Graciously hear us, O Lord, when we call upon You,
and grant unto our supplications a calm atmosphere,
that we, who are justly afflicted for our sins,
may, by Your protecting mercy, experience pardon.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Read MoreA reading from the Book of Daniel
1:1-6, 8-20
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah,
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came
and laid siege to Jerusalem.
The Lord handed over to him Jehoiakim, king of Judah,
and some of the vessels of the temple of God;
he carried them off to the land of Shinar,
and placed the vessels in the temple treasury of his god.
The king told Ashpenaz, his chief chamberlain,
to bring in some of the children of Israel of royal blood
and of the nobility, young men without any defect,
handsome, intelligent and wise,
quick to learn, and prudent in judgment,
such as could take their place in the king’s palace;
they were to be taught the language and literature of the Chaldeans;
after three years’ training they were to enter the king’s service.
The king allotted them a daily portion of food and wine
from the royal table.
Among these were men of Judah: Daniel, Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah.
But Daniel was resolved not to defile himself
with the king’s food or wine;
so he begged the chief chamberlain to spare him this defilement.
Though God had given Daniel the favor and sympathy
of the chief chamberlain, he nevertheless said to Daniel,
"I am afraid of my lord the king;
it is he who allotted your food and drink.
If he sees that you look wretched
by comparison with the other young men of your age,
you will endanger my life with the king."
Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief chamberlain
had put in charge of Daniel, Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah,
"Please test your servants for ten days.
Give us vegetables to eat and water to drink.
Then see how we look in comparison with the other young men
who eat from the royal table,
and treat your servants according to what you see."
He acceded to this request, and tested them for ten days;
after ten days they looked healthier and better fed
than any of the young men who ate from the royal table.
So the steward continued to take away
the food and wine they were to receive, and gave them vegetables.
To these four young men God gave knowledge and proficiency
in all literature and science,
and to Daniel the understanding of all visions and dreams.
At the end of the time the king had specified for their preparation,
the chief chamberlain brought them before Nebuchadnezzar.
When the king had spoken with all of them,
none was found equal to Daniel, Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah;
and so they entered the king’s service.
In any question of wisdom or prudence which the king put to them,
he found them ten times better
than all the magicians and enchanters in his kingdom.
From the Gospel according to Luke
21:1-4
When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy people
putting their offerings into the treasury
and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins.
He said, "I tell you truly,
this poor widow put in more than all the rest;
for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth,
but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood."
The works of mercy are the most secure and profitable bank where we can entrust the treasure of our existence, because there, as the Gospel teaches us, with “two small copper coins” even the poor widow becomes the richest person in the world (…).
To understand what he means by this, we can think of a mother who embraces her children: is she not the most beautiful and richest person in the world? Or a boyfriend and girlfriend, when they are together: do they not feel like king and queen? We could think of many other examples.
Therefore, wherever we are, in the family, parish, school or workplace, we should try not to miss any opportunity to act with love. This is the type of vigilance that Jesus asks of us: to grow in the habit of being attentive, ready and sensitive to one another, just as he is with us in every moment. (Pope Leo XIV, Angelus, 10 August 2025)
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A celebration of liturgical music is the focus of the Jubilee Mass Nov. 23, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media
Rome Newsroom, Nov 23, 2025 / 13:10 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Sunday praised the “precious” ministry of liturgical music and told choir members from around the world that their service at the altar must be sustained above all by a deep life of prayer. He later used his pre-Angelus remarks to appeal for the release of hostages kidnapped in Nigeria and Cameroon and to encourage young people on World Youth Day.
The pope celebrated Mass in St. Peter’s Square for the Jubilee of Choirs on the Solemnity of Christ the King, telling choristers and musicians that their vocation is to lead God’s people into the mystery of worship.
“Dear choristers and musicians, today you celebrate your jubilee and you show thanks to the Lord for granting you the gift and grace to serve him by offering your voices and talents for his glory and for the spiritual edification of your brothers and sisters,” he said in his homily. “Your task is to draw others into the praise of God and to help them to participate more fully in the liturgy through song.”
‘A true ministry’ rooted in prayer
Drawing on the day’s responsorial psalm, “Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord” (Psalm 122), Pope Leo said the liturgy calls Christians “to walk together in praise and joy toward the encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, gentle and humble Sovereign.”
“His power is love, his throne the Cross, and through the Cross his Kingdom shines forth upon the world,” he said. “From the wood he reigns as Prince of Peace and King of Justice who, in his Passion, reveals to the world the immense mercy of God’s heart. This love is also the inspiration and motive for your singing.”
Pope Leo described singing as a uniquely human way of expressing what words alone cannot say.
“Music can give expression to the whole range of feelings and emotions that arise within us from a living relationship with reality,” he said, adding that “singing, in particular, constitutes a natural and refined expression of the human being: mind, feelings, body and soul come together to communicate the great events of life.”
