MonitorMag April 2025

TRIUMPH forALL AGES

As the 40 days of Lent draw to a close, Catholics of the Diocese of Trenton ready themselves to embrace the solemnity of Holy Week and the wonder of Easter. Reflections for this sacred time are offered by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., and others. Special coverage begins on pages 7 and 24.

ALSO . . .

IN FOCUS: Recovery and Resurgence

LENT, HOLY WEEK & EASTER: Schedule for Holy Week in Diocese, Rome

WE BELIEVE: Blessed Carlo Acutis drawing devotees; Nicaea Council ecumenical gathering

• Pastoral Life & Mission

Campus Ministry, Catechesis, Evangelization & Family Life, Grief & Bereavement, Jail & Prison Ministry, Marriage Ministry, Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, Youth & Young Adult Ministry

• Clergy & Consecrated Life

Diaconate Formation, Priestly Formation, Retired Clergy, Villa (St. Denis Convent), Villa Vianney, Vocations

• Catholic Education Curriculum Guidance & Standards, Professional Development, Marketing Support & Consultation

• Catholic Social Services Catholic Charities Trenton, Holy Innocents Society, Mount Carmel Guild, Parish Counseling Services, Seeds of Service

• Communications Diocesan website, Multimedia Production, Social Media, The Monitor Magazine

Nourishing the Spirit

By giving to the ACA, you invest in the future of the Church, nurturing the next generation of Catholics to live and share their faith by ensuring access to programs that provide robust spiritual and academic formation for students, families and catechists.

“I help students and their families deepen their faith, by understanding and growing that faith, providing them with the tools to live with hope and share God’s love in their daily lives.”

Jessica Donohue, Parish Catechetical Leader (PCL), St. Joan of Arc, Marlton

Ways to Give

Mail: Send check or money order payable to: Annual Catholic Appeal, Diocese of Trenton PO Box 70170, Newark, NJ 07101

Online: Scan the QR code or visit giveaca.org to make a gift using credit cards, bank draft, PayPal, Apple Pay, or Venmo!

Call : 609-403-7197

Email: develop@dioceseoftrenton.org

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 or develop@dioceseoftrenton.org

ON THE COVER

Jesus is depicted carrying his cross in a mosaic of the second station of the Stations of the Cross at St. Thomas More Church on the campus of St. John’s University in Jamaica, N.Y. See Lent, Holy Week and Easter, pages 24-30. OSV News photo/ Gregory A. Shemitz

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THE MONITOR MAGAZINE (ISSN#0746-8350) is published 14 times a year by THE MONITOR, 701 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 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.

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36-37

Officers line up with flags outside St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold, for the annual diocesan Blue Mass April 1. Mike Ehrmann photo

Contents

Bishop makes Washington trip for CUA, USCCB events

32-35  We Believe

Blessed Carlo Shrine, movie and song release attract interest ahead of canonization; 1700 year Council anniversary inspires ecumenical event

38-41  Faith Formation

Conference inspires ministry leaders to persevere 46-53  Diocese

Mental health-themed retreat; MCG Founders’ Day Mass; Father Cioffi, Harry Hill remembered; CRS Rice Bowl greatly needed; Fitzsimmons honored 62 

Living the Gospel

Girl Scout Sunday; Sister Carole named Citizen of the Year 64-67  Local

Belmar celebrates St. Joseph feast; The Cross & Shamrock celebrates anniversary; Marlton Adoration chapel dedicated; Pilgrims visit Italy; Ground broken on new building at St. Dominic’s

REGULAR FEATURES

58-59  Insight from Father Koch, Mary Morrell 60  Question Corner

 Faith at Home

 Fun & Games

El equipo parroquial de OCIA y los electos de la Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles, Trenton, posan para una foto con el Obispo O’Connell despues del Rito de Elección. Foto de Mike Ehrmann

El Rito de Elección marca un hito para cientos de personas en su camino hacia la fe católica

POR MARY STADNYK  editora asociada y ANGELICA CHICAIZA  corresponsal

Hace cinco años, Predell Tynes no habría imaginado que a la edad de 42 años estaría participando en el proceso de la Orden de Iniciación Cristiana de Adultos y preparándose para convertirse en católico.

“Pero aquí estoy”, dijo, “y mi experiencia ha sido de verdadero disfrute”.

Tynes, quien inició el proceso en la parroquia St. Aloysius, Jackson, estuvo entre las 304 mujeres, hombres y adolescentes de toda la diócesis que se reunieron con el obispo David M. O’Connell, C.M., para el Rito de Elección del 9 de marzo, marcando un hito en sus viajes para convertirse en católicos.

Celebrado en la Concatedral de San Roberto Belarmino, Freehold, el Rito de Elección fue un momento para que los catecúmenos, apoyados por sus patrocinadores, padrinos, familiares y ministros parroquiales, declararan su intención de convertirse en “cristianos católicos” plenamente iniciados cuando reciban los sacramentos del Bautismo, la Confirmación y la Eucaristía en la Vigilia Pascual, que este año es el 19 de abril.

Otros que darán un paso importante en su camino hacia la Iglesia Católica son los candidatos de O.C.I.A., aquellos que han sido bautizados como católicos o en otras religiones cristianas, pero

Las marcas principales que vendemos son Exmark, Stihl, y RedMax. Se vende y se arregla otras marcas de equipo. Se puede financiar todo tipo de equipo. NUESTROS TRES

&

que no han tenido más instrucción religiosa en la fe católica.

Este año, la Diócesis informa tener un total de 491 candidatos, con 106 candidatos no católicos y 385 candidatos católicos que están participando en el Llamado a la Conversión Continua en sus parroquias, inaugurando un tiempo de intensa preparación espiritual que conduce a la Vigilia Pascual, cuando recibirán los Sacramentos de la Confirmación y la Eucaristía.

LLAMADO POR NOMBRE

Al dirigirse a la congregación que llenó la Co-Catedral con capacidad para 1.100 personas y el espacio adicional, el Obispo O’Connell reflexionó en su homilía sobre la importancia de un nombre.

“El nombre que nos interesa hoy es el de cristiano, cristiano católico”, dijo. “Cristiano significa ‘seguidor de Cristo’”.

“Ser católico es cómo lo hacemos, a través de la Iglesia Católica y sus enseñanzas, culto, prácticas, costumbres y leyes”, dijo.

Continuó: “Ser cristiano, hacerse católico y ser conocido por ese nombre significa algo para ustedes, los catecúmenos, algo mucho más profundo y convincente que todo lo que el mundo pueda ofrecer... A través de toda esa oscuridad, ven una luz que brilla con mucha más intensidad, una luz de fe en el Señor, la gracia y la esperanza que él da; el poder de vencer el pecado y convertir la muerte en vida”

“El nombre de católico cristiano en nuestra Iglesia es una profunda identificación con lo que crees; con quién y qué estás llamado a ser y, por lo tanto, con cómo planeas vivir en este mundo desde tu elección”, dijo el obispo O’Connell.

Lee más sobre este artículo en línea, TrentonMonitor.com>peces

¡Lee más en línea! Visita trentonmonitor.com>peces para ver más historias en español de toda nuestra diócesis y del mundo.

La asistencia a misa aumenta a nivel local y nacional después de los desafíos del COVID

Fe en Casa: Vivir nuestra fe a través de la caridad

La Iglesia pide proteger a los jóvenes tras el ataque a un grupo de jóvenes mexicanos

El Papa insta a los jóvenes a abrazar su vocación como ‘peregrinos de esperanza’

“Vió y creyó”

CUn mensaje del

OBISPO DAVID M. O’CONNELL, C.M.

uando María de Magdala llegó a la tumba de Jesús temprano en la mañana tres días después de su crucifixión, nos dice el Evangelio de Juan, ella “vio quitada la piedra del sepulcro”. Solo puedo imaginar los pensamientos que le pasaron por la cabeza mientras corría a decirles a “Simón Pedro y al otro discípulo a quien Jesús amaba” que “se han llevado al Señor del sepulcro y no sabemos dónde lo han puesto” (Juan 20:2). Al llegar al sepulcro, los seguidores del Señor entraron corriendo, solo para encontrar las vendas, pero ningún cuerpo. ¿Dónde estaba Jesús? El Evangelio de Juan dice entonces de Pedro: “Vió y creyó” (Juan 20:8).

Sabemos lo que Pedro vio: ¡una tumba vacía! Pero también sabemos lo que creyó: Jesús había resucitado, tal como predijo la Escritura. En ese instante, en ese momento de fe, todo el significado y propósito de la vida y la muerte de Jesús se hizo evidente: ¡la vida eterna! Cada profecía, cada palabra, cada acción, cada enseñanza, cada milagro, cada gesto, cada oración, cada susurro contra él, cada pedazo de pan, cada copa de vino, cada beso de traición, cada negación, cada sufrimiento, cada lágrima, cada espina, cada paso hacia el Calvario, cada clavo, cada gota de sangre, cada miembro sin vida, cobró sentido, ¡quizás por primera vez! “Vió y creyó”.

¡Jesucristo había resucitado de entre los muertos! Les dijo que lo haría. Lo oyeron durante la conversación de Jesús con Pedro en Cesarea de Filipo y su confesión de fe. Mateo escribió: “Desde

Encuentren esperanza, instan los

oradores

entonces, Jesús comenzó a manifestar a sus discípulos que le era necesario ir a Jerusalén y padecer mucho de parte de los ancianos, los principales sacerdotes y los escribas, y ser muerto, y resucitar al tercer día (Mateo 16:21)”. Pero Marcos relató que no sabían qué significaba “resucitar de entre los muertos” (Marcos 9:10). ¡Ahora lo sabían! ¡Ahora creían! No fueron sus propios argumentos ni discusiones sobre las palabras de Jesús lo que los convenció. Fue, más bien, una tumba vacía.

En otro relato de esta experiencia, el de Lucas, los primeros testigos de la tumba vacía fueron confrontados por dos individuos con vestiduras resplandecientes, quienes les dijeron: “¿Por qué buscan entre los muertos al que vive? No está aquí, sino que ha resucitado. Recuerden cómo les habló cuando aún estaba en Galilea. Y ellos recordaron sus palabras” (Lucas 24:5-8). Lee más sobre este artículo en línea, TrentonMonitor.com>peces

a cientos de ministros parroquiales en la conferencia diocesana

POR ANGELICA CHICAIZA  corresponsal y

MARY STADNYK  editora asociada

El obispo David M. O’Connell, C.M., reconoció a los ministros parroquiales como portadores de esperanza para los fieles de la diócesis, e instó a las 550 mujeres y hombres reunidos el 29 de marzo en la Conferencia Bilingüe de Formación en la Fe y Ministerio Parroquial a recordar que su papel “nunca ha sido más importante”.

“Como líderes de la Iglesia, ustedes son faros vivientes de esta esperanza”, dijo el obispo O’Connell, refiriéndose al llamado del Papa Francisco al Año Jubilar de la Esperanza y su referencia al libro de Romanos de que la esperanza no decepciona, porque el amor de Dios “ha sido derramado en nuestros corazones por medio del Espíritu Santo que nos ha sido dado”.

Los participantes escuchan atentamente durante la Conferencia “Esperanza en nuestro Corazon” el 29 de marzo, participando en un debate reflexivo y tomando notas. Foto de Mike Ehrmann

ministerios son actos de profunda fe que siembran semillas de esperanza en otros, incluso cuando no ven el fruto inmediato dijo el Obispo.

“La esperanza cristiana no es solo una ilusión ni un optimismo ciego”, dijo el obispo O’Connell. “Tiene sus raíces en las promesas de Dios y en la Resurrección de Jesucristo.

Cada lección que imparten, cada niño que preparan para la Primera Comunión, cada joven que guían en su camino hacia la Confirmación, cada oración que ofrecen: todo esto es un testimonio de la esperanza que Cristo les ha confiado. Sus

La conferencia, que duró todo el día y se celebró en la Escuela Secundaria San Juan Vianney de Holmdel, se inspiró en el Año Jubilar 2025 y tuvo como tema “Esperanza en Nuestros Corazones”. Siendo un esfuerzo conjunto entre la Oficina Diocesana de Vida Pastoral y Misión y la Campaña Católica Anual, el objetivo de la conferencia fue brindar apoyo a todas las personas involucradas en la transmisión de la fe católica. La jornada incluyó una misa con el obispo O’Connell, dos presentadores principales –Chris Padgett y el padre Agustino Torres, miembro de los Frailes Franciscanos de la Renovación–, así como decenas de sesiones paralelas.

“La esperanza es contagiosa”

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A most loyal reader . . . and so much more

A message from

RAYANNE BENNETT Associate Publisher

We all make our mark on this world, be it for good, bad or somewhere in between.

If we lead our lives guided by faith, enriched by love and defined by honor, we might leave a legacy that comes close to the one left by John Santarsiero.

Mr. Santarsiero was known to us in the Diocese’s Communications Office for a number of reasons, most importantly because he was the father of one of our own ... Marianne Hartman, the office’s associate director and director of Multimedia Production. Several of us had the good fortune of meeting him at various diocesan events. And because of his support for her work in video production and programming for the Diocese, we felt like we knew him.

But we at The Monitor also knew Mr. Santarsiero because he was one of our longest-standing and most loyal readers. Marianne remembers vividly that The Monitor newspaper was always in their home and was even consulted to see if a movie that she wanted to see in the theaters was recommended by Catholic “Morality in Media” writers. Mr. Santarsiero would tell his daughter the writers he enjoyed reading, and sometimes mentioned “Rayanne Bennett sent me an email,” referring to the digital media alerts we send out.

A closeness to his faith was a pillar of his life, and so he truly appreciated knowing that his daughter’s work in video made it possible for him to see Bishop O’Connell’s Masses via livestream – and appreciate what an engaging homilist he is. For many years, Marianne and her team produced Realfaith TV, a faithbased show for teens. Mr. Santarsiero and his wife Irene would come back to

New Jersey from their Florida home so that they could babysit Marianne’s two young sons during the long, challenging summer work days in production.

When they were physically able, Mr. and Mrs. Santarsiero enjoyed attending the Bishop’s Anniversary Masses, and were even interviewed for a video produced on the event. He attended Mass every Sunday until recent years when health troubles prevented it. It was just part of who he was.

Mr. Santarsiero had reached the wonderfully, blessed age of 101, and celebrated 76 years of loving marriage to Mrs. Santarsiero before he closed his

CONTENT GUIDE

eyes on this world for the last time on March 24 in his Forked River home. His passing leaves a giant hole in the lives of all who love him. But his legacy as a husband, a father and grandfather, a World War II veteran and a man of deep faith stands for all to see and be inspired by.

Mr. Santarsiero, who may well have been our longest and oldest subscriber, was deeply appreciated and will not be forgotten. May he rest in God’s peace.

On behalf of our entire team here at The Monitor and the Office of Communications and Media, I wish all of our readers a beautiful and blessed Holy Week and Easter.

We encourage our readers to go to TrentonMonitor.com to find many more stories like these:

 At GCU, theologian stresses empathy, listening when discussing climate

 ‘The Chosen’ Season Five sets the table for Holy Week

 Rain and tears

 A drowned toddler was near death. Then his parents began the Blessed McGivney novena

John and Irene Santarsiero were interviewed at the Bishop’s Anniversary Mass in 2017. The couple celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary. Mr. Santarsiero passed away March 24 at the age of 101. Courtesy photo

‘He saw and

believed’

When Mary of Magdala arrived at Jesus’ tomb in early morning three days after his crucifixion, the Gospel of John tells us, she “saw the stone removed from the tomb.”

A

Message from

BISHOP DAVID M. O’CONNELL, C.M.

I can only imagine the thoughts that went racing through her mind as she ran to tell “Simon Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus loved” that “they have taken the Lord from the tomb and we do not know where they put him (John

20:2).” Upon arrival at the tomb, the Lord’s followers rushed in only to find the burial cloths but no body. Where was Jesus? John’s Gospel then says of Peter, “He saw and believed (John 20:8).”

We know what Peter saw: an empty tomb! But we also know what he believed: Jesus had risen from the dead, just as Scripture predicted. In that instant, in that moment of faith, the whole meaning and purpose of Jesus’ life and death had become clear: eternal life! Every prophecy, every word, every action, every teaching, every miracle, every gesture, every prayer, every whisper against him, every piece of bread, every cup of wine, every kiss of betrayal, every denial, every suffering, every tear, every

 ... we are not without hope in the hour of calamity ...

thorn, every step to Calvary, every nail, every drop of blood, every lifeless limb made sense, perhaps for the first time!

“He saw and believed.”

Jesus Christ had risen from the dead! He told them he would. They heard it on the occasion of Jesus’ conversation with Peter in Caesarea Philippi and his confession of faith. Matthew wrote, “From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day (Matthew 16:21).” But Mark related that they did not know what “rising from the dead” meant (Mark 9:10). Now they knew! Now they believed! It was not their own arguments or discussions about Jesus’ words that convinced them. It was, rather, an empty tomb.

In another account of this experience, that of Luke, the first witnesses of the empty tomb were confronted by two individuals in dazzling garments and told “Why do you seek the Living One among the dead? He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee. And they remembered his words (Luke 24: 5-8).”

In those first, hurried moments, the sight of an empty tomb filled Mary with anxious concern. But her distress soon gave way to peace and joy when met with Peter’s faith as he “saw and believed,” as he “remembered Jesus’ words.”

Easter turned tragedy to triumph, desperation to hope at the empty tomb. And it continues to do so for us. Archbishop Fulton Sheen once reminded us that we are not without hope in the hour of calamity – “for only those who walk in darkness ever see the stars. … A picture of a man dying on a cross can be a picture of hope. No stage was ever

St. Peter And St. John Run To The Tomb, 1886-94 by James Tissot Nantes. Brooklyn Museum. Public domain

Here are a few highlights from Bishop O’Connell’s recent visits and events.

Bishop O’Connell poses for a photo with siblings and altar servers from Sacred Heart Parish, Trenton, following the Mass he celebrated March 26. The Mass was part of the Station Churches of Mercer County schedule taking place during Lent. Msgr. Dennis Apoldite, pastor of Sacred Heart, noted that the brother and sister are faithful in serving their parish. Staff photo

Easter greeting of hope

Continued from 7

better set for the drama of hope than Calvary … The virtue of hope lies not in the future of time, but beyond the tomb in eternity; its object is not the abundant life of earth, but the eternal love of God.” No moment in time ever made that clearer than Easter.

The things in life that lead us to Calvary so often do not stop there. No, they lead us, in faith, to an empty tomb, to Easter. All of us, as Christians, need to roll the stone back. We need to peer in and see. We need to believe. We need to remember His words. They were first spoken to Martha and Mary at the death and raising of their brother Lazarus and they are still spoken to us. “I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live and whoever lives and believes in me will never die (John 11:25)!”

Bishop O’Connell greets Father Jerome Guld, pastor of St. Katharine Drexel Parish, Burlington, and Father John Testa, pastor of Corpus Christi Parish, Willingboro, during a March 26 Lenten Soup & Scripture program, hosted by the two parishes along with Mary, Mother of the Church Parish, Bordentown.

Staff photo

Happy Easter!

O’Connell traveled to Washington, D.C., to attend the March 11-12 quarterly meeting of the USCCB Administrative Committee of which he is a member. Staff photo

USCCB business, archbishop installation and CUA tribute highlights of Washington trip

FROM STAFF AND OSV NEWS REPORTS

Not a moment was wasted during Bishop David M. O’Connell’s March 11-14 trip to Washington, which encompassed a two-day meeting of the Administrative Committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops at USCCB headquarters; concelebration of the Mass of Installation for the new Archbishop for the Archdiocese of Washington; a visit with U.S. Congressman Chris Smith, and a special day of celebration and tribute at the Catholic University of America.

The Bishop attended the March 1112 quarterly meeting of the USCCB Administrative Committee of which he is a member as chairman of the Committee on Catholic Education. The quarterly meetings gather the leadership and organizational structure of the USCCB and drive the main issues and concerns that are brought to the full body of bishops in their two yearly meetings.

Another highlight came on March 11 when Bishop O’Connell concelebrated the Installation Mass in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception for the new Washington archbishop, Cardinal Robert McElroy. Cardinal McElroy, the former bishop of San Diego, was named by Pope Francis on Jan. 6 to replace the retiring Cardinal Wilton D. Gregory.

Bishop O’Connell first became acquainted with Cardinal McElroy when both prelates attended the annual Vatican meeting for new bishops in Rome in 2010. Bishop O’Connell had just been named to the Diocese of Trenton, and then-Archbishop McElroy had just been appointed auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of San Francisco.

On the evening of March 11, Bishop O’Connell and his priest secretary, Father Jean Felicien, attended a reception hosted by the papal nuncio, Cardinal Christophe Pierre, to celebrate in advance the 12th anniversary of the election of Pope Francis, which was observed March 13.

While visiting CUA on March 12, Bishop O’Connell stopped in at O’Connell Square, which is located in Brookland, D.C., near the campus. O’Connell Square opened in 2014 and was named after the Bishop, recognizing his help in establishing the Monroe Street Market, which spans five blocks and includes residences, restaurants, shopping and art venues. Bishop O’Connell is shown in front of the plaque that commemorates this tribute. Staff photo

Bishop

Bishop O’Connell addresses the 150 alumni and members of the CUA community at the dinner given in his honor March 14. Courtesy photo

On March 13, Bishop O’Connell and Father Felicien participated in a luncheon meeting with New Jersey Congressman Chris Smith and his chief of staff, Mary McDermott Noonan. The Bishop and the Congressman engaged in a lengthy discussion on the issue of human trafficking, a topic that is of great concern to them both. New Jersey’s Congressman Smith expressed the hope that U.S. Catholic schools could begin to provide instruction about human trafficking in their curriculum. The Bishop planned to share that proposal with Catholic schools here when he returned home to the Diocese.

After lunch, Congressman Smith and McDermott Noonan gave the Bishop and Father Felicien a tour of the United States Capitol.

 The [CUA dinner] served as a joyful reunion for Bishop O’Connell and many of his friends and colleagues ...

Bishop O’Connell was also invited to the campus of The Catholic University of America to make a videotape presentation about his 12-year tenure as president there (1998-2010).

On March 14, CUA President Dr. Peter Kilpatrick hosted a reception and dinner with 150 alumni and members of the CUA community to celebrate the 10th anniversary of “Father O’Connell Hall” on campus and to honor Bishop O’Connell’s legacy as the 14th president of the university. The event served as a joyful reunion for Bishop O’Connell and many of his friends and colleagues from CUA. A moving video tribute was screened, featuring memories shared by many with whom then-Father O’Connell had worked and collaborated in making the nation’s Catholic university an institution worthy of its name.

Bishop O’Connell addressed the gathering and expressed his gratitude for their presence, love and support.

A video still of then-Father O’Connell from a tribute produced by The Catholic University of America. Watch the full video at youtube.com/trentondiocese.

of Washington, waves to the congregation at the end of his March 11, 2025, installation Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. OSV News

Cardinal Robert W. McElroy, newly installed archbishop

photo/Mihoko Owada, Catholic Standard

On March 13, Bishop O’Connell participated in a luncheon meeting with New Jersey Congressman Chris Smith. They engaged in a discussion on the issue of human trafficking, a topic that is of great concern to both Congressman Smith and Bishop O’Connell. Staff photo

Bishop O’Connell, right, joins fellow bishops at the Mass of Installation for the new archbishop for the Archdiocese of Washington. Courtesy photo

Recovery and Resurgence

Mass attendance on the rise locally, nationally after COVID challenges

BY EMMALEE ITALIA  Contributing Editor, AND OSV NEWS REPORTS

In-person Sunday Mass attendance in the United States had been on a downward trajectory for more than two decades, a challenge that deepened exponentially during the COVID-19 years. But now, five years after the pandemic first arrived bringing with it a need to establish safety restrictions and protocols, parishes in the Diocese of Trenton and across the nation are reporting an encouraging trend: in-person Mass attendance is up.

