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The Medieval town of Belcastel in Aveyron, France, named one of “the most beautiful villages of France”. Today is Bastille Day, the French National Day.
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Messier 94 is a spiral galaxy with a bright inner ring around it, called a starburst ring, where new stars are forming.
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There’s no denying the natural order of things — there are some things women are just plain better at than men. Being aware of these things can help life go more smoothly.
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U.S. — Finally making public a long-anticipated change to the denomination’s policy regarding qualifications for members of its pastorate, the United Methodist Church announced a ban on heterosexual clergy.
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Republicans insisted reports of medical neglect, spoiled food, and blocked oversight were “false narratives,” while Democrats pointed to deaths in ICE custody and allegations of substandard care.
From historical scandals to 2026 World Cup inferno: investigated by FIFA and the Department of Justice.
The post WHOA: Online Petition To ‘Keep Argentina Out of the World Cup’ Amasses Over 23 Million Signatures – South American Villains Under Investigation by FIFA and the DOJ appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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The O’Keefe Media Group on Wednesday released an undercover video of a senior Pentagon advisor bashing President Trump.
The post O’Keefe Goes Undercover: Senior Pentagon Advisor Caught on Hidden Camera Bashing President Trump (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
Read MoreA reading from the Letter to the Galatians
2:19-20
Brothers and sisters:
Through the law I died to the law,
that I might live for God.
I have been crucified with Christ;
yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me;
insofar as I now live in the flesh,
I live by faith in the Son of God
who has loved me and given himself up for me.
From the Gospel according to John
15:1-8
Jesus said to his disciples:
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.
He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit,
and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.
You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.
Remain in me, as I remain in you.
Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own
unless it remains on the vine,
so neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine, you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit,
because without me you can do nothing.
Anyone who does not remain in me
will be thrown out like a branch and wither;
people will gather them and throw them into a fire
and they will be burned.
If you remain in me and my words remain in you,
ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.
By this is my Father glorified,
that you bear much fruit and become my disciples."
The branches are joined to the vine and draw nourishment from it, so that the ‘fruit’ may sprout and grow. In the same way, the disciples are united to the Lord and, thanks to this existential union, can act spiritually and bear fruit: “As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me” (Jn 15:4). The branches have no life of their own: they live only if they remain united to the vine that brought them into being. Their life is one and the same as that of the vine. A single sap flows between the vine and the branches; the vine and the branches bear the same fruit. There is therefore an unbreakable bond between them, which aptly symbolises that which exists between Jesus and His disciples: “Abide in me, and I in you” (Jn 15:4). If the branches all share the same sap with the vine, they are also bound to one another by mutual communion. From this communion of life springs the need for communion in love: “Love one another, as I have loved you” (Jn 15:12). A strong love, which knows no limitations or boundaries, and which Jesus links to His own painful death to redeem His ‘friends’, the disciples who believed in Him: “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (Jn 15:13). (John Paul II, General Audience, 25 January 1995)
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The illegal alien from Montenegro whom Sen.
The post Illegal Alien Richard Blumenthal and Far-Left CT Democrats Rallied to Protect is REGISTERED TO VOTE in Connecticut — Lied of Being a Citizen appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
Read More![Vatican publishes biography of founder of Cuban nationhood, Father Félix Varela – #Catholic – The Vatican Publishing House recently released the first Italian edition of the book “Félix Varela: A Biography,” a work about the priest considered by Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia to be “a sort of founder of [Cuban] national culture through his works and writings.”The 208-page volume, published July 9, was written by Monsignor Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, a prominent figure in the Cuban Catholic Church who passed away in Havana in 2014. Paglia, president emeritus of the Pontifical Academy for Life, wrote the book’s foreword, noting in it that “the relationship between Varela and Cuban society is very profound.”This is because Varela’s writings “shaped an identity deeply linked to a faith expressed in a new humanism, where the primacy of conscience was supreme and the condemnation of slavery and the need for independence were fundamental,” the archbishop explained, according to a Vatican News report.Varela was a priest committed to social issues who lived during a time of profound change in the territories then held by the Spanish Empire in the Americas, according to the report.He was born in Havana on Nov. 20, 1788. Thanks to his high standing, he was sent to Spain in 1821 to represent the island before the parliament in Madrid.However, his legislative proposals to abolish slavery on the island, declare Cuban independence, and establish a government for the overseas provinces led to his exile in 1823; consequently, he was forced to settle in New York, where he lived while serving as a parish priest and episcopal vicar.In his preface, Paglia wrote that, in both Cuba and the United States, Varela fostered “efforts toward freedom, teaching love and stirring hearts to choose the poor as their primary companions on the journey.”Varela’s parish in New York “was interethnic and intercultural.” Moreover, he dedicated himself especially to immigrants, establishing a system of social and charitable assistance unprecedented in the United States. He was convinced that a mission centered on the Gospel could give rise to a more just and compassionate society.Varela’s legacyThe Cuban priest passed away in St. Augustine, Florida, on Feb. 27, 1853, leaving behind works such as “Letters to Elpidio on Impiety, Superstition, and Fanaticism in Their Relationship with Society,” a work described by St. John Paul II during his 1998 apostolic journey to Cuba as a “true monument of moral teaching.”