Parishes and schools in the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey are bracing for more snow on Wednesday and Friday after life started returning to normal in the aftermath of a powerful blizzard that dumped nearly 2 feet of snow on New Jersey between Sunday and Monday. The Bomb Cyclone Blizzard — the largest in the Garden State in 30 years — crippled the area, making travel impossible, disrupting diocesan activities, and forcing the closure of parishes and schools.
The storm caused the cancellation of the annual Rite of Election on Sunday afternoon, with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J. Many parishes also cancelled Masses; other activities, such as religious education, and opportunities for confession on Monday for the first night of Welcome Home to Healing, a diocesan Lenten initiative. St. Anthony Parish in Hawthorne, N.J., cancelled its Lenten mission on Monday because the speaker couldn’t secure a flight, but continued it on Tuesday.
Many schools in the diocese reopened on Tuesday, while others remained closed due to ongoing safety concerns or snow-removal efforts. During an already brutal winter, the Church of Paterson faces 1 to 3 inches of snow on Wednesday and again on Friday with a wintry mix and 4-8 inches through the morning, according to News 12.
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St. Gerard Parish in Paterson held regular Sunday Masses and a Monday Mass, which was livestreamed and attended by one churchgoer. Paterson received up to 14 inches of snow. The parish school was closed on Monday and Tuesday. Msgr. George Hundt, pastor of St. Gerard’s and
Our Lady of Pompei Parish, also in Paterson, moved his weekly livestreamed reflection from 7 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
“We got dug out fine, but we are tired of the snow,” said Msgr. Hundt, echoing the sentiments of many in the diocese.
Erring on the side of caution, the diocese cancelled the Rite of Election. During the rite, the Catholic Church officially selects and enrolls unbaptized catechumens for the Sacraments of Initiation — Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist — at the Easter Vigil. The Rite of Election will not be rescheduled.
“Arrangements will be made for the signing of the Book of the Elect by Bishop Sweeney at a future date,” Father Jared J. Brogan, director of the diocesan Worship Office, wrote about the Rite of Election cancellation. “We continue to pray for all those preparing for initiation and for those who accompany them.”
On Sunday, St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Parsippany, N.J., conducted the Rite of Sending part of the Rite of Election for its four catechumens, omitting Bishop Sweeney’s part. Like in many parishes, Father David Pickens, St. Peter’s pastor, cancelled the Monday morning Masses — something he has never done — and closed the parish’s offices.
But unlike most parishes, St. Peter’s held a Mass at 7 p.m., followed by confession that night for the Welcome Home to Healing initiative. Each parish in the Church of Paterson opens its doors for confession every Monday of Lent at 7 p.m. to encourage people to receive God’s healing and return to church.
“We did well with the storm, but the snow is killing us,” said Father Pickens, expressing the concerns of parishes that are shouldering increased snow-removal costs because of a spike in snowfall this winter. Some parishes have asked their faithful to help cover the additional expense.
The northernmost parishes in the diocese, St. Thomas the Apostle in Sandyston, N.J., and St. James the Greater in Montague, N.J., reported that they weren’t hit with the “full amount of snow expected and were spared strong wind gusts.”
Parishes and schools used social media not only to announce storm-related information, but also to share updates and resources. Villa Walsh Academy in Morristown, N.J., stated, “Mother Nature clearly did not get the memo that we are ready for spring.” St. Paul Parish in Clifton, N.J., offered hope from Psalm 46:1: “God is our refuge and strength, our very soon help in tribulations.”
On Tuesday, the Academy of St. Elizabeth in the Convent Station neighborhood of Morris Township, N.J., implemented Virtual Learning Day. On that day, many schools, such as St. Patrick School in Chatham, N.J., had a delayed opening, following the direction of their local public school district.
“It’s wonderful to be back. There is nothing quite like the energy of the children returning to the building after a storm,” Dr. Christine Ross, St. Patrick’s principal, texted BeaconNJ.org on Tuesday. “Our facilities team did a fantastic job; our property was completely cleared and safe, as were the surrounding streets.”
Pictured is Notre Dame of Mount Carmel Parish in the Cedar Knolls neighborhood of Hanover Township, N.J., covered in snow after a powerful blizzard dumped nearly 2 feet of snow on New Jersey between Sunday and Monday.
