MONITOR
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Vol. 6 • No. 8 • MAY 2025
MAGAZINE
Well done, good and faithful servant.
Pope Francis 1936 – 2025
ALSO . . . OUR EASTER JOURNEY: A photo essay
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ON THE COVER
Pope Francis, who died early on Easter Monday April 21, led the world’s Catholics as a “pope of firsts.” See Special Coverage, pages 10-35. OSV photo/Bob Roller
52 Priests on pilgrimage to Paris gather for a photo in the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal before concelebrating Mass with Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., third from left, back row. Courtesy photo
Contents 7-9 From the Bishop
Bishop O’Connell reflects on the pontificate of Pope Francis
MONITOR
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Official publication of The Diocese of Trenton
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10-35 Special Coverage Pope Francis’ life and legacy Thousands fill St. Peter’s Square for Pope’s funeral Mass Bishop O’Connell celebrates memorial Mass for Francis Parishes prayerfully honor Pope Francis Faithful remember Pope Francis as loving shepherd What to know about the upcoming conclave
46-47 Vocations A visit with Rev. Mr. Bridges about his upcoming priestly ordination; seminarians installed as acolytes, lector
48-50 Diocese Clergy appointments announced; Darren Miller takes helm of MCG; Catholic Communications Campaign to help Diocese’s publishing, online presence; Pentecost rally planned in Middletown
REGULAR FEATURES 4 Español 54-55 Insight from Father Koch, Mary Morrell May 2025
56 Question Corner 57 Faith at Home 62 Fun & Games THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 3
Español Durante la Misa, se pidió a los 40 candidatos y electos que se pusieran de pie para recibir los sacramentos y ser recibidos por la parroquia. Foto
y diferentes miembros de la congregación respondieron en los idiomas con los que estaban más familiarizados. Más tarde, el Padre Michael declaró a El Anzuelo “Nuestra comunidad es muy multicultural y tenemos la gran suerte de contar con tres grupos lingüísticos, pero una sola comunidad. Lea la historia completa en TrentonMonitor.com>peces Alrededor de 200.000 personas se dieron cita en la Plaza de San Pedro y en las calles aledañas para asistir a la Misa exequial del Papa Francisco en el Vaticano el 26 de abril de 2025. Foto de CNS/Pablo
de Jose Santiago
En la Vigilia Pascual en tres idiomas, Madre de la Misericordia recibe a 40 miembros POR ANGÉLICA CHICAIZA corresponsal, y MARY STADNYK editora asociada
L
a Parroquia Madre de la Misericordia en Asbury Park recibió a 40 feligreses en la Vigilia Pascual, en un servicio celebrado en español, inglés y creol. Los 40 feligreses pertenecían a la Orden de Iniciación Cristiana de Adultos, un proceso mediante el cual se da la bienvenida a los nuevos católicos o se recibe a los cristianos bautizados en plena comunión con la Iglesia. Seis nuevos católicos fueron bautizados y 34 candidatos recibieron sacramentos como la Primera Comunión y la Confirmación. “Hemos estado vigilantes, atentos, para vivir el paso de la muerte a la vida, el paso de la cruz a la Resurrección”, dijo el Padre Stephen Michael, SVD, párroco, en su homilía. “No fue un sueño, no fue imaginación: al que murió en la cruz por nuestros pecados, el Padre lo resucitó al tercer día”. Las homilías y lecturas se compartieron en los tres idiomas,
Esparza
‘Humildes, pero elegidos’: La Diócesis lamenta la muerte del Papa Francisco POR EL OBISPO DAVID M. O’CONNELL, C.M.
D
esde el momento en que pisó la logia de la Basílica de San Pedro en Roma la tarde del 13 de marzo de 2013, el mundo presenció algo diferente, algo único en este hombre elegido por el Colegio Cardenalicio ese mismo día para ser el 266.º sucesor de San Pedro. Quizás fue su forma humilde y más informal de saludar a las multitudes reunidas allí y observando en todo el mundo, bendiciéndolas pero primero deteniéndose para pedir su oración y bendición. Jorge Mario Bergoglio, el querido cardenal arzobispo de Buenos Aires, Argentina, era ahora el Papa Francisco. Diferente de sus predecesores. El primer Papa jesuita. El primer Papa en adoptar el nombre de “Francisco”. El primer Papa de América y el primer Papa no europeo en 13 siglos. Hay un viejo proverbio que circula entre los italianos, especialmente antes de un cónclave para elegir a un nuevo papa: “Seguite sempre un papa grasso con sottile” (básicamente traducido como “papa gordo, papa flaco”). Simplemente significa que las personalidades, los estilos y las prioridades pastorales papales difieren con cada papa sucesivo. ¡Y a menudo, resulta ser cierto!
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¡Lee más en línea! Visita trentonmonitor.com>peces para ver más historias en español de toda nuestra diócesis y del mundo. El cónclave para elegir al próximo Papa comenzará el 7 de mayo En la Misa Crismal, el Obispo recuerda a los sacerdotes la sagrada confianza que Dios ha depositado en ellos Cronología del pontificado del Papa Francisco Fe en Casa: El papado y el cónclave pueden generar conversaciones sobre la fe familiar
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THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 5
Readers’ Corner
With grief, gratitude and hope, we remember Pope Francis A message from
RAYANNE BENNETT Associate Publisher
T
he first media call came in at 6:20 a.m. on Easter Monday, rousing me from my peaceful, “day off ” slumber. The reporter was both embarrassed that he had awakened me and a little panicked when he realized that he had to break the news to me …. Pope Francis had died. And so began the cascade of phone calls and emails, working swiftly to prepare our response for the secular media, building our coverage for The Monitor and responding to broadcast outlets who wanted Bishop O’Connell to be an on-air guest for their special coverage. Around 8 a.m., the Bishop announced that he would celebrate a Mass of Remembrance that day at noon in our Cathedral, setting off a flurry of website and social media posts to invite the faithful to attend or watch the livestream. Through it all, our Communications and Media team were in “GO” mode, doing what had to be done under significant time constraints. I thank each of them for their selfless efforts. And I recognized their efforts to put aside their personal sense of loss over the Holy Father’s death so that we could all do our jobs. I, too, found myself mov For many, the ing through the tasks of the day, seemingly without grief, when Pope’s death suddenly something came up on social media or in my email that leaves a void brought me to tears. There was no way to dwell on it. But it was in our lives. there all the same. For many, the Pope’s death leaves a void in our lives. We no longer have that clarion voice, calling us to the compassion and humility that all believers should emulate in Christ’s name. We have lost his unceasing outreach to the world, educating all who would listen about how to care for one another and this earth that we share. The comfort that we took in Pope Francis’ words, his ability to push past politics and proclaim the truths of the Gospel, will perhaps not be as easy to find. Yet, we embrace the hope that Pope Francis spoke about so consistently. God will not abandon us and his grace is about to guide the cardinal electors who will enter the conclave to deliver us a new pope. We pray for them and the duty before them, and we give thanks to God for the gift of Pope Francis.
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Following the Mass of Remembrance he celebrated for Pope Francis April 21 in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, Bishop O’Connell was interviewed by representatives of Telemundo in which he reflected on the work and legacy of the Holy Father. Staff photo A special note to our readers. The news about Pope Francis’ death and legacy, and the conclave that will begin on May 7 has pre-empted most of the local coverage we had planned for this issue. Much of this content is posted to TrentonMonitor. com and some of it will be available in a future issue of the magazine. With this print edition on Pope Francis, we’ve tried to deliver a keepsake of stories and reflections that will outlast the ever-changing news. We expect to produce another special issue once the conclave is over and the next pope is elected. Watch for that within a few weeks. And please know that for every article we can run in print, there are 5-10 more on TrentonMonitor.com, especially now with so much news developing in the Church. There is currently no log-in, all content is available. This is the time to check it out if you haven’t already done so. With grateful hearts, we align our prayers with those of our readers for the peaceful repose of Pope Francis.
From the Bishop From the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis appears for the first time March 13, 2013. CNS photo/Paul Haring
Pope Francis:
‘Lowly but Chosen’ A Message from
BISHOP DAVID M. O’CONNELL, C.M.
F
rom the moment he stepped out on to the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome the evening of March 13, 2013, the world witnessed something different, something unique about this man chosen by the College of Cardinals earlier that day to be the 266th Successor to St. Peter. Perhaps it was his humble, more informal way of greeting the crowds gathered there and watching throughout the world, blessing them but first pausing to ask for their prayer and blessing. Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the beloved cardinal archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina, was now Pope Francis. Different from his predecessors. The first Jesuit pope. The first pope to take the name “Francis.” The first pope from the Americas and the first non-European pope in 13 centuries. There is an old proverb that circu-
lates among Italians, especially before a conclave convened to elect a new pope: “Seguite sempre un papa grasso con sottile” (basically translated, “fat pope, skinny pope). It simply means that papal personalities, papal styles and papal pastoral priorities differ with each successive pope. Often enough, it proves true!
