Bishop Serratelli made a pastoral visit to Immaculate Conception Parish in Franklin June 30 where he celebrated Mass for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Father Boguslaw Kobus, pastor, concelebrated the Mass.

Faith prompts Catholics into action, according to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. Learning more about Jesus through our intellect motivates us — or gives us more motivation — to evangelize: to lead other people to the truth of Jesus as Savior of all, which the Benedict calls an “act of love” in his prolific writings.

Many of the seminarians and priests at this year’s Quo Vadis Days diocesan discernment retreat, June 26-28, came loaded with poignant, funny and insightful stories — about their vocations, seminary days and ministries — right from the very pages of their own lives. A group of seven high-school- and collegeaged young men from around the Diocese listened intently to the personal vocations stories of seminarians and priests, who spoke to them, including one by seminarian Diego Monsalve, during Quo Vadis, held in the retreat center of St. Mary’s Abbey in Morristown.

Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Paterson has announced the Caritas award-winners to be honored at the annual Caritas Gala in November. Late last month, Catholic Charities brought the award-winners together for a luncheon in the Diocesan Pastoral Center to kick off its plans for its annual Caritas Gala.

As we celebrate the 243rd birthday of our nation today on July 4, it’s the perfect time to reflect on how our Founding Fathers placed their full trust in God. Their strong moral and spiritual convictions helped them to form the foundation of our great nation.