“It’s no coincidence,” Vatican News pointed out, “that his work can be described as ‘civilizing’: an exemplary priest, a ‘principled patriot,’ and ‘the first to teach us how to think,’ Varela was able to revitalize pedagogical methods and the teaching of philosophy, theology, law, and science, creating a synthesis in which faith and culture become inseparable dimensions.”Furthermore, as Paglia noted, in a “contemporary world where we often face incredible forms of violence and dangerous political divisions,” Varela “represents the possibility of unity.”He was “a truly Catholic — that is, universal — priest,” Paglia wrote, and therefore “reflects the message of the Gospel, which does not divide but unites, while respecting individual differences.” Paglia also noted that Varela’s message is in line with Popes Leo XIV and Francis: “Three witnesses from the Americas inviting the Americas to a renewed enthusiasm for a missionary vocation that places faith at the service of a society fervently rooted in the Gospel.”Varela was declared venerable by Benedict XVI in March 2012. The Vatican decree highlights that “the Servant of God stands out on the horizon of Cuba’s history as a figure remarkable for his human gifts and for his Christian and priestly virtues.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/vatican-publishes-biography-of-founder-of-cuban-nationhood-father-felix-varela-catholic-the-vatican-publishing-house-recently-released-the-first-italian-edition-of-the-book-felix-varela.jpg "Vatican publishes biography of founder of Cuban nationhood, Father Félix Varela – #Catholic – The Vatican Publishing House recently released the first Italian edition of the book “Félix Varela: A Biography,” a work about the priest considered by Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia to be “a sort of founder of [Cuban] national culture through his works and writings.”The 208-page volume, published July 9, was written by Monsignor Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, a prominent figure in the Cuban Catholic Church who passed away in Havana in 2014. Paglia, president emeritus of the Pontifical Academy for Life, wrote the book’s foreword, noting in it that “the relationship between Varela and Cuban society is very profound.”This is because Varela’s writings “shaped an identity deeply linked to a faith expressed in a new humanism, where the primacy of conscience was supreme and the condemnation of slavery and the need for independence were fundamental,” the archbishop explained, according to a Vatican News report.Varela was a priest committed to social issues who lived during a time of profound change in the territories then held by the Spanish Empire in the Americas, according to the report.He was born in Havana on Nov. 20, 1788. Thanks to his high standing, he was sent to Spain in 1821 to represent the island before the parliament in Madrid.However, his legislative proposals to abolish slavery on the island, declare Cuban independence, and establish a government for the overseas provinces led to his exile in 1823; consequently, he was forced to settle in New York, where he lived while serving as a parish priest and episcopal vicar.In his preface, Paglia wrote that, in both Cuba and the United States, Varela fostered “efforts toward freedom, teaching love and stirring hearts to choose the poor as their primary companions on the journey.”Varela’s parish in New York “was interethnic and intercultural.” Moreover, he dedicated himself especially to immigrants, establishing a system of social and charitable assistance unprecedented in the United States. He was convinced that a mission centered on the Gospel could give rise to a more just and compassionate society.Varela’s legacyThe Cuban priest passed away in St. Augustine, Florida, on Feb. 27, 1853, leaving behind works such as “Letters to Elpidio on Impiety, Superstition, and Fanaticism in Their Relationship with Society,” a work described by St. John Paul II during his 1998 apostolic journey to Cuba as a “true monument of moral teaching.”“It’s no coincidence,” Vatican News pointed out, “that his work can be described as ‘civilizing’: an exemplary priest, a ‘principled patriot,’ and ‘the first to teach us how to think,’ Varela was able to revitalize pedagogical methods and the teaching of philosophy, theology, law, and science, creating a synthesis in which faith and culture become inseparable dimensions.”Furthermore, as Paglia noted, in a “contemporary world where we often face incredible forms of violence and dangerous political divisions,” Varela “represents the possibility of unity.”He was “a truly Catholic — that is, universal — priest,” Paglia wrote, and therefore “reflects the message of the Gospel, which does not divide but unites, while respecting individual differences.” Paglia also noted that Varela’s message is in line with Popes Leo XIV and Francis: “Three witnesses from the Americas inviting the Americas to a renewed enthusiasm for a missionary vocation that places faith at the service of a society fervently rooted in the Gospel.”Varela was declared venerable by Benedict XVI in March 2012. The Vatican decree highlights that “the Servant of God stands out on the horizon of Cuba’s history as a figure remarkable for his human gifts and for his Christian and priestly virtues.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.")
