his Christmas message this year, reminding us that “the whole becomes different at Christmas, if we allow it all to touch and move our hearts.”
The Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in suburban Mexico City is the most visited Marian shrine in the world. Millions of people pass through the Basilica’s doors each year, especially as the December 12 feast day approaches.
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.
For the Church around the world, Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas, is celebrated Dec. 12, her feast day. But Catholics throughout the Diocese of Trenton have been celebrating the beloved tradition locally since October.
Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. and a delegation of priests and lay faithful are in Mexico City for a five-day pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe.