News

Beyond The Beacon podcast 109 – John Fanta: Sports broadcaster, storyteller and man of faith #Catholic –

For the latest episode of Beyond The Beacon, we talk sports and faith with John Fanta, a prominent national broadcaster at NBC Sports, who attends Mass with his wife and young son at Our Lady of the Magnificat Church in Kinnelon, N.J. He joins Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney and Communications Director Jai Agnish of the Diocese of Paterson, N.J.

Fanta went to Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J., where he became deeply involved with the Pirate Sports Network, WSOU radio, and student journalism, and laid the foundation for his national broadcasting career.

But his first break came when his first-grade teacher recognized Fanta’s talent for singing and encouraged him to be a cantor and lector at St. Bernadette Church in Westlake, Ohio, where he grew up.

Bishop Sweeney also discusses the establishment of a new parish, Padre Pio, in Paterson, N.J., on April 12 (Divine Mercy Sunday).

Listen to the episode here, or on any major podcast platform, or watch it on Bishop Sweeney’s YouTube channel.

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– For the latest episode of Beyond The Beacon, we talk sports and faith with John Fanta, a prominent national broadcaster at NBC Sports, who attends Mass with his wife and young son at Our Lady of the Magnificat Church in Kinnelon, N.J. He joins Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney and Communications Director Jai Agnish of the Diocese of Paterson, N.J. Fanta went to Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J., where he became deeply involved with the Pirate Sports Network, WSOU radio, and student journalism, and laid the foundation for his national broadcasting career. But his first break came when his

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Diocese of Paterson Migrant Pastoral Ministry launches parish leadership training #Catholic –

A three-session formation cycle aims to prepare ministers to accompany immigrant communities with faith, service, and justice

The Migrant Pastoral Ministry of the Diocese of Paterson has launched a formation cycle for future Parish Migrant Ministry leaders, as a concrete effort to strengthen support for the region’s immigrant communities.

The first gathering took place on Saturday, March 21, bringing together more than 80 parishioners from eight parishes, all united by the desire to be formed and to serve in this ministry. The event was supported by Father Javier Bareño, pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Passaic, N.J., and featured the participation of Father Duberney Villamizar, episcopal vicar for Hispanic Affairs of the Diocese of Paterson.

Diocesan Coordinator Miguel Antonio presented the details of the initiative, which will unfold across three sessions. The second gathering is scheduled for Saturday, April 18, at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Dover, N.J., and the formation cycle will conclude on May 16 at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Paterson, N.J.

Comprehensive formation: Faith, justice, and accompaniment

The first session included presentations addressing both the pastoral dimension and the practical aspects of accompanying migrants.

Marilú González, representative of the national Migrant Pastoral Ministry office based in Chicago, Ill., emphasized the close relationship between this ministry and Christian commitment, stressing that this work demands long-term dedication, with the goal of channeling resources, accompanying processes, and promoting fair treatment for those facing the challenges of the current immigration climate.

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Immigration attorney Mayra Cano offered legal guidance, clarifying key issues and providing practical advice for situations involving contact with immigration authorities. In the same line,  Leslie Tejada, representing the office of Senator Cory A. Booker, along with Henrique Ferreira, director of Community Outreach, shared information about resources available at the state level.

Father Alex Gaitán, director of Migrant Pastoral Ministry for the Archdiocese of Newark, and Damaris Nostrand presented a sobering account of conditions at the Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark, describing the circumstances faced by many individuals detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Building a Network of Support

One of the primary goals of these sessions is the formation of parish teams that will serve as the foundation for a strong support network, built on three core pillars: service, accompaniment, and justice.

The gathering also featured firsthand accounts from parishes already active in this field. Carmen Patricia Bautista, from the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark, N.J., presented a resource kit developed by her community to guide those seeking assistance. Teresa Prendergast, from Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Paterson, highlighted collaborative efforts among various organizations, including joint initiatives with Protestant churches in the area.

Testimonies of hope and commitment

Participant testimonies reflected the profound impact of the gathering.

José E. Sánchez, from Sacred Heart and Holy Rosary Parish in Dover, N.J., highlighted the importance of close accompaniment for migrant families and the essential role of parish leaders. Nancy Ruiz, from St. Gerard Majella Parish in Paterson, N.J., described the experience as deeply edifying, emphasizing the need to be formed in order to guide the community and remind people that they are not alone.

Evelyn Leiton, Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist at St. Paul in Prospect Park, N.J., spoke to the reality faced by many families dealing with separation, and expressed her desire to offer close support. Brenda Sánchez, from Our Lady Queen of Peace in Branchville, N.J., expressed gratitude for the opportunity to participate and her eagerness to serve the community.

Deacon Luis Carlos Méndez, from St. Christopher in Parsippany, underscored the urgent need for accompaniment, affirming that migrants need to feel loved and welcomed by the Church in their new country.

This formation cycle responds to a concrete reality: the growing need to accompany migrant brothers and sisters with dignity, faith, and commitment. The Migrant Pastoral Ministry of the Diocese of Paterson continues to invite the faithful to become involved, recognizing that service to the most vulnerable is a living expression of the Gospel.

The upcoming sessions will continue to prepare leaders who can serve as bridges of hope, support, and justice within their parish communities.

For more information about the Migrant Pastoral Ministry, please contact Miguel Rodríguez at MRodriguez@patersonDiocese.org

[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]

 

– A three-session formation cycle aims to prepare ministers to accompany immigrant communities with faith, service, and justice The Migrant Pastoral Ministry of the Diocese of Paterson has launched a formation cycle for future Parish Migrant Ministry leaders, as a concrete effort to strengthen support for the region’s immigrant communities. The first gathering took place on Saturday, March 21, bringing together more than 80 parishioners from eight parishes, all united by the desire to be formed and to serve in this ministry. The event was supported by Father Javier Bareño, pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Passaic, N.J., and

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Deacon channels personal loss into global mental health ministry #Catholic –

When Deacon Ed Shoener lost his daughter, Katie, to suicide in 2016, her obituary did far more than announce her passing and celebrate her life.

“I am convinced that God used Katie’s obituary to deliver His message of love,” Deacon Shoener said. “It was just one small thing, but God used Katie’s obituary to help people understand that He is with them in their struggle with mental illness — and He has mercy on those who die by suicide.”

Her obituary, which spoke to the needs of those who struggle with mental illness, went viral.

“Millions of people read it, and tens of thousands of people from across the world contacted me,” he said. “Again and again, I heard from people who lamented that the Catholic Church offered little to minister to those suffering from mental illness and their loved ones.”

In response, Deacon Shoener — who serves at Saint Peter’s Cathedral in the Diocese of Scranton, Pa. — partnered with Bishop John P. Dolan of the Diocese of Phoenix to establish the International Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers. The lay association, which today counts more than 7,000 members across 75-plus countries, works to combat mental illness stigma and to extend resources to parish leaders around the world.

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Deacon Shoener is one of several leading figures in the field who will be featured during a one-day conference, “From Isolation to Belonging, Mental Health and the Catholic Church.” The program will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. on May 2 at the Saint John Neumann Pastoral Center, 146 Metlars Lane, Piscataway. The cost to attend is $40 per person, and registration is limited. To register, visit the New Jersey Catholic Conference at njconf.com.

Bishop Dolan, who himself has lost multiple family members to suicide, will be the keynote speaker. Other speakers are mental health counselor Beth Hlabse, program director of the Fiat Program on Faith and Mental Health at Notre Dame University’s McGrath Institute for Church Life, and Ben Wortham, vice president for Behavioral Health Integration at Catholic Charities USA.

The International Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers “works to make mental health ministry an integral ministry in the Church that is available in every Catholic parish and community,” Deacon Shoener explained.

For those facing mental health struggles, a number of factors including insurance and government support might impact the ability to find good care. His organization offers assistance locating treatment and medical services in one’s own community. Spiritual support is offered to individuals struggling with mental health — and their families, too — and tools and insights are offered to clergy and lay ministers. The organization also offers resources for those interested in starting a mental health ministry.

“You do not need to be a mental health professional to offer this ministry,” he said. “All you need is a deep love of Christ and desire to help those among us with mental health challenges.”

Deacon Shoener believes pastoral care dedicated to supporting mental health has grown.

For example, Pope Leo’s prayer intention for October 2026 will be dedicated to mental health ministry. And just two years ago, Cardinal Michael Czerny, SJ, the prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral, Human Development, described mental health ministry as essential — and “a universal human right.”

“This ministry would not have been possible 20 years ago because there was so much stigma and shame associated with mental illness. Most people were not willing to talk about it,” he said. “But the door has cracked open a bit, and the Holy Spirit is blowing through that opening.”

To learn more about the International Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers, visit CatholicMHM.org. If you are experiencing a crisis, dial 988.

 

– When Deacon Ed Shoener lost his daughter, Katie, to suicide in 2016, her obituary did far more than announce her passing and celebrate her life. “I am convinced that God used Katie’s obituary to deliver His message of love,” Deacon Shoener said. “It was just one small thing, but God used Katie’s obituary to help people understand that He is with them in their struggle with mental illness — and He has mercy on those who die by suicide.” Her obituary, which spoke to the needs of those who struggle with mental illness, went viral. “Millions of people read it,

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Celebrate Morris Plains carnival’s 50th anniversary with funnel cakes, faith #Catholic –

Five decades of amusement rides and sugary, savory food, while promoting a sense of community and the Catholic faith, culminate in early May in Morris Plains, N.J. St. Virgil Parish there is set to attract nearly 10,000 festival-goers to its 50th carnival, which marks the start of the Catholic festival season in the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey.

