Monitor Magazine November 2022 by Diocese of Trenton

MONITOR Official publication of The Diocese of Trenton

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Vol. 4 • No. 2 • NOVEMBER 2022

MAGAZINE

A lifetime of faith and love in marriage was the gift that hundreds of couples celebrated during the recent Bishop’s Anniversary Blessing Masses. Married one, 25, 50 or more years, the men and women gathered with Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., where they prayed together and renewed their marriage vows. The Monitor Magazine brings you some of their stories.

Eucharistic Series PREFACE

INSIDE... IN FOCUS: In his new series on the Eucharist, Bishop Connell reflects on the gift and mystery of the Holy Eucharist, sharing teaching and insights from the Church’s popes, theologians and saints.

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GOAL: $6.5 MILLION KNOW HIM • $2,500,000 • Evangelization and Communications Outreach • Religious Education for Children and Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults • Catholic School Programs • Tuition Assistance • Professional Development for Educators

LOVE HIM • $2,250,000 • Finding and forming priests (Vocations Recruitment & Seminary Preparation) • Retired Priest Care • Preparation of Deacons • Support of Religious Women and Men

SERVE HIM • $1,750,000 • Families, Youth & Young Adult Ministries • Catholic Social Services (The Mt. Carmel Guild) • Pastoral Care (Prison, Respect Life, Grief) • Special Events and Programs • Outreach to the Poor and Vulnerable

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MAIL Send check, cash, or money order payable to Annual Catholic Appeal to Diocese of Trenton, PO Box 70170, Newark, NJ 07101 TEXT ACA to 53555 ADDITIONAL GIFT OPTIONS Gifts of Stock, IRA Distributions, Bequests, Charitable Annuities, and Cryptocurrency can be coordinated by contacting the Department of Development at 609-403-7197. DIOCESE OF TRENTON 609-403-7197 | 701 Lawrenceville Road Trenton NJ 08648

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Students from St. Peter School, Point Pleasant Beach, bring up the bread and wine for the presentation of the gifts during the Oct. 12 Catholic Schools Mass in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold.

ON THE COVER

24-27

Contents Mike Ehrmann photo

Bill and Joann Rosso, celebrating their 52nd anniversary in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, pose with their wedding photo following the Bishop’s Anniversary Blessing Mass celebrated by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. Story begins on page 42. Mike Ehrmann photo

7-21 ¾ In Focus: Eucharistic Catechesis

Bishop O’Connell releases catechetical series of reflections on Eucharist; Eucharistic Miracles traveling exhibit

24-27 ¾ Special Feature: Catholic Schools Mass Catholic schools of the Diocese reconvene for annual inperson Mass with Bishop O’Connell in Co-Cathedral

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www.TrentonMonitor.com Publisher • Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. Associate Publisher • Rayanne M. Bennett • ext. 7188 EDITORIAL Monitor-News@DioceseofTrenton.org Associate Editor • Mary Stadnyk • ext. 7172 Digital and Social Media Manager • Rose O’Connor • ext. 7135 ADVERTISING Monitor-Advertising@DioceseofTrenton.org Monitor-Classified@DioceseofTrenton.org Advertising Coordinator • Frances Koukotas • ext. 7153 SUBSCRIPTIONS Monitor-Subscriptions@DioceseofTrenton.org Circulation Assistant • Laura Cortes • ext. 7169 PRODUCTION Production/Graphic Designer • Clara Baumann • ext. 7176 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE (ISSN#0746-8350) is published 14 times a year by THE MONITOR, 701 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrenceville, 08648. Periodicals’ postage paid at Trenton, NJ, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send change of address to The Monitor, P.O. Box 5147, 701 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrenceville, NJ, 08638-0147. The acceptance of advertising by The Monitor for print or online publication does not constitute an endorsement of any product or service. The Monitor reserves the right to reject any advertising considered objectionable.

For the latest news, scan this QR code with your mobile device and visit The Monitor’s mobile site.

28-38 ¾ Diocese Collections planned for CCHD, Retired Religious Fund; deacons renewed at convocation; blessing of diocesan Shrine in Middletown; Giving Tuesday campaign to launch after Thanksgiving; diocesan pilgrimage to D.C. planned

40 ¾ Respect Life New “Standing Together for Life” event promises to unite local pro-life, social concerns ministries in shared objectives

42-50 ¾ Bishop’s Anniversary Blessings Couples celebrate with Bishop in Trenton, Freehold Masses, receive episcopal blessing for milestone anniversaries

62-67 ¾ In the Parishes West Trenton parish looks back on 75 years; White Mass for healthcare workers; parishes make Holy Land pilgrimage; Forty Hours devotion tradition in St. Hedwig Parish

68-69 ¾ In the Schools Diocesan Catholic schools’ post-pandemic report card

REGULAR FEATURES 51 ¡ Pope Francis 52 ¡ Church

54-55 ¡ Insight from Father Koch, Mary Morrell

53 ¡ World & Nation

74 ¡ Fun & Games

November 2022

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Peces

Antorchas Guadalupanas

H Una pareja que celebra su aniversario participa en la Misa en la Catedral de Santa María de la Asunción, Trenton. Foto de Mike Ehrmann

Aniversarios de Boda

l Obispo David M. O'Connell, C.M., celebró una misa el 2 de octubre en la Catedral de Santa María de la Asunción, Trenton, para parejas casadas de los condados de Burlington y Mercer que marcan uno, 25, 50 o más años de matrimonio este año, y celebró otra misa el 9 de octubre en la Concatedral de San Roberto Belarmino, Freehold, para parejas de los condados de Monmouth y Ocean. "En el Sacramento del Matrimonio, Dios nos invita no solo a tener las seguridades que vienen con la fe sobrenatural en él, sino también en la persona con la que hemos elegido casarnos, la persona sentada a su lado hoy después de todos estos años de vida matrimonial", dijo el Obispo O'Connell en su homilía. Las Misas de Bendición del Aniversario del Obispo han sido una de las favoritas en la Diócesis, brindando una oportunidad para que las parejas honradas renueven sus votos matrimoniales y reciban una bendición especial del Obispo. Después de las misas, las parejas están invitadas a recibir una bendición individual de uno de los sacerdotes concelebrantes y un certificado que marca su hito. Este año, cada celebración fue seguida con comida, bebidas, música y baile.

oy celebramos el encendido de las antorchas que irán a las parroquias y organizaciones de nuestra Diócesis para representar nuestra devoción, nuestro amor por nuestra Santísima Madre y su título como intercesora por nosotros", dijo Monseñor Joseph L. Roldan al dar la bienvenida a los fieles al Encendido de las Antorchas en la Catedral de Santa María de la Asunción en Trenton. Las veintiuna Antorchas Guadalupanas fueron encendidas y enviadas por Monseñor Roldan, rector, después de la Misa del 29 de octubre, y viajarán con sus capitanes a las parroquias, escuelas y organizaciones donde estarán presentes durante Misas, recitaciones del Rosario, servicios de oración y celebraciones culturales en honor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe. Las antorchas se reunirán durante una peregrinación el 3 de diciembre en la parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, Lakewood. Visite dioceseoftrenton.org/Guadalupe a medida que se sigue compartiendo más información sobre el Antorchas y peregrinación.

Los representantes se preparan para llevar sus antorchas a sus comunidades parroquiales. Foto de Mike Ehrmann ¡Lee más en línea! Visita trentonmonitor.com/peces para ver más historias en español de toda nuestra diócesis y del mundo.

ALÍSTESE PARA EL 2022/23 AHORA Nos encargamos de:  Preparar el cortacésped para el tiempo invernal Vaciar el tanque

Cambiar el aceite y las bujías Reemplazar filtros de aire Afilar los filos

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November 2022

 Culminación del Amor y la Fe: El Obispo bendice a parejas en sus Aniversarios de Boda  Líderes católicos quieren una iglesia latinoamericana sinodal  Obispos brasileños felicitan a Lula, señalan mucho trabajo por delante  Papa: Los cristianos deben ver a los demás con compassion  Papa: La tristeza puede ser 'alarma' para la vida

Catequesis sobre la sagrada eucaristia. Lee el mensaje del Señpr Obispo en español aquí.

Readers' Corner

Learning about our faith, drawing closer to God

t is a well-established fact that many people do not enjoy reading these days. The unbridled success of social media is a result of this preference because it allows people to catch tidbits of information in the few seconds they will pause before scrolling to the next post. In some cases, that reality may point to the more worrying possibility that people aren’t interested in learning. If it is reading they don’t like, there are always videos and podcasts. But more often, the value of building on the knowledge that they may have learned in school or religious education class – regardless of how long ago that may have been – is somewhat lost on far too many

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and Brothers in Christ,

YOUR ANNUAL CATHOLIC APPEAL GIFT IN ACTION! Dear Sisters

I write one last time this year asking for your support of our 2022 Annual Catholic Appeal. It has been a challenging year and to date we are at 84% of our $6.5 million goal. I am so grateful! Your generosity is always needed to provide the resources necessary to help our sisters and brothers know and love God through you. We need God’s love today more than ever. Help us to reach our goal by sharing generously with so many of your neighbors in need here in the Diocese of Trenton by prayerfully considering a gift to the 2022 Annual Catholic Appeal.

May God bless you for your past generosity and for whatever you can provide for the vital work that lies ahead. Yours in Christ,

For a glimpse of some of the ways that ACA dollars are invested in the work of the Diocese, be sure to check out these 2022 Progress stories in this issue: Can we count on your support? Most Reverend David M.O’Connell, C.M. Bishop of Trenton

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Help your parish by donating online at dioceseoftrenton.org/catholicappeal or scan the QR code on the right with your phone camera.

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 At convocation, deacons reflect on check list of life’s priorities… page 32

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A message from

RAYANNE BENNETT Associate Publisher

of our brothers and sisters. Any reasonable person would agree that the more we know about our religion, our government, PREFACE our history, and our neighbors . . . the better off we will be personally and collectively. Is there anyone who could deny that the spark of curiosity that drives a love of learning is a good and even holy thing . . . especially when we are learning about matters of faith? When it comes to guiding his flock into a deeper understanding of the Eucharist, from which all things flow in our faith, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., is inviting his flock to embrace a spirit of learning and growing. He has penned a catechetical (or teaching) series on the Eucharist, largely in response to national findings that far too many Catholics do not recognize the Real Presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. The Bishop’s five-part series is presented in this issue of The Monitor Magazine, and is also available as a video and podcast series at DioceseofTrenton. org. It has also been published in Spanish online. In other words, there is something for all types of learners. Bishop O’Connell offers his own thoughts and insights on the Church’s most central tenet, but he also shares the writings and teachings of the Church’s fathers. It is not merely information to

Eucharistic Series

The Last Supper (1630–1631), oil painting by Peter Paul Rubens. Detail of an altarpiece in the Church of St. Rombout, Belgium. Wikipedia image consume and move on from, but it is an opportunity to enter into a spiritual experience in which we examine our own beliefs and priorities. It invites us to draw closer to God through the time we spend with this text. Let’s never stop learning . . . or growing in our faith.

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Bishop’s Scrapbook

Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., has a busy schedule during the fall months. Shown are a couple of stops he made in October. Full coverage inside and on TrentonMonitor.com

Before the Catholic Schools Mass, Bishop O’Connell sat with students from St. Paul School, Burlington, to watch a video on the life of Blessed Carlo Acutis. Mike Ehrmann photo

Happy Holidays • Happy Holidays • Happy Holidays

Following the Mass he celebrated for the Solemnity of All Saints in St. Rose Church, Belmar, Bishop O’Connell attended the parish’s St. Vincent de Paul Society where he greeted outgoing president, Michael Dignard, at right, and the society’s new president Barbara Griffin. Msgr. Edward Arnister, pastor, is shown at left. Mike Ehrmann photo

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6 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE

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In Focus

Catechesis on the

...the Holy Eucharist as the Lord Jesus Christ’s own Body and Blood, his “gift for the life of the world (John 6: 51).”

Holy Eucharist BY BISHOP DAVID M. O’CONNELL, C.M.

PREFACE

s we continue our diocesan participation in this first year of the “Eucharistic Revival” announced by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for our country, I thought it appropriate, as Bishop of the Diocese of Trenton, to prayerfully compose some reflections on the Holy Eucharist and share them with the clergy and faithful of the Diocese. Often enough in the course of our Diocesan Synod, participants expressed concern about the lack of good catechesis among many of the faithful on any number of aspects of our Catholic faith and teaching, the Holy Eucharist included. The purpose of the Synod, as declared by our Holy Father, was “to listen” to one another as we “journey together” in faith. Now may be a most opportune time, by means of follow-up to that “listening,” to consider the gift and mystery of the Holy Eucharist that is the focus our current “Eucharistic Revival” through a series of catechetical presentations. At the onset, I want to note that this catechetical series on the Holy Eucharist that follows is, by no means, an exhaus-

tive treatment of its subject. How could it be? I have tried to highlight many aspects of the inexhaustible gift and mystery of the Holy Eucharist as the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, drawn from Scripture and tradition, that are particularly meaningful to me and, hopefully, will be to the reader. So much more could be reflected upon, written and said. I do not take up here the topic of the clergy and faithful’s preferences for either the 1962 or the 1970/2011 Roman Missal or recent pronouncements of the Holy See about either. Neither do I go into detail about the various liturgical parts of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Similarly, the polemical question of the worthy reception of PREFACE the Holy Eucharist by Catholic public officials who espouse moral positions contrary to the Church’s teaching is not addressed here. Bishops and pastors have the responsibility to discuss such matters with the individuals themselves, challenging them to a conversion of heart and conscience. My purpose in writing this catechetical series is simple: to re-present the Catholic Church’s understanding of the Holy Eucharist as the Lord Jesus Christ’s own Body and Blood, his “gift for the life of the world ( John 6: 51).”

Eucharistic Series

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In Focus MYSTERY AND REALITY

PART ONE

All that we are and believe as baptized Catholics is rooted in Christ’s presence in the Holy Eucharist and is directed toward Christ’s presence there. To affirm that belief throughout our Christian lives shapes, informs and guides our Catholic teachings through the ages and our Catholic faith here and now. It is both a mystery and a reality that requires our understanding, our conviction, and our way of life. As a “mystery,” the Holy Eucharist defies any scientific explanation. At the same time, as a “reality,” it does not need one. It is both. The Eucharistic hymn, “Tantum ergo,” attributed to St. Thomas Aquinas that we learned and have sung from our earliest years, describes our belief in the Holy Eucharist so very well: “What our senses fail to fathom, let us grasp through faith’s consent.” The Holy Eucharist is the “Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity” of the Lord Jesus Christ, Catholics are accustomed to say. It is not a “sign” or “symbol.” The Holy Eucharist IS the Lord Jesus Christ: real, true, entire and substantial. The bread and wine placed on the altar at every celebration of Holy Mass becomes the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ “through the power of the Holy Spirit and the instrumentality of the priest.” The Church refers to this action as “transubstantiation.” Though the appearance of bread and wine remain, the whole Christ, crucified and risen from the dead in glory, is truly and really present. The Holy Eucharist is his “Real Presence,” a

very day I spend some time in the small chapel in my home. It is a quiet time for prayer and reflection before the Blessed Sacrament. When I wake up in the morning and come downstairs, I stop first in my chapel to pray as I begin the day. I say the same prayer, the same version of the “morning offering” I learned from the sisters and recited daily in Catholic school as a boy: Dear Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You all my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day in union with your Sacred Heart, in reparation for all my sins, for the intentions of all my associates and, in particular, for the intentions of the Holy Father. As I look around the chapel, I see the tabernacle and the flickering sanctuary lamp beside it, reminding me of the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ there. I see the altar where I celebrate Holy Mass before heading to the Chancery. And I see the large crucifix behind the altar. I thank the Lord Jesus for giving me another day of life to love and serve him. I offer him my prayer for special intentions recommended to me as Bishop, for the people I will meet PART ONE and for the things I will do in the day ahead. I thank him for my parents and family and for those I love and who love me. And I pray for the Diocese of Trenton and all my priests. This is the way I begin my day, asking the Lord Jesus, present in the Blessed Sacrament, to remain with me. I know that not everybody is fortunate enough to have the Blessed Sacrament reserved in their homes. But everyone should begin the day with prayer. Growing up, trained in several Vincentian seminaries, I became accustomed to the spiritual practice of St. Vincent de Paul, During visiting the chapel before leaving the house and upon returning. It was Holy something important to him and, Communion, therefore, important to his sons. The Eucharist was the center of Catholics receive the his life. “Body, Blood, Soul and For Catholics living in the Church after the Second Vatican Divinity” of Christ Council, the notion proclaimed not a “sign” or at the Council, that the Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Chris“symbol.” tian life” (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium, 11), has become familiar, not only for priests but also for all the baptized faithful. Quite simply, that conciliar declaration describes the heart of our faith and spirituality as Catholics.

Eucharistic Series

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Jeff Bruno photo

Continued from 7

Catechesis on the Holy “mystery and a reality” that is the “source and summit” of the Catholic faith and of all Christian spirituality. THE GIFT OF FAITH Faith is not an intrinsic element of human nature, although its possibility is. Aided by human reason, faith grows and develops in the human person through an openness to what is possible and real in human existence and experience. That “openness” becomes trust and confidence in someone or something, affirmed by experience and shared with and by others. For Catholics, faith is considered a “gift from God” who inspires and places that openness, trust, and confidence in God as Creator. For Catholics, religious faith is a “supernatural gift” from God that deepens and grows in the believer, supported by the Word of God and the teachings of the Catholic Church experienced as Truth. Catholics share their faith. The biblical understanding of faith is expressed in the Letter to the Hebrews as “confident assurance concerning things hoped for and conviction about things we cannot see” (Hebrews 11:1). The Holy Eucharist is a central element of the Catholic faith, rooted in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God, who, the Gospels recorded, on the night before he died, shared one last meal with his disciples during which he took bread, blessed and broke it saying, “Take and eat: this is my Body, this is my Blood given for you” (Mark 14:22-26; Matthew 26:26-30; Luke 22:14-20; John 6:22-59). In so doing, the Lord Jesus Christ instituted the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist which Catholics continue to celebrate as the heart of their life in the Church. Notice the Lord Jesus did not say this is a “sign” or “symbol” of his Body and Blood. He said that the bread and wine of the Last Supper IS his Body and Blood. And Catholics have always believed that, continuing to obey his command that night, “Do this in memory of me.” Over the centuries since that Last Supper much has been preached, written, and taught in the Catholic Church about the Holy Eucharist. In the series that follows, intended as a catechesis to help our understanding, we will explore several aspects of the Holy Eucharist that support our Catholic faith, our Catholic prayer and our Catholic life.

PART TWO

n the summer of 2019, the Pew Research Center (PRC) published the results of a February survey conducted among 1,835 adult Catholics in the U.S. about their belief in the Eucharist. Numerous other studies have been done over the years by various research organizations about religion and the Catholic Church in particular. This Pew study, however, was especially alarming because its subject matter concerned a central belief of the Catholic Church’s faith. Through responses to a variety of questions, PRC concluded, “Just one-third of U.S. Catholics (31%) agree with their Church that the Eucharist is the Body and Blood of

Eucharist

Christ.” As a “headline,” that garnered much attention. It is understandable that such a statistic is a grave cause for concern in the U.S. Catholic Church, especially among American bishops, priests and those entrusted with the transmission of the Catholic faith. Before jumping to any dire conclusions prompted by startling headlines and sound bites, however, we must remember that this survey was conducted among a relatively small segment – 1,835 – of the total self-identifying U.S. Catholic population, numbering well over 70.5 million, about 21-22 percent of the entire U.S. population. Despite similar research surveys and consequent media projections to the contrary, the number of self-identifying U.S. Catholics has remained relatively stable since 2014. We should also take note that “self-identifying Catholics” can be an elusive term. Recalling the phrase attributed to the Irish writer James Joyce in his 1939 novel “Finnegan’s Wake,” that “Catholicism means ‘here comes everybody’,” we need to recogPART TWO nize that the Catholic Church includes “self-identifying Catholics” in a variety of circumstances: baptized women and men, practicing and non-practicing people who “self-identify,” Catholics at various and different social-economic-educational levels; younger and older adult Catholics; fervent, devoted Catholics and “occasional” or sporadic yet self-identifying Catholics; Catholics dealing with personal issues at variance with traditional Catholic teaching, laws and practices, and so forth. “Here comes everybody,” indeed! Belief in the Eucharist may yield different understandings and expectations at different points in their faith experience of the “source and summit of the Christian life.” The Lord Jesus instituted the Eucharist, however, to be a means of unity in every experience and circumstance. “All of you, take this bread and eat of it for this is my Body, given for you.”

Eucharistic Series

EUCHARISTIC FAITH I must say that what the PRC published in its findings does not match what I regularly hear and encounter and experience among Catholics in the Diocese of Trenton whom I frequently meet. Although our churches may not be full and Mass attendance may have declined for any number of reasons – some known and others not – Catholics participating in Mass and Eucharistic devotions have a deep and abiding faith in the Eucharist. Take the experience of the recent pandemic, for example. When our churches closed briefly and Catholics had to watch Mass via livestream and make a “spiritual communion,” the outpouring of desire among many Trenton Catholics for the Eucharist and other Sacraments was nothing short of overwhelming! When first confronted with the results of the Pew study, wellknown Catholic apologist Bishop Robert Barron responded with alarm and anger “because it showed poor formation for generations in the Church” (“Survey on Catholic Belief in the Eucharist Continued on 10

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In Focus Continued from 9

prompts Calls for Better Catechesis,” National Catholic Register, Aug. 19, 2019). “It’s hard to describe how angry I feel after reading what the latest PRC study reveals about understanding of the Eucharist among Catholics,” Bishop Barron wrote in his Aug. 6, 2019, blog. “This should be a wake-up call to all of us in the Church – priests, bishops, religious, lay people, catechists, parents – that we need to pick up our game when it comes to communicating even the most basic doctrines of the Church.” I agree with Bishop Barron when he states in a video commentary on the topic that “any Catholic worth his or her salt knows this is a central teaching, a basic tenet of Catholicism” (“Pew survey shows majority of Catholics don’t believe in ‘Real Presence’,” National Catholic Reporter, Aug. 9, 2019). Somewhere along the way, we – all of us – somehow “dropped the ball.” The experience of the pandemic and its resulting confusion and anxiety notwithstanding, the return of Catholics to Church, albeit it gradual but steady as “The Word reported by pastors, does raise questions about

became flesh” – shown here in John’s Gospel – is the Incarnation, God’s physical presence on Earth.

the underlying doubts or lack of understanding among those Catholics who have not or do not come to church for the celebration of the Eucharist. Keep in mind that the PRC study was conducted in 2019 among its targeted segment and selection of the U.S. Catholic population before COVID reared its ugly head! What happened, and why, are certainly important questions to be studied. The more important questions now, I believe, are where do we go from here and what do we need to do? Catechesis, catechesis and more and better catechesis are the answers! In a previous article, I wrote that “catechesis is nothing other than the process of transmitting the Gospel, as the Catholic Christian community has received it, understands it, celebrates it, lives it and communicates it in many ways.” Perhaps, as the PRC study reveals or suggests, our past “catechesis” has been found wanting, sadly. There is no time like the present to correct what is lacking there, especially regarding the Holy Eucharist. THE PRESENCE OF GOD

Our Catholic faith and teachings draw their inspiration from and rely upon the Word of God as the source of their truth. The Holy Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are filled with constant accounts of God’s presence among us. Beginning with the Old Testament’s Book of Genesis, we read that after God’s creation, God could be “heard walking in the Garden” (Genesis 3:8). The Book of Exodus quotes God assuring Moses “my presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest” (Exodus 33:14). The Psalms proclaim that “the mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth” (Psalms 97:5). The list of ancient biblical citations and references to God’s presence among us goes on and on. The New Testament Gospels, of course, center on the mystery of God’s Incarnation in the Lord Jesus Christ. “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us” ( John 1:14). They tell the story of the Go to dioceseoftrenton.org/eucharist-series to access Lord Jesus Christ, this series in English and Spanish text, video and podcast formats. the very presence of God on earth. “God sent his only

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Catechesis on the Holy

Eucharist

Son into the world so that we might live through him” (1 John 4:9). Again and again in the four Gospels and the other writings of the New Testament, the sacred authors reflect upon the meaning of the Lord Jesus Christ’s presence among us: who he is, why he came, what he has said and done and what his presence offers to us who believe in him.” The whole of Holy Scriptures lead us to the moment at the Last Supper when the Lord Jesus took bread and wine only to become his very Body and Blood, blessed, broken and given During to his disciples and, through them and their successors, to the institution us throughout the rest of of the Eucharist, Depiction of the Last Supper on the base of the time. “Do this in memory of altar table, St. Ann Church, Browns Mills. Monitor archive photo me,” he commanded. And the Last Supper, Jesus then, out of love for those commanded his disciples he came to redeem by what The meal, which we call “the Last Supper,” when the followed, he died and rose and successors to Holy Eucharist was instituted and to which the Gospel from the dead. “Observe all of St. Luke refers, was the traditional “Passover Seder” “do this in memory that I have commanded you. celebrated annually by the Jewish people. The Passover Behold, I am with you always, of me.” Seder commemorates the story of the liberation of the Israeven to the end of the world” (Matelites from slavery in ancient Egypt, taken from the Book of thew 28:20). Exodus (12:1-30) in the Old Testament. The Eucharist is the way the Lord Jesus Catholics find the basis of our belief in the Lord Jesus Christ is “with us always.” It is the central belief of our Catholic Christ’s Last Supper institution of Holy Eucharist as his own faith: a mystery, a Sacrament, the “source and summit of the Body and Blood (Holy Thursday) in the New Testament. Christian life.” In the centuries that followed up to the present day, the SACRED SCRIPTURE AS FOUNDATION Catholic Church and its theologians, teachers and preachers Matthew 26:26-29 have reflected upon the Eucharist in the faith, catechesis and While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, spiritual life of the Church. In Part Three of this series, we will broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, “Take and eat; this is my consider many of those reflections and teachings. body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins.” he Lord Jesus Christ was a faithful Jew, and it Mark 14:22-24 should come as no surprise that he celebrated PassWhile they were eating, he took over with his Twelve Apostles, also faithful Jews. bread, said the blessing, broke it, and

PART THREE

We read in the Gospel of Luke 22:1-16:

Now the feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was drawing near … When the day of the feast of Unleavened Bread arrived, the day for sacrificing the Passover lamb, he sent out Peter and John, instructing them, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” … Then they went off and found everything exactly as he had told them, and there they prepared the Passover. When the hour came, he took his place at table with the apostles. He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for, I tell you, I shall not eat it [again] until there is fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”

gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many.”