Quoting St. Augustine, he recalled that “ ‘Cantare amantis est’ … that is, ‘singing belongs to those who love.’”
For Christians, he continued, liturgical song is more than performance. “For the people of God, song expresses invocation and praise,” he said. “Liturgical music thus becomes a precious instrument through which we carry out our service of praise to God and express the joy of new life in Christ.”
The pope underlined that choir members exercise a genuine ecclesial service, especially in the liturgy.
“You belong to choirs that carry out their ministry primarily in liturgical settings. Yours is a true ministry that requires preparation, commitment, mutual understanding and, above all, a deep spiritual life, so that when you sing, you both pray and help everyone else to pray,” he said.
This ministry, he added, “requires discipline and a spirit of service, especially when preparing for a solemn liturgy or an important event in your communities.”
A ‘small family’ within the larger community
Pope Leo urged choristers not to see themselves as performers set apart from the congregation, but as part of the praying assembly.
“The choir is a small family of individuals united by their love of music and the service they offer. However, remember that the community is your larger family,” he said. “You are not on stage, but rather a part of that community, endeavoring to help it grow in unity by inspiring and engaging its members.”
He acknowledged the ordinary tensions that can arise in any group, but said that even these can become a sign of the Church’s pilgrimage through history.
“We can say to some extent that the choir symbolizes of the Church, which, striving toward its goal, walks through history praising God,” he said. “Even when this journey is beset by difficulties and trials and joyful moments give way to more challenging ones, singing makes the journey lighter, providing relief and consolation.”
Citing both St. Augustine and St. Ignatius of Antioch, the pope presented the choir as a sign of synodality and unity in the Church, in which diverse voices become a single hymn of praise.
“In fact, the different voices of a choir harmonize with each other, giving rise to a single hymn of praise, a luminous symbol of the Church, which unites everyone in love in a single pleasing melody,” he said.
‘Without giving in to the temptation of ostentation’
Pope Leo also encouraged musicians to study the Church’s teaching on sacred music and to resist the impulse to draw attention to themselves rather than to God.
“Strive, therefore, to make your choirs ever harmonious and beautiful, and a brighter image of the Church praising her Lord,” he said. “Study the Magisterium carefully. The conciliar documents set out the norms for carrying out your service in the best possible way.”
“Above all, dedicate yourselves to facilitating the participation of the people of God, without giving in to the temptation of ostentation, which prevents the entire liturgical assembly from actively participating in the singing,” he added. “In this, be an eloquent sign of the Church’s prayer, expressing its love for God through the beauty of music. Take care that your spiritual life is always worthy of the service you perform, so that your ministry may authentically express the grace of the liturgy.”
At the end of his homily, the pope entrusted all choir members to the patron saint of sacred music.
“I place all of you under the protection of Saint Cecilia, the virgin and martyr who raised the most beautiful song of love through her life here in Rome, giving herself entirely to Christ and offering the Church a shining example of faith and love,” he said. “Let us continue singing and once again make our own the invitation of today’s responsorial psalm: ‘Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.’”
Appeal for kidnapped priests, faithful, and students
After Mass and before leading the Angelus, Pope Leo greeted the many choirs and pilgrims present and turned to urgent news from Africa, where priests, lay faithful, and students have been kidnapped in Nigeria and Cameroon.
“I was deeply saddened to learn of the kidnapping of priests, faithful, and students in Nigeria and Cameroon,” he said. “I feel great pain, above all for the many young men and women who have been abducted and for their distressed families.”
“I make a heartfelt appeal for the immediate release of the hostages and urge the competent authorities to take appropriate and timely decisions to ensure their release,” he continued. “Let us pray for these brothers and sisters of ours, and that churches and schools may always and everywhere remain places of safety and hope.”
Recent weeks have seen the kidnapping of a Catholic priest in Kaduna State in northern Nigeria, as well as the abduction of at least two dozen schoolgirls from a secondary school in Kebbi State, amid ongoing attacks on Christian communities and widespread insecurity in several regions of the country.
Nigeria is classified as a “country in a situation of persecution” in the 2025 Religious Freedom in the World report by Aid to the Church in Need, which notes the continued activity of extremist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province, and repeated attacks against churches and Christian communities.
Message to young people and look ahead to Türkiye and Lebanon
Pope Leo also marked the diocesan celebration of World Youth Day, observed this Sunday in local Churches around the globe.
“Today, dioceses around the world are celebrating World Youth Day,” he said. “I bless and spiritually embrace all those taking part in the various celebrations and initiatives.”
“On the feast of Christ the King, I pray that every young person may discover the beauty and joy of following him, the Lord, and dedicating him or herself to his Kingdom of love, justice and peace,” the pope added.
Looking ahead to his upcoming Apostolic Journey, the pope noted that he will soon travel to Türkiye and Lebanon.
