May 1, the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, will be a special day of prayer in the Diocese of Trenton, as Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., has announced a Mass for all workers, later followed by a prayer service to reconsecrate the United States to the Blessed Mother.
La Fiesta del San José Obrero, el 1 de mayo, será un día especial de oración en la Diócesis de Trenton. El obispo David M. O’Connell, C.M., ha anunciado una Misa dedicada a todos los trabajadores, seguida por un servicio de oración para consagrar de nuevo a los Estados Unidos a la Santa Madre.
May 1, the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, will be a special day of prayer in the Diocese of Trenton, as Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., has announced a Mass for all workers, followed by a prayer service to reconsecrate the United States to the Blessed Mother.
La clausura temporal de las iglesias a los fieles de la Diócesis de Trenton y sus efectos en la celebración pública de la Misa y los Sacramentos en su forma ritual usual han sido las decisiones más difíciles y dolorosas que he hecho en mi vida. Fueron igual de difícil y doloroso de recibir para los sacerdotes y el pueblo parroquial de los cuatro condados, especialmente durante el tiempo más sagrado del año.
The temporary closure of churches to the faithful in the Diocese of Trenton and its effects on the public celebration of Mass and Sacraments in their usual ritual form were the most difficult and painful decisions I have ever made. They were equally difficult and painful decisions for the priests and people of the parishes of the four counties to receive, especially at the holiest time of the year.
Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., will serve as principal celebrant and homilist of a Mass April 19 for Divine Mercy Sunday in St. Rose Church, Belmar, beginning at 11:30 a.m. The Mass will be livestreamed and can be viewed from the home page of www.strosebelmar.com.
Parents of Catholic school students in the Diocese of Trenton are being notified this week that all parish and diocesan schools will remain closed along with their public school counterparts through May 15. The extension followed an April 16 announcement regarding public schools by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and was affirmed in a diocesan statement.
by Reflexión del obispo David M. O'Connell, C.M., para el Domingo de la Divina Misericordia
“La misericordia es el amor libre que Dios nos da, revelándose a nosotros y dejándonos saber y sentir su presencia. No es que ‘ganemos’ esta misericordia; no es que la merecemos; no tenemos ningún ‘derecho’ a ella. La misericordia es un don libre de Dios que, cuando la compartimos, nos acerca al mero ser de Dios, creando un momento en lo cual Dios se ve presente ‘a’ nosotros y, entonces, ‘a través’ de nosotros a los demás”.
“Mercy is the love freely shown to us by God who first reveals himself to us and makes his presence known and felt. We do not ‘earn’ this mercy; we do not ‘deserve’ it; we do not have a ‘right’ to it. Mercy is a free gift of God that, when given, draws us into God’s very being, making God present ‘to’ us and then, ‘through’ us to others.“
Jesus of Nazareth lived most of his life in obscurity without much notoriety or attention paid to him. The Gospels tell us about his birth in Bethlehem and, later, about his appearance in the temple at age twelve.
En nuestra celebración de la Pascua este año, muchos nos sentimos una variedad de emociones diferente que en los años anteriores. La Pascua siempre era un día muy alegre para las familias cristianas, profundamente espiritual y abundantemente social. Sigue siendo profundamente espiritual, raizada en la mayor y la más triunfante fiesta de nuestra fe, la Resurrección de Nuestro Señor de la Muerte. ¡Nada puede quitar esa realidad! Sin embargo, este año la Pascua está marcada por la distancia social en lugar que la comunidad alegre. No hace falta recordarlos de eso.
A message for Good Friday from Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M. A crucifix or cross hangs somewhere in almost every Catholic home, in every Catholic school and institution. The crucifix or cross is the central and most widely known symbol of Christianity and has been for over 2,000 years.
The Thursday before Easter is called “Holy.” Some Christian communities use the expression “Maundy” as their reference, a term less familiar to Catholics – coming from French and Latin roots – meaning “commanded.” It is a reference to the command of the Lord Jesus on that first Holy Thursday to wash the feet of his disciples: “As I have done for you, you should also do (John 13: 15).” We hear that command in tonight’s Gospel of St. John.
Los clérigos, religiosos y fieles laicos de la Diócesis de Trenton están invitados a poner una vela encendida en la ventana con cuidado (por ejemplo, se puede usar las velas eléctricas que se suele ver cerca de Navidad), en la tarde cerca de la puesta del sol (7:32 pm) el Sábado Santo.
Tonight, on the Monday of Holy Week, when representatives of every parish would have normally gathered in one place for the annual Chrism Mass, priests across the Diocese of Trenton will celebrate Mass from their respective churches, simultaneously, with Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M.