Eucharistic Series PART THREE

Luke 22:14-20

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until there is fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and said, “Take this and share it among yourselves; for I tell you [that] from this time on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.” And, likewise, the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you.” First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians 10:16-17

The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf. First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians 11:23-25

For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it The and said, “This is my body “development of that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the theology and doctrine” same way also the cup, after of the Eucharist was supper, saying, “This cup is

furthered by the writings of saints and early Church Fathers.

the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes. After the Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven, prior to the writing of these Scripture accounts, the Apostles and the early Christian community continued to celebrate the Eucharist, “the breaking of the bread,” in fulfillment of his command at the Last Supper, “Do this in memory of me.” The Acts of the Apostles bear witness to that ritual practice: Acts of the Apostles 2:42-46

They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. … Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes. They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart. Acts of the Apostles 20:7

On the first day of the week when we gathered to break bread …

Acts of the Apostles 20:11

Then he (Paul) returned upstairs, broke the bread, and ate; after a long conversation that lasted until daybreak, he departed. Acts of the Apostles 27:35

When he (Paul) said this, he took bread, gave thanks to God in front of them all, broke it, and began to eat. CHURCH FATHERS, THEOLOGIANS AND SAINTS

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St. Augustine

For the next several hundred years, the Church’s celebrations of the Eucharist became more formalized in rituals established and observed by the early Christian community. With that ritualization of “the breaking of the bread,” the Catholic Church’s theology and doctrine of the Eucharist as the Body and Blood of Christ developed but the fundamental belief in the Eucharist did not and has not changed over the centuries. The development of theology and doctrine refers to a growth in understanding and depth of clarity. In other words, the Catholic Church’s subjective grasp of doctrines and truths increased without doctrines or truths changing in an essential way. The development of theology and doctrine is the principle of a living, breathing tradition, guided by the Holy Spirit and also the consciousness of the Church as a whole throughout

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St. Thomas Aquinas

St. Ignatius of Antioch

Catechesis on the Holy

In Part Four of this series, we will consider contemporary Catholic teaching on the Eucharist and some of the themes that contribute to a deeper understanding of its significance and meaning in the Catholic Church.

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time (“Development of Catholic Doctrine: A Primer,” National Catholic Register, Jan. 5, 2018). That is true of the Eucharist and all the teachings and beliefs of the Catholic Church. The writings of the early Fathers of the Church, councils, and the great theologians and saints throughout the history of the Catholic Church bear that out, especially with regard to the Eucharist as the Body and Blood of Christ. St. Ignatius of Antioch (d. 118) wrote in the second century AD in his Letter to the Philadelphians, 4: Take heed, then, to have but one Eucharist. For there is one flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ, and one cup to [show forth] the unity of His blood; one altar; as there is one bishop, along with the presbytery and deacons, my fellow-servants: that so, whatsoever you do, you may do it according to [the will of] God. St. Justin Martyr (100-165) mentioned in this same regard in his First Apology, 65-67: And this food is called among us the Eucharist, of which no one is allowed to partake but the man who believes that the things which we teach are true, and who has been washed with the washing that is for the remission of sins, and unto regeneration, and who is so living as Christ has enjoined. For not as common bread and common drink do we receive these; but in like manner as Jesus Christ our Savior, having been made flesh by the Word of God, had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so likewise have we been taught that the food which is blessed by the prayer of His word, and from which our blood and flesh by transmutation are nourished, is the flesh and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh. St. Augustine (354-430) wrote in his Marginalia Contra Julianum: What since the days of antiquity was preached and believed throughout the whole Church with true Catholic faith is true, even if it is proved by no argument, explained by no words. These ancient texts are but three of the foundational theological understandings of the early Catholic Church’s belief in the Eucharist that endure to the present day. There are many more such passages found in the Catholic Church’s history and theology, unfortunately too many to quote and reference here. All affirm the Catholic Church’s belief that the Eucharist is the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, his “Real Presence” and the central act of Catholic prayer, worship and spirituality. One of my favorite prayers about the Eucharist was composed by St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), one of the greatest minds in the history of the Catholic Church: O sacred banquet! in which Christ is received, the memory of his Passion is renewed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory to us is given. Alleluia.

Eucharist

PART FOUR

Councils of Bishops like Vatican II, while pivotal in discussing liturgy, have not changed the Church’s teachings on the Eucharist.

he papacy of Pope St. Pius X (1903-1914) had begun in the earliest years of the twentieth century. Among the things for which he is best known is his devotion to the Holy Eucharist and his encouragement to all faithful Catholics to receive the Body and Blood of Christ in Holy Communion frequently, even daily – which reception had not been the common practice up to that time. It was Pope St. Pius X who also lowered the age for reception of First Communion by children to 7. The liturgical form of the Mass was changed several times in Church history and was changed again by the Second Vatican Council (1962-65). Theologically, however, Vatican II contributed little to how the Catholic Church actually understood or presented the Eucharist in its official teachings. The doctrine itself remained rather consistent through the centuries.

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Concilium (Dec. 4, 1963), the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council wrote: At the Last Supper, on the night when He was betrayed, our Savior instituted the eucharistic sacrifice of His Body and Blood. He did this in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the Cross throughout the centuries until He should come again, and so to entrust to His beloved spouse, the Church, a memorial of His death and resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a paschal banquet in which Christ is eaten, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us (art. 47). Here we see major “Eucharistic themes” that had accompanied – not changed – the development of the Catholic Church’s Eucharistic PART FOUR doctrine throughout much of its history: Eucharist as the “sacrifice” of the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, continuing the sacrifice of his Cross; Eucharist as “sacrament” of love; Eucharist as “bond of unity and charity;” Eucharist as “paschal meal;” echoing the prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas, Eucharist as pledge of future glory. We have noted earlier the often-quoted reference in Vatican II’s Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium (Nov. 21, 1964): Taking part in the Eucharistic sacrifice, which is the “fount and apex [source and summit]” of the whole Christian life, they offer the Divine Victim to God, and offer themselves along with It. Thus, both by reason of the offering and through Holy Communion all take part in this liturgical service, not indeed, all in the same way but each in that way which is proper to himself. Strengthened in Holy Communion by the Body of Christ, they then manifest in a concrete way that unity of the people of God which is suitably signified and wondrously brought about by this most august Sacrament (11). Shortly before the Second Vatican Council ended, Pope St. Paul VI published an encyclical on the Holy Eucharist entitled Mysterium Fidei (Sept. 3, 1965). There he reminded the Catholic Church of its consistent teaching on the Eucharist, quoting an oath prescribed by Pope St. Gregory the Great (540-604): I believe in my heart and openly profess that the bread and wine that are placed on the altar are, through the mystery of the sacred prayer and the words of the Redeemer, substantially changed into the true and proper and lifegiving flesh and blood of Jesus Christ our Lord, and that after the consecration they are the true body of Christ – which was born of the Virgin and which hung on the Cross as an offering for the salvation of the world – and the true blood of Christ – which flowed from His side – and not just as a sign and by reason of the power of the sacrament, but in the very truth and reality of their substance and in what is proper to their nature (52).

Eucharistic Series

Pope St. Paul VI continued:

We have a wonderful example of the stability of the Catholic

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faith in the way in which these words meet with such complete agreement in the constant teaching of the Ecumenical Councils of the Lateran, Constance, Florence and Trent on the mystery of the Eucharistic conversion, whether it be contained in their explanations of the teaching of the Church or in their condemnations of error (53). … the Catholic Church has held firm to this belief in the presence of Christ’s Body and Blood in the Eucharist not only in her teaching but in her life as well, since she has at all times paid this great Sacrament the worship known as “latria,” which may be given to God alone. As St. Augustine says: “It was in His flesh that Christ walked among us and it is His flesh that He has given us to eat for our salvation; but no one eats of this flesh without having first adored it … and not only do we not sin in thus adoring it, but we would be sinning if we did not do so (55). … The Catholic Church has always displayed and still displays this latria that ought to be paid to the Sacrament of the Eucharist, both during Mass and outside of it, by taking the greatest possible care of consecrated Hosts, by exposing them to the solemn veneration of the faithful, and by carrying them about in processions to the joy of great numbers of the people (56). In 1980, Pope St. John Paul II issued an apostolic letter “The Mystery and Worship of the Eucharist Dominicae cenae” (Feb. 24, 1980) where he wrote: Thanks to the Council we have realized with renewed force the following truth: Just as the Church “makes the Eucharist” so “the Eucharist builds up” the Church (16); and this truth is closely bound up with the mystery of Holy Thursday. The Church was founded, as the new community of the People of God, in the apostolic community of those Twelve who, at the Last Supper, became partakers of the body and blood of the Lord under the species of bread and wine. Christ had said to them: “Take and eat.... Take and drink.” And carrying out this command of His, they entered for the first time into Sacramental Communion with the Son of God, a communion that is a pledge of eternal life. From that moment until the end of time, the Church is being built up through that same communion with the Son of God, a communion which is a pledge of the eternal Passover (4). The doctrine of the Eucharist, sign of unity and bond of charity, taught by St. Paul, has been in subsequent times deepened by the writings of very many saints who are living examples for us of Eucharistic worship. We must always have this reality before our eyes, and at the same time we must continually try to bring it about that our own generation too may add new examples to those marvelous examples of the past, new examples no less living and eloquent, that will reflect the age to which we belong (5). Beginning with the Upper Room and Holy Thursday, the celebration of the Eucharist has a long history, a history as long as that of the Church (8). We cannot, even for a moment, forget that the Eucharist is a special possession belonging to the whole Church. It is the greatest gift in the order of grace and of sacrament that the divine Spouse has offered and unceasingly offers to His spouse. And precisely because it is such a gift, all of us should in a spirit of profound faith let ourselves be guided by a sense of truly Christian responsibility. A gift

Catechesis on the Holy obliges us ever more profoundly because it speaks to us not so much with the force of a strict right as with the force of personal confidence, and thus – without legal obligations – it calls for trust and gratitude. The Eucharist is just such a gift and such a possession. We should remain faithful in every detail to what it expresses in itself and to what it asks of us, namely, thanksgiving (12). ‘SPIRITUAL GOOD OF THE CHURCH’

Eucharist

Catholic Church (1322-1405) reflect in catechetical fashion much of what has already been written here. The “Catechism” and the “Compendium” both describe the Holy Eucharist as “the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch.” In 2003, Pope St. John Paul II published an encyclical on the Holy Eucharist in relationship to/with the Church, Ecclesia de Eucharistia (April 17, 2003), reminding the Church that: Every commitment to holiness, every activity aimed at carrying out the Church’s mission, every work of pastoral planning, must draw the strength it needs from the Eucharistic mystery and in turn be directed to that mystery as its culmination. In the Eucharist we have Jesus, we have his redemptive sacrifice, we have his resurrection, we have the gift of the Holy Spirit, we have adoration, obedience and love of the Father. Were we to disregard the Eucharist, how could we overcome our own deficiency (60). On the year before he died, Pope St. John Paul II announced a “Year of the Eucharist 2004-2005,” dedicating the entire liturgical year to a special time for reflection on the Holy Eucharist to culminate with the Ordinary Synod of Bishops in October, 2005. Pope St. John Paul II died on April 2, 2005.

Pope St. John Paul II promulgated the revised Code of Canon Law three years later in 1983. Canon law addressed the Holy Eucharist in the fourth book of the Code’s treatment of the Sacraments, canons 897-958. Can. 897 The most August sacrament is the Most Holy Eucharist in which Christ the Lord himself is contained, offered, and received and by which the Church continually lives and grows. The eucharistic sacrifice, the memorial of the death and resurrection of the Lord, in which the sacrifice of the cross is perpetuated through the ages is the summit and source of all worship and Christian life, which signifies and effects the unity of the People of God and brings about the building up of the body of Christ. Indeed, the other sacraments and all the ecclesiastical works of the apostolate are closely connected with the Most Holy Eucharist and ordered to it. Can. 898 The Christian faithful are to hold the Most Holy Eucharist in highest honor, taking an active part in the celebration of the most august sacrifice, receiving this sacrament most devoutly and frequently, and worshiping it with the highest adoration. Several In explaining the doctrine about this sacrament, pastors of souls are to teach the faithful diligently about this popes, many obligation. now canonized Can. 899 §1. The eucharistic celebration is the action of Christ himself and the Church. In it, Christ the saints, have made Lord, through the ministry of the priest, offers himself, promotion of the substantially present under the species of bread and wine, to God the Father and gives himself as spiritual Eucharist a central food to the faithful united with his offering. focus of their The Church’s legislation presented here treats in detail the Eucharistic celebration, the minister of the papacies. Eucharist, participation in and reception of the Eucharist, the rituals and ceremonies surrounding the celebration Pope John Paul II of the Eucharist, the time

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and place for Eucharistic celebration, the reservation and veneration of the Eucharist and offerings made in its regard. Other norms related to the Eucharist are also found in the instructions and rubrics contained in the 1970 and 2011 official editions of the Roman MisPope Gregory the Great sal approved and published by the Holy See. The 1992 Catechism of the Catholic Church (1322-1415) approved by Pope St. Paul II and the subsequently approved and published 2005 Compendium of the Catechism of the

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His successor, Pope Benedict XVI, presided at the Synod and issued his Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Sacramentum Caritatis on Feb. 22, 2007. He wrote: The Eucharist is at the root of every form of holiness, and each of us is called to the fullness of life in the Holy Spirit. How many saints have advanced along the way of perfection thanks to their eucharistic devotion! From Saint Ignatius of Antioch to Saint Augustine, from Saint Anthony Abbot to Saint Benedict, from Saint Francis of Assisi to Saint Thomas Aquinas, from Saint Clare of Assisi to Saint Catherine of Siena, from Saint Paschal Baylon to Saint Peter Julian Eymard, from Saint Alphonsus Liguori to Blessed Charles de Foucauld, from Saint John Mary Vianney to Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, from Saint Pius of Pietrelcina to Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, from Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati to Blessed Ivan Merz, to name only a few, holiness has always found its center in the sacrament of the Eucharist. This most holy mystery thus needs to be firmly believed, devoutly celebrated and intensely lived in the Church. Jesus’ gift of himself in the sacrament which is the memorial of his passion tells us that the success of our lives is found in our participation in the trinitarian life offered to us truly and definitively in him. The celebration and worship of the Eucharist enable us to draw near to God’s love and to persevere in that love until we are united with the Lord whom we love. The offering of our lives, our fellowship with the whole community of believers and our solidarity with all men and women are essential aspects of that spiritual worship, holy and pleasing to God (cf. Rom 12:1), which transforms every aspect of our human existence, to the glory of God. I therefore ask all pastors to spare no effort in promoting an authentically eucharistic Christian spirituality. Priests, deacons and all those who carry out a eucharistic ministry should always be able to find in this service, exercised with care and constant preparation, the strength and inspiration needed for their personal and communal path of sanctification. I exhort the lay faithful, and families in particular, to find ever anew in the sacrament of Christ’s love the energy needed to make their lives an authentic sign of the presence of the risen Lord. I ask all consecrated men and women to show by their eucharistic lives the splendor and the beauty of belonging totally to the Lord (94). ‘TO THE END OF TIME’ The purpose of referencing all these citations is to demonstrate the continuity and constancy of the Catholic Church’s Eucharistic doctrine throughout its history until the present day, despite some heretical attempts in history by “reformers” to establish the contrary. The Catholic Church’s belief in the Holy Eucharist as the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ has never wavered. On Nov. 14, 2006, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops published a document on the Holy Eucharist, “Happy Are Those Who Are Called to His Supper.” There, the bishops wrote: As bishops and shepherds of the Catholic faithful in the United States of America, we recognize our responsibility to nurture the faith of our Catholic brothers and sisters in this most wondrous mystery – Jesus’ Real Presence in Holy Communion. … we wish to 16 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE

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affirm clearly what the Church believes and teaches concerning the Eucharist and the reception of Holy Communion. We also wish to provide a clear affirmation as to who may receive Holy Communion within a Eucharistic celebration. Finally, we want to recommend some practices that every Catholic can use for preparing to receive Holy Communion in a more worthy fashion. In 2021, no doubt prompted by contemporary misunderstandings and misrepresentations of the nature of the Catholic Church’s doctrines of transubstantiation, Holy Communion and Real Presence that seemed to have crept into expressed beliefs among some of the Catholic faithful as well as controversies that had arisen about the worthy reception of Holy Communion by some Catholic public officials who had adopted positions contrary to the moral teachings of the Catholic Church, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops revisited the Catholic Church’s Eucharistic doctrines and issued another document entitled “The Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church” (Nov. 17, 2021). Conscious of the effects of the devastating pandemic from which the world was emerging, the bishops wrote: The words of the liturgy on the night the Church commemorates the institution of the Eucharist speaks to us of the Mass as the representation of Christ’s unique sacrifice on the Cross, the reception of Christ truly present in the Sacrament of the Eucharist, and the marvelous effects of communion in those who receive this gift (8). That same November meeting established the idea for a “Eucharistic Revival” throughout the United States to take place over the next three years, first in the country’s dioceses (2022-2023), next in parishes of the various dioceses (20232024) and, finally, on a national level (2024-2025), with a National Eucharistic Congress to be held in Indianapolis July 17-21, 2024. Here in the Diocese of Trenton, the diocesan phase of the “Eucharistic Revival” began on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi), June 19, 2022. The Holy Eucharist is the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ instituted and given to us by him at the Last Supper on Holy Thursday, the night before he died for us on the Cross. We continue to celebrate the Holy Eucharist as he commanded us to do in his memory. He is fully and really present, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity, in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, in Holy Communion we receive at holy Mass and wherever we might be, and “In all the tabernacles of the world, even to the end of time. Amen” (The Divine Praises).

PART FIVE EUCHARISTIC LEXICON

art Five of this “Catechesis on the Holy Eucharist” presents some of the words, terms and expressions used in the Catholic Church to describe or refer to the Holy Eucharist or things associated with its celebration. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list by any

Catechesis on the Holy means. There is ample literature published or online that can be consulted to supplement this list. Bread and wine. The physical elements of the Holy Eucharist under whose appearance at every Holy Sacrifice of the Mass become the Body and Blood of Christ, as instituted by the Lord Jesus Christ at the Last Supper. The bread must be “unleavened” with nothing added and the wine, “true fruit of the vine.” The Eucharist is the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, not merely a sign or symbol or remembrance, first given to us by the Lord Jesus Christ at the Last Supper. Eucharist is a term that comes from Greek term “eucharistia,” and means “to give thanks,” the action of the Lord Jesus Christ at the Last Supper’s Passover Meal as recounted in the Gospels. Transubstantiation is the Catholic Church’s term for the doctrine of faith that explains the Holy Eucharist as the complete substance of bread and wine converted by the power of the Holy Spirit at the Vic Mistretta photo/St. Mary of the Assumption words of a priest during Cathedral, Trenton the consecration (within the Eucharistic Prayer) of the Holy Mass into the complete substance of Christ’s Body and Blood. Real Presence is the Catholic Church’s doctrine of faith that the Lord Jesus Christ is fully and entirely present in his Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity under the appearances of bread and wine in the Holy Eucharist. The Lord Jesus Christ is fully and entirely present at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, in Holy Communion whenever and wherever it is distributed, and reserved in the tabernacle of a church or chapel. Eucharist as Mystery of Faith. A mystery is something that cannot be fully or scientifically explained by human reason alone. The Eucharist as understood and believed in the Catholic Church cannot be fully or scientifically explained but it is fully accessible to faith, hence the Eucharist is a “mystery of faith.” Eucharist as Sacrifice. “The Eucharist is the very sacrifice of the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus which he instituted to perpetuate the Sacrifice of the Cross throughout the ages until his return in glory” (Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 271). The Eucharist makes present the Sacrifice of the Cross. The Sacrifice of the Cross and the Sacrifice of the Eucharist are one Sacrifice. Eucharist as Sacrament. A Sacrament is a sacred reality instituted by the Lord Jesus Christ to give “grace,” which is the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond to his call to become children of God, partakers in the divine nature and of eternal life. Grace is a participation in the life of

Eucharist

God, which is poured unearned into human beings, whom it heals of sin and sanctifies (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1996-1999). We recognize that the Sacraments have a visible and invisible reality. The visible reality we see in the Sacraments is their outward expression, the form they take, and the way in which they are administered and received. The invisible reality we cannot “see” is God’s grace, his gracious initiative in redeeming us through the death and Resurrection of his Son (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, “Sacraments and Sacramentals”). The “visible reality” of the PART FIVE Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist is bread and wine. The “invisible reality” of the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist is the “Real Presence” of the Lord Jesus Christ, whole and entire.

Eucharistic Series

Eucharist as “Sign of Unity and Charity.” The Holy Eucharist unites the Catholic faithful with the Lord Jesus Christ and, through this union, with one another. In receiving the Holy Eucharist, this unity is not only symbolized but also accomplished in charity. St. Paul writes, “Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake one bread” (1 Corinthians 10:17). Eucharist as “Pledge of Future Glory.” The Eucharist is described as “a pledge of future glory” because it fills us with every grace and heavenly blessing. It fortifies us for our pilgrimage in this life and makes us long for eternal life. It unites us already to Christ seated at the right hand of the Father, to the Church in heaven and to the Blessed Virgin and all the saints (Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 294). Blessed Sacrament. Another term for the “Real Presence” of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. It is “blessed” because it brings us into direct contact with the holiness of God through the Lord Jesus Christ. Altar. The altar is a table – the table of the Lord – on which the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is offered and celebrated (altar of sacrifice) or upon which the tabernacle containing the Blessed Sacrament rests Joe Moore photo/St. Ann, Browns Mills (altar of repose or reservation). The altar of sacrifice is the symbol of Christ himself who is present both as sacrificial victim and as food from heaven which is given to us. Tabernacle. The tabernacle is the “fixed, locked box” in which the Blessed Sacrament is reserved in a church or chapel. Continued on 18

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In Focus

Chalice and paten. These are sacred vessels used only at the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Ordinarily blessed or consecrated by a bishop, the paten holds the bread which will become the Body of Christ and the chalice holds the wine which will become the Blood of Christ.

Monitor photo

Sanctuary Lamp. The sanctuary lamp is the wax candle near the tabernacle that remains lit indicating the “Real Presence” of the Lord Jesus Christ within the tabernacle.

Ciborium, pyx, monstrance. These are sacred vessels used to contain the Blessed Sacrament in rites of Catholic worship and devotion. The ciborium is the sacred vessel from which Holy Communion is usually distributed at Mass. The pyx is the sacred vessel which holds the Blessed Sacrament for distribution to the Catholic faithful outside of Mass or which is inserted into the monstrance, the sacred vessel which holds the Blessed Sacrament when it is exposed for the worship and adoration of the Catholic faithful. Genuflection. This is the act of respect, reverence, and worship of the “Real Presence” of the Lord Jesus Christ present on the altar during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass or present in the tabernacle of a church or chapel. Upon entering a church or chapel, the genuflection involves the bending of the right knee briefly touching the floor, in the direction of the altar or tabernacle. In certain circumstances, a reverent bow of the head may substitute for a genuflection. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. This is the act of worship of the “Real Presence” of Lord Jesus Christ either within the tabernacle of a church or chapel or when exposed on the altar for devotion. Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. This is the Catholic ritual of worship of the Blessed Sacrament, composed of exposition of the sacred host accompanied by hymns and prayers and concluding with the blessing with the Blessed Sacrament. Viaticum. The administration of the Eucharist to the dying, often accompanied by the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. Ministers of the Eucharist. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass may only be celebrated by a valid18 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE

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ly ordained Catholic bishop or priest who distributes the Eucharist to the Catholic faithful as its “ordinary minister.” A validly ordained deacon may assist in the distribution of the Eucharist, within or outside of Mass. In virtue of his ordination, he is also considered an “ordinary minister.” Baptized Catholic members of the laity may also be commissioned or authorized to distribute the Eucharist within or outside of Mass as “extraordinary ministers.” Worthy reception of the Eucharist. Aware that the Holy Eucharist is the very Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, baptized members of the Catholic Church are invited to receive the Holy Eucharist (Holy Communion) if they are in the “state of grace,” that is, not conscious of having committed serious or mortal sin prior to Eucharistic reception without the benefit of first receiving the Sacrament of Penance by confessing their sins to a priest with a firm purpose or intention of amendment and receiving sacramental absolution. St. Paul writes, “whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord. A person should examine himself, and so eat the bread and drink the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself ” (1 Corinthians 11:27-29). To receive the Eucharist worthily, baptized members of the Catholic Church should believe in the Eucharist as the Catholic Church teaches, should prepare themselves spiritually to receive the Eucharist, and should observe the proper Eucharistic fast (no solid food or beverages other than water or medicine for one hour prior to receiving Holy Communion). Illness excuses an individual from the Eucharistic fast.