Not only is it up – but in many individual parishes, it has nearly recovered from or surpassed pre-pandemic attendance levels, as observed in the Diocese’s annual Mass counts.

BY THE NUMBERS

Nationwide, Sunday Mass attendance in Catholic churches has recovered to pre-pandemic observance. The Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University noted in a Feb. 5 post on its Nineteen Sixty-four research blog that Sunday Mass attendance in person has risen to 24% since the declared end of the COVID-19 pandemic in May 2023. That rate has held through the first week of 2025.

From the start of the pandemic lockdowns in March 2020 to May 2023, attendance had averaged 15%. Prior to the

pandemic, the average attendance was 24.4% of professed Catholics, according to CARA.

Diocesan Chancellor Terry Ginther, who reported on the Diocese of Trenton stats after annual Mass counts, observed two years in a row of significantly increased attendance. In-person counts were up nearly 7600 people in 2023, and up another 7200 in 2024. This is an increase in attendance of 14,892 persons in just two years.

“The 2024 October Count takes us up to a recovery of approximately 82 percent of pre-pandemic attendance levels,” Ginther recently indicated in a report to the diocesan curia.

Several stand-out parishes reported numbers much higher in 2024 than in 2023, she added. Those included St. Mary, Middletown; St. Leo the Great, Lincroft; St. John Neumann, Mount Laurel; St. Rose of Lima, Freehold, and Our Lady of Fatima, Keyport.

Still evaluating what factors might contribute to this significant increase,

Ginther said that a five-year view of the data “is a more reliable statistic. There are 14 parishes in the Diocese that have surpassed their 2019 pre-pandemic attendance.”

Largest five-year gains among these parishes are Our Lady of the Angels, Trenton – up 52%; Jesus, the Good Shepherd, Beverly – up 40%; St. Ann, Browns Mills – up 36%, and St. Mary, Colts Neck – up 22%.

“The rest are between 2% and 19% over pre-pandemic levels,” Ginther said. “Of the 14 parishes that have exceeded their pre-pandemic average attendance, nine are parishes with segments of the congregation participating in Masses in Spanish.”

Lena Riccitello, parishioner of Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Trenton, noted how on a recent Saturday “the church was full to capacity; we are filling up like crazy at the 4 p.m. Mass, and more and more children and teens are coming.”

Fellow parishioner Humberto Chica concurred, saying, “If you come on Sundays, the 12:30 p.m. Mass is standing

room only.”

Sunday of Lent March 23

“There’s an excitement here on Sunday; people want to be here,” said Father Jeffrey Kegley, pastor of St. Mary Parish, Middletown.

One of his parishioners, Sandra Thuel, heartily agrees. “The joy of the Lord is contagious,” she said. “As joy is so scarce in the world, being in the presence of people with joy in the Lord touches hearts and gives them a little taste of heaven … [it] may be our greatest strength and witness to others about who we are and who we serve.”

MYRIAD REASONS

So, what is going on? What is bringing people back?

“In each case the factors are different,” Ginther acknowledged. “St. Mary, Middletown, is the site of the Encounter School of Ministry, and this training has impacted everything about the way they ‘do church,’” which Father Kegley attributes partly to the physical presence of Encounter School of Ministry graduates

The third

sees a completely filled sanctuary of congregants in Immaculate Conception Church, worship site of Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Trenton. Facebook photo

Father Jeffrey E. Lee, pastor of St. Mary Parish, Colts Neck, greets parishioners after Mass. In the background is Deacon Richard Gerbino. Mike Ehrmann photo.

Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., and Father Alberto Tamayo, C.O., Oratory provost and pastor, greet attendees of the Mass celebrating the Oratory of St. Philip Neri at St. Anthony Parish, Red Bank, July 7, 2024. Mike Ehrmann photo

In Jesus, the Good Shepherd Parish, Beverly, Deacon Gary Schmitt and Father Jorge A. Bedoya, pastor, distribute Holy Communion. John Batkowski photo

Extraordinary return on ministerial efforts

Many parish endeavors to return their flocks to the pews have resulted in an exemplary renewal. The stories that follow are just a few examples of how fellowship and intentionality have rekindled an enthusiasm for community.

‘Work of God’: Oratory Church of St. Anthony of Padua, Red Bank

Before Father Alberto Tamayo, C.O., delves into statistics and reasons why more people have been drawn to the Oratory Church of St. Anthony of Padua, he maintains that what’s most important is that their spiritual needs are adequately met.

“Really it’s a work of God and the Holy Spirit is the evangelist,” he said. “All we can do is our best to root ourselves in prayer and love of him and our neighbor and then see what he does through each of us.”

Father Tamayo guestimates that since 2019, before COVID, there has been a 15 to 20% increase in attendance and a

Father Alberto Tamayo, C.O., baptizes a child during the Easter Vigil 2023. The parish where he is pastor, the Oratory Church of St. Anthony of Padua, Red Bank, attributes several reasons he sees to the steady increase in Mass attendance over the past couple of years, including the Oratorian style of parish leadership, outreach to those in need and the availability of the Traditional Mass. Monitor file photo

steady growth, especially the number of young adults and young couples. “We were happy when we were back to 100% of pre-COVID numbers, but thanks be to God, we have surpassed those numbers.”

Reasons for the surge included people preferring the traditional style of celebrating Mass.

“I believe it touches the heart and opens us up to experience the deep love of God and receive his grace to transform our hearts.”

People have also cited that they appreciate the Oratorian style of leadership, meaning that the priests and brothers will remain at the parish permanently. Parishioners have also stated that they feel at home, they’ve witnessed the “great sensitivity” toward those who are suffering and in need; there are plentiful volunteer opportunities; there have been a number of converts to the faith and those who have returned to the faith through the

Oratory’s evangelization efforts of parishioners and members of the Oratory.

Father Tamayo believes “the size of the church itself” might attract newcomers since “it is intimate and warm.”

Bre and Jesse Cusimano, a young, newly married couple said there are many reasons why they chose the Red Bank Oratory as their spiritual home.

“It’s very engaging,” said Jesse, who, in addition to Sunday Mass, attends morning Mass regularly. He is pleased with the many activities with which to become involved, the numerous opportunities to go to Confession and the availability of the Latin Mass.

Bre added that she appreciated the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults formation she received to become Catholic and the assistance the parish provided to her and Jesse when planning their wedding.

“The parishioners, volunteers, brothers and my fellow priest are really amazing,” Father Tamayo said. “Their energy and new ideas and willingness to roll up their sleeves is beautiful to witness. I think there is joy and excitement in sharing the Gospel and doing things for the love of God and our neighbor that’s infectious.”

– By Mary Stadnyk, Associate Editor

Spirit of Welcome: Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Trenton

With two Trenton worship sites set in an ever-changing demographic landscape, Our Lady of the Angels Parish has created both a diverse and unified Catholic family gathering that is growing by leaps and bounds.

“I have seen a significant increase in Mass attendance, especially after COVID-19,” said Father Carlos Aguirre, pastor. “Our Hispanic community has grown thanks to the diversity of Latinos

Parishioners of Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Trenton, process with a crucifix into a filled Immaculate Conception Church March 9, one of the parish’s two worship sites, to mark 430 years since the arrival of the image of the Holy Christ, located in the Basilica of Escipulas Guatemala. Facebook photo

who live within our boundaries and the welcome that the Italian community gives them.”

Humberto Chica – parishioner for 10 years, credits his pastor for the enthusiasm.

“Father Carlos is charismatic, and he attracts people; we are very happy with him,” he said.

Combining St. Joachim Parish and Immaculate Conception Parish into Our Lady of the Angels in 2005, parishioners have come to embrace the inherent challenges of blending established communities with an influx of new cultural traditions. The parish has German, Irish, Slovak, Italian, Franciscan, and Filippino immigrant roots, while more recently welcoming those from Central and South America, the Caribbean and beyond.

“Each community brings its traditions

and popular devotions, which we have tried to celebrate with all the dignity, love, and respect that they deserve,”

Father Aguirre said. “Our clergy and the community have learned from each one to evangelize through [them].”

A member of St. Joachim’s from birth, Lena Riccitello has watched the changes in the parish for more than 60 years and has been a past facilitator for the Children’s Liturgy of the Word. She is encouraged by the influx of young people attending Mass.

“It’s a wonderful blend, these young kids mingling with the older generations; I see their eyes gleaming with pride when we see more people coming in,” she said.

Riccitello believes Our Lady of the Angels is “a parish we can call home; we grew up together, watched each other’s kids grow to adults, then they have kids … when [a longtime member] passes away, it’s heartbreaking.”

Father Aguirre observed that his parishioners have viewed themselves as one community ever since the merger, in spite of its challenges.

“It’s an everyday learning experience to walk together as one family of faith, thanks to the work of the previous pastors that we continue today,” he said. “We have also grown in different groups and ministries according to the necessities of the community.”

Riccitello sees the varied population and its new cultural celebrations as a net benefit. “When our priests give homilies, you carry them home with you – they hit the proper message … During processions throughout the neighborhoods, I think they help people realize that the Church is there for them if they need it.”

– By EmmaLee Italia, Contributing Editor

Fostering Community: Nativity Parish, Fair Haven

Father Christopher Picollo is pragmatic when speaking about the uptick in numbers of people attending Mass in Nativity Parish, Fair Haven.

Timewise, “we’re five years out and the further away the pandemic moves behind us,” the more people are wanting to return to a sense of normalcy, including when it comes to practicing their Catholic faith and being part of their parish community, he said.

Reviewing Mass attendance, Father Picollo is not only pleased at how the post pandemic numbers have steadily increased from 330 to 848. Moreover, he’s especially happy that the current 848 exceeds the pre-pandemic year numbers – 812 in 2018 and 754 in 2019.

Father Picollo maintains that concerted efforts have been made to empower people to become more involved in the parish. Father Jim Grogan, who was pastor of Nativity during the pandemic and up through mid-2022, had initiated number of post-pandemic efforts, many of which have continued or were expanded upon by Father Picollo.

Implementing offerings that were connected to the Mass for religious education students was a major focus, Father Picollo explained, especially for sacramental year students – second graders preparing for First Holy Communion and eighth graders preparing for Confirmation.

A way to keep families and children involved during the summer “in a fun way,” is through the “Ice Cream Sundays” program. The children are given a card and then each week when they come to Mass, Father Picollo stamps the card. If the children attend a certain number of Masses during the summer, they receive a coupon for an ice cream treat.

“Even though a reward of ice cream is at the end, the children will really be feeding their faith by coming to Mass, learning about Jesus and his Church and spending quality time at church with their families,” he said.

Other events designed to bring the community together are the highly successful Mardi Gras parties, the parish picnic held in September and the parties related to holidays such as the “Friendsgiving” potluck dinner and the Christmastime activities including the tree lighting, blessing of the Nativity and breakfast with Santa.

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says Father Jeffrey Kegley, pastor.

Observing October Mass counts from 2023 to 2024 increasing more than 50%, as well as a week over week continuation of similar turnouts, Father Kegley credits the parish pastoral council and its strategic plan in bringing people back. That plan includes several purposeful points – first and foremost, that every ministry points to Sunday.

“From our liturgical teams to our youth and adult faith formation programs, every ministry in our parish works toward making Sunday a transformative experience,” the pastor said.

“There really has been a culture change here,” he said, that includes Sunday Masses that are rooted in message, music and hospitality.

“It’s strategic – we want our message to move them closer to Christ.”

uals for special intentions.

Sandy Thuel – a graduate of the Encounter School, parish music minister and parish council member – noted how a woman who attended a recent healing Mass had come to St. Mary’s by chance, and was “very moved to see so many people smiling and happy. She felt welcome and inspired to see people excited.”

The Holy Spirit, she continued, “is very much alive at St. Mary’s, creating an atmosphere of warmth, livelihood … and feeling surrounded by family members who are happy to be there.”

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The “Progressive Dinner” is a relatively new, popular and organized event that motivates everyone to become involved, Father Picollo said. The dinner, which follows the Saturday evening Mass, starts at 5:45 p.m. in which a group of parishioners host about 40 fellow parishioners in their homes and serve appetizers. At 7 p.m., groups of 10 parishioners are formed and they visit other parishioners’ homes for dinner. The evening wraps us with everyone gathering at a central location – usually the Knights of Columbus hall – for dessert and entertainment.

– By Mary Stadnyk, Associate Editor

Culture Shift: St. Mary Parish, Middletown

Mass attendance in St. Mary Parish, Middletown, has everything to do with “an intentional focus on evangelization, and making Sunday the heart of parish life,”

Echoing that message are music ministry groups that provide “vertical music – where the music is going to praise the Lord – instead of horizontal, where the music is about us,” he continued. “We have a phenomenal music director who brings out the best in our choirs with high quality music, which plays such an important part in leading worship and engaging people in liturgy.”

The parish hosts the Encounter School of Ministry, which he said has “helped build a culture of supernatural lifestyle” in the parish. Members of the school – of which about 20% are St. Mary parishioners – stay after Mass a few times a month to pray with individ-

Father Kegley also lauded the parish’s blessing of priests “who can deliver a good homily,” and the hospitality after Mass. The church’s narthex acts as a post-Mass gathering space “where people don’t leave right after Mass … there’s always a parish representative at our welcome table, and we get new registrations every week.”

The pastor has made it a point to embrace young families and babies at Mass, with announcements of welcome and encouragement from the pulpit, as well as vibrant children’s, teens and young adult ministries.

“Our strong social media presence has also played a vital role,” Father Kegley noted. “In targeting our younger congregation, we have to be where they are. Through digital outreach, we extend an open invitation to those seeking a faith community, sharing our mission, events and parish life with a wider audience.” – By EmmaLee Italia, Contributing Editor

School children and faculty of St. Mary School, Middletown, fill the Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament at St. Mary’s Feb. 25 to pray for Pope Francis during his recent hospitalization.

Facebook photo

Father Christopher Picollo blesses throats on the Feast of St. Baise on Feb. 3 in Nativity Church, Fair Haven. Making continuous efforts to engage life in the parish is a key reason for the uptick in the number of people attending Mass. Nativity Parish Facebook page

Vatican statistics: Baptisms down, but first Communions, Confirmations up

BY CAROL GLATZ  Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY •The number of Catholics and permanent deacons in the world rose in 2023, while the number of seminarians, priests, men and women in religious orders, and baptisms all declined, according to Vatican statistics.

However, the Vatican’s Statistical Yearbook of the Church said, 9.1 million people received their first Communion in 2023, up from 8.68 million people the previous year, and almost 7.7 million people were confirmed, up from 7.4 million people in 2022.

At the end of 2023, the number of Catholics in the world reached 1.405 billion, up 1.15% from 1.389 billion Catholics at the end of 2022, according to the Vatican’s Central Office of Church Statistics, which publishes the yearbook.

 The number of Catholics is increasing ...”

This came despite a smaller growth rate in the world’s population, which, for that period was 0.88%. According to the United Nations’ Demographic Yearbook, the estimated mid-year world population for 2023 was approximately 8.045 billion.

The Vatican published its statistical yearbook offering data “on the life and activity of the Church in the world in 2023” at the end of March.

The yearbook cautioned that its numbers were based on the information it received back from its surveys and that of 3,188 dioceses and other jurisdictions about 140 did not send information.

The number of Catholics “does not include those in countries that because of their present situation have not been included in the survey,” it said, adding that it estimated that number to be about an additional 5 million Catholics. Mainland China and North Korea, for example, had no data in the yearbook.

The percentage of Catholics as part of the global and continental populations remained about the same as in 2022. Catholics represented about 17.8% of the global population at the end of 2023, it said. The highest proportion is in the Americas with 64.2% of its population being baptized Catholic. Europe follows with 39.6% and Oceania with 25.9%. In Africa, 19.8% of the population is Catholic and the lowest proportion of Catholics by continent is Asia with 3.3%.

While the number of Catholics is increasing, the administration of the Sacrament of Baptism has continued to decrease worldwide, according to the yearbook. It fell from 17,932,891 Baptisms administered in 1998 to

13,327,037 in 2022 and 13,150,780 in 2023. A peak was reported during the Holy Year 2000 when 18,408,076 baptisms were administered worldwide.

The yearbook said the “general downward trend in the relative number of Baptisms” has been “following closely the trend in the birthrate in most countries.”

It said the ratio of infant Baptisms to the Catholic population is of “great significance” because it notes differences between one country and another. While the world average is 7.4 infant Baptisms per 1,000 Catholics, the highest ratios are in American Samoa (71.2), several islands in Oceania (37.7 to 21.8), followed by Burundi (23.6), Cambodia (22.3), Timor Leste (20.3) and Myanmar (20.1). The lowest ratios are in Armenia, Georgia, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Iran, Tunisia and Algeria (below 1) followed by Russia and Djibouti (1.1).

The total number of adult Baptisms registered in 2023 was 2,696,521, which is about 20% of the total number of Baptisms. The highest proportion of adult

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Pope Francis baptizes a baby during Mass in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican Jan. 12, 2025, the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. CNS photo/Vatican Media

Followers of Christ

Rite of Election marks milestone for hundreds on journey to

BY MARY STADNYK  Associate Editor AND ANGELICA CHICAIZA  Correspondent

Five years ago, Predell Tynes would not have imagined that at the age of 42 he would be participating in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults process and preparing to become Catholic.

“But here I am,” he said, “and my experience has been one of true enjoyment.”

Tynes, who began the process in St. Aloysius Parish, Jackson, was among the 304 women, men and teens from around the Diocese who gathered with Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., for the March 9 Rite of Election, marking a milestone on their journeys to become Catholic.

Held in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold, the Rite of Election was a time for the catechumens, supported by their sponsors, godparents, family members and parish ministers, to declare their intention to become fully initiated “Catholic Christians” when they receive

the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil, which this year is April 19.

Others who will be taking a significant step in their journeys to the Catholic Church are the OCIA candidates, those who have been baptized as Catholics or in other Christian faiths, but did not have any further religious instruction in the Catholic faith.

This year, the Diocese reports having a total number of 491 candidates, with 106 non-Catholic candidates and 385 Catholic candidates who are taking part in the Call to Continuing Conversion in their parishes, inaugurating a time of intense spiritual preparation leading up to the Easter Vigil when they will receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist.

CALLED BY NAME

Addressing more than a thousand faithful who filled the 1,100-seat Co-Cathedral and overflow space, Bishop O’Connell reflected in his homily on the importance of a name.

“The name we focus upon today is that of Christian, Catholic Christian,” he said. “The name Christian means ‘follower of Christ.’

“Being a Catholic is how we do that, through the Catholic Church and its

 “When I look at my life, I know that this was his plan for me.”

teachings, worship, practices, customs and laws,” he said.

He continued, “To be a Christian, to become Catholics and to be known by that name means something to you who are catechumens, something far deeper and far more convincing than anything the world has to offer. . . You see through all that darkness a light that burns far brighter, a light of faith in the Lord, the grace and hope he gives; the power to overcome sin and turn death into life.”

“The name of Catholic Christian in

An OCIA team member holds the Book of the Elect as the catechumen stands and is recognized by Bishop O’Connell. Mike Ehrmann photos

become Catholic

our Church is a deep identification of what you believe in; who and what you are called to be and, therefore, how you are planning to live in this world from your ‘election’ forward,” Bishop O’Connell said. “Your name and your identity as a Catholic Christian, as with all of the baptized in the Church, draw from the person of Jesus Christ.”

In the Rite of Election ceremony, Denise Contino, diocesan director of the Department of Catechesis, presented the catechumens to Bishop O’Connell.

“Most Reverend Bishop, Easter is drawing near, so the catechumens, whom I now present to you, are completing their period of preparation,” she said. “They have found their strength in God’s grace and support our community’s prayer and example. Now they ask that after the celebration of the Scrutinies, they be allowed to participate in the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist.”

Bishop O’Connell asked the godparents and the assembly to affirm that the catechumens are sufficiently prepared to

Bishop O’Connell processes in at the start of the Rite of Election.

The new Elect, along with sponsors and OCIA team members from Visitation Parish, Brick, pose for a photo with Bishop O’Connell.

A godparent places her hand on the shoulder of an elect during the ceremony.

St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral is filled with more than 300 catechumens who gathered for the Rite of Election, along with their sponsors, family members and OCIA team members.

Massimiliano Strappetti, Pope Francis’ primary medical caregiver at the Vatican, adjusts a microphone for the Pope as he greets a crowd of well-wishers at Rome’s Gemelli hospital before returning to the Vatican March 23, 2025.

CNS photo/Pablo Esparza

Pope stable; his lung infection slightly improved, Vatican says

BY CAROL GLATZ  Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY • Pope Francis’ condition remains stable, and an X-ray showed there has been a slight improvement regarding his lingering lung infection, the Vatican press office said.

The Pope continues to show improvements in his mobility and ability to speak, the press office told reporters April 1. The Pope continues to receive supplemental oxygen through a nasal cannula during the day and high-flow oxygen at night when necessary. He can remove the nasal tube for “brief periods” during the day.

A significant portion of his day is spent doing physical therapy to restore the level of movement he had before he

was hospitalized Feb. 14 for breathing difficulties. The Pope later was diagnosed with double pneumonia, as well as viral and fungal lung infections.

 The Pope ... welcomes the many signs of affection from faithful ...

While the pneumonia cleared before his release from the hospital March 23, the 88-year-old Pope still has a lingering lung infection, which showed “slight improvement” in a recent X-ray, the press office said.

The Pope continues to follow his prescribed drug and respiratory

therapies, and, like last week, his voice is showing some improvement after being significantly weakened during his long convalescence. His blood tests this week were also in the normal range. The Pope does not receive any outside visitors, the press office said. He is assisted by his personal secretaries, there are always medical personnel on call, and his doctors visit him regularly.

The Pope concelebrates Mass every morning in the small chapel near his rooms on the second floor of his residence, the Domus Sanctae Marthae, and he works during the day at his desk.

The Pope is in “a good mood” and welcomes the many signs of affection from the faithful, the press office added.

Pope continues to govern the Church, says Vatican secretary of state

BY CINDY WOODEN  Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY • Even on his worst days in Rome’s Gemelli hospital, Pope Francis was governing the Catholic Church, although on some days, he did not seem to have the energy to sign his full name, said Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

The cardinal, who as Vatican secretary of state, coordinates much of the work of the Roman Curia, said it was true that the Pope simply initialed some documents “F.”



“There is no change in the essentials” of how the Roman Curia works.

“He did,” Cardinal Parolin told the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, “but now he is signing in full.”

“It was not the ideal situation,” he said in the interview published March 29. “But I emphasize that the Pope is in a position to still govern the Church, and we are happy that he was able to come home.”

Pope Francis was in Rome’s Gemelli hospital Feb. 14-March 23 for treatment of bronchitis, multiple infections and double pneumonia. His doctors said he had several breathing “crises” and was in danger of death.

The Pope returned to his rooms in the Domus Sanctae Marthae with a recommendation from his doctors that he rest for two months, continue breathing exercises and physical therapy and continue taking medication for a persistent fungal infection.

“There is no change in the essentials” of how the Roman Curia works, Cardinal Parolin said. While the Pope needs rest, documents are brought to him for “issues on which he and only he can and must decide.”

“The governance of the Church is in his hands,” the cardinal said. “But there are many more routine matters on which his Curia collaborators can proceed even without consulting him, on the basis of previously received indications and existing regulations.”

