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It’s summertime again, although the look and feel of it is quite different this year.  Most of us have been working at home or home schooling so, despite the change of seasons, it seems just “more of the same.”  But it is different. 

Like “Mother’s Day” in the United States, “Father’s Day” celebrations began here in the early 20th century. Their true origins, however, are rooted in Catholic religious devotions to St. Joseph in the Middle Ages. For the most part, the national observance of “Father’s Day” is a secular holiday.

Devotion to the “Sacred Heart of Jesus” can be traced back to the twelfth and thirteenth centuries in the Catholic Church. Inspired by over 500 years of tradition, this devotion became part of the Church’s liturgy in 1670, with Mass and prayers composed by French priest St. John Eudes (1601-1680). Three years later, the Lord Jesus appeared multiple times to a 26-year-old French nun of the Visitation Order, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690), revealing the love and mercy for which the popular image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus has become a universal symbol. Pope Pius IX placed the feast in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the Catholic Church’s liturgical calendar in 1856, 19 days after Pentecost. This year it is celebrated on Friday, June 19.

In June 2011, our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI reminded us that the feast we celebrate today in Catholic Churches throughout the United States – the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ often referred to as “Corpus Christi” –  “is inseparable from the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper in which the institution of the Eucharist is also celebrated (Homily, June 24, 2011).” A profound and beautiful thought that we should keep in mind.

All of us in our Diocese, in our nation, indeed, throughout the world looked with horror at the video depicting the May 25 death of George Floyd, an African American citizen of the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The Sacred Scriptures remind us that “the love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit dwelling with us (Romans 5: 5).”

Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., has announced new liturgical and pastoral directives during the COVID-19 pandemic, including limited “in church” weekend Masses beginning June 13-14, with Mass schedules to be determined by pastors.

For Catholics, sacrifice and dying for others is very familiar to us since it is the foundation of our faith. 

Although the liturgical celebration of the Solemnity of the Ascension has been transferred to this coming Sunday in the Dioceses of New Jersey this year, I can’t help but reflect about its meaning today, Thursday, 40 days after Easter.  This great feast – whenever it’s placement of the Catholic Church calendar occurs – commemorates our belief that the Risen Lord Jesus, gathered with his disciples on Mt. Tabor near Jerusalem, ascended body and soul into heaven, returning to his Father. 

My fellow seminarians and I sat together shortly after noon on Monday, October 16, 1978, with our eyes fixed on the television set.  White smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel signifying to the world that a new Pope had been elected by the College of Cardinals assembled inside.  “Habemus Papam, we have a Pope” proclaimed Cardinal Perecle Felici, the senior Cardinal deacon.  It was the second time that year he made the same announcement, once before for Pope John Paul I on August 26 who served only 33 days, and now for Pope John Paul II.  At 59 years of age, Polish born Cardinal Karol Wojtyla was the first non-Italian elected Pope since 1523.

In a new statement issued May 15, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., announced his approval of a set of directives that give permission for outdoor “in car” Masses according to good pastoral judgement of parish pastors.

Today, the Bishops of NJ and I learned that the House Democrats released The Heroes Act, H.R. 6800, the fourth phase of economic stimulus relief or CARES 4. 

I can still hear her voice, so sweet and gentle. Her face is always in my mind’s eye as I remember her bright eyes and happy smile. There was never a doubt how much she loved her family. We were her life, my brothers and I, and we miss her every day.

Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., has issued instructions for the reopening of churches in the Diocese of Trenton for private prayer only, following all public health guidelines, beginning May 13, the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima or following, once pastors determine they can safely do so.

National health experts and scientists continue to express grave concerns that the spread of COVID-19 is far from over. While they agree that mitigation and the other precautions that have been taken throughout the country seem effective, they are urging people not to lower their guard about this exceedingly contagious virus.  Some experts fear that we are facing a “slow burn” in the U.S. with coronavirus continuing to spread “for many months to come.”  

As the Lord Jesus was dying on the Cross, he looked down and saw his Beloved Mother standing next to John, his Beloved Disciple.  In his final moments, their eyes met, and Jesus spoke: “Women, behold your son … son, behold your Mother.”  In those sad but powerful words of love, John became a symbol of the whole Church for all time.  Jesus gave the Church to his Mother … and his Mother to the Church.  It was the Lord’s dying wish; it was the Lord’s dying prayer; it was his dying gift!

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. 

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.  

“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.“

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.