Pope Leo invites Americans to cultivate ‘moral greatness’ as he accepts Liberty Medal #Catholic – 
PHILADELPHIA (OSV News) — Religious liberty “holds sacred the inner sphere of the person where convictions are formed and where conscience can guide the decisions made in the intimacy of the human heart,” said Pope Leo XIV, as he accepted a major civic award for upholding freedom of belief on the eve of the nation’s 250th anniversary.
The first U.S.-born pope shared his thoughts — which centered religious liberty within a vision of God-given human dignity, and which called the nation back to shared founding ideals — during a July 3 acceptance address for the Liberty Medal, bestowed by the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.
Established in 1988 to mark the bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution, and hosted by the center since 2006, the Liberty Medal honors both individuals and organizations “who strive to secure the blessings of liberty to people around the globe.”
The July 3 ceremony took place at the center, a private nonprofit that promotes constitutional education and civic debate, with Pope Leo speaking via livestream from the Vatican. He received a standing ovation from attendees, among them numerous faith and civic leaders.
The medal itself had been presented to the pope in person at the Vatican on April 30 by Vince Stango, the center’s interim president and CEO, center officials and Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez of Philadelphia, who spoke at the Philadelphia event. Video of the April presentation aired at the July 3 ceremony immediately ahead of the pope’s live remarks.
Pope Leo is only the second religious leader to receive the Liberty Medal, preceded by 2015 recipient the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet.
“This honor is a fitting recognition of the Holy Father’s long-standing dedication to advancing liberty for all people throughout the world, particularly the gift of religious freedom,” said Archbishop Pérez during the event at the center.
Speaking to those at the ceremony, Pope Leo wore both the medal and his pectoral cross, with an exhibit version of the medal, blessed by the pope in April during the in-person presentation, displayed on the stage ahead of its installation in one of the center’s galleries.
Describing himself as “a son of this great country,” Pope Leo asked in his July 3 address that he joined them in asking “God’s blessings upon America’s future, that the lofty ideals enshrined at the beginning of the Declaration of Independence may continue to guide the flourishing of the nation in unity, justice and peace.
“From our youth, most of us have admired the eloquence of those words, their resounding appeal to the law of nature and to nature’s God as the basis of their assertion that all men and women are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, including the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” the pope said.
Noting that while that phrasing was “couched in the language of the Enlightenment,” the claim “is ultimately grounded in an understanding of the human person inspired by the great biblical vision of man and woman being created in the divine image,” said Pope Leo.
Such God-given human dignity, he said, “precedes the establishment of any state, and whose custody constitutes its very purpose.”
“As every American knows, however, the path to building a society that would embody those high ideals of liberty and justice for all was not always easy and, in many respects, is still a work in progress,” he said. “Indeed, the effort to realize this vision is one that must be taken up anew in each generation and in the face of ever new challenges.”
The nation’s 250th anniversary, he continued, offers “the opportunity to reflect once again on the nation’s founding principles in the hope that America will remain ever true to the dream that has earned it the title of ‘land of the free and home of the brave.’”
The pope enumerated the rights “enshrined by the nation’s founders,” noting that the first was “the right to life” itself.
“A country’s vitality is deeply tied to the value it affords to human life in every form and condition, acknowledging the dignity endowed upon every human person by virtue of their very existence,” he said.
He stressed that “we must continue to cultivate” such “reverence” for life “from the moment of conception to natural death.”
Pope Leo noted that “the moral greatness of a nation is manifested, above all, in its capacity to support, protect and cherish the lives of all, especially the most vulnerable and those whose worth is questioned.”
Along with the right to life, said the pope, “liberty was and is preeminent among the principles revered by the men and women who have sought within this nation’s borders a new beginning, often equating it with previously undreamed-of hope.”
He clarified that “authentic freedom runs much deeper” than “the ability to act as one would like.”
Rather, said Pope Leo, true liberty “is founded upon the human person’s capacity to know the truth and adhere to what is good, even at great cost — a sacrifice well known to many who have labored to shape this country.”
He observed that “America has long championed the religious freedom necessary to follow responsibly the dictates of conscience … free from fear and coercion.”
That freedom “holds sacred the inner sphere of the person where convictions are formed and where conscience can guide the decisions made in the intimacy of the human heart,” he said.
In addition, Pope Leo said, “this same freedom also ensures the right of every person to worship according to one’s own belief, and of individuals, communities and associations to give public expression to their faith.”
Religious freedom allows for “interfaith dialogue and interreligious cooperation” toward the “public good” while “enriching the debates on the great moral and ethical issues that have faced the nation and shaped the course of its history” — all part of “the American tradition,” Pope Leo said.
He added, “It is my hope that this tradition will continue to bear fruit in a public discourse marked by moderation, respect for the views of others, and an ongoing effort to find common ground in promoting the cause of peace and reconciliation, at home and abroad.”
America’s founders, “men and women of diverse backgrounds, religions and languages, were able to find that common ground and the strength necessary to pursue a better future,” said the pope. He said such principles, “rooted” in “the truth of the human person,” united the nation’s forebears “in a single cause, a common dream.”
“Unity lent strength to that dream, giving rise, under God, to the United States of America,” said Pope Leo.
He quoted the nation’s motto, “E pluribus unum,” Latin for “Out of many, one.”
The pope highlighted that a nation “must be truly united” in order to flourish — and that such unity cannot be found in “goals bound to momentary endeavors,” but instead “ideals that do not fade with the passing of time.”
“May the principles we have reflected upon today — a shared human dignity, equality and the rights laid out in the Declaration of Independence — ever be a source of such unity and a guiding light for the present moment and for the years to come,” Pope Leo said.