The Vatican’s publication of a book on the life of Father Félix Varela (1788–1853) once again draws attention to Cuban priest’s virtues and accomplishments.
“France is leading the way in Europe by becoming the first country to establish a ‘digital age of majority,’” said the country’s minister delegate for digital sovereignty.
SpaceX is now targeting Thursday, July 23, for the 13th test flight of Starship, after the company scrubbed its first attempt on July 16. It will be only the second launch of the vehicle’s V3 configuration — the version of the rocket that will fly astronauts to the Moon for NASA’s Artemis program. The 90-minuteContinue reading “SpaceX targeting Thursday for second launch of the world’s largest rocket”
The post SpaceX targeting Thursday for second launch of the world’s largest rocket appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.
Read More![Bishop Sweeney visits hermits in bucolic beauty of Chester #Catholic – On July 20, the Hermits of Bethlehem and visitors of Bethlehem Hermitage, situated in the rustic splendor of Chester, N.J., welcomed Kevin J. Sweeney. He celebrated Mass in the chapel. The hermitage is a foundation of Catholic hermits — men and women who live a life of prayer, penance, silence, and solitude.
Founded on March 15, 1975, Bethlehem Hermitage sits on 18 acres of land. The hermits live in what is called a laura: a colony of small solitary wooden cottages situated a distance from each other around a chapel and central house. They combine hours of work with hours of prayer.
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
The Bethlehem Hermitage offers a retreat based on principles of silence and solitude. An integral part of it is the daily celebration of the sacrament of the Eucharist and Eucharistic adoration. It is a time to encounter self and deepen one’s faith, hope, and love through prayerful listening and reflection on Sacred Scripture, which speaks when the retreatant is open in a prayerful disposition.
For more information, visit bethlehemhermitage.com.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI & JESSICA MARTINEZ
[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/bishop-sweeney-visits-hermits-in-bucolic-beauty-of-chester-catholic-on-july-20-the-hermits-of-bethlehem-and-visitors-of-bethlehem-hermitage-situated-in-the-rustic-splendor-of-chester-n-j-welco.jpg "Bishop Sweeney visits hermits in bucolic beauty of Chester #Catholic – On July 20, the Hermits of Bethlehem and visitors of Bethlehem Hermitage, situated in the rustic splendor of Chester, N.J., welcomed Kevin J. Sweeney. He celebrated Mass in the chapel. The hermitage is a foundation of Catholic hermits — men and women who live a life of prayer, penance, silence, and solitude.
Founded on March 15, 1975, Bethlehem Hermitage sits on 18 acres of land. The hermits live in what is called a laura: a colony of small solitary wooden cottages situated a distance from each other around a chapel and central house. They combine hours of work with hours of prayer.
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
The Bethlehem Hermitage offers a retreat based on principles of silence and solitude. An integral part of it is the daily celebration of the sacrament of the Eucharist and Eucharistic adoration. It is a time to encounter self and deepen one’s faith, hope, and love through prayerful listening and reflection on Sacred Scripture, which speaks when the retreatant is open in a prayerful disposition.
