News - March 2025 RSS Feed

AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF HONOR GUARD FORMATIONS, pipe and drum playing and a military flyover, the Diocese of Trenton’s Jubilee Celebration of Law Enforcement will take place April 1, offering a time to pray for God’s blessing on law enforcement personnel throughout Central New Jersey who work to keep their communities safe. Popularly known as the Blue Mass, the event will unfold in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold, beginning at 10:30 a.m.

Against the backdrop of honor guard formations, pipe and drum playing and a military flyover, the Diocese of Trenton’s Jubilee Celebration of Law Enforcement will take place April 1, offering a time to pray for God’s blessing on law enforcement personnel throughout Central New Jersey who work to keep their communities safe. Popularly known as the Blue Mass, the event will unfold in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold, beginning at 10:30 a.m.

BISHOP DAVID M. O’CONNELL, C.M., WILL BE HONORED by The Catholic University of America, Washington, March 14, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary celebration of the dedication of Father O’Connell Hall.

A screengrab from Pope Francis' video message, released March 4, 2025, highlights his prayer intention for March: "For families in crisis." (CNS screengrab/Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network) (Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network) Family: Cherishing one of God’s first gifts Family. I grew up watching shows like Father Knows Best, Leave it to Beaver, Ozzie and Harriet, and the Donna Reed Show. The television families portrayed regularly at that time had a couple of mischievous yet perennially happy kids, two loving parents who always had the right answers and situations that were as simple as they were comical and sweet. It was a great image of American family life in the late ’50s and ’60s.

In a March 6, 2025, letter, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., encouraged the faithful to focus on the Lenten pillars of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, and suggested several ministries and organizations that would be worthwhile recipients.

Traditionally, the Season of Lent encourages Catholics to observe a three-fold call to PRAYER, FASTING and ALMSGIVING. As Bishop of the Diocese of Trenton, I write to all Catholics to give special attention to ALMSGIVING, especially in these challenging and difficult times. ALMSGIVING offers us an opportunity to SACRIFICE for others during Lent. Among all the many charities we can consider, I would like to recommend the following here in our Diocese. Visit their websites to learn about them and how to donate.

BISHOP DAVID M. O’CONNELL, C.M., WILL BEGIN THE HOLY SEASON OF LENT by celebrating Mass and distributing ashes at the following locations on Ash Wednesday, March 5:

The season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, March 5, 2025. Christians make this Jubilee Lenten “journey to Jerusalem” with our Lord Jesus Christ as “pilgrims of hope,” renewing our faith, hope and love. Such Lenten renewal invites us to “fasting, prayer and almsgiving,” three traditional Lenten paths to spiritual conversion of mind and heart.

The season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, March 5, 2025. Christians make this Jubilee Lenten “journey to Jerusalem” with our Lord Jesus Christ as “pilgrims of hope,” renewing our faith, hope and love. Such Lenten renewal invites us to “fasting, prayer and almsgiving,” three traditional Lenten paths to spiritual conversion of mind and heart.