All the Vatican dicasteries work in the Pope’s name, he said. “Obviously, the more important decisions must be made by the pontiff, but there are also others that can be taken within each dicastery following the guidelines the Pope has given them.”

Pope Francis also can delegate certain tasks, Cardinal Parolin said, and Catholics may see that during the Pope’s convalescence.

For example, he said, “in the case of canonizations, it is the Pope who pronounces the formula, but even this, if necessary, can be delegated to a collaborator, who pronounces it in the name of the pontiff.”

The issue is particularly relevant given the scheduled canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis April 27 during the Jubilee of Teenagers. Blessed Acutis, an Italian computer whiz, died of leukemia in 2006 at the age of 15.

Pope Francis can delegate a cardinal to preside over the canonization rite and read the formula to “declare and define” Blessed Acutis a saint and to order that he be venerated as such by the universal Church.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, gives his homily during a Mass to pray for Pope Francis with ambassadors accredited to the Holy See in the Pauline Chapel of the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican March 14, 2025. CNS photo/Vatican Media

Pope St. John Paul II: Witness to

BY RUSSELL SHAW  OSV News

Sometimes it seemed as if Pope St. John Paul II could do just about anything – do it well, in fact – if he simply set his mind to doing it. This impression of uncommon giftedness would by itself have been enough to give his pontificate its special aura.

You could sum him up something like this: charismatic contemplative, prophetic voice of orthodoxy, sophisticated intellectual with profound devotion to the Virgin Mary, poet and athlete, foe of communism and of Western “super development,” philosopher and activist with an actor’s flair. And finally, in those last, painful years of illness and decline, a figure in whom many saw a living icon of the suffering Christ.

Coming to the papacy after a long night of confusion and anxiety in the Church, Pope John Paul II set out to make things right. “Be not afraid,” he reassured the crowd in St. Peter’s Square right after his election. As vicar of Christ and servant of the servants of God, he took his own advice, pursuing policies reflecting uncommon faith and self-confidence for nearly 27 years.

He had his critics. Some groused about his teaching on sexual morality, others about his insistence that the Church can’t ordain women, his continued requirement of celibacy for priests of the Western Church, or his centralized leadership. Sometimes he was blamed for intervening too much in local bishops’ affairs, other times – as in the sexual abuse scandal – for not intervening enough.

In the end, though, the critics could take nothing away from either the remarkable force of his personality or his extraordinary achievements. Eamon Duffy calls his pontificate – third longest in history, exceeded only by Blessed Pius IX and, according to tradition, St. Peter – one of the “most momentous” ever for its impact on the Church and the world.

Karol Jozef Wojtyla was born in Wadowice, an industrial town near Krakow, on May 18, 1920, second son of Karol Wojtyla, a Polish army officer, and Emilia Kaczorowska Wojtyla. His mother died in 1929; his older brother, Edmund, a physician, in 1932; and his father in 1941.

Before World War II he studied philosophy at the Jagiellonian University. When the Nazi occupiers of Poland, seeking to stamp out Polish intellectual life, closed down the university, he worked in a quarry and a chemical plant while acting with an underground theater.



... Pope John Paul II set out to make things right.

In October 1942, he enrolled in the clandestine seminary conducted by Cardinal Adam Sapieha of Krakow. Ordained Nov. 1, 1946, he went to Rome to study at the Angelicum – the Dominicans’ Pontifical Athenaeum of St. Thomas.

Returning to Krakow, he did pastoral work, served as a student chaplain and continued his studies, receiving doctorates from the Jagiellonian in philosophy and theology. He then taught moral theology and ethics at the Catholic University of Lublin. He also carried on an active

apostolate among young lay intellectuals and professionals. On July 4, 1958, during a kayaking trip with young friends, he got word that Pope Pius XII had named him auxiliary bishop of Krakow. He attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council, speaking several times and helping write the council’s Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, Declaration on Religious Freedom and Decree on the Means of Social Communication.

In 1960 he published “Love and Responsibility,” a book presenting Church teaching on sexuality and marriage that is said to have influenced Pope St. Paul VI’s encyclical “Humanae Vitae.” (Human sexuality was a subject to which Wojtyla would return years later as Pope in laying out a distinctive new “theology of the body” in a series of audience talks.)

On Jan. 13, 1964, Paul VI appointed him archbishop of Krakow. In the years that followed, he took part regularly in assemblies of the Synod of Bishops, convened an archdiocesan synod in Krakow, traveled widely in Europe and North America and even visited Australia, the Philippines and New Guinea. Pope Paul named him a cardinal on June 26, 1967. His book “The Acting Person,” a densely written philosophical study, was published in 1969. In Lent of 1976, he preached the annual retreat attended

Then-Pope John Paul II makes his first appearance as Pope following his election Oct. 16, 1978. April 2, 2025, marked the 20th anniversary of now St. John Paul II’s death. OSV News photo/Arturo Mari, L’Osservatore Romano

the world

by Pope Paul and the Roman curia. The meditations were published in a book titled “A Sign of Contradiction.”

On Oct. 16, 1978, at the conclave following the sudden death of Pope John Paul I, he was elected 263rd successor of St. Peter, making him the first non-Italian to hold the office since 1522, the first Pole ever and the youngest Pope since Pius IX. The long pontificate that followed had numerous highlights.

One of these was his role in the collapse of Soviet communism and the dissolution of the Soviet empire in Eastern Europe, for which his name is often linked to President Ronald Reagan and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

In June 1979, his first visit to Poland since his election sparked a huge upsurge of Polish patriotic and religious sentiment, with 13 million people turning out to see him, hear him and pray with him.

Years later he attributed the fall of Soviet communism largely to the reaction against “the spiritual void brought about by atheism.” Perhaps he was recalling the day in 1979 when the congregation at a Mass he celebrated in Warsaw’s Victory Square began shouting, “We want God.” He also gave significant moral and material support to the Solidarity labor movement in its struggle with the

Polish communist regime.

Poland was hardly the only place visited by this most-traveled of Popes, who covered a million miles in 104 trips outside Italy in his personal program of global evangelization. Five times he came to the United States – twice to address the United Nations – and crisscrossing the nation. Fidelity to the moral principles embodied in their founding documents was the heart of his message to Americans. For, as he insisted in Baltimore in 1995, “democracy cannot be sustained without a shared commitment to certain moral truths about the human person and human community.”

John Paul was an ecumenical and interreligious innovator who, in Duffy’s words, “did more than any single individual in the whole history of Christianity to reconcile Jews and Christians.” Catholic-Orthodox reunion also was a special cause for him. His 1995 encyclical “Ut Unum Sint” took the unusual step of inviting other Christians’ thinking on the role of the papacy.

His many writings as Pope reflect his personalist philosophy and his roots in Vatican II. Along with important documents on the laity and the dignity of women, four of his encyclicals are particularly noteworthy: the social encyclical “Centesimus Annus” (1991), “Veritatis Splendor” (1993) on fundamental moral principles, “Evangelium Vitae” (1995) on

life issues, and “Fides et Ratio” in 1998 on the link between philosophy and faith. Insisting that both philosophy and faith are needed as antidotes to contemporary postmodern relativism and skepticism, he wrote: “To believe it possible to know a universally valid truth is in no way to encourage intolerance; on the

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We encourage our readers to go to TrentonMonitor.com to find many more stories like these:

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 St. John Paul II’s worldview spreads to new generations via camping, YouTube, travel

 Polish talent foundation ‘best living monument’ to St. John Paul II 20 years after his death

 Poland remembers the hour of the death of beloved Pope as unifying moment

 St. John Paul II drives cause of freedom for humankind 20 years after death, say world leaders

Then-Pope John Paul II blesses the faithful from the window of his private apartment overlooking St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican in this photo from March 23, 2005. He died 10 days later. OSV News photo/Max Rossi, Reuters

Then-Pope John Paul II embraces a young woman during the closing Mass of World Youth Day in Denver in 1993. OSV News photo/Joe Rimkus Jr.

Hundreds of thousands to fill Diocese’s churches for Holy Week, Easter

Catholics will soon flock to their parishes to mark the solemnity of Holy Week and the Easter joy that follows. The doors to Catholic churches throughout the Diocese of Trenton will open wide to hundreds of thousands of parishioners and newcomers alike as special services and Masses will lead believers through the week-long retelling of Christ’s Passion, Death and Resurrection.

PALM

SUNDAY • APRIL 13

Palm Sunday, also referred to as Passion Sunday, commemorates Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem for the Jewish feast of Passover, and begins the most solemn and sacred week in the Church calendar. The Gospel account of the Passion of Christ is read aloud by readers, clergy and the laity. Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., will celebrate Palm Sunday Mass April 13 with the 11 a.m. Mass in St. George Church, Titusville. Over the course of the week, the Bishop will travel to five other parishes for Masses and services.

CHRISM

MASS • APRIL 14

The annual Chrism Mass, a special event celebrated during Holy Week in Catholic churches around the world, is set for April 14 at 7:30 p.m. in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, 61 Georgia Rd., Freehold.

All faithful of the Diocese are invited to join in this demonstration of the Diocese’s unity, as Bishop O’Connell consecrates the Sacred Chrism and blesses the Oil of the Sick and the Oil of the Catechumens – sacred oils used in parishes of the Diocese throughout the coming year for the conferral of the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation,

Holy Orders, and Anointing of the Sick.

As described in the Roman Missal, the Oil of the Sick is used to anoint the sick, bringing strength, comfort and forgiveness to those in need. The Oil of the Catechumens is blessed to strengthen those preparing for Baptism to avoid sin and grow in their faith. A catechumen is one who is preparing for Baptism in the Catholic Church. The Sacred Chrism is used for Baptism, Confirmation, ordination of priests and bishops and the consecration of altars and churches.

When Bishop O’Connell consecrates the Sacred Chrism, he will add a fragrant balsam to the oil and then breathe over the vessel, signifying the presence of the Holy Spirit. The oils and Sacred Chrism will be distributed to parish representatives who will carry

This photo from the 2024 Chrism Mass shows Bishop O’Connell breathing over the vessel containing the Sacred Chrism, consecrating it for use for the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, the Ordination of priests and bishops and consecration of altars. Mike Ehrmann photo

them back to their faith communities to be used in sacramental rites throughout the year.

Dating back centuries to the early Church, the Chrism Mass also serves as a special day in the life of the priests as they formally recommit themselves to their ministry and service in the Diocese. More than 100 priests will attend and concelebrate Mass with the Bishop. Representatives of all 97 parishes of the Diocese will be in attendance for this Mass, which will be live-streamed at youtube.com/trentondiocese .

TRIDUUM • APRIL 17-19

The remainder of Holy Week –known as the sacred Triduum – encompasses the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday (April 17), the Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday (April 18) and evening liturgy on Holy Saturday (April 19), the Great Vigil of Easter. Throughout these three days, parishes offer many opportunities for believers to witness and participate in moving dramatizations of Christ’s Passion (Stations of the Cross), Confession, prayer services, ritual celebrations and Masses.

Bishop O’Connell will observe the Sacred Triduum (the three days leading up to the Resurrection) and Easter Sunday with the following parish communities:

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Bishop O’Connell joins Mercer pilgrims for Station Church Mass

For 2025, the tradition of the Station Churches of Mercer County continues, giving parishioners and other faithful from around the Diocese an opportunity to have a prayerful pilgrimage experience during the Lenten season.

As in past years, the participating parishes welcome pilgrims for the celebration of Mass, offer a tour of the church building and review its history.

On March 26, when pilgrims gathered for Mass in Sacred Heart Church, Trenton, they received a double welcome –from Msgr. Dennis Apoldite, pastor, and Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M.

“As we continue our Lenten journey, we come together to celebrate a centuries-old Roman tradition of visiting churches in our home Diocese for a special Lenten Mass,” said Bishop O’Connell, explaining that particular churches throughout the Diocese, like those in the ancient city of Rome,  are designated as station churches for the Lenten season, inviting the faithful to reflect on the call to live authentically, guided by God’s law, and to be transformed “through our relationship with him.”

In his homily, Bishop O’Connell reflected on the day’s First Reading which

where the Bishop was principal celebrant. Here he is

by concelebrants Father Charles Muorah, left, parochial vicar of Sacred Heart Parish, and Msgr. Dennis Apoldite, pastor, and episcopal vicar of Mercer County. Vic

focused on the Commandments.

“Moses reminds the people that the Commandments are not just for outward observance but are meant to shape their hearts and lives,” he said. “God’s law is an invitation to deeper intimacy

with him, a way to remain faithful to the covenant. The Lord’s statutes are not burdensome but are, in fact, the path to true life. To follow these laws is to live in harmony with the divine plan.”

- By Mary Stadnyk, Associate Editor

Bishop O’Connell joined pilgrims who are participating in the Station Churches of Mercer County during Lent. On March 26, the pilgrimage Mass was celebrated in Sacred Heart Church, Trenton,

joined

Mistretta photos

Congregants exchange the Sign of Peace during Mass.

The Gospel choir from Sacred Heart Parish led the congregation in song during the Mass with the Bishop.

 For photo gallery and expanded story, visit TrentonMonitor.com.

Northern Burlco parishes hear Lenten message on hope from Bishop

BY MARY STADNYK  Associate Editor

Dovetailing on the virtue and grace of hope, the chosen theme for the Jubilee Year declared by Pope Francis, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., shared insights, encouragement and practical steps on how people of faith can experience hope in their lives.

Addressing parishioners from three Northern Burlington Deanery cohort parishes during a March 26 Lenten Soup & Scripture gathering, Bishop O’Connell defined Christian hope as “a profound and transformative aspect of our faith.”

Even in a world that’s often filled with uncertainty and challenges, “hope is a beacon that guides us, strengthens us and keeps us moving forward,” he said.

Concretizing what Christian hope is especially during the Lenten season through Scripture passages and reflections, the Bishop urged the Burlco parishioners and their pastors to remember that Christian hope “is not just wishful thinking or blind optimism” but that it is rooted in the promise of God and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

“Our hope is anchored in the unchanging nature of God and his faithfulness,” he said.

The Bishop continued by focusing on how to find hope in the midst of trials; the transformative power of hope and sharing hope with others.

“Cultivating hope in our daily lives can be incredibly empowering and transformative,” he said, then offered 10 practical ways to nurture hope by: Setting Meaningful Goals; Practical Gratitude; Surrounding Yourself with Positive Influences; Engage in Activities You Enjoy; Mindfulness Meditation;

Acts of Kindness; Stay Informed, but Limit Negative News; Reflect on Past Successes; Spiritual Practices.

“By incorporating these practices into your daily routine, you can nurture a hopeful outlook and build resilience against life’s challenges,” Bishop O’Connell said. “Christian hope is a powerful and essential part of our faith. It is a hope that is steadfast, transformative and meant to be shared.”

From the podium, Bishop O’Connell presents a talk on the Jubilee Year of Hope to some 70 parishioners from three Burlington County parishes.

 To read expanded story, visit TrentonMonitor.com>News>Parishes

 Priscilla Johnson of St. Katharine Drexel Parish, Burlington, poses a question to Bishop O’Connell. Mary Stadnyk photos

 Corpus Christi participants pose for a photo.

Not knowing Pope’s role, Vatican publishes Holy Week, Easter schedule

BY CINDY WOODEN  Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY • As Pope Francis continues his convalescence, the Vatican published a full calendar of Holy Week and Easter liturgies with no indication of who would preside or be the main celebrant.

The list of Masses and other liturgies, released by the master of papal liturgical ceremonies March 27, said only that the services would be celebrated by the “Pontifical Chapel,” which includes the Pope, the cardinals residing in Rome and top Vatican officials.

Asked about Pope Francis’ role in the celebrations, the Vatican press office responded that “it will be necessary to see the improvements in the Pope’s health in the coming weeks to assess his possible presence, and on what terms, at the rites of Holy Week.”

The 88-year-old Pope was released from Rome’s Gemelli hospital March 23 after a 38-day stay for breathing troubles, infections and double pneumonia. His doctors recommended two months of rest.

The list of liturgies published goes from the celebration of Palm Sunday April 13 through the celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday April 27 with the canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis as part of the Jubilee of Teenagers.

A Vatican source said that while it is hoped Pope Francis would be present to proclaim Acutis a saint, all that is necessary is that he sign a decree of canonization; he can delegate someone else to preside over the rite. Acutis, an Italian, died of leukemia in 2006 at the age of 15.

Missing from the Vatican schedule is the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper and foot washing ritual. Since becoming Pope in 2013, Pope Francis has celebrated the Mass at a prison, hospital or detention facility and the

A worker distributes palms before Pope Francis’ celebration of Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican March 24, 2024. CNS photo/Lola Gomez

An estimated 20,000 people attend the annual Way of the Cross service at Rome’s Colosseum Good Friday, April 7, 2023. CNS photo/Chris Warde-Jones

location always has been announced separately from the public papal Holy Week schedule.

Even though Pope Francis has celebrated the Mass elsewhere, the parish of the Basilica of St. Peter at the Vatican has its own evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper.

Pope Francis’ long-term struggle with bronchitis and breathing problems had led to changes in previous Holy Week liturgies. Last year, he skipped reading his homily on Palm Sunday, opting for a moment of silence instead.

In both 2023 and 2024, illness also led him to skip the nighttime Way of the Cross service at Rome’s Colosseum.

The following is the schedule of litur-

gies published by the Vatican:

 April 13, 10 a.m. Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square.

 April 17, 9:30 a.m., chrism Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica.

 April 18, 5 p.m., Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion in St. Peter’s Basilica.

 April 18, 9:15 p.m., Way of the Cross at Rome’s Colosseum.

 April 19, 7:30 p.m. Easter vigil Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica.

 April 20, 10:30 a.m., Easter morning Mass in St. Peter’s Square.

 April 27, 10:30 a.m., Mass for Divine Mercy Sunday and the canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis in St. Peter’s Square.

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Priests step away from daily roles for Lenten Spirituality Day

On March 25, the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, 85 priests gathered in St. Clement Church in Matawan for their annual Lenten Spirituality Day.  Hosted by Father Thomas Vala, St. Clement pastor, and arranged by Msgr. Thomas Mullelly, vicar for clergy and religious, the event featured as guest speaker Redemptorist Father James Dowds from San Alfonso Retreat House in Long Branch.  His topic was “Living from One’s Heart: Firmly Anchored in the Heart of Christ.”

“These days are important for our priests,” observed Bishop O’Connell. “We spend much of our ministry preaching

to the faithful in our parishes.  These retreat days give us the opportunity ‘to listen’ to someone else preach.  They are also the occasion for our priests to get together, enjoy a meal, and share fraternity as brothers.”

t Bishop O’Connell and some 85 priests gathered in St. Clement Church in Matawan for their annual Lenten Spirituality Day.

Christophers

Redemptorist Father James Dowds from San Alfonso Retreat House in Long Branch.

Staff photos

MASS ATTENDANCE

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after Mass, interacting with and praying with congregants.

“I believe that the extraordinary and relentless efforts to make St. Mary’s a lively, genuine and welcoming faith community are paying off,” said Thuel, who ministers in her Middletown parish’s multiple choirs and as part of the Encounter ministry team.

“St. John Neumann was linked for some years … but now has its own designated pastor and the renovation of the church begun under the previous administration has been completed,” Ginther continued. “The congregation is clearly benefiting from the pastoral attention and an enhanced worship space.”

Meanwhile, Our Lady of the Angels Parish has been under a 20-year transition as the Chambersburg section of Trenton has changed demographically, incorporating more people from Central and South America. “The parish welcomes over 2,000 people to Mass on Sunday between the two worship sites [St. Joachim and Immaculate Conception Churches] and is busy during the week with all kinds of meetings and activities,” Ginther explained.

Chica stressed that “it’s very important to have a parish and leadership that is welcoming and encouraging to begin ministry, to be invited into ministry. [Father Carlos Aguirre, pastor,] helped to change our hearts and attitudes, and it makes me want to participate more.”

A parish merger created Jesus the Good Shepherd Parish, Beverly, in 2008, and since then many facilities issues have come to resolution.

“There are English-speaking,

Portuguese, and Spanish components to the congregation,” Ginther noted. “The Portuguese and Spanish groups used to be small and were often served by visiting clergy. One factor contributing to growth is that the current pastor speaks Spanish and English and has also learned Portuguese in order to lead the community.  All three language groups are active in the community and are reflected on the parish staff.”

LARGER PICTURE

In all the parishes experiencing rising numbers, one observation is clear: a combination of concerted efforts has helped bring about a much-needed resurgence among parishioners’ return to in-person Mass.

“I would expect that in places where the demographics are growing, the pastor is doing a great job, the parish is active and welcoming – there we would find the attendance up,” Ginther projected. “Also, I would expect that the community is more attentive to inviting people to consider becoming Catholic … the witness of their communal life speaks volumes and is attractive to non-Catholics.”

Nationally, there appears to be renewed enthusiasm among the younger generation. Harvard University’s 2023 Cooperative Election Study shows a significant increase in just one year in the percentage of millennials and Gen Zers identifying as Catholic – from 6% to 20% for millennials and from 15% to 21% for Gen Zers from 2022 to 2023.

New Catholics joining during the Easter Vigil, as reported by the National Catholic Register in April 2024, have been on the rise in many dioceses throughout the U.S. The Diocese of Trenton saw a 53% increase in converts – from 227 in 2023 to 347 in 2024.

The trend across all demographics, it seems, is moving in a positive direction. From personal invitation and hospitality, to feeling a sense of belonging, Catholics and those interested in learning more about Catholicism have been encouraged to participate in weekly liturgy in church buildings and are finding community by stepping back into the pews.

“I believe that after living through the pandemic, people understood the importance of having God in their lives,” said Father Aguirre. “This has been a challenge because it has led us to a new evangelization, where the Church opens its doors and welcomes everyone with their faith and their traditions to walk together towards holiness.”

Gina Christian, multimedia reporter for OSV News, contributed to this story.

HOLY WEEK EVENTS

 Holy Thursday, Mass of the Lord’s Supper – April 17, 6 p.m. St. Aloysius, Jackson

 Good Friday Liturgy – April 18, noon St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton

 Holy Saturday Mass

– April 19, 7:30 p.m., Our Lady Queen of Peace, Hainesport

 Easter Sunday Mass –April 20, noon, St. Mary, Colts Neck. Rituals like the washing of feet by the Bishop and priests on Holy Thursday and the Veneration of the Cross on Good Friday (April 18), will lead up to the Blessing of the new Easter fire outside Catholic churches around the world on Holy Saturday, when liturgical ministers carry the newly-lit Paschal Candle into the darkened churches to light candle tapers held by parishioners, one pew at a time,

until the entire interior is bathed in light. Though celebrated on Holy Saturday evening, the Easter Vigil liturgy marks the beginning of Easter.

The following morning, families gather in churches for the jubilant celebration of Easter Sunday (April 20) The Mass of the Lord’s Resurrection.

ST. JPII TRIBUTE

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contrary, it is the essential condition for sincere and authentic dialogue between persons.”

John Paul canonized 482 saints – more than all his predecessors combined – and beatified 1,338 others. The saints include Maximilian Kolbe, Edith Stein, Mary Faustina Kowalska, Katharine Drexel, Padre Pio of Pietrelcina and Josemaria Escriva. John Paul also promulgated the revised Code of Canon Law, a project originating in the pontificate of John XXIII, and commissioned and approved the new Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Church’s first general catechism in 400 years.

