More Good News

Bishop Serratelli made a pastoral visit to St. Paul Church in Clifton where he celebrated the vigil Mass for Palm Sunday on April 13. During the Mass, palms were blessed by the Bishop to mark Jesus triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Palm Sunday begins Holy Week.

Bishop Serratelli served as main celebrant and homilist of Mass on Palm Sunday April 14 in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson. Palm Sunday commemorates the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem when palm branches were placed in his path, before his arrest on Holy Thursday and his crucifixion on Good Friday.

Long before starting her new position as coordinator of faith and leadership formation for the diocesan Office of Hispanic Ministry in Madison, Maria Moncaleano of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Passaic had been serving as a “missionary disciple” of Christ through a series professional and volunteer leadership experiences in her home parish, in the Diocese and beyond. Over the past two years, she has been instrumental in helping to guide the Diocese through V Encuentro — part of a four-year process to revitalize Hispanic Ministry in the U.S.

The diocesan Office of Hispanic Ministry has wasted little time in addressing the five pastoral priorities for serving the ever-growing Spanish-speaking population in the Church of Paterson that were selected during a diocesan gathering last year of 400 delegates from Hispanic ministries in 32 parishes. The gathering was part of V Encuentro — a four-year process to help revitalize Hispanic ministry in the U.S. Their priorities for the Diocese focused on the areas of social assistance, faith formation, marriage and family life, youth and young adults and the Office of Hispanic Ministry.

Picture being in a packed baseball stadium with fans cheering. It’s the bottom of the ninth. Two outs. The bases are loaded. Zach Drexler steps up to home plate with a bat in his hands ready to deliver a hit to win the game. The 30-year-old Drexler said that’s how he looks at his life, like a baseball game. “My life and the decisions I make are in my hands alone,” he said.

Bishop Serratelli made a pastoral visit to St. Francis DeSales Parish in the McAfee section of Vernon April 6 where he celebrated the vigil Mass for the Fifth Sunday of Lent. During the Mass, the Bishop administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to young people of the parish. The Bishop also named Father Christopher Barkhausen as pastor of St. Francis. He was serving the parish as its administrator.

Bishop Serratelli made a pastoral visit to St. Mary Church in Denville April 7 where he celebrated Mass for the Fifth Sunday of Lent. During the Mass, he also administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to young people of the parish.