Msgr. Thomas N. Gervasio, St. Thomas More Adoration chapel, Manalapan. Joe Moore photo

Continued from 17

Eucharistic miracles. A miracle is any event that cannot be explained by the laws of nature or science. For Catholics, miracles are usually attributed to the intervention of God. “Eucharistic miracles” are those phenomena that involve the Eucharist. TLM (“The Latin Mass”) also referred to as usus antiquior or “extraordinary form of the Mass” describes the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in Latin according to the 1962 Roman Missal. Novus Ordo (“New Order”) refers to the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in Latin or vernacular languages according to the 1970 Roman Missal, revised in 2011.

Catechesis on the Holy Retirement Fund for Religious Please give to those who have given a lifetime.

Eucharist Elderly religious need your help.

Like those pictured, nearly 25,000 senior sisters, brothers, and religious order priests have devoted their lives to prayer and ministry—educating the young, tending the sick, aiding the needy, and more. Yet years of serving for little or no pay have left a profound shortage in retirement savings. Your support of the Retirement Fund for Religious helps furnish care, medicine, and other necessities. Please give generously. Please donate at your local parish December 10–11 or by mail at: Diocese of Trenton, Department of Finance 701 Lawrenceville Road Lawrenceville NJ 08648 Make check payable to the Diocese of Trenton-Retirement Fund for Religious.

T Y AT CO M M U N I

H L ET I

In the past you have provided gifts to ensure the viability of our schools In the gifts to ensure viability of our of schools Ingeneration thehave pastprovided you provided giftsYou tothe ensure the for thepast nextyou ofhave Catholic faithful. know theviability impact ofour schools© 2022 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington DC All rights reserved • Photographer: Jim Judkis for the nexteducation generation of ICatholic faithful. You know the impact of for the next generation of Catholic faithful. You know the impact of a Catholic and would like to thank you profoundly for offering Visit retiredreligious.org/2022photos to meet the religious pictured. a Catholic education and I would like to thank you profoundly for offering a Catholic education and I would like to thank you profoundly for offering this incredible gift to others. this incredible to others. thisgift incredible gift to others. One way of giving during this time of the year is “Giving Tuesday.” Our school One wayduring of giving during this time of the year is “Giving Tuesday.” Our school One way ofdirectly giving time of the year is “Giving Our school programs benefit this 100% from all gifts during the Tuesday.” “Giving Tuesday” campaign. programs directly benefit 100% gifts from during all giftsthe during the “Giving Tuesday” campaign. programs directly benefit 100% from “Giving Tuesday” campaign. The website for a Giving Tuesday gift all is: www.leadinfaith.org The website for a Giving Tuesday gift is: www.leadinfaith.org The website for a Giving Tuesday gift is: www.leadinfaith.org During COVID, support for our schools more is important than ever. have During COVID, support for our is schools more important thanWe ever. We have During COVID, support forfinancial our schools is more important than ever.Our Weschools have have students that need more support now than in past years. students that need more financial support now than in past years. Our schools have students that more financial support costs now than in years. Our schools have had to step upneed spending health-related due topast COVID protocols. As a result had to step up for spending for health-related costs due to COVID protocols. As a result had to step up spending for health-related costs due to COVID protocols. As a result budgets arebudgets tight. are tight. budgets are tight. Your support, our Catholic here and today and tomorrow. Your support, will ensurewill ourensure Catholic schools schools are hereare today tomorrow. Catholic Schools Have It All... Your support, will our generation. Catholic schools arethe here today andvalues tomorrow. Educating the next Imparting same Gospel that formed Educating the nextensure generation. Imparting the same Gospel values that formed your your life. life. Educating the next generation. Imparting the same Gospel values that formed your life. and our students take it with Thank you forthe allowing the youngest of our Catholic family the same opportunity Thank you for allowing youngest of our Catholic family the same opportunity youallowing had been gifted. Thank you for them wherever they go. Catholic you had been gifted. the youngest of our Catholic family the same opportunity you had been gifted.

ANNUAL FUND

DEAR [FIRST NAME],

100% of donations will go to your school of choice or you can designate the Diocesan Office of Catholic Schools for broader tuition or program assistance.

our support, will ensure our Catholic schools are here today and tomorrow. Catholic Schools Have it All • 701 Lawrenceville Road • Trenton NJ 08648 • 609-403-7127 ducating the next generation. Imparting the same Gospel values that formed your life.

hank you for allowing the youngest of our Catholic family the same opportunityNovember 2022 ou had been gifted.

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AC A DE

E RV I C E C O M M U

PRAY  VOLUNTEER have come and expectfor so many years. Our enthusiasm need support more than ever. to relyDONATE

hasisnever because we are faith filled community.” uring COVID, support for our schools morewavered, important than ever. Weahave VISIT WWW.LEADINFAITH.ORG has neverthis wavered, because we are a faith filled community.” Let’s work together to preserve tudents that need more financial support now thanNEW! in past Our to schools haveto make a gift! Textyears. leadinfaith 609-403-3323 vital part of our Church. ad to step up spending for health-related costs due to COVID protocols. As a result PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY. udgets are tight.

FA I T H

ne way of giving during this time of the year is “Giving Tuesday.” Our school “ ARE open and living our mission EVERYDAY... just as you rograms directly benefit 100% all giftsWe during the “Giving Tuesday” campaign. With the impact of from the coronavirus come rely and forEVERYDAY... so many years. Our “We AREhave open and to living ourexpect mission just enthusiasm as you he website for a Giving Tuesday gift www.leadinfaith.org “Weis:ARE pandemic, our Catholic schools open andwavered, living our mission EVERYDAY... just as you” has never because we are a faith filled community. have come to rely and expect for so many years. Our enthusiasm

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M I C E XC E L L

ICS

Superintendent of Schools, Diocese of Trenton Superintendent of Schools, Diocese of Trenton

T H L ET A Y T I N

– Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M.

E N C E S E RV I C E

Please consider renewing your previous gift of

schools provide hope in a secular

n the past you havethat provided gifts to ensure the viability of our schools world makes little room for or the next faith. generation faithful.for Youthe know the impact of ThereofisCatholic no substitute Catholic education and I would like to thank you offering Dr. Vincentfor Schmidt value that strong Catholic schools profoundly Superintendent of Schools, Diocese of Trenton Dr. Vincent Schmidt his incredible gift to others. have to offer our Church. Dr. Vincent Schmidt

PRE-PANDEMIC PHOTOS

retiredreligious.org

THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 19

In Focus

Traveling exhibit on Eucharistic miracles bolsters faith for all generations BY LOIS ROGERS  Correspondent

atholic saints, sages and scholars through the ages have written that nothing substitutes for spending time in the presence of the Holy Eucharist. That devotion serves as a cornerstone of a new traveling diocesan exhibit that depicts Eucharistic miracles over nearly two millennia. Offered as an opportunity for learning and reflection during this year of the National Eucharistic Revival, the exhibit content was drawn from the website created by Blessed Carlo Acutis. The grace-filled Italian teen had, before he died of leukemia at the age of 15 in 2006, catalogued scores of Eucharistic miracles including the 65-plus presented in this local display. The wide scale exhibit features a circular, seven “room” presentation of 8-foot panels, each covered with artistic renderings and descriptions of the miracles which took place. Arranged in chronological order, from the Third Century to 2013, they are accompanied by timelines and notations of some world events to help viewers place them within the historical era. Each of the rooms points to the seventh and center room where the Eucharist is clearly visible in the monstrance, reminding viewers that the historical miracles all generate from the miracle at the core of the exhibit: Jesus present in the Most Holy Eucharist. For Josue Arriola, director of the Diocese’s Department of Family Life and Evangelization, along with the staff and volunteers who worked to bring this to fruition, the design and the experience of visiting the exhibit is meant to visually capture the most fundamental tenet of Catholic teaching – that the Eucharist is truly Christ’s Body and Blood.

PROJECT FOR THE TIMES The idea for a visual learning project first emerged several years ago as a way to provide scores of faithful who participated each fall in the traveling Guadalupe Torch with a deeper experience of formation around the Blessed Mother. 20 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE

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The Eucharistic exhibit panels are arranged in chronological order, from the Third Century to 2013, and are accompanied by timelines and notations of some world events to help viewers place them within the historical era. Many people were willing to take part in such popular events as the Guadalupe Torches, Arriola and members of the team found, but there was not a full understanding of the iconography involved, or the Guadalupe story and its meaning. Plans for an exhibit created by artists, artisans and parishioners from around the Diocese who volunteered their skills and their time were underway when COVID waylaid them in 2019. The team never lost confidence in the idea, however. As COVID eased and things began to open up, Arriola, Jossie Ramos, the department’s administrative assistant, and the volunteer crew recognized that the type of project they envisioned could help to bring the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist to the forefront of Catholics’ faith experience. Mark Di Sciullo, a member of St. Aloysius Parish, Jackson, and the visual designer of the exhibit, noted how poignant it was that the original plan was for an exhibit of Our Lady of Guadalupe. “It was as though Our Lady made way for this to happen,” said Di Sciullo who, with his family, are among the sponsors of the exhibit that is co-sponsored by the Tom & Glory Sullivan

Students from St. John Vianney High School, Holmdel, tour the exhibit during its two-week stay in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold. Mike Ehrmann photos An image of the Blessed Sacrament is prominently seen among the exhibit that features a circular, seven “room” presentation of eight-foot panels covered with artistic renderings and descriptions of the Eucharistic miracles which took place.

Foundation and the diocesan Eucharistic Revival. In addition to Di Sciullo’s family, other generous funding sources came from the Knights of Columbus Council #17430, St. Ann Church, Browns Mills; Maria de Jesus Luna y Andrés Luna, Angel Romero and Felipe Garrido. Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., came to know the Sullivans during his tenure at The Catholic University of America, Washington. Andres Luna, St. Ann Parish, Browns Mills, his late wife Maria de Jesus Luna and their family all committed themselves as sponsors of the project. An expert in metal work, he created the schematic drawings of the circular frame separating the seven “rooms” of the display before the project went on hold. The delay didn’t dampen the enthusiasm, said Luna. “It’s a long process with God on top,” he said, noting that family members and many other volunteers went right back to working on it. “We didn’t count the time,” he said. UNIQUE SPIRITUAL ENCOUNTER Those who experienced the exhibit didn’t seem to count the time, either. In speaking with some of them after they viewed or worked on the exhibit, it was clear they savored every second. Student Anna Veres visited the exhibit in the complex of St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold, Oct. 14 with her theology class from Holmdel’s St. John Vianney High School. She expressed the hope that more young people her age “are able to visit, especially since it went hand-in-hand with what I’ve learned about Carlo Acutis.” William Diederich and his wife, Deborah, of St. Catharine-St. Margaret Parish, Spring Lake, became so inspired when they learned the exhibit was traveling to St. Catharine School for two weeks that they volunteered to help set it up. The couple said they saw helping out with the exhibit as a way to share that “Jesus is alive in it.”

“We thought this needed to be shared, especially with children,” Deborah said. William echoed that sentiment. “We just feel lucky encountering a whole great team with so many nice people helping out. We had seven people working until 11 p.m. the night before it opened at St. Catharine School. It was wonderful. Everything just fell into place,” he said. Msgr. Sam A. Sirianni is rector of St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral Parish, where the exhibit drew many prayerful visitors Oct. 3 through 17. Throughout the exhibit’s presence, he said, there was a sense that “something special was going on and that was a gift.” Msgr. Sirianni encountered a number of repeat visitors, including one parishioner who stopped by when he was closing the exhibit down. “I apologized to her and she said, ‘Oh, don’t be sorry. This was my third time here.’” He expressed his belief that there were many parishioners who used their exhibit experience as a time of prayer. Msgr. Sirianni added, “The benefit, I would have to say, is that we’ll find out that people enjoyed its gifts, that they were very present and appreciative to spend peaceful and prayerful time before the Lord” especially during Adoration in the chapel after they had seen the exhibit. “Spending time with Our Lord in silence,” he said, was very important. “It was a privilege and a grace and we need to be mindful of that. I encountered many people coming away who said they never knew,” how precious it is. Parishes wishing to host the Eucharistic Miracles Exhibit can find an application form at dioceseoftrenton.org/eucharistic-miracles-exhibit. November 2022

 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 21

Viewpoints

The following commentary first appeared as an unsigned editorial Oct. 19 on the website of Catholic New York, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of New York. It is provided here through Catholic News Service.

With perspective of 60 years, what was the value of Vatican II?

he Second Vatican Council, convened by Pope John XXIII to address the role of the Church in the modern world, was an epic event when it opened Oct. 11, 1962. It came at the start of an era that saw sweeping changes in all aspects of society, as individuals and institutions everywhere took stock of their principles and practices in the postwar environment. John F. Kennedy, the first Catholic and the youngest-ever U.S. president, was in office less than a year; the American civil rights movement was gaining strength as Blacks demanded the equality they deserved; countries in Africa and southeast Asia were becoming independent after decades of colonialism; and sexual mores and artistic expression were rapidly evolving, with more to come over the decade. That the Catholic Church was one of the first major institutions to engage in such a monumental exercise of self-examination was both exhilarating and anxiety-provoking at once. As we mark the 60th anniversary of the Council’s opening, that dichotomy has remained, as Catholics continue to debate whether Vatican II has helped or hurt the Church and whether or not the Church is living up to the spirit of the Council or ignoring it, and even whether the Council’s teachings should be tossed aside completely and a new Council

22 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE

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President John F. Kennedy is pictured with Pope Paul VI at the Vatican July 2, 1963. Just the year prior the Second Vatican Council had opened amid a tumultous societal landscape, including the civil rights movement, countries embracing independence and the sexual revolution. CNS file photo convened. Pope Francis sees it differently. In his homily marking Vatican II’s opening in St. Peter’s Basilica, he called the debates about the Council then and now a distraction from the Church’s mission. The Council reminded the Church of what is “essential,” he said, defining it as “a Church madly in love with its Lord and with all the men and women whom He loves,” one that “is rich in Jesus and poor in assets,” a Church that “is free and freeing.” He said: “We are always tempted to start from ourselves rather than from God, to put our own agendas before the Gospel, to let ourselves be caught up in the winds of worldliness in order to chase after the fashions of the moment or to turn our back on the time that providence has granted us.” In researching his new book, “To Sanctify the World: The Vital Lesson of Vatican II, Catholic writer George Weigel, who is generally seen as more traditional in his views on the Church, studied the Council’s 16 texts and commentaries

November 2022

on them, including commentaries by then Father Joseph Ratzinger (the future Pope Benedict XVI). Father Ratzinger was one of the three most influential theologians at the Council and seen as having a traditional outlook. Still, Weigel wrote, the future pope held that the Council was crucial to rekindling a Christ-centered faith that would be the source of a revitalized Catholic mission to convert the modern world. As Pope Francis put it: “A Church in love with Jesus has no time for quarrels, gossip and disputes. May God free us from being critical and intolerant, harsh and angry. This is not a matter of style but of love.” We agree with that and share the Pope’s prayer for the contemporary Church and the world, that we go forth in a spirit of love for all. The views or positions presented in this or any guest editorial are those of the individual publication and do not necessarily represent the views of Catholic News Service or of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

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Mike Ehrmann photos

Special Feature

At Catholic Schools Mass, Bishop encourages students to pursue holiness like Blessed Carlo Acutis

1. BY MARY STADNYK  Associate Editor

“

hat do you want to be when you grow up?” That is the question that Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., asked the more than 400 students gathered Oct. 12 for the 2022 Cath-

olic Schools Mass. The annual Mass, returning for the first time after a pandemic-based hiatus, had the dual focus of celebrating Catholic schools and to honor Blessed Carlo Acutis, whom Bishop O’Connell had named last spring as the patron saint of all Catholic schools and young people in the Diocese of Tren-

1. A procession of school banners leads the way into St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold. 2. A student choir from St. Dominic School, Brick, leads the congregation in song. 3. Bishop O’Connell gives his homily near a picture and relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis, which stood in front of the ambo during Mass. Mike Ehrmann photos 24 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE

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Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., was principal celebrant of the Oct. 12 Catholic Schools Mass. He was joined at the altar by 25 priests who shepherd many of the schools of the Diocese. Mike Ehrmann photo ton. Blessed Carlo was the subject of a video that was screened for the students before the Mass. Gathered with the students in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold, were dozens of teachers, school administrators and parent chaperones, as well as 25 parish priests who joined Bishop O’Connell around the altar. Directing his homily to the day’s commemoration of Blessed Carlo Acutis’ Feast Day, the Bishop observed that “we are remembering a young Catholic school boy, not too much older than (you), who lived not too long ago, (and) from his earliest years had only one thing in mind: becoming a saint!

“He used to say, ‘to always be close to Jesus: that is my life plan.’ And from his earliest days on earth, he lived that way,” the Bishop said. “My young sisters and brothers, Blessed Carlo Acutis inspires us to see that holiness is possible for young people, normal kids like you of a similar age . . . for all of us! Today, at this Catholic Schools Mass, let’s make his prayer ‘to be holy’ our own prayer.” POPULAR TRADITION Since 2011, the Catholic Schools Mass has taken place most years and remains a popular event for the local school communities. This year, more than 30 Catholic schools were represent-

ed by about a dozen students each. In keeping with tradition, the event began with the procession of colorful school banners carried down the aisle by students just before the Mass. Diocesan school officials also took part in the procession, carrying an image and relic of Blessed Carlo and placing them in the sanctuary. Students representing a number of schools served in various roles for the Mass, including the choir from St. Dominic School, Brick. Other students from St. John Vianney High School, Holmdel; St. Paul School, Princeton; St. James School, Red Bank; Our Lady of Sorrows School, Hamilton; St. Peter School, Point Pleasant Beach, and St. Mary School, Middletown, contributed to the liturgy. Sophia Vitanov, a sophomore in Villa Victoria Academy, West Trenton, as well as Brooke Schneider, an eighth grader in St. Jerome School, West Long Branch, were inspired to learn more about Blessed Carlo from the video. “It was nice to hear about someone from the 21st century who was close to our own age on his way to becoming a saint,” said Vitanov. “He was certainly someone we can connect with.” “God wanted him to do the best he could in his life and that’s what God wants from all of us,” Schneider said. “I want to follow him and do the best that I can in my life.” Continued on 26

4. Children are reminded to pray for the intercession of Blessed Carlo Acutis, the patron saint of the Diocese’s schoolchildren and young people. 5. A likeness of Blessed Carlo joins the procession, held by Dr. Vincent de Paul Schmidt, diocesan superintendent of Catholic schools. 6. About a dozen children from each school attended the Mass in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral. Mike Ehrmann photos November 2022

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Special Feature

Celebrating

Blessed Carlo Catholic schools from around the Diocese found creative ways to celebrate their patron, Blessed Carlo Acutis, whose feast day was Oct. 12. Shown at right, students in St. Mary Academy, Manahawkin, venerated the Blessed Carlo Acutis relic over a period of three days during the International Eucharistic Miracles Exhibition, and were encouraged to pray to the saintly teenager for help in their reverent use of computers and the Internet. Students were told about the miracle of Lanciano where the wine at Mass turned into the Blood of Jesus and the bread to the Lord’s heart tissue. They learned that the teenage Blessed Carlo inspires youth to use the computer and Internet for the greater good. “Carlo is a great example for us,” explained sixth grade student Luke Coyne. “He is relatable for us as young kids.”

Courtesy photos

Above and lower right, Holy Cross Academy, Rumson, students were encouraged to “let their light shine before others” during their study of Blessed Carlo. They were challenged by seventh grade religion teacher Dorene Penny to create a prayer and a cheer and illustrate an item which made them think of Carlo. Light bulbs hanging above reminded them of the words of St. Matthew’s Gospel that they were the light of the world and should not hide their light under a bushel basket. “We announce that message to them every morning,” said principal Christopher McCarrick, “and the Bible verse ties into their lives and the relics perfectly.” 26 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE

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November 2022

Special Feature

School Mass ‘phenomenal’ Continued from 25

VOCATION STORIES After Communion, as part of a presentation on vocations, Bishop O’Connell shared his own story, relating that he was in the second grade when he decided to become a priest. “It’s hard to believe but throughout the years that had always been a thought in my mind and I’m sure that many of the priests who are here today all could tell you a story about their own vocation,” he said. “Vocations are so very important,” Bishop O’Connell said. “We talk about the Eucharist, but without the priests, there is no Eucharist, and without the Eucharist, there is no Church.” The Bishop added that many of the priests would not have pursued their vocation had it not been for the “incredible work and good example and witness of religious women, many of whom are here today and who are in our schools. “We thank them,” he said, as he encouraged the female students to consider their own vocation to religious life.

Together in Spirit Participating from afar, students in St. Charles Borromeo School, Cinnaminson, view the Oct. 12 livestream of the Catholic Schools Mass in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold. Many Catholic schools across the Diocese of Trenton provided the opportunity for students to view the Mass celebrated by Bishop O’Connell as it took place, contributing to the total 927 views the livestream received. For those who could not attend in person, it was an opportunity to connect with their peers in celebration of Catholic education and to learn more about Blessed Carlo Acutis, patron of the Diocese’s Catholic schools and young people. Courtesy photo/Facebook screenshot

PRIORITY PROJECT Capital Singers Of Trenton Presents

Winter Songs

XVI

FROM AGE TO AGE

Sunday, December 4, 2022 - 4 PM

Sacred Heart Church, 343 S. Broad St., Trenton, NJ

Featured Selections: Cantata 140 - BACH

Somewhere in My Memory - SNYDER

(from “Home Alone”)

Believe - HAYES

(from “Polar Express”)

Guest Artists

Stars - WALKER

Snow Song - STANECK Melissa Bohl

Elaine Christy

oboe

harp

Vinroy D. Brown, Jr.

Artistic Director & Conductor

For tickets and information: 609-434-2781 www.capitalsingers.org

Ellen J. Dondero

Associate Conductor

The Choral Voice of

Spenser R. Gallo

Principal Accompanist

the Capital Region

connect...inspire...perform Capital Singers of Trenton is a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization. Donations are tax deductible. This program is made possible, in part, by the Mercer County Cultural and Heritage Commission through funding from the Mercer County Board of County Commissioners, and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment of the Arts.”

November 2022

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Happy Holidays • Happy Holidays • Happy Holidays

The Catholic Schools Mass is a major initiative of the Diocese, which has bused students from their schools across Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean Counties to participate each year the event has been held. Coordination of the event and student bus transportation was handled by diocesan staff under the leadership of the Department of Catholic Schools. The Mass was livestreamed by the Department of Multimedia Production on the Diocese’s YouTube channel, allowing hundreds more students to engage in the celebration from their classrooms. The event “gives the students from each of our schools the opportunity to see that they are part of something bigger,” said the day’s organizer, Daniel O’Connell, who serves as associate director for curriculum and instruction in the Department of Catholic Schools. “The Mass offers the young people a chance to celebrate themselves and their individual schools, but it also provides a special moment to celebrate all of our schools and to celebrate everything that Catholic schools mean to the Church.” Dr. Vincent de Paul Schmidt, diocesan superintendent of Catholic education, noted that 2022 marked his first time attending the Catholic Schools Mass in-person, and he found it to be “phenomenal.” Observing that the Mass coincided with Blessed Carlo’s feast day, he added, “We’re celebrating their patron saint today. “He was someone who looked like them, talked like them and did what they do,” he said. “What better way to bring the Church to our children of this age?”

THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 27

Diocese Father William Lago, pastor of St. Denis Parish, Manasquan, along with priests from the Diocese of Trenton and Archdiocese of Philadelphia, concelebrate a Mass of Christian Burial for Father Joseph J. Miele who died Oct. 13. John Batkowski photos

Life and ministry of Father Miele celebrated BY CHRISTINA LESLIE  Correspondent

pon a long folding table in the narthex of St. Denis Church, Manasquan, amidst framed portraits and a book of photographs, lay four black hats which served as a fitting summary of the life of the late Father Joseph J. Miele. The two old-style priest birettas recalled his more than 60 years of service to the people of God, while the two baseball caps emblazoned with U.S. Navy emblems told the story of the World War II veteran’s service to his country. Mounted nearby was an Father Joseph L. electric billboard Miele with a picture of the smiling priest in his prime and the phrase with which he ended every homily: “Remember, Jesus loves you, and I love you.” That mutual love and respect was ever-present Oct. 21 at the Mass of Christian Burial for Father Miele, who died Oct. 13 at age 97. Father William J. P. Lago, St. Denis pastor and principal celebrant, was joined by numerous priests of the Diocese of Trenton and Archdiocese of Philadelphia who concelebrated and

28 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE

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were buoyed by the prayerful presence of hundreds of the flock Father Miele once nurtured. An electric billboard shows Father Miele and the quote with which he Franciscan ended all his homilies, “Remember, Jesus loves you! And I love you.” Father Francis X. Berna, a priest of the Archdiocese of Father Miele attended Our Lady of the Philadelphia, delivered a eulogy for his Rosary School and West Philadelphia long-time friend, recalling his friend’s Catholic School for Boys, graduating in greatest achievement as pastor being the 1943. He entered the Navy and received revitalization of St. Anthony of Padua his basic training at the Sampson Naval Parish, Red Bank, where he was responTraining Station, Sampson, N.Y. sible for “a new parish center, classrooms After training as an engineer, he was for religious education, and a passion for assigned to the USS Augusta CA31 as an the liturgy with conscious, active particielectrician’s mate; the ship served as an pation of the congregation.” Atlantic Fleet flagship in the Normandy Upon his retirement from active Invasion, the Invasion of Southern France ministry in 1999, Father Miele told the and transported President Harry S. Trufellow priest, “I can finally do what I was man to the Potsdam Conference. ordained to do without the work of a Following his honorable discharge from pastor,” and continued to serve “with the the Navy in 1946, Father Miele returned Eucharist at the heart of his life.” to Philadelphia and began studies in La “What an amazing witness in his life as Salle College, graduating with a bachelor of a priest,” declared Father Lago in his homily. science degree in accounting in 1949. He Father Lago reminded the congreentered St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, gation of details of the priest’s “epic life,” Wynnewood, Pa., and completed his including his term as founding pastor of studies in Our Lady of the Angels SemiSt. Anselm Parish, Wayside. He assertnary, Niagara University, Niagara, N.Y. ed, “Think of all the different lives he Father Miele was ordained a priest touched. It was a web of love, a connecby Bishop George W. Ahr May 26, 1956, tion across so many parishes and people in St. Anthony Church, Hamilton. He and places in their lives … He will be served as parochial vicar in the parishes forever in our memories.” of St. Ann, Raritan; St. Joachim, Trenton; Continued on 39 Born in 1925 in South Philadelphia,

November 2022

UPPER ROOM SPIRITUAL CENTER

Twenty-sixth Annual Spirituality Conference featuring

Ronald Rolheiser, OMI, Ph.D.