“I really enjoy and respect that the carnival has been part of the parish for 50 years,” said Father Lukasz Wnuk, the parish’s pastor. “It would have been easy for it to decline or even stop at any point, especially during COVID, when the parish could not hold it. Instead, it keeps growing, and we continue to invest in it.”

The St. Virgil Carnival is set to run on the parish grounds on Wednesday, May 6, through Friday, May 8, from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m., and on Saturday, May 9, from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m. The usual Saturday Mass of Anticipation at 5 p.m. will still take place inside the church.

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“We make money on the carnival, which helps keep us going as a parish,” said Terence Boyne, a 60-year parishioner at St. Virgil who has regularly volunteered since the carnival began.

Originally, one of the carnival’s purposes was to help a community recovering from a natural disaster.

Three years before the carnival started, a priest from St. Virgil’s visited the Bahamas. A natural disaster occurred in the area he visited, and the church there was badly damaged. A deacon from St. Virgil visited and reported that it would cost $10,000 to $12,000 to repair the church. According to Boyne, there was the thought that maybe St. Virgil’s could help them.

“Somebody said, ‘Why don’t we try doing a carnival? We’ll run it every year until we make up the cost.’ We ran it the first year, and they made $15,000 or $18,000. They couldn’t believe it. They sent the $10,000 to $12,000 down there, and the rest went to charities.”

The annual event has grown a lot, Boyne said. It started with 10 kiddie rides and only a few rides for older kids. Now it fills the parish property and fills the whole neighborhood with parked cars.

While the plethora of carnival rides attracts kids, the tasty food attracts thousands from across the diocese.

“I’d say the funnel cake line is never without at least a dozen people to 20 people at any given time during the carnival,” said Michael Scannelli, the carnival’s 2026 chair. He said the carnival added fried Oreos, fried pickles, chocolate brownies, and gelato, in addition to Dellano’s Food Trucks, pizza, soft pretzels, and other carnival staples.

Parish leaders emphasized that this kind of tradition doesn’t happen by accident, but through the dedication, hard work, and caring that countless people like Boyne and Scannelli have poured into it over the years.

Scannelli said the carnival allows St. Virgil’s to invite the wider community to experience the Catholic faith and the Eucharist at the parish throughout the rest of the year.

“I think the carnival-goers really see our faith-based community. I think they see all of us volunteering, coming together as one. Yes, we’re raising money, but we also feel like we’re giving back to the community and giving them a great four-day event,” said Scannelli. “You can’t help but see signs of faith like statues and crosses around St. Virgil’s, whether it’s outside the church or the Tracy Center (the parish hall). Our statue of Mary is right in the middle of where people eat and drink. You can’t help but feel some type of evangelization within the grounds itself,” he said.

Father Wnuk added, “Everyone is truly welcome. Whether you have been part of the parish for years or you are just stopping by for the first time, there’s a place for you here.”

[See image gallery at beaconnj.org] – Five decades of amusement rides and sugary, savory food, while promoting a sense of community and the Catholic faith, culminate in early May in Morris Plains, N.J. St. Virgil Parish there is set to attract nearly 10,000 festival-goers to its 50th carnival, which marks the start of the Catholic festival season in the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey. “I really enjoy and respect that the carnival has been part of the parish for 50 years,” said Father Lukasz Wnuk, the parish’s pastor. “It would have been easy for it to decline or even stop at any point, especially during COVID,

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‘Cabrini’ screening to boost awareness of Eucharistic pilgrimage event #Catholic –

“Cabrini,” the 2024 film about St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, America’s first Catholic saint and advocate for immigrants, will be screened Tuesday, April 21, at 7 p.m. at the Dolan Performing Arts Center, St. Elizabeth University in the Convent Station neighborhood of Morris Township, N.J.

A week later, on Tuesday, April 28, at 7 p.m., executive producer J. Eustace Wolfington and his team will host a “talk-back” on the film’s creation, focusing on human rights, women’s leadership, and hope. Bishop Emeritus Nicholas DiMarzio of the Brooklyn Diocese in New York, who advocates for immigrants’ rights, and Mother Cabrini’s family are also scheduled to appear.

Both events at St. Elizabeth’s will focus on St. Frances Cabrini as a model of women’s leadership, especially in her work with immigrants and the poor. They also promote the 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage (NEP) stops in Passaic and Paterson, N.J., on June 14 and 15. The St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Route of the NEP will travel the Eastern Seaboard this summer.

Before the “Cabrini” screening, Father Cesar Jaramillo, pilgrimage stop delegate and pastor of Holy Spirit Parish in Pequannock, N.J., will address attendees and invite them to join the local NEP event. Members of the Communications Department of the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey will also be present to distribute NEP promotional materials.

Register now to secure your spot for the pilgrimage. See the schedule below for details.

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“The pilgrimage in our diocese is an opportunity for Catholics to renew their love for Jesus and the Eucharist — a goal of the New Evangelization — and to show solidarity with immigrants,” Father Cesar Jaramillo said. “We invite all Paterson parishes and the broader community to attend and join us in this spiritual journey.”

The pilgrimage route honors Mother Cabrini, born in Italy in 1850. She founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In 1889, Pope Leo XIII sent her and her sisters to New York. They opened schools and orphanages for Italian immigrants despite many challenges. According to the Missionary Sisters, Mother Cabrini traveled across Europe, the Americas, and the U.S., founding 67 institutions.

Father Jaramillo described “Cabrini” as telling the story of “a remarkable woman who was passionate about social justice.”

“Mother Cabrini was steadfast in giving a voice to the voiceless. Most were Italian immigrants who were ignored. The movie reflects today’s immigrant crisis in the U.S. The pilgrimage will also honor the U.S.’s 250th birthday. Immigrants built much of our country in search of the American Dream,” Father Jaramillo said.

The “Cabrini” screening and “talk-back” are possible through the friendship between Carol Bezak — a St. Elizabeth’s alumna and president of the National Association of Shrine and Pilgrimage Apostolate — and one of the film’s executive producers. Other NEP stops will also host screenings of the films, said Andrea M. Adams, director of alumni engagement and annual giving.

All are welcome to attend the two “Cabrini” film events at St. Elizabeth’s. Admission is free.

The pilgrimage, themed “One Nation Under God,” includes 18 stops from Pentecost to Independence Day in Philadelphia. It calls for renewal, unity, and mission. Nine young adult Perpetual Pilgrims and their chaplains will carry the Blessed Sacrament through the original 13 colonies, 18 dioceses, and two Eastern Rite eparchies.

All are welcome to pray before the Blessed Sacrament during the pilgrimage. Admission to events is free, but advance registration is requested to assist organizers. Please register now to reserve your spot for one or more events using the QR code on this page.

 For questions about events in this diocese, please contact:MMoncaleano@patersondiocese.org. For registration assistance, please contact:registration@eucharisticcongress.org.

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National Eucharistic Pilgrimage activities in the Paterson Diocese, N.J., on June 14 and 15

Pilgrimage activities on June 14:

3:30–5 p.m.: Eucharist talk (English), Fr. Rafael Capo, Holy Rosary Church, 6 Wall St., Passaic, N.J.

3:30–5 p.m.: “Influenciados por la Eucaristía” opening talk (Spanish), P. Heriberto García, St. Nicholas, 217 President St., Passaic, N.J.

5–6:30 p.m.: Eucharistic Procession from Holy Rosary Church (6 Wall St, Passaic, N.J.) to Boverini Stadium (1.5 miles). The procession will end with the opening Mass.

6:30–8 p.m.: Opening Mass, Boverini Stadium, 262 River Dr., Passaic, N.J., with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney.

Pilgrimage events on June 15:

3–5 p.m.: Divine Liturgy with Byzantine Catholic community, St. Michael Chapel, 415 Lackawanna Ave., Woodland Park, N.J.

5:30–7 p.m.: Eucharistic Procession (loop) for communicants and local faithful at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, 381 Grand St., Paterson, N.J.

7–8:30 p.m.: Closing Mass with Bishop Sweeney and homily by Father Casey Cole, O.F.M., at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, 381 Grand St., Paterson. The municipal parking lot opens at 5 p.m. across from the Cathedral. Watch the livestream at https://rcdopcathedral.org/

– “Cabrini,” the 2024 film about St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, America’s first Catholic saint and advocate for immigrants, will be screened Tuesday, April 21, at 7 p.m. at the Dolan Performing Arts Center, St. Elizabeth University in the Convent Station neighborhood of Morris Township, N.J. A week later, on Tuesday, April 28, at 7 p.m., executive producer J. Eustace Wolfington and his team will host a “talk-back” on the film’s creation, focusing on human rights, women’s leadership, and hope. Bishop Emeritus Nicholas DiMarzio of the Brooklyn Diocese in New York, who advocates for immigrants’ rights, and Mother Cabrini’s family are also

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Traveling museum spotlights powerful stories of transformation and hope #Catholic –

About 300 visitors to the People of Hope Museum, a traveling exhibit that stopped at St. Paul Inside the Walls in Madison, N.J., on Palm Sunday and Holy Monday, experienced powerful stories of people whose lives have been transformed through Catholic Charities, which provides them with help and hope.