He prayed that the nation’s 250th anniversary would be “the occasion of a solemn recommitment to these ideals that have made America a country that values peace and prosperity, a country characterized by generosity and nobility of heart.”
Concluding his address, Pope Leo said, “I commend all of you, as well as the future of the nation, to the One who is himself the source of true freedom and lasting peace, the One whose very name is Peace. May God bless America!”
– – –
Gina Christian is a multimedia reporter for OSV News. Follow her on X @GinaJesseReina.
– PHILADELPHIA (OSV News) — Religious liberty “holds sacred the inner sphere of the person where convictions are formed and where conscience can guide the decisions made in the intimacy of the human heart,” said Pope Leo XIV, as he accepted a major civic award for upholding freedom of belief on the eve of the nation’s 250th anniversary. The first U.S.-born pope shared his thoughts — which centered religious liberty within a vision of God-given human dignity, and which called the nation back to shared founding ideals — during a July 3 acceptance address for the Liberty Medal, bestowed by the
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![Bishop blesses 2 new greenhouses, generator at Morristown monastery #Catholic - On July 16, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney paid a pastoral visit to the Discalced Carmelite nuns at the Monastery of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel in Morristown, N.J. There the bishop celebrated a Mass for the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in the chapel. He also went outside on the monastery grounds to bless two new greenhouses and a concrete pad that will soon accommodate a new generator.
Through its “We Care, We Share” outreach ministry, the Church of Christ the King in the New Vernon neighborhood of Harding Township, N.J., donated funds for the greenhouses. With them, the nuns hope to grow spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, and cabbage, as well as flowers to decorate the monastery chapel, said Mother Therese Katulski, prioress of the monastery.
The Knights of Columbus of Assumption Parish in Morristown donated funds for the generator — this after a major power outage at the monastery. A contractor will donate the labor to install the generator.
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Salesian Sister Theresa Lee, chancellor and delegate for religious of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., assisted Bishop Sweeney with the blessing.
The Discalced Carmelites are a cloistered order with a daily schedule of eight hours of prayer, manual labor, some recreation, and contemplation. They are always striving to make themselves more pleasing to God. The nuns adhere to strict silence so their prayers may be more continuous.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/bishop-blesses-2-new-greenhouses-generator-at-morristown-monastery-catholic-on-july-16-bishop-kevin-j-sweeney-paid-a-pastoral-visit-to-the-discalced-carmelite-nuns-at-the-monastery-of-the-most-b.jpg)
![From Florham Park to joyful Divine Word Missionary priesthood #Catholic - After years of seminary study, Father Ryan Agbim, formerly of Holy Family Parish in Florham Park in the Paterson Diocese, N.J., describes his first few weeks as a priest of the Society of the Divine Word as both “surreal” and “a pure joy and a grace.”
On May 23, Father Agbim, 31, and six other seminarians were ordained Divine Word priests by Bishop John Douglas Deshotel of Lafayette, La., in Chicago. Divine Word Missionaries work globally in 79 countries to spread the Gospel through service and action.
“Presiding over a liturgy and putting into practice what I’ve learned from my great teacher, Father Richard Fragomeni [associate professor of liturgy and preaching and chairperson of the Department of Word and Worship at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago], has been a pure joy and a grace!” said Father Agbim, who attended weekly Mass with his family at Holy Family from 2003 to 2014.
Father Agbim continued, “To hear my first confession was such a blessing, as I have been waiting to facilitate that sacrament since the beginning of my formation! It is such a moment to make known the infinite mercy that Christ offers to all of us. To all reading this: Go to confession! You won’t regret it!”
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Within Divine Word, Father Agbim has been assigned to the Canada District at Cristo Rey Parish in Mississauga, a large Canadian city neighboring Toronto on Lake Ontario. There, the faith community speaks English and Portuguese. He will take some time to learn Portuguese to become more effective in his pastoral role.
In addition, Father Agbim has accepted the role of communications coordinator for the Chicago Province, which spans from Nebraska to Massachusetts and from Canada to the Caribbean.
“This is an exciting new role that will take creativity, teamwork, and another degree,” said Father Agbim, who will travel to Argentina in August for a meeting of coordinators where the Society of the Divine Word is located around the world.
Recently, Father Agbim returned to New Jersey and visited Holy Family, where he celebrated and concelebrated Masses. He used to worship there with his family — his mother, Barbara, from England, and his father, Mathias, from Nigeria, both deceased, and his sister, Jessica.
“It was heartwarming to celebrate the Eucharist among familiar faces. It felt like a homecoming,” Father Agbim said.
Initially, Father Agbim discerned a life with a wife and children. He earned a bachelor’s degree in public health from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J., in 2018. But at the end of his sophomore year, he had a life-changing conversation with Father Fred Walters, then Holy Family’s pastor, now retired.
“Father Fred said, ‘As a priest, you could be a spiritual father for your spiritual children — to so many people,’” Agbim said. “That moved me from wanting to be a biological father to being a priest.”
But it wasn’t until college that Father Agbim first heard God’s call through the questions of others, like “Have you thought of being a priest?” One of them was Bishop Emeritus Arthur J. Serratelli during a pastoral visit to Holy Family.
Father Agbim’s exploration of vocations led him to the Society of the Divine Word. He was impressed by the community’s “missionary spirit.”
In 2019, Agbim quit his job as a pharmacy technician to enter Divine Word’s novitiate in Epworth, Iowa. He made his first vows in 2020 and his perpetual vows in 2025. He later moved to Hyde Park, Chicago, for theology studies.
Father Agbim was featured in a November 2025 story on BeaconNJ.com. There, he anticipated in future priestly vocations “feeling gratitude, mixed with some fear. But I leave certain decisions in God’s hands. He knows better than I do.”
Read the story on Father Agbim last year.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/from-florham-park-to-joyful-divine-word-missionary-priesthood-catholic-after-years-of-seminary-study-father-ryan-agbim-formerly-of-holy-family-parish-in-florham-park-in-the-paterson-diocese-n-j.jpg)
![State Knights officers installed amid significant membership growth #Catholic - A Catholic from the Paterson Diocese led the installation of State officers of the N.J. State Knights of Columbus for the 2026-27 fraternal year on July 18, 2026, during a Mass held at St. Jude Thaddeus Church in the Budd Lake neighborhood of Mount Olive Township, N.J. During the last fraternal year, the N.J. State Knights notched a record, adding 2,754 men to the membership rolls — the best in 26 years.
James P. Sweeney of the Paterson Diocese was also installed for his second year of a two-year term as State Deputy. He belongs to St. Jude Parish in Mount Olive and is a member of the Knights of Columbus Father Joseph A. Cassidy Council 6100. Sweeney also sits on the board of trustees of diocesan Catholic Charities and the diocesan Pastoral Council led by Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney, who was the main celebrant and homilist of the installation Mass.
The following remaining State Knights officers were installed that day: Father Ernest G. Rush, State Chaplain, who is pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Lyndhurst; Russell D. Petrocelli, State Secretary, from the Newark Archdiocese; Scott C. Williams, State Treasurer, from the Metuchen Diocese; Edward V. Michalak, State Advocate, from the Trenton Diocese; and Christopher A. Tomasello, Sr., State Warden, from the Camden Diocese.
During the 2025-26 fraternal year, the State Knights, which oversees 350 councils with a total membership of more than 60,000 Catholic men, also expanded its Evangelization and Faith Formation program throughout the state. This includes Cor program, named after the Latin word for “heart” and the root of “courage,” It features 60- to 90-minute monthly or bi-monthly gatherings focused on three pillars: prayer, formation, and fraternity. Men gather periodically to “discuss their faith and how it impacts their daily lives,” Sweeney said.
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“There has been a resurgence of men in our parishes looking to grow in their faith. The Knights is a perfect place for them. We create a community where men can share their faith and then put their faith into action,” said Sweeney. He continued to say, “We are the right faith organization at the right time, offering every Catholic gentleman the opportunity to become a Knight”.
These young men might be attracted to the Knights because they live their “faith in action” across New Jersey, supporting numerous charities, Sweeney said. Among them are a few in the Paterson Diocese, including the support of the Catholic Charities Department of Persons with Disabilities support through the Intellectual Disabilities drive. They also support the Coats-for-Kids drive, where the Knights in conjunction with the Cathedral of St John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J., give an average of more than 2,000 coats, at the “Bethlehem in Paterson,” an annual Christmas charity event at the Cathedral.
The installation liturgy began with Knights of Columbus Color Corp from throughout the state leading a procession of the NJ State Council leaders and clergy down the center aisle of St. Jude’s Church, wearing crisp blue uniforms and white gloves and holding ceremonial swords and flags.
Concelebrating the installation Mass were Bishop Emeritus Paul G. Bootkoski of the Metuchen Diocese, who is now State Chaplain Emeritus; Father Ernest Rush State Chaplain; Father J. Antonio Gaviria, pastor of St. Jude’s; Father William Smith, a retired priest of the Metuchen Diocese; and Msgr. Geno Sylva, rector of St. John’s and diocesan vicar for special projects.
The State Knights hold an annual State Officers/District Deputies Installation ceremony to install the newly elected state-level officers for the upcoming fraternal year. The ceremony marks the start of the Columbian Year for the organization. The officers’ family and friends attended the liturgy as a sign of support.
A banquet followed the July 20 installation Mass.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/state-knights-officers-installed-amid-significant-membership-growth-catholic-a-catholic-from-the-paterson-diocese-led-the-installation-of-state-officers-of-the-n-j-state-knights-of-columbus-for-th.jpg)
![Parish Migrant Ministry leaders commissioned for immigration help and hope #Catholic - Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney commissioned 46 Parish Migrant Ministry leaders from five parishes in the Paterson Diocese, N.J., during a Spanish Mass on June 29 at St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Passaic, N.J. The ministry, launched in February, is part of the new Migrant Pastoral Ministry initiative of the diocese.
The initiative takes its name, “Come and See,” from the missionary spirit that inspires it. The ministry, formally known as the Ministry of Service, Accompaniment, and Justice, aims to form lay leaders equipped to respond to the needs of immigrant communities amid today’s pressing migration challenges.
Along with St. Anthony’s, the other parishes involved in Migrant Pastoral Ministry are St. Margaret of Scotland in Morristown, N.J.; St. Paul’s in Prospect Park, N.J.; St. Gerard Majella in Paterson, N.J.; and Our Lady Queen of Peace in Branchville, N.J.
During the commissioning, Bishop Sweeney handed each parish leader a Bible signed by him and a certificate. An initiative of the bishop, the new ministry operates under the guidance of Father Duberney Villamizar, pastor of St. Margaret’s and diocesan vicar for Hispanic Affairs.
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Concelebrating the Mass with Bishop Sweeney were the pastors of the five Migrant Pastoral Ministry parishes and Father Alex Gaitán, director of Migrant Pastoral Ministry for the Archdiocese of Newark, N.J.