Diocese braces for more snow after blizzard socks State #Catholic –
Parishes and schools in the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey are bracing for more snow on Wednesday and Friday after life started returning to normal in the aftermath of a powerful blizzard that dumped nearly 2 feet of snow on New Jersey between Sunday and Monday. The Bomb Cyclone Blizzard — the largest in the Garden State in 30 years — crippled the area, making travel impossible, disrupting diocesan activities, and forcing the closure of parishes and schools.
The storm caused the cancellation of the annual Rite of Election on Sunday afternoon, with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J. Many parishes also cancelled Masses; other activities, such as religious education, and opportunities for confession on Monday for the first night of Welcome Home to Healing, a diocesan Lenten initiative. St. Anthony Parish in Hawthorne, N.J., cancelled its Lenten mission on Monday because the speaker couldn’t secure a flight, but continued it on Tuesday.
Many schools in the diocese reopened on Tuesday, while others remained closed due to ongoing safety concerns or snow-removal efforts. During an already brutal winter, the Church of Paterson faces 1 to 3 inches of snow on Wednesday and again on Friday with a wintry mix and 4-8 inches through the morning, according to News 12.
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
St. Gerard Parish in Paterson held regular Sunday Masses and a Monday Mass, which was livestreamed and attended by one churchgoer. Paterson received up to 14 inches of snow. The parish school was closed on Monday and Tuesday. Msgr. George Hundt, pastor of St. Gerard’s and
Our Lady of Pompei Parish, also in Paterson, moved his weekly livestreamed reflection from 7 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
“We got dug out fine, but we are tired of the snow,” said Msgr. Hundt, echoing the sentiments of many in the diocese.
Erring on the side of caution, the diocese cancelled the Rite of Election. During the rite, the Catholic Church officially selects and enrolls unbaptized catechumens for the Sacraments of Initiation — Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist — at the Easter Vigil. The Rite of Election will not be rescheduled.
“Arrangements will be made for the signing of the Book of the Elect by Bishop Sweeney at a future date,” Father Jared J. Brogan, director of the diocesan Worship Office, wrote about the Rite of Election cancellation. “We continue to pray for all those preparing for initiation and for those who accompany them.”
On Sunday, St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Parsippany, N.J., conducted the Rite of Sending part of the Rite of Election for its four catechumens, omitting Bishop Sweeney’s part. Like in many parishes, Father David Pickens, St. Peter’s pastor, cancelled the Monday morning Masses — something he has never done — and closed the parish’s offices.
But unlike most parishes, St. Peter’s held a Mass at 7 p.m., followed by confession that night for the Welcome Home to Healing initiative. Each parish in the Church of Paterson opens its doors for confession every Monday of Lent at 7 p.m. to encourage people to receive God’s healing and return to church.
“We did well with the storm, but the snow is killing us,” said Father Pickens, expressing the concerns of parishes that are shouldering increased snow-removal costs because of a spike in snowfall this winter. Some parishes have asked their faithful to help cover the additional expense.
The northernmost parishes in the diocese, St. Thomas the Apostle in Sandyston, N.J., and St. James the Greater in Montague, N.J., reported that they weren’t hit with the “full amount of snow expected and were spared strong wind gusts.”
Parishes and schools used social media not only to announce storm-related information, but also to share updates and resources. Villa Walsh Academy in Morristown, N.J., stated, “Mother Nature clearly did not get the memo that we are ready for spring.” St. Paul Parish in Clifton, N.J., offered hope from Psalm 46:1: “God is our refuge and strength, our very soon help in tribulations.”
On Tuesday, the Academy of St. Elizabeth in the Convent Station neighborhood of Morris Township, N.J., implemented Virtual Learning Day. On that day, many schools, such as St. Patrick School in Chatham, N.J., had a delayed opening, following the direction of their local public school district.
“It’s wonderful to be back. There is nothing quite like the energy of the children returning to the building after a storm,” Dr. Christine Ross, St. Patrick’s principal, texted BeaconNJ.org on Tuesday. “Our facilities team did a fantastic job; our property was completely cleared and safe, as were the surrounding streets.”
Pictured is Notre Dame of Mount Carmel Parish in the Cedar Knolls neighborhood of Hanover Township, N.J., covered in snow after a powerful blizzard dumped nearly 2 feet of snow on New Jersey between Sunday and Monday.