“My Apostolic Journey to Türkiye and Lebanon is now close. In Türkiye, the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea will be celebrated. For this reason, the Apostolic Letter In Unitate Fidei is being published today, commemorating this historic event,” he said.
Before beginning the Angelus prayer, he invited the faithful to entrust all these intentions to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
“Now let us turn to the Virgin Mary,” he said, “entrusting all these intentions and our prayer for peace to her maternal intercession.”
Read More
Pope Leo XIV receives Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople at the Vatican on May 30, 2025. / Vatican Media
Vatican City, Nov 23, 2025 / 12:29 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV has called on Christians to move beyond “theological controversies” that no longer serve the cause of unity and to rediscover together the faith professed at the Council of Nicaea 1,700 years ago.
In a new apostolic letter, In unitate fidei (“In the Unity of Faith”), released Nov. 23, the solemnity of Christ the King, the pope links the anniversary of the first ecumenical council to the Holy Year of 2025 and to his upcoming apostolic journey to Türkiye, where he will commemorate Nicaea’s 1700th anniversary and take part in an ecumenical event with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on Nov. 30 before traveling on to Lebanon.
“I would like this Letter to encourage the whole Church to renew her enthusiasm for the profession of faith,” the pope writes, stressing that the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed “for centuries… has been the common heritage of Christians, and it deserves to be professed and understood in ever new and relevant ways.”
In a strong ecumenical appeal, Leo XIV says the Nicene Creed “can be the basis and reference point” for a renewed journey toward full communion among Christians. “It offers us a model of true unity in legitimate diversity. Unity in the Trinity, Trinity in Unity, because unity without multiplicity is tyranny, multiplicity without unity is fragmentation,” he writes.
“We must therefore leave behind theological controversies that have lost their raison d’être in order to develop a common understanding and even more, a common prayer to the Holy Spirit, so that he may gather us all together in one faith and one love,” the pope continues.
“The restoration of unity among Christians does not make us poorer; on the contrary, it enriches us,” he adds, calling the goal of full visible unity “a theological challenge and, even more so, a spiritual challenge, which requires repentance and conversion on the part of all.”
‘This Creed gives us hope’
Linking Nicaea to today’s crises, Leo XIV notes that the Holy Year is dedicated to the theme “Christ our hope” and that the Nicene Creed remains a source of confidence amid war, injustice, and suffering.
“In this Holy Year, dedicated to the theme of Christ our hope, it is a providential coincidence that we are also celebrating the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea,” he writes. That council, he recalls, “proclaimed the profession of faith in Jesus Christ, Son of God. This is the heart of the Christian faith.”
“In these difficult times we are living, amid so many concerns and fears, threats of war and violence, natural disasters, grave injustices and imbalances, and the hunger and misery suffered by millions of our brothers and sisters, this Creed gives us hope,” the pope says.
Leo XIV presents the letter as an invitation for all Christians “to walk in harmony, guarding and transmitting the gift they have received with love and joy,” especially through the words of the Creed: “I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God… for our salvation he came down from heaven.”
Nicaea and the heart of the Christian faith
The pope devotes much of In unitate fidei to explaining the historical and theological context of the Council of Nicaea, which met in 325 to address the Arian controversy over the divinity of Christ.
The dispute, he notes, “concerned the essence of the Christian faith,” namely the answer to Jesus’ question in the Gospel: “Who do you say that I am?” In response, the Nicene Fathers confessed that Jesus is the Son of God “in as much as he is of the substance (ousia) of the Father… ‘begotten, not made, consubstantial (homooúsios) with the Father.’”
“The Fathers of Nicaea were firm in their resolution to remain faithful to biblical monotheism and the authenticity of the Incarnation,” Leo XIV writes. By adopting terms such as “substance” and “consubstantial,” which are not found in Scripture, the Council “did not… replace biblical statements with Greek philosophy,” he explains. Rather, it sought “to affirm biblical faith with clarity and to distinguish it from Arius’ error, which was deeply influenced by Hellenism.”
“The Nicene Creed does not depict a distant, inaccessible and immovable God who rests in himself, but a God who is close to us and accompanies us on our journey in the world, even in the darkest places on earth,” the pope writes. “His immensity is revealed when he makes himself small, laying aside his infinite majesty to become our neighbor in the little ones and in the poor. This revolutionizes pagan and philosophical conceptions of God.”
Leo XIV also highlights the Nicene emphasis on the full humanity of Christ, noting the clarification that the Word “became man.” Against teachings that suggested the Logos only assumed a body, he recalls that later councils made explicit that “in Christ, God assumed and redeemed the whole human being, body and soul.”
Quoting St. Athanasius and the patristic tradition, the pope writes: “Divinization, then, is true humanization (becoming fully human). This is why human existence points beyond itself, seeks beyond itself, desires beyond itself, and is restless until it rests in God.” Only God, he adds, “in his infinity, can satisfy the infinite desire of the human heart, and for this reason the Son of God chose to become our brother and redeemer.”