In May 1981, Pope John Paul was shot in St. Peter’s Square by Turkish gunman Mehmet Ali Agca, apparently acting on behalf of Bulgarian intelligence in a plot orchestrated by Soviet intelligence. After a long and difficult recovery, he resumed his strenuous schedule, but starting in the early 1990s he suffered visibly from Parkinson’s.

After his death on April 2, 2005, the crowd in the square began shouting, “Santo subito!” – canonize him now. Nine years later, on April 27, 2014, Pope Francis formally declared him a saint.

Russell Shaw, a veteran journalist and writer, is the author of more than 20 books, including three novels.

Modern Marvel of Sainthood

Diocesan Shrine honors Blessed Carlo Acutis, soon-to-be-saint

BY KAYLA LATENDRESSE  Correspondent, AND STAFF REPORTS

Blessed Carlo Acutis is the “Diocesan Patron of the Youth,” and with his upcoming canonization, St. Dominic Parish in Brick, host to the Diocesan Shrine of Blessed Carlo Acutis, has been getting ready.

St. Dominic priests will make a pilgrimage to Rome to participate in the canonization – part of the April 25-27 Jubilee for Adolescents – and pray for the intentions of the parish and all who visit the Diocesan Shrine to seek the intercession of Blessed Carlo, who will be the first Millennial saint. Blessed Carlo, who died of leukemia in 2006 at the age of 15, was a normal teen who loved soccer, basketball and animals, but he also had a deep faith and developed a website cataloging Eucharistic miracles.

On April 27, St. Dominic Parish will livestream Blessed Carlo’s canonization outside the Diocesan Shrine. The parish will celebrate Mass at 10:30 a.m. and gather for Adoration to recite the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3 p.m.

A PLACE FOR YOUTH

The Diocesan Shrine of Blessed Carlo Acutis has been welcoming the faithful since Oct. 1, 2023, when Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., celebrated its opening with a Mass. When Bishop O’Connell named Blessed Carlo the patron of Diocesan youth, he said it was especially for young people in Catholic schools and religious education programs.

During his short life, Blessed Carlo often said, “The Eucharist is my highway to heaven.” St. Dominic is developing an

Confirmation class members of St. Joseph School, Toms River, listen to a witness talk about Blessed Carlo Acutis Feb. 28. Facebook photos

A student from St. Benedict School, Holmdel, prays before the relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis March 21 during the school’s pilgrimage to the Diocesan Shrine.

interactive experience that will enhance the Shrine in visual and technological ways to honor the Italian teen’s love for the Eucharist and his use of technology to share Eucharistic miracles. Visitors will learn more about the miracles in an attempt to increase their understanding and belief that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist.

The Diocesan Shrine, located inside the St. Dominic candle room, includes a first-class relic of Blessed Carlo, acquired by Father Marian Kokorzycki, parochial vicar, during his pilgrimage to Assisi, Italy, in 2021. Bishop O’Connell received the relic, which was displayed April 28, 2022, during a Mass commemorating Blessed Carlo. During the October 2023 Mass, Antonia Salzano, Blessed Carlo’s mother, carried his relic to its current place in the Shrine.

 St. Benedict students line up to spend time reverencing Blessed Carlo’s relic installed in the shrine’s candle room.

 As they wait for their turn to view the relics, St. Joseph School students take time to answer reflection questions as part of their pilgrimage. Facebook photos

with a short presentation to learn about Blessed Carlo’s life, the Shrine, and relics and how to venerate them. They can participate in Mass, Confession, and Adoration and plan special activities like journaling, inspirational discussions, and choosing their Confirmation names.

Students and Families

“The outpouring of love for Blessed Carlo and for the desire to visit the Shrine, to be close to Carlo, asking for his intercession, is so beautiful to witness,” said Christina Armellino, director of the Diocesan Shrine to Blessed Carlo Acutis. She explained that even if people have visited previously, each time they will experience him in different prayerful and personal ways.

“They are excited for the canonization and for everyone to know of our soonto-be St. Carlo Acutis.”

PILGRIM EXPERIENCES

Youth groups, Catholic campus ministries, individuals preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation and Bible study groups are among those journeying to the Shrine, which has attracted people from New Jersey and surrounding states. Groups typically begin their pilgrimages

“In our day and age, texting, social media, etc., can often replace our important in-person interactions,” wrote Father Brian Woodrow, pastor of St. Dominic Parish, in a booklet about the shrine. “What better future saint is there

to turn to today and ‘unplug’ than the patron of the internet itself? Visiting Blessed Carlo’s relics gracefully helps us to stay connected to the Eucharist by following this young saintly boy’s ’Highway to Heaven.’”

Multiple groups have made special pilgrimages to the local Shrine as part of the Jubilee Year of Hope, which began at the Vatican Christmas Eve.

More than 70 students from the eighth-grade Confirmation class in St. Joseph School, Toms River, made their pilgrimage Feb. 28. Father Woodrow discussed Blessed Carlo, relics, and how the Shrine became established. Students then divided into groups and circulated throughout the church to hear personal witness talks, take a tour of the relics, and have quiet time to reflect on the day or what God was telling them, using their personal reflection journals to write or draw images.

“The students really enjoyed Father Brian’s talk, and the witness talks,” said Barbara Vidal, religion and social studies teacher and campus minister in St. Joseph School. Students remarked “how special it was to see the relics of the saints, especially Blessed Carlo Acutis.”

She added, “It really is so amazing for them to not only see a saint canonized in their lifetime, but particularly a young saint.”

More than 80 seventh- and eighthgrade students from St. Benedict School, Holmdel, made their pilgrimage March 21. Father Woodrow showed a short

New documentary film on Blessed Carlo comes to theatres April 27-29

Not only a biography but a “deep exploration of Carlo’s mysticism, his love for the Eucharist, and his bold engagement with the digital world” say its reviewers, the new documentary on Blessed Carlo Acutis will hit theaters just in time for his April 27 canonization.

Set for distribution April 27-29 nationwide through Fathom Entertainment, “Carlo Acutis: Roadmap to Reality” – a creation of filmmaker Tim Moriarty and co-director Christian Surtz, co-produced by Jim Wahlberg –will be available for that weekend only.

Several theaters in the Dioceses of Trenton and Metuchen and nearby Pennsylvania will show the film at 4 and 7 p.m., including Hamilton, Freehold, Burlington, Moorestown and Manville, N.J.; and Bensalem and Neshaminy, Pa.

The Engaged Parish Podcast, presented by eCatholic, recently sat down with Moriarty and Surtz to discuss the documentary. The podcast can be viewed at youtu.be/OStLSjDL4JE?si=75hPgC4NFA2Th1F2.

“Carlo Acutis” features Carlo’s family and friends sharing their firsthand experiences and his impact on their lives. The documentary film also features wellknown voices in the Catholic Church and technology experts who offer a model

for young people to engage in the digital world, tracking the journey of a group of high school students who embark on a two-week pilgrimage from North Dakota to Italy to visit Carlo’s tomb, leaving their smartphones behind for the trip.

Moriarty, CEO of Castletown Media, wrote, co-directed and co-produced the film. “Fathom’s longstanding trust in our work on projects such as ‘Mother Teresa: No Greater Love, a Knights of Columbus film,’ and ‘Jesus Thirsts: The Miracle of the Eucharist, a Spirit Filled Hearts film,’ allows us to bring compelling, faith-filled stories to audiences across the country,” he said.

“The folks at Fathom have a deep understanding of how to bring inspiring, faith-based films to audiences,” said Wahlberg. “With their reach and expertise, we have no doubt that [the film] will be a hit at the box office and, more importantly, touch the hearts of countless moviegoers.”

“This captivating real-life, modern-day story is sure to resonate with audiences of all faiths and backgrounds,” said Ray Nutt, Fathom Entertainment CEO, “leaving a lasting impact and inspiring countless hearts.”

To purchase tickets and for more information, visit CarloAcutisFilm.com.

Saint with a song: Blessed Carlo Acutis honored in ‘Corpus Christi’ single, video

Blessed Carlo Acutis and his devotion to the Eucharist have been honored in a new single and video.

In March, artist Le Concorde released the song “Corpus Christi,” along with a video that uses retro pixel art to illustrate Blessed Carlo’s fascination with Eucharistic miracles, which he cataloged in a database, drawing on his computer skills.

The song and video were inspired by a rediscovery of the lives of the saints, and a longtime desire to create an album of “sophistipop” music, said Stephen Becker, the Los Angeles-based Catholic singer-songwriter behind Le Concorde.

in March 2025, Becker’s group released the single, “Corpus Christi” as a moving tribute to Blessed Carlo Acutis. OSV

The pairing of personal sanctity with the sophistipop genre – the 1980s style where smooth jazz met glam, art and avant-garde forms of rock – at first seemed unlikely, admitted Becker, who has four critically acclaimed album releases to his credit.

“These two things did not necessarily go together for me,” he told OSV News. “And I sort of surrendered everything before God. I felt like I got a big ‘yes.’”

Crafting the song, with Becker’s lush synthesizers layered over keyboard and rhythm tracks, was akin to fashioning a “bejeweled monstrance” that points to the glory of the Real Presence, he said.

The analogy is particularly poignant for Becker, a self-described “cradle Catholic turned truth seeker” who returned to the faith of his childhood after wrestling with its central mysteries.

Becker said he “overturned every stone” in “looking for the truth and true spirituality... I finally said to myself, ‘Do I dare look again harder at Christianity, despite the outward, wordly aspects that have turned me away?’” he said.

Becker is trying to spark more conversation with his song’s lyrics: “Tissue torn from yours/Is now a part of mine/ Corpus Christi/Carlo cataloging the signs/Corpus Christi…”

The video’s pixel art, which shows Blessed Carlo at his computer cataloging Eucharistic miracles, “is a tribute to Carlo through and through,” said Becker, who is working on the upcoming album “Second Mansions,” of which “Corpus Christi” is the first release.

– By Gina Christian, OSV News

Catholic singer-songwriter Stephen Becker of Le Concorde is seen in this undated image. Early

News photo/ Andy DeLuca, courtesy Leconcorde Music CarloAcutisFilm.com

N.J. ecumenical prayer service to celebrate 1700 years since the Council of Nicaea

BY EMMALEE ITALIA  Contributing Editor

To mark the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, a statewide ecumenical prayer gathering has been planned May 3 at 11 a.m. to gather members of the Western and Eastern rite Churches on common purpose: to pray together the Creed establishing the beliefs of Christianity.

Hosted in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold, the “We Believe in One God” gathering will include Morning Prayer and two homilies – one each from the Western and Eastern Rite – and the praying of the Nicene Creed in both Greek and English by the assembly. A reception will follow in the St. Robert’s spiritual center.

“We will be using Morning Prayer as presented by the Anglican Church Rite 3, with some additions,” said Msgr. Sam Sirianni, Co-Cathedral rector, who noted that all churches that pray the Creed have some type of Morning Prayer.

While planning meetings are still underway to finalize details, Christians who pray the Nicene Creed have all been invited to participate – Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Eastern rite churches in communion with Rome, as well as Anglicans, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Reform and Methodist.

The Nicene Creed “was the common Creed that established the Christian faith at a time of controversy,” he said, “a time of a variety of views of who Jesus was, both in relationship to God and relationship to the Church.”

 “I’m hoping people will recognize that ... we have a lot of common ground.”

Called by Emperor Constantine in 325 C.E., the purpose of the Council of Nicaea was to settle “the controversy on the nature of Christ in relationship to God, which was causing riots,” Msgr. Sirianni said.

“It is the first time that the universal Church came together to discuss what was going on in the life of the Church,” he continued, “and to discuss it, debate, argue about it, then pronounce the faith that we all profess in the statement called the Creed. It was also the time when East and West saw themselves as one Church; even though one side spoke Greek and the other Latin, and had their own ways of celebrating Sacraments, there was a communion between the two spheres.”

To say that Jesus is the Son of God today, 1700 years after the Council, Msgr. Sirianni noted, “it would seem nobody would argue – although some in the Christian world would claim he is not equal to God.”

To this day, some aspect of the Arian controversy – the theological dispute that Jesus was actually a created being – re-

mains alive in spite of the Creed’s clarifications. Other disputes over the inclusion of the “filioque” – the phrase in the Creed declaring that the Holy Spirit “proceeds from the Father and the Son” – is still a sticking point for Orthodox Christians, and that line will be omitted from the ecumenical prayer event, he said.

Ecumenical gatherings are familiar territory for Msgr. Sirianni. St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral has been part of an interfaith clergy association in Freehold for some time, he noted, and is currently participating in a Lenten pulpit exchange on Wednesdays with other faith communities. Each house of worship takes turns hosting a prayer gathering with a preacher and fellowship afterwards.

“I’m hoping people will recognize that while there are different ways of understanding and expressing our faith, that we have a lot of common ground,” he said of his desire for the Nicene Creed gathering. He wants those assembled to work on that so “we can show a united face or a more perfect face of Christ to the world … hopefully it’s a step in the right direction between healing the rift between the East and the West.”

As both Churches will both be celebrating Easter on April 20, with the 1700th anniversary of the Nicene Creed the same year, Msgr. Sirianni has been jokingly telling people, “Listen for the trumpets and hold your head up – look to the East!”

Icon depicting the First Council of Nicaea, a gathering of Christian bishops convened in 325 AD by the Roman Emperor Constantine I. Public domain image

Jubilee Blue Mass offers time to honor, pray for law enforcement personnel

BY MARY STADNYK  Associate Editor

Responding to Pope Francis’s call to include a celebration of police, members of law enforcement and first responders during the Jubilee Year, the Diocese of Trenton celebrated a special Mass for those who work to keep safe their communities throughout Central Jersey.

“We come together in gratitude, prayer and remembrance, asking for God’s continued strength and protection upon them,” said Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., during the Diocese’s Jubilee Blue Mass April 1 in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold.

As Mass began, hundreds of officers – representing scores of departments and associations throughout Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean counties and beyond – filed into the Co-Cathedral. A bagpipe and drum corps added to the pageantry, and the American flag as well as flags representing various departments were placed in stands near the altar.

‘BE COURAGEOUS WITNESSES’

Bishop O’Connell began his homily by noting that this year’s annual Blue Mass, the Diocese’s 23rd, “takes on a special character, because it is celebrated during a Jubilee Year, a Holy Year of joy, pilgrimage, forgiveness of sins and spiritual renewal proclaimed by the Church every 25 years.

“When he announced this Jubilee Year, our Holy Father, Pope Francis, placed on the schedule of events that would unfold during the year a special celebration for police, members of law enforcement and first responders,” Bishop O’Connell said.

“[The Pope] blessed all these public servants, urging them to ‘be courageous witnesses of the love of God our Father, who wants us all to be brothers and sisters’ and to be ‘artisans of a new era of peace, justice and fraternity.’”

Bishop O’Connell linked the oath taken by law enforcement officers to the words of the Old Testament Prophet Isaiah: “Here am I. Send me!”

“It is a response of courage, of selflessness and of duty. Officers do not merely wear the uniform and the badge, they carry a vocation, a sacred calling to uphold justice, protect the vulnerable and bring peace where there is disorder,” he said. “Yet,

Members of the State Police Pipes & Drums of the Blue and Gold play for the Jubilee Blue Mass April 1 in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold. Mike

 To view more photos, go to TrentonMonitor.com> MORE GALLERIES

A memorial shadowbox is presented to a member of law enforcement representing one of nine families who lost a loved one as a result of their service.

Ehrmann photos

Police officers bearing flags of various departments and the American flag lead the procession into the Co-Cathedral.

Members of law enforcement listen to Bishop O’Connell’s words of encouragement during the April 1 Jubilee Blue Mass in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral.

Msgr. Sam Sirianni, Co-Cathedral rector, distributes Communion during the Jubilee Blue Mass.

Bishop O’Connell blesses the congregation after Mass, accompanied by his secretary Father Jean Felicien.

Bishop O’Connell celebrates Mass for the “Hope in Our Hearts” Faith Formation Conference March 29 in St.

Beacons of Hope

Speakers encourage hundreds of parish ministers at diocesan conference

BY ANGELICA CHICAIZA  Correspondent, and MARY STADNYK  Associate Editor

Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., recognized parish ministers as vehicles of hope for the faithful of the Diocese, and he urged the 550 women and men gathered for the March 29 bilingual “Hope in Our Hearts” Faith Formation & Parish Ministry Conference to remember that their role “has never been more important.”

“As leaders in the Church, you are living beacons of this hope,” Bishop O’Connell said, referring to Pope Francis’ calling for the Jubilee Year of Hope and his reference to the book of Romans that hope does not disappoint, because

God’s love “has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”

“Christian hope is not just wishful thinking or blind optimism,” Bishop O’Connell said. “It is rooted in the promises of God and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

“Every lesson you teach … every prayer you offer – all of this is a tes-

 “Your ministries are acts of profound faith that plant seeds of hope in others ...”

tament to the hope that Christ has entrusted to you. Your ministries are acts of profound faith that plant seeds of hope in others, even when you do not see the immediate fruit,” the Bishop said.

The goal of the daylong conference held in St. John Vianney High School,

Holmdel – a collaborative effort between the diocesan Office of Pastoral Life and Mission and the Annual Catholic Appeal – was to provide support for all people involved in handing on the Catholic faith. The day included Mass with Bishop O’Connell, two keynote presenters – Chris Padgett and Father Agustino Torres, a member of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal – as well as dozens of breakout sessions.

‘HOPE IS CONTAGIOUS’

In his homily, Bishop O’Connell urged the attendees to use the conference as a time to renew their own hope.

“Find it in the small moments… the gratitude of a family strengthened by prayer, the quiet assurance of Christ’s presence in the Eucharist. Let these moments remind you that your work, though sometimes unseen, is part of a greater tapestry woven by God himself,” he said. “Hope is contagious. When we carry it in our hearts, it radiates out-

John Vianney High School, Holmdel. Mike Ehrmann photos

ward, touching all whom we encounter. Your witness … brings light into darkness, brings courage into fear, faith into doubt and hope into despair.”

Participants browsed exhibits featuring noted Catholic publishers and vendors and attended their choice of the more than 50 breakout sessions in English and Spanish on an array of topics concerning spirituality, practical ministry and theology.

The 45-minute workshops included updates for preparing liturgies for young people, family catechesis, creative

teaching techniques, religious education for students with special needs, Lectio Divina, marriage in ministry and information on the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults.

BEING DYSFUNCTIONAL IS GOOD

The theme of hope resonated during the two simultaneous keynote addresses given by Padgett, who presented in English, and Father Torres, who presented in Spanish.

Padgett received chuckles from his

audience when he said, “When God gets ya to start doing ministry, he certainly gets ya.”

An author, musician, speaker and comedian, Padgett is recognized by many catechists through the Ascension Press Confirmation Program, “Chosen.” He and his wife, Linda, also co-founded The Center for Holy Marriage, which is dedicated to empowering couples to fully embrace the Church’s vision for marriage and family life.

He likened the Apostles’ work to that of the parish ministers, and addressed the challenges of ministry – one of which is a continuous desire for perfection –and when a ministry experience proves unsuccessful, it’s easy to equate it to a sin.

“You have not duped Jesus into loving you because of your sin,” he said. “Christ already knows the trainwreck you are … and the greatest thing we can do … is to offer our dysfunction, our poverty to Jesus,” he said, noting that this type of poverty means a lack of inner satisfaction.

“I believe that God calls the most dysfunctional and misfit people to do ministry,” Padgett said. “That poverty you have will always make you cling to Jesus. Your weakness will become your strength,” he said.

“If you are faking [that relationship with Jesus], you will burn out, you will give up,” he said, “but if you can love Jesus, then you will be free to love the people he gives you.”

THANK A PRIEST

Father Torres focused his presentation on hope based on his own life and faith experiences. He acknowledged the challenges that priests face.

“If you see a priest, look at the priest and say, ‘Thank you, Father,’” Father Torres said, emphasizing that priests, and especially pastors, face many challenges that are often not realized by their community. He also recognized ministry leaders’ “unique challenges,” including low attendance, uncooperative parents and personal sacrifices.

Father Torres is the founder of Corazón Puro, a ministry of awakening

Continued on 54

English keynote speaker Chris Padgett uses his guitar to engage conference attendees in learning a song of Christian affirmation.

Franciscan Father Agustino Torres addresses the Spanish-language conference crowd with his message of perseverance in ministry.

Spanish-language conference participants react to the keynote given by Franciscan Father Agustino Torres.

Many opportunities for growth

More than 50 breakout sessions during the Hope in Our Hearts conference allowed participants to expand their ministry toolkits. The following is a sample of the variety of workshops offered.

Best Practices for Parish Social Media Engagement

Susan Hammer, who handles communication and special projects in St. Catharine Parish, Holmdel, was impressed to learn about the “eye-opening statistics” presented on the top five social medial platforms that garner billions of users, during the workshop on social media engagement.

Presenter Rose O’Connor, diocesan digital and social media manager, covered the importance of social media in engaging parishioners, reaching them where they are and using affordable, measurable tools to promote parish activities and faith formation, namely through Facebook and Instagram. Her presentation emphasized strategic, authentic and engaging social media use to maximize the parish’s reach and impact.

Hammer said she appreciated O’Connor’s reminder that “We live in a world driven by social media, connecting

people, sharing information and building real relationships.”

The Significance of Gestures and Postures in the Mass

In a workshop on gestures and postures in Mass, Father Jorge Bedoya, pastor of Jesus, the Good Shepherd Parish, Beverly, debunked common myths and corrected misconceptions about church etiquette.

Every action during the celebration of the liturgy, he said, should reflect the concept of “for Him, with Him, and in Him” – the focus must always be on God, not on oneself or potential distractions. He said preparation for Mass begins long before entering church, starting with clothing choice, getting the family ready, and even managing practical details like the car ride and traffic.

Gestures show respect: the Sign of the Cross, kneeling for prayer, bowing before the Blessed Sacrament, genuflecting and reverence toward the altar. He stressed avoiding distractions or superficial gestures. “The posture we take is a way of telling God that we are attentive and offering all of our being, without exaggeration or neglect.”

Omitting reverence, he continued, is a lack of respect for the sacred. As an example, he shared how people may sometimes sit too casually during the liturgy, chew gum, or make the Sign of the Cross without effort. Conversely, exaggerated gestures are also disrespectful. “It’s not about us … it is about genuine reverence, always reflecting it back to Him,” he said.

“The moment of consecration is the moment to contemplate the mystery of our faith,” Father Bedoya said. “It is a moment to ... see the mystery of God.”

Many of the bilingual conference workshops were also offered in Spanish language for a diversity of participants.

Participants listen attentively to a morning breakout session, one of more than a dozen offered before the keynote address. Mike Ehrmann photos

Mary Mykityshyn, PCL in St. Gabriel Parish, Marlboro, teaches a workshop on building effective ministry teams.

Accompanying Adolescent Learners with and without Disabilities

Dr. Anne Masters, director of Pastoral Ministry with Persons with Disabilities, Archdiocese of Newark, told participants in her workshop that “the experience of disability is very broad, and presumptions we have about what is ‘normal’” put “some people at a disadvantage to participating.”

Offering a new perspective, she pointed to the importance of catechists promoting a culture of welcome and belonging to accompany all adolescent learners.

“Recalling the parable of the sower and the seed, instead of focusing on the condition of the internal soil of your soul,” Dr. Masters said, “what is the soil in your parish and catechetical group to receive the people of God? Is it rocky? Thorny? More fertile?”

As catechists, she reminded the group, “there is a learning that happens … but you are providing a witness to your faith and a guide in the faith of those you walk with … It’s less about memorizing the 10 Commandments than knowing that ‘I really want to care about the kid next to me or across the street.’”

