News - December 2018 RSS Feed

They still call him “the quiet one.” Because Holy Scripture records little that St. Joseph did and nothing that he said, as the earthly father of Jesus, he has become renowned in the Church for his silence. But a Seton Hall University moral theology professor recently encouraged Catholic men of the Diocese to look to St. Joseph’s rather active witness of faith in “partaking in the everyday life of Jesus” — a lesson that teaches men to learn what it takes to be a man by getting to know God.

Last week, Bishop Arthur Joseph Serratelli marked the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood — which took place on Dec. 20, 1968 in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome — by reflecting on his long and fruitful ministry of helping bring people closer to Christ through the Church — “God’s instrument of salvation.” His half-century journey as a priest culminated in his appointment as Seventh Bishop of the Paterson Diocese in 2004 and has included a variety of other roles, including parish priest, Sacred Scripture professor, auxiliary bishop of Newark Archdiocese and a member of several Vatican commissions.

This was a joyous Christmas season for Christians in Iraq. Just a day after Iraq celebrated the one-year anniversary of its victory over the Islamic State terrorist army, President Trump signed into law the Iraq and Syria Genocide Relief and Accountability Act (H.R. 390) Dec. 11. It’s designed to provide dedicated U.S. support directly to the Christian victims of ISIS’ campaign of genocide.

At every turn in his life, Bishop Emeritus Frank J. Rodimer witnessed the “hand of God.” The late prelate, who died at age 91, credited Divine Providence — “God transforming history in his own marvelous way” — for a momentous life, which yielded surprising results like being named Shepherd of the Diocese he called home in 1978 — the start of his 26-year episcopacy, the longest in diocesan history. So declared Msgr. Raymond Kupke, diocesan archivist and pastor of St. Anthony Parish, Hawthorne, who focused on the many accomplishments and “firsts” of Bishop Rodimer as priest and bishop in a homily during Evening Prayer in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson on Dec. 14.

The Reception of the Body of Bishop Emeritus Rodimer, who died at 91 on Dec. 6, was held at 2 p.m. Dec. 14 in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson. Msgr. Herbert Tillyer, pastor of St. Peter the Apostle Church in Parsippany, presided at the Reception of the Body, meeting the late bishop’s body at the main doors of the cathedral on Main Street.

The Paterson Diocese bid a fond farewell to its beloved native son and former Shepherd — Bishop Emeritus Frank J. Rodimer, the Sixth Bishop of Paterson — on Dec. 15, during a funeral Mass, at which Bishop Serratelli presided in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson. During the historic funeral, the late Bishop was remembered for his deep faith and devotion to living “in the person of Christ” — offering love, care and encouragement to God’s people — throughout his 65 years as a priest and 26 years as Bishop of the Diocese. Bishop Emeritus Rodimer died at 91 on Dec. 6, the feast of St. Nicholas, patron of bishops.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas and hundreds of children around the world will have a Christmas full of cheer because of so many in the Paterson Diocese. Through Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse, an international relief organization, several parishes and schools coordinated packing parties to fill shoe boxes up with toys, school supplies, hygiene products, clothes and accessories.

The Sisters of Christian Charity, who operate Assumption College, let their imaginations run — much better than their ailing fridge — in helping to ask for donations for a larger replacement through the website, www.iGiveCatholic.org, on Nov. 27, during Giving Tuesday — while using some humor.

Bishop Serratelli made a pastoral visit to St. Philip the Apostle Parish in Clifton Dec. 16 where he celebrated Mass for the Third Sunday of Advent, also known as Gaudete Sunday. To mark Gaudete Sunday, rose-colored vestments are worn to celebrate the joy that Christmas will soon be here. Gaudete translates to “rejoice” in Latin.

More than two thousand years ago, a baby was born in Bethlehem — and since that sacred day that baby’s life has impacted the world as no other life has. This Christmas Day can be a special time for us if we celebrate the birthday of Christ by giving him the gift he wants most from us — finding him in the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the homeless, the sick, the addicted and the imprisoned.

Bishop Serratelli made a pastoral visit to St. Mary Parish in Denville and celebrated the vigil Mass for the First Sunday of Advent.

Bishop Serratelli led the Paterson Diocese in mourning the loss of Bishop Emeritus Frank J. Rodimer, the sixth bishop of Paterson, who died on Dec. 6 at St. Joseph’s Home for the Elderly in Totowa at 91 — in words of praise for its “local son,” who dedicated his 67 years as a priest and 26 years as bishop in loving service to the Diocese, where he was born, was raised, lived his entire life and was called home to God.

Bishop Emeritus Frank J. Rodimer, the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Paterson whose episcopate was the longest in the 80-year history of the Diocese (1978-2004), died Dec. 6. He was 91 years old.

Bishop Serratelli made a pastoral visit to Sacred Heart Parish here where he celebrated Mass for the First Sunday of Advent Dec. 2. During the visit, the Bishop also administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to young people of the parish.

Catholic Relief Services was founded in 1943 by the Catholic Bishops of the United States to serve World War II survivors in Europe. Since then, it has expanded in size to reach more than 130 million people in more than 100 countries on five continents.

At one of the most culturally diverse parishes in the Diocese, parishioners of St. Paul in the city celebrated the Feast of the Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, also known as the Feast of Christ the King, at the 11 a.m. Mass Nov. 25.

As Advent began, it was fitting that the faithful from the Diocese came together in celebration of the season of hopeful anticipation of Christ’s birth at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Patyerson Dec. 2, the First Sunday of Advent, for the annual diocesan Christmas Concert. This year’s concert marked the 200th anniversary of “Silent Night.”

The past president of the Catholic Bar Associa­tion (CBA) encouraged local Catholic lawyers to urge their clients to fill out an Advanced Directive: a legal document that she said can do more than name a person to make medical decisions for them if they are not able; outline for doctors their desires for medical treatment; and put in place a “do not resuscitate” order. It also, she said, can enable Catholics and others to make clear their wishes for end-of-life care, based on the principles of their faith.

Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish in Lake Hopatcong welcomed Bishop Serratelli Nov. 24. During his pastoral visit, the Bishop celebrated the vigil Mass for the Feast of Christ the King.

Families and friends came together at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Totowa for its annual lighting of the Tree of Remembrance Dec. 1 to honor their lost loved ones. Adorned with photos, keepsakes and other ornaments, the Christmas tree is in the mausoleum of the cemetery and more than 300 people attended the tree lighting with a prayer service led by Msgr. Geno Sylva, rector of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson. Holy Sepulchre is the parish cemetery for the cathedral.