He was and would be a beloved shepherd. The world welcomed Pope Francis with evident joy, watched him with great expectation, waiting with hope that he would courageously and boldly lead the Catholic Church forward in the third millennium. Yes, from those first moments, he was clearly a different kind of pope, taking as his papal motto “lowly but chosen (miserando atque eligendo).” And his papacy would also be different,
reflecting a pope who loved tradition but would not be burdened to or held captive by it. As archbishop of Argentina’s vibrant capital city Buenos Aires, Jorge Mario Bergoglio lived simply and walked among its people eagerly and often, with evident pastoral care and compassion and genuine priestly affection for them, traits he would bring to his pontificate. He was and would be a beloved shepherd. From those early years as priest and bishop to the years of his historic papacy, Pope Francis’ journey was marked by an unwavering commitment to the marginalized and the oppressed. His profound empathy and dedication to social justice resonated deeply with millions, inspiring acts of kindness and courage across the globe. Pope Francis embodied the true essence of servant leadership. His papacy was characterized by a relentless pursuit of peace, dialogue and unity. He tirelessly advocated for the poor, for migrants and refugees, for the disenfranchised, Continued on 8
May 2025
THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 7
From the Bishop
Bishop O’Connell applauds as Pope Francis makes his way down the aisle of St. Matthew the Apostle Cathedral, Washington, Sept. 23, 2015. Associated Press photo
Pope of ‘firsts’ Continued from 7
reminding us all of our shared humanity and the Christian moral imperative to lift one another up. His teachings on environmental stewardship, encapsulated in his second encyclical Laudato Si’ (May 24, 2015), urged Catholics and all people of the world to “care for our common home” and to protect the earth for future generations. Pope Francis was not without his critics, even some high-profile members of the hierarchy. He was often labeled in various Catholic Church circles as “progressive.” His unconventional style, especially when making unscripted or “off the cuff ” remarks to members of the media, led some people to call him “confusing.” Similarly, his custom of greeting and welcoming people of all beliefs, including those who openly disagreed with Catholic Church teachings, raised similar wonderment at times. And yet, Pope Francis was never afraid to speak the truth of the Gospel, 8 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE
Church doctrine and tradition with firmness, conviction and adherence to their principles. That needs to be acknowledged. His consistent and frequent calls for compassion extended to all living beings and encouraged a world where love and respect transcend borders and ideologies.
Pope Francis was never afraid to speak the truth of the Gospel ... Pope Francis’ legacy is one of boundless grace, simplicity, humility and hope. He demonstrated a gentle spirit, offering solace and guidance to those in need. His words and actions were a testament to the power of faith and the enduring strength of the human spirit. One of his most profound lessons was the importance of “encountering” others with an open heart, a word and concept he used frequently in his homilies, talks and messages. Without compromising the perennial
May 2025
truth of the Gospel and Catholic Church teaching, he urged us to step beyond our comfort zones, to reach out to those who are suffering, and to be instruments of God’s love and peace in a world that often feels fractured and divided. His example challenges us to live our faith authentically and consistently, to be voices for the voiceless, and to stand in solidarity with those who are most in need. I had the privilege of meeting Pope Francis several times over the years. I was a houseguest on three occasions at Santa Marta where he lived, attended papal audiences – most recently in January 2024 – and visited with him along with other bishops for meetings in the Apostolic Palace. I concelebrated Holy Mass with him twice in the Santa Marta Chapel during one of those visits– just the two of us with members of his household staff present. I will never forget my first encounter with him. Waiting for the elevator in Santa Marta, I was shocked when the doors opened and he was inside, alone! He greeted me warmly and went on his way. Amazing! At the last Ad Limina visit of our
Bishop O’Connell greets Pope Francis following the Jan. 3, 2024, General Audience held in the Vatican’s Paul VI Audience Hall. Vatican Media photo
region’s bishops (New Jersey and Pennsylvania) to the Vatican in 2019 – unlike previous occasions – we were invited to speak with him directly and informally for two hours. We were able to ask him questions about anything and relay our concerns about the Church and our dioceses. Again, I can only say amazing! In January 2024, I had arranged special seating at a papal audience for a group of our Diocese’s priests on pilgrimage. Afterwards, we were escorted to the steps of the stage and Pope Francis approached us in his wheelchair. He was so animated and cheerful, raising his hands in greeting saying “Trenton! Trenton! Trenton!” He shook our hands and posed for pictures. May I say it again, amazing! What a great memory! As we bid farewell to this remarkable shepherd, who suffered with health issues throughout his life and up to his last days, let us express our gratitude to Almighty God for the Holy Spirit’s inspiration at the papal conclave on that March day in 2013. His subsequent travels all over the world, his tireless energy, his countless meetings with the powerful and the simple among us without distinction along with every kind of group and organization, his outreach to the poor and those suffering with every imaginable (and some unimaginable)
Pilgrims of the Diocese of Trenton joined Bishop O’Connell and Pope Francis for a group photo at the Vatican in Jan. 3, 2024. Vatican Media photo affliction, his prolific writings and teachings, his deeply insightful homilies and addresses, his willingness to listen – the heart of his advocacy for a synodal Church – his Jubilee message of hope to all, his example of personal sufferings, his whole life as 266th Successor to St. Peter since assuming his Chair all carried forward his message of evangelization, encounter, love, mercy and openness, and reveal the measure of this man, this priest, this Pope. Let us honor his memory by striving to create a Church, a world where compassion, mercy and justice prevail, where the dignity of every person is upheld, and where the light of hope shines
brightly for all. As we commend his soul to God, may we find solace in the promise of the Resurrection of the Lord. We believe that Pope Francis, having faithfully served our Lord, now rests in the loving embrace of the Father. Let us carry forward his legacy of love, mercy, and service. May we honor his memory by living out the Gospel with renewed fervor, always seeking to be instruments of God’s peace and reconciliation in our world. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen. May 2025
THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 9
Special Coverage
What Pope Francis brought to the Church, and what he leaves behind BY INES SAN MARTIN OSV News
P
ope Francis, history’s first Pope from the global south and a maverick who often delighted the world, died April 21 after fighting pulmonary disease for the last few months. Elected in March 2013 as an outsider who could reform the Roman Curia, meaning the central government of the Church, but who often surprised and even occasionally alarmed the Cardinals who backed him, Pope Francis died at age 88 at the Vatican. The Pope “from the end of the earth,” as the Argentine pontiff put it during his first public blessing, ended up leading the Catholic Church through two great crises: the global explosion of the clerical sexual abuse scandals and the unprecedented interruption of pastoral life caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Pope Francis succeeded Pope Benedict XVI, the first man in 600 years to resign the pontificate, creating an unprecedented scenario of two Popes living side-by-side in the Vatican – as Benedict himself put it, one Pope “governing” and the other “praying.” An advocate for migrants, interfaith dialogue as a way to prevent conflict, nuclear disarmament and an end to the death penalty, and the dignity of workers, Pope Francis collected both friends and foes in his attempt to turn the 1.3 billion-strong Catholic Church into a “field hospital” with its doors open to all
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A young Jorge Mario Bergoglio is shown in an undated photo. CNS photo and with a special love for those on the margins. Early on, Pope Francis provided perhaps the most celebrated (and arguably misunderstood) papal sound bite of the last century when he said in response to a question about a gay cleric, “Who am I to judge?” However abused the line may have been, it captured something of the spirit of a papacy that clearly valued people more than theory and pastoral sensitivity more than law. Pope Francis leaves behind an unfinished reform of the Roman Curia. He took several steps early on intended to promote transparency, accountabil-
May 2025
ity and decentralization, but as time went on the overhaul seemed to stall and fresh scandals erupted, including a $200 million Vatican property deal in London in 2019 that led to the departure of several key reformers and raised questions about whether anything had really changed. Pope Francis also led the Church at a time when the clerical abuse crisis crossed borders far beyond the West, with an unprecedented crisis in Chile that drove the Argentine pontiff to make a U-turn when it came to addressing crimes committed by clergy. In an attempt to face matters headon, he summoned heads of the national bishops’ conferences and the leaders of religious orders to Rome for a three-day summit in February 2019. Critics argue the summit left behind considerable unfinished business, but others say that after Pope Francis’s leadership, no bishop in the world can claim he doesn’t know what’s expected when it
Pope Francis waves as he leaves a session of the Synod of Bishops on the family at the Vatican Oct. 24, 2015. CNS photo/Paul Haring
Pope Francis presents his apostolic letter, “Misericordia et Misera,” (Mercy and Misery) to a woman in a wheelchair at the conclusion of the closing Mass of the jubilee Year of Mercy in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Nov. 20, 2016. In the letter the Pope called for several special initiatives begun during the Year of Mercy to continue on a permanent basis. CNS photo/Paul Haring
Pope Francis was never one to stand on the sidelines. comes to caring for victims and bringing perpetrators to justice. Born in 1936 and ordained a Jesuit priest in 1969 at age 33, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was appointed auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires by St. John Paul II in 1992 at age 56. He was made a Cardinal nine years later, in 2001, and elected Pope on March 13, 2013, just months after turning 76. In his first public appearance, the Pope who took his name from St. Francis of Assisi demonstrated his commitment to humility, not only giving a blessing but asking people to pray for him. The line “Per favore, non dimenticatevi di pregare per me!” (“Please, don’t forget to pray for me!”) quickly became a trademark of all his public rhetoric, so much so that crowds would sometimes recite the line as the pontiff pronounced it. From that first glimpse of Catholicism’s new chief shepherd, it was clear that Francis didn’t intend to lead merely a “transitional” papacy, just keeping the seat
warm and maintaining the status quo. He was driven by a conviction that the Church had become too set in its ways, too clericalist, too distant from ordinary people and especially the poor, and he was determined to shake things up. Loved by most, according to opinion polls, but also strongly opposed by many, the personality of this man who worked as a bouncer and enjoyed dancing to Argentina’s legendary tango music during his youth left few indifferent. Francis was history’s first pope from the Americas, the Southern Hemisphere and the first successor of Peter to come from outside of Europe since Syrian Gregory III led the Church in the eighth century. A man coming from the world’s peripheries himself, he focused much of his pastoral attention and even his political capital on those living in the margins of society, or as he often said, “the outskirts.” This meant that much of his ministry was focused on those who were outside
the Church, either because of life choices, such as believers who are divorced and civilly remarried, or life situations, such as indigenous communities in the Amazon struggling with severe priest shortages. Known for insisting that bishops should have “the smell of the sheep,” and for demanding priests and religious get the hems of their cassocks dirty doing God’s work, Pope Francis was never one to stand on the sidelines. His first trip outside of Rome was to the Italian “migrant” island of Lampedusa, where he condemned global indifference to the humanitarian crisis of those fleeing hunger, war and persecution, trying to find a safe haven in Europe after a perilous trip that caused the death of thousands. Never one who enjoyed traveling before becoming Pope, he acknowledged that this trip made him see the importance of his physical presence in such places. Continued on 12
May 2025
THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 11
Special Coverage Pope Francis releases a dove as a sign of peace outside the Basilica of St. Nicholas after meeting with the leaders of Christian churches in Bari, Italy, July 7, 2018.