For more information, visit bethlehemhermitage.com.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI & JESSICA MARTINEZ
[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]")
Bishop Sweeney visits hermits in bucolic beauty of Chester #Catholic – 
On July 20, the Hermits of Bethlehem and visitors of Bethlehem Hermitage, situated in the rustic splendor of Chester, N.J., welcomed Kevin J. Sweeney. He celebrated Mass in the chapel. The hermitage is a foundation of Catholic hermits — men and women who live a life of prayer, penance, silence, and solitude.
Founded on March 15, 1975, Bethlehem Hermitage sits on 18 acres of land. The hermits live in what is called a laura: a colony of small solitary wooden cottages situated a distance from each other around a chapel and central house. They combine hours of work with hours of prayer.
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
The Bethlehem Hermitage offers a retreat based on principles of silence and solitude. An integral part of it is the daily celebration of the sacrament of the Eucharist and Eucharistic adoration. It is a time to encounter self and deepen one’s faith, hope, and love through prayerful listening and reflection on Sacred Scripture, which speaks when the retreatant is open in a prayerful disposition.
For more information, visit bethlehemhermitage.com.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI & JESSICA MARTINEZ
– On July 20, the Hermits of Bethlehem and visitors of Bethlehem Hermitage, situated in the rustic splendor of Chester, N.J., welcomed Kevin J. Sweeney. He celebrated Mass in the chapel. The hermitage is a foundation of Catholic hermits — men and women who live a life of prayer, penance, silence, and solitude. Founded on March 15, 1975, Bethlehem Hermitage sits on 18 acres of land. The hermits live in what is called a laura: a colony of small solitary wooden cottages situated a distance from each other around a chapel and central house. They combine hours of work with hours
![State Knights officers installed amid significant membership growth #Catholic – A Catholic from the Paterson Diocese led the installation of State officers of the N.J. State Knights of Columbus for the 2026-27 fraternal year on July 18, 2026, during a Mass held at St. Jude Thaddeus Church in the Budd Lake neighborhood of Mount Olive Township, N.J. During the last fraternal year, the N.J. State Knights notched a record, adding 2,754 men to the membership rolls — the best in 26 years.
James P. Sweeney of the Paterson Diocese was also installed for his second year of a two-year term as State Deputy. He belongs to St. Jude Parish in Mount Olive and is a member of the Knights of Columbus Father Joseph A. Cassidy Council 6100. Sweeney also sits on the board of trustees of diocesan Catholic Charities and the diocesan Pastoral Council led by Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney, who was the main celebrant and homilist of the installation Mass.
The following remaining State Knights officers were installed that day: Father Ernest G. Rush, State Chaplain, who is pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Lyndhurst; Russell D. Petrocelli, State Secretary, from the Newark Archdiocese; Scott C. Williams, State Treasurer, from the Metuchen Diocese; Edward V. Michalak, State Advocate, from the Trenton Diocese; and Christopher A. Tomasello, Sr., State Warden, from the Camden Diocese.
During the 2025-26 fraternal year, the State Knights, which oversees 350 councils with a total membership of more than 60,000 Catholic men, also expanded its Evangelization and Faith Formation program throughout the state. This includes Cor program, named after the Latin word for “heart” and the root of “courage,” It features 60- to 90-minute monthly or bi-monthly gatherings focused on three pillars: prayer, formation, and fraternity. Men gather periodically to “discuss their faith and how it impacts their daily lives,” Sweeney said.
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
“There has been a resurgence of men in our parishes looking to grow in their faith. The Knights is a perfect place for them. We create a community where men can share their faith and then put their faith into action,” said Sweeney. He continued to say, “We are the right faith organization at the right time, offering every Catholic gentleman the opportunity to become a Knight”.
These young men might be attracted to the Knights because they live their “faith in action” across New Jersey, supporting numerous charities, Sweeney said. Among them are a few in the Paterson Diocese, including the support of the Catholic Charities Department of Persons with Disabilities support through the Intellectual Disabilities drive. They also support the Coats-for-Kids drive, where the Knights in conjunction with the Cathedral of St John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J., give an average of more than 2,000 coats, at the “Bethlehem in Paterson,” an annual Christmas charity event at the Cathedral.
The installation liturgy began with Knights of Columbus Color Corp from throughout the state leading a procession of the NJ State Council leaders and clergy down the center aisle of St. Jude’s Church, wearing crisp blue uniforms and white gloves and holding ceremonial swords and flags.
