News - March 2024 RSS Feed

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 12. Other than that, the Gospels are largely silent about Jesus of Nazareth until he appears before John the Baptist in the Jordan and begins his public ministry around age 30.

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 12. Other than that, the Gospels are largely silent about Jesus of Nazareth until he appears before John the Baptist in the Jordan and begins his public ministry around age 30.

Uniformed officers filling pew after pew; heart-pounding music from bagpipers and drum corps; the dignified and disciplined cadence of color guard units, a stream of vested priests leading the congregation in prayer – these are the sights and sounds of the annual tribute to law enforcement that will unfold April 4 in the Diocese of Trenton.

Catholics throughout the Diocese of Trenton will flock to their churches March 24 for Palm Sunday, commemorating Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem for the Jewish feast of Passover and beginning the most solemn and sacred week in the Church calendar. 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 will lead believers through the week-long retelling of Christ’s Passion, Death and Resurrection.

Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., has announced his Holy Week schedule of the parishes he will visit for the celebration of Masses and liturgical services.

On March 26, the Supreme Court of the United States will hear oral arguments in a case that has the potential to make a major impact in the widespread accessibility of chemical abortion (abortion pills). Chemical abortions are now the most common form of abortion in the United States.

This year, priests, deacons, religious and lay women and men from Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean counties are invited to join Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., who will celebrate the Mass on the Monday of Holy Week, March 25, at 7:30 p.m., in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, 61 Georgia Road, Freehold. The Chrism Mass will also be livestreamed on diocesan social media platforms and on YouTube in English and Spanish.

THIS YEAR, PRIESTS, DEACONS, RELIGIOUS AND LAY WOMEN AND MEN from Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean counties are invited to join Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., who will celebrate the Mass on the Monday of Holy Week, March 25, at 7:30 p.m., in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, 61 Georgia Road, Freehold. The Chrism Mass will also be livestreamed on diocesan social media platforms and on YouTube in English and Spanish.

FATHER DANIEL F. GOWEN, WHO SERVED IN MULTIPLE PARISHES THROUGHOUT THE DIOCESE OVER MORE THAN THREE DECADES, died March 9. He was 64. Funeral services will be held in St. Denis Church, Manasquan, beginning March 14, with visitation 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated March 15 at 11 a.m. Interment will be in St. Catharine Cemetery, Wall Township.

The Chancery in Lawrenceville will have a 2-hour delay this morning due to a power outage.

In keeping with the traditional Lenten practice of almsgiving, the Diocese of Trenton will participate the weekend of March 9-10 in the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ annual Catholic Relief Services Collection.