Aligned with the Pope and the V Encuentro, Migrant Pastoral Ministry responds to the call of Pope Leo XIV to walk alongside those most in need and implements the priorities of lay leadership, immigration ministry, and faith formation outlined within the framework of the V National Encuentro.
Parish groups help those with immigration challenges, such as detention, deportation, passports, and citizenship, by providing or referring them to the proper resources. They also help them with immediate needs such as food and baby items.
“Everyone in Migrant Pastoral Ministry wants to make people in the pews aware of the needs of those around them and make sure we care for them,” said Miguel Rodríguez, diocesan coordinator of the ministry. “We want people to know we can help them with their migration issues by offering them the resources we have available. We also want to invite people in the pews to get involved to help,” he said.
The diocese launched the ministry on Feb. 21. Later, the ministry held a program rooted in Catholic Social Teaching and civic topics. Part of the training included a practice session on the Peace Circles technique, a tool designed to help process tensions arising from migration crises.
The Migrant Pastoral Ministry is currently active in the Archdioceses of Chicago, New York, Stockton, Joliet, Los Angeles, Baltimore, Newark, and Orange, Calif. With the addition of Paterson, nine dioceses now form this national network of immigrant-to-immigrant ministry.
For more information, contact Miguel Rodríguez at MRodriguez@patersonDiocese.org.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/parish-migrant-ministry-leaders-commissioned-for-immigration-help-and-hope-catholic-bishop-kevin-j-sweeney-commissioned-46-parish-migrant-ministry-leaders-from-five-parishes-in-the-paterson-dioces.jpg)
![Totowa parish celebrates 100 years of faith, significant growth #Catholic - On July 12, St. James of the Marches Parish in Totowa, N.J., marked 100 years of faith with a centennial Mass celebrated by Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney. The parish began with a small but strong group of faithful and has grown into a dynamic community of 800 families.
Since its inception, St. James has served the Catholic community in the area by celebrating the Eucharist, attending to those in need, and administering the sacraments to all who wish to receive them.
“For this centennial, parishioners are celebrating 100 years of people living the Catholic Christian faith as members of St. James. It’s a time for our parishioners now to become inspired by what they accomplished as they move forward, guided by the pastoral staff,” said Father Marc Mancini, who became pastor of St. James in 2019.
St. James began in 1924 when Catholics in Totowa organized under the leadership of Franciscan Friars at St. Bonaventure Parish in nearby Paterson, N.J. A mission was established on July 4, 1926, and a hall on Grant Avenue and Church Street was outfitted to accommodate Masses.
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The Franciscans named the parish after a Franciscan saint: St. James of the Marches, a noted Italian preacher from the late medieval and early Renaissance period.
In 1928, St. James built a permanent church on Totowa Road. The mission became a parish in 1945, when diocesan clergy assumed administration of St. James. The Academy of St. James of the Marches opened the following year and continues to serve local youth. A new church was built in 1955.
St. James was originally founded by Italian Americans and today welcomes an increasing number of Hispanics and Eastern Europeans who have settled in Totowa. The parish holds periodic Spanish Masses, including for Our Lady of Guadalupe, and prayer services.
Along with Father Mancini, concelebrants of the July 12 centennial Mass included Father Joseph DeMarzo III, parochial vicar of St. James, and Father Joseph Mactal, parochial vicar of St. Cecilia Parish in Rockaway, N.J., who previously served St. James. Another concelebrant, Father Paul Iovino, spent 20 years at the parish starting in 1985, retired, and recently returned to live there.
In April, St. James began centennial celebrations with a brunch featuring a talk about the parish’s history by Msgr. Raymond J. Kupke, diocesan archivist.
Centennial festivities will continue Sunday, Sept. 27, with a concert for the dedication of a new organ by Maestro Hector Olivera at 4 p.m. in the church. There is no charge, but donations will be accepted after the concert. A banquet will also be held at The Grand in Totowa on Sunday, Nov. 8.
For questions about centennial celebrations, including obtaining tickets for the organ concert, call St. James at 973-790-0288.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/totowa-parish-celebrates-100-years-of-faith-significant-growth-catholic-on-july-12-st-james-of-the-marches-parish-in-totowa-n-j-marked-100-years-of-faith-with-a-centennial-mass-celebrated-by.jpg)
![Our Lady Queen of Peace celebrates its patronal feast as a sign of unity in Sussex County #Catholic - The Solemnity of Our Lady Queen of Peace was far more than a patronal feast for Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Branchville, N.J. The celebration became a sign of unity, bringing the English-speaking and Spanish-speaking communities together to honor their patroness in a day of prayer, fellowship and joy.
Throughout the day, families from both communities took part in the various activities the parish organized: games for the children, Eucharistic adoration and an outdoor Mass celebrated by the pastor, Father Philip Tangorra, together with Father Dailon Lisabet, who provides pastoral care to the Hispanic community of Sussex County. The day closed with a parish picnic.
During the Mass, Father Lisabet reflected on the deep meaning of the celebration: “Although we speak different languages, we share the same faith, the same baptism, the same Eucharist, this samehurch and the same Mother, Mary.”
Father Lisabet thanked Father Philip Tangorra for his closeness, his openness and his constant desire that the Hispanic community take full part in parish life.
“Since I arrived at this parish, one of Father Philip’s great desires has been that the Hispanic community not feel like a separate group, but like a living part of this parish family. That has been my desire and my mission as well,” Father Lisabet said.
After the Eucharist, the two communities shared food, conversation and time together. The Hispanic community prepared tacos al pastor and shaved ice, which were welcomed enthusiastically by everyone present.
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The following Sunday, during the Spanish Mass, Mary Eileen B. Schoen publicly expressed her gratitude to the Hispanic community in a letter.