Francis’ legacy Continued from 11
This conviction would lead him to visit the Central African Republic in 2015, despite the ongoing religious-fueled civil war; Myanmar and Bangladesh two years later, as the military in Myanmar was systemically annihilating the Muslim Rohingya minority that hadn’t been able to flee to neighboring Bangladesh; and to Colombia in 2017, months after a peace deal between the government and guerrilla movements ended a five-decades long civil war. His impromptu stop to pray at the wall that separates Israel and Palestine during a 2014 visit would also have global echoes, as would his 2021 trip to Iraq, which made him the first Pope to visit the land of Abraham despite the threat of the global COVID-19 pandemic and the threats to his safety in a country that is in constant tumult.
No one can say Francis didn’t have their attention. Ironically, this peripatetic Pope never made the one trip many of his countrymen and women wanted most, a homecoming to Argentina. Why remains one of the great unanswered questions of his reign. Though he visited relatively few Western countries, including the United States in 2015, he often used his political capital to try to help where he felt he could influence matters. In December 2014, U.S. President Barack Obama and Cuban leader Raul Castro thanked him for what became known as the “Cuban thaw,” meaning the warming of the relationship between the two countries ending a 54-year stretch of hostility. He skipped Germany, France – except for the migrant island of Corsica, which would end up being his last trip, bringing his itinerant pontificate full circle with his first – the United Kingdom and Spain, but he wasn’t indifferent to Europe. He 12 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE
CNS photo/Paul Haring
made an exception to his general rule against accepting awards to receive the Charlemagne Prize in 2016, given to individuals or institutions for service to European unification. He had high hopes, and high expectations, for Europe when it came to unity, social justice and faith. When war came knocking on Europe’s door, in the form of Russia’s Vladimir Putin invading Ukraine in 2022, Pope Francis didn’t hide his disappointment, anger nor sadness, referring to the conflict almost daily during the first year. Like St. John Paul II before him, Pope Francis also displayed an instinctive understanding of the power of gestures. Two moments of prayer were among his most iconic images: Francis’ visit to Auschwitz in 2016, where he remained entirely silent to underline the futility of speech in the face of such evil; and his unprecedented “urbi et orbi” blessing from an empty St. Peter’s Square in March 2020 during a global moment of fear and uncertainty at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. On that haunting night, Pope Francis became the world’s pastor, saying, “From this colonnade that embraces Rome and the whole world, may God’s blessing come down upon you as a consoling embrace.” Perhaps the best early epitaph is this: Pope Francis was a man who electrified the world and delivered a sort of shock therapy to the Church he led, driving it to rethink established patterns and to go boldly where it hadn’t been before. His record as a CEO may be mixed, his posi-
May 2025
tions on specific political or ecclesiastical matters debatable, but no one can say Francis didn’t have their attention. He was a man fond of following the advice he once gave to thousands of Argentine young men and women who attended World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro in 2013, when he told them to “make a mess.” Cheered by some and feared by others, Pope Francis was a Jesuit to his core, from choosing to live in the Vatican’s Santa Marta residence rather than the Apostolic Palace in order to have a community to the way he would consult widely on important matters, even calling for a three-year global consultation dubbed the Synod on Synodality, but, like a good Jesuit superior, very much making decisions by himself. It’s sometimes said of the sons of Ignatius that not even God himself truly knows what they’re thinking, and that was sometimes the case with Francis, who could be maddeningly ambiguous and send conflicting signals depending on who he was talking to. Yet even if Francis was sometimes slippery about answers, he was never afraid to pose questions. That boldness born of the Gospel may, in the end, be his most lasting legacy, leaving behind a Church less confident it has all the answers but also less afraid to face new questions anyway. Ines San Martin writes for OSV News from New York. She is vice president of communications at the Pontifical Mission Societies USA.
Special Coverage
Pope Francis’ Ignatian spirituality evident NEW YORK • As novice master for his Jesuit province in Argentina, Father Jorge Bergoglio – whom the world would come to know decades later as Pope Francis – would have had a deep knowledge of the “spiritual exercises,” a discernment method at the core of the Jesuit order. In his role, he routinely led Jesuit novices through the full 30-day process that involves meditations, prayer, contemplation and silence, with the goal of growing closer to God and living the Gospel. As the first Jesuit pope, that intimacy with the spiritual exercises shaped Pope Francis’ worldview, said Carlos Aedo, executive director of the Office of Ignatian Spirituality, a ministry of the USA East Province of the Society of Jesus, or Jesuits. “He was very aware of Ignatius’ experience of encountering God in personal prayer, but also in the world,” Aedo said, speaking of the late Pope. “That’s one of the things that have characterized Francis’ years with us: That God can be found in all things, not just in the chapel, not just in the Church, not just in your personal prayer. God is outside waiting for us to encounter him.”
Iraq’s Christians’ faith renewed after first papal visit
spirit, a sense that they are not simply surviving, but have a role to play in rebuilding Iraqi society.
Pope Francis called for economy to heed the cry of the poor ROME • Pope Francis’ repeated warnings about an “economy of exclusion and inequality” sparked debate during his 12-year papacy, especially regarding his claims that the global economic system is literally lethal to the poor. While some critics labeled the Pope an economic radical, experts argued his views aligned with traditional Catholic teaching. Anthony Annett, author of “Cathnomics: How Catholic Tradition Can Create a More Just Economy,” points out that previous popes like John Paul II and Benedict XVI expressed similar concerns about economic justice. What set Pope Francis apart, Annett said, was his urgent and passionate focus on Catholic social teaching, emphasizing the need for a just economy. At the heart of his calls was the Church’s long-standing concern for the poor – an issue central to Catholic tradition for centuries, according to Jesús Fernández-Villaverde, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania. “Stop listening exclusively to the economic elites, who so often spout superficial ideologies that ignore humanity’s real dilemmas,” the Pope told representatives of popular movements in a 2021 talk. He encouraged them to serve “the people who demand land, work, housing and good living.”