On March 30 and 31, Catholic Charities of the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey joined Catholic Charities agencies across the United States in hosting People of Hope: Faith-Filled Stories of Neighbors Helping Neighbors, a nationwide storytelling exhibit, amplifying the profound impact of Christian service.

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Housed in a retrofitted tractor-trailer, the People of Hope Museum showcases how compassion, service, and hope are lived out through the stories and experiences of those Catholic Charities serve. The exhibits are designed to inspire visitors to embody these Christian values in their own lives. Admission is free and open to the public.

This immersive experience brings to life more than 40 professionally produced video stories from Catholic Charities staff and volunteers from across the country about clients who deeply impacted them. One of those inspiring stories is from Carlos Roldan, director of food pantries for Paterson Catholic Charities.

“This exhibit reminded us we are all called to be people of hope. As the People of Hope Museum continues its journey across America, we pray it inspires countless communities to see, serve, and become hope,” Hazel Yaptangco, director of development and public relations for Paterson Catholic Charities posted on social media after the mobile museum’s visit to St. Paul Inside the Walls. “Everyone commented on the power of the stories shared. Thank you to everyone who visited the exhibit. Your presence made it truly special,” she said.

The exhibit features interactive poverty simulation activities to help visitors understand the challenges faced by families in poverty. It also displays U.S. and state-level poverty data for local and national insights.

The People of Hope Museum launched its tour of the United States last month in New York City and will travel the U.S. for two-and-a-half years. The initiative is made possible by a 2024 grant of nearly $5 million from Lilly Endowment Inc., awarded through an invitational round of its National Storytelling Initiative on Christian Faith and Life.

The People of Hope Museum is an initiative of Catholic Charities USA, the national membership organization for 168 independent Catholic charities. Collectively, last year, the Catholic Charities network of agencies served more than 16 million people regardless of faith, addressing needs ranging from food insecurity and housing to disaster assistance, health care, and family support.

In a social media post, Paterson Catholic Charities thanked its staff and volunteers that helped with the museum’s visit, including young women of the Women’s Softball Team of Morris Catholic High School in Denville, N.J. and their coach, Nick DeGennaro; the staff of St. Paul’s Inside the Walls; and its partners from Catholic Charities USA.

Scott Milliken, CEO of Catholic Charities of Paterson, said, “The People of Hope Exhibit reminds us that every statistic represents a person with a story, a struggle, and sacred dignity.”

“We were honored to bring this powerful nationwide initiative to St. Paul Inside the Walls and invite our community to encounter the faces and voices of hope that inspire our mission every day,” Milliken said. “For more than 80 years, Catholic Charities Diocese of Paterson has supported individuals and families in Passaic, Morris, and Sussex counties and beyond, offering guidance, resources, and compassionate care during difficult times.”

To learn more about the People of Hope Museum, visit ccpaterson.org/POH.

[See image gallery at beaconnj.org] – About 300 visitors to the People of Hope Museum, a traveling exhibit that stopped at St. Paul Inside the Walls in Madison, N.J., on Palm Sunday and Holy Monday, experienced powerful stories of people whose lives have been transformed through Catholic Charities, which provides them with help and hope. On March 30 and 31, Catholic Charities of the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey joined Catholic Charities agencies across the United States in hosting People of Hope: Faith-Filled Stories of Neighbors Helping Neighbors, a nationwide storytelling exhibit, amplifying the profound impact of Christian service. Click here to subscribe to our weekly

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High schoolers celebrate service at Denville Respect Life gathering #Catholic –

On March 25, about 40 students from three Catholic high schools in the Paterson Diocese, New Jersey, participated in a Respect Life Service Day at Morris Catholic High School, Denville, N.J. Combining service with the joy of helping those in need, the students prepared Care Bags for women who are served by the Passaic Neighborhood Center for Women (PNCW), mostly mothers of young children.

These students originated from Morris Catholic, DePaul Catholic High School in Wayne, N.J., and Pope John XXIII Regional High School in Sparta, N.J. They filled 49 medium-sized shopping bags with baby toiletries, including shampoo, baby powder, wipes, and ointment; rosary bracelets; Respect Life magnets — 40 in Spanish and 14 in English; prayer cards, and notes of love and support, sometimes decorated with hearts, on PNCW stationery.

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Students paid for the magnets that came from LIFENET in the Newark Archdiocese. The Care Bags were delivered to the center for distribution to clients.

Susan Drew, Morris Catholic’s campus minister, coordinated the Respect Life Service Day. Alyssa Renovales, diocesan Respect Life coordinator, made the initial contact with the PNCW and spoke during Respect Life Service Day about several upcoming pro-life events, inviting the students to attend.

Father Peter Clarke, the principal of Morris Catholic, offered an introduction to the event and a prayer. Penelope Rose, district coordinator of Students for Life, delivered a presentation about Respect Life apologetics: how to talk about the subject to draw in people. Father Michael Rodak, pastor of St. Jude the Apostle Parish in Hardyston, N.J., and diocesan pilgrimage director, who also coordinates busing for the annual National Right to Life March in Washington, D.C., celebrated a Mass at the conclusion of the event.

Carmela Enriquez, a DePaul teacher, said, “Our students loved it. The presentation was helpful to the students, especially to the freshmen and sophomores. It opened their eyes.”

Philline Luz, as the coordinator of programs and services at PNCW, expressed “heartfelt gratitude for the many blessings represented in each Care Bag. We are deeply thankful for this inspiring act of love and hope.” She explained how it was “meaningful to engage the younger generation in our mission to support young mothers and their families.”

 

– On March 25, about 40 students from three Catholic high schools in the Paterson Diocese, New Jersey, participated in a Respect Life Service Day at Morris Catholic High School, Denville, N.J. Combining service with the joy of helping those in need, the students prepared Care Bags for women who are served by the Passaic Neighborhood Center for Women (PNCW), mostly mothers of young children. These students originated from Morris Catholic, DePaul Catholic High School in Wayne, N.J., and Pope John XXIII Regional High School in Sparta, N.J. They filled 49 medium-sized shopping bags with baby toiletries, including shampoo, baby powder,

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A special Easter Blessing for you from Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney #Catholic –

“Do not be afraid!
I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified.
He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said.
Come and see the place where he lay.
Then go quickly and tell his disciples,
‘He has been raised from the dead…’” Mt. 28: 5-7

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Happy Easter! Please know of my prayers for you, your family and loved ones, and for the whole Church of our beloved Diocese of Paterson. We hear the words of Matthew’s Gospel, “…for he has been raised just as he said…” and we reflect on the meaning of Easter Joy, the Joy of the Risen Lord, His victory over sin and death, and the promise of everlasting life in Heaven. As Lent and Holy Week have led us to this Easter Day, we give thanks for the gifts of Faith, Hope, and Love and continue to pray for the gift of Peace, the true Peace, that only Jesus can give. We also rejoice with all those who have entered our Church as they received the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Communion at the Easter Vigil.

Please be assured of my prayers for you, your families, and for all the faithful in our Diocese. Let us continue to pray for one another, for the whole Church, and for Peace, as we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday and throughout the 50 days of the Easter Season.

Devotedly yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Kevin J. Sweeney, DD.
Bishop of Paterson

 

– “Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead…’” Mt. 28: 5-7 Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Happy Easter! Please know of my prayers for you, your family and loved ones, and for the whole Church of our beloved Diocese of Paterson. We hear the words of Matthew’s Gospel, “…for he has been raised just as he said…” and we

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Gripping Paterson Passion Play brings Christ’s sacrifice to life #Catholic –

The annual reenactment of Jesus’ agonizing journey to his crucifixion on Mount Calvary was presented by the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J., on Good Friday, April 3. Beginning outside the cathedral, the event moved through city streets before concluding inside, with thousands of captivated onlookers following the procession.

The Passion Play, called Via Crucis or the Way of the Cross, was performed in English and Spanish by over 100 actors from the cathedral on Good Friday. Parishioners assisted with the production. As the procession advanced along the mile-long route under sunny skies, prayers and reflections were offered at designated stops. The reenactment ended with Jesus’ crucifixion at the altar inside the cathedral.

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Following the reenactment, Bishop Sweeney led a Good Friday service, including veneration of the cross and the celebration of Holy Communion for the faithful, inside St. John’s.

– The annual reenactment of Jesus’ agonizing journey to his crucifixion on Mount Calvary was presented by the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J., on Good Friday, April 3. Beginning outside the cathedral, the event moved through city streets before concluding inside, with thousands of captivated onlookers following the procession. The Passion Play, called Via Crucis or the Way of the Cross, was performed in English and Spanish by over 100 actors from the cathedral on Good Friday. Parishioners assisted with the production. As the procession advanced along the mile-long route under sunny skies, prayers and reflections were

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Cathedral hosts powerful commemoration of Lord’s Passion and death #Catholic –

Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney led the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey in commemorating Christ’s sacrifice on the cross on Good Friday, April 3, as he presided over the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J. Before the at 3 p.m. services, the Via Crucis, a reenactment of the Passion of Christ, took place in the cathedral and through the streets in Paterson.

During the service, a Passion story from the Gospel of John was read, and 10 solemn intercessions were offered. To show reverence during the solemn service, clergy, lay ministers, and the faithful genuflected before or kissed the cross, and the clergy prostrated themselves before the altar or kneeled and prayed in silence. Then, Holy Communion was distributed. St. John’s altar was stripped bare without cloth, candles, or a cross.

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No Masses are celebrated on Good Friday, a day of fasting and abstinence.