Accompanying learners “is about nurturing relationship,” Dr. Masters said. “Disability is more than a definition … expectations, the way we lay out physical

Jim Tortorici, executive director of the New Jersey Campus of the Encounter School of Ministry, leads a breakout session on the benefits of small Christian communities.

space, the process for doing things, can either increase or decrease someone’s access to participation.”

To facilitate learning, she suggested “getting to know your learners … start with strengths and interests … see the person before the disability and tap into what kids are reading and watching.”

Strength in Unity: Building Effective Ministry Teams

“No

one does ministry alone!” Mary Mykityshyn told the parish ministers in her breakout session on effective ministry teams.

“As the Body of Christ, by virtue of our Baptism, we are called to serve,” she said.

Mykityshyn, parish catechetical leader in St. Gabriel Parish, Marlboro, offered pointers on what to keep in mind when starting a new ministry or any type of endeavor. First, she said, ministry leaders must be “Christ-like in your treatment of members. Be kind, gentle, clear, a good communicator and inclusive.”

Mykityshyn said it’s a good idea to start small with a core, trusted group for ministry. She advised ministers to be intentional in planning, model the ideal culture, starting and finishing on time.

Understandably, people will become upset or frightened if a project they worked on does not pan out.

“So, what if it doesn’t? You tried it and you can always tweak a program and begin again,” Mykityshyn said.

“Remember, if you are at the end of the diving board, jump in. You will swim. Just try it.”

How to Connect Youth to the Saints in Modern-Day Life

Amy Raimondi, youth minister in St. Theresa Parish, Little Egg Harbor, offered insights into how to make the lives of the saints relatable to young people. She included suggestions for bringing saints into activities throughout the year.

Connecting saints to service projects, such as praying a novena to a saint during the event with a prayer pause every 10 minutes, teaches the youth that “it’s not just a task, it’s why we’re doing it, who we’re praying for,” she said.

Other ideas included discovering saints displayed around their church buildings and focusing on the parish’s namesake saint with an art or poster competition, including hosting a display at its conclusion to bring in the whole parish.

“Use Flocknote or emails to families as a reminder” of a saint’s feast day, with links to information, Raimondi said. If someone in a class has been sick, she continued, the catechist could suggest, “Today we’re going to pray for the intercession of St. Jude and for all in our families who are sick.”

Andrea Dinger, seventh-grade catechist for Nativity Parish, Fair Haven, found the workshop helpful.

“Bringing the saints into our students’ lessons and communities can refocus each of us on our journey,” she said. A key takeaway for Dinger was that “Students’ knowledge of saints can build the background for more meaningful intercessory prayers.”

Catholic aid organizations in race against time to provide relief in Myanmar

BY JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES  OSV News

As the death toll following the massive earthquake in Myanmar is expected to reach 3,000, humanitarian organizations in the region, like Catholic Relief Services, are working round the clock to get essential supplies to those in need.

Cara Bragg, country manager for CRS Myanmar, said that while it’s “still too early to tell,” the devastation wrought by the 7.7 magnitude quake is “sure to cause some major, long-term impacts for people here.”

“Thousands have lost their homes, so there will be more people in need of temporary housing. Many have lost their businesses, so they won’t have a source of income. We’ve already heard re-

ports of people unable to find anywhere to buy food, so we are worried about hunger,” Bragg said in an email to OSV News April 1.

“And we don’t know yet what the impact has been for farmers, so we could be talking about a long-term, large-scale disruption in crops, and that of course will impact hunger levels,” she said.

The epicenter of the March 28 earthquake struck Mandalay, the country’s second largest city, destroying roads, buildings and religious sites. While the death toll as of April 2 stood at 2,886 people with another 4,639 injured, according to state television MRTV as cited by The Associated Press, the number is believed to surpass 3,000 as hundreds more are still missing or feared dead, the Reuters news agency reported.

Based in Yangon, the country’s largest

Displaced people receive relief supplies inside the compound of Sagaing Hospital in Myanmar April 1, 2025

city, CRS Myanmar is coordinating relief efforts with local and international partners, including Caritas, which is known locally as the Karuna Mission Social Solidarity, or KMSS. CRS is the official international relief and development agency of the Catholic Church in the U.S. Bragg told OSV News that due to the devastating “loss of life, the high number of injuries and the wide-scale destruction,” assessing a “clear picture of the impact of the earthquake was challenging at first.”

“Phone networks were down or unreliable. The major highway between Yangon – where the CRS office is – and Mandalay, which is the second-largest city in Myanmar and very close to the earthquake’s epicenter, was damaged, impeding our ability to send

A motorcyclist rides past a destroyed building in Amarapura, Myanmar.

teams to support our staff and partners in the most affected areas,” she explained.

However, “connectivity has improved” over the last few days and routes have been cleared “so there has been a way to get information about the critical



“... our work is reaching the most vulnerable ...”

needs and start moving aid workers and supplies to where they need to be.”

The earthquake hit the country at a time of uncertainty due to the ongoing civil war between resistance groups and Myanmar’s governing military junta.

Several reports accused the military junta of not prioritizing relief efforts and has continued bombing rebel-controlled areas and hampering relief efforts by aid organizations. The head of Myanmar’s military government, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, has turned down ceasefire proposals from rebel groups that were aimed at allowing aid to reach regions affected by the deadly earthquake on Friday.

Bragg said that beyond “the initial complications caused by damage to the highways and roads, we haven’t experienced any

Displaced people wait in line for food and relief supplies in Amarapura, Myanmar, April 1, 2025, following a 7.7 magnitude earthquake that hit midday March 28. As the death toll following the massive earthquake is expected to reach at least 3,000, humanitarian organizations in the region, like Catholic Relief Services, are working round the clock to get essential supplies to those in need. OSV News photos/Reuters

significant issues in proceeding with the response.”

“Throughout our 80 years, CRS has worked in a number of different, complex scenarios, and thankfully in Myanmar, we have a strong relationship with the local Churches and Caritas –KMSS – so we’ve been able to lean on them. They’ve helped us ensure that our work is reaching the most vulnerable in the most effective way possible,” she said.

Bragg told OSV News that several CRS and KMSS staff members in Mandalay are working to provide relief, despite the fact that some have even lost their homes.

“It’s been inspiring to see the resiliency of the people here,” Bragg said. “Despite going through this very traumatic event, they are out there doing whatever they can to help their neighbors.”

“We have a few team members in Mandalay right now. They have been figuring out the immediate needs and trying to determine the best way for us to respond together with our partner staff,” she added. “We are planning for additional team members to travel to Mandalay soon to join them and provide critical technical expertise and operational support to our local Church partners. We are bringing emergency supplies to the affected areas and doing our best to reach the people in need as soon as possible.”

Bragg urged prayers and asked that those “who are in a position to donate,” visit the CRS website.

BISHOP’S MESSAGE

More than 2,700 people died from Friday’s 7.7 magnitude quake that struck near Mandalay, the second-largest city in Myanmar. Countless lives have been affected by the devastation there. The Church in Myanmar has reached out for urgent, essential support. As Bishop of the Diocese of Trenton, I ask your prayers for our sisters and brothers there and invite you to consider a Lenten almsgiving donation to victims’ relief efforts through Catholic Relief Services at www.crs.org. Thank you.

– Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M.

“Catholics across the U.S. are always among the first to stand up and support their sisters and brothers overseas, and we are extremely grateful for their generosity,” she noted.

Despite the fact that “recovery is going to take a long time,” Bragg told OSV News that she remains hopeful that “together, we can help the people of Myanmar rebuild.”

“The resiliency of the Myanmar people is so remarkable, and I know they will persevere through this crisis thanks to local support systems and solidarity from the international community,” she said.

Junno Arocho Esteves writes for OSV News from Malmö, Sweden.

Honoring the Gift of Life

Building awareness about organ and tissue donation during Donate Life Month

BY DOROTHEA DUFFY  Special Contributor

Each April, National Donate Life Month raises awareness about the lifesaving impact of organ and tissue donation. Across New Jersey, more than three million residents have made the selfless decision to register as organ and tissue donors, offering those in need a second chance at life. The Catholic Church has long supported this act of generosity, recognizing it as a reflection of Christ’s teachings on love, charity and sacrifice.

Organ and tissue donation is a meaningful way to carry out the Christian call to help others. Locally, NJ Sharing Network is the nonprofit organization that works tirelessly to facilitate these lifesaving gifts, partnering with hospitals, transplant centers, and faith communities to educate and inspire individuals to register as donors. Every day, organ and tissue donation transforms livesnot only for recipients who regain their health but also for donor families who

Dorothea Duffy of St. Joseph Parish in Lincoln Park had been suffering from kidney failure for four years before undergoing a lifesaving transplant in 2014. She received two small but suitable kidneys from Ben Diamond, a 2-yearold boy who died of complications from encephalitis and the flu. Duffy (right) meets Ben’s family for the first time in 2016. They are from

find comfort in knowing their loved ones have made a lasting impact.

The Catholic Church has affirmed the moral and ethical responsibility of helping those in need through organ and tissue donation.

Pope Francis has called it “a testimony of love for our neighbor,” emphasizing that it is an act of selfless generosity that should be encouraged. The Catechism of the Catholic Church also recognizes organ donation as “a noble and meritorious act and is to be encouraged as an

Ben’s father; Jake, his brother (holding a photo of Ben); and Susan, his mother. Courtesy photo

expression of generous solidarity.”

The Catholic community plays a vital role in raising awareness about organ and tissue donation. Many parishes and faith-based organizations use Donate Life Month as an opportunity to educate congregants and encourage donor registration. Church leaders emphasize that choosing to be a donor aligns with Catholic values of compassion and service to others.

 Each donated gift represents a powerful legacy.

The impact of this generosity is evident in New Jersey’s growing number of registered donors and record-breaking organ transplant rates in recent years. In 2024, NJ Sharing Network reported all-time highs with 297 deceased organ donors and 743 organs transplanted, marking the sixth consecutive year of record growth. Each donated gift represents a powerful legacy, bringing hope to those in need and reinforcing the growing support for organ and tissue donation in the Garden State.

This Donate Life Month, Catholics across New Jersey are encouraged to reflect on the importance of organ and tissue donation and to consider registering as organ and tissue donors. By doing so, they can live out their faith in a meaningful way, offering hope and healing to those in need.

For more information on organ and tissue donation or to register as an organ and tissue donor, visit www. NJSharingNetwork.org.

Duffy, a member of St. Joseph Parish in Lincoln Park (Diocese of Paterson), is a kidney transplant recipient and volunteer with the NJ Sharing Network.

the left: Michael,

Catholic school official, high school student testify in Trenton on nursing funding

BY EMMALEE ITALIA  Contributing Editor

Lack of full-time state-funded nurses would have serious impacts on nonpublic schools, New Jersey lawmakers heard March 25 in testimony delivered by Catholic school representatives in Trenton.

Bonnie Milecki, assistant superintendent of Catholic schools for the Diocese of Trenton, and Patrick Collins, a junior in Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville, testified before the N.J. Assembly Budget Committee, offering perspectives on the downstream effects of not providing nursing funding equivalent to that of public schools.



“Recruiting nurses for nonpublic school has become increasingly difficult ...”

As reported by The Monitor in February, the New Jersey Catholic Conference – public policy arm for the bishops of New Jersey – issued an Action Alert

urging voters to advocate for increased funding allocation to $150 per pupil.

Nursing services in nonpublic schools have been a critical program for students’ health and safety since their inception in the 1991–1992 school year. The governor’s budget for 202526 includes a current per-pupil rate of $130 for nursing staff – about $20 per student less than what is needed to find candidates for nursing positions who are fully equipped to administer certain medications and act as first responders in school emergencies.

On Feb. 25, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy presented a $58.1 billion budget proposal for the 2026 fiscal year. The state legislature is currently holding hearings and will make amendments to the budget proposal over the next several months. A final budget must be approved by both chambers of the legislature and signed by Gov. Murphy by June 30.

“When the legislation was first enacted, the funding provided was $60 per student. Since then, that amount has increased only modestly to $130 per student, despite the rising cost of healthcare services, personnel and equipment,” said

Bonnie Milecki, assistant superintendent of Catholic schools for the Diocese of Trenton, and Patrick Collins, a junior in Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville, testified before the NJ Assembly Budget Committee, offering perspectives on the downstream effects of not providing nursing funding equivalent to that of public schools. At left is Collins’ father, Kevin.

Milecki, who also serves as president of the New Jersey Council for American Private Education. “This modest growth does not reflect the real and growing demands placed on school nurses or the increasing costs of providing quality care.”

The proposed increase to $150 per pupil, she continued, is necessary to meet the growing challenges of nurse shortages, R.N. requirements and emergency response training.

“Recruiting nurses for nonpublic school has become increasingly difficult,” Milecki said, “especially with many nurses opting out of school-based positions altogether.” With personnel costs also rising, having a licensed practical nurse (L.P.N.) on staff rather than an R.N. “would open up the pool of eligible candidates” and help to keep costs down.

Collins, a parishioner of Queenship of Mary Parish, Plainsboro, with his parents Kevin and LeaEllen, graduated from St. Paul School, Princeton. A member of the Model UN, Mock Trial and ND Debate teams at NDHS, he recounted to the Assembly his personal experience benefiting from nursing services at school.

Mary Stadnyk photos

Patrick Collins, a junior in Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville, testified before the NJ Assembly Budget Committee March 25.

Retreat to focus on supporting those with mental health challenges

Persons who minister to individuals and families in pastoral settings will have an opportunity to develop their awareness of mental health issues during the 2025 Pastoral Care Retreat set for May 7 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in San Alfonso Retreat House, Long Branch.

With the theme “Holding Onto Hope: Supporting Mental Health with Pastoral Care,” the retreat will assist clergy and pastoral ministers in recognizing the signs of persons with mental health challenges and learning how to support them and their families. The event is especially designed for parish priests; deacons; chaplains; campus ministers; those who make visits to the sick or homebound, and those involved in bereavement and consolation ministry, youth and young adult ministry and faith formation.

Retreat leader Deacon Ed Shoener, president of the Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers, will cover a range of topics, including helping participants to become aware of their own mental health and learn how common anxiety and depression are being

experienced by the individuals they serve. He will also help participants cultivate a deeper understanding and caring attitude toward those who suffer and learn simple action steps within their parish communities to break the stigma around mental illness.

In announcing the retreat, Terry Ginther, executive director of the diocesan Office of Pastoral Life and Mission, noted that the retreat topic of mental health coincides with May’s designation as Mental Health Awareness Month and also aligns with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ National Mental Health campaign launched in October 2023. She said that the Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers has produced numerous resources for general use in parishes.

Ginther pointed to research conducted during the last five years indicating that as many as one in five adults

 “There is a lot of stigma and fear that prevents people from seeking help ...”

in the United States experience mental illness, with anxiety and depression being the most common struggles. That statistic, she noted, includes all adults, but the most at-risk population is young adults between the ages of 18 and 30.

“People are suffering,” Ginther said. “This includes many in our parishes and schools. There is a lot of stigma and fear that prevents people from seeking help, and the impact on the lives of those who suffer, their families and our Church community is real.”

During the May 7 retreat, Deacon Shoener will lead two sessions. The morning session will be on Mental Health Basics and will address the questions “Can you recognize the symptoms in yourself and others? And the impacts?” “How can our relationship with God be a source of healing, a source of wholeness?” and “How does participation in community build resilience and provide support to complement medical, psychological or psychiatric treatment?”

The afternoon session will consider practical ways to promote awareness about mental well-being; to overcome misguided attitudes about mental illness; to encourage those who suffer to seek help, and to understand how to accompany and show support for those who suffer with mental illness and their families.

Sponsored by the Office of Pastoral Life and Mission, the retreat will also include continental breakfast, Mass, lunch and personal prayer time. The fee is $60 and registration information may be found at www.dioceseoftrenton.org/ pastoral-care. Deadline to register is April 25. For questions, call Ginther at 609-403-7143.

San Alfonso Retreat House is located at 755 Ocean Ave., Long Branch.

Freepik image

Deacon Ed Shoener, Speaker

Supporters honor legacy of Mount Carmel Guild during Founders’ Day Mass

BY CAROL OLIVIERI  Correspondent And STAFF REPORTS

“Everyonedeserves care.”

That is the simple and poignant message that appears on the website of Mount Carmel Guild in Trenton and drives the mission of the diocesan-based social service agency.

Those who gathered March 16 for the Guild’s annual Founders’ Day Mass honored that mission and the agency’s 105-year legacy. Celebrated in St. Paul Church, Princeton, the annual Mass brought together clergy, the faithful and members of the wider public, all of whom who have been connected in some way with the Guild over the years.

Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., served as principal celebrant and hom-

ilist, speaking of how, “from the beginning, the vision of Mount Carmel Guild has been the cure of poverty – head and heart and spirit. Since its foundation, the Guild has served the poor and needy of Mercer County, holding true to its original mission.”

ADAPTING TO CHANGING NEEDS

In the aftermath of World War I, Bishop Thomas J. Walsh of Trenton founded the Mount Carmel Guild, serving a variety of needs in the community, including visiting patients in hospitals and inmates in prisons, collaborating with the USO, providing legal assistance and contributing to both secular and religious education.

While the needs and characteristics of the community have changed, Mount Carmel Guild has continued to change and adapt. Its current two core programs include helping sustain the good health and well-being of low-income seniors and reducing food insecurity among Mercer County residents.

Acknowledging the event’s “Founders Day” theme, the Bishop said, “As the successor to the founding Bishop, I consider it a privilege to be with you today. I offer you my gratitude and the gratitude of the Diocese. I pray for the Mount Carmel Guild every single day.”

The Bishop added, “The Mount Carmel Guild serves the Lord and his people because that’s where we find him. We find the Lord in his people, especially those in need.”

Bishop O’Connell concluded, “Let’s ask the Lord Jesus to give us the grace, de-

termination and the conviction in these uncertain and unsteady times to bring Christ’s presence to those who need him most. To bring his light and in this Jubilee Year, hope and dignity to all we meet through the Mount Carmel Guild.”

Mary Inkrot, executive director of the Guild, thanked those who make its work possible. As an example, she cited the host parish, which responded to the Guild’s recent urgent request for items to restock the food pantry. The St. Paul religious education program organized a drive to collect essential items such as rice, oats and pasta for the Guild.

AFFIRMING THE VALUE OF ALL PEOPLE

At a reception following the Mass, Lauri Harbison, executive director of Interfaith Caregivers of Greater Mercer County, described how people despair because they feel isolated in their need and become separated from care. These individuals “don’t realize people care and that they are valued.”

Reflecting on the longevity of the Guild, Harbison said it was “heartwarming and encouraging that they are over 100 years old, but at the same time it is frightening because they are still needed.”

Cecelia Gallucci, a volunteer, and Harbison described the success of the Guild’s Christmas toy program, noting that parents facing the painful reality of not being able to buy Christmas gifts for their children are surprised to see that the Guild manages to provide the items that their children had on their Christmas lists.

Gallucci shared, “I always get more than I give.”

Bishop O’Connell preaches his homily during the Mount Carmel Guild’s Founders’ Day Mass March 16. At right is Father Christopher Dayton, pastor of St. Paul Parish, which hosted the event.

Barry Breen, the Guild’s board of trustees’ secretary, engages in conversation with a Guild supporter during the reception after Mass. Mary Stadnyk photos

Father Anthony Carotenuto incenses Father Cioffi’s casket during the March 17 Mass of Christian Burial. Mary Stadnyk photo

Father Cioffi celebrates Mass for the retired Christian Brothers residing in De La Salle Hall, Lincroft, in this 2019 Monitor file photo.

Father Cioffi remembered for long-term ministry in Keyport parish

FROM STAFF REPORTS

Friends, loved ones and well-wishers gathered March 17 for a Mass of Christian Burial to remember and pray for the soul of Father Ronald Joseph Cioffi.  A priest of the Diocese of Trenton for 55 years, the majority as pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Keyport (now part of Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Keyport), Father Cioffi died March 12 following a lengthy illness at age 84.

 “... our humanity blossomed like a beautiful flower in his presence.”

Nearly 20 priests concelebrated the Mass in St. Rose of Lima Chapel, Freehold, including Msgr. Thomas Mullelly, the Diocese’s episcopal vicar for clergy and consecrated life, and Msgr. Joseph Rosie, episcopal vicar of Monmouth County.  Father Anthony Carotenuto, a retired priest of the Diocese and close friend of Father Cioffi, was principal

celebrant of the Mass and homilist.

“Ron was continually blessed with the unique ability to fire up our hearts, our consciences, to bring people of all ages and temperaments together around him so that his blessing became our blessing, and our humanity blossomed like a beautiful flower in his presence,” Father Carotenuto said.

“Today on the day of his burial, we speak his name with reverence and affection, and we pray that his name . . . will remain in eternal memory.”

Father Cioffi was born in 1941 in Long Branch. He graduated from Red Bank Catholic High School and prepared for the priesthood in St. Charles Seminary, Catonsville, Md., and St. Mary Seminary and University, Baltimore. Following his ordination in 1969 by Bishop George W. Ahr, Father Cioffi’s priestly ministry included assignments as parochial vicar of St. Joachim Parish, Trenton (now part of Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Trenton); St. Leo the Great Parish, Lincroft, and St. Mary Parish, South Amboy (in the Metuchen Diocese).

In 1977, Father Cioffi joined the faculty of St. Mary Seminary, returning in 1981 to serve in St. Joseph Parish, first

as parochial vicar and later as pastor. It would be his ministerial home for more than 30 years.

He also served as part-time director of the diocesan Office of Social Concerns for about 25 years. He advocated throughout his priesthood on behalf of many vulnerable and marginalized groups and dedicated his time to volunteering and pastoral support of people in need, even beyond his 2016 retirement.

Father Cioffi was predeceased by his parents, Henry Michael and Jean Elizabeth (Strollo) Cioffi, his brother, Henry Cioffi, and his nephew, Michael Cioffi. He is survived by his brother, Dr. Robert Cioffi; sister-in-law, Jean A. Cioffi; two nieces and a nephew; several grandnieces and grandnephews, cousins, and close friends.

 To read Father Cioffi’s full obituary, visit: TrentonMonitor.com and click on NEWS>OBITUARIES

Memorial donations may be made to The Catholic Worker, 55 E. 3rd Street, New York, N.Y. 10003; Covenant House NYC, nycovenanthouse.org; Catholic Relief Services, crs.org, or Doctors Without Borders, doctorswithoutborders.org. Father Cioffi would also want to encourage those who are able to donate blood.

Harry R. Hill, Jr., former diocesan attorney, laid to rest

BY CAROL OLIVIERI  Correspondent

Harry R. Hill, Jr., was someone who “lived intentionally with a strong moral character that was founded in integrity, honesty, hard work, and purpose. He spent his 94 years not swaying from that.”

“He believed in being very intentional about his decisions. One of those was about the law…He was passionate about that…The second decision was the choice of who to marry – my mother. He would not have been successful without that choice.” This description of Harry Hill, who died March 19, was given by his son Mark during his funeral Mass celebrated by Msgr. Casimir Ladzinski on March 29 in St. Ann Church, Lawrenceville.

No description of his life would be complete without mentioning fly fishing. This was a source of joy in his life and Mark was sure his father “would tell me right now, ‘make sure you emphasize fly fishing.’ It was peaceful. He could solve the world’s problems. It had much less to do with actually catching the fish, but more about the connections. He was very spiritual, and he believed that having strong spiritual connections was important.”

In his homily, Msgr. Ladzinski spoke about Harry Hill as a man of family, faith, and profession who worshipped in St. Ann’s every Sunday; looking around the church during daily Mass, Msgr. Ladzinski would see him there praying.