A call to examine conscience
Beyond doctrine, Leo XIV insists that the Creed must shape Christian life.
“Both the liturgy and the Christian life are thus firmly anchored in the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed: what we profess with our mouths must come from the heart so that we may bear witness to it with our lives,” he writes. “We must therefore ask ourselves: What about our interior reception of the Creed today? Do we experience that it also affects our current situation? Do we understand and live out what we say every Sunday? What do these words mean for our lives?”
“In this sense, the Nicene Creed invites us to examine our conscience,” the pope continues. “What does God mean to me and how do I bear witness to my faith in him? Is the one and only God truly the Lord of my life, or do I have idols that I place before God and his commandments?”
He ties this examination to care for creation and social justice, asking: “How do I treat creation, the work of his hands? Do I exploit and destroy it, or do I use it with reverence and gratitude, caring for and cultivating it as the common home of humanity?”
Echoing the Second Vatican Council, Leo XIV notes that “for many people today, however, God and the question of God have almost no meaning in their lives,” and that Christians themselves bear some responsibility, since “they do not bear witness to the true faith; they hide the true face of God with lifestyles and actions that diverge from the Gospel.”
Instead of proclaiming a merciful God, he laments, “a vengeful God has been presented who instils terror and punishes.”
Following Christ and loving one another
At the center of the Creed, the pope writes, is the confession of Jesus Christ as Lord and God.
“The profession of faith in Jesus Christ, our Lord and God is the center of the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed. This is the heart of our Christian life,” he says. “For this reason, we commit to follow Jesus as our master, companion, brother and friend.”
Following Christ, he continues, “is not a wide and comfortable path,” but “this often demanding or even painful path always leads to life and salvation.”
“If God loves us with all his being, then we too must love one another,” Leo XIV writes. “We cannot love God whom we do not see without loving our brother and sister whom we do see. Love for God without love for neighbor is hypocrisy; radical love for our neighbor, especially love for our enemies, without love for God, requires a ‘heroism’ that would overwhelm and oppress us.”
“In the face of disasters, wars and misery, we bear witness to God’s mercy to those who doubt him only when they experience his mercy through us,” he adds.
Ecumenism as ‘sign of peace and instrument of reconciliation’
Recalling the teaching of Vatican II and St. John Paul II’s 1995 encyclical Ut unum sint, the pope says that in a divided world “the one universal Christian community can be a sign of peace and an instrument of reconciliation, playing a decisive role in the global commitment to peace.”
He notes that, while full visible unity with Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and communities born of the Reformation has not yet been achieved, ecumenical dialogue “founded on one baptism and the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed” has already helped Christians recognize each other as brothers and sisters in Christ and rediscover “the one universal community of Christ’s disciples throughout the world.”
“We share the same faith in the one and only God, the Father of all people; we confess together the one Lord and true Son of God, Jesus Christ, and the one Holy Spirit, who inspires us and impels us towards full unity and the common witness to the Gospel,” he writes. “Truly, what unites us is much greater than what divides us!”
‘Come, divine Comforter’
The letter concludes with a prayer to the Holy Spirit for the renewal of faith and the healing of divisions among Christians.
“Holy Spirit of God, you guide believers along the path of history,” Leo XIV prays. “We thank you for inspiring the Symbols of Faith and for stirring in our hearts the joy of professing our salvation in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, consubstantial with the Father. Without him, we can do nothing.”
“Come, divine Comforter, source of harmony, unite the hearts and minds of believers. Come and grant us to taste the beauty of communion,” he continues. “Come, Love of the Father and the Son, gather us into the one flock of Christ. Show us the ways to follow, so that with your wisdom, we become once again what we are in Christ: one, so that the world may believe.”
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![Pastor installed at N.J.’s oldest parish in West Milford #Catholic - St. Joseph Parish in West Milford, New Jersey’s oldest Catholic faith community, marked three major milestones during a Mass with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney on Nov. 16: the parish’s 260th birthday, the 120th anniversary of its current church, and the installation of its new pastor, Father Jakub Grzybowski.
The rural 300-family Passaic County parish lives that long legacy of faith through liturgical, spiritual, and religious-formation activities, social justice outreaches, and improvement and historical preservation projects. St. Joseph’s is also the oldest Catholic parish in the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey.
St. Joseph Church was filled as Bishop Sweeney served as the principal celebrant and homilist at the Mass. Many priests concelebrated, including Father Grzybowski and Father Zig Peplowski, pastor of St. Cecilia Parish in Rockaway, N.J., and a former pastor of the parish. A diverse congregation of current and former members of St. Joseph’s attended the liturgy.
Bishop Sweeney also installed Grzybowski as pastor during the Mass. The priest was named the parish’s administrator in 2019 and its pastor on March 19 this year.
