The national televised broadcast of the Easter Sunday, which was taped last fall in St. Catharine Church, Spring Lake, will air on ABC affiliates April 1 and will be available on the Diocese’s websites. Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., who serves as principal celebrant and homilist, is joined by several concelebrating priests and more than 300 worshipers who gathered from around the Diocese of Trenton.
On Easter Sunday, as an anticipated 4 million plus viewers from around the United States tune in to the national televised Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord, they will be taken to Spring Lake, NJ, and the unique church thought to be among the most beautiful sites along the Jersey Shore.
The doors to Catholic churches throughout the Diocese of Trenton will open wide to hundreds of thousands of parishioners and newcomers alike as special services and Masses lead believers through the three most holy days of the Church year – the sacred Triduum.
A highlight of Holy Week, the diocesan Tenebrae Service was held March 28 at 7:30 p.m. in St. Catharine Church, Spring Lake. Father Harold Cullen, St. Catharine pastor, presided over the service, which was live video streamed by the parish, and available for viewing on DioceseofTrenton.org and TrentonMonitor.com.
St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral in Freehold was filled to capacity March 26 as the Diocese of Trenton gathered for the Chrism Mass. More than 1,000 priests, deacons, religious and lay faithful representing every parish from across the four-county Diocese joined Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., for one of the most solemn and significant liturgies in the Church year.
In his Easter message, Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M., writes: The Lord Jesus Christ assured us, “I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in me, though he/she may die, shall live. And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die (John 11: 25-26).” Is there any greater invitation? Any greater promise? Any greater hope in this world of ours? It is no wonder, then, that our entire faith as Catholics, as Christians depends on the truth of Easter.
St. Paul wrote, “If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith (1 Corinthians 15: 13-14).” Those are some pretty big “ifs” with some pretty big consequences for us as Christians. Think about them for a moment. Everything we preach in the Church and everything we believe comes down to this: Jesus Christ has risen from the dead! It’s all about Easter!
Due to the forecast of hazardous weather statewide, the Chancery offices in Lawrenceville will be closed on Wednesday, March 21, and Thursday, the 22nd. Any updates will be reported on DioceseofTrenton.org, TrentonMonitor.com and the Diocese’s social media sites.
By Jennifer Mauro | Managing Editor Voices and prayers bring about change. That was one message from teenagers within the Diocese of Trenton as their voices joined those of tens of thousands across the United States March 14 for "National School Walkout," an event for public and nonpublic students alike to show solidarity with victims of school violence. Exactly one month after the high school shooting in Parkland, Fla., that left 17 dead, students in six of the Diocese’s schools – Donovan Catholic, Toms River; St. John Vianney, Holmdel; Trenton Catholic Academy, Hamilton; Holy Cross Academy, Delran; St. Rose, Belmar, and Notre Dame, Lawrenceville – gathered on their respective campuses to pray for a safe environment in all schools.
Today, as young people across this nation took part in a school walk-out to end gun violence, students in some of our Catholic high schools in the Diocese of Trenton walked out of their classrooms to come together in prayer.
Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M., and the clergy, religious and faithful of the Diocese of Trenton offer their prayerful congratulations and best wishes to His Holiness Pope Francis on the fifth anniversary of his election to the throne of St. Peter. Ad multos annos!
They say “life is a marathon, not a quick sprint.” I think that is true although the older you get, the faster the days seem to pass. The same could be said of the holy season of Lent: it is a marathon to Easter!
Thousands of the faithful streamed in to designated churches across the Diocese of Trenton March 9 and 10 throughout “24 Hours for the Lord,” a special time set aside for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Confessions and other forms of Lenten prayer.
How blessed we are as Catholics to have Our Lord Jesus Christ present in our churches any hour, every hour, of the day or night. Our Lenten “24 Hours for the Lord” was a deeply moving reminder of his constant presence and of the merciful forgiveness that the Sacrament of Penance offers us simply for the asking.
Due to the forecast of hazardous weather throughout the day for this area, and the State of Emergency declared in New Jersey, the Chancery offices in Lawrenceville will be closed today, March 7. The Chancery will also be closed on Thursday, March 8, because of the snow. Any updates will be reported on DioceseofTrenton.org, TrentonMonitor.com and the Diocese’s social media sites. Check local websites for any possible closings of Catholic churches or schools in Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean Counties.