Ronald Rolheiser, International Speaker and author of many articles and more than 25 books including: Holy Longing and the prize-winning Sacred Fire. Ron has won numerous awards for his books on spirituality, including the Catholic Books Award in 2015.

Prayer, Our Deepest Hunger

Is prayer a hunger? Then why do we have to make an effort to pray? How does the spirit pray through us “in groans that are too deep for words”? How do we “pray always”? How do we pray when we are simply too distracted, tired, dissipated, and too disinterested to pray? What are the major formal types of prayer? How is liturgical prayer different from private prayer? What are solitude and contemplation? What is “Sabbath Time” and how is this prayer? This day will focus on answering those questions in a way that, hopefully, leads us into deeper prayer within our lives. St. Mary of the Lakes 40 Jackson Rd Medford, NJ

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November 2022

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THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 29

Diocese

HOLY LAND FRANCISCANS GRATEFUL FOR DOT’S GENEROUS COLLECTION

Clergy Appointments:

Ministrare Non Ministrari

Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., has announced the following clergy appointments:  Rev. Daniel F. Gowen, parochial vicar, Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony Parish, Hamilton, to retirement, Villa Vianney, Lawrenceville, effective Nov. 1, 2022.  Rev. John C. Garrett, pastor, Resurrection Parish, Delran, to parochial vicar, Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony Parish, Hamilton, effective Jan. 2, 2023.  Rev. Michael A. Gentile, parochial vicar, St. Thomas More Parish, Manalapan, to administrator, Resurrection Parish, Delran, effective Jan. 2, 2023.

Contributions by the faithful of the Diocese of Trenton were recognized Oct. 18 by Franciscan Father David Grenier, Commissariat of the Holy Land USA, on behalf of the Holy Land Franciscans. The 2022 Pontifical Good Friday Collection, taken up annually during Courtesy photo / myfranciscan.org Holy Week, received $150,758.15 from the Diocese. These funds assist Christians and pilgrims in the Holy Land, providing for pastoral care, schools, housing, employment, refugee assistance and services for the vulnerable young and elderly. “The Franciscan Friars thank you for your help and generosity,” wrote Father Grenier in a letter to Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. “As needs have increased due to the pandemic, we are ever grateful for your generosity and support.” The funds also support the sacred shrines entrusted to the care of the Holy Land Franciscans the past 800 years, which are visited by more than 1.5 million pilgrims annually.

ANTI-POVERTY EFFORTS TO BE FUNDED BY PRE-THANKSGIVING CCHD COLLECTION BY EMMALEE ITALIA  Contributing Editor

Laboring against poverty in the nation for more than 50 years, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development – the national anti-poverty program of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops – will conduct its annual collection in parishes nationwide Nov. 12-13. Traditionally taken up the Sunday before Thanksgiving, and coinciding with the annual observance of the World Day of the Poor Nov. 13, the collection is the primary source of funding for the USCCB subcommittee, and allows CCHD to “offer a hand up, not a hand out” to the more than 46 million people who live in poverty in the U.S., as stated on the USCCB website. “[It helps] low-income people participate in decisions that affect their lives, families and communities … [and] that encourage independence.” Twenty-five percent of funds collected remain in the Diocese to support local anti-poverty efforts. According to the U.S. Census Bureau statistics on Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the U.S. in 2018, “There is a thin line: between eviction and home, 30 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE

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between hunger and health, between unemployment and work, between anxiety and stability. This line is the Poverty Line. For a family of four, that line is $25,750 a year.” In addition to offering assistance, the funds collected by the annual campaign go toward education on poverty and its causes. “This strategy of education for justice and helping people who are poor speak and act for themselves reflects the mandate of the Scriptures and the principles of Catholic social teaching,” the collection literature explains. “CCHD provides the Catholic faithful with concrete opportunities to live out the love of God and neighbor in ways that express our baptismal call and continuing Eucharistic transformation. CCHD is made possible by the generous support of Catholics in the United States, especially through an annual parish collection.” Through CCHD, seven dioceses in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Texas engaged in an initiative, “Recognizing the Stranger,” where 700 immigrant parishioners were mentored to become social and pastoral leaders. These

November 2022

Photo courtesy of USCCB.org

new community leaders facilitated conversations between members of the community and local law enforcement, and the dialogue yielded powerful results, including three police departments agreeing to honor parish identification cards for those lacking government identification. This eased community tensions and led to a surge in parish registrations by Catholics who had previously stayed in the shadows. In 2021, CCHD distributed more than $12.7 million to over 200 groups across the United States that are addressing the root causes of poverty and empowering people who are most vulnerable. More information about the Catholic Campaign for Human Development is available at www.povertyusa.org. Other resources including collection materials can be found at www.usccb.org/cchd/collection.

Diocese

New Jersey bishops gather in Trenton

he Bishops of New Jersey met Oct. 14 in the Chancery of the Diocese of Trenton for their quarterly meeting of the New Jersey Catholic Conference. James King, executive director of the NJCC, planned the agenda for the gathering along with Cardinal Joseph Tobin, C.SS.R., Metropolitan Archbishop of Newark and chairman of the province’s bishops. The location for these meetings rotates among the dioceses of New Jersey, with the respective local bishops taking turns as hosts. “I am always pleased to welcome my brother bishops to the Diocese of Trenton,” remarked Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. “It is very important for us together to consider matters of importance to the clergy, religious and faithful of New Jersey, with respect for all human life, Catholic education and evangelization at the top of the list as we share ‘best practices’ in our

The Bishops of New Jersey met Oct. 14 in the Chancery of the Diocese of Trenton for their quarterly meeting of the New Jersey Catholic Conference. Pictured from left are Bishop James F. Checchio, Diocese of Metuchen; Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney, Diocese of Paterson; Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archdiocese of Newark; Bishop Dennis J. Sullivan, Diocese of Camden; Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., Diocese of Trenton; Bishop Kurt Burnette, Eparchy of Passaic. Staff photo local dioceses. “The meeting also gives us the opportunity to develop a common approach to our interactions with civil authorities in the state,” said Bishop O’Connell. Following the business portion of the NJCC gathering, the bishops and King enjoyed socializing over lunch. “We don’t get together very often,” observed Bishop O’Connell, “so the social aspect of the meeting helps us to build fraternity and support for one another.”

The Retirement Fund for Religious supports retired religious sisters, brothers and priests in the Diocese of Trenton and across the country – a crucial financial assistance that helps them meet their basic needs in their waning years. The annual collection for the fund will be taken up Dec. 10-11 in parishes across the United States and will go toward health care and living accommodations – vital to these dedicated and faithful servants who have no lifetime income from which to draw Social Security nor personal savings. There are nearly 250 religious men and women in several dozen religious communities currently serving in the Diocese of Trenton. When members of these communities retire, they rely completely on donations from the laity, primarily through the annual fund. Last year, the Diocese of Trenton donated $231,803.46 to the collection.

The fund traces its origins to the efforts of a layman in 1988, who observed religious sisters using food stamps to pay for groceries. He found out, after speaking with them, that their small stipends for ministries in teaching, social service and nursing did not include health or retirement benefits. To help address that shortfall, the National Religious Retirement Office was created in Washington, and supports more than 32,000 retired religious across the United States, while also providing financial counseling for retirement planning. According to the fund’s website, only 36 of the 517 religious communities reporting

Courtesy photo / RetiredReligious.org

RETIRED RELIGIOUS’ EVER-GROWING NEEDS SUPPORTED BY ANNUAL FUND DEC. 11

data to the NRRO are adequately funded for retirement. Without adequate numbers of new religious to care for the ever-aging retired population, care has been shifted to healthcare providers, where the average cost of care for women and men religious past age 70 is nearly $51,000 per person, and upwards of $78,000 for skilled care. To learn more about the Retirement Fund for Religious, visit: retiredreligious.org By EmmaLee Italia, contributing editor

November 2022

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THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 31

Diocese Bishop O’Connell preaches during the Mass he celebrated for deacons of the Diocese and their wives Oct. 22. Joe Moore photos

At convocation, deacons reflect on checklist of life’s priorities

Father Stephen Sansevere, center, was the keynote speaker for the 2022 Convocation of Deacons held Oct. 21-22 in Plainsboro. Here he chats with Deacon Bill Briggs of Resurrection Parish, Delran, and his wife, Donna. FROM STAFF REPORTS

od, Family, Work, Diaconate. The familiar checklist issued when they were first ordained to the diaconate was the subject of reflection for more than 150 deacons (and 44 deacons’ wives) during their annual convocation Oct. 21-22 in Plainsboro. “I am assuming God is always first in our lives,” said Father Stephen A. Sansevere, opening his keynote address. “Because, if not, then what are we doing here?” he queried. Father Sansevere, now pastor of St. James Parish, Pennington; St. Alphonsus Parish, Hopewell, and St. George Parish, Titusville, had, himself, served as a deacon before being ordained a priest in 2020. A highlight of the gathering was time with Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., who celebrated Mass. “Our spiritual life is planted in the Lord’s orchard,” Bishop O’Connell said, reflecting on the parable of the barren fig tree in his homily. “What we have to come to grips with is the fact that,

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November 2022

because of our Baptism and our vocation, we are accountable to the owner of the orchard. We are accountable for bearing spiritual fruit and in our lives on this earth as Christians, as husbands and wives, as parents, as ordained ministers of the Gospel. “God has planted in us the seeds of goodness and love. He has provided us the means to grow and develop as adults, baptized and ordained.” In his three-part keynote, “The Effective Deacon: Insights Regarding How to Balance the Management of Priorities as We Exercise Diaconal Ministry,” Father Sansevere focused on the deacons’ families and then their wives. “They are the glue that holds everything together as the candidate studies and the eventual deacon ministers,” he said of the wives. For the priority of work, Father Sansevere emphasized that the deacon “is called to be an ambassador in the world because he has one foot in the ecclesial world and one in the secular world through his work.” For the priority of the diaconate, Father Sansevere reflected on three deacons of the early Church – St. Stephen, St. Lawrence and St. Francis of Assisi. “The ministry we choose or are chosen for requires only one thing from us that matches Stephen, Lawrence and Francis and that is that when we perform these ministries, our heart and souls are dedicated to doing God’s work, not ours,” he said. During the Mass, the Bishop presided over the Rite of Candidacy in which he called eight new deacon candidates to prepare to receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders upon completing five years of formal study: Anthony Cullen, St. Benedict, Holmdel; James D. De Poortere, St. Catharine-St. Margaret, Spring Lake; Chris Ellis, Holy Innocents, Neptune; Gerald Ford, St. Raphael-Holy Angels, Hamilton; Errol Giordani, St. Gabriel, Marlboro; Steven A. Griggs, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Whiting; Christopher J. McNicholas, St. Mary Parish, Middletown, and Jeffrey B. Miceli, Our Lady of Good Counsel, Moorestown.

Diocese

Bishop, Middletown parish celebrate consecration of new diocesan shrine BY LORI ULRICH  Correspondent

“

e are truly blessed and honored that perpetual adoration is being recognized and our old chapel is being dedicated as a shrine so that everyone can come and worship 24/7,” shared Mike Dunne, parishioner of St. Mary Parish, Middletown. Dunne and his wife, Peggy, were among the throng of parishioners and visitors who witnessed the consecration of the new Diocesan Shrine, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., Oct. 16. On Sept. 1, Father Jeffrey Kegley, pastor, announced that Bishop O’Connell

Bishop O’Connell blesses the new Altar of Repose for the tabernacle in the sanctuary of St. Mary, Mother of God Church. Matt Marzorati photo had designated the parish’s Eucharistic Adoration Chapel as a Diocesan Shrine. The Bishop had promulgated the statutes establishing the old St. Mary Church/ Chapel as a Diocesan Shrine under the title of Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament. The Oct. 16 Shrine consecration began with a Mass celebrated by Bishop O’Connell in St. Mary, Mother of God

Church. Following the Mass, Father Kegley, who carried a monstrance with the Blessed Sacrament, and the congregation joined in a Eucharistic Procession, walking from the church to the Shrine. In his homily, Bishop O’Connell referenced that the Church is in the midst of a “Eucharistic Revival” and how

Continued on 57

Bishop O’Connell prepares to carry the monstrance into the new Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament Shrine located on the campus of St. Mary Parish, Middletown. Father Kegley, who is carrying the Blessed Sacrament in a monstrance, leads a procession from Mary, Mother of the God Church to the Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament Shrine. Lori Ulrich photos

To view more photos go to TrentonMonitor.com> Multimedia>Photo Galleries November 2022

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THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 33

Diocese The World Mission Sunday Mass opened with a procession of flags representing various countries. Mike Ehrmann photos

Call to missionary discipleship exhorted during annual diocesan Mass BY MARY STADNYK  Associate Editor

procession of brightly colored flags representing a host of different countries and communicants dressed in the cultural attire of their heritage together set the scene for the Diocesan Mass for World Mission Sunday, celebrated in St. Veronica Church, Howell, Oct. 22. Each year since 1926, the Church throughout the world publicly renews its commitment to the missionary movement on World Mission Sunday. This year’s observance held the added significance of marking the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith by Blessed Pauline Jaricot. “We are all called to a missionary vocation, to be missionary disciples because we are all called by our Baptism to be [Christ’s] witnesses … to the ends of the earth,” Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., principal celebrant of the Mass, said in his homily. The Bishop was joined at the altar by Father Peter James Alindogan, pastor of St. Veronica Parish and diocesan director of missions; Msgr. Kieran Harrington, national director of the Pontifical Missions Societies, and other visiting priests. Also in attendance were representatives of nine missionary groups who work in mission territories including Africa, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. “Every baptized Catholic is asked to 34 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE

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Bishop O’Connell celebrates the World Mission Sunday Mass in St. Veronica Church, Howell. Joining him at the altar were priests from the Diocese as well as those representing various mission countries. bear witness to Christ, to participate in a mission of universal evangelization, and to seek strength and guidance from the Holy Spirit,” Bishop O’Connell said. “We accomplish that goal in our prayers, in our words and in our lived deeds. These are the ways we bear witness to the Lord Jesus Christ who draws us all into a spirit of missionary discipleship,” the Bishop said. In his homily, Bishop O’Connell emphasized the importance of contributing to the World Mission Sunday collection. Through the collection, the formation of seminarians and religious men and women is made possible. Schools, orphanages and churches may be built in areas that are remote with few resources. Priests, religious brothers and sisters can pur-

November 2022

chase life essentials to make it possible to proclaim the Gospel. This global collection effort provides for the building up of more than 1,000 local churches in Asia and Africa, the Pacific Islands, and parts of Latin America and Europe. Through the work of these churches, and their witness to Christ, the poor receive practical help and experience God’s love and mercy, his hope and peace, the Bishop said. At the end of Mass, Msgr. Harrington presented certificates to three grammar school students from the Diocese in recognition of their being named winners in the annual Missionary Childhood Association’s Christmas Artwork Contest. Continued on 57

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A Season to Remember Begins at

THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 35

Diocese

Catholic schools to benefit from Nov. 29 Giving Tuesday campaign BY EMMALEE ITALIA  Contributing Editor

or the past decade, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving has been recognized as Giving Tuesday, a time for people to remember during their holiday shopping to set aside donations for charitable organizations. In preparation for this year’s event, which

 “It is my hope that [Catholic school] alumni challenge themselves ... and allow the Holy Spirit to guide them .” arrives Nov. 29, the Diocese of Trenton’s Catholic schools plan to focus attention on the value of a Catholic education and

issue an appeal for support within the Catholic community and beyond. “This will be our schools’ fifth year participating in Giving Tuesday,” said Christine Prete, associate director of development operations for the Diocese, who added that it is part of the Diocese’s “Catholic Schools Have It All” initiative. Giving Tuesday is sponsored by the diocesan Departments of Development and Catholic Schools and is presented via a dedicated website – leadinfaith.org – and testimonials presented in a Giving Tuesday video. Prete speaks in the video about her personal experience as a graduate of both Catholic elementary and high schools, which “helped me grow and develop as a woman,

tThis paper replica of a smartwatch will be given to students in Catholic schools in the Diocese to remind them how to participate in Giving Tuesday. Courtesy graphic

a wife, a mother and a professional.” She decided to become a catechist this year “as a way to give back for my Catholic upbringing,” she said. “It is my hope that [Catholic school] alumni challenge themselves through volunteer opportunities with their church and allow the Holy Spirit to guide them.” About 70,000 alumni of diocesan Catholic schools will receive a letter encouraging their support for the annual campaign, informing them about how Catholic elementary schools will be participating on Giving Tuesday. A toolkit will be sent to the schools, focusing on celebrating Catholic education. Dr. Vincent de Paul Schmidt, diocesan superintendent, wrote in the alumni letter: “Our Catholic schools Continued on 39

ANNUAL GALA SUPPORTS WORKS OF MOUNT CARMEL GUILD IN MANY WAYS Creating an adage tailor-made for the Mount Carmel Guild, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., addressed the nearly 200 people gathered for the Guild’s 27th annual gala Oct. 28, in a video greeting, saying, “Many hearts make loving work.” “I am so very grateful to the many hearts united in the charitable work of the Mount Carmel Guild,” the Bishop said, referring to how the 102-year-old diocesan outreach agency in inner-city Trenton has provided basic food, rental assistance, education and health care – especially for the elderly and homebound – to those most in need in the greater Mercer County area. “When you take the hands of the poor, you capture their hearts as well,” he said. “The needs are great. Your work is rarely light, but your love comes right from the heart.” Held in the Trenton Country Club, the gala served as the Guild’s main fundraiser with proceeds benefiting two major pro36 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE

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Shown are the Mount Carmel Guild honorees from left, William Coleman, Michael W. Herbert, Tracy Destribats, Nancy Smith, Richard Smith and Christabelle Sutter. Not pictured is Hawkins Sutter. Joe Moore photo

grams – the Community Support Program and the Home Health Nursing Program. A highlight of the event is the presentation of awards to individuals and businesses who have worked to advance the Guild’s mission of serving people in need in the greater Trenton area. The honorees were: William Coleman;

November 2022

Tracey Destribats; Michael W. Herbert; Richard and Nancy Smith, and siblings Hawkins and Christabelle Sutter. By Mary Stadnyk, associate editor

To read expanded story and view more photos, visit TrentonMonitor. com>News>Diocese

Diocese

Diocese announces return of D.C. pilgrimage to ‘Mary’s House’ FROM STAFF REPORTS

beloved tradition for faithful of the Diocese has been revived as Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., will be joined by clergy, religious and laity from throughout the Diocese’s four counties Nov. 12 on pilgrimage to “Mary’s House” – the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. Reflecting the theme, “In Communion with Jesus – A Pilgrimage to Mary’s House,” the day will incorporate a focus on the Eucharistic Revival that will allow participants to experience both from national and diocesan perspectives. The pilgrimage begins early that morning as buses depart from more than two dozen parishes of the Diocese; interested pilgrims should contact their local parish for more information. Prayer and fellowship begin on the bus ride to Washington as pilgrims will be encouraged to pray Morning Prayer and recite decades of the Rosary. Once at the Shrine, pilgrims will have an opportunity to attend a catechesis session and question-and-answer period with the Bishop, and tour the Byzantine-Romanesque Basilica, the largest Roman Catholic Church in North America. Opportunities for prayer abound, including the Angelus at noon; Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and the recitation of the Rosary; receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation in the Crypt Level Church, and veneration of the Blessed Carlo Acutis relic in the Upper Church. Pilgrims are invited to browse the bookstore and gift shop but are reminded to bring a bag lunch since the Shrine cafeteria is closed to the public. Mass will be celebrated at 2:30 p.m. in the Basilica’s Great Upper Church with Bishop O’Connell as principal celebrant

A stained glass window in St. Charles Borromeo Church, Cinnaminson, depicts the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Mike Ehrmann photo

and 20 members of the Diocesan Scola supplying the music. “With God’s grace, we will be able to finally gather as a Diocese at the National Shrine,” said Carolyn Norbut, diocesan director of pilgrimages, noting that in recent years the pilgrimage had been postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. She is coordinating plans with the parishes and has asked them to encourage their parishioners “to attend this beautiful day.” The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception holds great historical and ecclesiological significance as the pre-eminent Catholic church in the nation and the spiritual home of every Catholic in the United States. Construction on the Shrine, whose interior measures 129,910 square feet and built in the style of a medieval church, began Sept. 23, 1920, and was officially completed Dec. 8, 2017, following the dedication of the Trin-

ity Dome mosaic. The mosaic depicts the Blessed Trinity, the Blessed Virgin Mary and a procession of saints, all of whom have an association with the United States and the shrine, and the four evangelists encircled by the Nicene Creed, according to the shrine’s website. The Basilica features 81 Marian chapels and honors the Immaculate Conception as its patroness, a designation given to this country by the Vatican in 1847. The Basilica has also hosted three popes: John Paul II on Oct. 12, 1990; Benedict XVI on April 16, 2008, and Francis on Sept. 23, 2015. The shrine was raised to the status of a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II following his 1990 visit there. Although it does not have its own parish community, the Basilica serves the nearby Catholic University of America and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

DIOCESAN FESTIVAL CHOIR TO PERFORM ‘MESSIAH’ DEC. 4 The Diocesan Festival Choir, led by director and conductor Shawn Mack, will hold a “Messiah” Christmas Concert Dec. 4 at 3 p.m. in St. Joseph Church, 685 Hooper Ave., Toms River. The one-hour performance is the first the choir will perform live since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and will include excerpts from George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah.” Originally composed as an Easter oratorio, “Messiah” debuted in April 1742. The piece highlights Jesus’s Nativity, Passion, Resurrection and Ascension, setting the words of the prophets and

Scripture to music; the “Hallelujah Chorus” is often performed during the Christmas season. The Diocesan Festival Choir provides liturgical music for major celebrations of the Diocese throughout the year, and comprises voices of volunteers age 18 and older from by audition. Tickets for the event will be available at the door or on the diocesan website at DioceseofTrenton.org/events. Cost is $20 for adult admission, and $15 for seniors and children; children under eight years old may attend free. By EmmaLee Italia, Contributing Editor

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Diocese

The traveling torches of Guadalupe begin their Diocesan journey BY ROSE O’CONNOR 

Digital and Social Media Manager

“

oday we celebrate the lighting of the Torches that will be going to parishes and organizations in our Diocese to represent our devotion, our love for our Blessed Mother and her role as interceder for us,” Msgr. Joseph L. Roldan said as he welcomed the faithful to the Torch Lighting in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton. The 21 Traveling Torches (Las Antorchas Guadalupanas) were lit and sent forth by Msgr. Roldan, rector, following the Oct. 29 Mass, and will travel with their Torch captains to parishes, schools and organizations where they will be present during Masses, recitations of the Rosary, prayer services and cultural celebrations in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe. In his homily, Msgr. Roldan reflected on the Gospel story of Zacchaeus, “a man of faith who did what was necessary to see Jesus,” and shared how Jesus makes himself present to us in the celebration of the Mass and in the Eucharist.