Msgr. Geno Sylva, the cathedral’s rector and diocesan vicar for special projects; Father Starli J. Castanos, a St. John’s parochial vicar; and the deacons of the cathedral joined Bishop Sweeney in participating in the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion.

– Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney led the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey in commemorating Christ’s sacrifice on the cross on Good Friday, April 3, as he presided over the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J. Before the at 3 p.m. services, the Via Crucis, a reenactment of the Passion of Christ, took place in the cathedral and through the streets in Paterson. During the service, a Passion story from the Gospel of John was read, and 10 solemn intercessions were offered. To show reverence during the solemn service, clergy, lay ministers,

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Holy Thursday in Paterson: Bishop embodies Christ’s servant love #Catholic –

On behalf of the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney prayerfully asked Jesus, “Help us to know you, in your body, blood, soul, and divinity, in the Eucharist” while presiding over a bilingual Mass of the Lord’s Supper on April 2, Holy Thursday evening, at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J.

The Mass commemorates the institution of the sacraments of the Eucharist and Holy Orders by Jesus Christ. Just as Jesus washed the feet of his disciples at the Last Supper, Bishop Sweeney washed the feet of select faithful to symbolize the service and charity of Christ, who came “not to be served, but to serve.” By example of washing his disciples’ feet, Jesus demonstrated how Christians are to love one another through humble service.

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During his homily in English and Spanish, Bishop Sweeney asked Christ, “Help us to love as you love, help us to watch one another’s feet. Help us to be with Mary when we share in the mystery of the cross and to know that you have conquered sin and death.” He then added, “How happy and blessed are we to be called, to be here at the supper of the Lamb.”
Msgr. Geno Sylva, the cathedral’s rector and diocesan vicar for special projects, concelebrated the Mass with Bishop Sweeney. Father Jared Brogan, director of the diocesan Worship Office, was the master of ceremonies.
The Mass was followed by an outdoor procession with the Blessed Sacrament to the gym, where adoration was held until midnight.

– On behalf of the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney prayerfully asked Jesus, “Help us to know you, in your body, blood, soul, and divinity, in the Eucharist” while presiding over a bilingual Mass of the Lord’s Supper on April 2, Holy Thursday evening, at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J. The Mass commemorates the institution of the sacraments of the Eucharist and Holy Orders by Jesus Christ. Just as Jesus washed the feet of his disciples at the Last Supper, Bishop Sweeney washed the feet of select faithful to symbolize the service

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Zoom series to give young men look at priesthood #Catholic –

“Five Conversations about the Priesthood,” a new Zoom series, will give young men ages 15–20 discerning their vocations insight into the priesthood and Catholic faith through live testimony from a priest in pastoral ministry.

This inaugural five-part series will be held on Zoom on consecutive Sundays from April 12 to May 10, at 7:30 p.m. Father Charles Lana, vocation director of the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey, will lead five 30-minute videoconferencing sessions about various aspects of parish priesthood. He will cover the following topics: Priestly Identity, The Eucharist in the Priest’s Life, The Sacrament of Penance, Preaching, and Parish Priesthood.

Father Lana will start each session with a 10- to 15-minute talk on the featured topic. Young participants are warmly invited to join the conversation, share their thoughts, and ask the priest questions. Ordained in 2019, Father Lana has served in parish and diocesan ministries. Guest priests or seminarians may join the sessions to offer different perspectives on priestly life, making each session an engaging experience for all involved.

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“This series is an opportunity for young men who might have a calling to begin discerning a vocation to the priesthood. Many of them may have little knowledge of the priesthood and Church tradition,” Father Lana said. “The series is designed to help these men begin to understand the priesthood through the experiences of a priest and conversations,” Lana said. “This could lead these men to deeper discernment and greater involvement in vocations-awareness activities,” he said.

The series is based on “Five Conversations about the Priesthood,” a booklet by Father Michael Pratt, and will cover the following topics:

• Priestly Identity (April 12), focusing on the priest’s purpose and identity.

• The Eucharist in the Priest’s Life (April 19), highlighting the Eucharist as central to the priesthood.

• The Sacrament of Penance (April 26), exploring the priest’s role in reconciliation.

• Preaching (May 3), examining the priest’s role as a preacher, a teacher, and proclaimer of the Gospel. It will offer practical suggestions for preparing a homily — including the goal of keeping it simple, sincere, succinct, and substantial — and for delivering it.

• Parish Priesthood (May 10), inviting participating young men to gain an authentic understanding of the daily spiritual and pastoral life of a priest.

To explore upcoming Vocation Office activities, visit https://patersonvocations.org. You are also invited to attend the office’s monthly First Saturday Day of Discernment for young adults, college-age or older, continuing Saturday, May 2, at 10 a.m. at St. Bernard of Clairvaux Church in Wharton, N.J.

To register for “Five Conversations about the Priesthood,” email vocations@patersondiocese.org.

– “Five Conversations about the Priesthood,” a new Zoom series, will give young men ages 15–20 discerning their vocations insight into the priesthood and Catholic faith through live testimony from a priest in pastoral ministry. This inaugural five-part series will be held on Zoom on consecutive Sundays from April 12 to May 10, at 7:30 p.m. Father Charles Lana, vocation director of the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey, will lead five 30-minute videoconferencing sessions about various aspects of parish priesthood. He will cover the following topics: Priestly Identity, The Eucharist in the Priest’s Life, The Sacrament of Penance, Preaching, and Parish

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Chrism Mass highlights prayer for peace in troubled world #Catholic –

At the annual Chrism Mass on March 31, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney encouraged the faithful to pray to Jesus, asking him to give them — and a broken world — “healing only he can give” as they contemplate Christ’s passion and resurrection in this Holy Week for the redemption of humanity.

Referring to Pope Leo XIV’s Palm Sunday homily, Bishop Sweeney also encouraged Catholics of the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey to “share that healing and peace with others” in his homily during the Chrism Mass at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in New Jersey. The bishop also prayed for peace in the war-ravaged Middle East and Eastern Europe and for elected leaders in the United States, armed services personnel and their families, military chaplains, and victims of war and violence in the world.

Bishop Emeritus Arthur J. Serratelli, along with the priests of the diocese, attended to concelebrate the Mass with Bishop Sweeney, who was the homilist and principal celebrant. The priests renewed their priestly promises before the bishop and received the prayers and support of the faithful, who filled the cathedral during the liturgy, including deacons, religious, and laity.

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At the Mass, Bishop Sweeney first consecrated and blessed the Oil of the Sick, used for the Anointing of the Sick, and the Oil of Catechumens, for those preparing for baptism. He then consecrated the Sacred Chrism, which is used for baptism, confirmation, holy orders, and the dedication of altars. Once consecrated, these holy oils will be used in parishes throughout the diocese during the coming year for sacramental celebrations.

In his homily, Bishop Sweeney also prayed for and thanked everyone serving in the diocese, including priests, deacons, religious, seminarians, staff, and volunteers of the diocese and parishes.

“Tonight, as a Church united, we celebrate and give thanks for all the ways our diocese — because of each of you and many more — respond to the Lord’s great call and commission: ‘to go therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them, teaching them’ — and to our Lord Jesus and the love of his sacred heart, which is with us always until the end of time,” Bishop Sweeney said.

Following the Mass, representatives from each parish in the diocese received the holy oils, which they will use for the first time at the Easter Vigil. This annual blessing by the bishop unites him with the parishes as the oils are then used during sacramental celebrations.

As the celebration of Holy Week continues, Bishop Sweeney also urged diocesan faithful at the Chrism Mass to take up their spiritual cross on the road to Calvary.

“We ask for God’s guidance in difficult times, that the cross may lead us to the resurrection and share in his victory,” Bishop Sweeney said.

– At the annual Chrism Mass on March 31, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney encouraged the faithful to pray to Jesus, asking him to give them — and a broken world — “healing only he can give” as they contemplate Christ’s passion and resurrection in this Holy Week for the redemption of humanity. Referring to Pope Leo XIV’s Palm Sunday homily, Bishop Sweeney also encouraged Catholics of the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey to “share that healing and peace with others” in his homily during the Chrism Mass at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in New Jersey. The bishop also

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Communities of faith prepare hearts for Christ’s resurrection Sunday #Catholic –

The 107 parishes of the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey are readying their faithful for Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday, April 4, with a traditional array of spiritual events and Mass to commemorate his passion, death, and resurrection during the Paschal Triduum, from Holy Thursday on April 1 to its triumphant culmination of Holy Week on April 4, Easter Sunday.

Typically, these parishes, including the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J. — the mother church of the diocese — and various shrines, hold a full schedule of activities, starting with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday. Observances continue on Good Friday with Veneration of the Cross and/or Stations of the Cross, and again on Good Friday and on Holy Saturday with the Blessing of Food and the Easter Vigil. Celebrations conclude on Easter Sunday with Masses in various languages, celebrating Christ’s resurrection for the redemption of the world. See individual parish websites for schedules.

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Additionally, many parishes of the diocese, including the cathedral, will hold special events and Masses during the Paschal Triduum. These include Living Stations of the Cross, Easter egg hunts, and Masses celebrated by visiting Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney. Check parish websites, social media, and The Beacon’s “What To Do Calendar.”

