Last Saturday, Father Philip-Michael Tangorra, pastor of Our Lady Queen of Peace (OLQP) Parish in Branchville, held a group of 30 parishioners in rapt attention as he presented a class about the First Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. He said that this, the first ecumenical council in Church history, ushered in a new era by uniting a divided Church with a universal proclamation, which reaffirmed that “Jesus is true God and true man.”

Bishop Kevin Sweeney made a pastoral visit to Holy Spirit Parish in Pequannock Sept. 13 where he celebrated Mass for the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Bishop Kevin Sweeney made a pastoral visit on Sept. 12 to Holy Family Parish in Florham Park where he celebrated the 5:30 p.m. vigil Mass for the 24th Sunday in Ordin­ary Time.

For making a difference in the lives of thousands amid the coronavirus pandemic, diocesan Catholic Charities has announced its 2020 Caritas Samaritans. These caring individuals and organizations, who have gone above and beyond to help many in need, will be honored at the Virtual Caritas Gala at 5p.m., Saturday, Nov. 7 via a video premiere featuring the eight honorees and their good works.

For 40 days starting on Sept. 23 and commencing on Nov. 1, pro-life advocates throughout the world are invited to participate in the 40 Days for Life campaign to pray and be an important witness for the protection of babies in the womb at the locations where they are being aborted. In the Paterson Diocese, there will be a vigil outside of Planned Parenthood at 196 Speedwell Avenue here. The Morris County Right to Life coordinates it.

At three months old, Clare Marie Mazzola is cute as a button — like any other baby. A tuft of brown hair sits on her head above her sparkling brown eyes; her rosy cheeks cannot help but invite little kisses from her parents and two older brothers. The only difference with Clare Marie’s appearance is minor facial features due to Down syndrome, caused by being born with an extra 21st chromosome.

The House of Repre­sentatives passed a massive new COVID­­19 relief legislation as a follow up to the CARES Act in May. However, unlike the CARES Act, the House bill entirely excluded private and parochial school students and teachers from its K–12 aid provisions.

Sparse, interlocking notes of an acoustic guitar and piano cushion the rich baritone of Father David McDonnell, pastor of Our Lady of the Lake Parish (OLL) in Sparta, as he softly sings the desperate yet hopeful “Night of Silence.” Written in 1981, the Christmas ballad sounds as if it could have been penned in response to these deadly and uncertain times of the global pandemic now in 2020.

After a successful virtual summer camp, the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco in North Haledon will offer a “virtual oratory” to young people, ages 6 to 14, nationwide to meet new friends, play games, pray together and engage in wholesome activities through Zoom. The free program will begin on Saturday, Sept. 19 from 2 to 4 p.m. and continue every Saturday.

On camera, Father Andrew Dutko, parochial vicar at Corpus Christi Parish in Chatham Township, cannot help but crack a smile thinking about the joys of his priesthood in the Diocese — only a year — which he describes as encouraging the faithful to cultivate a “relationship with God.” The same goes when he remembers his late wife, Barbara, who died in 2011.

There are many iconic images and portraits of St. Pope John Paul II showing him embracing his papal crosier or pastoral staff that displays Jesus crucified on the cross. This silver, rough-hewn crosier was with him on every trip he made to all parts of the world during his long pontificate. Now the Diocesan Shrine of St John Paul II in Passaic has a replica of this iconic crosier given as a gift by Bishop Emeritus Serratelli,

The Hyde Amend­ment is such important life-saving legislation that it has passed in Congress every year since 1976 as an attachment to spending bills with bipartisan support. Named for the late Rep. Henry Hyde (D-IL), who sponsored the amend­­ment, it bars taxpayer funding of elective abortion.

Do you remember the name “Todd Beamer,” his phrase, “Let’s Roll” and the story of “Flight 93”? Have you heard the name “Welles Crowther” and the story of his “Red Bandana”? Maybe you have your own, more personal story that you remember and share? I remember FDNY Captain Timothy Stackpole. Do our children and young people know those names and stories? The three names I mention are three of the “Heroes of September 11th.” Each, like so many others on that day, put the words of Jesus into action and laid down their lives to save others.

Immediately, Collette O’Shaughnessy, a second-grader, recognized “Mrs. Scandariato” right through the silly costume that she wore in a video for the first day of virtual Vacation Bible School (VBS) at Resurrection Parish in Randolph. Wearing a light-blue wig and a white lab coat, Lorraine Scandariato, director of Children’s Ministry (K–5) at Resurrection, and two other VBS co-directors held up and showed the camera an example of Links of Love, a prayer chain that “campers” make out of loops of construction paper each summer for the program.

Gentle notes of a piano cascade like rain as Derek Nelson, music director of Sacred Heart Parish here, sings, giving voice to a question posed by Jesus, “Will you suffer with me as I suffer for you?” Nelson, along with his wife, Jennifer, who helped develop the CD, are offering the entire “A Divine Mercy Encounter” release for free on the music-sharing website, Bandcamp.com.

Bishop Kevin Sweeney made a pastoral visit to St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Passaic where he celebrated the vigil Mass marking the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Aug. 29. During the visit, the Bishop administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to 24 high school teenagers, who prepared to receive the Sacrament for two years through the parish’s Confirmation program.