To know everything about Mary as the mother of Jesus and the model of discipleship, consider the Blessed Mother through the prism of the “theology of grace”: “her relationship to the person of God,” suggests Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. That’s what the extensive writings and teachings and of Pope Benedict have indicated, declared Marianist Father Johann Roten, an internationally recognized scholar and authority on Mary.

The Diocese’s Serra Club of Paterson was formed in 1958 and since that time, this lay apostolate made up of professional businessmen and women, has been dedicated to fostering vocations and helping to fund seminarian education. Their help is critical to the formation of seminarians in their preparation for the priesthood. Given the fact that the Diocese of Paterson had the most men called to ordination to the priesthood in the nation on July 1 when Bishop Serratelli ordained 13 men in St. John’s Cathedral, Paterson, the work of the Serra Club cannot be underestimated.

Bishop Serratelli had the joyful distinction of ordaining the largest ordination class in the nation to the priesthood July 1 in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson. This was a historic moment for the Diocese of Paterson. It was the first ordination to take place in the cathedral since the reopening of the diocese’s Mother Church one week ago. The last priesthood ordination to take place in the cathedral was on June 19, 2010 when six priests were ordained. The 13 new priests come from many diverse cultural backgrounds and life experiences.