Pope Francis participates in a memorial prayer for the victims of the war at Hosh al-Bieaa, the church square, in Mosul, Iraq, March 7, 2021. The Pope became the first pontiff to visit the Middle Eastern country. CNS photo/Paul Haring
IRBIL, Iraq • OSV News asked Chaldean Catholic Archbishop Bashar M. Warda of Irbil, Iraq to share his thoughts regarding Pope Francis’ impact on that nation’s Catholics and Christians, who currently number about 250,000. Still recovering from devastating 2014 attacks by Islamic State group terrorists, Iraq’s Christians were greatly heartened by Pope Francis’ historic 2021 apostolic journey to Iraq, which marked the first time a pope had ever visited the nation. He visited parishes, met with both Christian and Muslim leaders, and presided at a Mass for thousands. “In a place where crosses were torn down, he lifted hearts instead,” said Archbishop Warda. “For many Christians, it was the first time in years that they felt truly proud – not just of their faith, but of their country.” The Pope’s presence in Iraq “wasn’t just a blessing,” he said. “It was a call to continue, to stay rooted, to believe in their future. Since then, many Christian leaders have spoken of a renewed
ROME • As the world looks toward the May 7 start of the conclave to choose the next pope, attention is also turning to a key part of Pope Francis’ legacy: the women who helped shape his vision for the Church. Though women won’t vote in the conclave, several held influential roles during Francis’ papacy – including Salesian Sister Alessandra Smerilli, Sister Raffaella Petrini, who oversees Vatican City’s admin- secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human istration. Development, is seen meeting Pope At an April 29 Vatican Francis at the Vatican in an undated press briefing, spokesman photo. CNS photo/Vatican Media, courtesy Dicastery Matteo Bruni confirmed for Promoting Integral Human Development there’s “no indication concerning the gender” of those offering professional assistance during the conclave, meaning women won’t have a formal role. Still, Francis’ bold move to bring women into Vatican leadership remains a milestone in Church governance. Another question circulating in Rome: Will Pope Francis’ direct and pastoral style of communication live on? As Paloma Garcia Ovejero, the Vatican’s first female deputy spokesperson, told OSV News, Continued on 14
May 2025
– Source: OSV News
How Francis’ legacy is shaping Church’s next chapter
THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 13
Special Coverage Continued from 13
Francis didn’t just change how the Church leads; he changed how it speaks. “Pope Francis preached a Church with open doors – and that means everyone, everyone, everyone, including communicators, starting with himself,” she said. “He broke every mold, every framework, every expectation – and even his own habits.”
Pope Francis gave face to the faceless poor Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, – since 2013, Pope Francis – washes the feet of residents of a shelter for drug users during Holy Thursday Mass in 2008 in a poor neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina. OSV News
Migrants at heart of Francis’ field hospital
ROME • Pope Francis’ papacy was defined by his deep focus on the poor, reflecting his belief that caring for those in need is central to the Gospel. From the start, he transformed the Vatican, welcoming the homeless to Casa Santa Marta and commissioning showers and an outpatient clinic for the poor beneath St. Peter’s colonnade. Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, head of the Vatican’s charity efforts, recalled the Pope’s direction to “sell your desk” and serve the poor directly. In 2019, the Vatican opened Palazzo Migliori, a renovated palace offering a home for the homeless, emphasizing dignity and a new chance at life. “It’s not a shelter, it’s home,” Silvano, a homeless man from Romania told OSV News in March 2023. For the Polish cardinal and Community of Sant’Egidio with whom the Pope worked the closest in his charity efforts, Pope Francis reminded the Church that to help the poor is to see Jesus in every face. “Full adherence to the Gospel has gone along with love for the poor. When the Church turned away from the poor, it also lost the Gospel,” Massimiliano Signifredi of Sant’Egidio stressed. Pope Francis wanted the faithful to see the poor as a resource, not a problem. Through his actions, Pope Francis has reminded the Church that loving the poor is essential to living the Gospel, a legacy Signifredi hopes will continue for generations.
Eastern Catholic traditions, mission highlighted by Francis ROME • Eastern Catholic leaders are remembering Pope Francis for bringing significant attention to their churches and traditions throughout his papacy, in a legacy marked by fraternity and many firsts, while marked with some tensions at times. The late Pope was “a fan of the East” and called for Latin Catholics to learn from Eastern Catholic churches near them, said Ines A. Murzaku, professor of ecclesiastical history and founding chair of the Department of Catholic Studies at Seton Hall University. Advancing May 2025
Pope Francis meets refugees at the Moria refugee camp on the island of Lesbos, Greece, in this 2016 photo. CNS photo/Paul Haring ROME • Pope Francis’ one-day visit to the Italian island of Lampedusa on July 8, 2013, while brief, set the tone for his 12-year pontificate until his death April 21. Located just 70 miles from Tunisia, Lampedusa was the final destination for tens of thousands of African immigrants who died trying to reach a new life in Europe near its shores. Amaya Valcárcel, a researcher for the Migrants and Refugees Section of the Dicastery for Integral Human Development, said that during his reign, Pope Francis “set forth a clear and radical vision for an alternative and more humane approach to the challenges of involuntary migration” and “modeled and preached a God of justice and mercy.” Pope Francis’ advocacy on behalf of migrants was accompanied by concrete actions and gestures. After his visit to the Mòria refugee camp in Lesbos, Greece, with Orthodox leaders in April 2016, the Pope brought three Syrian families back with him to Rome. After negotiating with the Italian and Greek governments, the Vatican said it would assume financial responsibility for the families, with assistance provided by the Rome-based Community of Sant’Egidio.
– Source: OSV News
photo/Enrique Garcia Medina, Reuters
14 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE
that dynamic were the late Pope’s calling of the Synod on Synodality, and his 2014 lifting of a previous ban on the ordination of married men in Eastern churches located in North America and Australia. However, amid Russia’s war on Ukraine, the late Pope also struggled to navigate what religious history scholar Anatolii Babynskyi called a “tightrope walk” with the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. Pope Francis’ 2021 visit to Iraq – the first made by any pope – was “a brave act of magnanimity” that “marked a turning point” for the country’s Christian minority, Chaldean Catholic Archbishop Bashar M. Warda of Irbil, Iraq, said. Pope Francis also urged unity among Syro-Malabar Catholics, riven by a painful liturgical dispute. For Armenian Catholics, he acknowledged the horrors of the Armenian genocide and named the 10th-century Armenian monk St. Gregory of Narek as a doctor of the Church. Pope Francis summed up his view of Eastern Catholics, saying, “The Christian East allows us to draw from ancient and ever new sources of spirituality; these become fresh springs that bring vitality to the Church.”
Ministry leaders: Pope went beyond words to action WASHINGTON • Catholic ministry leaders say Pope Francis’ legacy is one of action, inclusion and love across varied facets of Church life, especially the areas of disability inclusion, marriage and family, grandparents, environment and lay leadership. Charleen Katra of the National Catholic Partnership on Disability said his interactions with people with intellectual disabilities inspires acceptance: “If he can relax and let the Spirit be in the room, why can’t we?” He championed grandparents by instituting the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly and strengthened marriage preparation by supporting a catechumenate approach, leaders in those ministries said. His 2015 encyclical “Laudato Si’” spurred environmental ministries worldwide, and his reforms based on the development of the Church’s doctrine on lay ministry expanded opportunities for lay leadership, allowing women to serve in new roles in the Church. Through his emphasis on synodality, Pope Francis reshaped conversations on family, faith and inclusion, ministry leaders said.
forms to the annulment process. However, some efforts, particularly concerning divorced and civilly remarried Catholics’ access to the Eucharist, were considered by some as causing more confusion and lacking sufficient pastoral clarity needed for divorce ministry. The pontiff also highlighted the value of grandparents and elders, establishing the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. His initiative inspired grassroots efforts, such as the Anne and Joachim Grandparenting Workshops that began in the Diocese of Cleveland and have spread worldwide, fostering both the importance of intergenerational connection and that every generation is called to discipleship and evangelization.
Francis fostered mutual respect in interfaith relations
Pope left lasting mark on marriage, family ministry
Rabbi Abraham Skorka of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Pope Francis embrace after visiting the Western Wall in Jerusalem May 26, 2014. CNS
Pope Francis greets a married couple and their children at the end of his weekly general Aug. 30, 2023. CNS photo/Vatican Media ROME • Scholars and observers are noting Pope Francis’ 12-year papacy’s impact on Catholic marriage and family ministry. The pontiff championed families’ lifelong journey of faith, but his actions and words were not without controversy at times. The Vatican’s 2023 release of “Fiducia Supplicans” for example, permitting blessings for individuals in “irregular situations” like same-sex unions and divorced and civilly remarried couples, received praise from some quarters and blowback from others, from both inside and outside the Church. Pope Francis prioritized modern couples’ challenges, advocating for improved marriage formation to take the shape of a “marriage catechumenate.” Recognizing contemporary complexities, Pope Francis tried to emphasize a pastoral approach, as seen in “Amoris Laetitia” and re-
ROME • Pope Francis’ personal witness to interfaith dialogue, especially with Judaism and Islam, has left a significant mark during his 12-year papacy. The Pope emphasized that “God is God for all,” and fostered relationships grounded in mutual respect. His encyclical “Fratelli Tutti” and continued emphasis on peace, social justice, and human fraternity set a high standard for interfaith relations. While Francis dialogued with people of many faiths, he seemed to have a special intensity of focus for the Abrahamic siblings of Christianity: Judaism and Islam. His outreach to Jewish communities was notable, including a 2014 visit to Israel, meetings with Jewish leaders, and consistently condemning antisemitism. His personal experiences with the Holocaust and Jewish friends enriched these efforts, noted Menachem Rosensaft, retired general counsel of the World Jewish Congress and son of Holocaust survivors. Pope Francis worked to strengthen Catholic-Muslim relations, exemplified by his 2019 meeting with Egypt’s grand imam of AlAzhar, his 2021 papal visit to Iraq, and his proactive engagements with Muslim leaders. Zeki Saritoprak, an Islamic studies professor and a Muslim member of the National Catholic-Muslim Dialogue who met the late pontiff, said Pope Francis’ “personal style” felt new and he hoped was something his successors would continue. May 2025
– Source: OSV News
photo/Paul Haring
THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 15
Special Coverage
Pope Francis’ pontificate:
He invited Churches around the world to designate a holy door as a reminder of his call for reconciliation.
