Faithful invited to close Jubilee Year with bishop in Paterson #Catholic – Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney invites the faithful of the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey to unite in gratitude to God on Sunday, Dec. 28, the Feast of the Holy Family, to close the Jubilee Year of Hope 2025 with a Mass at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J., at 3 p.m. The Jubilee Year of Hope Closing Mass will be the final diocesan event in observance of the Jubilee, which the Universal Church is celebrating. Bishop Sweeney will be the principal celebrant and homilist of the liturgy, which will open with a short procession into the cathedral, the mother church of the diocese. The holy year has been a time for Catholics to have a personal encounter with Jesus and be renewed as Pilgrims of Hope. “This is the Jubilee Year of Hope. We are Pilgrims of Hope. Our world needs hope, and we can share it — the hope that we receive from our faith and love,” Bishop Sweeney has said when inviting the faithful to be part of diocesan Jubilee celebrations. At the Mass, participating faithful will also have the opportunity to receive a Jubilee plenary indulgence, the complete remission of temporal punishment for forgiven sins for oneself or deceased loved ones. The Mass will start at 2:45 p.m. with a short procession of two to four representatives from each of the diocese’s 107 parishes carrying banners of their faith communities from the Rodimer Center and into the cathedral. All other faithful are asked to be seated in St. John’s for the 3 p.m. Mass. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. The Prayer of the Faithful will be prayed in various languages to highlight the diocese’s cultural diversity. Readers will be asked to dress in native clothing. Families from the diocese’s three counties — Morris, Sussex, and Passaic — will present the Gifts of bread and wine. In accordance with Vatican directives that “attention to the poor can be made concrete…[with] authentic acts of charity that can continue after the closing of the Jubilee Year,” the Offertory collection will directly benefit our diocesan Father English Food Pantry in Paterson, N.J., and the Passaic Neighborhood Center for Women. The faithful can contribute with a cash offering or through Venmo using the special QR code provided in the liturgical booklet for the Mass. After Holy Communion, Bishop Sweeney will lead the congregation in a hymn of thanksgiving, Te Deum, also in accordance with a Vatican directive. At this Mass, he will recognize all the pilgrims who participated in the local pilgrimages and those who went with him to Italy. With the words “Spes No Confundit” — Latin for “Hope does not disappoint” (Rom 5:5), the late Pope Francis declared a Jubilee Year of Hope for 2025 with a Bull of Indiction on May 9, 2024, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. The pope rang in the holy year by opening the holy doors at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome last Christmas Eve. In the diocese, Bishop Sweeney opened the Jubilee with a Mass at the cathedral on Dec. 29 last year, the Feast of the Holy Family, in accordance with the pope’s invitation to all bishops worldwide. The diocese held 26 events to help the faithful experience God’s grace. Salesian Sister Theresa Lee, diocesan chancellor and delegate for religious, and Brian Honsberger, formerly of St. Paul Inside the Walls in Madison, N.J., worked with seven committees to coordinate the diocese’s jubilee observances. “It is truly a marvel when we consider that this Holy Year was begun by a pope [Francis] who has guided the Church in reclaiming her roots of living synodal spirituality as Jesus did for our times today and it will be concluded by another pope [Leo XIV] who has from the first words of his pontificate proclaimed peace and unity,” Sister Lee said. “This spirit of goodness, generosity, sacrifice, joy, and the hard work that is needed at times in our journey of holiness has been so evident throughout our diocese, thanks in great part to our local shepherd, Bishop Sweeney, our pastors and priests, and all the faithful who have entered into the Jubilee Year and brought along friends and family.” Sister Lee added, “I am positive that the graces and fruits of this Jubilee Year will continue long past Dec. 28.” Father Jared Brogan, director of the diocesan Office of Worship, who helped coordinate the liturgy with Sister Lee, said, “The closing Mass will be a time for us to thank God for all he has done for us in this Jubilee Year, a special year of prayer, conversion, penance, and grace.” There is free parking for the Mass. All Jubilee point persons Parish representatives need to register for the procession by Dec. 26. 

Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney invites the faithful of the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey to unite in gratitude to God on Sunday, Dec. 28, the Feast of the Holy Family, to close the Jubilee Year of Hope 2025 with a Mass at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J., at 3 p.m.

The Jubilee Year of Hope Closing Mass will be the final diocesan event in observance of the Jubilee, which the Universal Church is celebrating. Bishop Sweeney will be the principal celebrant and homilist of the liturgy, which will open with a short procession into the cathedral, the mother church of the diocese. The holy year has been a time for Catholics to have a personal encounter with Jesus and be renewed as Pilgrims of Hope.

“This is the Jubilee Year of Hope. We are Pilgrims of Hope. Our world needs hope, and we can share it — the hope that we receive from our faith and love,” Bishop Sweeney has said when inviting the faithful to be part of diocesan Jubilee celebrations.

At the Mass, participating faithful will also have the opportunity to receive a Jubilee plenary indulgence, the complete remission of temporal punishment for forgiven sins for oneself or deceased loved ones.

The Mass will start at 2:45 p.m. with a short procession of two to four representatives from each of the diocese’s 107 parishes carrying banners of their faith communities from the Rodimer Center and into the cathedral. All other faithful are asked to be seated in St. John’s for the 3 p.m. Mass.

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

The Prayer of the Faithful will be prayed in various languages to highlight the diocese’s cultural diversity. Readers will be asked to dress in native clothing. Families from the diocese’s three counties — Morris, Sussex, and Passaic — will present the Gifts of bread and wine.

In accordance with Vatican directives that “attention to the poor can be made concrete…[with] authentic acts of charity that can continue after the closing of the Jubilee Year,” the Offertory collection will directly benefit our diocesan Father English Food Pantry in Paterson, N.J., and the Passaic Neighborhood Center for Women. The faithful can contribute with a cash offering or through Venmo using the special QR code provided in the liturgical booklet for the Mass.

After Holy Communion, Bishop Sweeney will lead the congregation in a hymn of thanksgiving, Te Deum, also in accordance with a Vatican directive. At this Mass, he will recognize all the pilgrims who participated in the local pilgrimages and those who went with him to Italy.

With the words “Spes No Confundit” — Latin for “Hope does not disappoint” (Rom 5:5), the late Pope Francis declared a Jubilee Year of Hope for 2025 with a Bull of Indiction on May 9, 2024, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. The pope rang in the holy year by opening the holy doors at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome last Christmas Eve.

In the diocese, Bishop Sweeney opened the Jubilee with a Mass at the cathedral on Dec. 29 last year, the Feast of the Holy Family, in accordance with the pope’s invitation to all bishops worldwide. The diocese held 26 events to help the faithful experience God’s grace.

Salesian Sister Theresa Lee, diocesan chancellor and delegate for religious, and Brian Honsberger, formerly of St. Paul Inside the Walls in Madison, N.J., worked with seven committees to coordinate the diocese’s jubilee observances.

“It is truly a marvel when we consider that this Holy Year was begun by a pope [Francis] who has guided the Church in reclaiming her roots of living synodal spirituality as Jesus did for our times today and it will be concluded by another pope [Leo XIV] who has from the first words of his pontificate proclaimed peace and unity,” Sister Lee said. “This spirit of goodness, generosity, sacrifice, joy, and the hard work that is needed at times in our journey of holiness has been so evident throughout our diocese, thanks in great part to our local shepherd, Bishop Sweeney, our pastors and priests, and all the faithful who have entered into the Jubilee Year and brought along friends and family.”

Sister Lee added, “I am positive that the graces and fruits of this Jubilee Year will continue long past Dec. 28.”

Father Jared Brogan, director of the diocesan Office of Worship, who helped coordinate the liturgy with Sister Lee, said, “The closing Mass will be a time for us to thank God for all he has done for us in this Jubilee Year, a special year of prayer, conversion, penance, and grace.”

There is free parking for the Mass.

All Jubilee point persons Parish representatives need to register for the procession by Dec. 26. 