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“Becoming pastor of St. Joseph’s fills my heart with profound gratitude and humility,” the Polish-born Father Grzybowski said. “What stands out about this parish is its beauty and its quiet, prayerful atmosphere. I love this church, its history, and the way it holds the memories of so many generations. Although it has suffered fires and undergone significant changes during various periods of reformation, the people today are working with tremendous dedication to restore the original character of the oldest church in New Jersey. Their love for this place is visible everywhere, and it inspires me daily.”
St. Joseph’s has embarked on projects to honor its history, such as reinstalling rediscovered altar rails from the earliest days of the current church, which opened in 1905, and installing new side altars to replace those removed years ago, as well as a new ambo. The parish also renovated its pastoral center.
The parish lives out its faith through Masses, Friday Eucharistic adoration, various religious devotions, Bible study, Generations of Faith religious formation, a food pantry, and Disciples of Christ, an evangelization and service group.
In 1765, German immigrants founded the Catholic settlement that became St. Joseph’s upon their arrival in the U.S. In time, Jesuit Father Ferdinand Farmer, also born in Germany, began riding horseback from his parish, St. Joseph in Philadelphia, Penn., to West Milford. In between his twice-yearly visits, these pioneers gathered in their homes to pray. Father Farmer stopped visiting in 1786, and no Masses were celebrated in the area for 25 years. Yet, the faithful continued to pray and catechize.
In 1829, the first church, dedicated to St. Luke, was built. Back in 1880, the renamed St. Joseph was considered a mission church, part of St. Anthony Parish in Butler, N.J., and was administered by Franciscan friars. They would include Father Mychal Judge, St. Joseph’s pastor from 1979 to 1985, and chaplain of the New York City Fire Department, who died in the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.
In 1887, a larger church was built, but it was burnt to the ground in 1904. The current church opened in 1905. In 1956, the Sisters of Charity arrived to administer the parish school, which opened that year. The Franciscans returned the parish to the Paterson Diocese’s administration in 2003. The school closed in 2006.
“To now be installed as pastor in this Jubilee year celebrating 260 years of the parish and 120 years since the church’s rebuilding is meaningful,” Father Grzybowski said. “It feels like stepping into a living story of faith, resilience, and God’s ongoing presence.”
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/pastor-installed-at-n-j-s-oldest-parish-in-west-milford-catholic-st-joseph-parish-in-west-milford-new-jerseys-oldest-catholic-faith-community-marked-three-major-milestones-during.jpg)
Pastor installed at N.J.’s oldest parish in West Milford #Catholic – 
St. Joseph Parish in West Milford, New Jersey’s oldest Catholic faith community, marked three major milestones during a Mass with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney on Nov. 16: the parish’s 260th birthday, the 120th anniversary of its current church, and the installation of its new pastor, Father Jakub Grzybowski.
The rural 300-family Passaic County parish lives that long legacy of faith through liturgical, spiritual, and religious-formation activities, social justice outreaches, and improvement and historical preservation projects. St. Joseph’s is also the oldest Catholic parish in the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey.
St. Joseph Church was filled as Bishop Sweeney served as the principal celebrant and homilist at the Mass. Many priests concelebrated, including Father Grzybowski and Father Zig Peplowski, pastor of St. Cecilia Parish in Rockaway, N.J., and a former pastor of the parish. A diverse congregation of current and former members of St. Joseph’s attended the liturgy.
Bishop Sweeney also installed Grzybowski as pastor during the Mass. The priest was named the parish’s administrator in 2019 and its pastor on March 19 this year.
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
“Becoming pastor of St. Joseph’s fills my heart with profound gratitude and humility,” the Polish-born Father Grzybowski said. “What stands out about this parish is its beauty and its quiet, prayerful atmosphere. I love this church, its history, and the way it holds the memories of so many generations. Although it has suffered fires and undergone significant changes during various periods of reformation, the people today are working with tremendous dedication to restore the original character of the oldest church in New Jersey. Their love for this place is visible everywhere, and it inspires me daily.”
St. Joseph’s has embarked on projects to honor its history, such as reinstalling rediscovered altar rails from the earliest days of the current church, which opened in 1905, and installing new side altars to replace those removed years ago, as well as a new ambo. The parish also renovated its pastoral center.
The parish lives out its faith through Masses, Friday Eucharistic adoration, various religious devotions, Bible study, Generations of Faith religious formation, a food pantry, and Disciples of Christ, an evangelization and service group.
In 1765, German immigrants founded the Catholic settlement that became St. Joseph’s upon their arrival in the U.S. In time, Jesuit Father Ferdinand Farmer, also born in Germany, began riding horseback from his parish, St. Joseph in Philadelphia, Penn., to West Milford. In between his twice-yearly visits, these pioneers gathered in their homes to pray. Father Farmer stopped visiting in 1786, and no Masses were celebrated in the area for 25 years. Yet, the faithful continued to pray and catechize.
