Bishop Serratelli made a pastoral visit to St. Mary Parish in Dover March 25 where he celebrated the vigil Mass for the Fourth Sunday of Lent, also known as Laetare Sunday, marking the midpoint of the Lenten season. The Bishop wore a traditional rose vestment for the celebration of the Mass for Laetare (Latin for “rejoice”) Sunday because the color rose is seen as a sign of joy.
On Sunday, March 26, Bishop Serratelli presided over the annual combined Boy Scout and Girl Scout Sunday Mass in St. Peter the Apostle Church in Parsippany. At the Mass, he presented Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts with religious awards and special Boy Scout recognition for adult leaders.
Bishop Serratelli made a pastoral visit to Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Rockaway March 26 on the Fourth Sunday of Lent, also known as Laetare Sunday. Laetare Sunday takes its name from the Latin word which begins the entrance antiphon (introit) for that day. Laetare means rejoice, and this Sunday at the mid-point of Lent, is marked by a relaxation of the penitential character of the Lenten season.
As Catholics mark the season of Lent with sacrifices, fasting and giving up something, youths at St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish in Sparta are making Lent a time to do more instead of less. The parish’s youth ministry program decided to use the Corporal Works of Mercy as a stepping off place for its Lenten Service program and offered various service opportunities for students in middle school and high school.
The season of Lent encourages Catholics to devote time to praying, fasting and almsgiving — often simple, everyday acts of kindness that more than 100 parishioners of St. Mary’s in Pompton Lakes have committed to performing during each of the 40 days of this liturgical season. Along the way, they have been learning that even the easiest of good deeds, such as giving someone a compliment, not only can brighten the lives of other people, but also can go a long way in improving their own communities — and by extension, the world.
Partners in Faith, the diocesan and capital endowment campaign, has truly been a testament to the importance of faith, family and community with so many generously making pledges to the campaign. More than $61 million was pledged to Partners in Faith, which supports individual parishes, Catholic Charities and the diocese’s social outreaches.
Of all Marian apparitions, those relating to Our Lady of Fatima are among the most famous. On May 13, 1917, siblings Francisco, 9, and Jacinta, 7, and their cousin, 10-year-old Lucia, took their sheep to graze near the Portuguese town of Fatima when they saw a figure of a woman dressed in white and holding a rosary.
Bishop Serratelli made a pastoral visit March 19 to St. Mary Church here and celebrated Mass for the Third Sunday of Lent. During the Mass, Bishop Serratelli administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to young people of the parish.
A “hostile wind” has been kicking up in U.S. society that threatens not only people who profess “traditional moral beliefs” but also, more broadly, the foundation of our freedom of religious expression as enshrined in the First Amendment to the Constitution — one of our basic liberties that many Founding Fathers championed in the early days of the nation.
Expectation and excitement filled the campus of The Catholic Academy of Sussex County as its newest building — Pope John XXIII Middle School in Sparta — opened its doors to greet parents, students, and friends for a welcome and tours on March 13. “The new school building received rave reviews from young and old alike,” according to Craig Austin, vice president for institutional advancement.
Since early this year, members of the Knights of Columbus Don Bosco Council No. 7784 have been delivering a serious message to Confirmation students throughout Sussex County: that schools — including public schools — are not “God-free” zones and that the law mandates them to permit students to express their faith freely.
It’s been a year since the U.S. government declared that Christians, Yazidis and other religious groups in Iraq and Syria were victims of an ongoing genocide committed by ISIS, the Islamic State terrorist organization. At that time, it was seen as a critical first step to end religious persecution, but to this day the attacks continue almost unabated.
Violence and suffering continues unabated for many who once called Aleppo in Syria their home. Last week, while on retreat, Pope Francis offered Mass for the war-torn country and donated 100,000 euros to help the poor in Aleppo. Pope Francis’ gesture reminds all Catholics that serving the least among us, is part of the Church’s central teachings. Hearing the cry of the poor, some Catholics in Morris County have been reaching out to help refugees there.
For parishes that are searching for ways to build more vibrant faith communities that thrive, Parish Catalyst has some tips. The non-profit organization has conducted extensive research that points to four essential practices of dynamic parishes throughout the U.S. These include what the organization calls the “Sunday experience.”
For 33 days, a prayer group called the Barangay of the Virgin journeyed through prayer and reflection for a special consecration to Jesus and Mary. The culmination of this journey took place at St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Parsippany recently. The prayer group consisted of Filipinos in Morris County and neighboring areas, who followed the book, “33 Days to Morning Glory,” by Marian Father Michael Gaitley.
Bishop Serratelli presided at the annual Acies of the Legion of Mary March 12 at the Diocesan Shrine of St. John Paul II at Holy Rosary Church in Passaic. The Legion of Mary is a worldwide organization in which men, women and youth join in prayer and in the apostolic work in union with Our Lady and under the guidance of a priest.
Bishop Serratelli formally installed Father Daniel O’Mullane as pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Boonton March 11 at the vigil Mass for the Second Sunday of Lent. Bishop Serratelli was main celebrant of the Mass and delivered the homily.
Every week, faithfully for 50 years, there has been an edition of The Beacon published to share the Good News with the people of God in the Diocese of Paterson. For five decades, The Beacon has been the official source of this news for the Diocese of Paterson. We have shared in its mission of evangelization by providing news, information, education, a forum for discussion and guidance in matters of faith, morals and spiritual life through our pages.