“Jesus makes himself known to us – if we only open our hearts to him.” He also spoke of the Torches and the Blessed Mother. “We give her the honor she deserves, but our devotion does not remain with her. Her love continues to being us to love of the Jesus. The Torches represent the love and light of Christ – led by our Blessed Mother – who leads us to her Son.” The significance of that was not lost on Soledad Quiroz, a parishioner of St. Paul Parish, Princeton, who serves as a Torch captain and will bring the Torch to her own parish along with St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Red Bank; Christ the King Parish, West Long Branch; and Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Lakewood. “I’m blessed and honored to be here with our Blessed Mother and to bring Our Lady to the different parishes,” she said.” In addition to parishes and schools, the torches will be in the care of the various Knights of Columbus councils and the Respect Life Ministries in each county of the Diocese. Estela Valladares from St. Rose of Lima Parish, Freehold, is captain of the

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF PRIESTHOOD Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., and the Diocesan Chancery staff celebrated the 40th anniversary of Msgr. Thomas N. Gervasio’s ordination to sacred priesthood Oct. 27. Joining in the celebratory brunch were a number of Msgr. Gervasio’s sisters and sisters-in-law, and Msgr. Sam A. Sirianni, rector of St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold, a close friend. Msgr. Gervasio currently serves the Diocese as vicar general, moderator of the curia and as pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony Parish, Hamilton. Rose O’Connor photo 38 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE

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Msgr. Joseph L. Roldan, Cathedral rector, lights one of the traveling torches in celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Mike Ehrmann photo Monmouth County Respect Life Torch. She and others bring the Torch with them when they pray outside the Planned Parenthood abortion clinic in Shrewsbury. “I feel a responsibility, I am bringing the light of Christ. We are bringing light to the darkness,” she said. Sabino Chico, Ocean County Respect Life Torch captain and parishioner of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Lakewood, explained how he hoped to extend the reach of the Torch’s light this year, saying, “I’ve been a part of the Torches for many years. Our Lady of Guadalupe is the protector of the unborn and I want to bring the Torch with me this year when I pray at the abortion clinics in Perth Amboy.” “I’m honored and privileged to bring the torch to Burlington Country,” said Martin Gottell, parishioner of Holy Eucharist Parish, Tabernacle, and Grand Knight of the parish’s Knights of Columbus council. Gottel and Edward Michalak, Knights of Columbus general program director for the New Jersey State Council and parishioner of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Moorestown, spoke of ways they could collaborate in bringing to the Torch to even more people in Burlington County. “We were just saying how we can collaborate and work with our local parishes to integrate and plan our prayer services,” Michalak offered. The torches will reunite during a pilgrimage on Dec. 3 in Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Lakewood. Visit dioceseoftrenton.org/guadalupe as more information continues to be shared about the Torches and pilgrimage.

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“Each year the program grows, FATHER MIELE and we get students engaged Continued from 28 through an activity that asks a quesSt. Mary of Mount Virgin, New Brunstion about their faith and Catholic wick; St. Mary, Deal, and St. Joseph, schools,” explained Prete. In 2019 North Plainfield. the students were asked, “How can In September 1971, Bishop Ahr you be a leader in faith?” The 2020 assigned Father Miele to full-time program prompted, “Why are you studies at Fordham University, N.Y., thankful for Catholic education?” where he earned a master’s degree in “For 2022 we are providing religious studies. In 1972, Father Miele all students with a sturdy paper was named founding pastor of St. ‘smartwatch’ that asks them to Anselm Parish, Wayside, for 12 years participate in nine random acts of until a transfer to Our Lady of Perpetual kindness, celebrating giving back Help Parish, Seaside Heights, serving as to their community,” said Prete. The pastor from 1984-1991. smartwatch includes the messages On Jan. 11, 1991, Bishop John “Donate,”“Pray” and “Volunteer,” C. Reiss appointed Father Miele as including suggestions for each, such pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, as “Do a chore for someone without Red Bank, where he spearheaded the them knowing” and “Collect coats construction of the new parish center, and give them to a homeless shelter.” established a parish pastoral council Giving Tuesday participation will and implemented social concerns be promoted and updated throughministries. He retired Jan. 15, 1999, out the day on diocesan social media and continued to serve as a weekend outlets. assistant in several parishes including In 2021 the Giving Tuesday event St. Denis. Other assignments include raised a total of $46,200 for diocesan serving on the Second Vatican Council Catholic schools. Liturgical Commission for the Diocese. “The annual fund finished Members of the congregation at $182,053,” Prete noted. “This present for the funeral Mass shared includes gifts made throughout the fond memories of Father Miele. campaign year from July to June – “He was just wonderful to my the highest to date for the history of parents,” exclaimed Debbie McNish of the campaign.” St. Anthony of Padua Parish. Giving Tuesday began in New “I loved his homilies,” said Roy York City in 2012 and has grown Gabler. “He was very close to our Lord, every year since, becoming an always gave a wonderful message.” independent nonprofit and global Father Miele was buried in St. movement inspiring participation Catharine Mausoleum, Sea Girt. Memo- by millions for various worthy causrial donations may be made to the St. es. In its entirety Giving Tuesday Denis Building & Maintenance Fund, 90 across the globe collectively raised Union Ave., Manasquan, N.J. 08736. $2.7 billion. To become an advocate for GIVING TUESDAY Catholic schools and raise money Continued from 36 through your personal network, or for more information on Giving are focused on Catholic values, high academics, and social growth. ... Your Tuesday, contact Christine Prete, 609403-7218, cprete@dioceseoftrenton. support will guarantee the choice org. Visit leadinfaith.org to view the will be available for future generaGiving Tuesday campaign video. tions of Catholic students.”

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Respect Life

Pro-life Mass with Bishop, seminar planned for Jan. 20 BY EMMALEE ITALIA  Contributing Editor

cheduled between two significant dates in the pro-life movement, a new diocesan Respect Life event, “Standing Together for Life,” is planned for the new year – a theme that marries Respect Life initiatives to other ministries of social concern, focusing on their common goals. The special day will begin with Mass celebrated at 11 a.m. Jan. 20 in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold, by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., along with other invited priests, followed by a luncheon and seminar featuring Dr. Charles Camosy as keynote speaker.

including food pantries, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Catholic Charities, Knights of Columbus and more. “It’s the responsibility of the entire Church community – not just Respect Life groups – to build a culture of life,” those involved in planning the Jan. 20 event attested. “This is an opportunity to reframe the issue for a broader audience.” Dr. Charles Camosy Referring to a recent call issued by leaders of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to enter into “radical solidarity” with mothers and children, Terry Ginther, diocesan Chancellor and executive director of the Office of Pastoral Life and Mission, said, “I think this is an important message. It’s not about ‘going back.’ It is about moving forward toward a culture of life. Take away the labels. We all have a part to play in this radical solidarity, by our prayer and our attitudes, by our action and our advocacy.” Featured speaker Dr. Camosy – currently a professor of medical humanities in the Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, Neb. – has taught in the theology department of Fordham University, N.Y., and is Msgr. Curran Fellow in moral theology at St. Joseph Seminary, N.Y. He holds a doctorate in theology from University of Notre Dame, Ind. Dr. Camosy is the author of seven books, including his most recent release in July, “Bioethics for Nurses: A Christian Moral Vision,” soon to be followed Nov. 25 by “One Church.” He is the founding editor of a new book series with New City Press called The Magenta Project. He and his wife Paulyn have four children. Dr. Camosy will work to address the separation and division often experienced – consciously or subconsciously – in Church ministry work, and to approach the building of a culture of life by involving the entirety of the Church. “It is abundantly clear that overturning Roe v. Wade did not stop abortion; it will become illegal in some states, but people will simply travel to get abortion services – to places like New Jersey,” Ginther emphasized. “Only changing hearts and minds will stop abortion. Building a culture of life … also means we need to advocate for policies which improve access and affordability of healthcare, social safety net issues like hunger, affordable housing, daycare [and] family leave.” Ginther drew attention to the strong corollary between abortion and poverty, pointing out, “We need to work against the ‘throw-away’ culture – no one is without value; not the unborn, not the disabled, not the sick or the elderly.” Visit TrentonMonitor.com for updated information. St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral is located at 61 Georgia Rd., Freehold.

STANDING TOGETHER FOR The event takes place between the first anniversary of the New Jersey Freedom of Reproductive Choice Act signed into law Jan. 13 (codifying the right to abortion into state law), and the Jan. 22 anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the now-overturned 1973 Supreme Court case making abortion legal at the federal level. All are welcome to participate in the Mass, which will also be livestreamed on diocesan media. Advance registration will be required to attend the lunch and speaker seminar; information will be forthcoming about online  “Only registration. The Mass and seminar will offer changing an opportunity for members of the hearts and Diocese to participate in a locally-based pro-life event, particularly minds will stop those who are unable to attend the annual March for Life Jan. 20 in abortion ...” Washington, D.C., and for those who prefer to focus their efforts here in New Jersey. The Rally for Life at the Statehouse in Trenton, normally a January event, has been moved to June 24 in celebration of the anniversary of the overturn of Roe v. Wade. Those encouraged to attend include clergy and members of Respect Life groups, but also those involved in social concerns ministries focused on assisting the poor and marginalized,

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STANDING TOGETH FOR

Seasons & Celebrations

Shown are religious education students who dressed as saints for the celebration of Mass with Bishop O’Connell. Mike Ehrmann photos

The Saints came marching in to St. Rose in Belmar BY THERESA SHUBECK  Correspondent

t. Teresa of Kolkata, Blessed Carlo Acutis, St. Martin de Porres, St. Francis of Assisi . . . all “attended” the All Saints Day Mass in St. Rose Church, Belmar. Fresh from dressing as Winnie-the-Pooh or Luke Skywalker for Halloween, the religious education students donned costumes of a different type. In a vivid demonstration of remembrance of the sacred, and sometimes ordinary, lives of the saints, the young students became saints themselves, if only for one evening. Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., celebrated the Mass for the Nov. 1 solemnity, focusing special attention on the more than 200 religious education students. The Bishop noted that while students see pictures and statues of saints, and read about them, they should not view the saints as being distant from their own lives. He encouraged the students to remember, “Not all were always saints. They became saints as they lived their lives.” He told the children that the path to holiness is found in the day’s Gospel reading on the Beatitudes. “It is possible to be a saint. All you have to do is want

it and then do it,” the Bishop said. Above all, he urged the youngsters to “stay close to Jesus.” Msgr. Edward Arnister, St. Rose pastor and concelebrant of the Mass, thanked the Bishop for joining them, adding his hope “that the children will Continued on 70

Bishop O’Connell poses for a photo with a student who dressed as St. Francis of Assisi.

REMEMBERING THE FAITHFULLY DEPARTED Family members and friends with loved ones buried or entombed in St. Mary Cemetery and Mausoleum, Hamilton, gather in the mausoleum for a Mass for the Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed Nov. 2. The Mass, celebrated by Father Jason Parzynski, diocesan director of vocations and chaplain in Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville, had been canceled the past couple of years due to pandemic restrictions. After the Mass, congregants witnessed the blessing of the cemetery, for which Father Parzynski received special permission from Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. Joe Moore photo

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Anniversary Blessings

Marriage as mystery and miracle From Bishop David M. O’Connell’s homily for the Anniversary Blessing Masses Oct. 2 and 9.

n this beautiful occasion of anniversaries, commitment and milestones, let’s spend a few moments reflecting upon miracles and gratitude and the assurances of our faith in the Lord! In the Sacrament of Marriage, God invites us not only to have the assurances that come with supernatural faith in him but also in the person we have chosen to marry, the person sitting next to you today after all these years of married life. One form of the wedding vows exchanged in the Sacrament of Marriage – perhaps the one you chose – reads, “I take you to be my spouse. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life.” Whatever form and words of the wedding vows you may have shared,  “In this marriage is an act of supernatural Sacrament, faith, a Sacrament which imparts to us the God-given grace to persevere “all you share the the days of my life.” And here you are, 1, 25, 50 or more years later. assurances of Have there been “good times as faith and the well as bad?” Yes, for sure. “Sickness and health?” Indeed. Through all life’s grace of God.” joys and challenges, you have loved and honored the person sitting next to you “all the days of your life,” so far and for the years yet to come. You have shown love for one another in Christ, with Christ and for Christ. That is what makes marriage a Sacrament. “Love is patient,” St. Paul tells us. “Love is kind. It is not jealous, love is not pompous, it is not inflated; it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury; it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth; It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13: 4-8). To celebrate an anniversary of the Sacrament of Marriage, your Sacrament, is to celebrate a milestone of the love St. Paul describes: your married love and your married life … “in good times and in bad.” That kind of love in marriage takes supernatural as well as natural faith, faith in God and faith in each other. The Church calls marriage a “Sacrament” because it is a sign of that love and faith to you, to your families and friends, to the Church. I consider the Sacrament of Marriage to be a miracle, yesterday, today in the times in which we live and forever. A “miracle” A couple embraces during the renewal of wedding vows in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton. Mike Ehrmann photo

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is any event that cannot be explained by the laws of nature or science. For Catholics, miracles are usually attributed to the intervention of God. For you, in the mystery of God’s love, your miracle began at your first meeting. Why and how did you meet? Why and how did that meeting develop into a relationship? Why and how did it turn into a commitment that has endured? The mystery and miracle of God’s love became the mystery and miracle of your love. In this Sacrament, you share the assurances of faith and the grace of God all these days. If that is not a miracle resulting in many other miracles, I don’t know what is! Faith and grace have kept you going – together – “in good times and bad,” “in sickness and health” all these days of your married life. And there’s more to come! Mystery, miracles, faith and grace. As your Bishop on this day of Anniversary Blessing, I encourage you to be grateful to God for what you have received. You have already been richly blessed! I encourage you to be grateful to one another for who you have become in one another’s arms and for one another. You have already been richly blessed! I encourage you to be grateful for all those who have been part of your married lives along the way. You have already been richly blessed! “In all circumstances, give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” That is why we are here today. That is what I bless and celebrate today as your Bishop.

Anniversary Blessings

A long-married couple smiles joyfully as they reaffirm their vows in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold, Oct. 9. Mike Ehrmann photo

Anniversary couples reminded that

marriage is about having supernatural faith in God, each other BY AMERIQUIN DALMASY-LACCETTI Correspondent

fter 70 years of marriage, Arlene and Ed Scully of Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony Parish, Hamilton, believe a good marriage is about “give and take, through good times and bad. “Through it all, the Lord is in charge so no matter what happens, we don’t worry,” Arlene maintained. The Scullys were among the more than 300 couples from around the Diocese who attended the 2022 Bishop’s Anniversary Blessing Masses this year. Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., celebrated a Mass on Oct. 2 in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, for married couples from Burlington and Mercer Counties marking one, 25, 50 or more years of marriage this year, and celebrated another Mass on Oct. 9 in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold, for couples from Monmouth and Ocean Counties. “In the Sacrament of Marriage, God invites us not only to have the assurances that come with supernatural faith in him but also in the person we have chosen to marry, the person

sitting next to you today after all these years of married life,” Bishop O’Connell said in his homily. The Bishop’s Anniversary Blessing Masses have been a longstanding favorite in the Diocese, providing an opportunity for the honored couples to renew their wedding vows and receive a special blessing from the Bishop. After the Masses, the couples are invited to receive an individual blessing from one of the priest concelebrants and a certificate marking their milestone. This year, each celebration was followed by refreshments, music and dancing. SECRETS OF THEIR SUCCESS Through joyful words, laughter and tears, some of the couples shared their sentiments on the marriages being celebrated that day. “Communication, compromise and love” are the components of a lasting marriage, said 50-year anniversary couple, Linda and Willie Santos of St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral Parish. Noting how inspired she was to see the number of couples Continued on 45

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Anniversary Blessings

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Wedding anniversaries feted

Continued from 43

who have been married for so many years turn out for the Mass, Linda said, “You have to have faith, family and love.” The couple also extended appreciation to the Diocese and the Co-Cathedral for hosting the event. “As Roman Catholics, we take our faith very seriously,” Willie said, “and observing this anniversary wedding celebration is a blessing itself.” Maryellen and George Zitzler of Resurrection Parish, Delran, said that their praying together and attending Mass regularly has been an integral part of their  “With God’s 50 years together, while Nancy and grace, we Butch Colavito of St. Barnabas Parish, Bayville, cited the importance of managed to being a good listener, being honest with each other, having patience pull through and choosing words carefully as key it together.” ingredients for marital success. “And every night we end our day with a kiss,” said Nancy, who added that she and Butch are the proud parents of two sons, including Father Chris Colavito, Catholic chaplain at The College of New Jersey, Ewing, and academic director of the diocesan Diaconate Formation Program. Maureen and Louis Di Paolo smiled as they reflected on some of the highlights since their wedding day in July, 2021. They were blessed to attend a papal audience with Pope Fran-

cis while on their honeymoon in Rome; they moved from New York to a new home in Lavallette and joined the town’s St. Pio of Pietrelcina Parish, and the “best part of all” was welcoming Baby Rocco Dean into their lives this past May. “It takes 100 percent teamwork,” Louis said of married life. “We complement one another,” Maureen added. Her words were echoed by silver anniversary couple Gregory and Marilyn Lecerff of St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square, who claimed that they’ve found “forgiving over and over again” to be an essential to marriage. Silver anniversary couple Jonathan and Maria Theresa Edralin of St. Clement Parish, Matawan, admitted that their family has experienced some challenging circumstances. But they were happy to have their three children, present for the Anniversary Blessing Mass. “With God’s grace, we managed to pull through it together, Jonathan said. After noting that the greatest blessings they received during their 50 years of marriage have been their six children and 20 grandchildren, Peggy and Joe Loennecker of St. Thomas More Parish, Manalapan, reflected on what it meant for them to celebrate their golden anniversary with a Mass celebrated by Bishop O’Connell. “It is the way that our marriage started, with God, and he is the one who will keep us going.” Continued on 46

1. Deacon Bob and Charlene Tharp of St. Raphael-Holy Angels Parish, Hamilton, receive a blessing from Msgr. Thomas N. Gervasio, diocesan vicar general. Mike Ehrmann photo 2. A tender moment between a couple as they renew their wedding vows. Mike Ehrmann photo 3. A wife shares her worship aid with her husband during the Anniversary Blessing Mass in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton. Mary Stadnyk photo 4. Marilyn Lecerff smiles at her husband Ed during the renewal of wedding vows. The Lecerffs attend St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square. Mary Stadnyk photo 5. A wife smiles to her husband during the renewal of wedding vows in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold. Mary Stadnyk photo 6. An annivesary couple holds hands and smiles for photographer Mike Ehrmann. Mike Ehrmann photo 7. During the Oct. 2 in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, a couple shows a picture from their wedding day. Mike Ehrmann photo 8. Shown are parish priests who concelebrated the Mass with Bishop O’Connell on Oct. 9 in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold. Mike Ehrmann photo 9. Bishop O’Connell greets the congregation during the Oct. 2 Mass in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton. With the Bishop are concelebrants Msgr. Joseph L. Roldan, Cathedral rector, left, and Msgr. Thomas N. Gervasio, diocesan vicar general. Mike Ehrmann photo November 2022

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Anniversary Blessings Continued from 45

LABOR OF LOVE Reflecting on the Bishop’s Anniversary Blessing, which is a tradition in the Diocese of Trenton started by Bishop George W. Ahr in 1963, Peg Hensler, diocesan associate director of marriage ministries and Natural Family Planning, said the occasion “is always a great source of joy for our anniversary

couples and an invaluable witness for our families, especially the children and grandchildren of these wonderful couples. “This event is a time to uphold what is good, true and beautiful about the Sacrament of Matrimony reflected in the faces of every anniversary couple,” she said. Msgr. Edward Arnister is one pastor who enjoys concelebrating the Bishop’s Anniversary Mass and sharing in a happy occasion with the married couples. “What a beautiful and touching witness of love, faithfulness, commitment and the joy of our brothers and sisters who live out the vocation of Holy Matrimony,” said Msgr. Arnister, pastor of St. Rose Parish, Belmar. “The Anniversary Blessing Mass is a loving and visible sign of God’s love so visible in the lives of these couples. It adds to the joy of being a priest. I’m so glad we have this annual celebration.” The Anniversary Blessing Masses are coordinated by the diocesan Department of Evangelization and Family Life and made possible, in part, through the generous support of the Annual Catholic Appeal by the people of the Diocese.  Ed and Arlene Scully of Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony Parish, Hamilton, were recognized by Bishop O’Connell during the Oct. 2 Mass in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton. At 70 years, the Scullys are the longest married couple in the Diocese this year. Mike Ehrmann photo

Congratulations & warm wishes to all the couples celebrating a special anniversary this year. To my Tricia, One lifetime is not enough. Our love is for all Eternity. I love you forever. Louis

A special gift from

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Patricia & Louis Vincelli  50th Anniversary

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 Go to TrentonMonitor.com and click on NEWS>DIOCESE for PHOTO GALLERIES and a SPECIAL VIDEO featuring some of this year’s anniversary couples. 46 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE

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November 2022

Celebrating Couples Married... 1 year • 25 years • 50+ years The couples who took part in one of the Bishop’s Anniversary Blessings are listed here, by county and parish:

Corpus Christi, Willingboro • Michael & Carole Gennello, 50 • Frank & Sandra Helverson, 60 • Eugene & Barbara Tirpak, 50 Holy Eucharist, Tabernacle • Robert & Virginia Proto, 60 Mary, Mother of the Church, Bordentown • Frederick & Lorraine Babbitt, 50 • John & Claudia Fratinardo, 50 • William & Joann Rosso, 52 Our Lady of Good Counsel, Moorestown • Fred & Mary Adams, 50 • William & Suzanne Menges, 50 Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Maple Shade • Wayne & Kathleen Comegno, 50 • Ronald & Margaret Mikulski, 50 Our Lady Queen of Peace, Hainesport • William & Jillanne Bagnell, 50 Resurrection, Delran • George & Maryellen Zitzler, 50 Sacred Heart, Mount Holly • John & Lillian Brady, 51 • Paul & Quitéria Spatz, 50 Sacred Heart, Riverton • Michael & Cynthia Cramer, 25 • Paul & Bridget Iwaszczenko, 1 St. Ann, Browns Mills • Peter & Susan Zammit, 25 St. Charles Borromeo, Cinnaminson • Robert & Marjorie Blasucci, 50 St. Mary of the Lakes, Medford • Ronald & Elizabeth Rossell, 57 • Albert & Christine Walcek, 1

Mercer County

Our Lady of the Angels, Trenton • Darrin & Joyce Christensen, 25 • Marco & Claudia Cordero Lopez, 1 • Luciano & Blanca Leon Gonzalez, 50 • Luis & Juliane Navarro, 1 • William &

Mary Stadnyk photo

Burlington County

Karla Villalobos, 25

Patricia Romano, 50

Our Lady of Good Counsel, West Trenton • Darrin and Joyce Christensen, 25 Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony, Hamilton • John & Mary Suzanne Bensel, 63 • William & Andrea Giraldi, 1 • Angelo & Regina Clare Milioto, 52 • David and Catherine Paul, 60 St. Ann, Lawrenceville • Joseph & Beverly Chiarello, 50 • Shawn & Luann Kildea, 25 St. Anthony of Padua, Hightstown • Joseph & Anne Borek, 51 • Luis & Rosa Carpio, 60 • Thomas & Donna Clarke, 50 • Vicente & Joyce Elorza, 49 • Mauricio & Jackeline Fernández, 30 • Paul & Kimberly Jakubicki, 25 • Thomas & Barbara McGeachen, 53 • Ramiro & Delia Navas Quevedo, 25 • Wilbur & Karen Wong, 25 St. David the King, Princeton Junction • Dominic & Cathryn Tudda, 50 St. George, Titusville • Michael & Marlene Lynch, 50 • C. James &

St. Gregory the Great, Hamilton Square • Rolfi & Rosanna Cruz, 1 • Herman & Louise Ann Keiling, 50 • Gregory & Marilyn Lecerff, 25 • Daniel & Ashley MontJohnson, 1 • Daniel & Alyce Rossi, 50 • Joseph & Marie Scandariato, Sr., 60 • Jack & Linda Zefutie, 50 St. James, Pennington • Joseph & Maryann Bielamowicz, 50 • Dick & Mary Beth Currie, 50 • Frank & Bridget Klapinski, 50 St. Joseph, Trenton • Carlos David & Mergelie Laica, 1 • Fransisco & Virginia Leiva, 54 • Eugenio & Carmen Judy Lopez, 50 • Adan & Luz Olmeda, 50 St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton • Jorge & Rosalba Osoria, 25 St. Paul, Princeton • Giuseppe and Kristen Neri, 1 St. Raphael • Holy Angels, Hamilton • Mark & Linda Richardson, 50 • Anton & Mary Schujko, 60 • Robert & Charlene Tharp, 57

November 2022

Continued on 48

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Anniversary Blessings

St. Vincent de Paul, Yardville • Thomas & Barbara Hope, 51

Monmouth County Holy Cross, Rumson • Blair & Elizabeth O’Connor, 25 Holy Family, Keyport • Michael & Maritza Malone, 50 Holy Innocents, Neptune • Daniel & Barbara Abbruscato, 59 • Neil & Maria Scotto, 50 • Robert & Claire French, 65 Nativity, Fair Haven • Lee & Theresa Horney, 50 • Christopher & Angela McAvoy, 25 Our Lady of Fatima, Keyport • Nicholas & Anna DiFranco, 50 Our Lady of Perpetual Help – St. Agnes, Atlantic Highlands • Anthony & Carol Alleva, 55 • William & Eileen Skiff, 65 Precious Blood, Monmouth Beach • Frank & Jennifer Campeau, 1 • Leonard & Regina Kiczek, 50 • Nicholas & Patricia Lehotsky, 61 St. Ann, Keansburg • Michael & Linda Gelpke, 50

St. Anselm, Wayside • Angelo & Donna Catania, 50 St. Anthony, Red Bank • Roberto & Idania Casas, 1 • Daniel & Joaquina Tepoz Castro, 1 St. Benedict, Holmdel • Gordon & Hilare Reinold, 60 St. Catharine, Holmdel • William & Kathleen Emmrich, 50 • Robert & Susan Kolmer, 50 • Gerald & Dawn Sharpe, 25 St. Catharine-St. Margaret, Spring Lake • John & Kathleen Briscoe, 50 • Robert & Christine Devaney, 1 • Anthony & Patricia Petrosini, 25 • Kevin & Kaitlin Valcarcel, 1 St. Catherine of Siena, Farmingdale • John & Stephanie Harakal, 60 • Dennis & Lorraine Morieko, 50 St. Catherine Laboure, Middletown • Eugene & Earline Cutolo, 59 • John & Joyce Kaiser, 50 • Edward & Marianne Striedl, 50 • Jeffrey & Arina Vrecenak, 1 St. Clement, Matawan • Jonathan & Maria Theresa Edralin, 25 • Eugene & Linda McDonald, 25 • William & Sharon O’Hare, 50 • Thomas & Marilyn Swords, 50 • Thomas &

Father Christopher Picollo, pastor of Nativity Parish, Fair Haven, blesses 25th anniversary couple Vincent and Nicole Piroso of St. James Parish, Red Bank, following the Oct. 9 Bishop’s Anniversary Blessing Mass in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold. Nicole Piroso also teaches in Red Bank Catholic High School, Red Bank.