A TIMELINE
–– 2016, FEB. 12-17: Pope Francis, on his way to Mexico,
stopped in Cuba to meet Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill of Moscow at the Havana airport and sign a joint declaration in the presence of Cuban President Raul Castro. In Mexico, he celebrated Mass in Ciudad Juárez, which borders El Paso, Texas. Hundreds of thousands of people attended the Mass, which included faithful on both sides of the border. CNS photo/Paul Haring
BY CAROL GLATZ Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY • Here is a timeline of some significant events in Pope Francis’ 12-year pontificate:
–– 2013, MARCH 13: Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of
Buenos Aires, Argentina, was elected Pope on the second day of the conclave, becoming the first Pope from the Southern Hemisphere and the first non-European elected in almost 1,300 years. The Jesuit was also the first member of his order to be elected Pope and the first CNS photo/Paul Haring member of any religious order elected in nearly two centuries.
–– 2017, APRIL 13: Pope Francis went to a maximum
security prison to celebrate the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper and wash the feet of 12 prisoners, including three women and a Muslim man who was preparing for Baptism. The celebration continued a practice he began as archbishop of Buenos Aires and performed every Holy Thursday as Pope: including Catholics and nonCatholics and men and women, especially those who are marginalized, in the foot-washing rite.
–– 2013, JULY 8: Pope Francis made his first trip
–– 2018, APRIL 21: Pope Francis appointed three women
outside of Rome, choosing to go to the Italian island of Lampedusa to underline the plight of migrants crossing the Mediterranean and the countless lives lost at sea.
as consultors to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the first time women and laypeople were named as active contributors – not support staff. They joined a growing number of women the Pope has named to toplevel positions at the Vatican.
–– 2014, JUNE 8: Pope Francis, Israeli President Shi-
mon Peres, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and others came together in the Vatican Gardens for an unprecedented gathering to pray for peace in the Holy Land.
–– 2018, AUG. 2: Pope Francis ordered the revision of
the Catechism of the Catholic Church to describe the death penalty as morally inadmissible and to affirm that the Church “works with determination for its abolition worldwide.”
–– 2015, SEPT. 19-27: Pope Francis traveled to Cuba
–– 2015, DEC. 8: Pope Francis opened the Holy Door
of St. Peter’s Basilica to inaugurate a Holy Year of Mercy.
16 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE
May 2025
–– 2019, FEB. 4: Pope Francis and Sheikh Ahmad CNS photo/Paul Haring
then to Washington, D.C., New York and Philadelphia during his first visit to the United States. He addressed Congress, the United Nations and the World Meeting and Families, canonized St. Junipero Serra and visited the 9/11 memorial in New York.
el-Tayeb, grand imam of Egypt’s Al-Azhar mosque and university, signed the document on “Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together” during an interreligious meeting in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
–– 2019, FEB. 21-24: Pope Francis convened a global
summit on child protection and abuse, bringing together nearly 200 Church leaders – presidents of bishops’ conferences, the heads of the Eastern Catholic Churches, superiors of men’s and women’s religious orders, survivors and Roman Curia officials. The summit at the Vatican included a penitential liturgy.
–– 2023, JUNE 7-16: Pope Francis was hospitalized for
–– 2021, MARCH 5-8: Pope visited Iraq although
sporadic violence continued in the country and COVID-19 restrictions were still in place. He honored Iraqi Christians who remained faithful during the Islamic State terror and worked to rebuild the country.
–– 2021, JULY 4: The Pope underwent a three-hour
scheduled surgery at a Rome hospital to remove part of his colon. Officials said it was required to treat diverticulitis, when bulging pouches in the lining of the intestine or colon become inflamed or infected.
–– 2022, JULY 13: Pope Francis named three women
to the Dicastery for Bishops, which was the first time women were appointed to the dicastery that helps him choose bishops. He had appointed a woman to top management as a secretary of a dicastery for the first time in 2021 and named several women as undersecretaries. He also named women to the management role of secretary of a pontifical commission.
–– 2022, JULY 24-29: Pope Francis made “a penitential
trip” to Canada to meet with, listen to and apologize to members of Canada’s First Nation, Métis and Inuit communities, especially those who experienced abuse or attempts at forced assimilation at Church-run residential schools. Francis presided over the funeral Mass for Pope Benedict XVI in St. Peter’s Square. It was the first time in more than 200 years that a Pope celebrated the funeral of his predecessor.
CNS photo/Vatican Media
–– 2023, JAN. 5: Pope
–– 2023, MARCH 13: Pope Francis celebrated his 10th anniversary as Pope.
a three-hour operation to remove scar tissue and to repair a hernia located where a previous surgical incision had been made in his abdominal wall.
–– 2023, OCT. 4-29: Pope Francis presided over the
first session of the Synod of Bishops on Synodality at the Vatican. The three-year process of listening and dialogue began in 2021 on the local, regional and continental levels.
–– 2023, DEC. 17: Pope Francis celebrated his 87th
birthday, making him the oldest Pope in the past century.
–– 2024, MARCH 24-31: For the second year in a row,
Pope Francis followed the nighttime Way of the Cross service in Rome’s Colosseum from his Vatican residence on Good Friday. But despite his limited mobility, he still presided over a full slate of Easter and Holy Week liturgies and rites, including CNS photo/Vatican Media his first Holy Thursday visit to a prison with only women present. It was the first time as Pope that he washed the feet only of women.
–– 2024, MAY 25-26: Pope Francis celebrated the first World Children’s Day in Rome.
–– 2024, OCT. 2-27: Pope Francis presided over the
second assembly of the Synod of Bishops on synodality.
–– 2024, DEC. 24: Pope
Francis opened the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, launching the “Jubilee of Hope,” which was to run through Jan. 6, 2026.
–– 2025, FEB. 14: Pope Francis
CNS photo/Vatican Media
MARCH 27: During the coronavirus pandemic, Pope Francis prayed and delivered his extraordinary blessing “urbi et orbi” (to the city and the world) during an evening prayer service from St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican. St. Peter’s Square was empty, and the service was livestreamed.
CNS photo/Vatican Media
–– 2020,
was hospitalized at Rome’s Gemelli hospital with bronchitis and breathing difficulties. He later was diagnosed with double pneumonia and multiple infections in his respiratory system. He was released March 23 and told he would need two months to convalesce.
–– 2025, APRIL 20: Pope Francis met briefly with U.S.
Vice President JD Vance in the Papal residence and then went to the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to give his Easter blessing “urbi et orbi” (to the city and the world).
–– 2025, APRIL 21: Pope Francis died at 7:35 a.m. May 2025
THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 17
Special Coverage
An estimated 200,000 people gather in St. Peter’s Square and the neighboring streets to attend the funeral Mass for Pope Francis at the Vatican April 26, 2025. CNS Photo/Stefano Spaziani, pool
Poor and powerful pray for eternal repose of a pope ‘with an open heart’ BY CINDY WOODEN Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY • Pope Francis was “a Pope among the people, with an open heart toward everyone,” said Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, as he presided over the funeral of the Pope, who died April 21 at the age of 88. And the people – an estimated 200,000 of them – were present as 14 pallbearers carried Pope Francis’ casket into St. Peter’s Square and set it on a carpet in front of the altar for the funeral Mass April 26. His burial was scheduled for later the same day in Rome’s Basilica of St. Mary Major after being driven in a motorcade through the center of the city where he served as bishop from the day of his election to the papacy March 13, 2013. Security around the Vatican was tight, not only because of the number of mourners expected but especially because of the presence of kings, queens, presidents – including U.S. President Donald 18 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE
J. Trump – and prime ministers from more than 80 countries and official representatives from scores of other nations. Also present were the residents of a Vatican palace Pope Francis had turned into a shelter for the homeless and the 12 Syrian refugees he brought to Rome with him from a refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos in 2016. The Gospel reading at the funeral was John 21:15-19 where the Risen Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me?” And when Peter says yes, Jesus tells him, “Feed my sheep.” “Despite his frailty and suffering toward the end, Pope Francis chose to follow this path of self-giving until the last day of his earthly life,” Cardinal Re said in his homily. “He followed in the footsteps of his Lord, the Good Shepherd, who loved his sheep to the point of giving his life for them.” The 91-year-old cardinal told the crowd that the image of Pope Francis that “will remain etched in our memory” was his appearance on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica the day before he died to
May 2025
give his Easter blessing “urbi et orbi” (to the city and the world) and then to ride in the Popemobile among the people who had come to celebrate Christ’s victory over death.
