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Pope Francis’ recent pastoral visit from Sept. 6 to 11 to Colombia was a great “blessing” to the people of the South American nation who welcomed the pontiff’s powerful message of peace and forgiveness — this after the government and a major rebel group signed a peace accord last year after more than five decades of conflict.

Sunday after Sunday, there’s a special group of people that could be considered the hidden figures behind the celebration of Mass. They aren’t seen but their contribution leaves an indelible mark to the source and summit of the liturgy — the Holy Eucharist. This group ensures that the sacred space of the altar is welcoming and appropriately prepared for worship. Who are they? They are the members of the altar linen ministry.

St. Joseph’s Healthcare System concluded the celebration of its 150th anniversary at a Mass Sept. 9 in Holy Family Chapel, Convent Station, at which the Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth, founders and sponsors of St. Joseph’s, were honored. Bishop Serratelli presided at the Mass with Cardinal Joseph Tobin, Archbishop of Newark. The Mass was attended by those from St. Joseph’s Healthcare System, the Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth and the faithful from the Paterson Diocese.

Bishop Serratelli made a pastoral visit to Holy Trinity Church in Passaic Sept. 17, and marked the Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time. During his visit, he celebrated the 10 a.m. Mass with Father Antonio Rodriguez, pastor, as the concelebrant. For more than 100 years at Holy Trinity, the 10 a.m. Sunday Mass has been said in German. Holy Trinity is the only parish in the Diocese with a Sunday German-language Mass and one of the only parishes in the Northeast that has a weekly German Mass.

The youngest parishioners at Assumption Parish in Morristown gathered together Sept. 9 before their catechetical sessions started for a day of service. The children are part of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) program at Assumption, and along with their families and friends remembered the many children hit by the devastating hurricane in the Lone Star State in a special way.

Last Saturday, Bishop Serratelli helped celebrate a century of faith, service and community of St. Catherine of Bologna Parish in Ringwood — often described as a “A Family of Families.” This year the parish commemorates its long, rich history that actually stretches back to 1765 — long before the Revolutionary War, the opening of its first church in 1917 and its elevation to parish status in 1944.

One would think that in 2017 anti-Catholic bigotry would be a thing of the past. But unfortunately it is not. It was on full display in of all places, the U.S. Senate, during what should have been a routine Senate confirmation hearing for a federal judgeship.

Bishop Serratelli made a pastoral visit to St. Joseph Parish in Mendham Sept. 10. During his visit, the Bishop celebrated Mass for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Bishop Serratelli celebrated Mass and blessed the new chapel at Newton Memorial Hospital in Newton Aug. 29. In attendance were religious sisters and hospital staff. The Bishop was assisted by Father Martin Rooney, diocesan director of healthcare ministry.

When 23-year-old Sarah Cho, youth minister at St. Michael Parish here traveled to Haiti during the last week of August with a team of six people from her parish, she considered herself an expert mission trip traveler. She previously traveled to Nicaragua on a medical mission during her college years. But although she was armed with experience, she was humbled by the country and the Haitian people and said, “I am not needed. I need them. This trip was not for them. It was for me.”

Bishop Serratelli made a pastoral visit to St. Francis of Assisi Church in Haskell Sept. 3 where he was the principal celebrant of the 10 a.m. Mass for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time. During the Mass, Bishop Serratelli announced to the parishioners that he was naming Father Grzegorz Golba as pastor of the parish for a term of six years. Father Golba had been serving as the parish’s administrator.

Bishop Serratelli made a pastoral visit to Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Mount Arlington Sept. 2 where he celebrated the vigil Mass for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time.

The Diocese will once again host its diocesan Marian Pilgrimage to the nation’s capital Oct. 21. Bishop Serratelli invites the faithful throughout the diocese to join him for a day dedicated to the Blessed Mother, the patron of the Americas, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception here in the nation’s capital.

Bishop Serratelli made a pastoral visit to St. James of the Marches Parish in Totowa Sept. 9 where he celebrated the vigil Mass for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. During the Mass, the Bishop blessed the new pulpit donated by Lily Handal and family. It was given in honor of her husband, Shafiq D. Handal, and her grandson, George Michael Kotsis.

It seems natural that St. Jude Parish in Budd Lake — which prides itself on its spirit of welcome and friendliness — celebrated its 50th anniversary on Sept. 9 as a community out of doors with a picnic — complete with food, games and activities for children and adults, live music and plenty of fellowship. It also seems just as natural that this Morris County parish bookended its golden anniversary celebrations with two Masses — gatherings around the Eucharistic table before and after, as a family to receive spiritual nourishment.

Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Paterson will honor five people at its annual Caritas Gala to be held Saturday, Nov. 4, at the Birchwood Manor in Whippany. At the gala, Father Patrick O’Donovan will receive the Bishop’s Award; Msgr. Herbert Tillyer will receive the Straight & Narrow Award; Donna Fico will receive the Catholic Family & Community Services Award; and Diane and Kevin Cavanagh, will receive the Department for Persons with Disabilities Award.

In today’s world, many ask, “Where is God?” especially with the natural disasters and political chaos making headlines but Bishop Serratelli reminded all that they need not ask but only to look to the 173 individuals, couples and families honored at this year’s Vivere Christus Est awards ceremony, of whom he said are “manifestations of God’s compassion and love.”

Bishop Serratelli delighted in leading the momentous milestone of the 80th anniversary of the Paterson Diocese — established on Dec. 9, 1937 by Pope Pius XI — during a dinner celebration at the newly-opened Legacy Castle in Pequannock Sept. 8. In his remarks, the Bishop reminded the audience of clergy, religious and laity from around the Diocese and beyond about the ultimate reason for the local Church’s celebration: because “Jesus came to free us from sin and to transform our lives through God’s grace.”

When Pope Francis made history on Sept. 24, 2015 by being the first pope ever to address a joint meeting of Congress, he invoked four iconic U.S. citizens as relevant models of virtue for Americans today: Abraham Lincoln, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton.

Bishop Serratelli made a pastoral visit to St. Andrew the Apostle Parish in Clifton Aug. 26. Marking the Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time, he celebrated the Saturday evening vigil Mass there.