“Thank you for being such a special part of the solemnity and barbecue of Our Lady Queen of Peace. The tacos and shaved ice were a great success. Everyone in the parish is so grateful for your becoming part of our parish family. May we continue to grow together in the love of God and of one another,” Schoen wrote.
Susana Cabrera, who recently began taking part in the parish along with her husband, said she felt welcome from the very first moment.
“It was the first time I took part in an outdoor Mass. I was moved to see the two communities adoring the Blessed Sacrament together and sharing a meal as one community,” Cabrera said.
Stella Guevara said, “The unity we shared as two communities seemed wonderful to me. It was a beautiful tribute to Our Lady Queen of Peace, and I hope we can repeat moments like this.”
For Pablo Noche and his family, who were in charge of preparing the tacos al pastor, the gathering reflected the true spirit of the parish.
“It was an afternoon of fellowship and unity where we were able to get to know one another better and strengthen the bonds that unite us as one family in Christ,” Noche said.
Beyond the various activities, the message that stayed in many hearts was deeply significant: when Christ and the Eucharist are at the center of parish life, differences of language and culture cease to be barriers and become a richness for the whole Church. Everything experienced during this day in Branchville was a manifestation of the universality of the Church: one faith, one family and one shared desire to keep building community under the protection of Mary, Queen of Peace.
[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/our-lady-queen-of-peace-celebrates-its-patronal-feast-as-a-sign-of-unity-in-sussex-county-catholic-the-solemnity-of-our-lady-queen-of-peace-was-far-more-than-a-patronal-feast-for-our-lady-queen-of.jpg)
![World Cup scores with Paterson clergy celebrating global unity #Catholic - The calendars of clergy in the Paterson Diocese, N.J., are typically set to their sacramental ministry. But this summer, some diocesan clergy have also been setting aside time for the FIFA World Cup 2026 soccer. They see direct analogies between the game and the Body of Christ.
One of these priests, Father Frank Lennie, chaplain at DePaul Catholic High School in Wayne, N.J., sometimes wears a kilt to games.
Venues around the United States are hosting World Cup matches, including at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., which will hold the finals on July 19. Father Lennie often wore a Team USA jersey as he watched World Cup matches at home or at a local establishments before Belgium eliminated the team in the men’s soccer tournament’s round of 16.
“I was hoping they would do a little more than what they did, but they had a successful World Cup — nothing to complain about,” Father Lennie said.
Meanwhile, Father Daniel O’Mullane, pastor at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Boonton, N.J., had Team USA in his heart but still rooted for his birthplace, England, through the quarterfinal round.
“I am an American citizen, but I was born and raised in England, and it’s just like your first love,” said Father O’Mullane, who also supports perennial Premier League contender Liverpool. “I don’t think that there’s really anything compelling about giving up my first love as it relates to football [as soccer is known elsewhere],” he said.
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During his priestly formation in Rome, Father O’Mullane played for the Pontifical North American College soccer team, the Martyrs, where he was a standout forward in the famous Clericus Cup.
Father Lennie wore traditional Scottish attire when he took in a World Cup tune-up match with team of his ancestry at the New York Red Bulls’ home stadium in Harrison, N.J. He kept his auxiliary membership of the Tartan Army when Scotland played in its first World Cup in 28 years before getting eliminated.
“I was kilted up, and singing the ‘Flower of Scotland’ with everybody, which was pretty emotional for me,” Father Lennie said. “I’m not 100-percent Scottish, but it’s what I identify the most as because my name is Scottish.”
Father Lennie is semi-reluctantly joining Father O’Mullane in rooting for England, Scotland’s archrival, in the knockout rounds.
The priests aren’t alone in their love of soccer and the World Cup. Deacon Luis Carlos Mendez of St. Christopher Parish in Parsippany, N.J., proudly traveled to Toronto in Canada to support Panama when it played Ghana in the preliminary rounds.
Neither Father Lennie nor Father O’Mullane had that opportunity, but as they watch a World Cup match or a Red Bulls match at their stadium in Harrison, they find parallels between the game they love and the faith they live and evangelize as priests.
“The game has its own particular beauty. That’s probably the best place to explore it as it relates to the things of God,” Father O’Mullane said. He noted that a soccer team can achieve greatness when its different parts work together like the Body of Christ. “God wants us to celebrate the particular inherent beauty of what we’re able to witness and participate in,” he said.
Father Lennie was moved by how Scotland’s “Tartan Army” embraced opponents such as Brazil during pregame parties in Miami’s South Beach, and how Americans have adopted visiting teams as their own, such as Kansans adopting Algeria. He said the World Cup in North America has fostered a sense of togetherness between strangers, welcoming the visitor as one’s own as Christ teaches.
“There’s a lot to celebrate there, whether it’s the skill of particular people, watching teams come together or celebrating how well-received America has been by the various populations traveling to the country and how grateful they are,” Father Lennie said. “There was a lot of pressure and a lot of false narratives before the World Cup about what was going to happen with all these different people coming to America, but I think those have been found out to be not true,” he said.
O’Mullane still holds out hope for England winning its first World Cup title since 1966, even as his parish celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on July 19 at a location just 27 miles away from the site of the World Cup final.
