BISHOP DAVID M. O’CONNELL, C.M., WAS PRINCIPAL CELEBRANT AND HOMILIST of the Mass for the Reception of the Relics of Blessed Carlo Acutis, the occasion which marked the formal reception of the arrival of a relic of the young man who was beatified by Pope Francis in 2020. During the Mass, the Bishop also announced that he was placing all Catholic schools and young people under Blessed Carlo Acutis’ patronage. You can read Bishop’s homily from the Mass HERE.
“Religious Brothers Day,” celebrated on 1 May 2022, is an opportunity to celebrate and offer gratitude for the gift of religious brotherhood, a special vocation and call to men who offer their life in the service of God’s people through vows, prayer and the charisms of various religious orders.
Delivered during the Mass for the Reception of the Relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis, April 28, 2022 “What do you want to be when you grow up?” When I was in Catholic school like you, people would ask me and my friends that question all the time.
Jesus said to Thomas: “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed!” This line from today’s Gospel according to John catches my attention every time I hear it. We are all familiar with the Gospel account of Thomas the Apostle who we refer to as the so-called “doubter.” He is known as “doubting Thomas” and that expression has even found its way into our everyday conversation when we encounter those who don’t believe in something.
Jesus said to Thomas: “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed!” This line from today’s Gospel according to John catches my attention every time I hear it. We are all familiar with the Gospel account of Thomas the Apostle who we refer to as the so-called “doubter.” He is known as “doubting Thomas” and that expression has even found its way into our everyday conversation when we encounter those who don’t believe in something.
BISHOP DAVID M. O’CONNELL, C.M., issued a message marking Earth Day, April 22. An excerpt follows: I was a freshman in high school when I first heard the word “ecology.” Our science teacher distributed a copy of a February 1970 TIME magazine article about American environmentalist Barry Commoner and his efforts to raise consciousness about the environmental crisis confronting the world. A few months later, the same science teacher spoke to us enthusiastically about the establishment of the first annual “Earth Day” in the United States on April 22, 1970.
I was a freshman in high school when I first heard the word “ecology.” Our science teacher distributed a copy of a February 1970 TIME magazine article about American environmentalist Barry Commoner and his efforts to raise consciousness about the environmental crisis confronting the world. A few months later, the same science teacher spoke to us enthusiastically about the establishment of the first annual “Earth Day” in the United States on April 22, 1970.
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 Cor 15: 13-14).” Those are some pretty big “ifs,” especially as we grapple with the damage from a lengthy pandemic and the reality of a war with worldwide ramifications.
In observance of the Triduum and Easter holiday, the Chancery offices in Lawrenceville will be closed Thursday, April 14 through Monday, April 18. Regular business hours will resume on Tuesday, April 19.
Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., will join several parish communities around the Diocese of Trenton for the Paschal Triduum, which begins on Holy Thursday, April 14 and continues through the evening of Easter Sunday, April 17.
The Chrism Mass has its historical roots in the second century, when the bishop blessed sacramental oils and consecrated sacramental Chrism during the Easter vigil. By the fifth century, this ritual was transferred to Holy Thursday in a morning Mass separate from the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper due to the large crowds who gathered and the Church’s desire to commemorate the institution of the priesthood at the Last Supper. Eleven centuries later, Pope St. Paul VI established the ceremony now known as the Chrism Mass during Holy Week.
Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., will be principal celebrant of the Mass of Chrism at 7:30 p.m. in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold. The Mass will be livestreamed at youtube.com/trentondiocese
Catholics across the globe will flock to their churches April 10 for Palm Sunday, commemorating Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem for the Jewish feast of Passover and the beginning of Holy Week, the most solemn and sacred time in the Church calendar. With the easing of many pandemic-related concerns and restrictions that impacted Holy Week in the last two years, hundreds of thousands of parishioners and newcomers will gather for special services and Masses in the churches of the Diocese of Trenton to give witness to the week-long retelling of Christ’s Passion, Death and Resurrection.
EACH YEAR, CATHOLICS FROM THROUGHOUT THE WORLD are invited to experience the unfolding of the Paschal Mystery of our Lord by participating in the various liturgies that commemorate his Passion, Death and Resurrection during Holy Week. Here in the Diocese of Trenton, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., will commemorate Holy Week, which occurs this year April 10-17, by celebrating Masses and liturgies in parish communities around the Diocese.
The word “peace” appears hundreds of times in the Bible – depending upon the version and translations consulted. In the Gospels, the Lord Jesus greeted his disciples, wishing them “peace” three times and then only after his Death and Resurrection. “Peace be with you,” he said once he had suffered, died and rose from the dead.