“As I talked with him, I knew that he was ready to meet his maker,” he related about visiting Mr. Hill during his illness and giving him the Sacrament of the Sick. “Harry, we’re going to miss you, but enjoy your new life with God, the God that you worshiped. Enjoy that new life forever, and ever, and ever. Amen.”

Born in Trenton in 1930, Mr. Hill was raised in the Hillwood Lakes area of Ewing Township and graduated from

Trenton High School in 1948. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers University in 1952, and an L.L.B. (Bachelor of Laws) degree from Wake Forest University Law School, Winston-Salem, N.C., in 1955, where he also belonged to Phi Delta Phi.

He was hired by the Trenton law firm Backes & Backes in 1958. Over the years the firm evolved into Backes, Waldron & Hill and finally Backes & Hill. His career spanned 65 years at the same firm handling a variety of matters but mainly complex litigation and working as general counsel to the Diocese of Trenton.

Among the many honors and awards he received throughout his life were the Benemerenti Medal for service to the Church, which Pope Benedict XVI granted to him in 2011, the Michael J. Nizolek Award, being named a Professional Lawyer of the Year by the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in the Law and having a session of the Mercer County American Inn of Court named for him.

In addition to the New Jersey State Bar, he was admitted to practice in the U.S. District Courts of New Jersey and D.C., as well as the District Court of Appeals in D.C., the Third Circuit, and the

The casket of Harry R. Hill, Jr., is placed before the sanctuary in St. Ann Church, Lawrenceville, during Mr. Hill’s March 29 Mass of Christian Burial. Msgr. Casimir Ladzinski, a retired priest of the Diocese, served as principal celebrant and homilist.

To read the obituary online, visit TrentonMonitor.com>NEWS>OBITUARIES.

U.S. Supreme Court. Mr. Hill also served as president of the Mercer County Bar Association from 1967 to 1969.

Also joining in prayer at the Mass of Christian Burial was Msgr. John Dermond, retired priest of the Diocese, who had worked for many years with Mr. Hill.

Before the Our Father, Msgr. Ladzinski invited congregants to “pray in the words Our Savior gave us and as Harry prayed countless times in this church.”

In addition to Sara, his wife of 58 years, Mr. Hill is survived by three children, Mark and his wife, Karin, John and his wife, Lindsey, and Elizabeth; five grandchildren and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Memorial donations may be made to Wake Forest University School of Law at law.wfu.edu/alumni/giving, St. Ann Parish at churchofsaintann.net or the Diocese of Trenton’s Annual Catholic Appeal at dioceseoftrenton.org/catholicappeal.

Carol Olivieri photo

Harry Hill was honored April 27, 2023, upon his retirement at 93 for decades of service as diocesan attorney. He is pictured here with Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. Staff photo

Rice Bowl: 50 years of love and more

BRENDA RASCHER Guest Columnist

Fifty years ago, Catholics in Allentown, Pennsylvania, organized to help families facing famine in Africa. That help came in the form of a small cardboard box, marking the beginning of “Operation Rice Bowl.” Today, as we celebrate CRS Rice Bowl’s 50th anniversary, the program is a tradition for millions of Catholics in the United States who continue to answer the Gospel call, supporting families experiencing hunger around the world.

I have learned a lot about Catholic Relief Services. I have come to see the CRS Rice Bowl collection as an example of the definition of “catholic” – universal! The definition recognizes that the universe has no borders – it encompasses the whole world. After all, Jesus called us to reach out to “all nations,” and that’s what we as U.S. Catholics have done with our Lenten Rice Bowl contributions..

 “Thirty years ago we received help from CRS, and that is why I am alive today.”

We have enabled CRS to show Christ’s love to our global brothers and sisters by the services provided – food, medicine, water, farming assistance, disaster relief, and more. Funds are divided: 25% help local diocesan outreaches, and 75% benefit CRS programs abroad.

Although Rice Bowl is celebrating 50 years, CRS has been working for us for 80 years. And while Jesus calls us to give without expecting a benefit, the fact is we do get benefits in return. I’d like to address three: fulfilling our Gospel call, disease control and respect.

Our Gospel call brings to mind the parable of the Good Samaritan, who

came upon a man on the side of the road, beaten and left to die. The Samaritan helped that man. At no time, did he ask, “Are you Jewish?” “Egyptian?” “A Samaritan?” Rather, he saw the need and responded. That’s our Gospel call.

We see real-time global needs on television, making our world smaller. With global travel, what happens in faroff countries no longer stays in far-off countries. Remember COVID-19? That brings me to disease control.

When CRS helps address, reduce and even eliminate a disease found in a remote village, it decreases the likelihood that the same disease will travel to the U.S. The medicines being provided are vital to the health of our global brothers and sisters, but their help also keeps us safer. That leads me to respect.

I have met people who have benefited from CRS work and heard firsthand their stories. I met Thomas Awiapo, who grew up in rural Ghana. He and his brothers were orphaned as children and never had enough to eat. One day he smelled lunch cooking at a nearby school – a CRS program. He wasn’t interested in school, but he started to attend so he could have something to eat. Today, he has a master’s degree in public administration.

During a webinar a man told of his trip with CRS. While driving through a small village in a truck marked “CRS,”

Earthquake victims receive hygiene kits and tarps from Catholic Relief Service workers in Les Cayes, Haiti, Aug. 24, 2021. CRS staffers operated under tarps at a parking lot near their operations center in Les Cayes following damage to their offices. CNS photo/ Godchild Regis, CRS

the members of the community came out joyfully welcoming them, treating them like royalty. When he asked why, a villager said, “Thirty years ago we received help from CRS, and that is why I am alive today.” Our Rice Bowl contributions save lives! Our CRS work promotes lasting respect.

Alas, 50% of CRS programs have been terminated as part of the 83% of all U.S. foreign aid ended. That federal aid supplemented our efforts to help our global brothers and sisters, because our Rice Bowl contributions and the annual CRS collection can’t meet the need alone.

Bill O’Keefe, executive vice president for mission and mobilization at Baltimore-based Catholic Relief Services, told OSV News that, with global hunger rising and the termination of U.S. funds, Rice Bowl has “never been more needed.”

Here’s our challenge: Let’s all try to donate at least $50 to Rice Bowl this Lent – that would represent $1 for each of the 50 years of CRS’ lifesaving work. Give online at www.crsricebowl.org, learn the facts about CRS at www.crs.org and advocate to reinstitute foreign aid at support.crs.org/act/foreign-aid-operations. Rascher is Executive Director of the Office of Catholic Social Services for the Diocese of Trenton and is diocesan liaison to CRS. Some information for this column was provided by OSV News.

DIOCESAN DATEBOOK

To learn more about these upcoming events in the Diocese of Trenton, visit TrentonMonitor.com and click on NEWS>DIOCESE.

JOB FAIRS FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOL EDUCATORS, APRIL 8 AND MAY 8

Two job fairs for teachers seeking employment in a Catholic elementary or secondary school in the Diocese for the 2025-2026 school year are scheduled for April 8 in St. John Vianney High School, 540-A Line Rd., Holmdel, and May 8 in Notre Dame High School, 601 Lawrence Rd., Lawrenceville. Both fairs will run from 4 to 6:30 p.m.

Hosted by the diocesan Department of Catholic Education, the fairs will provide an opportunity for employment seekers to speak with representatives from the Diocese’s 30 schools about openings for teachers at all grade levels – pre-K, elementary, middle school, high school, and more as well as various coaching positions and other topics of interest.

This is the third year that the diocesan Department of Catholic Schools has hosted the job fairs, and the success of previous years’ “gave us great hope that these efforts should continue,” stated Dr. Vincent de Paul Schmidt, diocesan superintendent of Catholic education.

In a Monitor article following last year’s job fairs, Bonnie

Milecki, diocesan associate director for school development and operations, indicated that the events drew all 25 diocesan elementary schools and five secondary schools to the job fairs. Milecki also acknowledged the challenge of recruiting qualified, passionate teachers, restating the department’s commitment to quality Catholic education and the importance of events such as this to build community among the educational institutions across the Diocese.

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“The Department of Catholic schools is committed to supporting our school leaders to do that and working with them to offer every benefit they can to teachers,” she said.

Catholic educators who wish to attend the job fairs can register or find more information at: dioceseoftrenton.org/school-job-fairs.

USCCB thanks Diocese’s parishioners for continued support

“Please accept my sincere gratitude for your diocese’s participation in the 2024 national collections,” wrote Mary Mencarini Campbell, executive director of the USCCB’s Office of National Collections, in a March 6 letter to Bishop David M. O’Connell.

The letter reported the Diocese of Trenton’s financial contributions to several USCCB-sponsored national collections which support “the Church’s pastoral outreach and humanitarian efforts at home and around the world.”

Spanning Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean Counties, the 98 active parishes of the Diocese donated a total of $759,607.24 across seven national collections.

Parishioners of the Diocese gave a total of $90,945.41 to the Collection for the Church in Central and Eastern Europe, an initiative supporting pastoral needs, on Feb 14. 2024; $50.207.96 to the Catholic Communication Cam-

paign, which supports Catholic media, on May 12, 2024; $128,395.25 to the Catholic Home Missions

Appeal, which strengthens missionary work in the United States, on April 28, 2024; $120,491.73 to the Collection for the Church in Latin America, a project of solidarity with Catholics in South and Central America, on Jan 28. 2024; $149,324.77 to the Catholic Relief Services Collection, which funds six agencies working in charity and justice both at home and abroad, on March 10, 2024; and $100,000.00 to the Peter’s Pence Collection, which supports the Office of the Holy See, on June 30, 2024.

In addition to these six collections, parishioners donated $120,242.82 to the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, the domestic anti-poverty campaign of the United States Bishops, on Nov. 17, a collection date which

intentionally coincides with World Day of the Poor. Because the collection took place late in the year, the funds were not included in the USCCB report. Seventy-five percent of these funds have been sent to the Office of National Collections, while the other 25% remain in the Diocese of Trenton for a local grant funding grassroots community and economic development organizations.

Brenda Rascher, executive director of the Diocesan Office of Social Services, reported that the CCHD collection is at a four-year high, with a 3% increase from the previous year. Seventy-three parishes participated in 2023 and 2024, up 14 from 2022.

– Compiled by Elise Stankus, Correspondent

April collections to benefit mission parishes in U.S., Christians in Holy Land

As Lent encourages Catholics to renew their commitment to prayer, fasting and almsgiving, two upcoming opportunities to be materially generous through collections will be taken up in the Diocese and beyond.

Every year on Good Friday, a collection is taken up in Catholic parishes to support the work of the Franciscans working in the Holy Land. Christians there rely heavily on the help that comes to them from this worldwide collection. This year’s collection will be on April 18.

The Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America is part of a worldwide network of Commissariats of the Holy Land which function as bridges between the Holy Land and Christians all over the world. The Franciscan Monastery in Washington, D.C., coordinates this vital support for the work of the Franciscans who work in the Holy Land. The Franciscans of the Custody of the Holy Land have the unique responsibility to care for the Holy Places as well for the Christians living there and facing persecution.

For more information visit myfranciscan.org/good-friday-2025.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Subcommittee on Catholic Home Missions will make its annual appeal to support missionary activities throughout the U.S. and its territories on the weekend of April 26-27.

Coinciding this year with Divine Mercy Sunday, the appeal primarily supports U.S. dioceses that are unable to offer their people the basic pastoral ministries of word, worship, and service without outside help. It may also give grants to other dioceses in the U.S. for particular projects, and to organizations and religious communities engaged in missionary work.

Although funding a range of pastoral services, the subcommittee focuses

primarily on evangelization efforts, religious education, ministry training for clergy and laity, and support of poor parishes across the country.

More information can be found at www.usccb.org/committees/catholic-home-missions

Bishop Ahr grant applications now open for agencies assisting those in need

Applications are now being accepted for grants from the Bishop George W. Ahr Endowment Fund. To be awarded later this summer, these grants are available to any church, office, apostolate or ministry within the Diocese of Trenton attempting to provide services for needy and vulnerable.

Requests for funds should not exceed $2,500. All completed applications must be postmarked no later than Monday, June 2, 2025, OR emailed as a PDF to gmagee@ dioceseoftrenton.org by 4:00 p.m. Monday, June 2, 2025.

Named for the seventh bishop of the Diocese of Trenton, the Bishop George W. Ahr Endowment fund is designed to assist recipients with special projects. The grant total comes from the annual interest accrued by the fund over the previous calendar year.

Applicants should expect to provide the name of the project, its purpose and goal, the length of project from start to finish, who the project will impact and how its success will be measured. Following the project’s completion, grant winners are

asked to submit a self-evaluation report on how the funds were utilized and how the project goals were met.

Grants were awarded last year to assist with emergency housing and transportation help via pre-paid fuel cards for St. Vincent de Paul Conferences in St. Catharine-St. Margaret Parish, Spring Lake, and Holy Eucharist Parish Tabernacle. Food assistance grants benefited the Thanksgiving Dinner Package Project of Mount Carmel Guild, Trenton, as well as a “Summer at the Farm” program of St. Vincent de Paul Conference in Our Lady of Good Counsel, Moorestown. Finally, a grant to the St. Vincent de Paul Conference of St. Dorothea Parish, Eatontown, went to assist with its “Aid to Low Income Families Experiencing Financial Instability.”

Applications may be obtained by contacting Grace Magee at the Chancery & Pastoral Center of the Diocese of Trenton: gmagee@dioceseoftrenton.org or by going to the webpage for the Office of Catholic Social Services and clicking on “Bishop Ahr Grant” at dioceseoftrenton. org/catholic-social-services

myfranciscan.org graphic

Maureen Fitzsimmons lauded for commitment to child protection

Maureen Fitzsimmons holds a plaque commemorating her service as the Diocese’s Victims Assistance Coordinator, a post she held since 2015. Staff photos

BLESSED CARLO PILGRIMAGE

Continued from 33 film and discussed the Shrine. Students venerated the relic of Blessed Carlo and worked on discussion questions, followed by a Mass at which Father Woodrow focused his homily on their pilgrimage.

“The students didn’t realize how much they had in common with Carlo Acutis. He was someone they could relate to with his love of soccer, technology and video games,” said Lori McCahill, director of religious education at St. Benedict School. “It resonated with them how he dedicated his life to Jesus Christ, and they were moved by how he didn’t hide behind his Catholic faith but was proud of it.”

On the first Thursday of every month, a special Mass is held in the St. Joseph Chapel of St. Dominic Church. Participants recite a prayer to the intercession of Blessed Carlo; Mass is followed by Adoration, Confession, and time to visit the Shrine. Parishes wishing to host the relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis also have the option of reserving St. Dominic’s travel relic for a scheduled time.

Those who wish to experience a pilgrimage to the Diocesan Shrine of Blessed Carlo Acutis may visit the St. Dominic Parish website for up-to-date information: www.stdominicsparish.com.

Rose O’Connor, diocesan digital media manager, and EmmaLee Italia, contributing editor of The Monitor, contributed to this story.

Maureen Fitzsimmons, who recently retired after serving nearly 10 years as the Diocese’s Victims Assistance Coordinator, was honored at a luncheon March 20 by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., and other diocesan staff and officers.

Bishop O’Connell thanked Fitzsimmons for her long-standing, compassionate advocacy for the protection of children and vulnerable adults. Joseph Bianchi, diocesan chief administrative officer, presented a plaque to Fitzsimmons for her “extraordinary commitment and service.”

Fitzsimmons served as Victims Assistance Coordinator since 2015 after

Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., and Joseph Bianchi, diocesan chief administrative officer, congratulate Maureen Fitzsimmons during a lunch in her honor.

decades of working in the Church, first as a director of religious education, and later with Catholic Charities. In her diocesan role, she worked with individuals impacted by clergy sexual abuse, assisting them with getting counseling and other key needs.

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RITE OF ELECTION

Continued from 19

be enrolled among “the elect” (catechumens following their participation in the Rite of Election). The catechumens declared their wish to enter fully into the life of the Church, and their names were read aloud as a parish OCIA team member presented each Book of the Elect. The books had been signed by the catechumens earlier in the day in their local faith communities during Rite of Sending ceremonies.

SEEING GOD’S PLAN

Though Leonela Plaza was raised Pentecostal, she was introduced to the Catholic Church by her fiance, with whom she began attending Mass on Sundays in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton. “I’ve learned so much about the

Catholic religion,” Plaza said of her experience in the OCIA. She added that she was interested to learn the correct way to participate in Mass, about the many different prayers and the saints, who they are and how they became saints. She noted she was inspired by the story of St. Philomena, who was martyred for her faith as a young girl, and St. Dymphna, who Plaza chose for her Confirmation saint.

Plaza described the Rite of Election as a “beautiful experience,” seeing so many people who are preparing to become Catholic. “It really made me excited for my journey ahead,” she said. “I felt like I belong.”

While growing up in Mexico, Nora A. Santana was never baptized but was familiar with the Catholic Church through her mother and other family members who were Catholic but didn’t practice

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the faith regularly.

When she and her family did attend Mass, Santana said she “used to love hearing the teachings about God and Mary … that stayed with me,” Santana said.

For Santana, the decision to become Catholic surfaced during the pandemic when she would watch Mass on TV. She also began attending Mass in St. Joseph Church, Trenton, with her boyfriend, who is now her fiance. Eager to receive her Sacraments at the Easter Vigil, she said, “I thank God.”

Hector Vasquez was 16 years old when he first started thinking about becoming Catholic. Though he was never baptized and his family is Catholic, his interest in the faith has been nurtured by regularly attending the Spanish-language Mass in St. Joseph Church, Toms River. Now at 26, he said, he’s ready to receive his Sacraments.

start attending Mass there every Sunday.” Six months later, he said, he made the decision to become Catholic and joined the OCIA.

“Attending these classes has allowed me to see our Lord Jesus Christ like I haven’t before. I’ve found myself wanting to pray and take time out to thank God, and not just when something good happens,” he said. “I’ve felt myself grow in my faith and grow closer to Jesus. When I look at my life, I know that this was his plan for me.”

CONFERENCE

Continued from 39 and accompanying leaders facing significant challenges, especially in Hispanic communities. He is also the principal author of REAL formation, a Confirmation program designed for Gen Z, which nurtures catechists and young people.

“I’ve learned a lot and OCIA has helped me to build my relationship with God,” Vasquez said, adding that the process for becoming Catholic, “has changed my life.”

Predell Tynes acknowledges a similar experience. While growing up, he said that his father’s family was Baptist and he would attend services sporadically “but never anything consistently and I was never baptized.”

A Jackson resident who was familiar with St. Aloysius Church “from the outside” he remembers first entering the church to attend a Mass during which his son was presented with the Catholic Scouting program’s Parvuli Dei award.

“When I left St. Aloysius that morning, I had a feeling inside of me that I hadn’t felt while attending church previously,” he said. “I told my fiancé, Amanda, how good I felt, that a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I wanted to keep having that feeling so we agreed we would

“It’s difficult nowadays to share the Good News,” he said, then acknowledged the “invaluable” work of his audience “which is a true testament of love and faith.”

“You have to have a lot of hope,” Father Torres reiterated, then shared about the perseverance he needed when working with young people and feeling that his efforts were unsuccessful.

“I was showing all my tricks … but thinking they’re not getting it.” Then one day, he said, a student surprised him with a profound response, demonstrating that even when ministers feel their efforts go unnoticed, “God is still working through them.”

Father Torres addressed those in the audience who might have decided: “This is my last year. I can’t do it anymore.”

“And I’m here to tell you, ‘No, we’re not finished. We’re just getting started. We are enjoying a Jubilee year,’ and the Lord is going to recharge our batteries,” Father Torres said.

God’s mercy is for everyone; everyone needs healing

BY CAROL GLATZ  Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY • God is always merciful toward everyone, Pope Francis wrote.

“He heals our wounds so that we can love each other as brothers and sisters,” he said in the text he prepared for the midday Angelus prayer March 30.

While the 88-year-old Pope was back at the Vatican and had appeared briefly on the balcony of Rome’s Gemelli hospital March 23, the Sunday he was discharged, to offer his blessing, he was following doctors’ orders to rest and did not make a televised or public appearance.

The Pope’s message focused on the day’s Gospel reading, the parables of the lost sheep and the lost son from Luke 15:1-3, 11-32. The Pharisees are scandalized instead of happy that sinners are being welcomed by Jesus, so Jesus tells them the parable of the son who squandered his inheritance and repented and was still loved and welcomed by his father.

“This is how Jesus reveals the heart of God: He is always merciful toward all,” the Pope wrote.

“Let us live this Lent as a time of healing, all the more as it is the Jubilee,” he wrote, saying he, too, was experiencing this period as a time of healing “in my soul and in my body.”

“That is why I give heartfelt thanks to all those who, in the image of the Savior, are instruments of healing for their neighbor with their word and their knowledge, with kindness and with prayer,” he wrote. “Frailty and illness are experiences we all have in common; all the more, however, we are brothers in the salvation Christ has given us.”

Like the other messages he released on Sundays, the Pope also called for prayers for peace, including in Myanmar, “which is also suffering so much because

A nun prays in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican March 30, 2025. Pope Francis did not pray the Angelus in the square because he is following doctors’ orders to rest. The Vatican released a written message from the pope to accompany the Angelus. CNS photo/Pablo

of the earthquake,” and he made two urgent appeals.

Concerning the increasing instability in the wake of the collapse of the government of national unity in South Sudan, the Pope renewed a “heartfelt appeal to all leaders to do their utmost to lower the tension in the country.”

“We must put aside our differences and, with courage and responsibility, sit around a table and engage in constructive dialogue. Only in this way will it be possible to alleviate the suffering of the beloved South Sudanese people and to build a future of peace and stability,” his message said.

Also in Sudan, “the war continues to claim innocent victims,” he said, urging the international community to “increase its efforts to address the appalling humanitarian catastrophe.”

“I urge the parties concerned in the conflict to put the safeguarding of the lives of their civilian brothers and sisters first; and I hope that new negotiations will begin as soon as possible, capable of

MORE FROM POPE FRANCIS ON

God’s mercy, forgiveness pave the path toward hope, Pope writes

Jesus pursues brokenness to offer healing, Pope’s catechesis says

POPE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram: franciscus instagram.com/franciscus/

YouTube: Vatican News youtube.com/@VaticanNewsEN

securing a lasting solution to the crisis,” the Pope wrote.

The Pope also praised “positive events” taking place in the world, for example, “the ratification of the agreement on the demarcation of the border between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, which is an excellent diplomatic achievement. I encourage both countries to continue on this path.”

Esparza

EASTERN CATHOLICS HELP CHURCH BE FULLY ‘CATHOLIC’

ROME (CNS) • The Eastern Catholic churches are not an “anomaly” or an “ecclesial monstrosity” but are Catholic communities with their own liturgical, theological, spiritual and canonical heritage that help make the Church truly catholic, said Maronite Archbishop Michel Jalakh. “We do not exist to mediate but to participate fully in the life and theology of the universal Catholic Church, bringing our experience and history, our way of thinking and our ecclesial life,” said Archbishop Jalakh, secretary of the Dicastery for Eastern Churches. The archbishop spoke at Rome’s Pontifical Oriental Institute March 31 at the presentation of “Eastern Catholic Theology in Action,” the first volume in the Eastern Catholic Studies and Texts series published by Catholic University of America Press.