Faithful invited to close Jubilee Year with bishop in Paterson #Catholic –

Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney invites the faithful of the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey to unite in gratitude to God on Sunday, Dec. 28, the Feast of the Holy Family, to close the Jubilee Year of Hope 2025 with a Mass at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J., at 3 p.m.

The Jubilee Year of Hope Closing Mass will be the final diocesan event in observance of the Jubilee, which the Universal Church is celebrating. Bishop Sweeney will be the principal celebrant and homilist of the liturgy, which will open with a short procession into the cathedral, the mother church of the diocese. The holy year has been a time for Catholics to have a personal encounter with Jesus and be renewed as Pilgrims of Hope.

“This is the Jubilee Year of Hope. We are Pilgrims of Hope. Our world needs hope, and we can share it — the hope that we receive from our faith and love,” Bishop Sweeney has said when inviting the faithful to be part of diocesan Jubilee celebrations.

At the Mass, participating faithful will also have the opportunity to receive a Jubilee plenary indulgence, the complete remission of temporal punishment for forgiven sins for oneself or deceased loved ones.

The Mass will start at 2:45 p.m. with a short procession of two to four representatives from each of the diocese’s 107 parishes carrying banners of their faith communities from the Rodimer Center and into the cathedral. All other faithful are asked to be seated in St. John’s for the 3 p.m. Mass.

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

The Prayer of the Faithful will be prayed in various languages to highlight the diocese’s cultural diversity. Readers will be asked to dress in native clothing. Families from the diocese’s three counties — Morris, Sussex, and Passaic — will present the Gifts of bread and wine.

In accordance with Vatican directives that “attention to the poor can be made concrete…[with] authentic acts of charity that can continue after the closing of the Jubilee Year,” the Offertory collection will directly benefit our diocesan Father English Food Pantry in Paterson, N.J., and the Passaic Neighborhood Center for Women. The faithful can contribute with a cash offering or through Venmo using the special QR code provided in the liturgical booklet for the Mass.

After Holy Communion, Bishop Sweeney will lead the congregation in a hymn of thanksgiving, Te Deum, also in accordance with a Vatican directive. At this Mass, he will recognize all the pilgrims who participated in the local pilgrimages and those who went with him to Italy.

With the words “Spes No Confundit” — Latin for “Hope does not disappoint” (Rom 5:5), the late Pope Francis declared a Jubilee Year of Hope for 2025 with a Bull of Indiction on May 9, 2024, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. The pope rang in the holy year by opening the holy doors at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome last Christmas Eve.

In the diocese, Bishop Sweeney opened the Jubilee with a Mass at the cathedral on Dec. 29 last year, the Feast of the Holy Family, in accordance with the pope’s invitation to all bishops worldwide. The diocese held 26 events to help the faithful experience God’s grace.

Salesian Sister Theresa Lee, diocesan chancellor and delegate for religious, and Brian Honsberger, formerly of St. Paul Inside the Walls in Madison, N.J., worked with seven committees to coordinate the diocese’s jubilee observances.

“It is truly a marvel when we consider that this Holy Year was begun by a pope [Francis] who has guided the Church in reclaiming her roots of living synodal spirituality as Jesus did for our times today and it will be concluded by another pope [Leo XIV] who has from the first words of his pontificate proclaimed peace and unity,” Sister Lee said. “This spirit of goodness, generosity, sacrifice, joy, and the hard work that is needed at times in our journey of holiness has been so evident throughout our diocese, thanks in great part to our local shepherd, Bishop Sweeney, our pastors and priests, and all the faithful who have entered into the Jubilee Year and brought along friends and family.”

Sister Lee added, “I am positive that the graces and fruits of this Jubilee Year will continue long past Dec. 28.”

Father Jared Brogan, director of the diocesan Office of Worship, who helped coordinate the liturgy with Sister Lee, said, “The closing Mass will be a time for us to thank God for all he has done for us in this Jubilee Year, a special year of prayer, conversion, penance, and grace.”

There is free parking for the Mass.

All Jubilee point persons Parish representatives need to register for the procession by Dec. 26.