News - June 2023 RSS Feed

On June 25, the faith community of St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Parsippany, the first diocesan parish established after the foundation of the Paterson Diocese, welcomed Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney, who celebrated a Mass to commemorate the parish’s 85th anniversary.

Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney joined about 35 priests of the Diocese of Paterson on June 5 for “Imagining Our Future: A Day for Priests with Father James Mallon” at Notre Dame of Mount Carmel Parish in the Cedar Knolls neighborhood of Hanover Township.

On June 8, the Catechetical Leaders Association (CLA) gathered at Villa Pauline Retreat House in Mendham for a retreat led by Sister Theresa Kelly. The topic was “Mary, the model of discipleship.” All catechetical leaders identify with the Blessed Mother in their ministry because the Blessed Mother is a living catechist.

On June 16, the faith community of Sacred Heart/Holy Rosary Parish in Dover celebrated its feast day, the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, during a Mass on June 16.

With great joy, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney ordained two men from parishes in Paterson and Passaic as priests of the diocese during a Mass he celebrated on June 24 in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson. The bishop urged these two newest priests of the diocese “to get ready and be well prepared to serve the Church in challenging and exciting times” — both now and in the future.

The official title of the song is “One Spirit, One Church.” The song’s more popular or well-known name is “Come Holy Ghost,” and often, the first stanza (quoted above) is omitted. Personally, I like it when the song begins with “We are a pilgrim people …” because it can remind us that we do, indeed, believe that, as Christians, we are a “pilgrim people;” traveling together on a journey that we believe will lead us to our “true home,” God’s Kingdom in Heaven.

The Italian community of St. James of the Marches Parish in Totowa on June 13 welcomed Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney, who celebrated a bilingual Mass in Italian and English for the Feast of St. Anthony of Padua.

Mary Beth Osiecki, spiritual director of the Women’s Hour of Prayer at Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in the Hewitt neighborhood of West Milford, recalled its genesis. “From the very beginning, we decided we would continue to meet after Cornerstone weekend twice a month for prayer together,” Osiecki said. “Whether we were preparing for a weekend or celebrating a weekend that just completed, or if it was the year between weekends, we continued to meet twice a month on the second Wednesday and fourth Thursday.

A six-year-old girl has just died in the trauma room of St. Joseph’s University Medical Center in Paterson. Her mother cries uncontrollably while her father shouts and blames himself. Into the trauma room walks Father Francis Conde, a Catholic chaplain at St. Joseph’s. He is focused on his fundamental mission: to bring Christ’s healing, love, mercy, and strength to the family of the girl in its darkest hour. He uses one of the greatest gifts the Holy Spirit gives him in this situation: the wisdom to know when to speak — and when to stay quiet.

Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney joined the faithful of St. Gerard Majella Parish in Paterson in bidding a formal farewell to the spirit-filled Vocationist priests and sisters who served this ethnically diverse faith community for 15 years. Mem­bers of the locally based religious order have continued the parish’s rich legacy of opening its doors, hearts, and helping hands to all people who seek God.

On June 11, the Feast of Corpus Christi, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney gathered with First Communicants from around the diocese, and their families, for an afternoon of catechesis, adoration, and celebration. The event, held appropriately at Corpus Christi Parish in Chatham, joyfully packed the church.

“Convergence is a sign of the Holy Spirit.” I learned that phrase from a priest who taught me in high school and who has become a mentor and friend. I am not sure whether it is a theological opinion that has been developed over the centuries or if it is a more “personal belief” of my priest friend, but I think a theological argument could certainly be made that particular things “coming together” (convergence) could very well be a sign of the guidance and presence of the Holy Spirit. That phrase has come to my mind and entered my prayer at various times, and this coming Saturday, June 24, 2023, is one of those occasions.

The faith community of Notre Dame of Mount Carmel Parish in the Cedar Knolls neighborhood of Hanover Township welcomed Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney, who celebrated Mass on May 30. There, he administered the sacrament of confirmation to 46 youths of the parish.

The faith community of Our Lady of Fatima (OLF)/St. Nicholas Parish in Passaic welcomed Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney, who celebrated a Mass on May 12. There he administered the sacrament of confirma­tion to 76 young people of the parish.

The diocese held an Evening of Eucharistic Revival at the Church of Corpus Christi in Chatham Township on June 11, the Feast of Corpus Christi. Individuals and families were invited “to come and pray and learn and grow in understanding of who God is and what he calls us to be,” said Father Agustino Torres.

Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney celebrated the first of the Catholic high school graduations in the Paterson Diocese this year by participating in the commencement ceremony for 108 seniors of Morris Catholic High School (MCHS) in Denville on June 1.

On June 6, 89 seniors of the Class of 2023 graduated from DePaul Catholic High School in Wayne during commencement. The valedictorian was Vanessa Wolf, and the salutatorian was Nicole Okur.

Author Dr. Dawn Eden Goldstein will discuss and sign copies of her book, Father Ed: The Story of Bill W.’s Spiritual Sponsor, on June 16 at St. Lawrence the Martyr Church at 6:30 p.m. in Chester. The book chronicles the special friendship between Jesuit priest Father Ed Dowling and Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) co-founder Bill Wilson.

Last summer, St. Vincent de Paul Parish of Long Hill Township parishioner Emma Militante had a nice dilemma. She had at her home an abundance of beautiful artwork she had painted but had no idea what to do with it. She approached her spiritual director, St. Vincent de Paul Pastor Father A. Richard Carton, for advice.

Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney honored priests who serve the diocese for marking milestone ordination anniversaries this year — 25, 40, 50, 60, 65, and 70 years — during a Mass on June 6 in Corpus Christi Church in Chatham Township. These jubilarians — priests of the diocese and religious orders — were praised for being “spiritual first responders” to God’s people.