On Good Friday, the cathedral will hold Via Crucis (Way of the Cross), a popular street procession and reenactment of Christ’s passion, and a formal Good Friday service featuring solemn intercessions, and the Veneration of the Cross, starting outside on the streets at noon. St. John’s will also welcome Bishop Sweeney for a Passion of the Lord service that day at 3 p.m. and again on Holy Saturday for the Easter Vigil at 8 p.m.

St. Francis of Assisi Parish in the Haskell neighborhood of Wanaque, N.J., will hold a Living Station at 7 p.m. on Good Friday. St. Gerard Majella Parish in Paterson will present the Living Stations by students of its parish school at 7:30 p.m.

The Performing Arts Ministry at Notre Dame of Mount Carmel Parish in the Cedar Knolls neighborhood of Harding Township will present a Living Stations, including the 15th, at 8 p.m. on Good Friday. The multigenerational cast, narrators, and musicians tell the story of our Lord’s journey to the Cross.

In Randolph, N.J., Resurrection Parish will hold a Living Stations at 7 p.m. on Good Friday. The parish’s Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday, April 4, from 8 to 9:30 p.m., will include Blessing of the New Fire and procession into the church with the Paschal Candle. The liturgy continues with Night Watch of the Resurrection, Liturgy of the Word, Blessing of Easter Water, Celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation, and Liturgy of the Eucharist. On Easter Sunday, Bishop Sweeney will celebrate Mass at 11 a.m. in the church.

St. Jude Parish in Hardyston, N.J., will hold Seven Last Words, a service reflecting on the final seven sayings of Jesus Christ from the cross, central to Holy Week reflections, on Good Friday from 12 to 2 p.m. This will be followed by a Service of the Lord’s Passion at 3 p.m. and Adoration of the Cross and Stations of the Cross at 7 p.m.

On Easter Sunday, April 5, Holy Spirit Parish in Pequannock, N.J., will hold an Easter egg hunt for children and families on the parish school playground after the 10 a.m. family Mass, weather permitting. The rain date will be Sunday, April 12, after the 10 a.m. Mass. That day, St. Clare Parish in Clifton, N.J., will have an Easter egg hunt following the 11 a.m. Mass.

– The 107 parishes of the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey are readying their faithful for Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday, April 4, with a traditional array of spiritual events and Mass to commemorate his passion, death, and resurrection during the Paschal Triduum, from Holy Thursday on April 1 to its triumphant culmination of Holy Week on April 4, Easter Sunday. Typically, these parishes, including the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J. — the mother church of the diocese — and various shrines, hold a full schedule of activities, starting with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on

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Two Paterson churches will merge to create a vibrant St. Pio Parish #Catholic –

Located only three blocks apart, St. Bonaventure and Our Lady of Pompei (OLP) parishes brought Christ’s love to the people of the Stoney Road section of Paterson, N.J., as separate faith communities for more than 260 years combined. The churches are so close that each parish can hear the other’s church bells from its front steps.

So it might seem providential that on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 12, these two parishes, each with its own history and traditions, will merge into a single parish under a new name: St. Pio of Pietrelcina — also known as “Padre Pio” — Parish. The merger will streamline the administration of St. Bonaventure’s and OLP into one parish. To keep meeting the people’s spiritual and pastoral needs, St. Pio’s is ensuring that both churches will remain open and has readjusted the Mass schedules at both locations.

Father Manuel Cuellar, who will become pastor on April 12, and St. Pio’s looks forward to uniting both parishes and bringing together their (Anglo) English-speaking and growing Hispanic communities. During the past year, this merger process has unfolded in a spirit of prayerful discernment and collaboration.

On April 12, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney will celebrate the establishment of St. Pio’s during a Eucharistic procession at 3 p.m. from OLP on Murray Avenue to St. Bonaventure’s on Ramsey Street. The event will start with the Divine Mercy Chaplet at OLP and conclude with Benediction at St. Bonaventure’s. Bishop Sweeney approved the merger after prayer and consultation and accompanied parishioners during the process.

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“Our Lady of Pompei and St. Bonaventure’s have four different communities, including two (Anglo) English-speaking and two Hispanic. But I want to see St. Pio become one dynamic community,” said Father Cuellar. He will remain the parochial vicar of St. Gerard Majella Parish in Paterson until he becomes St. Pio’s pastor. “In my homilies, I say that no matter what language we speak or where we come from, we are all children of God. We are doing this merger for the good of the people, especially for our children.”

Also attending the April 12 prayer service will be clergy from the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey, who have been instrumental in shepherding this merger. They are Msgr. George Hundt, pastor of St. Gerard’s and pastor of OLP until Father Cuellar becomes pastor of St. Pio’s, and Father Alex Nevitt, diocesan episcopal delegate for parish leadership development and administrator of St. Bonaventure’s until that day.

Father Cuellar helped expand and strengthen OLP’s Hispanic community. He established the parish’s first Spanish Mass at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday in September 2024. It has grown from 12 churchgoers to more than 140. The priest united the community through a December procession through the city streets for Our Lady of Guadalupe, a Mexican Catholic devotion, and has encouraged other lively, colorful devotions, such as Our Lady of Altagracia, a Dominican devotion. He also brought the OLP parish together for a Christmas party.

Meanwhile, St. Bonaventure’s has been expanding its digital presence. The parish recently launched a young adult ministry that has attracted about 40 members and become the largest of its kind in the diocese. St. Bonaventure’s has a Spanish Mass at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Raysa Gonzalez, a lector for OLP’s Spanish Mass, was involved in roundtable discussions about the merger. A lifelong churchgoer, she didn’t feel connected to her faith until she started attending the parish’s Spanish Mass. Her son also enjoys attending the liturgy.

“In his homilies, Father Manuel relates the Gospel by giving examples from real life. It helps me understand the message of the bible,” said Gonzalez, who called the merger process “a little scary, but we have faith and pray. Everything has been wonderful. Everybody is trying to do their part to connect with each other and grow together as one family.”

Last year, parishioners voted to choose the name of the new faith community: St. Pio of Pietrelcina. Padre Pio (1887–1968) was an Italian Capuchin priest renowned for his intense prayer, stigmatization, and service to the suffering. Father Nevitt said the name “recounts Padre Pio’s bilocation, an evocative sign as we unite two churches within one parish.”

“In proposing St. Pio of Pietrelcina, we express our desire to form a community of deep sacramental life and missionary outreach — one that inspires every generation, including young people and families, through a clear witness of holiness, Eucharistic devotion, and prayerful charity,” Father Nevitt wrote in a letter about the new name to Bishop Sweeney.

Temporarily, St. Pio’s staff will work from St. Bonaventure’s offices, while clergy will live in St. Bonaventure’s rectory. Eventually, the OLP rectory will be renovated into St. Pio’s offices, and St. Bonaventure’s rectory will be renovated into St. Pio’s rectory. Father Nevitt will assist Father Cuellar, a fellow 2019 ordination classmate, with technology upgrades, a new website, and a new logo featuring a smiling St. Pio.

The two parishes represent more than 260 years of service to the area —150 at St. Bonaventure’s and 110 at OLP. St. Bonaventure’s, the diocese’s second-oldest parish, was founded when Franciscan Friars arrived in Paterson from Germany in 1876. Bishop Sweeney assigned Father Nevitt to help transition St. Bonaventure’s to a diocesan parish after the Franciscan Friars announced they were leaving, citing manpower shortages, in 2024.

In 1916, OLP was started as a mission of St. Michael Parish in Paterson to serve the Italian community. Msgr. Hundt became pastor of OLP and St. Gerard’s in July 2024, before the Franciscans left St. Bonaventure. The populations of OLP and St. Bonaventure’s were both declining, and OLP was also facing financial struggles.

Msgr. Hundt praised the decision to keep both churches open, which provides more room for St. Pio Parish. Merger discussions became more relaxed once parishioners were reassured that neither church would close, he said.

“The challenge was helping people realize we’re moving toward something important, but that it’s going to involve letting go of part of their experience of community,” Msgr. Hundt said. “There’s a certain dying that has to take place in both communities to rise to the new parish of St. Padre Pio. It takes a lot of grace for God to help us let that happen. I think they’re doing that beautifully.”

For Mass times and other information, visit piopaterson.org as of April 12.

 

– Located only three blocks apart, St. Bonaventure and Our Lady of Pompei (OLP) parishes brought Christ’s love to the people of the Stoney Road section of Paterson, N.J., as separate faith communities for more than 260 years combined. The churches are so close that each parish can hear the other’s church bells from its front steps. So it might seem providential that on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 12, these two parishes, each with its own history and traditions, will merge into a single parish under a new name: St. Pio of Pietrelcina — also known as “Padre Pio” — Parish.

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$2.5M gift fuels Morris Catholic fitness center project #Catholic –

Morris Catholic High School in Denville, N.J., has received an unprecedented $2.5 million gift from an alumnus and spouse — the most generous donation in the school’s history — to build a new Health and Fitness Center. This remarkable gift transforms the school’s nearly 70-year history, inspiring hope and excitement in students, faculty, and families.

The donors, a Morris Catholic alumnus and their spouse, have chosen to keep their identities confidential at this time. Plans for the approximately 15,000-square-foot, two-story facility addition to the Morris Catholic campus have been completed, and the school is preparing to begin construction in late spring.

The new facility will represent the first physical expansion of the Morris Catholic campus since the 1960s and mark a bold investment in the school’s future and the students it serves. The center is designed to promote and support a healthy lifestyle among students.