“He followed in the footsteps of his Lord, the Good Shepherd.” “The outpouring of affection that we have witnessed in recent days following his passing from this earth into eternity tells us how much the profound pontificate of Pope Francis touched minds and hearts,” Cardinal Re said. The Vatican estimated that 250,000 people – many of whom waited in line for three or four hours – filed past the late Pope’s body in St. Peter’s Basilica April 23-25. Within the Church, the Cardinal said, “the guiding thread” of Pope Fran-
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, prays before the casket of Pope Francis during the Pope’s funeral. CNS photo/Pablo Esparza
cis’ ministry was his “conviction that the Church is a home for all, a home with its doors always open.” For Pope Francis, he said, the Church was a “field hospital,” one “capable of bending down to every person, regardless of their beliefs or condition, and healing their wounds.” With President Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Olga Lyubimova, Russian minister of culture, seated near the altar, Cardinal Re said that “faced with the raging wars of recent years, with their inhuman horrors and countless deaths and destruction, Pope Francis incessantly raised his voice imploring peace and calling for reason and honest negotiation to find possible solutions. ‘”Build bridges, not walls’ was an exhortation he repeated many times, and his service of faith as successor of the Apostle Peter always was linked to the service of humanity in all its dimensions,” the Cardinal said. Cardinal Re also recalled Pope Francis’ constant concern for migrants and refugees from his first papal trip outside of Rome to pray for migrants who drowned in the Mediterranean Sea, his visit to Lesbos and his celebration of Mass in 2016 on the U.S.-Mexican border. At the end of the Mass, Cardinal Baldassare Reina, papal vicar of Rome, offered special prayers for the city’s deceased bishop, Pope Francis. Then Eastern Catholic patriarchs and major archbishops gathered around the casket
and led funeral prayers from the Byzantine tradition in honor of the pastor of the universal Catholic Church. Sister Norma Pimentel, a Missionary of Jesus and director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley in Texas, had knelt in prayer before the body of Pope Francis April 25 and was present for the funeral. “The funeral of Pope Francis is a very important part of who we are as people of faith,” she told Catholic News Service. “We walk together, we cry together, we work together ... doing what we believe is important in our lives as people of faith, and we say farewell together at the end.” The funeral, she said, is a time “to join him in this last farewell and say thank you: Thank you for being you, for being there with us, and we’ll see you.”
Sister Pimentel is known especially for her work with migrants and refugees, a ministry close to the heart of Pope Francis. “He was all about making sure that we understood the importance” of welcoming newcomers, she said. His message was: “Please open your hearts. Please care for them. That’s all they’re asking.” Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin of Newark also prayed alongside the Pope’s body April 25 as it lay in state in St. Peter’s Basilica. “It was an important moment of confirming the news that I had heard but did not want to believe” – that the Pope had died. “We have many reasons to grieve, but we have every reason to hope,” said the Cardinal, who concelebrated the funeral Mass and would be among the cardinals voting to elect a new Pope. Cardinal Tobin said he thought Pope Francis’ lasting legacy would be the call to be “a synodal Church,” one where every person takes responsibility for the Church’s mission and where all members listen to one another and to the Holy Spirit. “That kind of Church is really necessary to bring to fruition all of his other prophetic teachings,” the Cardinal said. “Without a synodal Church,” he said, it will be difficult to put into practice Pope Francis’ teaching on the environment, on dialogue and human fraternity and even on sharing the joy of the Gospel.
Fourteen pallbearers carry the casket of Pope Francis. CNS Photo/ Stefano Spaziani, pool
May 2025
THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 19
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Pope Francis said Mary picked his burial place BY JUSTIN MCLELLAN Catholic News Service
ROME • “The Virgin Mary told me, ‘Prepare the tomb.’” That is what Pope Francis said Mary told him when he was discerning whether to be buried in the historic Marian church where his body will be laid to rest April 26. Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas, coadjutor archpriest of Rome’s Basilica of St. Mary Major, discussed the Pope’s decision to be buried at the papal basilica some three miles outside the Vatican during a news conference April 25, the day before the late Pope’s funeral.
“I am happy that Our Lady hasn’t forgotten about me.” The Cardinal said that during a meeting with the Pope in 2022 to discuss a remodeling project in the basilica, he asked the Pope if he wanted to be buried there given his devotion to the Marian icon “Salus Populi Romani” (“health of the Roman people”), which is housed in the church. “In that moment he said no, because the popes are buried in St. Peter’s Basilica,” Cardinal Makrickas said, but after a week the Pope called him to his Vatican residence and shared what Mary told him. In that conversation the Pope added, “I am happy that Our Lady hasn’t forgotten about me,” the Cardinal told reporters, and he was asked to begin
A single white rose sits on the tomb of Pope Francis in Rome’s Basilica of St. Mary Major early April 27, 2025. CNS photo/Vatican Media preparing the tomb. The basilica is the first and oldest Marian basilica in the West – it began construction in 432, though it was completed in its present state in 1743. Pope Francis specified that he did not want his tomb placed in the Pauline Chapel, where the Marian icon is on display, because “in this chapel people must pray to the Lord, venerate Our Lady, not look at the tomb of a pope,” Cardinal Makrickas said. The late Pope visited the Marian icon in St. Mary Major before and after each of his 47 international trips and after each of his hospital stays. He told people he also had visited it each time he came to Rome as a Cardinal. His connection to the basilica is also tied to his Jesuit roots: St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits, celebrated his first Mass there in 1538, making it a fitting burial place for the church’s first Jesuit pope. Cardinal Makrickas noted that the basilica’s location is also symbolically important. It is connected by a straight road to the Basilica of St. John Lateran, where St. Francis of Assisi once sought papal approval for his new religious community. According to tradition,
Pope Innocent III had a dream of a humble man holding up that basilica to stop its collapse – a vision believed to foreshadow St. Francis’ mission. Pope Francis, the first to use that papal name, chose it in honor of St. Francis of Assisi. The Pope’s burial place will be near the icon that was so dear to him as well as to an altar dedicated to St. Francis, so “the place seems truly perfect,” Cardinal Makrickas said. Pope Francis will be the first pope buried at the basilica since Pope Clement IX who died in 1669. The last pope to be buried outside the Vatican was Pope Leo XIII who was buried in the Basilica of St. John Lateran in 1903. A photo of Pope Francis’ tomb released by the Vatican April 24 showed it to be simple, adorned with an enlarged rendering of his pectoral cross and made of white Ligurian marble – a nod to the land of his Italian grandparents – while bearing only the name “Franciscus.” “I see it as a connection between the decision to not live in the Apostolic Palace, but rather at Casa Santa Marta,” Cardinal Makrickas said. “His life also ends in a place that is different and simple.” May 2025
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Bishop O’Connell celebrates Mass in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral for the intentions of the repose of the soul of Pope Francis. Mike Ehrmann photo
Pope Francis’ legacy remembered by Bishop, mourners during diocesan Mass BY MARY STADNYK Associate Editor
H
ours after learning about the April 21 death of Pope Francis, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., and the Diocese’s priests, deacons, religious and lay faithful had an opportunity to gather and prayed for the happy repose of the Holy Father’s soul during the 12:10 p.m. weekday Mass in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton. During his homily, Bishop O’Connell reviewed some of the highlights and pastoral priorities of the Pope’s 12-year pontificate, saying that from the moment that Pope Francis was introduced March 13, 2013, the world “witnessed something different, something unique about this man chosen by the College of Cardinals to be the 266th successor of St. Peter.” “The world welcomed Pope Francis
with evident joy, watched him with great expectation, waiting with hope that he would courageously and boldly lead the Catholic Church forward in the third millennium,” Bishop O’Connell said. Following the Mass, congregants lingered in the Diocese’s Mother Church, some taking time to quietly pray either in their pew or stand before the large memorial portrait of a healthy, smiling Francis that was prominently placed in the sanctuary. Rosemary Overberger, who attends daily Mass frequently in the Cathedral, said she was surprised to learn about the Holy Father’s death, especially since he had just greeted the crowds gathered in St. Peter Square on Easter Sunday. “We were blessed to have him, and I admired him greatly,” she said. “He was so sick, especially at the end, yet he was there for the people. He lived a good long life serving our Lord and his Church.
Mass goers prayerfully remember the soul of Pope Francis.
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Now I pray for his soul and I pray the Holy Spirit will be active in choosing his successor.” Patty Baylog of Mary, Mother of the Church Parish, Bordentown, recalled being doubly blessed to have encountered Pope Francis on two occasions. One was when she volunteered in Rome during the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy celebration, and the other was in September 2015 when she volunteered during the Holy Father’s visit to Philadelphia. “I’ll always remember his simplicity, quietness and gentle way,” Baylog said. Patricia Sayers, also from Mary, Mother of the Church Parish, reflected on her recent tenure as president of the National Association of Catholic Nurses USA, which is the national representative to the International Catholic Committee of Nurses and Medical and Social Assistance that’s headquartered in the Vatican. Sayers recalled a few years ago when attending a gathering at the Vatican and how the Holy Father made a point to thank and shake hands with the board members individually. “For that I will always be grateful that he reached out to the leadership,” she said, adding that when it was her turn to greet the Pope, “I told him that I prayed for him.” “The Pope responded, ‘Thank you, keep praying,” Sayers said. She added that she believes all will be called to carry on his legacy in that “We are all pilgrims of hope and we need to love one another and open our hearts in ways we’ve never done before.”