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Elizabeth Trivisone, 50 St. Denis, Manasquan • Brian & Carole Keenan, 25 • Patrick & Carole DiSalvo, 54 St. Dorothea, Eatontown • Fernando & Ilda Silvestre, 50 • Carmelo & Aurea Ve Vera, 25 St. Gabriel, Marlboro • Francis & Marian Gracon, 58 • Mark & Karen Petruzzi, 25 • Dennis & Concetta Raymond, 50 • Henry & Maureen Sutter, 50 • Anthony & Mary Ann Veneziano, 50 • Walter & Patricia Zemlanicky, 25 St. James, Red Bank • Vincent & Nicole Piroso, 25 • Pat & Helen Redmond, 25 St. John, Allentown • Edward & Jennifer Courtney, 25 • Jason & Stephanie Izbicki, 1 • Alexander & Mary Lyczak, 50 St. Joseph, Millstone Twp. • Louis and Frances Ambio, 50 • Dennis & Elizabeth Maxwell, 50 • James & Patricia McDonnell, 60 • Coleen Patricia & Joseph Richard Raccuglia, 25 • Rosario and Ann Roccaro, 50 St. Leo the Great, Lincroft • Gregory and Elizabeth Kwasnicki, 50 • David and Colleen Muldowney, 50 • James & Mike Ehrmann photo

Continued from 47

3. Jenny Pietrofesa, 50 St. Mark, Sea Girt • Henry & Margaret Bossett, 50 • Gerald & Elizabeth Eldridge, 25 • Richard & Kathleen Toohey, 50 St. Mary, Colts Neck • Vincenzo & Lucille Camarda, 50 • Michael & Barbara Castiello, 55 • Stephen & Andrea Kryscnski, 25 • Thomas & Laura Tiefenthaler, 30 St. Mary, Middletown • Patrick & Carmela Aversano, 50 • Gennaro & Anna Aversano, 50 • Michael & Joanne Deignan, 25 • Nicholas & Theresa Ann DePinto, 50 • Michael & Lois Galvin, 59 • Michael & Gilda Healy, 25 • William & Virginia Large, 50 • Charles & Kathleen Pickler, 50 • Jerome & Marjorie Sawick, 50 • Richard & Diana West, 55 St. Michael, West End • Gary & Sally Fox, 50 • William Jr. & Patricia Haas, 65 • Thomas & Vicki Hoagland, 50 • Alessandro & Christina Lombardo, 25 •

Louis & Patricia Vincelli, 50 St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold • Peter & Patricia Bongiorno, 64 • Robert & Louise Campbell, 52 • Roland & Diane Cormier, 50 • Alfred & Nancy Dolce, 50 • Richard & Eileen Fontana, 60 years • Mark & Kristina Lawrence, 1 • Edward & Monica Lista, 50 • Vito & Cabrina Lubrano, 60 • Michael & Rosemarie Lyons, 50 • Vincent & Rita Marrano, 57 • Dennis and Marie Martino, 53 • Richard & Toni-Ann Murphy, 50 • Carl & Geri Ricca, 50 • Wilfrido & Erlinda Santos, 50 • Francis & Margaret Steffero, 50 • Anthony & Joann Tremari, 50 • Richard & Rosalie Vonfrolio, 50 • Joseph & Francesca Yutko, 1 St. Rose, Belmar • Dennis & Patricia Buchanan, 50 • John & Maryann Carvelli, 50 St. Rose of Lima, Freehold • Gasper & Janet Giordano, 50 • Luis & Erika Continued on 50

1. Msgr. John K. Dermond, a retired priest of the Diocese, bestows a blessing on an anniversary couple in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton. Mike Ehrmann photo 2. A one-year anniversary couple smiles during the renewal of vows in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold. Mary Stadnyk photo Mary Stadnyk photo

3. A first-year anniversary couple smiles for a photo before the start of Mass in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral. Mike Ehrmann photo 4. Bishop O’Connell poses for a photo with a couple who was honored in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Oct. 9. Mike Ehrmann photo 5. A couple holds hands as they listen to the Bishop’s homily during the Anniversary Blessing Mass in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral. Mary Stadnyk photo

November 2022

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Anniversary Blessings Continued from 49

Payes Hernandez, 1 • Neil and Henny Hopkins, 65 • Marlo & Belen Medina, 1 • Edward & Mary Nowak, 25 • Joseph & Anne Nowak, Sr., 55 • Genaro & MariaElidia Ramos, 1 • John & Carol Silver, 25 • Emanuel & Joann Sive, 50 • Wayne & Joan Walling, 58 St. Teresa of Calcutta, Bradley Beach • William & Kim Gannon, 1 • Jack & Ellyn McAleer, 50 St. Thomas More, Manalapan • Keith & Carol Casey, 51 • Lawrence & Annarosa Filachek, 50 • Robert & Jennifer Karaczun, 25 • Joseph & Margaret Loennecker, 50 • Frank & Grace Palazzolo, 50 • Anthony & Marle Pluchino, 50 • Ralph & Martha Romano, 60 • John & Catherine Rymas, 50 • Salvatore & Rita Ventura, 50 St. William the Abbot, Howell • Michael & Patricia Abatemarco, 50 • George & Mary Weis, 50

Ocean County Epiphany, Brick • James & Patricia Barra, 50 • Thomas & Sarah Butala, 50 • John & Mary Cummings, 50 • Michael & Sandra Mullarkey, 50 Our Lady of Guadalupe, Lakewood • Emilio & Abril Ortiz, 1 Sacred Heart, Bay Head • Joseph &

Anna Marie Fortes, 50 • Vincent & Rosemarie Perri, 60 St. Aloysius, Jackson • Robert & Joanne Boguslawski, 50 • Edward & Margaret Connelly, 55 • Carmen & Nan Jean Leonardis, 64 • Donald & Linda Marotto, 50 • James & Nina Rosano, 68 • Joseph & Maria Siciliano, 56 • Charles & Nancy Vitello, 63 St. Barnabas, Bayville • Douglas & Katherine Decker, 50 • Peter & Joan DeLuise, 69 • John & Ruth Lynch, 60 • Stephen & Sally Ann Rizzi, 50 • Martin & Carol Schmidt, 50 St. Dominic, Brick Town • John & Christina Armellino, 1 • William & Nancy Begley, 50 • Edward & Barbara Kochie, 50 • Austin & Ann Naughton, 50 St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Whiting • Wayne & Virginia Gordon, 50 • Albert & Mary Hughes, 60 • Robert & Marie Koch, 52 • John & Theresa Tuck, 65 • John & Frances Urbaniak, 50 • Ariel & Mila Vista, 50 • Frank & Rita Viverito, 70 St. Isidore the Farmer, New Egypt • Michael & Susan Dolan, 25 • Joe & Maggie Guzzardo, 25 • Carlton & Nancy Lawrence, 25 • Felix & Lourdes Sajorda, 50 • Paul & Joyce Walter, 61 St. John, Lakehurst • Jeff & Maria Jable, 56 St. Joseph, Toms River • Michael & Megan Affa, 1 • Joseph & Catherine

Connors, 60 • Joseph & Diane Fucci, 60 • Leo & Hilda Galliguez, 50 • Allen & Leona Kozikowski, 50 • Robert & Catherine Lauten, 60 • Frank & Joanne McKenna, 60 • John & Mary Shalaida, 50 St. Justin, Toms River • Thomas & Marianne Grille, 50 • Anton & Barbara Kihm, 51 • Carl & C. Elaine Kling, 60 • Victor & Lucille Maccagnan, 50 • Anthony & Jean Tafrow, 50 St. Luke, Toms River • Joseph & Kathleen Bongiovi III, 25 • Harry & Margaret Graham, 52 • Edward & Lilia Tinio, 50 St. Martha, Point Pleasant • Samuel & Sarah Cartwright, 1 • Robert & Teresa Constantino, 51 • Raymond & JoAnn Hilling, 50 • Gerard & Nancy O’Donnell, 51 • Rocco & Janet Riso, 50 • Craig & Marianne Veprek, 50 St. Mary, Barnegat • William & Anna Beadle, 59 • Chester & Linda Broccoli, 50 • Henry & Carolyn Kretkowski, 50 • James & Marianne McGarry, 50 • Anton & Maria Picinic, 50 • Casper & Marie Sabatino, 60 • Michael & Charlotte Tatta, 50 St. Mary of the Lake, Lakewood • James & Catherine McCarthy, 62 St. Maximilian Kolbe, Toms River • Roger & Denise Avallone, 50 • Carl & Mary Benson, 58 • Ronald & Mary Kirby, 62 • Floyd & Antoinette Murray, 64 • Charles & Margaret Soffell, 50 • Edward & Mary Ann Strugala, 50 St. Monica, Jackson • Robert & Nancy Mahala, 25 • Victor & Mary Tardio, 50 St. Pio of Pietrelcina, Lavallette • John and Jane Borowski, 50 • Louis & Maureen DiPaola, 1 St. Pius the Tenth, Forked River • Andrew & Charlene Dzurisin, 1 • Tony & Pat Martucci, 56 • Joseph & Elaine Tirella, 50

A couple holds hands during the renewal of wedding vows in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, Oct. 2. Mary Stadnyk photo

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St, Theresa, Little Egg Harbor • Frank & Barbara Davide, 52 • Stephen & Patricia James, 50 • Joseph & Gayle Jarema, 50 • George & Antoinette Johnson, 50 • Stuart & Florence Palmeri, 55; James & Keren Schulze, 25 Visitation, Brick Town • Larry & Francine Parillo, 50

Pope Francis

Christians must see others with compassion, not condemnation BY CAROL GLATZ  Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY • God always sees people’s potential, looking past their mistakes and understanding what they can become, Pope Francis said. If people feel they are “not up to the challenges of life and, even less, of the Gospel, mired in problems and sins, Jesus always looks at us with love,” the Pope told people gathered in St. Peter’s Square Oct. 30 for the recitation of the Angelus prayer. Jesus “comes toward us, he calls us by name and, if we welcome him, he comes to our home,” he said. Commenting on the encounter between Jesus and Zacchaeus, who collected taxes on behalf of the Roman rulers, the Pope said Zacchaeus was rich, hated and branded a traitor and a sinner. But, despite his lowliness, Zacchaeus “feels the need to seek another way of looking” and “awaits someone who will free him from his condition,” the Pope said.

“Zacchaeus teaches us that, in life, all is never lost,” he said. “We can always find space for the desire to begin again, to start over, to convert.” The Pope said, “let us remember this: the gaze of God never stops at our past full of errors but looks with infinite confidence at what we can become.” “God has never looked down on us,” he does not humiliate or judge people, Pope Francis said. “On the contrary, he lowered himself to the point of washing our feet, looking at us from below and restoring our dignity to us.” “How do we look at ourselves?” the Pope asked. “Do we feel inadequate and resign ourselves, or precisely there, when we feel down, do we seek an encounter with Jesus?” And then, he added, “what gaze do we have toward those who have erred, and who struggle to get up again from the dust of their mistakes? Is it a gaze from above, that judges, disdains, excludes?” “We Christians must have the gaze of Christ, who embraces from below, who

People People hold hold aa banner banner in in St. Peter’s Square during St. Peter’s Square during Pope Pope Francis’ Francis’ midday midday recitation recitation of of the Angelus Oct. the Angelus Oct. 30, 30, 2022. 2022. CNS photo/Vatican Media CNS photo/Vatican Media

MORE FROM POPE FRANCIS ON TRENTONMONITOR.COM:  Sadness can serve as ‘alarm bell’ for life  St. Francis inspires church to mirror his faith in Christ

 Let us #PrayTogether for children who are suffering – especially for those who are homeless, orphans, and victims of war – may they be guaranteed access to education and may they have the opportunity to experience family affection. #PrayerIntention #ClickToPray @PONTIFEX Oct. 31, 2022

seeks those who are lost, with compassion. This is, and must be, the gaze of the Church, always, the gaze of Christ, not the condemning gaze,” he said.

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Church

POPE’S NOVEMBER PRAYER INTENTION: ‘FOR CHILDREN WHO SUFFER’ VATICAN CITY • During the month of November, Pope Francis is asking people to pray for children who are suffering because of poverty, war and exploitation. “Let us pray for children who are suffering, especially for those who are homeless, orphans and victims of war. May they be guaranteed access to education, and may they have the opportunity to experience family affection,” the Pope said in a video released Oct. 31. In the video message released by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, the Pope explained his November prayer intention: “For children who suffer.” “An abandoned child is our fault,” the Pope said in the message. “Each marginalized child, abandoned by his or her family, without schooling, without health care, is a cry! A cry that rises up to God and shames the system that we adults have built,” he insisted. Pope Francis noted that there are millions of boys and girls around the world living “in conditions very similar to slavery.”

ST. FRANCIS INSPIRES CHURCH TO MIRROR HIS FAITH IN CHRIST, POPE SAYS VATICAN CITY • St. Francis of Assisi is known for loving and celebrating creation and for being a man of peace and poverty, Pope Francis said. “When I chose to call myself Francis, I knew I was referring to a saint who is very popular, but also very misunderstood,” he told members of the Coordinating Committee for the Franciscan Eighth Centenary. Very often people do not understand the “root” and “source” of everything the saint loved and did, which was Jesus Christ, the Pope said. St. Francis “is one in love with Jesus Christ and, who in order to follow him, is not afraid to make a fool of himself but goes forward. The source of his whole experience is faith.” Pope Francis spoke about the saint Oct. 52 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE

be lighted, and the traditional Nativity scene unveiled Dec. 3, the office said. The display will remain up until after the feast of the Baptism of the Lord Jan. 8. The cedar for the Nativity scene figures, the Vatican said, came from trees selectively cut by gardeners to improve the health of other trees in several public and private gardens. None of the trees were cut specifically for the sculptures. The Holy Family, the ox and donkey and an angel will be under an arched structure made of larch. The other St. Francis of Assisi is depicted in this detail from a fresco figures – including the Three in the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, Italy, in this 2013 file Kings, the shepherdess, a photo. CNS photo/Octavio Duran carpenter, a family and a “Cramar,” or local wandering salesman – will 31 during an audience at the Vatican with be on the surrounding platform or ramps members of the committee in charge of leading to it. The day before the office ancoordinating the preparation and celnounced the plans for St. Peter’s Square, ebration of a series of anniversaries of the Vatican’s Philatelic Office published a important events in the final years of St. notice about the Vatican’s 2022 Christmas Francis’ life. The events commemorate stamps, which were painted by Italian the 800th anniversaries of: the Rule artist and activist Francesco Canale. of St. Francis and Christmas at Greccio • Catholic News Service (2023); the stigmata (2024); the “Canticle of the Creatures” (2025); and “the Easter of Francis” (2026), according to a press release from the ministers general of the different men’s orders within the “Franciscan Family.”

VATICAN ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR CHRISTMAS TREE, NATIVITY SCENE, STAMPS VATICAN CITY • The Nativity scene that will sit under a 98-feet-tall silver fir tree in the middle of St. Peter’s Square this year will feature 19 life-sized figures carved in cedar by artisans in the northeastern Italian town of Sutrio. The tree comes from Rosello, a village of only 182 residents, in Italy’s central Abruzzo region, said a news release issued Oct. 28 by the office governing Vatican City State. The decorations on the tree are being made by young adults at a residential psychiatric facility in Rosello. The tree will

 November 2022

An angel announces the birth of Jesus to a shepherd in this Vatican Christmas stamp painted by Francesco Canale, an artist born without arms or legs who paints holding a brush between his teeth. The €1.20 Christmas stamp will go on sale at the Vatican post office Nov. 16, 2022. CNS photo/Vatican Philatelic Office

World & Nation

of the Holy Cross, DePaul University and Villanova University, among others, argued that the right to achieve a diverse student body is rooted in the First Amendment’s guarantee of free speech and free exercise of religion. It said this is particularly true for Catholic institutions of higher education whose ability to have discretion in how they choose students is critical to their religious missions. Patricia McGuire, president of Trinity Washington University, tweeted Oct. 31 that more Catholic colleges and universities should have defended this policy. “Catholic higher ed must do much more to promote models of access, equity and justice on our own campuses, and we should be advocates and activists for students of color who are still marginalized in too many places,” she said.

Harvard University graduates are seen in Cambridge, Mass., May 26, 2022. The U.S. Supreme Court in Washington heard oral arguments Oct. 31, 2022, in two cases challenging affirmative action consideration in admissions. One case involves Harvard and the other involves the University of North Carolina. CNS photo/Brian Snyder, Reuters

CATHOLIC HIGHER ED WEIGHS IN ON AFFIRMATIVE ACTION POLICIES BEING CONSIDERED BY SUPREME COURT WASHINGTON • A divided and often skeptical Supreme Court heard two cases Oct. 31 challenging race-conscious policies used in university admissions to obtain diverse student populations. Students for Fair Admissions, the group challenging these admissions policies, wanted the Court to overturn its 2003 decision in Grutter v. Bollinger in which it said schools could consider race in the admissions process. In 2016, the Court rejected a challenge to a race-conscious admissions program at the University of Texas at Austin. The student group challenged the affirmative action admission policy at the University of North Carolina and Harvard University. By the end of the first session of arguments, a majority of the Justices seemed ready to rule against the use of affirmative action in admissions policies and the second set of arguments seemed to further cement this view. Catholic colleges as a group weighed in on the two cases, urging the Court to uphold affirmative action in admissions. Fifty-six Catholic colleges and universities joined an amicus brief filed by Georgetown University emphasizing that the right to consider racial diversity in admissions is essential to their academic and religious missions and is “inextricably intertwined” with their religious foundations. The brief, joined by the University of Notre Dame, the College

BISHOPS URGE CONGRESS TO BE IN ‘RADICAL SOLIDARITY’ WITH MOTHERS, CHILDREN WASHINGTON • Calling upon Congress for “radical solidarity” with mothers and babies – both born and unborn – four bishops advanced an ambitious legislative and policy agenda that prioritizes the well-being of families in a letter to lawmakers. The measures proposed by the chairmen of four U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ committees detail a “vision for an authentically life-affirming society.” Dated Oct. 26, the letter explained that following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in June that reversed the court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion, there is an opportunity to “redouble efforts toward a culture of life that respects and supports the dignity of every person at every stage.” Describing the court’s decision as “extraordinary,” the bishops said that the work to support families must be widened. “We are praying and working for changes in hearts and minds, circumstances and policy, that will help everyone to treasure each and every fellow human being in a society oriented to supporting children and their parents,” the letter said. “In other words, we hope for the day when abortion is unthinkable because society has successfully reckoned with the challenges of raising children in the modern world and has decided to make the full flourishing of children and their families the highest goal, without anyone being exclude,” it said. • Catholic News Service

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 Go to NEWS, and click on CHURCH and WORLD & NATION. November 2022

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THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 53

Spirituality

‘Onward to the Kingdom’ pressed in his own Resurrection. NOV. 13  THE END IS ALWAYS NEAR Mal 3:19-20A; 2 Thes 3:7-12; Lk 21:5-19

he explosion of war in Ukraine has brought out many different apocalyptical movements within the Christian community. There are those who view these events through the lens of the disputed interpretation of the Third Secret of Our Lady of Fatima. Evangelical Christians among others see the THE WORD unfolding of events Father Garry Koch foreseen in the New Testament writings. Such groups are attempting to put a clear timeline on these events, expecting the denouement to history in the near future. History teaches us that the Church always lives under the threat of persecution and oppression, as the Gospel is unwelcome in the world in every age.

NOV. 20  THE REPENTANT THIEF UTTERS A MOST PROFOUND PRAYER 2 Sm: 5:1-3; Col 1:12-20; Lk 23: 35-43

“

esus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” This remark, really a prayer from the heart, of the socalled repentant thief who was crucified along with Jesus, is one of the most profound statements in all of Scripture. While we have no real sense of his crime – likely related to some violence exacted against the Romans – he was clearly sorry for the crime he committed. We do not think of him as a man with a family, friends, hopes, and dreams. A young man, he is well-aware that what may have been a rash act has terminal consequences. His prayer is a model for all of us as we seek healing from the Lord.

St Rose of Lima, Freehold. Monitor file photo

NOV. 6  BELIEF IN THE RESURRECTION – THEN AND NOW 2 Mc 7:1-2, 9-14; 2 Thes 2:16-3:5; Lk 20:27-38 or 20:27, 34-38

t the time of Jesus, belief in the Resurrection from the dead was a novel idea spreading among certain Jewish sectarian groups. The Sadducees rejected this theological development. They held that Moses, whom they regarded as the definitive teacher of their faith, not only did not believe in the Resurrection, but taught against it. They then approach Jesus to see his opinion by asking a question that reduces the belief in the Resurrection to an absurdity. Belief in the Resurrection from the dead is at the heart of Jesus’s teaching, and fully ex-

NOV. 27  ADVENT: A TIME TO BE ATTENTIVE TO THE ACTION OF GOD Is 2: 1-5; Rom 13: 11-14; Mt 24:37-44

s we begin the Advent Season, along with the A-Cycle of Sunday Readings, our readings take us in different directions. The prophet Isaiah is flush with hope at the coming promise of a peaceable kingdom where the presence of God is made manifest, and the order of creation that God had ordained from the beginning has been fulfilled. In the Gospel, Jesus turns our focus to the ways in which we can be oblivious to the work of God in our lives and in our world. His focus is on being attentive to the signs of the times and the coming presence of God. Advent invites us to consider both views of history. Father Garry Koch is pastor of St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel.

 To read extended versions of Father Koch’s columns, visit TRENTONMONITOR.COM>COMMENTARY 54 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE

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November 2022

Spirituality

A simple prayer for the simple gifts of the season Preslie Hirsch, Unsplash image

waiting and reflection on the eternal good that became ours on the first Christmas. This year, let us include “thank you,” among our prayers during the upcoming holy seasons. May we pray it often and sincerely and be prepared for the transformation. Mary Clifford Morrell is the author of “Things My Father Taught Me About Love” and “Let Go and Live: Reclaiming your life by releasing your emotional clutter.”

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s I was changing the flag that hangs on our front porch, a little voice from across the street exclaimed, “I love your turkey!” I smiled and waved to my neighbor’s young daughter. She doesn’t realize my faithfulness to putting up a new flag weekly, always seasonal or holy day themed, stems from her dad’s revelation, a few years ago, that she looks for and talks about the various flags. THINGS MY FATHER Her favorite is the TAUGHT ME cartoonish parrot Mary Clifford Morrell holding a cocktail in his hand that goes up at some point in the summer (soon to be replaced by a child-friendly version). I’m sensing a fondness for birds. With Thanksgiving around the corner, and Advent and Christmas not far behind, there will be no dearth of flags in the coming months, signaling the seasons and some of what we hold dear as a family. Certainly, there is great meaning in the seasons soon upon us, meaning that is deeper than a nod from a fluttering flag. Though not a religious holiday, I’ve always felt Thanksgiving was the perfect precursor to Advent and Christmas. It struck me deeply one year when our choir rehearsed “Where Your Treasure Is,” based on Luke 12:34, “Where your treasure is, there also will be your heart.” It had been a difficult year, journeying with family through serious health issues, and I struggled with the thoughts of the holidays ahead, and the prospect of setting a Thanksgiving table when I was losing a sense of gratitude. Then we sang, “Where your treasure is, there your heart shall be, all that you possess shall never set you free; seek the things that last, come and learn from me; where your treasure is your heart shall be.” Of course, I choked back tears, but I also remembered something I learned as a teacher of religion. The Hebrew term for gratitude is Hakarat Hatov, which means, literally, “recognizing the good.” I was reminded that practicing gratitude means recognizing the good that is already ours, and by allowing gratitude to fill our hearts, we make it possible for any moment to be a time of thanksgiving. A holiday like Thanksgiving, built on gratitude, recognizing the good and the blessings that are ours despite any struggle, or perhaps because of it, is a perfect time to focus on where our true treasure lies—a perfect beginning for Advent, a time of

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November 2022

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THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 55

Family Life

Growing faith with

gratitude all year round JENNIFER ELSENSOHN  Correspondent

Unsplash photos

s we get closer to the Thanksgiving holiday, many people turn their thoughts to what they are grateful for. Often, reflecting on our gratitude inspires us to feel more charitable. Around Thanksgiving, there are always more volunteers for soup kitchens, food pantries, and providing meals for others than any other time of year. Organizations frequently have to turn volunteers away that day, while the rest of the year they are begging for help. This bears reflection. Recognizing that being aware of our giftedness causes us to become more generous is a recognition of the divine in us. Because it is his nature, God made it part of our nature to want to share with others, and that is magnified when we realize all of the ways God has been so good to us. That thankfulness is written into one of the names we use for the Body of Christ – Eucharist. Eucharist literally means “thanksgiving,” and when we celebrate the Eucharist at Mass, we are praising God in gratitude for all that we have. When I think about what happens in the Eucharist, I am reminded of

something my son used to do when he was little. He wanted to give me gifts, so he would take something that already belonged to me, like a piece of jewelry, wrap it up and present it to me. He had no means of buying me something new, and he knew I already liked the item, so it was a legitimate offering from him. When we offer God the simple gifts of bread and wine, it’s also an opportunity for us to offer the efforts we made during the week; the sacrifices we made, the care that we took for others, the love we have shared, and even the failures we’ve had. All of those things already belong to God, but he lovingly accepts them from us, makes them into Himself, and gives them back to us to feed and nurture us. The nature of God is to present us with his self-emptying love; to constantly pour himself into us so that we can become more like him. Becoming more like Christ means recognizing that everything we have really belongs to God and living as generous stewards of those things. If we can remember this every time we go to Mass, we can make every week like Thanksgiving week. Remaining in an attitude of gratitude when we celebrate and receive the Eucharist can help us to live more generously as individuals and as families.

