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Our Lady of Mount Carmel (OLMC) Parish in Swartswood welcomed Bishop Sweeney who made a pastoral visit there and celebrated Mass marking the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time on Sept. 20.

Marking World Day of Migrants and Refugees, which will be celebrated Sept. 27 world-wide, Bishop Kevin Sweeney celebrated Mass at St. Joseph Church in Newton with the migrant community Sept. 20.

Bishop Kevin Sweeney made a pastoral visit to Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Mount Arlington Sept. 19 where he celebrated the vigil Mass for the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Inclusion of a reference to “reproductive rights” in a United Nations resolution on combating the coronavirus has the Vatican up in arms. Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, called the resolution “deeply concerning and divisive” in remarks he made Sept. 11 after the UN General Assembly in New York endorsed the resolution, entitled “Comprehensive and coordinated response to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Msgr. James T. Mahoney will retire Sept. 30 after 47 years of active ministry, including the past 16 years serving as Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia. Msgr. Mahoney leaves behind a wealth of experience, insight and hard work that will continue to benefit the Diocese — both on the Chancery Office and parish levels — for years to come.

Every year, the U.S. Bishops designate the first Sunday in October as Respect Life Sunday with the entire month of October dedicated to Respect Life issues. This year, the celebration of Respect Life Sunday will be observed on Oct. 4. Under the theme, “Live the Gospel of Life, to Imitate Christ and Follow in His Footsteps,” there are several resources available and events for parishes and the faithful to participate in during Respect Life Month to remind all that Catholics believe all life is precious from conception to natural death.

Bishop Sweeney has appointed Msgr. T. Mark Condon as diocesan Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia effective Thursday, Oct. 1, taking over this key leadership post from Msgr. James T. Mahoney, who retires the day before, Sept. 30, after 47 years of active ministry as a diocesan priest, which includes serving since 2005 as Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia. The Bishop made the announcement today, Sept. 24, at the Chancery Office in Clifton.

The Bishop’s Annual Appeal is now known as the Diocesan Ministries Appeal and this past weekend, the Appeal kicked off at Masses in parishes throughout the Diocese, giving the faithful once again the opportunity to support the good works of the Church of Paterson. Under the theme, “Love Thy Neighbor,” the Appeal invites parishioners to help fund ministries in the Diocese of Paterson.

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.