- By Catholic News Service

GREENLAND’S ONLY CATHOLIC PRIEST CALLS MISSION A ‘DREAM JOB’

NUUK, Greenland (OSV News) • Father Tomaž Majcen, a Conventual Franciscan, is the only Catholic parish priest in Greenland, working alongside two fellow Franciscan friars. OSV News asked the Slovenian-born Father Majcen – who serves at Christ the King Church in the capital city of Nuuk – to

Students listen to presentations Panelists about the book “Eastern Catholic Theology in Action” during a meeting at Rome’s Pontifical Oriental Institute March 31, 2025. CNS photo/Pablo Esparza

share his experiences of ministering to the 300-500 Catholics in Greenland. Father Majcen said most Catholics in Greenland come from the Philippines, Europe and Latin American countries, with some Danes and a “very small number” of Indigenous Inuit as well. He described Greenland as a “place of grace and peace” even amid “isolation, harsh weather, and the challenge of serving to a tiny, widely dispersed congregation.” Parish life is warm and vibrant, evoking the early Christian communities, he said. Asked if proposed plans by the current U.S. administration to take over Greenland would affect his ministry, Father Majcen said he feared the loss of his “dream job” if the nation’s Catholic pastoral care were entrusted to an American diocese. Still, he said, “I will let God be the center of everything. We pray as best we can for peace on earth and let God do the rest. I am more concerned about accompanying the small Catholic flocks of the island.”

- By OSV News

t A boat navigates around a portion of an iceberg near Nuuk, Greenland, in this undated photo provided by Franciscan Father Tomaz Majcen, the only Catholic parish priest serving in Greenland. OSV News photo/Father Tomaz Majcen

POPE CLEARS THE WAY FOR NEW SAINTS, FIRST VENEZUELAN WOMAN

VATICAN CITY (CNS) • Pope Francis has cleared the way for the canonizations of three blesseds: an Armenian Catholic archbishop martyred during the Armenian genocide, a lay catechist from Papua New Guinea killed during World War II and a Venezuelan religious sister who dedicated her life to education and the poor. The Vatican announced March 31 that the Pope authorized the decrees March 28. Among them were the approval of a miracle attributed to Blessed Carmen Rendíles Martínez and authorization for the canonizations of Blessed Ignatius Maloyan and Blessed Peter To Rot, following a vote by cardinals and bishops. While the Vatican did not specify whether the decrees were signed during an audience, such decisions are typically formalized during a meeting between the Pope and Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints. Pope Francis, recovering from a respiratory infection, has not been holding meetings since being discharged from the hospital March 23.

- By Catholic News Service

10 MILLION CHRISTIANS IN U.S. AT RISK OF MASS DEPORTATION, SAYS REPORT

WASHINGTON • A joint project between organizations affiliated with different Christian Churches found that a significant share of people impacted by the Trump administration’s pursuit of what it has called “the largest deportation in U.S. history,” are Christian. The report, a joint project of the National Association of Evangelicals, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Migration and Refugee Services, the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and World Relief, found many of those vulnerable to deportation themselves or those who have a family member vulnerable to deportation are Christians. According to demographic data as of the end of 2024, the report found, more than 10 million Christians living in the U.S. would be vulnerable to deportation under Trump administration policies implemented in 2025. Christians account for approximately 80% of all of those at risk of deportation. The Christians most at risk of deportation are Catholics, 61% of the total. At the same time, about 7 million Christians who are U.S. citizens live in the same household as someone at risk of deportation.

SCOTUS HEARS CASE TO KEEP MEDICAID FUNDS FROM PLANNED PARENTHOOD

WASHINGTON • The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral argument April 2 in a case concerning South Carolina’s attempt to prevent Planned Parenthood from participating in its Medicaid health program, in what could determine the nation’s largest abortion provider’s ability to use public funds in states that have restricted abortion. A key question in the case is whether Medicaid recipients have the ability to sue in order to sue over bans on particular providers to remain their patients. According to its website, each of the two clinics Planned Parenthood South Atlantic operates in South Carolina offer abortion prior to the state’s six-week ban. A decision in the case is expected by the end of the court’s current

term, typically in June.

TURKEY’S CATHOLICS ‘LEFT IN FEAR’ AMID NEW NATIONWIDE UNREST

ISTANBUL • In Turkey, Christian minorities are growing fearful following nationwide protests triggered by the March 19 arrest of opposition leader Ekrem Imamoglu. While no direct threats have been reported against Christian communities, political unrest and economic strain are taking a toll on all religious groups. Imamoglu, the secular mayor of Istanbul, practicing Muslim and a key presidential candidate, was arrested along with members of his opposition party, sparking protests that

have led to over 1,400 arrests. Authorities have used force to suppress demonstrations, drawing criticism from human rights groups. President Erdogan has accused the opposition of undermining the economy and democracy, while Amnesty International and the Council of Europe have condemned the use of excessive force against peaceful protesters. Meanwhile, Christian communities in Turkey, including the Catholic Church, continue to face legal and social challenges. Speculation remains about a potential visit from Pope Francis to Turkey in May, which the pontiff hoped for to mark 1,700 anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, in modern-day Iznik, but whether his health will allow him to go remains a question.

- By OSV News

t A woman shouts during a March 26 protest in Istanbul against the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on accusations of corruption and support for terrorism. Imamoglu is a top rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. OSV News photo/Emilie Madi, Reuters

Agents with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detain a man after conducting a raid at the Cedar Run apartment complex in Denver Feb. 5, 2025. OSV News photo/Kevin Mohatt, Reuters

New Life in Christ

THE WORD

Father Garry Koch

APRIL 6  SINNERS NEED TO BE WARY OF ACCUSING OTHERS OF BEING SINFUL

Is 43: 16-21; Phil 3: 8-14; John 8: 1-11

Awoman caught in the act of committing adultery was dragged before Jesus so that he could pronounce judgment against her. Likely petrified, she has been completely objectified by the Pharisees and was then drenched in both shame and a loss of her human dignity. His admonition that the one without sin should throw the first stone reminds each one of them of their sinfulness. While Jesus forgives her, the message seems to be that she should never have been accused in the first place. God alone is our judge. No one needs to exercise mercy more than do other sinners.

APRIL 13  WE STAND WITH JESUS ON THE CROSS

Lk 19: 28-40; Is 50: 4-7; Phil 2: 6-11; Lk 22: 14-23: 56

St. Augustine saw the Cross as the greatest pulpit of Jesus. From there he delivered the powerful message of forgiveness. Forgiveness goes against our human desire. First, we must forgive the ignorance of others while even admitting that we might be responsible for their ignorance. We want to argue back, we want to judge, we want to gain the upper hand. Jesus did not. He forgave his accusers, his persecutors, and those who mocked or even ignored him. We forgive, not from superiority or hubris, but from the very position of the cross, where we stand with the crucified Christ.

APRIL 20  THE STONE ROLLED AWAY OPENS OUR WORLD TO THE RISEN ONE

Acts 10: 34A, 27-43; Col 3: 1-4; Jn 20: 1-9

LastEaster Pope Francis reflected:

“There are times when we may feel that a great stone blocks the door of our hearts, stifling life, extinguishing hope, imprisoning us in the tomb of our fears and regrets, and standing in the way of joy and hope.”

The Jubilee Year focuses on Pilgrims of Hope, but we allow burdens to get in the way of rejoicing, so we merely go through the motions. Mary Magdalene feared a great stone blocking her encounter with Jesus; yet miraculously that stone was removed. Our stones are removed as we authentically encounter the Risen One this Easter.

APRIL 27  AS THE DISCIPLES FORM THE GOSPEL, THOMAS PROVES THE FIRST SKEPTIC

Acts 5: 12-16; Rev. 1: 9-11A, 12-13, 17-19; Jn 20: 19-31

For a reason that only becomes clear later, Thomas was not present in the Upper Room when Jesus appeared to the disciples. Often the skeptic, he remained unable to accept the testimony of the others. What it must have felt like for Thomas as he listened to the enthusiastic proclamations of the others, and yet remaining unpersuaded? It was here – that the Gospel proclamation –the kerygma – began to take shape, with Thomas proving to be their initial foil, representing the many others who will hear the message and choose not to believe.

Father Garry Koch is pastor of St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel.

St. Catherine of Siena, Farmingdale. Archive image

Lent can lead us to an authentic life in God

“We must all be on our guard against pride and empty boasting and beware of worldly or natural wisdom. A worldly spirit loves to talk a lot but do nothing, striving for the exterior signs of holiness that people can see, with no desire for true piety and interior holiness of spirit.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi

THINGS MY FATHER TAUGHT ME

Mary Morrell

When President Jimmy Carter died, the world lost a great man of faith. In some way, it seemed that as long as he was here with us, engaging in his selfless work for others, there was hope – for the world and for us. For me, his passing prompted a need to learn more than I knew about President Carter, so I shelved the book I had been reading and turned to writings about our former president.

I discovered that President Carter had a favorite modern author – Philip Yancey, and his favorite book of Yancey’s was “The Jesus I Never Knew.” He shared, “More than any religious book that I know, this presents Jesus Christ in vivid and practical terms as personifying the finest human traits of peace, justice, humility, benevolence, forgiveness and compassionate love. At the same time, his divinity is never forgotten.”

I smiled as I reflected on this, having read, enjoyed and been encouraged by this very same book myself. Of course, I was also happy to know I shared something meaningful with a man I greatly admired.

The jacket of Yancey’s book promised to uncover “a Jesus who is brilliant, creative, challenging, fearless, compassionate, unpredictable and ultimately satisfying …,” which it did. The one characteristic that wasn’t mentioned on the list is the one that makes all the others possible – authentic.

 Jesus understood the value of being true to himself ...

Jesus was authentic – he was accepting of himself and others, he embraced his brokenness, prayed through his fear and was devoted to the will of his Father, staying on his life’s course even though he knew it meant both rejection by those he loved and a painful Death. Jesus understood the value of being true to himself and he hoped for that trait in others.

It was the authenticity and honestly of Nathanael that Jesus affirmed in saying, “Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him” – in spite of Nathanael’s insult of Jesus: “What

good can come out of Nazareth?”

But Jesus saw into Nathanael’s heart, as he sees into ours, and what he saw was not a man who smiled and bowed or offered his hand in friendship only to sling insults and barbs when Jesus turned his back, but, rather, a man who lived with integrity and honesty, who had “no guile in him.”

Nathanael was like the blessed servant of whom St. Francis of Assisi spoke: “Blessed is the servant who loves his brother as much when he is sick and useless as when he is well and can be of service to him. And blessed is he who loves his brother as well when he is afar off as when he is by his side, and who would say nothing behind his back he might not, in love, say before his face.”

Personally, I often wonder what God sees when he looks into my heart, because another painful truth is that the easiest person to fool about our lapses in honesty and integrity is our self. It might have been that way for Jesus if he hadn’t spent so much time in prayer.

We live in a world where deceit is the norm and honesty is rare. We are encouraged to be and to do whatever it takes to be successful, to be noticed, to be admired, to be loved, when, in truth, we should strive only to be and do whatever it takes to live the Gospel.

Because this is not a simple task, Lent is a time of gratitude – for the opportunity to dedicate time to prayer, fasting and moments of solitude, all of which allow us to discover the will of God for this moment of time in our lives, something that was a powerful need for St. Francis.

As Christians, our lives must be authentic. Lent can help us to answer the question, “How?”

Mary Morrell is editor-in-chief of The Catholic Spirit, the Metuchen Diocesan newspaper.

What are the different kinds of sin?

Q. A priest talked about “mortal sin,” about which I’d previously heard, but then he mentioned “venial sins” and “temporal sins,” and “sins of omission.” I’m not familiar with these, especially the last one. How can a person commit a sin without doing anything?

A. Every sin represents a turning away from God. But as we know from life experience and common sense, not all sins are equally terrible, and the dynamic of how we come to fall into sin depends on the circumstances.

Mortal and venial sin are two categories of how serious a sin is. The more serious kind of sin is mortal sin which essentially “kills” our relationship with God. Or, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church puts it: “Mortal sin destroys charity in the heart of man by a grave violation of God’s law; it turns man away from God, who is his ultimate end and his beatitude, by preferring an inferior good to him” (CCC, No. 1855).

We as Catholics believe that those who die in a state of unrepented mortal sin are destined for hell. Although it is also important to remember that we can never know fully as an outside observer what happens within another’s soul, so we can always hope that even the worst of sinners may have sought God’s mercy in their final moments.

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QUESTION CORNER

Jenna Marie Cooper

For a sin to be considered a mortal sin, three conditions must be met. First, the sin must be “grave matter,” meaning that it is seriously wrong in an objective sense. (As an illustration, stealing someone’s entire life savings is grave matter; stealing a paper clip is not.) The person committing the sin must also know and understand that the action is seriously wrong. Finally, in order for a sin to be mortal, a person must commit an act they know to be seriously wrong entirely of their own free will (See CCC, No. 1857).

A venial sin is a less serious sin that “does not break the covenant with God” and which does “not deprive the sinner of sanctifying grace, friendship with God, charity, and consequently eternal happiness” (CCC, No. 1863).

 Every sin represents a turning away from God ...

Minor faults and sins that do not involve grave matter are for the most part always considered venial sins. And some sins that might ordinarily be considered mortal sins might actually be venial in some concrete circumstances, if the one sinning either was not aware of the gravity of the sinful action or was committing the sin because they felt some sort of pressure to do so.

Venial sins do not imperil our souls in the same way that a mortal sin would, but it’s still important to strive to avoid committing venial sins. Among other reasons, “deliberate and unrepented venial sin disposes us little by little to commit mortal sin” (CCC, No. 1863).

The term “sin of omission” does not describe the seriousness of a sin, but rather how the sin came to be committed. The opposite of a sin of omission is a sin of “commission,” meaning a sin that we deliberately committed. In contrast, we commit sins of omission when we neglect to do some good that we ought to have done.

A sin of omission generally involves a real failure to fulfill some clear-cut responsibility or duty. For example, actively forging documents for financial gain would be a sin of commission, whereas failing to report known fraud could be a sin of omission.

“Temporal sin” is not a term I have come across before, but my thought is that this was likely a reference to what we call “temporal punishment due to sin,” which is one way of describing the purification that happens in purgatory.

Jenna Marie Cooper, who holds a licentiate in canon law, is a consecrated virgin and a canonist whose column appears weekly at OSV News. Send your questions to CatholicQA@osv.com.

Living our faith through charity

JESSICA DONOHUE Special Contributor

There are some words in our language which, when inspected more closely, contain a depth of meaning of which most of us may be unaware. One such word is “charity.”

A few years ago, I taught a fourthgrade class in our religious education program and asked the students what “charity” meant to them. Their answers were, I think, similar to what most people would say. They agreed that it means doing something good for someone less fortunate. And they were correct! However, that is just one expression of this virtue. When we began to examine the word through a Catholic lens, we found there was much more to it.

 “The desire to serve .... seems to come naturally to young people.”

For us as Catholics, the definition of charity is rich with meaning, and that meaning is rooted in our relationship with God. The Catechism defines charity as being “the theological virtue by which we love God above all things for his own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God.” This is a selfless love which inspires us to want to care for others and motivates us to want to be of service.

This desire to serve and to do good seems to come naturally to young people. Adults – parents, family members, catechists, friends – have a special call to encourage, nurture, and guide children in this area. Here are a few practical

ways we can do this:

 Seek out service opportunities you can work on as a family or create your own family service project. This can begin by discussing with children what needs they see in their community, and brainstorming ways they might be able to help.

Serving as a family can be particularly helpful because many organizations have age requirements for volunteering, but some will allow a child to volunteer if accompanied by a parent. Creating your own family service project can also allow children to be more directly involved, especially if they have input in the planning.

 Talk with children about the importance of the dignity of those you are serving. We see good deeds celebrated often on social media, but the act is compromised when the recipient’s identity is revealed, and/or when the person’s feelings about being in need and receiving help aren’t taken into consideration. Children, who are “digital natives” born into the age of social media, must be gently guided by adults in this area. Explaining that part of serving others means thinking about the feelings of the other person, and caring for the dignity of our brothers and sisters in need who accept help from others.

E CA SA

Haciendo que la fe se mantenga viva en tu familia EN

the example of Jesus, who “did not come to be served but to serve.” Highlight saints whose stories or words might be relatable and inspiring to children.

St. Therese of Lisieux’s teaching that there is great value in doing little things with love is an example. Blessed Carlo Acutis, who will be canonized April 27, was a young person who used his gifts of faith and knowledge of technology to serve others and is also a wonderful role model for living the virtue of charity.

By nourishing these seeds of charity in our children, we are not only helping to form them as good Christian Catholics but also to form the future of their world into a place of greater love and peace.

 Connect your service with your faith. Our faith is meant to be lived. Service is a truly wonderful way to live one’s faith, because it allows us to follow

St. Paul recognized how powerfully transformative and essential the virtue is, and he teaches us very simply and profoundly in this treasured passage from Corinthians: “So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

Jessica Donohue is the parish catechetical leader in St. Joan of Arc Parish, Marlton.

Faith at Home is a monthly column coordinated by the Diocese of Trenton’s Departments of Catechesis, Evangelization and Family Life, and Youth and Young Adult Ministry. For additional Faith at Home resources, visit dioceseoftrenton.org/faith-at-home.

Making Faith Come Alive for Your Family

Girl Scout Sunday celebrated in Whiting parish

Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Whiting, hosted a Girl Scout Sunday during a March 9 Mass celebrated by Father Evarist Kabagambe in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, Whiting.

During the Mass Father Kabagambe, bestowed a special blessing on the Girl Scouts and volunteers and commended them for their continued dedication to make the world a better place.

Previously, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish and Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore partnered to host a My Promise My Faith Retreat that included a service project. The My Promise, My Faith award invites Girl Scouts to experience a faith journey through exploration of the Girl Scout Law and teachings from their faith. In addition, Girl Scout attendees created blessing bags to help women who are facing homelessness. The four Girl Scouts pictured attended the retreat and earned their My Promise, My Faith award.

Lifetime Girl Scouts in attendance for Girl Scout Sunday were Barbara Dudek and Debbie Wiedow. Girl Scouts who

were present included Athena Ploumitsakos, Emma Ploumitsakos, Elizabeth Roth and Lucia Street.

– Mary Stadnyk, associate editor

Sister Carole MacKenthun named Citizen of the Year

Abeloved teacher for 56 years in the Dioceses of Trenton and Metuchen, Mercy Sister Carole MacKenthun has been named 2025 Citizen of the Year by the Greater Spring Lake Chamber of Commerce.

The award highlights a Spring Lake resident who has dedicated time through volunteerism and service. Sister Carole was selected “in recognition of her extraordinary dedication, lifelong commitment to education and profound impact on both our local community and beyond,” said Liz Capone, executive director of the chamber.

This year’s award will be presented on May 8 during a dinner at The Breakers on the Ocean.

A Sister of Mercy for 61 years, Sister Carole, 79, earned her undergraduate degree at Georgian Court College (now University), Lakewood, and a master’s degree from Trenton State College (now The College of New Jersey), Ewing. She continues to teach part-time in St. Cath-

arine School, Spring Lake, serving as the school’s spirituality coordinator.

Sister Carole finds it “very important that I have made a difference in the Spring Lake Community. The values of faith, compassion, service, and generosity that I try to develop in the children also ripple out into the larger community and make it a better place to be.”

In addition to teaching and authoring religious education materials, Sister Carole has supported the education of schoolchildren in Uganda through her Mission of Mercy project for many years, benefiting St. Kizito’s.

“Sister Carole has literally touched the hearts of many generations,” said Father Damian McElroy, pastor of St. Catharine-St. Margaret Parish, Spring Lake. “She is a wonderful lady who brings a gentle, joyful holiness to everyone she meets. We are blessed to have her living and ministering to our entire community.”

“[She is] a living example of someone who loves like Jesus,” said Donna White, principal of St. Catharine School. “Everyone who meets her finds an instant friend, greeted with a warm smile and a witty sense of humor.”

– By EmmaLee Italia, Contributing Editor

Father Evarist Kabagambe, pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Whiting, poses for a photo with Girl Scouts who attended the Girl Scout Sunday Mass March 9. Courtesy photo

Sister Carole MacKenthun, left, with Donna White, St. Catharine School principal. Courtesy photo

BLUE MASS

Continued from 36

this calling is not without sacrifice. Each day brings uncertainty, and each shift demands both strength and compassion.”

Bishop O’Connell said serving in law enforcement today means navigating a world filled with complexity, moral challenges and hostility. “Officers stand in the gap between chaos and order, between harm and safety ... a burden not easily carried, and it is why faith is essential,” he said.

“The justice you seek is not merely legal – it is rooted in the divine justice of God proclaimed by all the religions and religious traditions represented here in your number. The peace you provide is not just societal – it reflects Christ, the Prince of Peace, it reflects each and all our faiths. And the sacrifices you make do not go unnoticed by the Lord, our God, who himself bore the greatest burden for the sake of others.”

A DUTY TO SUPPORT OFFICERS

Bishop O’Connell reminded those present that “as a community, we have a duty to support and pray for those who serve. We pray for their protection, for wisdom in every decision, and for peace in their hearts as they carry out their duties. We remember especially those ... who have given their lives in the line of duty. Their names are written ... in the very heart of God ... May they rest in peace and their families take comfort in their memory.”

After Communion, the congregation was quiet as a reader proclaimed the names of nine officers who lost their lives because of their service; several died from 9/11-related illnesses. A family member or representative from their department was presented with a memorial shadowbox, showing an image of the exterior of the Co-Cathedral with two medallions placed at the bottom. One medallion commemorated the 2025 Blue Mass and the other was of St. Michael the Archangel, patron

saint of law enforcement personnel. Those memorialized were Sgt. Steven Blecki, S.C.P.O. Erick Whitaker, Sgt. James J. Puhalski, Ofc. Anthony J. Mezzacappa Jr., Trooper II Marcellus E. Bethea, Cpl. Raymond Kuuchi, Maj. Jeffrey A. Burke, Capt. John M. Collins and Sgt. Joseph Azcona.

Following Mass and a flyover by a State Police helicopter, Bishop O’Connell blessed the motorcycles of law enforcement personnel.

PRAYERFUL SUPPORTERS

After reflecting on the importance of praying for the safety of “dedicated people,” Blue Mass attendee and Co-Cathedral parishioner Judy Friedmann noted, “They know what to do at all times,” something in which she takes great comfort.

For Officer Vincent Rustico of the Brick Township Police Department, attending the Blue Mass for the first time was especially meaningful because it was an event that brought together “my career and my Catholic faith,” he said, noting that he is a member of the town’s Visitation Parish.

“I find it unifying” to see officers from different communities coming together with the general public, said Robert Faubel, a retired police officer from Danbury, Conn., now an N.J. law enforcement chaplain. “In today’s world, with all the violence and the division in our country, it’s necessary that the general public physically and outwardly show their support for law enforcement,” said Faubel, who resides in Hamilton and is affiliated with Lacey Christian Assembly in Forked River.

Together, we can build a powerful movement to transform the world.

The suspension of U.S. government-funded humanitarian aid is having immediate life-threatening effects on vulnerable people globally. Join us in making a difference in the lives of our sisters and brothers in need around the world.

Visit crs.org/chapters-clubs to learn more or scan the QR code to join the local CRS Chapter in our Trenton Diocese.

