Pastoral Visits

Parishioners of St. Thomas the Apostle in Sandyston welcomed Bishop Sweeney during his visit to the Sussex County parish on Jan. 17. During the visit, the Bishop marked the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time. He also celebrated his birthday at the parish Sunday after Mass.

Bishop Sweeney made a pastoral visit to St. James the Greater Church in Montague Jan. 17 where he celebrated Mass marking the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time. On that day, the Bishop also marked his birthday and received birthday wishes from the parishioners.

Bishop Sweeney made a pastoral visit to Bethlehem Hermitage in Chester last week where he celebrated Mass for the hermits and visitors in the chapel.

Bishop Sweeney made a pastoral visit to St. Therese Parish in Paterson Jan. 10. During his visit, he celebrated Mass marking the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.

Bishop Sweeney celebrated the vigil Mass marking the Feast of the Epiphany or Three Kings Day at St. Francis of Assisi Church in the Haskell section of Wanaque Jan. 2.

The parish community of St. Gerard Majella in Paterson welcomed Bishop Sweeney during his pastoral visit Jan. 3. The Bishop celebrated two Masses — one in English and one in Spanish — marking the Feast of the Epiphany.

The parish community of Our Lady of the Holy Angels Church in Little Falls welcomed Bishop Sweeney on Christmas Day where he celebrated Mass marking the Nativity of the Lord Dec. 25.

The parish community of St. Anthony of Padua in Passaic once again celebrated Simbang Gabi, a nine-day traditional Filipino novena, marked in the days before Christmas. For 20 years, the parish has hosted the novena, which is a tradition of and organized by the Filipino members of the parish. Bishop Kevin Sweeney was main celebrant of the novena Mass on Dec. 21.

Bishop Sweeney celebrated the final Mass of a nine-day novena for Simbang Gabi in Our Lady of Good Counsel Church (OLGC) in Pompton Plains Dec. 23. The Mass was coordinated by the Diocesan Commission for Catholic Filipino Ministries as part of an inter-parish celebration with 17 parishes participating this year.

Bishop Kevin Sweeney made a pastoral visit to St. Rose of Lima Parish in East Hanover where he celebrated the Christmas vigil Mass on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24. Before the Mass, a Christmas concert was held featuring Christmas classics to reflect on the birth of Jesus.

On Dec. 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Concep­tion, Bishop Kevin Sweeney made a pastoral visit to St. Stephen Parish in Paterson where he celebrated Mass for the Solemnity of the Immac­ulate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This patronal feast day of the United States is a Holy Day of Obligation.

Bishop Sweeney made a pastoral visit to Our Lady of the Mountain Church in Long Valley where he celebrated Mass on the Fourth Sunday of Advent Dec. 20.

The parishioners of St. Mark Parish in Long Valley welcomed Bishop Sweeney during his pastoral visit Dec. 20 where he celebrated Mass to mark the Fourth Sunday of Advent.

Bishop Kevin Sweeney made a pastoral visit to St. Thomas Aquin Parish here where he celebrated Mass marking the Third Sunday of Advent, which is also known as Gaudete Sunday. The day takes its name from the Latin word “Gaudete” which translates to rejoice and rose color vestments are worn.

Bishop Kevin Sweeney made a pastoral visit to St. Michael the Archangel Church in Netcong where he celebrated Mass for the Third Sunday of Advent Dec. 13. During the Mass, parishioners also honored Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Bishop Kevin Sweeney made a pastoral visit to St. Simon Parish in Green Pond Nov. 26 where he celebrated the morning Mass for Thanksgiving Day. Concelebrating the Mass was Father Richard Bay, pastor.

Bishop Kevin Sweeney celebrated Mass marking the First Sunday of Advent in Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Rockaway Nov. 29. During the Mass, the Bishop administered the Sacrament of Confir­mation to young people of the parish.

Bishop Kevin Sweeney made a pastoral visit to Assumption Parish in Morristown Nov. 21 where he celebrated the vigil Mass marking the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, also known as the feast of Christ the King. During his visit, he administered the Sacrament of Confirma­tion to young adults at the parish.

St. Cecilia Parish in Rockaway welcomed Bishop Kevin Sweeney who celebrated Mass marking the Feast of Christ the King on Nov. 22 — also known as the feast of the parish’s namesake, St. Cecilia, patron saint of musicians.

Bishop Kevin Sweeney made a pastoral visit to Our Lady Queen of Peace (OLQP) Parish in the Hewitt section of West Milford on Nov. 15 to preside at the 3 p.m. Mass for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. During his visit, he blessed and dedicated a new outdoor chapel, which gives the parish a permanent structure where it can hold Mass outdoors.