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St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, displays traditional black and purple bunting over the entrances to signify the death of Pope Francis. Mike Ehrmann photo
Parishes respond with prayer, memorials for Pope Francis BY EMMALEE ITALIA Contributing Editor
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s soon as Pope Francis’ death was announced Easter Monday, parishes in the Diocese of Trenton began responding with their own announcements and condolences.
Following the lead of Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., who celebrated a Mass in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral April 21, parish communities planned prayer services, prayed Rosaries and celebrated memorial Masses that week and throughout the nine days of mourning – “Novendiales” – April 26 through May 4.
Most parishes planned Masses to pray for the repose of Pope Francis’ soul between April 22 and May 1. All were invited to perpetual Adoration in the Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament at St. Mary Parish, Middletown, to pray for Pope Francis. Solemn Vespers of the Office of the Dead were offered April 25 at St. Dominic Parish, Brick. EXPLAINING THE PROCESS In addition to gathering for prayer, parishes populated their websites and social media with links to articles and information on the late Pope. Many pastors shared messages of solace and sorrow in their parish bulletins April 27. “Don’t just watch this moment, pray through it,” was the direction on the website of Holy Eucharist, Tabernacle, which also offered visitors ideas for what to do next in response to the Pope’s t Pope Francis portraits are on prominent display following his death. Pictured far left is St. Joachim Church (worship site of Our Lady of the Angels Parish), Trenton, and Nativity Church, Fair Haven. Facebook photos
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Papal bunting is seen on the diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament at St. Mary Church, Middletown. Facebook photo death: live links to his funeral Mass in Rome, novena prayers and an email from the pastor explaining what takes place after the death of a pope. The website of St. Paul Parish, Princeton, offered a Pope Francis landing page, with novena prayers in English and Spanish, a papal timeline, memorial events and news articles from the Vatican and other Catholic sources. Sacred Heart Parish, Riverton, made the Novendiales prayers available via a downloadable pamphlet. St. Veronica Parish, Howell, shared multiple Facebook posts each day that included a prayer for Pope Francis, definitions of terms like “sede vacante” or information on the upcoming conclave, or a re-post of a Catholic news article, to help people understand and process what was happening. On the website
of St. Mary Parish, Barnegat, a series of “Legendary Quotes from Pope Francis” reminded the faithful of some of his most poignant teachings on the Eucharist, marriage, mercy and the dignity of the unborn.
A portrait of Pope Francis is seen on display in St. Luke Church, Toms River, during a Rosary prayer service for the repose of his soul. Facebook photo
AN INTERFAITH MESSAGE In addition to his own memorial message, Conventual Father Francis Di Spigno, pastor of St. Francis Parish, Long Beach Island, shared a note he received from Rabbi Michael Jay of the Jewish Community Center of Long Beach Island. “The Pope was a person who cared deeply for the downtrodden and whose leadership, compassion, and dedication to peace transcended religious boundaries,” Rabbi Jay wrote. “I, and the JCC community, join the world in mourning
the passing of Pope Francis. May his memory always be a blessing and may his vision for peace and unity continue to inspire us all.” In a Facebook post and bulletin announcement, Father Christopher Picollo, pastor of Nativity Parish, Fair Haven, explained briefly Pope Francis’ pontificate and the process of the election of a new pope. “This is a very interesting time for our Church,” he wrote. “Please continue to pray for Pope Francis’ soul, for the Church and for the cardinals as they enter the conclave.”
St. Paul Church, Princeton, displays papal bunting over its main entrance. Facebook photo
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Father Zachary Swantek, current director and chaplain of Aquinas Institute at Princeton University, is shown greeting Pope Francis during the time he worked on the Synod of the Family in October 2014.
Conventual Franciscan Father Michael Lorentsen, now pastor of St. Junipero Serra Parish, Seaside Park, speaks with Pope Francis while serving as part of a delegation of the Conference of Major Superiors of Men visiting the various Vatican Discasteries in October 2013.
Photos, cherished memories of the Holy Father
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t would not be easy to think of a person who has been photographed more than Pope Francis. Candid photos captured him throughout the course of his papacy – spending time among the people, greeting those who reach out to him, celebrating Mass, speaking in places both prestigious and humble. He also is the subject of an unfathomable number of posed shots and courtesy selfies, always patient with the demands on his time and his image. Anyone who was able to have a photo taken with the Holy
Father Walter Quiceno, current parochial vicar of St. Mary Parish, Barnegat, exchanges conversation with the Holy Father. Last September, Father Alberto Tamayo, C.O., and Father Nicholas Dolan, C.O., of the Oratory Church of St. Anthony of Padua, Red Bank, join with the superiors and other representatives from Oratories throughout the world during the Congress of the Confederation of Oratories in Rome. Father Tamayo is pictured second to the last row in the middle and Father Dolan is pictured in the top row on the left. 26 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE
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Father has cherished it, much like the priests depicted on this page. A photo with Pope Francis commemorates the experience of meeting the pontiff or being in his presence. But Pope Francis has impacted lives and left a lasting impression, even without a photo to remember him by. Catholics and non-Catholics across the globe carry cherished memories or special connections to the Holy Father. In the following pages, members of the Diocese of Trenton share their observations and memories of Pope Francis. Father Javier Diaz, pastor of Christ the King Parish, Long Branch, had an opportunity to meet Pope Francis last fall when Father Diaz participated in a formation course in Rome for canon lawyers.
While on pilgrimage in Rome with Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., and priests of the Diocese, Father Christopher Dayton, pastor of St. Paul Parish, Princeton, shakes hands with the Holy Father during a gathering at the Vatican in January 2024.
Special Coverage
We Remember Pope Francis Citing the many ways he touched lives, members of the Diocese share their experiences and appreciation for Pope Francis. FATHER GUILHERME A. ANDRINO, SVD., Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, pastor
Holy Father’s legacy rooted in joy, love and service
who is true to his vocation can be recognized by the joy he feels and brings to others.” This sentiment was palpable in Pope Francis himself; he truly radiated joy throughout his priesthood, sharing that joy with everyone he encountered. ROGER DeLEON, young adult from St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton
An eye to eye papal encounter
I Father Andrino greets the Holy Father during a 2024 visit to the Vatican. Courtesy photo
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eeting the Holy Father was an uplifting experience that I will cherish forever. His presence radiated kindness and compassion, embodying the very essence of what it means to serve others, especially those on the margins. As I watched him walk into the room that day, I noticed his physical frailty and the difficulty he had moving. However, his voice resonated with clarity and strength as he spoke to us. What struck me most was his commitment to the message in our Chapter draft, “Your Light Must Shine Before Others (Mt 5:16) : Faithful and Creative Disciples in a Wounded World” He emphasized that faithful and creative disciples are called to abide in God’s love, revealing the joy and forgiveness of the Gospel in everyday life. Pope Francis encouraged us to embrace our missionary creativity, drawing from Christ and the Holy Spirit to inspire unity and foster hope in a wounded world. He urged the Church to adopt a more synodal approach, guiding us to be peacemakers and to serve as a prophetic light for all cultures, infused with the Spirit’s wisdom. I believe that Pope Francis will be particularly remembered by those who have been feeling marginalized, those searching for Christ, and those in need of healing. His legacy is one of inclusivity and compassion, and he has profoundly impacted my own spiritual journey. One of my favorite speeches from Pope Francis was delivered on the feast day of St. John Bosco, where he said, “A priest
saw going to Philadelphia to see Pope Francis as an opportunity. It was a blessing because somebody came across tickets … I was thinking, “Oh yeah, we’re going to see the Pope,” but not knowing exactly what was going to happen. It was fun throughout the day [being with my] friends, and in this case we were doing something spiritual; we prayed on the way up, and the energy was big and exciting. I don’t remember Roger DeLeon shares a photo of the exact moment I laid the Papal Mass he captured during eyes on the Pope. He was Pope Francis’ visit to Philadelphia in coming down the street 2015. Courtesy photo and we were on the right, so we were going to get a really clear view. We were getting excited as he was getting closer, watching him get bigger and bigger, and he is practically in front of us, looking around. He wasn’t looking for anyone specific, but he was waving his hand, and at one point he looked at me and I’m looking in his eyes and I can see this image as clear as day. It’s like he was looking directly into my eyes. That was the biggest moment for me because at that moment I felt very, very vulnerable, very emotional. I was about to cry – not trying to hold it in or anything, but the emotions were running. I just remember it was like I had a moment with the Holy Spirit; I felt something in my soul – and you know a picture lasts forever, this image in my mind. I will never forget that blessing. Immediately after Continued on 28
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I broke out in tears, and the crowd was going crazy, screaming and jumping up and down … I felt like God was looking at me, looking into my soul through my eyes.