Jesus Bread of Life Catholic Cemetery & Mausoleum A community of believers in the hope of eternal life

Jesus Bread of Life Catholic Cemetery & Mausoleum

Jesus Bread of Life Catholic Cemetery & Mausoleum

Jesus Bread of Life Catholic Cemetery & Mausoleum

A community of believers in the hope of eternal life

A community of believers in the hope of eternal life

3055 Fostertown Road, Mt. Laurel, NJ 856-317-6400

3055 Fostertown Road, Mt. Laurel, NJ 856-317-6400

Mausoleum crypts, marble and glass niches & traditional garden graves are available in our beautiful Holy Sacred cemetery

Mausoleum crypts, marble and glass niches & traditional garden graves are available in our beautiful Holy Sacred cemetery

Jesus Bread of Catholic Cemetery & Mausoleum A community of believers in the hope

Jesus Bread of Life Catholic Cemetery & Mausoleum A community of believers in the hope of eternal life

Picking up on the Jubilee theme of hope, Faubel added that, from his perspective as a chaplain, “a police officer’s job is to fight evil. My job is to show hope for them, to help them in their ability every day,” he said, then added that he created a hope acronym – “Helping Officers Persevere Everyday.”

3055 Fostertown Road, Mt. Laurel, NJ 856-317-6400

A community of believers in the hope of eternal life

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Bishop, St. Rose community celebrate St. Joseph feast day, honor religious sisters

BY CHRISTINA LESLIE  Correspondent

The St. Rose faith community joyfully welcomed Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., March 19 as he celebrated Mass to mark the Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, with concelebrants pastor Msgr. Edward

Arnister and parochial vicar Father John Paul Del Rosario. The St. Rose High School gym was filled with grammar and high school students clad in blue and gold, faculty of both schools and members of the parish eager to celebrate the feast day and the opportunity to honor the Sisters of St. Joseph religious who serve the Belmar Catholic community. Also present was Mercy Sister Donna

Following the Mass in St. Rose High School, Bishop O’Connell, Msgr. Edward Arnister, parish pastor, and Father John Paul Del Rosario, parochial vicar, ventured over to Joe’s Deli in Spring Lake, where Bishop O’Connell blessed the St. Joseph Table that was filled with sweets. Deli owner Joe Valentino is a member of Christ the King Parish, Long Branch. Courtesy photo

D’Alia, parish catechetical leader, who resides in the Belmar convent.

In his homily, the Bishop advised the students to follow the example of St. Joseph – a hard worker, protector of Jesus and Mary, obedient and trusting in God’s guidance.

“St. Joseph had a very important job,” Bishop O’Connell said. “What does this teach us? It shows us that we can trust God, just like St. Joseph did,” he said. “Sometimes, God might ask us to do things that feel a little scary or difficult, but when we trust God and do what He asks, amazing things can happen.”

Bishop O’Connell concluded, “What can we learn from St. Joseph today? We can learn to be helpful without expecting a reward; we can learn to listen to God and trust Him even when it’s hard, and we can learn that true strength comes from love.”

A highlight of the Mass was the renewal of vows by those who serve the St. Rose Parish and schools in many roles – Sisters of St. Joseph Therese Dowd, Lois Jablonski, Marie O’Hagan, Joyce Valese and Jeanette Weychert, and Sister Donna. Members of the high school senior class presented the women with floral bouquets.

The Sisters of St. Joseph of Philadelphia trace their origins and spirit

The Sisters living in the convent on the campus of St. Rose Parish, Belmar, smile as Bishop O’Connell passes by at the end of the Mass he celebrated for the Feast of St. Joseph. Mike Ehrmann photos

The bleachers in the gym of St. Rose High School were filled with students from both the high school and grammar school, their teachers, faculty members and staff.

Presentation on the Blessed Mother May 8 in Medford parish

With the goal of encouraging others to deepen their connection with Mary, the Mother of God, a program on the Blessed Mother is being offered in St. Mary of the Lakes Parish, Medford, May 8. Titled “Journey Through Time with Mary” the presentation will highlight the Blessed Mother’s apparitions in Guadalupe, Mexico; Champion, Wisc., and her help at the Battle of Lepanto. Presenters include Father Daniel Swift, pastor, and other parishioners. The session will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the church, 40 Jackson Rd., Medford. Advanced registration is not necessary to attend and there is no fee.

“The session promises to be a profound journey of reflection and spiritual renewal,” stated program organizer Garry Roetteger. “The program is designed to accompany Mary on a spiritual journey, exploring the significant role she plays in our lives and the history of humanity. Throughout history, God has sent his mother to lead us back to his love, and these sessions aim to delve into this divine mission. We need Mary’s guidance in today’s uncertain times.”

Roettger reflected on the Catholic Church’s strong devotion to Mary, who “enables us to be closer to Jesus.”

“She is not simply a gentle, pleasant behind-the-scenes mom, she was created to participate in the ultimate purpose, the ultimate sacrifice and the ultimate reward which is Christ’s plan to save us from death and share with us the rewards of eternal salvation,” Roettger said.

“Mary was the only human being present for Christ’s Birth and Crucifixion and all key events in between. Her walking with Christ reveals our highest yearning to walk with Christ, through trial and joy, as we strive for the new Garden of Eden in heaven where we will walk with God for all eternity.”

For more information about upcoming presentations, visit smlparish.org.

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The Cross & Shamrock’s 40 years of blending culture and faith

BY MARY STADNYK  Associate Editor

Ann Bauersachs’ dream of owning her own business where she would sell Irish items and religious goods together became a reality. And on April 8, The Cross & Shamrock will celebrate its 40th anniversary as a business, a ministry and, as its website states, “the go-to store for special occasions like Baptisms, First Holy Communions and weddings.”

“The two complemented each other,” said Bauersachs. “The vision of the business has always been to show pride and love of my upbringing in a large Irish Catholic family by making religious and Irish goods readily available.”

 “The one thing that has always stayed constant is our loyal customer base.”

Bauersachs, a member of Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony Parish, Hamilton, started Cross & Shamrock with Anne Alloway, who was a friend and colleague from St. Francis Medical Center, Trenton, where Bauersachs had been employed. The store, initially located on Nottingham Way in Hamilton, opened April 8, 1985. A grand opening celebration was held later in the month with Msgr. Edward O’Keefe, pastor of the town’s Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, blessing the store, and Mayor Jack Rafferty cutting the ribbon. Two years later, Alloway got married and Bauersachs’ husband, Leonard, took over as his wife’s business partner and co-owner. Mr. Bauersachs died in 2017.

“Len was instrumental in making the business successful,” Bauersachs said, noting that the success was attributed to relocating several times and even operating two stores simultaneously. Eighteen years ago, the business returned to being one store at its

Ann Bauersachs, founder and retired owner of The Cross & Shamrock, right, is pictured with, from left, her son, Tim Bauersachs, store manager; granddaughter, Carolan, and daughter, Erin, who is holding a First Holy Communion dress. Courtesy photo

current location, 1669 Route 33 in Hamilton Square, which is in a heavily traveled area and near St. Gregory the Great Parish.

“The store has grown in both size and content,” said Bauersachs. Year-round the store specializes in Irish imports, gifts and religious items and liturgical resources. But there are certain times when merchandise is in abundance. Around St. Patrick’s Day, Irish goods are prominently featured, and with First Holy Communion season in the spring, there are display racks and shelves of attire and necessities for both boys and girls. Shoppers can find an array of gifts, decorations and necessities for Christmas and Easter as well.

“We have experienced so many changes over the years,” she said. “But the one thing that has always stayed constant is our loyal customer base.”

Though Bauersachs officially retired in October, she’s a permanent fixture at the store, lending a hand and offering her business expertise to the staff, including her son, Tim, the store’s manager.

On April 8, a 40th anniversary open house will be held from noon to 6 p.m. Light refreshments will be served and that day the store will begin offering 40 days of discounts on specific items in store.

“So come on over, take a look around and spend some time celebrating with us. We’d love to see you there,” Bauersachs said.

Library transformed into new Adoration chapel at Marlton parish

Parishioners and staff of St. Isaac Jogues Parish, Marlton, gathered March 30 to witness the unveiling of the church’s new Adoration Chapel of the Sacred Heart. Attendees at the 11 a.m. Mass processed out of the sanctuary and down the hall to the chapel for its blessing.

“I wanted to burst into happy tears,” parishioner Leslie Westhead said. “I have never felt a greater love in my entire life.”

Fellow parishioner Debbie Hammond said that St. Isaac Jogues pastor, Father James Smith, “made a promise that he would give us a chapel, and he kept that promise. ... He’s given us so much.”

When Father Smith arrived at St. Isaac’s in July 2023, the parish was in the process of creating new staff offices. The room that eventually became the Adoration chapel was a disused parish library.

“Adoration has been such an important part of my journey to the priesthood and continues to play a big role in my life today,” Father Smith said. “Having a place where you can go to be close to the Lord is life-changing, and I wanted to provide that availability to our parishioners.”

A separate door was added so that the chapel could remain open later. The parish already had an additional tabernacle, and the altar was obtained from storage in the Diocese of Trenton’s

Local teens awarded memorial scholarship

The Mercer County Federation of Holy Name Societies held its 69th annual ceremony honoring the life of Msgr. Richard T. Crean, during which a memorial scholarship is traditionally distributed to a graduating high school senior.

This year’s celebration, held March 23 in St. Raphael-Holy Angels Parish, Hamilton, recognized local students, Charlotte G. Miller and Domenic A. Lipari, each of whom received $1,000 toward tuition at the college of their choice.

The scholarship commemorates the service of Msgr. Crean, a priest of the Di-

At left, Father James Smith incenses the tabernacle in the new Adoration chapel in St. Isaac Jogues Church, Marlton. Below, parishioners enter the newly blessed chapel. Elizabeth Zimak photos.

Chancery building. The three pews, which can seat approximately nine people total, were acquired from the former Adoration chapel at Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony Parish, Hamilton. Those particular pews hold special meaning for Father Smith, who had frequented them while discerning the priesthood. He contacted the OLS-SA pastor, Msgr. Thomas Gervasio, for permission to repurpose the pews.

“It was a very full-circle moment for me,” Father Smith said.

– By Elizabeth Zimak, Correspondent

Charlotte G. Miller and Dominic A. Lipari were honored as Msgr. Richard T. Crean Scholarship award recipients for 2025. Here the students are both pictured with Msgr. John K. Dermond, a retired priest of the Diocese and moderator of the Mercer County Federation of Holy Name Societies, and Wilfredo Serrano, chairman of the scholarship committee. Courtesy photos ocese who gave his life during the March 14, 1956, fire in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral in Trenton, alongside two housekeepers.

The March 23 ceremony followed a Mass celebrated in memory of Msgr. Crean. The ceremony, held in the parish center, was attended by more than 85

people including members of the Holy Name Society, parishioners, friends and family members of the two student honorees. The breakfast also included remarks by Msgr. John K. Dermond, a retired priest of the Diocese and federation moderator.

– By Elise Stankus, Correspondent

Students

Parishes explore Italy for Jubilee pilgrimage

Some 29 pilgrims from Nativity Parish, Fair Haven, and Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Moorestown, recently returned from a pilgrimage to Italy for the Jubilee Year of Hope, including Nativity’s pastor, Father Christopher Picollo, and Our Lady of Good Counsel pastor, Father James Grogan.

Embarking March 24, social media posts revealed a daily account of the group’s activities. Guided by Journey of Faith Tours – owned and operated by Carolyn Norbut, associate director of the Diocese’s Office of Worship – pilgrims had an opportunity to visit many sites of historical and spiritual interest.

Father Picollo and Father Grogan concelebrated daily Masses in several of the churches the group visited. Multiple Holy Door experiences were on the itinerary, including passing through the designated doors in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, St. Mary Major and St. John Lateran.

Rome highlights included participation in a Jubilee procession through Piazza Pia to the Holy Door in St. Peter’s Basilica, and visits to St. Peter in Chains Church; the Coliseum; Castle Sant Angelo; the Scala Santa (Sacred Steps) and the Pantheon.

The pilgrims spent time at the Cathedral of Orvieto to view the Eucharistic Miracle of Bolsena; at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels – site of the first Chapel of St. Francis of Assisi; the tomb of St. Francis and the Church of St. Clare as well as the resting place of Blessed Carlo Acutis, who will be canonized April 27, and a sacred art exhibition. Siena offered an opportunity for Mass and a Eucharistic blessing at the Basilica of St. Francis in the Eucharistic Miracle Chapel, and sites associated with St. Catherine of Siena.

Brick parish begins new building project

St. Dominic Parish, Brick, celebrated the groundbreaking for an upcoming building project March 25. The new addition, which will include a functioning bell tower, gift shop, and coffee house, was celebrated by clergy, parishioners and youth from St. Dominic School in a ceremony which coincided with the Feast of the Annunciation.

For the church and school community, the project is more than a simple construction, but “a response to three sacred calls,” stated Father Brian Woodrow, pastor. Each of these calls represents a facet of the life that each Christian is called to: the invitations to prayer, catechesis and hospitality.

The project is rooted in the community’s devotion to prayer, “as the future bell tower will rise to call hearts to worship, to silence and to God’s presence in our daily lives,” Father Woodrow stated. In addition, the catechetical power will shine forth “as the gift shop will become a place of formation, truth, and evangelization for all who seek to know Christ” and the project will fulfill the call to hospitality as “the coffee house will provide a space of welcome and fellowship, where community and Christ-centered friendship can flourish,” he said.

The ceremony included the ceremonial groundbreaking with a golden shovel emblazoned with the project’s logo and the date of the ceremony. The event was also marked with a performance from the parish’s youth choir.

For the people of the parish, it was fitting that the first step of the historic project took place on the Feast of the Annunciation, Father Woodrow said, adding that “Just as the Angel Gabriel announced God’s plan to Mary, and she responded with her faithful ‘yes,’ we, too, say ‘yes’ to God’s call in our time.” – By Elise Stankus, correspondent

Pilgrims gather in front of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls.

Father James Grogan, left, and Father Christopher Picollo concelebrate Mass for their parish pilgrims in Italy. Facebook photos

Father Brian Woodrow, pastor of St. Dominic Parish, Brick, is joined by parish members for a ceremonial groundbreaking on a new building project for the parish campus. Courtesy photo

In Memoriam

DEACON LUHMAN, WHO MINISTERED IN FREEHOLD PARISH, DIES

Deacon Andrew G. Luhman, a resident of Freehold, died April 1.

Funeral arrangements had not been finalized as of press time.

Deacon Luhman was ordained a deacon May 9, 2009, by Bishop John M. Smith in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, and was assigned to St. Rose of Lima Parish, Freehold.

He was predeceased by his wife, Miriam, who died in July 2017.

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SCHOOL REPS TESTIFY FOR NURSING FUNDS

Continued from 45

Upon experiencing shortness of breath during gym class, Collins visited his school nurse; she suspected bronchitis and recommended he see a doctor, who confirmed the diagnosis and prescribed an inhaler.

“I also have a recurring medical condition that requires me to visit the nurse’s office on a regular basis,” Collins explained. “I am fortunate

that the funding for which I am entitled enabled my school to hire excellent nurses.”

He pointed out that not all schools in the Diocese can afford full-time nurses with the funding as it stands – “a scary reality, especially considering that nurses are usually the first responders to a wide array of school emergencies,” he said.

“This is also exacerbated by the fact that there is a lack of school nurses who can afford to work in nonpublic schools. In addition, the cost for the

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proper qualifications has increased.”

Dr. George V. Corwell, NJCC’s director of education, had previously testified before the Assembly Budget Committee March 19 on the funding issue. He said that crucial moments slip by between an emergency and arrival of emergency services.

“With the lack of availability of nurses … and the time delay for the arrival of EMTs, there could be life-threatening scenarios,” Dr. Corwell said. “I note that in some of these afterschool settings, the tim-

ing is critical because of injuries that may take place on school athletic fields, playgrounds, etc.”

In the latest hearing, Milecki emphasized the need for safety and equity. She said, “We ask that you help us ensure the health and safety of non-public school students by supporting this modest funding increase so they are afforded the same standard of care as their peers in public schools.”

The Archaeology of the New Testament: The Life of Jesus

The Archaeology of the New Testament: The Life of Jesus

For more information visit njcatholic.org/budget-and-policy-issues.

Mary Stadnyk, associate editor of The Monitor, contributed information for this story.

VATICAN STATS

Continued from 17 Baptisms is in Africa (35.9%) and the lowest is in Europe and the Middle East.

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The Catholic Church had 5,430 bishops at the end of 2023, an increase of 77 bishops from 2022. The majority of them are serving in the Americas and Europe.

The total number of diocesan and religious order priests decreased by 734 men to a total of 406,996, the Vatican office said. The only significant increase in the number of diocesan and religious order priests was in Africa and Asia, which was not enough to offset the declines in the Americas and Europe.

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While the number of religious-order priests had increased by 297 men in 2022, the number went down to 128,254 in 2023, about what it had been in 2021. The number of diocesan priests continued to decrease globally with 278,742 men at the end of 2023.

The yearbook also offered a chart tracking the overall change to the number of diocesan clergy from 2013 to 2023 by calculating how

Continued on 73

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BY RICH FISHER  Contributing Editor:

 Veteran Donovan Catholic softball team looks to regain some titles

 Award presentations highlight the 2025 CYO High School All-Star Basketball Games

 State final loss can’t diminish St. Rose basketball’s success over the past three seasons

 SJV and CBA combine for three champs, 10 other place-winners in state wrestling

 St. Rose boys basketball wins third straight SJ B title, faces Roselle Catholic for state crown

 Notre Dame freshman Lowery wins gold medal in MOC swimming

New story every Friday!

Go to TrentonMonitor.com and click on NEWS>SPORTS.

Senior third baseman Gia Gordon makes a throw from third base during a Donovan Catholic scrimmage. Photo by Victoria Hay

MAY 15 th - 20 th

ENDOWMENT MONIES AVAILABLE

Applications are now being accepted for grants from the Bishop George W. Ahr Endowment Fund. These grants are available to any church, office, apostolate or ministry within the Diocese of Trenton attempting to provide services for needy and vulnerable. Requests for funds should not exceed $2,500.

 Applications may be obtained by contacting Grace Magee at the Chancery & Pastoral Center of the Diocese of Trenton: gmagee@dioceseoftrenton.org or by visiting: dioceseoftrenton.org/bishop-ahr-endowment-fund.

All completed applications must be postmarked no later than Monday, June 2, 2025, OR emailed as a PDF to gmagee@dioceseoftrenton.org by 4:00 p.m. Monday, June 2, 2025.

VATICAN STATS

Continued from 70 many of those already serving were newly ordained, minus those who died and those who left the priesthood. It showed there was modest growth from 2013 to 2016 (0.31% to 0.05%) followed by a negative rate starting in 2017 that peaked in 2020 during the pandemic (-0.73%). The rate was recorded at -0.45% in 2021 and -0.12% in 2022.

The number of Catholics per priest increased slightly to 3,453 from 3,408 Catholics per priest in 2022.

The total number of religious brothers continued to decrease in 2023 from 49,414 to 48,748 and the total number of religious women, it said, was down to 589,423 from

599,228 at the end of 2022 – a decrease of 9,805 women or 1.64%.

The number of permanent deacons continued to increase. There were 51,433 permanent deacons at the end of 2023 – a 2.54% increase over the previous year, with the highest numbers being in the Americas.

The number of seminarians continued to decrease globally with a 1.67% average rate of decline from 2018 to 2023. There were 106,495 seminarians at the end of 2023 with the only growth – 383 men – being in Africa.

The number of Catholic weddings celebrated around the world in 2023 was down from 1.97 million in 2022 to 1.85 million; of those, about 10.3% involved a Catholic marrying a non-Catholic.

Open House Open House

SCRIPTURE SEARCH

Gospel for April 13, 2025  Luke 19: 28-40

Following is a word search based on the processional Gospel reading for the feast of Pentecost, Cycle C. The words can be found in all directions in the puzzle.

BETHPAGE BETHANY HE SENT

DISCIPLES OPPOSITE ANYONE HAS NEED FOUND THE ROAD

MOUNT WHOLE MULTITUDE

MIGHTY THE NAME LORD

PEACE HEAVEN GLORY

HIGHEST SILENT STONES

TEST YOUR CATHOLIC KNOWLEDGE

ACROSS

3 Exodus infestation

9 Chapter and ___

10 Joshua was buried in this hill country

Answers on back cover.

11 “…___ to your Father in secret” (Mt 6:6)

12 Marriage vows

13 “…whatever you did for one of these ___ brothers of mine…” (Mt 25:40)

15 Diocese in Quebec

16 Representative of the pope

17 What Catholics receive on the first day of Lent

20 Biblical bad weather

22 Color of Ordinary Time

23 Canonized pope known as “the Great”

25 “___ Fideles”

26 Patriarch respite, perhaps

29 Laying on of ___

31 Land of Sts. Brendan and Brigid

32 Diocese opening

35 Aaron’s staff turned into this

36 Direction from Nazareth to Jerusalem

37 First of the twelve Minor Prophets

1 Charitable group (abbr.)

2 ___ Minor (Franciscan Order)

3 “Many are invited, but ___ are chosen” (Mt 22:14)

4 Book between Amos and Jonah

5 Story of St. Thomas More, A Man for All ___

6 Epistle after Eph

7 Heaven

8 Catholic Charities fundraiser dinner is named for him

14 Sea of refuge for David

15 Brought by a wise man

18 “Take and ___; this is my body.” (Mt 26:26)

19 Grandson of Adam

21 Bishop of a diocese

22 God’s description of creation

23 Day on which God rested

24 Site of Marian apparition

27 ___ of Turin

28 Two epistles after Colossians (abbr.)

30 Gaudium et ___

33 Author of Catholic for a Reason and convert to Catholicism

34 First book of the prophets (abbr.)

ST. JOSEPH SISTERS HONORED

to six women who came together in 1650 in war-ravaged LePuy, France, with great desires for union with God, among themselves and with their neighbors, explains the order’s website. They were among the first to create religious life for women outside cloister.

The congregation flourished until the French Revolution at the end of the 18th century. In 1836, the rejuvenated order began its work in St. Louis, Mo.; subsequent groups gained a toehold all over the United States and Canada. The Sisters arrived at St. Rose High School at the invitation of Bishop Thomas J. Walsh in 1923.

Robert J. Dougherty, a 2005 alumnus of St. Rose High School, said the Sisters of St. Joseph played a profound role in shaping his formative years. Now serving as the school’s principal, he maintained the religious “instilled in me a deep appreciation for faith, service, and the importance of community – values that remain at the heart of Catholic education [and] a tangible connection to the mission and identity of our school, reinforcing the values of service, unity and love of God.”

After the Mass, Bishop O’Connell, Msgr. Arnister and Father Del Rosario continued the feast day celebration at Joe’s Deli in Spring Lake where Bishop O’Connell blessed the St. Joseph Table that was filled with a variety of tasty sweets. Present for the blessing, which is a nine-year deli tradition, was Joe Valentino, owner and a parishioner of Christ the King Parish, Long Branch; town officials, and Msgr. Sam Sirianni, rector of St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold.

“Usually, Msgr. Ed does the blessing but told me this year the Bishop would. You couldn’t fit another person in here,” Valentino said, describing the scene. “Having the Bishop here was so special.”

Valentino recalled his Sicilian grandmother preparing many of the traditional foods on the St. Joseph Table, which included meatless dishes (since the feast falls during Lent) with breadcrumbs (representing sawdust, since St. Joseph was a carpenter), fava beans (believed to have saved Sicily from drought during the Middle Ages); lemons and pastries such as zeppole and Pane di San Giuseppe, or St. Joseph’s Bread baked in a round loaf and engraved with a cross.

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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Empowering men to live their faith at home, in their parish, at work and in their communities.

Empowering men to live their faith at home, in their parish, at work and in their communities.

As we begin the renewal season of spring, membership in the Knights of Columbus can offer men an opportunity for growth and a renewal of spirit in service to others by fulfilling our order’s central vision to engage in charitable works, to serve the Church, to support brother Knights, to act for the good of our country, and to give aid to those in need.