In 1829, the first church, dedicated to St. Luke, was built. Back in 1880, the renamed St. Joseph was considered a mission church, part of St. Anthony Parish in Butler, N.J., and was administered by Franciscan friars. They would include Father Mychal Judge, St. Joseph’s pastor from 1979 to 1985, and chaplain of the New York City Fire Department, who died in the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.
In 1887, a larger church was built, but it was burnt to the ground in 1904. The current church opened in 1905. In 1956, the Sisters of Charity arrived to administer the parish school, which opened that year. The Franciscans returned the parish to the Paterson Diocese’s administration in 2003. The school closed in 2006.
“To now be installed as pastor in this Jubilee year celebrating 260 years of the parish and 120 years since the church’s rebuilding is meaningful,” Father Grzybowski said. “It feels like stepping into a living story of faith, resilience, and God’s ongoing presence.”
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
– St. Joseph Parish in West Milford, New Jersey’s oldest Catholic faith community, marked three major milestones during a Mass with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney on Nov. 16: the parish’s 260th birthday, the 120th anniversary of its current church, and the installation of its new pastor, Father Jakub Grzybowski. The rural 300-family Passaic County parish lives that long legacy of faith through liturgical, spiritual, and religious-formation activities, social justice outreaches, and improvement and historical preservation projects. St. Joseph’s is also the oldest Catholic parish in the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey. St. Joseph Church was filled as Bishop Sweeney served as
Catholic faithful in Lebanon welcome Pope Benedict XVI during his visit to the country in 2012. / Credit: Philippe Abou Zeid via Elie Baroud
ACI MENA, Nov 23, 2025 / 09:00 am (CNA).
Anticipation is building across Lebanon as the country prepares to welcome Pope Leo XIV next week. The visit is not without precedent, however. Lebanon has received two other popes in recent history — John Paul II in 1997 and Benedict XVI in 2012. Both trips are remembered as milestones in a nation marked by conflict and resilience.
As preparations intensify, many of those who witnessed previous papal visits are reflecting on their impact and the memories they carry — memories that shape expectations for what Pope Leo’s visit may bring.
Remembering John Paul II in Lebanon
Pope John Paul II arrived in Lebanon in May 1997, carrying the apostolic exhortation “A New Hope for Lebanon.” Robert El Haybe, who was 33 at the time, shared with ACI MENA, CNA’s Arabic-language news partner, his memories of that trip. He remembers the warmth, the welcome, and the streets completely full of people.
“Everyone was there, including Muslims,” he said. “It was extremely beautiful.”
The visit took place during the height of the Syrian occupation of Lebanon, a period marked by political tension and tight control over public expression. At the time, there were concerns among Syrian authorities that the pope’s presence could spark a broader movement or escalate into protests. Many Lebanese Christians drew parallels between Lebanon under Syrian rule and Poland under the Soviet Union, recalling the pivotal role John Paul II played in mobilizing Polish society against communist control.
For this reason, Syrian officials insisted that the trip be strictly pastoral and not political. Yet even within those restrictions, the visit carried a powerful symbolic weight. The enormous crowds, the unity on the streets, and the overwhelming public response demonstrated the deep spiritual and national significance the pope’s presence had for the Lebanese people.
Although the Syrian occupation ended in 2005, not much has changed in Lebanon, El Haybe said. In his view, the war simply changes form: from military confrontation to financial collapse to political paralysis.
Opinions today are divided: Some believe a papal visit can bring real change, while others take a more measured view, seeing it primarily as a moment of prayer and pastoral support rather than an event that will alter political realities.
For El Haybe, the impact of St. John Paul II’s visit was clear: It offered support to Christians who felt abandoned. “Christians are forgotten; no one thinks about us except the pope,” he said, adding that while many countries claim to help Lebanon, “none actually do.” In his view, the pope’s presence, even within limited political influence, honors the people, carries a message of peace, and reminds others that Christians in Lebanon simply want to live together.
Memories of Pope Benedict XVI’s visit
Fifteen years later, Pope Benedict XVI visited Lebanon from Sept. 14–16, 2012. Elie Baroud, a Maronite who was 19 at the time, recalled the tense regional context: The Middle East was in turmoil, and the Syrian civil war had begun spilling over into Lebanon, marking the beginning of a difficult period. Against that backdrop, he said, Pope Benedict’s visit was seen as a light of hope and was eagerly anticipated by millions of Lebanese.
Baroud remembers seeing the pope on Sept. 15, the second day of the trip, when Benedict XVI visited the Synod of Bishops at the Armenian Catholic Patriarchate in Bzommar, the village where his extended family lived.
Baroud carries many beautiful souvenirs from that day. “Looking back now, I feel blessed that I was able to witness the same spiritual revival and hope in my heart as those who were old enough to remember Pope John Paul II’s visit,” he said, noting that John Paul II holds a special place in the heart of every Lebanese Christian.