“The day at the parish culminates with 11 a.m. Mass and a picnic until 3 p.m. I said to everybody, ‘There should be enough time to go to the picnic and get home in time to watch England win the World Cup,’” Father O’Mullane said.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/world-cup-scores-with-paterson-clergy-celebrating-global-unity-catholic-the-calendars-of-clergy-in-the-paterson-diocese-n-j-are-typically-set-to-their-sacramental-ministry-but-this-summer-some.jpg)
![Discover St. Francis through Jubilee Year pilgrimages and prayer opportunities #Catholic - Faithful near and far are invited to draw inspiration from St. Francis of Assisi and gain a plenary indulgence by making prayerful pilgrimages to any of five designated St. Francis-related parishes in the Paterson Diocese, N.J., until Jan. 10, 2027.
On Jan. 10, 2026, Pope Leo XVI decreed that the Universal Church would commemorate the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’ death, which ends next Jan. 10. The decree also provides for a special plenary indulgence for parishes associated with the saint. A plenary indulgence is remission of temporal punishment that may remain after sacramental confession.
On April 29, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney issued a decree designating the five parishes in the diocese where pilgrims are able to avail themselves of a plenary indulgence.
These parishes are St. Francis of Assisi in the Haskell neighborhood of Wanaque, N.J.; St. Mary’s Parish in Pompton Lakes, N.J.; St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Butler, N.J.; St. Clare Parish in Clifton, N.J., and St. John Kanty Parish in the Athenia neighborhood of Clifton.
St. Francis of Assisi is known for his ministry to the poor and underprivileged, his care for nature and animals, his promotion of peace, and his founding of the Franciscan order, one of the largest in the Church. The Franciscan Friars of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe founded many parishes in the diocese, especially in Passaic County.
“The Holy Father notes that in an age known for strife, division, and interminable wars, the life of St. Francis of Assisi, ‘continues to point to the authentic source of peace.’ We profess that the source of all peace is Jesus Christ, the Son of God,” Bishop Sweeney wrote in the local decree.
Some of these parishes are also planning St. Francis-related events. Check their websites, bulletins, and social media, or call them, for Mass and confession times and special event schedules if not already listed below.
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In his Jan. 10, 2026, decree, Pope Leo wrote, “May this Year of St. Francis urge us all, each according to our own possibilities, to imitate the Poverello of Assisi… [and] to mold ourselves as much as possible on the model of Christ…May the hope that saw us as pilgrims now be transformed into zeal and fervor of active charity.”
Pilgrims seeking a plenary indulgence have the opportunity to “experience the divine mercy of God,” said Father Jared Brogan, director of the diocesan Worship Office and pastor of St. Brendan/St. George Parish in Clifton. He helped coordinate the pilgrimages under the leadership of Salesian Sister Theresa Lee, diocesan chancellor and delegate for religious.
To gain the plenary indulgence, pilgrims must show detachment from sin, receive the Eucharist, go to confession, pray for the Holy Father’s intentions and recite the Lord’s Prayer and the Creed. Those unable to travel due to illness or caregiving responsibilities may obtain the indulgence by offering their suffering to God.
Each designated parish in the diocese is connected to St. Francis. St. Francis is the only parish in the diocese currently named for the saint. St. Mary’s is one of two remaining parishes in the diocese founded by the Franciscan Friars of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The other is St. Anthony’s, which also has a friary.
In addition, St. Clare’s is named after St. Clare, a devoted spiritual student, close confidante, and first female follower of St. Francis. St. John Kanty, which serves a Polish community, is administered by the Conventual Franciscan Friars.
Franciscan Father John Aherne, pastor of St. Mary’s, is pleased that the parish was selected as a Jubilee pilgrimage site.
“The Jubilee Year is a way for St. Mary’s to highlight its identity as a Franciscan community and engage with the community,” Father John Aherne said. He noted that the parish has been holding a full schedule of St. Francis-related events. “As Franciscans, we endeavor to bring peace and unity to a world fraught with violence and division and cherish and protect the beauty of the world and humanity,” Father Aherne said.
During the Jubilee Year, Bishop Sweeney will visit St. Francis for the annual Religious Jubilee Mass on Saturday, Aug. 29, at 11 a.m. All attendees will have an opportunity for an indulgence. In addition, it’s anticipated that the bishop will return on Sunday, Oct. 4, the Feast of St. Francis, for confirmations.
St. Francis Parish is expecting the arrival of a new, larger statue of the saint from Italy for outside the church. The parish also has a first-class relic of St. Francis for veneration, said Father Greg Golba, St. Francis’ pastor.
“St. Francis of Assisi was friendly to everyone and everything: people, nature, and animals. During this Jubilee Year, pilgrims can receive important graces from God by praying for people through the intercession of St. Francis,” Father Golba said.
Diocesan St. Francis of Assisi pilgrimage parishes
St. Francis of Assisi Parish
868 Ringwood Ave., Haskell, N.J. 07420
Phone: (973) 835-0480
Email: stfrancis@optonline.net
Website: stfrancishaskell.org
Daily Mass:
Monday: 8 a.m.
Tuesday: 8 a.m.
Wednesday: noon
Thursday: 8 a.m.
Friday: 8 a.m.
Confession:
Saturday: 4:30 to 5 p.m. or upon request
St. Mary’s Parish
31 Pompton Ave., Pompton Lakes, N.J. 07442
Phone: 973-835-0374
Email: smc@stmarys-pompton.org
Website: stmarys-pompton.org
Mass times:
Saturday: 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Sunday: 7:30 a.m., 8:45 a.m. in Spanish (also livestreamed), 9 a.m. in the Carnevale Center, 10:30 a.m. (also livestreamed), noon
Monday: 8 a.m. (also livestreamed)
Tuesday: 8 a.m. (also livestreamed)
Wednesday: 8 a.m. (also livestreamed) and 7 p.m. in Spanish (also livestreamed)
Thursday: 8 p.m. (also livestreamed)
Friday: 8 p.m. (also livestreamed)
Saturday: 9 a.m. Liturgy of the Word with Communion in the Prayer Room
Confession:
Thursday: 4 to 5 p.m. or by appointment
St. Anthony of Padua Parish
65 Bartholdi Ave., Butler, N.J.
Phone: 973-838-0031
Email: bleck@saopp.org
Website: saopp.org
Masses:
Saturday 5 p.m.