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“This extraordinary gift reflects a deep belief in the mission and future of Morris Catholic,” said Brian Vohden, Morris Catholic president. “For nearly seven decades, Morris Catholic has formed young men and women in faith, scholarship, and service. This generosity shows the value our community places on having attended Morris Catholic and in helping today’s students.”

The facility will significantly enhance Morris Catholic’s physical education and athletic programs. Designed to serve the entire student body, the center will provide modern training space for physical education, strength and conditioning, and Crusader programs’ athletic teams. The first floor will feature new weights, benches, and equipment. of treadmills, bikes, and rowing machines on the second floor, along with a space for speed and agility work. A 25-foot-tall glass wall will offer visitors a view of the football field below.

The anonymous donors shared their heartfelt motivation: “We wanted to make an immediate impact, to help our youth rise to today’s challenges. Our greatest hope is that this gift empowers every student to thrive and embrace a future filled with possibility to impact, to prepare our youth for today’s challenges. We were especially interested in providing a high-quality, state-of-the-art facility for the Morris Catholic student to thrive physically, mentally, academically, and spiritually, resulting in a truly abundant life.”

The project includes exterior restrooms and a modern concession and retail space for visitors.
modern concession and retail space to enhance the experience for families and visitors attending
outdoor athletic events.

The project arrives during a time of excitement and renewed optimism at Morris Catholic. Guided by the school’s recently adopted five-year strategic plan, the community is uniting around initiatives that promise new opportunities and brighter futures for students and families.

For recently adopted five-year strategic plan, the community is investing in a series of initiatives designed to strengthen academics, expand student opportunities, help meet the financial aid needs of students and their families, and position Morris Catholic as a leader among premier
Catholic college preparatory schools in New Jersey.

“Catholic education and Catholic Schools are a great gift to students, families, our diocese, the
whole Church and the wider community. I am always inspired by donors’ sacrificial generosity, parents’ sacrifices for their children’s education, and the leaders, faculty, staff, and volunteers in our Catholic schools,” Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney of the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey said. “This new student health and fitness center at Morris Catholic is a concrete example of a community coming together to find unique and creative ways to support and educate the whole person, body, mind, and spirit.”

Beyond the record-setting gift, additional gifts from donors and parents are enabling the center to be built.

Mark Thomas, co-chair of the Morris Catholic Board of Trustees, said, “This enormous act of generosity will touch all students. It will equip our athletes with tools and capabilities to add to our history of excellence in athletics. The board is gratified that alumni are partnering with us in strategically important areas.”

 

– Morris Catholic High School in Denville, N.J., has received an unprecedented $2.5 million gift from an alumnus and spouse — the most generous donation in the school’s history — to build a new Health and Fitness Center. This remarkable gift transforms the school’s nearly 70-year history, inspiring hope and excitement in students, faculty, and families. The donors, a Morris Catholic alumnus and their spouse, have chosen to keep their identities confidential at this time. Plans for the approximately 15,000-square-foot, two-story facility addition to the Morris Catholic campus have been completed, and the school is preparing to begin construction in late

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Alaskan Chrism Masses: bishops and priests unite with joy #Catholic –

In most parts of the world, Catholic dioceses celebrate the Chrism Mass during Holy Week as they prepare for the Sacred Triduum. However, in Alaska, this annual liturgy typically follows a different schedule.

The Church in this vast state, covering 665,384 square miles, usually holds Chrism Masses a few weeks before Holy Week. That’s to enable the many missionary priests, who travel long distances to serve their remote faith communities, to receive the sacred oils, which are consecrated during the Mass, or to have them mailed to their parishes by around Eastertime. The packages contain the Oil of the Sick, the Oil of Catechumens, and the Oil of Chrism, which priests use throughout the year.

Father Kamil Kiszka, moderator of St. Joseph Parish in Kotlik and Holy Family in Mertarvik, serves remote southwestern Alaska villages with populations ranging from 200 to 750. He is also a priest of the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey.

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This year, Father Kiszka had a satisfying spiritual moment during a noteworthy Chrism Mass on March 12, following the recent Alaska Priestly Convocation. Every year, priests ministering in Alaska gather for three days of priestly fraternity and spiritual development at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Anchorage, in the Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau.

At the end of their convocation, priests from Anchorage-Juneau celebrate the Chrism Mass with Archbishop Andrew Bellisario, while priests from the Diocese of Fairbanks travel to Fairbanks to celebrate the Mass with Bishop Steven Maekawa, O.P.

“It was wonderful to be in the presence of the two bishops and my brother priests for the time of convocation. I was even happier to celebrate the Chrism Mass in Fairbanks with the diocesan priests. During the Mass, we receive the sacred oils from the bishop, which unite us priests with the bishop in our ministry. It’s great to have a sense of spiritual support and unity,” said Father Kiszka. “The oils are a sign of the grace of God, which I pass on to the people as a priest to strengthen them spiritually.”

Father Kiszka attended an “Oil Mass” last year in Bethel, which he said was unique but lacked the spiritual and fraternal elements of the Chrism Mass, where the bishop consecrates the holy oils and priests renew their promises.

After the Chrism Mass in Fairbanks, large bottles of the sacred oils were taken by one of the priests to another city, Bethel. There, the oils were redistributed at a local church into many smaller bottles, which were sent to some remote parishes. Father Kiszka was able to pick up the set of oils for his parish in Kotlik, located on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta near the coast.

However, the set for his parish in Mertarvik has to wait for his next trip to visit the village.
Unpredictable winter flights make airmail deliveries of the oils difficult. Oils are mailed to parishes without resident priests. In some cases, one priest serves multiple parishes, so oils are mailed ahead when he cannot visit all of them before Easter.

The considerable logistics of distributing and mailing the holy oils only hint at the difficulties faced by mission priests living and ministering in Alaska’s “bush” country. Father Kiszka started his full-time missionary work in Alaska in 2024 and is expected to return to Paterson this July.
The Polish-born priest travels by snowmobile, boat, and four-wheel vehicle. Sometimes he faces sub-zero temperatures. He often lacks access to running water, showers, restrooms, phone service, the Internet, transportation, or food supplies.

To reach Mertarvik, Father Kiszka takes three planes. He sleeps on the floor in the local school to celebrate Mass for parishioners the next day. He enjoys hearing confessions in Yugtun, the native language of the Yupik Indigenous peoples. He also enjoys singing the “Our Father” in Yugtun during Mass.

This winter has been the toughest in Alaska since the 1990s. Illustrating the difficulties, pipes broke in his church in Kotlik, and the city of North Pole, near Fairbanks, experienced extreme temperatures of -66 degrees below zero, according to Father Kiszka.

“Missionary priests like me are getting a sense that there is a wider Church in the world. It’s challenging, but with God’s grace, I see that I’m doing something here in Alaska that will continue: the building up of the Church,” Father Kiszka said. “I’m bringing God with me to the native people I have been serving. I want to help make their faith more alive than I have in myself and my priesthood.”

 

– In most parts of the world, Catholic dioceses celebrate the Chrism Mass during Holy Week as they prepare for the Sacred Triduum. However, in Alaska, this annual liturgy typically follows a different schedule. The Church in this vast state, covering 665,384 square miles, usually holds Chrism Masses a few weeks before Holy Week. That’s to enable the many missionary priests, who travel long distances to serve their remote faith communities, to receive the sacred oils, which are consecrated during the Mass, or to have them mailed to their parishes by around Eastertime. The packages contain the Oil of the Sick,

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‘Everything’s possible in Christ’: EPIC group is transforming young lives at St. Anthony of Padua #Catholic –

A youth ministry of the Diocese of Paterson gathers more than 40 young adults every week — people who are looking for something more than a meeting: they are looking for a family.

Every week, at St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Passaic, a group of young adults comes together to pray, share their faith, and grow side by side. The EPIC ministry — Everything’s Possible in Christ — has grown from humble beginnings into one of the most vibrant youth spaces in the Diocese of Paterson, drawing young adults from different cities and even from other states.

The weekly gatherings combine faith reflection, Bible study, and prayer, but over time they have become something harder to put into words: a place where young people can arrive with their questions, their history, and their search — without fear of being judged. The group also organizes recreational activities — including a recent ski trip — that strengthen the bonds of community beyond the parish setting.

A fire he didn’t want to let die

For Danquiewiez González, it all began with a spiritual retreat and an experience he simply could not ignore.

“I felt the fire of God’s love in my heart,” he recalls. “After the retreat ended, I didn’t want that fire to go out inside me — that’s why I decided to join the EPIC group, to keep learning more about God and strengthen my faith.”

Since then, his involvement in the parish has only grown. He now serves as a lector at Mass and speaks about his faith with a clarity he traces directly to that moment of grace. “Now I see life from a different point of view. All of this is born from the fact that God is in my heart, and I want to serve Him with joy.”

Jonathan Moran came to the group with a similar desire: to draw closer to his faith again and find accompaniment along the way. What he found was that — and more. “Since I joined the group, I’ve received many helpful resources and met people who are willing to help me in my discernment process,” he shares.

Among the experiences that have marked him most is the group’s retreat. To describe what they lived during those days, Jonathan turns to the words of Psalm 133: “How good and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters live together in unity.”

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An unexpected return

Brenda Marte grew up in the Church. But like so many young people, her college years gradually drew her away from the practice of her faith. It was a personal experience of conversion that awakened in her the desire to come back.

One day, she noticed an announcement in the parish bulletin for a young adult retreat. She decided to go. That seemingly small decision marked the beginning of a new chapter.