Baroud noted that he was entering adulthood during an extremely unstable period, when terrorist forces, not yet known as ISIS, threatened to cross the Lebanese border, Hezbollah was actively engaged in the Syrian conflict, and the economy was already showing signs of severe fragility.
“It was an unsettling time; things could erupt at any second,” he said. In that context, Pope Benedict’s visit acted as a shield, a blessing, and a source of comfort, he said, reminding him that Lebanon, and especially its Christians, are not forgotten.
Parallels across eras
Baroud stressed that the parallels between Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming visit and Pope Benedict XVI’s visit in 2012 cannot be understated. He noted that Lebanon is once again suffering from regional conflict, with the Israeli-Gaza war spilling onto Lebanese territory, and the economy in an even worse state than it was a decade ago.
“Lebanon today still faces economic strains, intercommunal tensions, and a population exhausted and burned out,” he said. “In the last five years alone, we witnessed the Beirut Port explosion, one of the largest nonnuclear explosions in recorded history; we lived through the coronavirus pandemic, economic collapse, and people losing their life savings in banks, leaving families vulnerable and on the verge of bankruptcy. And just as things were beginning to look up, Hezbollah’s intervention in the Gaza war invited the Israelis to bomb Lebanon ferociously again, placing yet another roadblock before any hope of living a normal life in this country.”
Looking ahead, Baroud said he believes the contrast between the two visits will be reflected in the pope’s message. “Lebanon has always been presented as a model of coexistence for the world, and I am sure this message will return, as it did with Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI,” he said. “However, in my humble opinion, if coexistence were the only message, it would be redundant, and I do not believe it will be the only one.”
“I expect the pope to address our demands for peace in the region, the restriction of arms and artillery to the Lebanese Armed Forces alone, and the hope that millions of Lebanese expatriates, many of whom are Christians forced to leave because of the hostile environment, can one day return,” he continued.
“Lebanon has overpaid its dues as the carrier of the region’s conflicts. We deserve to know peace and stability. We need a state that protects everyone without favoritism, where our youth can build their lives here instead of boarding planes to exile. We need justice, a healed economy, security, and international pressure to enforce sovereignty. Only then can this wounded mosaic become whole again.”
Baroud emphasized the significance of the upcoming visit. “When the pope lands in Beirut, it’s a reminder to the world that our ancient community, battered by wars, economic collapse, and emigration, is still seen, still matters,” he said. “These moments rally our people, slow the exodus of our youth, boost morale, and force global powers and local leaders to remember that Lebanon’s Christians are not relics of the past but a vital thread in this nation’s future.”
Baroud added that it would have been “a blessing to witness a visit from Pope Francis,” noting that plans were beginning to take shape before the deterioration of his health and his passing. “May he rest in peace,” he said.
This story was first published by ACI MENA, CNA’s Arabic-language news partner, and has been translated for and adapted by CNA.
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Theo is a free Catholic prayer and meditation app for children and their parents. / Credit: Theo
CNA Staff, Nov 23, 2025 / 08:00 am (CNA).
Theo, a free Catholic prayer and meditation app for children and their parents, plans to host the largest Advent celebration for children to help them discover the true meaning of the season.
From Nov. 30 to Dec. 24, more than 1 million children are expected to take part in a 25-day journey filled with stories, songs, activities, and reflections.
The Advent campaign will be led by Theodore, a cheerful animated donkey who is described as a direct descendant of the donkey that carried the Blessed Virgin Mary to Bethlehem. It will also feature several special guests including Catholic actor David Henrie and Father Ambrose Criste, among others.
Participants will read through the first two chapters of Luke, which will be accompanied by some meditations and reflection questions for children to do with their parents as well as hearing the stories of several saints, listening to songs, and explaining activities that both parent and child can do together.
Francisco Cornejo, CEO of Theo, told CNA in an interview that this campaign will help children “hear the word of God” and “prepare their hearts for the birth of Jesus.”
“We prepared these four weeks in a way that is engaging; it’s fun, but it’s also educational,” he added.
While Theo can be used for children of all ages, Cornejo pointed out that the Advent campaign is best suited for children between the ages of 4 and 12.
“The content tends to be on the more mature side of things, I would say, meaning 6 to 8 and older, but again this is the beauty of creating an app that is for the parent and the child — if the theme or the topic is a little hard to grasp or we want to go deeper in the learning, you have your parent by your side,” Cornejo said. “So you can discuss that and we’ll provide those discussion points and all the guidance there.”
Theo launched seven months ago and already has over 2 million users. Cornejo attributes the app’s success first and foremost to God but also to the need among Catholics families for a tool like this.
“We’ve seen over the last few years how families and how parents specifically wanted to have something like Theo because it’s not enough to take kids to Mass every Sunday or to get them through holy Communion preparation or confirmation preparation,” he said. “What happens every other day of the year or of their lives? So we really wanted to create a tool that makes faith accessible and teachings accessible for everyday kids and families regardless of where they are in their faith journey.”
