DPD is the Diocesan Catholic Charities organization that serves people with developmental disabilities. Gruenert Center is located on Route 15 in Lake Hopatcong. Fifty people attend the center every day for work experiences, and educational and vocational training.
On Sept. 17, a federal court ruled that the Obama administration can not impose massive IRS fines on religious institutions for following their faith. The ruling increases the likelihood that the Supreme Court will review the HHS mandate and decide whether to take up cases involving the Little Sisters of the Poor and several other religious organizations.
It was 20 years ago when Dorothy Branham began attending Masses that started to be offered at her place of residence: the Chester Area Senior Housing Robert E. Cole Apartments here. This seasoned African-American woman loved to participate in the liturgies, singing the hymns and folding her hands in prayer — like a typical Catholic — except that Branham wasn’t Catholic. But she is now.
A new school year started with new beginnings at Morris Catholic High School here. Those new beginnings were marked Sept. 8 with the blessing by Bishop Serratelli of Assumption College for Sisters, which recently moved to the campus, and the high school’s new sports field that was part of Morris Catholic’s capital campaign, Legacy of Leaders.
Dressed in “barong Tagalog,” the native formal attire of the Philippines, Filipino American Catholics from all three counties in the diocese joined together to celebrate a feast day Mass for their country’s two saints, St. Lorenzo Ruiz and St. Pedro Calungsod, both martyrs, at Our Lady of the Valley Church here Sept. 19.
The acclaimed ChristLife: Catholic Ministry for Evangelization series equips the faithful for the work of spreading the Gospel — helping others discover, follow and share Christ as members of the Church — first by giving them the opportunity to call on the Holy Spirit for the conversion of themselves and others — making a personal decision to accept the saving sovereignty of Jesus and to become his disciple.
Addiction doesn’t discriminate — it affects the young and old, the poor and rich, and people of every race, religion and background. In the forefront of helping those addicted to drugs and alcohol for the last 60 years is Straight & Narrow (S&N), an agency of diocesan Catholic Charities.
For families, there is no place like home. To share that message and stress the importance of families in the life of the Church, Bishop Serratelli met with families from across the diocese in the first-ever diocesan event, “Families Fully Alive in Christ,” Sept. 20.
The cathedral has a full house as both the exterior and interior renovation projects simultaneously work towards the same goal, the restoration of our mother church. Restrooms , walls, doors, fixed furnishings and flooring are removed as the interior renovation picks up steam.
Bishop Serratelli made a pastoral visit to St. Clement Pope and Martyr Church in Rockaway Township Sept. 12 where he celebrated the vigil Mass for the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time.
Bishop Serratelli made a pastoral visit to Holy Trinity Church here Sept. 13, the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time. During his visit, the Bishop celebrated the 10 a.m. Mass with Father Antonio Rodriguez, pastor, who is fluent in German, Spanish and English.
Conventual Franciscan Father Waclaw Sokolowski was installed as pastor of St. John Kanty Parish in Clifton by Bishop Serratelli Sept. 6. The parish has been administered by order since 1935.
Every September is the start of a new school year and for young Catholics, often the start of a new religious education year learning about the faith and preparing for sacraments of initiation. So at this appropriate time, Bishop Serratelli went to DePaul Catholic High School here Sept. 13 to meet with freshmen and sophomores from Passaic County preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. He will also meet confirmandi at Pope John XXIII High School in Sparta on Oct. 11 and at Morris Catholic High School in Denville on Oct. 25.
Societies and individuals across the globe should root their commitment to “going ‘Green’ ” — engaging in sustained efforts to protect the environment — in the practice of Integral Ecology: an comprehensive concern for human spiritual, moral and economic development and concern for the environment as parts of a single, woven fabric of Creation. But these critical efforts to preserve the planet need to start with proper worship of God — people around the world praising Him and thanking Him for all of Creation — to help them get more in tune with nature, personal relationships, and priorities — for themselves, their fellow human beings and the world.
While the majority of Catholics in the Paterson Diocese will not get the opportunity to see Pope Francis “up close and personal” at any of the events during his historic visit Sept. 22-27, it has not stopped excitement and anticipation from intensifying among the faithful in the Diocese. Regardless, many Catholics here have been busy preparing spiritually in their own parishes or planning to participate in activities “close to home” during the Holy Father’s first trip to the U.S.
Excitement is building as American Catholics prepare to welcome Pope Francis when he visits the United States for the first time next week. The popular pontiff will be making a three-city tour as he visits Washington, D.C., New York City and Philadelphia.
The countdown is officially on. In just a few days, Pope Francis will set foot in the United States for the first time as he visits Washington, D.C. New York City and Philadelphia from Sept. 22 to 27.
Bishop Serratelli made a pastoral visit to St. Matthew Church here Sept. 5 during Labor Day weekend and celebrated the vigil Mass for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time.
Training sessions in ChristLife: Catholic Ministry for Evangelization, which equips Catholics for the work of spreading the Gospel, will be offered to individual parishioners and parish teams in two sessions at St. Paul Inside the Walls: the Diocesan Center for Evangelization at Bayley-Ellard here on Friday, Sept. 18, from 7 to 9 p.m., and Saturday, Sept. 19, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.