HERE ARE SOME WAYS WE CAN LIVE LIVES OF EUCHARISTIC THANKSGIVING: • Does your parish collect items for the poor? Bring some with you when you attend Mass. • Is there someone in your parish who has trouble getting to Mass? Offer them a ride. • Is someone always sitting alone at Mass? Introduce yourself. • On the car ride home from Mass, share one thing you are grateful for, about what you heard or received at Mass or about your parish community. • Volunteer as a family. • Make a “gratitude jar” for your home. Take a mason jar, place it in an accessible location and leave some slips of paper and writing implements near it. When you come home from Mass, have everyone write something they are grateful for. • Make an “action jar” for your home. Take a different mason jar, put the same stuff next to it, and whenever you are feeling grateful for something, write down a way that you can share your joy with someone who needs it. Decide on a way that your family might draw from the jar and do one of the activities together. • Whenever you share a meal, begin with a prayer of thanksgiving (like Bless us O Lord …) Jennifer Elsensohn serves as pastoral associate in the Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine, Freehold.

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MIDDLETOWN SHRINE Continued from 33

it is offering the faithful “the opportunity to turn to the Lord Jesus Christ in and through his Body and Blood on the altar at Holy Mass and in the Blessed Sacrament that we preserve and cherish in the tabernacle. “The Holy Eucharist is, as the Church teaches, ‘the source and summit of the Christian life’” he said. “There is no greater gift, no greater prayer, nothing greater that we can do on this earth. ‘This is my Body; this is my Blood.’” Bishop O’Connell referenced the passage from St. Matthew 11:29, “Come to me, all you who are weary and find life burdensome, and I will refresh you. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

“As we dedicate this Diocesan Shrine to Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament here at St. Mary Parish – not only for this parish but for the entire Diocese – let’s remember what we are doing: creating that space, that place where, in the Holy Eucharist, we can always ‘find rest for our souls,’” he said. The establishment of the Shrine is a great honor for St. Mary Parish, Father Kegley said, referring to the goal of the Eucharistic Revival which is to restore understanding and devotion to the Holy Eucharist. “People must know and believe in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament,” he said. “As we are being asked to rediscover the Eucharist, in all that is going on in the world today with so much fear and anxiety, we are able to come here 24/7 and experience the peace and love of Jesus Christ.”

Continued from 34

For 2022, the entry submitted by Daniela Les of St. Mary of the Lakes School, Medford, was recognized as a grand prize winner. “I love art,” Les said, noting that her grand prize win was totally unexpected. Msgr. Harrington also presented certificates to the 2020 artwork contest winners, Nina Bruno and Frank Marcantonio of St. Jerome School, West Long Branch. Reflecting on the bicentennial of the Society of the Propagation of the Faith, Msgr. Harrington, in closing remarks, spoke of Blessed Jaricot’s missionary work, saying that while she was born into wealth, she died poor in her missionary work to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. He then urged the congregation

to remember that “In living a life of faith, choose what is the highest good, and do that to the highest degree.” During refreshments and fellowship that followed the Mass, Maryknoll Brother John Blazo, representing Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America, Inc., said, “World Mission Sunday is a constant reminder that being a missionary is [about] building relationships with people around the world. The purpose of the missioner is to build bridges. The missioner tells the story of people who have no voice.” “Jesus left us with a mission: Go out to the ends of the earth and be my witnesses,” said Sister Lisa Valentini of the Missionary Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. “Our devotion is to send out the virtues of Jesus Christ through mercy, compassion and love.”

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 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 57

Young Catholics

A contingent of students from several schools from around the Diocese participate in the Day of Peace held in September at the United Nations. Theresa Shubeck photo A screenshot from the livestream of Mia Rodriguez, senior in St. John Vianney High School, Holmdel, giving her speech. Courtesy photo

Local students use their voices to advocate for peace, justice BY THERESA SHUBECK Correspondent And STAFF

REPORTS

n the eve of the recent United Nations General Assembly, when world leaders would come together to discuss such critical issues as war, climate change and the pandemic, some 700 students from around the world gathered to participate in the International Day of Peace Youth Observance: End Racism. Build Peace. Among them was a contingent of students from Catholic schools in the Diocese of Trenton who had ferried to midtown Manhattan early on that September 16 morning. Their participation in the Day of Peace was part of their involvement in the Pathways to Peace program that first emerged locally out of the now-shuttered Mater Dei Prep in Middletown. The lessons and skills learned in that program – such as effective communication, leadership and collaboration, tolerance and respect for others, and conflict resolution – have

been carried by the youthful participants, referred to as Global Leaders, into their new Catholic schools and their communities where they believe they are called to do their part to build a better world. Affiliation with the program was facilitated by Pathways to Peace UN representative George Anthony, who trained and advised the students in Mater Dei and St. Mary School, Middletown, and now champions them as they moved to different schools, including Red Bank Catholic High School and St. John Vianney High School, Holmdel. The results of these efforts are reflected in the conviction, composure and optimistic vision demonstrated by the Global Leaders who took part in the Day of Peace and have brought their hopeful initiative to other arenas of their lives. Global Leader Emma DeBiase, a Red Bank Catholic senior, was recently bestowed the Exceptional Young Woman of Peace Award sponsored by Pathways to Peace. She shared with The Monitor at the UN, “We are the generation that

can change the world.” DeBiase is interested in starting a student group called “Peace Talks,” setting her sights on it becoming a podcast to engage individuals to share their thoughts, emotions and strategies on peace or a better world. Mia Rodriguez, a senior at St. John Vianney High School, Holmdel, gave an address to the assembly from the UN’s Economic and Social Council Chamber. She stated: “I am standing before the United Nations today to show that it is possible to use your voice to create change, even in your youth…it takes courage to create change. Most of the justice served in our world is because someone had to be bold and speak their truth even if what they were saying was difficult to hear.” Rodriguez’ call to action applies to everyone: “We must work across generations, cultures, ethnicities, and faith traditions. Together we can work towards peace and be the change we wish to see in the world.”

To read expanded version of story, visit TrentonMonitor.com>News>Youth & Young Adults 58 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE

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Young Catholics

At TCNJ visit, Bishop speaks to students about roles of faith and religion BY MARY STADNYK 

Bishop O’Connell proudly wears the new TCNJ sweatshirt he was given as a gift. Courtesy photo

Associate Editor

he relationship between faith and religion was unpacked for Catholic campus ministry members and friends at The College of New Jersey, Ewing, during a visit by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. Bishop O’Connell was invited to celebrate the Oct. 30 Mass, held in the college’s Spiritual Center, by Catholic chaplain Father Christopher Colavito. During his homily, Bishop explained that “faith is what we believe in,” while “religion is a different thing, related to faith, rooted in faith, flowing from faith. “Faith is our acceptance of and connection with truth, something that our minds grasp but without proof,” the Bishop said, citing numerous Scripture passages and quotes from theologians. “Religion is a way of organizing our faith, of bringing the truths of what we believe together, of expressing our faith in ways that we share with others who believe,” Bishop O’Connell continued. “Faith and religion, though different, go hand in hand and need each other,

TCNJ students pray during Mass celebrated by Bishop O’Connell. Mary Stadnyk photo

To view more photos from the Bishop’s visit to TCNJ, visit TrentonMonitor.com> Multimedia>Photo Galleries depend upon each other. Faith leads to religion and religion reflects faith.” With student participation picking up again after a slight decline since the pandemic, the campus ministry program now welcomes between 70 and 80 students at one of two scheduled Sunday Masses, according to Father Colavito. Through the ministry, students also are encouraged to take part in social service events, weekly Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Confession. In response to several students who expressed an interest in becoming Catholic, Father Colavito established an on-campus Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults process and is preparing them to receive their Sacraments at the 2023 Easter Vigil in nearby Incarnation Church. “I was pleasantly surprised at the number of students who wanted to become Roman Catholic,” Father Colavito said, noting that the group includes one catechumen (who will be baptized, confirmed and receive First Eucharist), two candidates (who will be confirmed and receive First Eucharist) and one Orthodox Christian who will make a Profession of Faith and enter into the corresponding East-

ern Catholic Church tradition. After the Mass, Bishop O’Connell took photos with the students and received a number of gifts, including a TCNJ sweater and sweatshirt. Several students shared their feelings about their faith and having the Bishop visit. Raised in devout Catholic homes, freshmen Eddie Young and Christina Gorman said they wanted to continue practicing their faith while in college. “There aren’t any Catholic churches within walking distance of our campus,” said Young, who is from North Jersey. “The campus ministry gives us a great opportunity to attend Mass.” Gorman, a member of St. Raphael-Holy Angels Parish, Hamilton, and graduate of Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville, said that campus ministry allows her to meet Catholic peers “who share the same values I do.” Both Young and Gorman added they look forward to being part of the diocesan pilgrimage to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington Nov. 12. Junior Lauren Farrell, who is a member of St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold, also appreciates meeting other Catholic students through campus ministry. “This is a great place, and there is a real sense of community here,” Farrell said, noting that she has even brought fellow students who were not Catholic to Mass.

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Community Service

Homeless agency in Ocean County enjoys strong support from Catholic parishes Our Lady of Guadalupe, Lakewood; St. Barnabas, BayInterfaith Hospitality Network of Ocean County eyond providing the essentials ville, and Epiphany, volunteer Pat Rainier and a guest chat in the facilof food, shelter and resources, Brick. Visitation ity located on the campus of Holy Family Church, what the staff and scores of Parish in Brick is Lakewood. Mary Stadnyk photos volunteers from Interfaith Hos- one of nine compitality Network of Ocean County see as munities that serve their top priority is creating a homelike as a support parish, meaning it provides Parish’s turn to serve as the host site. environment for the clients they serve. needed items to the host congregations. Both Cash and Rainier acknowledged “They are at one of the lowest points When dealing with families, it’s the unwavering support that all the parin their lives,” said Patty Cash, IHNOC’s important for volunteers to be themselves ticipating congregations give to IHNOC’s founding executive director, “so we do and “come with a heart full of love,” said mission. A recent example was seen our best to make them feel at home while Pat Rainier, a member of Our Lady of during the COVID-19 pandemic when they are with us.” Guadalupe Parish and IHNOC volunteer families in the program were invited to For the past 25 years, IHNOC has since 2008. Volunteers need to remember shelter in place at the Day Center. united communities of all faith traditions “they are welcoming families into their “This eliminated the obvious sharing in a collaborative effort to offer assistance homes, their churches. of COVID with other congregations,” to struggling families with children. With “We do our best to reach out with Rainier said, then noted that coordinathe help of well over 1,000 volunteers, 12 compassion and acceptance, providing tors and host congregations delivered host congregations provide accommodahelp, hope and a safe haven four our their meals and other products to the tions and meals for three to five families guests,” Rainier said. “We’re helping them Day Center on a daily basis. or no more than 14 individuals at a time, on their journey to self-sufficiency.” The outreach, especially during that for one week, three to four times a year. A major change to the way IHN had time, was remarkable, Rainier said. She Of the 12 current host congregations, operated occurred about six years ago recalled how the “thoughtful members” four are Catholic: St. Joseph, Toms River; when St. Joseph Parish invited the agency of Epiphany Parish continued to rememto use one of the few ber birthdays of children in the program parish-owned houses as with special celebrations and gifts. the agency’s new Day “One child who wanted to learn how Center. That is where to ride a bike was given a bike and a those clients who are safety helmet,” she said, and the generous between jobs or are volunteers also gave the child’s mother a stay-at-home parents bike and helmet as well. Other examples of preschool children include Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish spend their days. The purchasing new bedding items and towels center is completely for the families, and students at Donovan furnished with cooking Catholic in Toms River, always consistent and laundry appliances and dependable volunteers, helping out as well as televisions during the pandemic. and computers that the “It’s been great for our parish and clients can use to aid schools to be able to help families in need,” in their employment and to have been able to continue during searches. The house the pandemic, said Father Scott Shaffer, also has bedrooms during a recent visit to the Day Center. “It is our goal to help those in crisis. This Volunteers prepare dinner for the guests during their weeklong for the families to use when it’s St. Joseph place has been a real blessing for them.” stay on the campus of Holy Family Church, Lakewood. BY MARY STADNYK  Associate Editor

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Community Service

Expanded food pantry allows CYO to operate more efficiently BY MARY STADNYK  Associate Editor

he Mercer County Catholic Youth Organization has a newly renovated and enlarged food pantry that’s allowing staff members and volunteers to broaden their reach in helping people in need. “It’s a first-class pantry that gives us the ability to store much more food, accept many more donations and allow us to address food insecurity,” said Patrick Hardiman, director of the Hamilton Township Bromley Neighborhood Center, where the food pantry is located. During the facility’s official opening Oct. 20, Hardiman explained the food pantry at the Bromley Center has operated since 2005 when Hamilton Township converted the old Continued on 71

Present at the Bromley Center for the celebration of the CYO’s newly expanded food pantry are shown from left, Fred Dumont, a member of the Hamilton Township mayor’s administrative team; Tom Mladenetz, CYO executive director; Anthony Carabelli, Hamilton Township councilman, and Pat Hardiman, director of the CYO Bromley Center. Mary Stadnyk photo

Father Kaeding’s decades of service with The Center celebrated at gala BY LOIS ROGERS  Correspondent

or 30 years, The Center in Asbury Park, Inc. has been an anchor of hope and a source of comfort for those living with HIV/AIDS in the greater Monmouth County and beyond. The organization was founded in 1992 by Father Robert Kaeding, then pastor of Wayside’s St. Anselm Parish, when the epidemic was at its height. His successful efforts over the decades to build the volunteer, not-for-profit agency into the multi-faceted service organization it is today were heralded Oct. 12 at the organization’s annual fundraiser, the Red Heart Gala. Father Robert Kaeding Some 160 volunteers and friends of The Center gathered for the event which has been held annually for “10 or 11 years to honor our volunteers,” said Father Kaeding, who has been executive director of The Center since its founding. He added that he was “thrilled” to receive the honor himself for the first time, especially on “such a significant” anniversary. The Center offers a broad range of services which include Center House, a permanent residence for 25 individuals living with HIV/AIDS; emergency placement for homeless individuals,

and rental and utility subsidies in order to prevent homelessness. Other services include nutrition programs; referrals to a wide range of service providers and programs; transportation to medical appointments and other needs, and a variety of educational and other programs. The successful Center Square Thrift in downtown Belmar is one of the more recent additions and a “terrific fundraiser” for the organization, said Father Kaeding. A friend observed that a thrift shop could be a financial benefit to a non-profit such as The Center and Father Kaeding thought it was worth a try. “It’s working out well,” Father Kaeding said. That’s but one example of the combined creativity and devotion on his part that has steered the organization from the beginning. Back then, in a time of great apprehension, he had called a meeting inviting houses of worship and community groups of the area together to see if they could collaborate on ways to deal with HIV/AIDS locally. He was reportedly surprised when 60 came out and opted to get involved. Joan Walsh, board member at The Center, who was the office manager at Precious Blood Parish, Monmouth Beach, when Father Kaeding was pastor, sees his incisive perceptions as a gift. “Everything goes into the mission,” said Walsh, who added that the 75 volunteers follow his lead. They see how well things are run, how hard Father Kaeding works and “how he made things happen” and they want to help, she said. November 2022

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In the Parishes

West Trenton parish rejoices in 75 years BY AMERIQUIN LACCETTI  Correspondent

s attested by those whose families helped found Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, West Trenton, the small community of faith-filled families grew into a community of Catholics who dreamed of forming their own parish and prayed it into being. “Every significant event in my life is tied to that parish,” said parishioner Patricia Williams, whose maternal great-grandparents were founding members. “In times of trouble, in times of joy, our parish has always been there for us.” On Oct. 23, Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish celebrated the blessing of a diamond anniversary – 75 years of faith, unity, generosity and humility, as expressed by Father Ariel Robles, pastor. Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., celebrated the anniversary Mass, which was concelebrated by Father Robles, and former pastors Father Michael Hall, now pastor of St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square, and diocesan director, Office of Worship; Msgr. Ralph Stansley, retired and living in Villa Vianney, Lawrenceville, and Msgr. Dennis A. Apoldite, episcopal vicar

PARISH HISTORY At the turn of the 20th century, a small railroad community of mostly Italian immigrants settled in what was then called Trenton Junction. Approximately 100 men who worked the line lived in a large dormitory structure built by the railroad company. By 1912 the mostly all Catholic men settled into the communities, married and 62 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE

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of Mercer County and pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Trenton. Other invited guests included the Filippini Sisters from neighboring Villa Victoria Academy, Ewing. In his homily for the parish community of some 651 families, Bishop O’Connell spoke about humility, which is the “realization we are all created by God … that God is the giver of all good gifts, gifts  “In times of that are not meant for us to keep to ourselves but to share. Sharing God’s trouble, gifts with generosity and openness is in times of joy, what makes a difference in the lives of others and therefore in our own our parish has lives.” Following the Mass, Bishop always been O’Connell blessed a statue of the there for us.” Sacred Heart of Jesus and the parish hall in the Church basement. Williams recalled that the new statue replaced one that had been broken during a windstorm. “The new statue is heavier and sturdier; we wanted the Bishop to bless [it].”

had families. They built a community of faith in Jesus Christ but had no church building in the area in which to worship. So, on Sundays they all rode the train to Trenton to attend Mass in St. Joachim Church. Six more years would pass until Mass was celebrated in Trenton Junction at the mess hall of the old dormitory on Palm Sunday in 1918. The celebrant was Father Alfonso Palombi, pastor of St. Joachim Parish.

November 2022

Father Palombi would travel to Trenton Junction whenever possible to celebrate Mass for the community, sometimes even on the front porch of the homes of different families. This small community of faith-filled families grew into a community of Catholics who dreamed of forming their own parish. It wasn’t until the late 1920’s when their prayers and dreams were answered. Bishop of Trenton John J. McMahon au-

1. Bishop O’Connell was principal celebrant of the 75th anniversary Mass for Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, West Trenton. Concelebrants included former pastors as well as Father Jim Smith, a native son, and Msgr. Dennis Apoldite, Mercer County episcopal vicar.

3. Parishioners pray during the 75th anniversary Mass. 4. After blessing the new outdoor statue of the Sacred Heart, Bishop O’Connell poses for photos with parishioners. Mike Ehrmann photos

2. Bishop O’Connell blesses the newly renovated parish center where an anniversary reception was held. At left is Father Ariel Robles, pastor.

of faith, community Mary Szmutko, who works in the parish office and is the wife of Deacon Steve Szmutko, added that Father Robles was able to repair the old Sacred Heart statue that sustained damage to the hands. The old statue is now being kept indoors and will be moved into the room that was once served as the baptistry and is now being made into a small chapel. Szmutko added that benches have been set up near the new outdoor statue and people are regularly known to stop by to pray. The celebration continued with a catered luncheon in the newly blessed parish hall, which had been expanded and renovated under the direction of Father Hall. “He started the project, and it was finished not long after Father Robles arrived,” Williams attested. Many of the parish renovation work included the help of parishioner Jack Trainor, who recently turned 99 years old. Renovations included the replacement of the heating and air-conditioning systems, as well as the division of the space to allow for various conference rooms. Szmutko said religious ed-

A photo of the original Our Lady of Good Counsel Church. Facebook photo ucation classes are now held in the parish hall. Prior to the pandemic, the classes were held in Villa Victoria Academy. Once the pandemic restrictions were lifted, the classes were held virtually until the parish hall became available for in-person classes. The jubilee luncheon was the largest gathering in the renovated space to date, Williams said. “I believe we sold 215 tickets, and Continued on 67

To see more photos of the 75th anniversary Mass, visit TrentonMonitor.com>Multimedia>Photo Galleries thorized the construction of a frame church on Grand Avenue in West Trenton. It was to be constructed under the patronage of Our Lady of Good Counsel. Designed to hold approximately 120 people, it became their place of worship for the next thirty years. It wasn’t until 1947 that then-Bishop William A. Griffin declared the church to be a full-fledged parish and appointed Father Bernard C. De Coste as the new pastor.

As the years passed, and the Catholic population of the area continued to grow, there was a need for a larger church building. With the original church seating only 120 persons, the construction of a new brick church with a seating capacity of 920 was approved. After Father De Coste was transferred to St. Paul Parish, Burlington, Father Joseph W. McLaughlin was appointed as pastor. Through his efforts nearly 11 acres

of land at the corner of Upper Ferry Road and Wilburtha Road was purchased from the State of New Jersey. Ground was broken in July 1960 for a new church, basement hall and rectory. Two years later, then-Bishop George W. Ahr officiated at the dedication of the new home of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish. The $700,000 construction cost was paid off by 1971 through the generosity of parishioners.

November 2022

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In the Parishes

Healthcare workers honored, blessed during St. Luke Parish White Mass BY THERESA SHUBECK  Correspondent

amed after a saint who is both an evangelist and a physician, St. Luke Parish, Toms River, has been especially focused for the past eight years on affirming those engaged in the vocation of healing during a special Mass. The Mass and Blessing for Healthcare Professionals, known as the White Mass, is celebrated by the parish close to the October feast day of St. Luke, who is also the patron saint of physicians. The observance dates back to the 1930s and the development of the Catholic Medical Association; it is named for the white medical garments worn by many in the medical community. This year, the ninth annual Mass took place Oct. 16 in the parish church and honored all those who work in medical settings: physicians, nurses, nursing assistants, administrators, pharmacists, technicians, cooks, nursing home staff, hospice person-

Father Robert Grodnicki, pastor of St. Luke Parish, anoints the hands of a healthcare professional.

A highlight of the Mass was the anointing of hands of medical professionals by the priests in attendance. Vicki Melin photos nel, emergency personnel and hospital housekeepers. The Mass also brought together healthcare workers’ families, friends and well-wishers to express gratitude for their skill, devotion and compassionate care. Father Robert Grodnicki, pastor and principal celebrant, expressed gratitude to his doctor and the entire team responsible for his own care during his recent hospitalization. “Since I was in isolation, I was never so happy to see my doctor every day and to see how hard everyone worked together.”  “Since I was In reflecting on Luke’s Gospel, homilist Father Edward Reading in isolation, I of the Diocese of Paterson stated that Jesus instructed his believwas never so ers to set forth, not alone, but in happy to see pairs “proclaiming the good news and curing diseases everywhere” my doctor (Luke 9:6). Father Reading drew a parallel to a doctor’s office, where every day ...” everyone on staff refers to “our” patients, demonstrating a “community working together.” Bringing that community together for this special Mass was the responsibility of a planning committee, headed by registered nurse June Brandes Chu. Invitations went out via flyers, e-mails, phone calls and face-to-face meetings with neighboring parishes, long-term care facilities, and other institutions. Brandes Chu said that the White Mass and blessing have been “meaningful for all of us, especially during the pandemic,” and that the committee aims to “honor everyone.” Ann Tritak-Elmiger, a registered nurse and professor emeritus at Felician University, proclaimed the Word in the

To view more photos of the White Mass, visit TrentonMonitor.com>Multimedia>Photo Galleries 64 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE

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Continued on 67

In the Parishes

Parishes embark on long-awaited Holy Land pilgrimages

P Father Rene Pulgarin, pastor of Our Lady of Fatima, Keyport, leads a pilgrimage at the Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem.

Pilgrims from St. Paul Parish, Princeton, gather in front of the old city part of Jerusalem, with Father Carlo Calisin, parochial vicar, and former pastor, Msgr. Joseph N. Rosie.

St. Mary of the Lakes parishioners, with Father Daniel F. Swift, pastor, stand atop Mt. Tabor for a group shot. Courtesy photos

astors and parishioners throughout the Diocese took to the Holy Land during October for pilgrimages, some having waited for more than two years for pandemic restrictions to abate. A contingent of pilgrims from St. Paul Parish, Princeton, were finally able to journey to the Holy Land Oct. 18-28 with parochial vicar, Father Carlo Calisin, and Msgr. Joseph N. Rosie, former St. Paul’s pastor and current pastor of St. James Parish, Red Bank. Among many pilgrimage sites explored with Biblical Journeys Pilgrimages, they walked and prayed along the Via Dolorosa (Christ’s Good Friday journey to Calvary), attended Mass in the Lord’s Tomb celebrated by Msgr. Rosie, and Mass along the Jordan River celebrated by Father Calisin. Some travelers opted to extend the trip by three days to tour Jordan. Meanwhile Father Rene Pulgarin, pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Keyport, accompanied a group of 25 pilgrims on a 10-day Holy Land pilgrimage Oct. 17-27. The pilgrims were able to see numerous sites, including the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. “It has been a blessing for all of us,” said Father Pulgarin, “and the Diocese and vocations are in our daily prayers.” Concurrently, St. Mary of the Lakes Parish, Medford, also sent a pilgrimage group to the Holy Land Oct. 17-27, under direction of The Catholic Journey Pilgrimages, with Father Daniel F. Swift, pastor, as spiritual director. Visiting numerous biblical sites such as Caesarea Philippi, Cana, Nazareth, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and many more, Father Swift commented, “It is always my privilege to bring the faithful to the Holy Land and holy places that marked the life of Jesus and Mary. This is the third time I’ve been blessed to be here, and I learn and discover more with every visit.” By EmmaLee Italia, Contributing Editor

November 2022

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In the Parishes Father Jacek Labinski, St. Hedwig Parish pastor, leads the congregation in prayer during the closing of the parish’s Forty Hours devotions. Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., was presented with a bouquet as a gift of appreciation for his presence at the service.