Concelebrating the installation Mass were Bishop Emeritus Paul G. Bootkoski of the Metuchen Diocese, who is now State Chaplain Emeritus; Father Ernest Rush State Chaplain; Father J. Antonio Gaviria, pastor of St. Jude’s; Father William Smith, a retired priest of the Metuchen Diocese; and Msgr. Geno Sylva, rector of St. John’s and diocesan vicar for special projects.
The State Knights hold an annual State Officers/District Deputies Installation ceremony to install the newly elected state-level officers for the upcoming fraternal year. The ceremony marks the start of the Columbian Year for the organization. The officers’ family and friends attended the liturgy as a sign of support.
A banquet followed the July 20 installation Mass.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/state-knights-officers-installed-amid-significant-membership-growth-catholic-a-catholic-from-the-paterson-diocese-led-the-installation-of-state-officers-of-the-n-j-state-knights-of-columbus-for-th.jpg "State Knights officers installed amid significant membership growth #Catholic – A Catholic from the Paterson Diocese led the installation of State officers of the N.J. State Knights of Columbus for the 2026-27 fraternal year on July 18, 2026, during a Mass held at St. Jude Thaddeus Church in the Budd Lake neighborhood of Mount Olive Township, N.J. During the last fraternal year, the N.J. State Knights notched a record, adding 2,754 men to the membership rolls — the best in 26 years.
James P. Sweeney of the Paterson Diocese was also installed for his second year of a two-year term as State Deputy. He belongs to St. Jude Parish in Mount Olive and is a member of the Knights of Columbus Father Joseph A. Cassidy Council 6100. Sweeney also sits on the board of trustees of diocesan Catholic Charities and the diocesan Pastoral Council led by Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney, who was the main celebrant and homilist of the installation Mass.
The following remaining State Knights officers were installed that day: Father Ernest G. Rush, State Chaplain, who is pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Lyndhurst; Russell D. Petrocelli, State Secretary, from the Newark Archdiocese; Scott C. Williams, State Treasurer, from the Metuchen Diocese; Edward V. Michalak, State Advocate, from the Trenton Diocese; and Christopher A. Tomasello, Sr., State Warden, from the Camden Diocese.
During the 2025-26 fraternal year, the State Knights, which oversees 350 councils with a total membership of more than 60,000 Catholic men, also expanded its Evangelization and Faith Formation program throughout the state. This includes Cor program, named after the Latin word for “heart” and the root of “courage,” It features 60- to 90-minute monthly or bi-monthly gatherings focused on three pillars: prayer, formation, and fraternity. Men gather periodically to “discuss their faith and how it impacts their daily lives,” Sweeney said.
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
“There has been a resurgence of men in our parishes looking to grow in their faith. The Knights is a perfect place for them. We create a community where men can share their faith and then put their faith into action,” said Sweeney. He continued to say, “We are the right faith organization at the right time, offering every Catholic gentleman the opportunity to become a Knight”.
These young men might be attracted to the Knights because they live their “faith in action” across New Jersey, supporting numerous charities, Sweeney said. Among them are a few in the Paterson Diocese, including the support of the Catholic Charities Department of Persons with Disabilities support through the Intellectual Disabilities drive. They also support the Coats-for-Kids drive, where the Knights in conjunction with the Cathedral of St John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J., give an average of more than 2,000 coats, at the “Bethlehem in Paterson,” an annual Christmas charity event at the Cathedral.
The installation liturgy began with Knights of Columbus Color Corp from throughout the state leading a procession of the NJ State Council leaders and clergy down the center aisle of St. Jude’s Church, wearing crisp blue uniforms and white gloves and holding ceremonial swords and flags.
Concelebrating the installation Mass were Bishop Emeritus Paul G. Bootkoski of the Metuchen Diocese, who is now State Chaplain Emeritus; Father Ernest Rush State Chaplain; Father J. Antonio Gaviria, pastor of St. Jude’s; Father William Smith, a retired priest of the Metuchen Diocese; and Msgr. Geno Sylva, rector of St. John’s and diocesan vicar for special projects.
