The Chrism Mass
The Blue Mass
Good Friday
Divine Mercy
Sunday
Holy Thursday
The Monitor takes a look back at the many celebrations and events in April.
Shortly before the Diocese’s 21st annual Blue Mass began April 13, the inside of St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold, was quiet and still as the names of 51 law enforcement officials who lost their lives in the line of duty since 2019 were slowly called.
For the congregation, the reading of the names called to mind one of the main reasons that they had gathered: to remember and pray for all persons serv-
ing in law enforcement; those currently serving and especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
The Blue Mass, formally known as the Celebration of Law Enforcement, “is our annual opportunity in the Diocese of Trenton to recognize you, the women and men who protect and serve us,” said Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., to the hundreds of law enforcement professionals from scores of departments and asso-
ciations throughout Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean Counties. The popular event had returned after a threeyear hiatus due to COVID concerns.
The Mass, the Bishop continued, is an occasion “to thank you, to lift you up to God in prayer, regardless of your particular religious beliefs . . . to raise you up and ask Almighty God to watch over you, to care for you, to protect you, the way a father watches over and cares for and protects his children.”
In keeping with its traditional pageantry, the Blue Mass unfolded amid the stirring sights and sounds of bagpipes and drums; color guards carrying an array of flags, and columns of uniformed officers filing into the Co-Cathedral.
Among the 900 attendees were family members of law enforcement personnel; parishioners from around the Diocese and civic and political figures.
For more about the Blue Mass, along with photos and video, visit TrentonMonitor.com and click on FAITH & CULTURE>SEASONS & CELEBRATIONS.
Ancient rituals. Dramatic symbols of unity and grace. Priests gathered from across the Diocese, recommitting themselves to their life’s ministry. A bishop, whose words and actions both teach and bless.
These are but some of the elements that defined the annual Chrism Mass –one of the most solemn and significant liturgies in the Church year – which unfolds during Holy Week in dioceses around the world.
More than 1,000 members of the diocesan family filled St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral in Freehold for this special Mass April 3. Hundreds more of the faithful watched the Mass via livestream from their homes across Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean Counties.
Communicants stood witness as Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., blessed the holy oils to be used in the sacramental ministry of priests and deacons in the churches of the Diocese throughout the coming year. Those in attendance also expressed appreciation when all of the priests stood before Bishop O’Connell to renew the promises they made at Ordination and recommit themselves to their priestly vocation in service to God’s people.
In his homily, Bishop O’Connell explained that he blesses the Oil of Catechumens that is used to initiate the people into God’s Church and the Oil of the Sick that is used to comfort those who suffer on their path to God. The Bishop noted that he consecrates the Sacred Chrism which is used to baptize, confirm, ordain and to “make places of worship holy” as in the consecration of church altars.
Bishop O’Connell also reminded the faithful that as Catholic Christians they must be rooted in the truth of Christ:
“My sisters and brothers, it is the Lord Jesus Christ who made us his Church, a community of believers, reborn in water, confirmed in the Spirit, nourished by his Body and Blood, anointed to serve him in one another, consecrated in truth.
“. . . the Christian must learn the truth, believe the truth, share the truth, live the truth – not as the world or society suggest but as Christ and his Church say.”
To read more about the Chrism Mass and stream the video, go to TrentonMonitor. com and click on FAITH & CULTURE> SEASONS & CELEBRATIONS
Bishop O’Connell breathes over the vessel containing the Sacred Chrism which is used for the celebration of Baptisms, Confirmations, ordinations of priests and bishops and the consecration of altars.
Representatives from parishes carry the baskets and vessels containing the Holy Oils that were blessed and consecrated during the Chrism Mass.
Priests of the Diocese listen to Bishop’s homily during the Chrism Mass.
The ancient and beautiful liturgy of the Easter Vigil, celebrated the night before Easter Sunday, welcomed the Light of the Risen Christ in churches across the Diocese April 8.
Celebrating Mass in English and French in St. Anthony Church, Hamilton, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., wrapped up a Holy Week schedule that brought him to seven different faith communities around the Diocese.
Beginning just outside the church, Bishop O’Connell blessed the Easter fire and lit the Paschal Candle, from whose flame the darkened church was illuminated as the faithful’s candles were lit one by one through the sharing of flames.
By candlelight, Msgr.Thomas N.
is what we celebrate tonight. That is what joins us with baptized Christians throughout the world.”
Traditionally, the Easter Vigil is the time when new Catholics and those seeking full communion in the Church, receive the Sacraments of Initiation. This year, 547 faithful were welcomed as fully initiated Catholics into the Church in parishes across Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean Counties.