“I have made friendships centered on God. My life has changed for the better,” she says today, with the simplicity of someone speaking from deep conviction rather than fleeting enthusiasm. Her commitment has continued to grow: she now serves as a catechist for the first year of Confirmation and participates in the Shalom missionary community in New York.

What she treasures most about the group are the holy hours before the Blessed Sacrament. “There is something very special about being in the presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament together with all your friends. Knowing that there are so many young people seeking God, and that we have that mutual support — it is something truly beautiful.”

Building a family, not just a group

Behind EPIC’s growth are people who have invested their time and their hearts in building something that goes beyond a parish program.

Kenneth Acevedo, one of the coordinators, describes his experience in EPIC as something deeply meaningful in his life. Reflecting on his involvement in the ministry, he explains that being part of the group was already a very valuable experience, but taking on the role of coordinator has been even more special. In his own words: “Being part of EPIC has been truly rewarding, but being a coordinator has been one of the best experiences of my life.”

As he shares, the group has grown in recent years and now brings together young adults from different cities and even from other states. The goal of the ministry, he explains, is to offer a space where young people can feel heard and accompanied on their faith journey. With that purpose in mind, he adds: “We have created a place where young adults can come without feeling judged or alone.”

Jessica Alvarez remembers the early days, when only a handful of people would show up to a given meeting. Today, it is not uncommon to see more than 40 young adults gathered on a single evening. For her, that growth cannot be explained by communication strategies or appealing programs — it comes down to something simpler: the human warmth of genuine welcome. “We strive to treat every person like a member of our family.”

And to that family, the coordinators extend an open invitation to any young adult looking to deepen their faith, or who simply wants to find out whether there is something here for them. As Jessica puts it: “There is always a place for you in our family.”

Visit the parish website or social media to learn more.

 

 

 

 

– A youth ministry of the Diocese of Paterson gathers more than 40 young adults every week — people who are looking for something more than a meeting: they are looking for a family. Every week, at St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Passaic, a group of young adults comes together to pray, share their faith, and grow side by side. The EPIC ministry — Everything’s Possible in Christ — has grown from humble beginnings into one of the most vibrant youth spaces in the Diocese of Paterson, drawing young adults from different cities and even from other states. The weekly

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Registration now open for National Eucharistic Pilgrimage events in Paterson Diocese #Catholic –

The faithful of the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey are now invited to register to participate in stops on June 14 and 15, almost entirely in Passaic and Paterson, during the 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, which will travel up the Eastern Seaboard this summer.

Guided by the theme “One Nation Under God,” the pilgrimage includes 18 stops. It is a nationwide call to renewal, unity, and mission, all rooted in the Eucharist. The event honors the United States’ 250th birthday and runs from Pentecost through Independence Day weekend.

This is the first time Paterson will host stops on a National Eucharistic Pilgrimage. The event continues the National Eucharistic Revival and the landmark Congress in 2024.

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The local activities on June 14:

3:30 to 5 p.m.: Influenced by the Eucharist talk in English by Catholic influencer Father Rafael Capo, Holy Rosary Church, 6 Wall St., Passaic, N.J.

3:30 to 5 p.m.: Influenciados por la Eucaristia: Charla de Apertura en Español por Sacerdote Influencer P. Heriberto García, St. Nicholas, 217 President St. Passaic, N.J.

5 to 6:30 p.m.: Eucharistic Procession/Procesión Eucarística through the streets of Passaic. The procession will depart from Holy Rosary Church (6 Wall St, Passaic, N.J.) and end at Boverini Stadium, where the opening Mass will take place. The distance is about 1.5 miles.

6:30 to 8 p.m.: Opening Mass/Misa de Apertura with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney at Boverini Stadium, 262 River Dr., Passaic.

The following events will occur on June 15:

3 to 5 p.m.: Celebration of Divine Liturgy with the Byzantine Catholic community in New Jersey at St. Michael Chapel, 415 Lackawanna Ave., Woodland Park, N.J.

5:30 to 7 p.m.: Eucharistic Procession with First Communicants, children, and the local faithful of all ages. This loop procession will depart from the front steps of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, 381 Grand St., Paterson, N.J., and end at the cathedral.

7 to 8:30 p.m.: Closing Mass/Misa de Clausura with Bishop Sweeney and homily by Catholic influencer Father Casey Cole, O.F.M., at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson (381 Grand St., Paterson, N.J.). Access to the Municipal Parking Lot will be available at 5 p.m., across from the Cathedral on Grand Street. This Mass will be livestreamed at https://rcdopcathedral.org/.

The pilgrimage will travel the Eastern Seaboard on the St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Route. This route is named for the first U.S. citizen to be canonized a saint, known for her missionary service to immigrants and the poor.

The journey will begin May 24 in St. Augustine, Fla., near the site of the first Catholic Mass in what is now the United States. From there, a group of nine young adult Perpetual Pilgrims, accompanied by chaplains, will carry the Blessed Sacrament north through many of the original 13 colonies, 18 dioceses, and two Eastern Rite eparchies.

Several moments along the route will highlight the rich history of Catholicism in the United States. These will include Mass at the Baltimore Basilica, the first cathedral built in the country; a blessing over our nation’s capital atop the Arlington Memorial Bridge; a Eucharistic procession through downtown Washington, D.C.; and a Eucharistic procession along the Freedom Trail in Boston, as well as an outdoor Mass on Lexington Battle Green.

The pilgrimage will conclude over Independence Day weekend in Philadelphia, including 24 hours of Eucharistic adoration in the Cathedral Basilica, multiple showings of the feature film Cabrini, and a solemn closing Mass and Eucharistic procession through the city streets.

In addition to in-person events, Catholics across the country are invited to participate spiritually by submitting prayer intentions and committing time to Eucharistic adoration. The pilgrimage aims to gather 250,000 Holy Hours of prayer for the renewal of the nation, which will be presented to national leaders.

All ages and walks of life are welcome to join in prayer before Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament during the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage’s travels. All events are free. Please register in advance, so pilgrimage organizers can plan accordingly for the expected number of people.

For questions about events in this diocese, please contact: MMoncaleano@patersondiocese.org. For registration assistance, please contact: registration@eucharisticcongress.org.

– The faithful of the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey are now invited to register to participate in stops on June 14 and 15, almost entirely in Passaic and Paterson, during the 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, which will travel up the Eastern Seaboard this summer. Guided by the theme “One Nation Under God,” the pilgrimage includes 18 stops. It is a nationwide call to renewal, unity, and mission, all rooted in the Eucharist. The event honors the United States’ 250th birthday and runs from Pentecost through Independence Day weekend. This is the first time Paterson will host stops on a National

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Sacred oils to be consecrated at Paterson Chrism Mass #Catholic –

All the faithful of the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey are invited to join Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney for the Chrism Mass on Tuesday, March 31, at 7 p.m. in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J. All the priests of the diocese attend the annual Mass for the blessing of coming together in spiritual fellowship with Bishop Sweeney.

During the Mass, Bishop Sweeney will consecrate and bless the Oil of the Sick, used in the Anointing of the Sick, and the Oil of Catechumens, used for anointing those preparing for baptism. He will also consecrate the Sacred Chrism, used for baptism, confirmation, holy orders, and the dedication of altars. These holy oils will be used in parishes throughout the diocese during the coming year for various sacramental celebrations.

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Bishop Sweeney will be the homilist and principal celebrant of the Mass, with the priests of the diocese in attendance, concelebrating. The priests will renew their priestly promises before the bishop and receive the prayers and support of the people of God. Diocesan faithful, including deacons, religious, and laity, typically attend the liturgy, which will be livestreamed.

Father Jared Brogan, diocesan director of the Office of Worship and diocesan master of ceremonies, is coordinating the Chrism Mass.

“For priests, concelebrating the Chrism Mass with the bishop and presbyterate shows our relationship with the bishop and with one another,” Father Brogan said. “It is also an opportunity to renew our priestly promises before the bishop and to be present as he blesses the holy oils to be used by priests in their parishes. There is a great sense of communion: time to reflect, be reminded of, and appreciate the gift and mystery of the priesthood. It is also a sign of communion with all the faithful at this liturgy. They witness the priesthood and are invited to pray for the priests,” he said.

After the Mass, the holy oils will be distributed to representatives from each parish in the diocese, who will use them for the first time at the Easter Vigil. Once a year, a bishop blesses holy oils in his diocese, uniting him with the parishes when the sacraments are celebrated, and the oils are used.

– All the faithful of the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey are invited to join Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney for the Chrism Mass on Tuesday, March 31, at 7 p.m. in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J. All the priests of the diocese attend the annual Mass for the blessing of coming together in spiritual fellowship with Bishop Sweeney. During the Mass, Bishop Sweeney will consecrate and bless the Oil of the Sick, used in the Anointing of the Sick, and the Oil of Catechumens, used for anointing those preparing for baptism. He will also consecrate the

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Walk possible saint’s footsteps on the Mexican pilgrimage with bishop #Catholic –

A young girl from the World Villages for Children Girlstown in Chalco, Mexico, Zayra used to walk two hours to school daily, avoiding a human trafficker who had been stalking her. She spent her evenings with an alcoholic and abusive grandfather. Zayra prayed before an Our Lady of Guadalupe statue for relief. Then, the Sisters of Mary found her.

