Pastoral Visits

Bishop Kevin Sweeney made a pastoral visit to St. Joseph’s Rest Home in Paterson run by the Daughters of Charity of the Most Precious Blood on Oct. 12. The facility is home for elderly women, who are surrounded with a warm and homelike atmosphere under the care of the sisters. During the visit, the Bishop celebrated Mass in the chapel that was attended by the Precious Blood Sisters and residents of the healthcare facility. Sister Alphonsa Kunnel marked her 50th jubilee in religious life at the Mass.

The faith community of St. Catherine of Bologna Parish in Ringwood welcomed Bishop Sweeney on his pastoral visit on Oct. 10 where he was the main celebrant and homilist for the 5 p.m. vigil Mass for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Concelebrating the Mass with Bishop Sweeney were Father Pawel Szurek, St. Catherine’s pastor, and Father Stephen Prisk, the Bishop’s priest-secretary.

Bishop Sweeney made a pastoral visit to Our Lady of Pompei (OLP) Church in Paterson Oct. 3 where he celebrated the vigil Mass marking the Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Bishop Kevin Sweeney celebrated Mass marking the World Day of Migrants and Refugees Sept. 27 at St. Joseph Parish in Lincoln Park. Every Sunday at 7 p.m., St. Joseph Parish celebrates Mass in Spanish for the migrant community. The Diocesan Migrant Ministry serves this community through pastoral work and social work.

Bishop Kevin Sweeney celebrated Mass at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Paterson Sept. 27 to honor the parish’s patron, St. Michael, whose feast day is Sept. 29 along with St. Gabriel and St. Raphael, the archangels.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel (OLMC) Parish in Swartswood welcomed Bishop Sweeney who made a pastoral visit there and celebrated Mass marking the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time on Sept. 20.

Bishop Kevin Sweeney made a pastoral visit to Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Mount Arlington Sept. 19 where he celebrated the vigil Mass for the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Bishop Kevin Sweeney made a pastoral visit to Holy Spirit Parish in Pequannock Sept. 13 where he celebrated Mass for the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Bishop Kevin Sweeney made a pastoral visit on Sept. 12 to Holy Family Parish in Florham Park where he celebrated the 5:30 p.m. vigil Mass for the 24th Sunday in Ordin­ary Time.

Bishop Kevin Sweeney made a pastoral visit to St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Passaic where he celebrated the vigil Mass marking the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Aug. 29. During the visit, the Bishop administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to 24 high school teenagers, who prepared to receive the Sacrament for two years through the parish’s Confirmation program.

Bishop Kevin Sweeney made a pastoral visit to St. Therese Parish in Succasunna Aug. 22 where he celebrated the vigil Mass marking the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Bishop Kevin Sweeney made a pastoral visit to Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Branchville where he celebrated the 10 a.m. Mass marking the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time. The Mass was held in nearby Don Hopkins Field, where Mass has been celebrated for the community since the reopening of the public celebration of Masses in June.

Bishop Kevin Sweeney made a pastoral visit to St. Ann Parish in Parsippany and celebrated the vigil Mass marking the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Concelebrating the Mass was Father Edgar Rivera, St. Ann’s pastor.

The Little Sisters of the Poor welcomed Bishop Kevin Sweeney to St. Joseph’s Home for the Elderly in Totowa Aug. 16 where he celebrated Mass marking the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time in the chapel. During the visit, the Bishop prayed for the sisters, who are taking care of the most vulnerable in the pandemic, and all the elderly residents living at the home.

Bishop Kevin Sweeney made a pastoral visit to St. Joseph Parish in Newton Aug. 1 where he celebrated the 5 p.m. vigil Mass for the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Bishop Kevin Sweeney made his first pastoral visit to Nazareth Village, the diocesan priest retirement residence in Chester, July 28. During the visit, the Bishop met some of the priests who have served the Diocese for many years. The Bishop celebrated Mass with the priest-residents in Our Lady, Mother of Priests Chapel at Nazareth Village. Following the Mass, the Bishop and the priests enjoyed a luncheon prepared by the staff at Nazareth Village.

Bishop Kevin Sweeney made a pastoral visit on July 23 to St. Joseph’s Health in Paterson where he celebrated Mass in the chapel. Afterward, the Bishop met with administrators and staff members and thanked the healthcare workers for serving on the front lines during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Bishop Kevin Sweeney made a pastoral visit to Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Pompton Plains July 27 where he celebrated Mass to mark the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time. During the visit, the Bishop blessed high school graduates of the parish, members of the Class of 2020, who attended the Mass.

The parish community of St. Matthew the Apostle in Randolph welcomed Bishop Kevin Sweeney during his pastoral visit July 25 where he celebrated the vigil Mass for the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time.