At Mass on Ascension Thursday, May 5, two Morris Catholic High School students were received into full communion in the Catholic Church, receiving the Sacraments of Initiation — Baptism, Holy Communion and Confirmation — administered by Father Carmen Buono, Morris Catholic’s chaplain.

Last August, St. John Kanty Parish welcomed two Missionary Sisters of Christ the King to serve the parish. Since that time, the two sisters — Sister Ewa Biniek, who serves as director of religious education and Sister Teresa Kos, who serves part-time in the parish office — have been traveling from Newark to Clifton because the old convent was not suitable to live in. Now, thanks to a total renovation of the convent, Sister Ewa will be the first resident and soon two more sisters will join her.

Pope Francis has generated goodwill with his friendly, welcoming style that has made him the world’s most beloved religious leader, but he also had received considerable criticism for his pointed critique of capitalism — his condemnation of its real or perceived greed, materialism and cutthroat business practices.

For the past few years, the Feast of Corpus Christi in the Paterson Diocese has taken on additional meaning. This year, the feast of the Body of Christ will be celebrated at weekend Masses May 28-29. On that same weekend, the third annual diocesan-wide food drive for the poor served by Catholic Charities agencies will be held.

During this Year of Mercy, thousands upon thousands of pilgrims are making their way to Rome on pilgrimage. But also going on pilgrimage in this Holy Year will be thousands of homeless people from all over Europe who will travel on pilgrimage to Rome later this year where they will be personally greeted by Pope Francis, the Vatican announced last week.

Despite the rainy, soggy weather Sunday, Msgr. Mark Giordani, rector of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson and founder of the Christian Riders Motorcycle Club, celebrated the 47th annual Motorcycle Mass May 1.

In honor of the sacrifices made by law enforcement officers serving in the three counties of the Diocese and communities beyond, the 17th annual diocesan Blue Mass was held May 3 at St. Gerard Majella Church in Paterson.

Bishop Serratelli helped St. Vincent Martyr Parish in Madison break ground May 1 on a $5.340 million renovation of the interior of its 111-year-old stone Gothic Revival church, designed to improve the worship experience of its parishioners and greatly improve handicapped accessibility to the building.

Bishop Serratelli made a pastoral visit to St. Simon the Apostle Parish in Green Pond May 1 where he celebrated Mass for the Sixth Sunday of Easter. During his visit, the Bishop also administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to young people of the parish.

Bishop Serratelli will ordain 11 diocesan seminarians to the transitional diaconate at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, May 14 in St. Peter the Apostle Church in Parsippany. Ordination to the diaconate is the last step before they will be called to the Sacrament of Holy Orders.

A recent global survey reveals that the rise of radical Islamic extremism is the primary reason for the persecution of Christians. Sadly, as Mother’s Day approaches, the survey points to the fact that many of the victims being martyred for their faith are women.