Kevin Wells remembers Zayra telling him the story, one of thousands he’d heard while visiting the mission, a school-orphanage started by Venerable Father Aloysius Schwartz. When he went to Chalco to research a biography on Father Schwartz, affectionately known as “Father Al,” the mother superior of the Sisters of Mary at Girlstown told him, “If you want to get to know Father Al, I want you to start with these girls first.”

“Since then, I’ve spoken to hundreds worldwide about these nightmares,” said Wells, who wrote “Priest and Beggar: The Heroic Life of Venerable Aloysius Schwartz.”

Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney of the Diocese of Paterson in New Jersey will lead a pilgrimage in the footsteps of Venerable Father Aloysius Schwartz, titled “A Journey of Faith & Joy: Guadalupe to Girlstown,” in Chalco, Mexico, from Friday, Sept. 18 to Monday, Sept. 21. He will be accompanied by Kevin Wells and his brother, Father David Wells of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C.

All diocesan faithful are invited to join Bishop Sweeney and the Wells brothers on this life-changing pilgrimage, designed to help participants come to know the possible future U.S. saint who founded the Sisters of Mary. For more information about Venerable Father Aloysius Schwartz and the experience of visiting Mexico, watch this episode of the bishop’s Beyond the Beacon podcast.

The pilgrims will also visit Girlstown, witnessing how the Sisters of Mary transform the lives of poor children through education, faith formation, and vocational skills training, and sending them out into the world as Christ-like missionaries. In 1989, Venerable Father Aloysius Schwartz was diagnosed with ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s Disease, and knew he would die soon. Yet he heard the Blessed Mother call him to found a Girlstown in Chalco and the Boystown in Guadalajara.

“Without exaggerating, I can tell you that everybody weeps,” Kevin Wells said of the upwards of 20 pilgrimages he has led to Chalco. “When people go down, they expect to see wounded girls. Instead, they see girls filled with joy, because the Sisters of Mary work all day long, from before dawn until they go to bed at night, mothering the wounds away, removing the nightmares and woundedness so the graces can come in.”

Also, pilgrims will attend daily Masses with Bishop Sweeney at the nearby Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe — the most visited Marian shrine in the world. There, they will see the miraculous Tilma of St. Juan Diego, an image created by God. They will climb Tepeyac Hill, where the Blessed Mother appeared and spoke to St. Juan Diego in 1531.

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The trip’s itinerary also includes several reflections on intimacy with Our Lady, prayer, sacrifice, and living the faith, led by Bishop Sweeney and the Wells brothers. Pilgrims will stay at a hotel near the Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, allowing for easy access to these spiritual experiences.

The Cause for Canonization of Father Schwartz was opened by the Archdiocese of Manila, the Philippines, in 2003. Pope Francis recognized Father Al’s “heroic virtue,” declaring him “venerable” Jan. 22, 2015.

Venerable Father Aloysius Schwartz established Girlstown orphanages, staffed by the Sisters of Mary, in several countries, serving more than 180,000. With Mary’s help, he raised hundreds of millions of dollars to build Boystowns, Girlstowns, hospitals, hospices, leprosaria, and schools worldwide, Kevin Wells said.

Born in 1930 in Washington, D.C., Venerable Father Aloysius Schwartz was ordained a priest of the Society of the Auxiliaries of the Missions in Belgium in 1957. Here, he encountered Our Lady of the Poor, or Our Lady of Banneux. In 1964, while serving in post-war South Korea, he founded the Sisters of Mary.

Summing up Father Al’s character, Kevin Wells added, “Father Al didn’t care about his own comfort. He made a promise to Mary that he would do revolting things, hard things, if only she would give him the poorest of the poor.”

This selfless commitment continued in 1989, when Father Al traveled to Mexico despite having Lou Gehrig’s Disease. He heard that “many of the Mexicans were leaving the faith because of poverty,” Kevin Wells said. After visiting the Basilica Shrine, he began to serve Mary under the mantle of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Subsequently, Father Al returned to the Philippines, where he had been incardinated as a priest, and died on March 16, 1992.

The seeds for the pilgrimage in September first germinated when Bishop Sweeney discovered Father Al’s story, reading “Priest and Beggar.” A friend of Kevin Wells forwarded him a column the bishop wrote about Father Al. Wells offered to bring the bishop to Chalco to visit, which they did with 14 men in 2024. The bishop met the Girlstown community.

“They fell in love with Bishop Sweeney because they saw his joy, and they saw that he was a good priest. He fell in love with the mission and wanted to go back, so he reached out, and we decided to do it again,” Kevin Wells said.

Pilgrimage prices start at $1,799 per person, excluding travel expenses. For more information, visit worldvillages.org/events/sweeney-wells. Register online by Aug. 18.

– A young girl from the World Villages for Children Girlstown in Chalco, Mexico, Zayra used to walk two hours to school daily, avoiding a human trafficker who had been stalking her. She spent her evenings with an alcoholic and abusive grandfather. Zayra prayed before an Our Lady of Guadalupe statue for relief. Then, the Sisters of Mary found her. Kevin Wells remembers Zayra telling him the story, one of thousands he’d heard while visiting the mission, a school-orphanage started by Venerable Father Aloysius Schwartz. When he went to Chalco to research a biography on Father Schwartz, affectionately known as “Father

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Statewide Catholic Mental Health Conference set for May 2 #Catholic –

Conference aims to combat stigma, offer support and resources

With the goal of educating about the scope of the mental health crisis, reducing stigma around mental illness and offering resources for individuals and their families, the New Jersey Catholic Conference is partnering with the state’s Catholic Dioceses, Catholic Charities organizations and Catholic Healthcare Partnership of New Jersey to organize a special one-day program.

“From Isolation to Belonging, Mental Health and the Catholic Church” will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. on May 2 at the Saint John Neumann Pastoral Center, 146 Metlars Lane, Piscataway. The cost to attend is $40 per person and registration is limited; those interested in attending are encouraged to register online at www.njconf.com before registration is full.

“Health issues impact everyone,” said James King, executive director of the New Jersey Catholic Conference – the public policy arm of the state’s Catholic bishops. “This conference is an opportunity to learn more about mental health issues and how Catholics engage these issues.”

Organizers encourage clergy, religious, parish leaders, ministry volunteers, educators, mental health professionals and those seeking a deeper understanding of mental health and the Church to consider attending. The day will include Mass celebrated by Cardinal Joseph Tobin, C.Ss.R., of the Archdiocese of Newark.

“Since God created us both body and spirit, we have a responsibility to not only care for our souls, but our minds and bodies as well. However, we must learn to do this in an authentically Catholic way,” King said. “There is a lot of information out there about mindfulness and wellness, [and] some of it is not consistent with Catholic teaching. As Catholics, not only do we need to understand why addressing our mental health is important, but how to do this in a manner that is rooted in our Catholic faith.”

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Related Podcast

The Diocese of Paterson recently invited Beth Hlabse from the University of Notre Dame on its Beyond The Beacon to discuss mental health and the upcoming conference. Check it out below.

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Attendees will hear from leading Catholic voices and experts in the field, including keynote speaker Bishop John P. Dolan of the Diocese of Phoenix. Bishop Dolan founded an Office of Mental Health Ministry at the diocesan level, the first of its kind in the United States. He has long been motivated to support those experiencing mental health crises, especially after losing several family members and loved ones to suicide.

Breakout sessions during the conference will also feature several speakers, including Beth Hlabse, program director of the Fiat Program on Faith and Mental Health at Notre Dame University’s McGrath Institute for Church Life. A mental health counselor, Hlabse leads pastoral research and education efforts, and helps facilitate formation on mental health in the context of the Catholic tradition.

Another speaker, Ben Wortham, serves as vice president for Behavioral Health Integration at Catholic Charities USA. Through his role, Wortham leads efforts to support 168 Catholic Charities agencies across the country, and works to support strong relationships between those agencies and healthcare systems.

Attendees will also hear from Deacon Ed Shoener, founder of the International Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers. A permanent deacon at Saint Peter’s Cathedral in the Diocese of Scranton, Pa., Deacon Shoener was inspired to enter this field following the death of his daughter from suicide in 2016. The organization he founded works to combat stigma around mental illness by offering free resources for parishes, individuals and families around the world. The association has more than 7,000 members across 75 countries.

King said that the idea for the conference follows increased efforts by the state’s diocesan communities and Catholic Charities agencies to address mental health, as well as to work on the national level with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. A key goal of the program is to combat stigma.

“During the planning process, we heard from several people who described feeling isolated from their parish community when they or a family member experienced a mental health issue,” he said. “Essential to our mission as Catholics is to walk with people who are experiencing hardships. Unfortunately, from time to time, fear, or lack of understanding of a person’s situation, may make us reluctant to engage.”

King hopes that participants will walk away with a deeper understanding of how they can provide support.

“The conference is not meant to turn attendees into trained therapists,” he said. “The goal of the conference is to help people overcome these fears and gain the confidence to engage with people in their families and communities who may be experiencing mental health issues.”

If you are experiencing a crisis, dial 988.

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– Conference aims to combat stigma, offer support and resources With the goal of educating about the scope of the mental health crisis, reducing stigma around mental illness and offering resources for individuals and their families, the New Jersey Catholic Conference is partnering with the state’s Catholic Dioceses, Catholic Charities organizations and Catholic Healthcare Partnership of New Jersey to organize a special one-day program. “From Isolation to Belonging, Mental Health and the Catholic Church” will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. on May 2 at the Saint John Neumann Pastoral Center, 146 Metlars Lane, Piscataway. The cost to attend

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