Sunday: 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m., 11 a.m., and 12:30 p.m. in Spanish
Weekdays: 7:30 a.m. and Saturday: 8 a.m.
Confession:
Saturday: 8:30 to 9 a.m. after the 8 a.m. Mass or by appointment
St. Clare Parish
69 Allwood Rd., Clifton, N.J. 07014
Phone: 973-777-9313
Email: office@saintclarenj.com
Website: saintclarenj.com
Mass times:
Saturday: 4 p.m.
Sunday: 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.
Weekdays: 8:30 a.m.
Confession:
Saturday: 3 to 3:30 p.m. or by appointment
St. John Kanty Parish
49 Speer Ave., Clifton, N.J. 07013
Parish Office: 973-779-4102
Website: saintjohnkanty.org
Masses:
Saturday Vigil: 5 p.m. in English
Sunday: 8:30 a.m. in English, 10 a.m. in Polish, noon in English and 7 p.m. in Polish
Weekend Mass:
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday: 7 a.m. in English, 8 a.m. in Polish
Wednesday and Friday: 7 a.m. in English and 7 p.m. in Polish
Saturday: 8 a.m. in English
First Friday: 7 p.m. in Polish
Confession:
Saturday: from 4 to 4:45 p.m., daily before morning Masses or by appointment](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/discover-st-francis-through-jubilee-year-pilgrimages-and-prayer-opportunities-catholic-faithful-near-and-far-are-invited-to-draw-inspiration-from-st-francis-of-assisi-and-gain-a-plenary-indulgenc.jpg)
![2 newly ordained men thankful for gift of priesthood #Catholic - Sunlight streamed through the stained-glass windows of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J., on the morning of June 13 as Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney ordained two seminarians as the newest priests of the Paterson Diocese, N.J. In his homily, Bishop Sweeney told the two men that Jesus calls them to “have a missionary spirit in care for those who are most in need.”
The newest priests are Father Lucas Sebastian Mateo Folan, a member of Notre Dame of Mount Carmel Parish in the Cedar Knolls neighborhood of Hanover Township, N.J., and Father Jender Arley Medina Palencia, who was born and raised in Colombia. He served St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Morristown, N.J., as a temporary deacon before priesthood.
Before the ordination, Father Folan and Father Medina both told BeaconNJ.org that they were “excited” to begin their ministries as priests. The men especially looked forward to consecrating the Eucharist and hearing confessions, and both thanked God for the beautiful “gift of the priesthood.”
Bishop Sweeney, that sunny Saturday, celebrated the English and Spanish ordination Mass, rooted in early Church tradition, at St. John’s, the mother church of the diocese. [Read a detailed description of the Rite of Ordination in the story below.] Priests of the diocese and beyond concelebrated, while deacons and seminarians assisted.
A broad spectrum of well-wishers — including family, friends, priests, parishioners, and diocesan faithful — attended the ordination to support the new priests. The Diocesan Choir and musicians, led by Preston Dibble, diocesan music minister and choir director, performed worship music for the Mass, which was livestreamed for family and loved ones unable to attend.
“Before Christ’s pierced heart, give yourselves entirely to me so that you may love his people with the same love that he loves them,” Bishop Sweeney told the men in his homily. “The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus. This love is our pledge as priests. If we surrender and offer ourselves completely, nothing of us will be lost,” he said.
Father Medina celebrated his first Mass as a priest the next day, June 14, at St. Margaret’s in Morristown. His younger sister, Liz, traveled from their native Colombia with her boyfriend for the Masses. Other family and friends watched on a livestream. Father Medina’s first assignment as a priest will be as a parochial vicar of the cathedral.
Father Folan celebrated his first Mass at Notre Dame the next day, in the presence of family and loved ones. In the fall, he will travel to Rome to complete a licentiate in sacred theology, with a focus on fundamental and dogmatic theology, at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas. Before that, Father Folan will serve at Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Boonton, N.J.
Also in his homily, Bishop Sweeney reminded the two men to “be true priests of the New Testament, in order to preach the Gospel. Shepherd God’s people, and celebrate divine worship, especially the Eucharist and reconciliation of the sacraments, especially in the Lord’s sacrifice,” he said.
At the conclusion of Mass, Bishop Sweeney thanked the families of the new priests and their parishes and seminaries, which had representatives present, for nurturing their vocations. He urged the faithful at the liturgy to continue praying for the priests.
Immediately following the recessional at the end of the Mass, the new priests returned to the front of St. John’s altar to give their first blessing as priests to family members and well-wishers.
At the end of Mass, Bishop Sweeney told the new priests, “May God, who founded the Church and guides her still, protect you constantly with his grace that you may faithfully discharge the duties of the priesthood.”
“May he make you servants and a witness and witnesses in the world to divine charity and truth and faithful ministers of reconciliation,” Bishop Sweeney continued. “May he make you two shepherds to provide the living bread and word of life to the faithful so that they may continue to grow in the unity of the one body of Christ,” he said.
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Ordination liturgy steeped in rich traditions of the early Church
The two newest priests for the Paterson Diocese received the Sacrament of Holy Orders and were ordained Saturday, June 13, at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J., in an ordination liturgy steeped in ceremony and in the rich traditions of the Church.
