News - Pastoral Visits

Bishop Serratelli made a pastoral visit to Our Lady of Good Counsel (OLGC) Parish in Pompton Plains on June 11, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. During his visit, he administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to 54 young people of the parish, who prepared for the sacrament through the parish’s Confirmation program for the past two years.

Bishop Serratelli made a pastoral visit to St. James of the Marches Parish here May 14 on Mother’s Day. During the visit, the Bishop celebrated Mass for the Fifth Sunday of Easter and administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to young people of the parish.

Honoring the ultimate model of motherly love, the annual Diocesan May Crowning of the Blessed Mother was held at a parish named in her honor, Our Lady Queen of Peace in Branchville May 14 on Mother’s Day. Bishop Serratelli led the coronation for the Blessed Mother, which featured many Marian hymns. First Communicants from Our Lady Queen of Peace, who recently received Jesus for the first time in the Eucharist, participated in the procession and crowning, placing flowers in front of the statue of the Blessed Mother.

Bishop Serratelli made a pastoral visit to St. Monica Parish in Sussex May 13 and celebrated the vigil Mass for the Fifth Sunday of Easter. During the Mass, the Bishop administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to young people of the parish.

Bishop Serratelli made a pastoral visit to St. Thomas More Church in Convent Station May 7 where he celebrated Mass for the Fourth Sunday of Easter. St. Thomas More Parish was established in 1966 by Bishop Lawrence Casey. Initially, Sunday Masses were celebrated in the motherhouse chapel of the Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth. A church was built in 1969 on property purchased from the Sisters of Charity on Madison Avenue.

Bishop Serratelli made a pastoral visit to Resurrection Parish here and was the main celebrant for the vigil Mass May 6 for the Fourth Sunday of Easter. During the Mass, five children of the parish made their First Communion, receiving Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.

Bishop Serratelli made a pastoral visit to Our Lady of Lourdes Church here April 25 and celebrated Mass for the Feast of St. Mark, the evangelist. During the pastoral visit, Bishop Serratelli blessed the new sacristy and new chapel, located in a room behind the altar. The chapel project took six months and it will be used for weekday Masses. The new chapel, located in a space where the old sacristy was located, will be called “Our Blessed Mother Chapel.” The new sacristy and chapel were made possible through the contributions of the parishioners. The chapel can seat 40 people and all chairs were donated in memory of family members of parishioners who contributed to the project.

Bishop Serratelli made a pastoral visit to St. Paul the Apostle Church in Clifton April 30 where he celebrated Mass for the Third Sunday of Easter. During the Mass the Bishop administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to young people of the parish.

Bishop Serratelli administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to young people of the Vietnamese community of St. Cecilia Parish in Rockaway in the church during a Mass he celebrated on April 30 for the Third Sunday of Easter.

Bishop Serratelli administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to 41 young people of St. Catherine of Bologna Parish in Ringwood on April 29, during Vigil Mass for the third Sunday of Easter. He served as main celebrant and homilist of the liturgy, which was concelebrated by Father Pawel Szurek, St. Catherine’s pastor, and Father Michal Falowski, parochial vicar.

The young people at St. Bonaventure Parish in Paterson received the Sacrament of Confirmation from Bishop Serratelli April 23, which marked Divine Mercy Sunday.

Bishop Serratelli made a pastoral visit to St. Jude Parish in Hopatcong April 22 where he celebrated the vigil Mass for the Second Sunday of Easter, marking the Feast of Divine Mercy. During the visit, the Bishop administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to young people of the parish.

Bishop Serratelli made a pastoral visit to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Boonton where he celebrated Mass for the Fifth Sunday of Lent. During the visit he administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to young people from Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Ss. Cyril and Methodius Parish, also in Boonton.

The Diocesan Shrine of St. John Paul II/Holy Rosary Parish in Passaic welcomed Bishop Serratelli April 2. During his visit he was the principal celebrant of Mass for the Fifth Sunday of Lent April 2. During the Mass, the Bishop blessed a new monstrance that will be used during the year as the parish begins to mark its centennial anniversary. The Mass also marked the 12th anniversary of the death of St. John Paul on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 2, 2005, after he had uttered his final audible words, “Let me go to my Father’s house.”

Bishop Serratelli made a pastoral visit to St. Mary Parish in Dover March 25 where he celebrated the vigil Mass for the Fourth Sunday of Lent, also known as Laetare Sunday, marking the midpoint of the Lenten season. The Bishop wore a traditional rose vestment for the celebration of the Mass for Laetare (Latin for “rejoice”) Sunday because the color rose is seen as a sign of joy.

Bishop Serratelli made a pastoral visit to Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Rockaway March 26 on the Fourth Sunday of Lent, also known as Laetare Sunday. Laetare Sunday takes its name from the Latin word which begins the entrance antiphon (introit) for that day. Laetare means rejoice, and this Sunday at the mid-point of Lent, is marked by a relaxation of the penitential character of the Lenten season.

Bishop Serratelli made a pastoral visit March 19 to St. Mary Church here and celebrated Mass for the Third Sunday of Lent. During the Mass, Bishop Serratelli administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to young people of the parish.

Bishop Serratelli made a pastoral visit to St. John Vianney Parish in Stockholm March 3 and celebrated the vigil Mass for the First Sunday of Lent.

Bishop Serratelli made a pastoral visit to Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Wayne March 12 for the Second Sunday of Lent.

Bishop Serratelli made a pastoral visit to Notre Dame of Mount Carmel Church here Feb. 25 where he was the principal celebrant of the 5 p.m. vigil Mass for the Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The weekend Masses marked the end Ordinary Time as Lent began yesterday, March 1 on Ash Wednesday.