In St. Anthony of Padua Church, Red Bank, Father Nicholas Dolan, parochial vicar, reflected on the Easter Vigil rites that were unfolding around the world, saying, “The procession of the candlelight into the dark church signifies the light Jesus brings to our darkness, to all of us.”
Gervasio,pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony Parish, sang the Easter Proclamation, also known as the Exsultet.
In his homily, Bishop O’Connell declared, “Jesus of Nazareth is Jesus the Christ, the Messiah – everything that had been said and predicted about him had been fulfilled, had come true. My sisters and brothers, the Lord Jesus Christ has risen from the dead. That
During Mass, Father Alberto Tamayo, pastor, baptized 10 young parishioners. An additional nine adults completed their Sacraments of Initiation.
Abel Gregorio Espidio, who received his Sacraments that night, shared his desire for his family to learn that you can do anything when God is with you. “I am getting married in September and after talking to my fiancé we decided to do this to become closer with God in our
new life. This experience … has increased my faith and made me realize how blessed I am,” he said.
For more photos and news coverage on the Easter Vigil celebrated in parishes across the Diocese, visit TrentonMonitor.org>Faith and Culture>Seasons and Celebrations.
St. Anthony Church, Hamilton, part of Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony Parish, Hamilton, is aglow with the light of taper candles held by parishioners at the start of the Easter Vigil. Mike
Congregants hold taper candles during the singing of the Exsultet during the Easter Vigil in St. Anthony of Padua Church, Red Bank. Hal
Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., was principal celebrant of the Easter Vigil Mass in St. Anthony Church, Hamilton. Shown with the Bishop are concelebrants Father Paul Janvier, parochial vicar, and Msgr. Thomas N. Gervasio, pastor. Mike Ehrmann photo
Catholics across the Diocese embraced the movements of Holy Week, experiencing the emotional highs and lows of the days leading up to Easter. With Jesus they journeyed from the jubilation of Palm Sunday, to the grief of Good Friday, and ultimately the triumph of the Lord’s Resurrection on Easter Sunday. Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., joined several parish communities where he prayed with the people during the solemn services and Masses of the week.
Bishop O’Connell prays during the Mass of the Lord’s Supper he celebrated in Sacred Heart Church, Tren-
Father Jarlath Quinn washes the feet of parishioners during the Mass of the Lord’s Supper April 6 in Our Lady of Perpetual
The Monitor staff and freelance partners visited more than a dozen parishes during Holy Week and Easter, capturing stories and photos of Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., priests of the Diocese and parishioners as they commemorated Our Lord’s Passion, Death and Resurrection. View the slideshow here on trentonmonitor.com> multimedia>slideshows
In his annual message for Divine Mercy Sunday, celebrated each year on the Second Sunday of Easter, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., shared the words of Pope Francis, reminding the faithful that we “join together … with Catholics throughout the world, to celebrate God’s mercy, ‘living and visible in Jesus of Nazareth, reaching its culmination in him … (who) by his words, his actions and his entire person reveals the mercy of God.’”
It was in that spirit that the faithful filled churches across the Diocese to celebrate the Feast of Divine Mercy April 16. Among the celebrations was that observed in Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Lakewood, where, according to Divine Word Father Guilherme Andrino, pastor, a special devotion to the Divine Mercy is shared by both Spanish-speaking parishioners and those of Polish heritage.
Devotion to the Divine Mercy originated in the early 1900s when Jesus appeared to St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun. He presented himself as the Divine Mercy, with two large rays, one red and the other white, streaming from his heart.
Jesus asked Faustina to share his love and mercy with the world and requested that a feast of mercy be observed, asking for acts of mercy arising out of love for him through deed, word and prayer.
Pope John Paul II canonized Sister Faustina April 30, 2000, and expressed his wish that the first Sunday following Easter should be celebrated as Divine Mercy Sunday.
“In her diary, St. Faustina mentions Jesus’ words, ‘I am Love and Mercy itself,’” Father Andrino said, reflecting, “So this is our invitation for life … we are invited to practice the same love and mercy to our brothers and sisters. Once we understand how merciful God is, we cannot be selfish anymore, we must share it.”
To read Bishop O’Connell’s Divine Mercy message, go to TrentonMonitor.com and click on: COMMENTARY>BISHOP’S CORNER. For more on the parish celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday, go to TrentonMonitor. com>FAITH & CULTURE>SEASONS & CELEBRATIONS