Mary Stadnyk photos

Forty Hours remains treasured devotion in Trenton Parish Pauline Father Karol Jarzabek, pastor of St. Stanislaus Parish, Manhattan, challenged those present for the Oct. 16 closing service of Forty Hours Devotion in St. Hedwig Church, Trenton, with a question: “What would you do if Jesus were to come in the next two days?” Serving as homilist for the evening, Father Jarzabek answered his own question, saying, “There is no need to wait two days. Jesus is present with us now,” pointing to the altar table where the To view more photos and monstrance with the Blessed expanded stories, Sacrament was placed.

Present with him were Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., priests from the Trenton and Metuchen Dioceses, and Father Leslaw Bialek of Milan, Italy, and longtime friend of Father Jacek W. Labinski, St. Hedwig pastor, who also preached a homily in Polish. In his homily, which was preached in English, Father Jarzabek urged the congregation to remember that, in addition to the Eucharist, there is another way to recognize the presence of Jesus. “And that’s in other people,” he said. “That is the most forgotten opportunity on how to meet God, in one another.”

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PRAYING FOR PEACE, CONVERSION OF HEARTS WAS FOCUS OF PUBLIC SQUARE ROSARY CRUSADE Amid the busyness of a typical Saturday afternoon on Pennington and Olden Avenues in Ewing, a sense of quiet and prayer prevailed Oct. 15 on the front lawn of Incarnation Church where Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., and a group of 40 people prayed before the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The gathering in Ewing was one of more than a dozen taking place in parishes around the Diocese, and among the more than 23,000 groups from across the country that participated in an organized Public Square Rosary Crusade at noon to mark the 105th anniversary of Fatima and Our Lady’s call to conversion. “This is a very nice and good experience bringing people together to pray for our country, for peace and for all people,” Msgr. Dennis Apoldite, episcopal vicar of Mercer County, said of the event that drew parishioners mostly from the Cohort parishes of Incarnation-St. James, Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, West Trenton, and Sacred Heart Parish, Trenton, where he serves as pastor. “And it was nice to have our Bishop here, to pray with us and to witness his love of the Blessed Mother.” By Mary Stadnyk, associate editor

Msgr. Dennis Apoldite, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Trenton, and Bishop O’Connell, were present for the Ewing Rosary Crusade. Mary Stadnyk photo 66 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE

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November 2022

By Mary Stadnyk, associate editor

In the Parishes

Stefanick’s REBOOT coming to Medford Dec. 14 Renowned Catholic speaker and evangelist Chris Stefanick will return to the Diocese of Trenton with his “REBOOT” presentation Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. in St. Mary of the Lakes Parish, 40 Jackson Rd., Medford. Stefanick is well-known for his high-energy talks, unpacking the Gospel in its power and beauty, while providing Chris Stefanick practical ways Courtesy photo to connect with the heart of Scripture and how to find joy in everyday life. His REBOOT program for ages 12 through adults focuses on engaging those who are searching and want to rediscover the message of the Gospel, and its application to work, dating, marriage, parenting, health and more. An internationally acclaimed author, speaker, television host and recipient of the Papal Benemerenti Medal, Stefanick’s live seminars reach more than 85,000 people per year. His reality TV show, videos, and radio spots reach millions of people, and he authored the Chosen Confirmation program which has already formed more than 500,000 teens. A graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, Stefanick is also the founder and president of Real Life Catholic, a non-profit which operates as the headquarters for Chris’ various initiatives. He is husband to wife Natalie and father to their six children. Tickets are $39 for general admission, or $30 per person group rate of four or more. To register and purchase tickets, visit www.reallifecatholic.com/events/stmary-of-the-lakes-medford-nj-reboot/, or call Christine Brandt, at 609-654-8208 ext. 113. By EmmaLee Italia, Contributing Editor

PARISH CELEBRATES 75 YEARS Continued from 63

everyone was able to fit comfortably!” Reflecting on the milestones of the parish Smith noted that some 200 children are enrolled in the religious education program, and ministries include adult faith formation/Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults, Knights of Columbus, Marys of Mary and a seniors’ club, among other programs and ministries. Debbie Smith, who also works in the parish office, spoke fondly of her 20 years as a parishioner, and her pride in her son, Father Jim Smith, a native son of the parish. Father Smith served Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish whenever possible during the four years of seminary training, recalled Smith. Father Smith, who has been ordained for four years, is currently parochial vicar in St. Aloysius Parish, Jackson. Smith acknowledged those who arranged the jubilee, saying, “Everyone worked so hard, the parish council came together so beautifully to be able to put together this celebration.” Williams’ grandparents were active in the construction of the current church building, where her parents, Kees and Angela Geurds, were married, as were she and her husband, and both of her sisters. She has made it a point to give back to her spiritual home, serving the parish in numerous capacities. “I have been a lector for years, and taught religious education before I had kids,” Williams recalled. “More recently I served on the finance committee, the parish council, as a member of our cohort team, and as a substitute religious education teacher as needed. I give of my time because I want to see this parish live on.” The 75th jubilee “is very special to me and to my family,” she emphasized, pointing out that her son was named Matthew for the St. Matthew window in the church, sponsored by her grandparents, Pasquale and Mary Muscente. “It’s such a beautiful church. The organ is beautiful … and everyone is welcome!”

WHITE MASS BLESSING Continued from 64

second reading from St. James, which describes the importance of faith combined with good work. At the social following the liturgy she

spoke about how “beautiful for all of us it was for healthcare workers to come together to renew each other.” Dr. Jess C. Alcid, a St. Luke parishioner for 15 years who regularly attends the White Mass, offered the reading from Sirach, “Make friends with the doctor, for he is essential to you … From God, the doctor has wisdom … Thus God’s work continues without cease in its efficacy on the face of the earth” (Sirach 38: 1-2, 8). Dr. Alcid appreciated that the White Mass “re-centers” him. He felt it was encouraging to have special recognition, but that the liturgy and blessing are also a good reminder that as a physician, one’s life is “not all about the job.” Finding this balance was a virtue also touched upon by Father Reading, who holds advanced degrees in pastoral counseling. He told the Mass attendees, “Your work is a real vocation, a healing ministry. When we do our work, God is working through us.” But he cautioned against becoming so devoted to one’s ministry that “you forget to meet the needs of your families.” Drawing a parallel to St. Luke, who was also a student, an artist and an aide to St. Paul, Father Reading advised that one should learn to find balance in life outside of work and other responsibilities, with hobbies or other interests. A poignant moment of the Mass is the anointing of the hands of healthcare community members by the celebrants with the oil used in the anointing of the sick. Each healthcare worker had their palms blessed by Father Grodnicki, Father Reading or Father Albert Berner, a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Newark who was concelebrating that day. The ritual echoed the prayer, displayed before Mass, of the Catholic Health Association of the United States: “Yours are the hands gently touching your patients …You lift the hearts of those who suffer ...Your hands celebrate the joy of healing …Your hands bless all they touch with the spirit of compassion …Thank you for sharing your abundance and gifts.”

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November 2022

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THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 67

In the Schools

Catholic schools excel in post-pandemic learning assessment MARY CLIFFORD MORRELL  Contributing Editor

n October, parents and educators received statistical confirmation of what they had long suspected –the pandemic years took a profoundly negative toll on student learning. But new educational findings have revealed that this is not the case with Catholic school learners. Results released Oct. 24 from the National Assessment of Education Progress, known as the “nation’s report card,” show that Catholic schools have done remarkably well in mitigating learning loss resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and related challenges. This first national study of the pandemic’s impact on learning, the 2022 NAEP, a biennial report of the U.S. Department of Education, tested hundreds of thousands of fourth and eighth

graders across the country, revealing an unprecedented decline in average scores for public school students coming out of the pandemic. Comparing results from 2019 and 2022, NAEP indicated reading and math scores declined in public and charter schools for grades 4 and 8 for the majority of states. Average national reading scores reverted to 1992 levels, and math scores had the most significant declines ever recorded for that subject. In contrast, Catholic schools showed a slight increase (1 point) in 8th grade reading and maintained levels for 4th grade math at achievement levels already higher than public schools. Catholic schools saw declines in 8th grade math and 4th grade reading, though declines were less than those in public and charter schools. In a response to Dr. Vincent de Paul Schmidt, diocesan superintendent of

Standardized test results from students in St. Rose of Lima School, Freehold, was included in the NAEP data which compared pandemic-related learning loss in both public and private schools. Facebook photo

Catholic schools, Dr. Peggy G. Carr, commissioner, National Center for Education Statistics, stated, “It’s clear that the pandemic disruption was a major factor impeding achievement on the 2022 NAEP exams, for a host of reasons that affected schools, families, and communities. Nationally, we experienced declines between 2019 and 2022 in both mathematics and reading, at both grades assessed, grades 4 and 8. “But,” she continued, “Catholic schools generally fared better than the nation. Catholic schools held steady in all but mathematics at grade 8, where they experienced declines similar to the nation as a whole.” MISSION OF CATHOLIC EDUCATION Dr. Schmidt observed that the heart of the Catholic school response to the pandemic was, first, an intentional dedication to mission, which lessened the effects of learning loss. “Our schools are successful because they have always been based on support from local parishes. They are a community, with great support from parents, the students themselves, dedicated staff of the Catholic schools and the pastors all working together,” he stressed. Data show that, in spite of declines, Catholic school scores exceed public school scores by 11-20 points in each of those four testing areas. News reports share that researchers consider a 10-point gain or decline as equivalent to roughly a year of learning. The National Catholic Educational Association also shared NAEP findings that Catholic schools “are near the top in learning outcomes for students receiving free and reduced-price lunch, demon-

We would like to thank TOSHIBA, exclusive provider of copier services in the Diocese of Trenton Chancery building, for their sponsorship of this page. 68 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE

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November 2022

SPORTS Don’tSPORTS miss The Monitor’s Sports SPORTS coverage online SPORTS SPORTS SPORTS SPORTS SPORTS SPORTS SPORTS SPORTS SPORTS SPORTS SPORTS SPORTS SPORTS SPORTS BY RICH FISHER  Contributing Editor:

¾ God and football both rank high in life of RBC’s Davin Brewton

¾ ND boys soccer team heads to state tournament ¾ RBC’s DeSousa gains elusive Monmouth cross country championship

Students in St. Dominic School, Brick, take a break from learning for a quick picture. Elizabeth Tonkovich, principal, was proud to include the Ocean County school in the “nation’s report card.” Facebook photo

¾ Injured SJV quarterback Van Trease inspiring prayers, support

New story every Friday! Go to TrentonMonitor.com and click on NEWS>SPORTS.

St. Ann School students gather in the parish Faith Development Center. Test scores from the Lawrenceville school are included in the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP). Facebook photo strating the system’s commitment to underprivileged students.” One of the reasons Catholic schools performed so well, said NCEA president Lance Snyder, is that “our teachers showed up for the kids. In every state, we were among the first to transition to distance learning, and after that brief time, also among the first to return students to a safe in-person environment.” NCEA reported that more than 90 percent of Catholic schools opened safely, in person, five days a week with hybrid options during the pandemic, compared to approximately 56 percent of public schools. Daniel T. O’Connell, diocesan associate director for Curriculum and De-

velopment, recalled that in the Diocese of Trenton, schools locked down in the spring of 2020 were reopened in September of that year “with precautionary measures in place and were ready both to protect and to educate the children of central New Jersey. Parents had the option to keep their children home and allow them to attend school virtually, but our schools were open and ready to welcome back our students.” O’Connell also acknowledged that, while pandemic challenges resulted in some gaps in the learning process, “our teachers and principals accepted the challenge to bring our students up to speed. … By opening our schools in Continued on 70

Red Bank Catholic junior Davin Brewton is flanked by former Giant Lee Rouson (left) and former Eagle Garry Cobb (right) at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Camp at Kutztown University last June. Twitter photo

November 2022

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THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 69

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Assisted Living Memory Care •Hall St. Assisted Living Located in •• For more please visit us red with St. Lawrence Rehabilitation Center Located in Lawrenceville, Lawrenceville, NJ Formore more information, information, please visitvisit us at at us at Long Term && Long Term Care Located in Lawrenceville, NJNJ • For information, please •Care Respite Care Morris Senior Care Communities www.morrishall.org or contact us at mhadmissions@morrishall.org or 609-895-1937 Morris Hall Senior Care Communities www.morrishall.org or contact us at mhadmissions@morrishall.org or 609-895-1937 learn about the saints and see them • Short Term race Garden Assisted Living www.morrishall.org or contact St.Mary’s Mary’s Assisted Living Skilled Lawrenceville, •• For more information, please visit us at Lawrenceville, NJ For more information, please visit usMemory at us Lawrenceville Skilled eadows •Care Palliative Care Grace Garden Assisted Living Memory Careus at mhadmissions@morrishall.org or 609-895-1937 enceville, NJNJ ••at For more information, please visit at •Lawrenceville St. Assisted Living St. Mary’s Assisted Living St. Lawrence Rehabilitation Center • contact St. Joseph’s Nursing St. Mary’s Assisted Living ••Garden St. Mary’s Assisted Living gg or us at mhadmissions@morrishall.org or 609-895-1937 or contact us mhadmissions@morrishall.org or Skilled 609-895-1937 • Skilled St. Nursing Memory Care Assisted LivingRehabilitation contact us at atmhadmissions@morrishall.org or 609-895-1937 Morris Hall Meadows at •Grace St.Joseph’s Joseph’s Skilled Nursing Center Morris Hall Senior Care Communities as role models. 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Morris Hall Meadows Skilled Nursing • Palliative Care Lawrenceville Skilled St. Lawrence Rehabilitation Center Hall Meadows Skilled Nursing • Morris Hall Meadows at • St. Mary’s Assisted Living ursing Specialized •• Grace Garden Memory CareMeadows at Morris Hall • Grace Garden Assisted Memory Care • Hospiceat Care ing •Palliative Morris Hall Meadows &Living Long Care Nursing It is possible!” Salutes our Nursing Staff! Continued from 69 Lawrenceville Skilled • New Care Unit atTerm St. Mary’s •Specialized Grace Garden Assisted Living Memory Care ng • Morris Hall Meadows at Services Lawrenceville Skilled ecialized Nursing Lawrenceville Skilled • St. Mary’s Assisted Living September 2020, we gave our Mercy Sister Donna D’Alia, parawrenceville, NJ • For more information, please visit us at 9704326-02

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Specialized during the COVIC-19 pandemic. •Lawrenceville Short TermSkilled Services Nursing grvices Nursing •Nursing Grace Garden Assisted Living Memory Care students the ability to save the time ish pastoral associate for catechesis, Specialized Care Communities Services Rehabilitation hort Term Nursing • Short Term iving Memory Care St. Lawrence Rehabilitation Center that they might have lost.” • Morris Hall Meadows at explained the students’ interest in Specialized Services nehabilitation rsing • Short Term • Specialized Respite Care Specialized Salutes our Nursing Staff! Lawrenceville Skilled Specialized Rehabilitation Services LOCAL PARTICIPATION Blessed Carlo Acutis, the 15-year-old • Short Term Rehabilitation espite Care • Services Palliative Care St. Lawrence Rehabilitation Center • Short TermServices Services Nursing Rehabilitation Among those Catholic schools alliative was beatified by Pope Francis e ing •Care Respite Care Care • Respite St. Lawrence Rehabilitationwho Center

d d in in Lawrenceville, Lawrenceville, NJ NJ •• For For more more information, information, please please visit visit us us at at all.org or us at mhadmissions@morrishall.org all.org or contact contact mhadmissions@morrishall.org or or 609-895-1937 609-895-1937 g or contact us us at atmhadmissions@morrishall.org or 609-895-1937

2381 Lawrenceville Road | Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 609-896-9500 | www.slrc.org

St. Lawrence Thank youRehabilitation for your dedication,Center hard work Care Rehabilitation Salutes our Nursing Staff! •Hospice Short Term • •Short Respite Care and compassion every and especially Care • Term Short Term Salutes ourday Nursing who were part of a nationally •Memory Palliative Care dospice Living Care Salutes our Nursing Staff! in 2020 and about his passionate St. Staff! Lawrence Rehabilitation Center • Respite Care Specialized • Rehabilitation Palliative Care during the COVIC-19 pandemic. St. Lawrence Rehabilitation Center •Care Palliative Care Rehabilitation St.the Lawrence Thank youRehabilitation for Staff! your dedication,Center hard work Rehabilitation • Hospice t • Palliative Care representative sampling, the NAEP Salutes our Nursing love of Eucharist. St. Lawrence Rehabilitation Center Thank you for your dedication, hard work St. Lawrence Rehabilitation Center •• Respite Care Thank you for your dedication, hard work and compassion every day and especially Services Hospice Care • Hospice Care • Hospice Care

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Salutes our Nursing Staff! Salutes our Nursing Staff! and compassion every dayStaff! and especially Salutes our and compassion every dayNursing and especially during the COVIC-19 pandemic. assessment benefitted from the Salutes our Nursing Staff! Sister Donna recalled that when during the COVIC-19St. pandemic. Lawrence Thank youRehabilitation for your dedication,Center hard work during the COVIC-19 pandemic.

compassion every and especially Thank youday forStaff! yourSt. dedication, hard work Rehabilitation Thank you for your dedication, hard work participation of five schools in the Lawrence Center Salutes our Nursing aandrelic of Blessed Carlo was received St. andwork compassion every day and especially Thank youRehabilitation for your dedication,Center hard work compassion every day andLawrence especially RehabilitationSt. Lawrence during theand COVIC-19 pandemic. Thank youRehabilitation for your dedication,Center hard during the COVIC-19 pandemic. during the COVIC-19 pandemic. and compassion every day and especially • Hospice Care Diocese of Trenton: Sacred Heart, Salutes Nursing Staff! andour compassion every dayStaff! and especially byyouthefor Diocese in April, students Salutes our Nursing Staff! • •Hospice Salutes our Nursing Thank your dedication, hard work Respite Care Care during the COVIC-19 pandemic. during the COVIC-19 pandemic. and compassion every day and especially Mount Holly; St. Ann, Lawrenceville; learned not only more about his 2381 Lawrenceville Road | Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 • Palliative Care Thank you for your dedication, hard work 609-896-9500 | www.slrc.org during the COVIC-19 pandemic. St. Lawrence Center Thank youRehabilitation for dedication, hard hard workwork and compassion every day and especially Thank youyour for dedication, St.your Gregory the Great Academy, 2381 Lawrenceville Road | Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 profound spirituality, butSalutes also andabout compassion everyevery dayStaff! and during the COVIC-19 pandemic. • Hospice Care andour compassion day especially and especially 2381 Lawrenceville Road | Lawrenceville, NJNursing 08648 609-896-9500 | www.slrc.org St. Lawrence Rehabilitation Center 2381 Lawrenceville Road | Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 609-896-9500 | www.slrc.org Salutes our Nursing Staff!

during the COVIC-19 pandemic. Hamilton Square; St. Rose of Lima, 609-896-9500 | www.slrc.org his interests that were similar to during the COVIC-19 pandemic. Thank you for your dedication, hard work Freehold, and St. Dominic, Brick. their own: friends, soccer and video 609-896-9500 | www.slrc.org and compassion every day and especially Participating “was an honor,” during the COVIC-19 pandemic. games. said Elizabeth Tonkovich, St. Dominic “Normally we look up to sports 2381 Lawrenceville Road | Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 principal, noting that “we wanted to 609-896-9500 | www.slrc.org or historic figures,” Sister Donna said. show what Catholic 2381 Lawrenceville Road | Lawrenceville, NJ 08648school students “But we want students to consider 2381 Lawrenceville Road | Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 609-896-9500 | www.slrc.org 609-896-9500 | www.slrc.org across the nation know and can do.” looking up to saints and become 2381 Lawrenceville Road | Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 St. Ann principal Salvatore excited about them. Students grow 609-896-9500 | www.slrc.org Chiaravalloti observed, “We were in holiness when they learn about able to quickly adjust and work as Blessed Carlo.” school teams to provide necesThe students described their sary instruction to continue the own connections to their favorite progress of our students’ educasaint. Lauren Monahan said she tion. I feel, and believe the results chose to portray Blessed Chiara show, we managed the challenges Luce Bodano because the saint COVID threw at us much better saved a sick boy and “she liked and quicker than our public school tennis like me.” counterparts.” Morgan Kolb and Isabella Allan Cynthia Reimer, St. Rose of Lima both portrayed St. Rose. Kolb said, principal, regards the participation “I really like this church and that of Catholic schools in NAEP as “an she is our patron saint. 8/26/21 I like11:26 roses AM important tool in continuing the and flowers and St. Rose is really an pursuit of exclaiming the acainspiration.” demically excellent component of 8/26/21 11:26 AMthat Allan found it “interesting 8/26/21 11:26 AM 8/26/21 11:26 AM 8/26/21 11:26 AM 8/26/21 11:26 AM the Catholic 8/26/21school 11:26 AMcommunity. she changed her name from Isabel.” 8/26/21 11:26 AM … We consider parents to be our 8/26/21 11:26 AM students dressed Numerous partners, and an integral part of as the young Blessed Carlo Acutis, the educational success of their including James Davis who selected children. It’s time for our schools to him because, “He was around be recognized nationally.” our age. This interested us and is To read the NAEP report visit inspiring.” nationsreportcard.gov. Cathy Gibson, grandmother

2381 Lawrenceville Road | Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 2381 Lawrenceville Road | Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 609-896-9500 | www.slrc.org

St. Lawrence Rehabilitation Center hard work and compassion every dayStaff! and especially Salutes our Nursing

2381 Lawrenceville Road | Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 Thank you for your dedication, 609-896-9500 | www.slrc.org

the NJ COVIC-19 2381 Lawrenceville Road |during Lawrenceville, 08648 609-896-9500 | www.slrc.org

pandemic.

Thank you for your dedication, hard work and compassion every day and especially during the COVIC-19 pandemic.

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MONITOR MAGAZINE

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November 2022

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CYO FOOD PANTRY Continued from 61

firehouse located at the intersection of East State Street Ext. and Whitehead Road into a community center. The CYO assumed management of the center in 2013, including the food pantry, which is now staffed by CYO, township employees and volunteers. In 2017, the food pantry, which had been located on the second floor, was expanded from a small closet to quadruple its size “when we started receiving more donations and more food than we needed to store and distribute,” Hardiman said. Over the next few years, Hardiman said that since there had been a decline in the use of the computer lab in a large room on the first floor, the decision was made to relocate the food pantry into the former computer lab, making the food delivery and distribution “that much easier,” and allowing more storage room. The computer lab was moved to another part of the building.

Come to us for Come to the carethe you us for Come to us for need. inE care you PG PN Athe A G G N IN ICN IPP IL T T T T P P P Ethe E E CC C C CN C CStay A A A A W W W W O O O O N N N • • • • E E E E E E E E F F F F need. Stay care you Y Y Y Y home you love. R R R R T TO TNT NNE NE O NONEON NE L in the in the CIA 9L need. Stay E home you P 1 S C 0IA 2 home you love. R , love. E 1E !9 NT uEaRrySPh ,fr2e0e1 ! I 1 ’S W reIJNanTmuoanryt h free Y t n W AR bYe’Sfo 2rne dJa mon M nR eo . For more information ST o. vMe Ai geint tbhef e 2nd about LIFE St. Francis, h T M S nodve get t aM d call 609-599-LIFE (5433) or visit an

PG AG A G N IN ICN IPP I T T T T P P EA EP E E CC C C C C C A A A W W W W O O O O N N N N • • • • E E E E E E E E F F F F Y Y Y Y R RE R TR T TO TN N N O NONEON NE NE The food pantry is open Tuesday and Thursday mornings and afternoons and about 90 families are served each month out of the 190 registered families, all Hamilton Township residents who meet certain eligibility and income requirements. In addition to distributing a monthly food supply, there are numerous occasions when the staff can distribute gift cards to local grocery stores, Hardiman said. He noted the main source of the food comes from the State Food Bank in Vineland, which is delivered monthly. “We are also blessed to have many individual donors and groups” including banks, churches, businesses and schools as well as through grants, and “there are any kind and generous people who help supplement the pantry,” he said. “[The expanded pantry] is working out very well.” Beverly Taylor, a 12-year CYO staff member, said that the expansion of the food pantry “allows us to do more for more people. And you never know who is going to need help.”

THE DIOCESE OF TRENTON is committed to the initiatives outlined in the U.S. Bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People and to its own policies and guidelines in regard to the reporting and investigation of sexual abuse allegations involving minors. If you have been sexually abused as a minor by a member of the clergy or anyone representing the Catholic Church, or if you know of someone who was, you can report that abuse through the diocesan

ABUSE HOTLINE: 1-888-296-2965

or via e-mail at abuseline@dioceseoftrenton.org. The Diocese of Trenton reports any allegations of sexual abuse to the appropriate law enforcement agencies. Anyone with an allegation is also encouraged to provide that information to local law enforcement authorities.

Senior ST. MARY’S WINTER SPECIAL ST. MARY’S WINTER SPECIAL Move in before January 1, 2019 Living Move in before January 1, 2019 and get the 2nd month free! and get the 2nd month free!

Monitor Magazine November 2022

Articles inside

 Pope Francis

 Church

 World & Nation