The State Knights hold an annual State Officers/District Deputies Installation ceremony to install the newly elected state-level officers for the upcoming fraternal year. The ceremony marks the start of the Columbian Year for the organization. The officers’ family and friends attended the liturgy as a sign of support.
A banquet followed the July 20 installation Mass.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]")
State Knights officers installed amid significant membership growth #Catholic – 
A Catholic from the Paterson Diocese led the installation of State officers of the N.J. State Knights of Columbus for the 2026-27 fraternal year on July 18, 2026, during a Mass held at St. Jude Thaddeus Church in the Budd Lake neighborhood of Mount Olive Township, N.J. During the last fraternal year, the N.J. State Knights notched a record, adding 2,754 men to the membership rolls — the best in 26 years.
James P. Sweeney of the Paterson Diocese was also installed for his second year of a two-year term as State Deputy. He belongs to St. Jude Parish in Mount Olive and is a member of the Knights of Columbus Father Joseph A. Cassidy Council 6100. Sweeney also sits on the board of trustees of diocesan Catholic Charities and the diocesan Pastoral Council led by Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney, who was the main celebrant and homilist of the installation Mass.
The following remaining State Knights officers were installed that day: Father Ernest G. Rush, State Chaplain, who is pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Lyndhurst; Russell D. Petrocelli, State Secretary, from the Newark Archdiocese; Scott C. Williams, State Treasurer, from the Metuchen Diocese; Edward V. Michalak, State Advocate, from the Trenton Diocese; and Christopher A. Tomasello, Sr., State Warden, from the Camden Diocese.
During the 2025-26 fraternal year, the State Knights, which oversees 350 councils with a total membership of more than 60,000 Catholic men, also expanded its Evangelization and Faith Formation program throughout the state. This includes Cor program, named after the Latin word for “heart” and the root of “courage,” It features 60- to 90-minute monthly or bi-monthly gatherings focused on three pillars: prayer, formation, and fraternity. Men gather periodically to “discuss their faith and how it impacts their daily lives,” Sweeney said.
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
“There has been a resurgence of men in our parishes looking to grow in their faith. The Knights is a perfect place for them. We create a community where men can share their faith and then put their faith into action,” said Sweeney. He continued to say, “We are the right faith organization at the right time, offering every Catholic gentleman the opportunity to become a Knight”.
These young men might be attracted to the Knights because they live their “faith in action” across New Jersey, supporting numerous charities, Sweeney said. Among them are a few in the Paterson Diocese, including the support of the Catholic Charities Department of Persons with Disabilities support through the Intellectual Disabilities drive. They also support the Coats-for-Kids drive, where the Knights in conjunction with the Cathedral of St John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J., give an average of more than 2,000 coats, at the “Bethlehem in Paterson,” an annual Christmas charity event at the Cathedral.
The installation liturgy began with Knights of Columbus Color Corp from throughout the state leading a procession of the NJ State Council leaders and clergy down the center aisle of St. Jude’s Church, wearing crisp blue uniforms and white gloves and holding ceremonial swords and flags.
Concelebrating the installation Mass were Bishop Emeritus Paul G. Bootkoski of the Metuchen Diocese, who is now State Chaplain Emeritus; Father Ernest Rush State Chaplain; Father J. Antonio Gaviria, pastor of St. Jude’s; Father William Smith, a retired priest of the Metuchen Diocese; and Msgr. Geno Sylva, rector of St. John’s and diocesan vicar for special projects.
The State Knights hold an annual State Officers/District Deputies Installation ceremony to install the newly elected state-level officers for the upcoming fraternal year. The ceremony marks the start of the Columbian Year for the organization. The officers’ family and friends attended the liturgy as a sign of support.
A banquet followed the July 20 installation Mass.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
– A Catholic from the Paterson Diocese led the installation of State officers of the N.J. State Knights of Columbus for the 2026-27 fraternal year on July 18, 2026, during a Mass held at St. Jude Thaddeus Church in the Budd Lake neighborhood of Mount Olive Township, N.J. During the last fraternal year, the N.J. State Knights notched a record, adding 2,754 men to the membership rolls — the best in 26 years. James P. Sweeney of the Paterson Diocese was also installed for his second year of a two-year term as State Deputy. He belongs to St. Jude Parish in
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Once known as a sinful woman, Mary Magdalene became the Apostle to the Apostles and the first witness to the Resurrection.
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