More Good News

Bishop Kevin Sweeney made a pastoral visit to St. Simon Parish in Green Pond marking the Fifth Sunday of Easter April 2. During the visit, the Bishop administered the Sacrament of Confir­mation to young people of the parish, who had prepared for the Sacra­ment for two years in the parish’s Confirmation program.

Ten years ago, the Diocese of Paterson offered a house in Clifton on Valley Road that formerly served as the diocesan Offices for Clergy Personnel and Priestly Life allowing a group of eight young women to be the first residents of Casa Guadalupe, a house of discernment and prayer. Since its opening on April 2, 2011, the house has offered young women in the very early stages of a vocation to religious life, marriage or lay consecrated life, a place to discern God’s plan for their lives, live in community and to pray in deep contemplation and communication with God.

The faith community of St. Catherine of Bologna Parish in Ringwood welcomed Bishop Kevin Sweeney on his pastoral visit on May 1 where he was the main celebrant and homilist for the 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. vigil Masses for the 5th Sunday of Easter. During his visit, the Bishop administered the sacrament of Confirmation to a total of 45 young people of the parish during the two Masses.

A small group of Catholic men have been taking time out of their busy lives to learn how to “suit up” as warriors for Christ, as part of “Into the Breach,” a weekly virtual video-and-discussion series, produced by the Knights of Columbus and the Diocese of Phoenix, Ariz.

Jerellyne Santos, a fourth-grader from St. Gerard Majella School in Paterson, felt an unusual mix of being “nervous and excited” Sunday afternoon, May 2. She helped her family recite the rosary as they often do but on that day, in a much larger place than a room in their home — on the lawn of the Shrine of St. Joseph in Stirling, leading in prayer more than 300 people, including Bishop Kevin Sweeney.