First, the men were called forward by name. Msgr. Mark Condon, diocesan vicar general, moderator of the Curia, and pastor of Our Lady of the Holy Angels Parish in Little Falls, N.J., requested that Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney ordain the candidates. With that, the bishop announced that he had chosen the candidates for the priesthood, and the congregation greeted the announcement with enthusiastic applause.
Then the priest candidates were asked if they were willing to discharge the Office of Priesthood, to celebrate the mysteries of Christ faithfully and religiously, to preach the Gospel worthily and wisely, to consecrate their lives to God, and to grow closer to Christ. They knelt before the bishop, placing their hands between his, promising obedience to him and his successors.
During the Litany of Saints, the candidates prostrated themselves before the altar and the bishop as a sign of humility and their total reliance on God’s grace. They received the strength of the Holy Spirit as the bishop imposed hands on them in silence. Then, the assembled priests were invited to lay hands on the seven men, part of the ancient sign of ordination.
In the Prayer of Consecration, Bishop Sweeney implored God’s help so the priesthood may continue in the Church. He prayed that the dignity of the priesthood be granted to the candidates. Priests vested the newly ordained with a stole and chasuble. Then the bishop anointed the new priests’ palms with Sacred Chrism as a sign that they now share in Christ’s mission.
Bishop Sweeney accepted the Offertory gifts and then, in turn, handed them to the newly ordained. The new priests and many other diocesan priests were concelebrants at the Mass. Later, the new priests exchanged the sign of peace with Bishop Sweeney and the concelebrating priests as a sign of welcome into the presbyterate.
At the end of the Mass, the new priests gave their first blessing to the Bishop. Then, in front of the altar after Mass, they gave blessings to their family members and friends who had come from near and far to show their support on their ordination day.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2-newly-ordained-men-thankful-for-gift-of-priesthood-catholic-sunlight-streamed-through-the-stained-glass-windows-of-the-cathedral-of-st-john-the-baptist-in-paterson-n-j-on-the-morning-of-june.jpg)
![Jubilarian priests honored for years of love and service #Catholic - Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney rejoiced in celebrating 37 priests who have served the Paterson Diocese, N.J., as they marked milestone priesthood anniversaries this year — from five to 65 years — on June 9 during the annual diocesan Priests Jubilee Mass in Corpus Christi Church in Chatham Township, N.J. The bishop also thanked the Jubilarians, who have given a total of 1,371 years of service as priests.
On that Tuesday morning, Bishop Sweeney served as the main celebrant of the Mass honoring diocesan and religious-order priests, both retired and still active in ministry. Concelebrants included the Jubilarians in attendance, as well as other priests from around the diocese.
Bishop Emeritus Arthur J. Serratelli delivered the homily. He is a Jubilarian celebrating 26 years since his ordination as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Newark, N.J., in 2000. Later, Bishop Serratelli served as the seventh Bishop of Paterson from June 1, 2004, until his retirement on April 15, 2020.
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During the Mass, Bishop Sweeney also led the Jubilarians in renewing their priestly promises and presented those in attendance with a certificate marking their anniversary.
Afterward, Bishop Sweeney posted on social media, “We had a wonderful celebration of priesthood at our annual Jubilarians’ Mass.” The bishop recognized Msgr. James O’Rorke and Father Paul Iovino, the longest-serving Jubilarians who are celebrating 65 years, and Bishop Serratelli, celebrating 26 years as a bishop, who “gave a beautiful homily.”
“It was a blessing to be together that more than 100 of our priests came together in prayer and fraternity, especially as we look forward to the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on Friday and to the ordination of two new priests on Saturday. Ad Multos Annos!” Bishop Sweeney posted.
65 Years
Father Paul Iovino, retired
Msgr. James O’Rorke, retired
60 Years
Franciscan Father John Alderson
Msgr. John J. Carroll, retired
Benedictine Abbot Emeritus Richard Cronin
Franciscan Father Gerald Mudd
Msgr. Rocco Remigio, retired
Father Bernardo Velasquez, retired
55 Years
Msgr. John J. Cusack, retired
Msgr. Peter J. Doody, retired
Franciscan Father Christopher Keenen
Father P. Christopher Muldoon, retired
Father Raymond Pavick, retired
Franciscan Father Andrew Reitz
50 Years
Father Joseph G. Buffardi, retired
Father Zbigniew Kluba, retired
Benedictine Father Joel Macul
Franciscan Father Francis McHugh
Father J. Patrick Ryan, retired
40 Years
Father Peter Filipkowski, retired
Franciscan Father Emmet Murphy
Father Jorge Rodriguez, pastor
26 Years
Bishop Emeritus Arthur J. Serratelli, Paterson Diocese
25 Years
Father Misael Jaramillo, pastor
Father Thomas Mangieri, retired
10 Years
Father Domink Bakowski, military
Father Jeider S. Barraza, pastor
Father Marcin Bradtke, pastoral assistant
Father Przemyslaw Gawlik, pastor
Father Krzysztof Liwarski, parochial vicar
Father Michal J. Szwarc, pastor
Father Slawomir Tomaszewski, chaplain
Father Duberney Villamizar, pastor
Father Artur Zaba, pastor
5 Years
Father James Eichman, Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter
Father Francis H. Lennie, chaplain
Father Joseph A. Mactal, parochial vicar
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/jubilarian-priests-honored-for-years-of-love-and-service-catholic-bishop-kevin-j-sweeney-rejoiced-in-celebrating-37-priests-who-have-served-the-paterson-diocese-n-j-as-they-marked-milestone-pri.jpg)