He added: “It’s not meant to replace all the good things that we parents have to do, but it’s meant to help make faith an everyday thing. Something that kids want to hear more because it’s packed in a way that it’s accessible for them.”
The content on Theo includes daily Scripture readings, prayers, bedtime stories, faith-based affirmations, meditations, novenas, stories of the saints, the rosary, and much more.
Cornejo also highlighted the importance of having both child and parent involved in using the app because “education needs to be done together.”
“You need to exemplify what you want to try to teach and you have to do it with your kids — that’s the domestic Church. That’s what we are meant to do as parents,” he added.
As for what he hopes children and their parents will take away from participating in the Advent campaign, Cornejo said: “I think the main thing is remembering and living the actual meaning of Advent — the waiting for Jesus’ birth, preparing our hearts as the manger to welcome Jesus into our hearts” and that participants “forget about the fluff and the gifts and the ‘me me me’ and start thinking about what this actually represents.”
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null / Credit: Kara Monroe via Flickr (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
CNA Staff, Nov 23, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).
As Advent quickly approaches and the hustle and bustle of the holiday season begins to make its way into our lives, here are five resources to help you prepare to welcome Jesus this Christmas.
From Ascension:
Join Father Mike Schmitz this Advent for “Waiting Well: Advent with Fr. Mike Schmitz” on the Ascension app.
Beginning Nov. 30, a 26-day video series will guide viewers on becoming aware of how God is shaping them through seasons of waiting and how to wait well. Each day a five-minute video will be released and feature a reflection from Schmitz that unpacks the daily Mass reading as well as Scripture versus, catechism excerpts, and reflection questions to encourage participants to go deeper into the meaning of Advent.
Schmitz’s weekly homily videos during Advent are part of the “Waiting Well” series and available for free on YouTube. However, the daily reflections will only be available on the Ascension app with a subscription or free trial.
This year’s video reflections will also be accompanied by the “Waiting Well” printed journal for individuals, parishes, and small-group study. It is designed to help readers slow down for 15 minutes a day as they prepare to meet Christ in the manger. Each day includes a word or Scripture verse to pray with, a reflection, and a prompt to write down your thoughts and insights.
From Hallow:
Hallow’s annual “Advent Prayer Challenge” is back once again. Beginning Dec. 1, “Pray25: Be Still” features Jonathan Roumie; Chris Pratt; Gwen Stefani; Father John Burns; Mother Natalia; Sister Miriam James Heidland, SOLT; and Father Pierre Toussaint, CFR. This Advent, listeners are invited to discover deeper stillness amid the chaos of the holiday season, just like the Blessed Mother did that first Christmas.
Roumie and Heidland will lead reflections on “The Reed of God” by Caryll Houselander, while Pratt will guide sessions on “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry” by John Mark Comer. Stefani and Mother Natalia will guide sessions focusing on being still, using the lives of saints as inspiration. Burns will guide listeners through sessions of imaginative prayer and Toussaint will offer homily reflections each Sunday during Advent.
From Blessed Is She:
Blessed Is She has Advent devotionals for the whole family this year — women, men, and children. “In Time: An Advent Devotional for Women” invites readers to reflect on God’s continuous presence in our lives. Written by Claire Dwyer, this devotional helps women see that waiting is filled with God’s loving action.
“Feast: An Advent Devotional for Men” is written by Paul George, rooted in Scripture, and inspired by the story of the prodigal son. This devotional invites men to return to God the Father with courage, humility, and hope. It also aims to encourage those seeking renewal, healing, and deeper faith during Advent. Both the devotionals for men and women include daily Scripture readings, prayer, and reflection.
Lastly, “Watch and Wait: A Kids Advent Devotional” written by Olivia Spears helps kids prepare for Christmas with daily prayers, reflections, and simple Scripture-based activities. This devotional teaches children to wait with hope and joy as they prepare for the birth of Christ. It is recommended for children older than 7 years old.
From the Augustine Institute:
The Augustine Institute is inviting Catholics to enter into the Advent season with renewed purpose and joyful expectation with a new video series titled “How To Advent.”
The video series will consist of four 12- to 15-minute-long episodes that explore the beauty and meaning of Advent traditions in an engaging and meaningful way and highlight a different cherished Advent tradition — the Advent calendar, Advent wreath, Jesse Tree, and Nativity scene. The video series is available on Formed.
From EWTN’s Religious Catalogue:
The EWTN Religious Catalogue offers a wide variety of Advent devotionals including “Encountering Emmanuel: A Guided Advent Journal for Prayer and Meditation” by Heather Khym, cohost of the “Abiding Together” podcast, and “The True Gifts of Christmas” by Megan Alexander, which takes readers on a journey through the deeper meaning of our most cherished Christmas traditions. (Editor’s note: EWTN is CNA’s parent company.)
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