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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.

Pastors who want to re-vitalize their existing youth ministry program or get their youth minister the training he or she might need to become more effective at helping inspire a deeper faith in their parish’s young people will soon be able to get assistance from the diocesan Office of Youth Ministry. Starting in January, the diocesan Office of Youth Ministry will launch its new Apprentice­ship Program — an initiative that gives experienced youth ministers the opportunity to mentor new and less-experienced youth ministers by preparing, forming and advising them for the role.

If you could save a life by just signing your name, would you? Through the “Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act” postcard and petition campaign, the faithful throughout the Diocese have the opportunity to save babies 20 weeks in the womb from abortion. Since the summer, almost 14,000 postcards and petitions have been signed and sent from the faithful in the Paterson Diocese for the passage of the “Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act” (A-1686/S537) to be sent to state legislatures.

All of us over the years can recall at some point in our life the difference a religious made in our life, be it in a Catholic school, a religious education program or at our home parish. They were the ones who shaped our faith. Today, many of them are in their senior years, still active in their communities. But their communities are struggling to provide for them in their retirement years.

The Paterson Diocese Federation Knights of Columbus held their annual “Pride in Our Priests” dinner at the Hanover Manor here Nov. 19. Traditionally, every November, the Paterson Federation encourages all its member councils of the Diocese to invite priests from their parishes to attend the dinner held in their honor as a way of thanking the priests for their service to the Church, the Diocese, their parish and the community.

Bishop Serratelli made a pastoral visit to Our Lady of the Holy Angels Parish in Little Falls on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 22. During the visit, he celebrated Mass and he also visited with some of the volunteers of the parish, who were preparing Thanksgiving dinner for anyone who would be alone on Thanksgiving, a 17-year-old tradition at the parish hosted by Holy Angel’s Justice and Peace Committee.

Last week on Thanksgiving Day, hundreds of people enjoyed a traditional holiday meal complete with a turkey and all the trimmings that they otherwise would not have had without the Father English Food Pantry in Paterson, a department of Catholic Charities Catholic Family and Community Services (CFCS). Maria was one of the people that stood at the food pantry with several bags full of food. This support helped keep her family from going hungry during the holiday. Recently, Maria’s home caught on fire and her husband and two children were forced to move into a shelter.

Local Catholic scientists and engineers — who often experience resistance from non-believers in their professional communities — gathered on Nov. 15 morning in Sacred Heart Church in Dover to profess together publicly for the first time, “We are scientists. We are Catholic and we believe in God.” On that Thursday, they came together to attend a Gold Mass in honor of engineers and scientists — and their patron, St. Albert the Great — the first of its kind celebrated not only in the Diocese, but also in New Jersey.

The major superiors of more than 35 religious communities that serve in the Diocese came together Nov. 20 for their annual meeting with Bishop Serratelli, where they learned how to ask questions that can transform their communities — by the will of God and often in unexpected ways — as they face many critical challenges today. At the well-attended meeting at St. Paul Inside the Walls: the Diocesan Evangelization Center in Madison, these leaders of various local religious communities gained insights into “The Transforming Power of Questions,” a presentation by Immaculate Heart of Mary Sister Katie Clauss.

J. is facing some tough times. His trade is carpentry, but work has not been steady of late. M., his wife, is pregnant, and he knows the child is not his. But he loves his wife and has made up his mind to do what is best for her and the baby and for them as a family.

On Christmas Eve 1818, at a church in an Austrian village, the most famous Christmas carol of all was heard for the first time, describing the night the Baby Jesus was born. With lyrics written by Josephus Mohr and music composed by Franz Xaver Gruber, “Silent Night,” has moved Christians for two centuries with its soothing words and gentle tune.

The faith community of St. Joseph Parish in West Milford welcomed Bishop Serratelli, who served as main celebrant and homilist of the noon Mass to mark the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time on Nov. 18.

Bishop Serratelli made a pastoral visit to St. James of the Marches Church in Totowa and celebrated the vigil Mass for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Nov. 17.

Understanding the message of life loud and clear, the faithful from across the Diocese proudly came together to pray for the sacredness of all human life at the annual diocesan Respect Life Mass held at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson Nov. 17. Bishop Serratelli was principal celebrant of the Mass with many diocesan priests as concelebrants. Deacons also participated in the Mass along with Knights of Columbus councils from throughout the Diocese.

Today, Americans of all faiths will gather with family members at the table to celebrate a Thanksgiving feast, giving thanks to God for all they have been blessed with in their lives. Unfortunately, as with other religious-based holidays, our secular society has tried to turn Thanksgiving Day into just a day about football games, stuffing ourselves with turkey and pumpkin pie and ingraining in our minds that the Christmas gift-buying season is in full swing with several stores open today — rather than focusing on the true meaning this day has from its humble beginnings in Plymouth, Mass.

Bishop Serratelli made a pastoral visit to St. Thomas of Aquin Parish in Ogdensburg Nov. 10 where he celebrated the 5 p.m. vigil Mass for the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time.