MSGR. VINCE GARTLAND, St. George Church, Titusville
Francis defended poor, creation
THERESE FILACHEK, St. John Parish, Allentown
A kiss for Gabriella and now prayers for Pope Francis
I
possibly make “ can’t the trip with a fivemonth old baby!” These were among the words I uttered to my sister-inlaw when she suggested a trip to Philadelphia to meet Pope Francis in the fall of 2015. But my sister-in-law was persistent, and bright and early the morning of Sept. 26, my husband and I and our three girls, Anna, 6, Catherine, 4, and Gabriella, 5 months, joined my brother and This photo shows the Filachek today his family and traveled in 2025. Ten years ago, Gabriella to Philadelphia with Filachek, pictured front, received a the dream of catching a kiss from Pope Francis. Courtesy photo glimpse of Pope Francis. After eight hours, Pope Francis arrived in his Popemobile and warmly greeted the children, offering blessings and affectionate gestures. It was a beautiful testimony to his love for human life. I was enthralled by the joy and love he had for his flock. Out of nowhere, a security guard swooped up my Gabriella and held her up to be kissed by the Holy Father. I was laughing, crying and shaking; it was an experience beyond words. His eyes connected with mine and I felt like it was a gift from our dear Lord. Hard to believe this happened 10 years ago. The Filachek family has since moved to be closer to our parents and we now belong to St. John the Baptist Parish, Allentown. The morning after Easter, I was so shocked to awaken to the news that our dear Pope had entered into eternal life. So, what is our Church supposed to do now, in this time of shock, fear, uncertainty? As Pope Francis said, “We ought never to lose hope. God overwhelms us with his grace, if we keep asking.” The most important thing we can do now is to pray. Pray for the soul of our dear Pope and pray for the conclave, for all the cardinals as they discern who our Lord desires to be the next pope. 28 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE
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Msgr. Vince Gartland, left, and Deacon Moore Hank, are pictured during a World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation event in St. George Church, Titusville. Carol Olivieri photo
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n the summer of 2015, Pope Francis, an unflinching global champion of climate action, issued his magnificent and prophetic encyclical “On the Care of our Common Home.” Addressed to everyone living on the planet, the letter declares destroying the environment as a sin and warns that we are turning the glorious creation into a polluted wasteland full of debris, desolation and filth. He has called for a broad change in the irresponsible lifestyle connected to the western world. The climate crisis is not simply an environmental challenge, but a social and ethical issue, exacerbated by greed and short-term profit seeking, disproportionately affecting the world’s most marginalized peoples. We are called to hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor. Francis has made it not just safe for Catholics to be green, but obligatory. He calls for an inclusive dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet. Certainly, his encyclical Laudato Si’ was a factor in the unanimous approval by the world’s nations of the Paris agreement on climate change which took place a year after its publication. Pope Francis has left us as a part of his legacy World Day of Prayer for Creation (September 1) as the Roman Catholic Church joined the Orthodox Church in celebrating the Season of Creation (September 1- October 4). In establishing this day in the Roman Catholic Tradition, Pope Francis wrote “The annual World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation will offer individual believers and communities a fitting opportunity to reaffirm their personal vocation to be stewards of creation, to thank God for the wonderful handiwork which he has entrusted to our care, and to implore his help for the protection of creation as well as his pardon for the sins committed against the world in which we live. The celebration of this Day, on the same date as the Orthodox Church, will be a valuable opportunity to
Special Coverage bear witness to our growing communion with our Orthodox brothers and sisters.” Francis certainly believed along with his brother Jesuit Gerald Manley Hopkins that “the world is charged with the grandeur of God,” and he sought to use his influence to respect, affirm and protect that grandeur in every way he could. In 2023 Pope Francis issued another encyclical, Laudate Deum, with even starker warnings that humanity was taking the earth to the breaking point. GARY GELLMAN, St. Mary Parish, Middletown
A moment with the Holy Father, local photographer remembers Pope
Pope Francis blesses a young man with cerebral palsy Sept. 26, 2015. Gary Gellman photo
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was honored to photograph Pope Francis upon his arrival to the U.S. via Philadelphia International Airport on September 26, 2015. His presence was emotional and exciting. To be within feet of the Holy Father and to be able to look into each other’s eyes was an honor. He surprised everyone when he asked his driver to stop the Popemobile so he could get out to bless the young man with cerebral palsy. The moment, which was covered internationally that Saturday morning, was priceless and my images were seen worldwide. The thought gives me chills even now. Rest in peace, Pope Francis.
to New Testament times, but they were re-articulated during the Second Vatican Council in the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (1964) commonly known as Lumen Gentium. Pope Francis’ pastoral practice was greatly influenced by Lumen Gentium. He came to call this walking together ‘synodality.’ Over 12 years as Vicar of Christ, the Terry Ginther Holy Father led the Church in deep exploration of how all could seek together God’s will for the Church as it responds to the human needs of our time. He gathered the Bishops in “synod assembly” three times between 2015 and 2018, each time involving “average Catholics” alongside clergy, religious, academics and other Church professionals in prayer and reflection on these topics in advance to frame the synod discussions. Building on the work of his recent predecessors calling all the baptized to co-responsibility for the mission of the Church, Pope Francis expanded the ministry roles in which (non-cleric) laymen and women could serve. In 2021, Pope Francis called the Church to reflect on this synodal way by focusing for two years on the themes of communion, participation and mission. Catholics were invited to participate in face-to-face “Conversations in the Spirit” at local parishes, as well as at diocesan, regional, national, continental and international levels. For the first time in history, the resulting Synod Assemblies (2023 and 2024) included members of the Church who were not Bishops. The final document of this Synod was adopted as magisterial teaching and lays out in practical terms the kinds of structural changes that are to be implemented to better support a Church that is synodal in her practice (not only her nature). Just days before Pope Francis died, plans were announced to have the Church evaluate her progress on this synodal way over the next three years. MATT GREELEY, Campus minister and teacher, Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville
“¡Viva el papa!” Matt Greeley, former associate director of the Office of Communications, interviews a pilgrim near Independence Hall prior to Pope Francis’ address on immigration in 2015.
TERRY GINTHER, Diocesan Chancellor and executive director of the Office of Parish Life and Mission
Francis had great support, encouragement of synodality
T
he legacy of Pope Francis’ pontificate will surely include the way he called the Church to live out her very nature as the “pilgrim people of God,” walking together in the light of the Gospel, inspired by the Holy Spirit. These concepts stretch back
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e were losing our voices yelling and cheering even before the Popemobile came into view as we waited on the sidewalk in Philadelphia. It feels so cliché to write, but there was truly a sense of electricity in the air. Pope Francis, “The People’s Pope,” came into view and everyone just went crazy. He slowed near where we were standing so that he could bless a child in the crowd. The child, it turned out, had driven (Driven!) with her family from Argentina for a chance to see him, let alone receive a blessing. We’d gotten up very early to make our way into Philly that morning. As part of the Communications’ team for the Diocese of Trenton, we had passes to get into the plaza where the Pope would be later that day for a special address in Independence Mall. I had the hope (really, a dream) of getting so close that I would be able to hand Pope Francis one of our orange Cristo Para Todos t-shirts. “Christ for All” … that was his message and what he was all about. My own connection with Pope Francis is to his Ignatian spirituality. As a product of Jesuit education, the Holy Father was a clear witness of the most central tenets that St. Ignatius of Loyola focused on to bring people closer to God. Personal care for the person, cura personalis, was something that he demonstrated time and again. His language, demeanor, smile, and sass allowed me to feel that he cared for me personally, as he shared his message and the Gospel with the world. Even to the end, to see the videos and images from this Easter, Pope Francis was all about the Magis… the more. He gave all he had for the Pueblo de Dios, the People of God, and the Lord. The magis is about doing things more deeply, with more faith, with more joy. Papa Francisco was an awesome example of “The Magis” for me. AMDG, Pope Francis. Thank you.
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Gracias, for all you have done for the Greater Glory of God ... “We love you, Papa!” JAN MURPHY GRISWOLD, Sacred Heart Parish, Mount Holly
Beautiful juxtaposition of Francis, Resurrected Jesus reflection
“Had it not been for the morning light and the sun at the time of day,” chances are highly likely the image would not have shown up that way. But it worked out and it happened to be on the same day as Pope Francis’ funeral, was special, she said, adding that once the Mass was finished, she was able to capture the photo with her camera. When Griswold, a member of Sacred Heart Parish, Mount Holly, and founder of Jan Griswold Photography, thinks about Pope Francis and his legacy, his outreach to the marginalized immediately comes to mind. “His message is so fitting in today’s world,” she said. And while he now rests in Eternal Peace, it’s her hope that the Holy Father’s message “reaches everyone … that everyone follows their hearts and follow his message.” – By Mary Stadnyk, Associate Editor
This photo captures the image of the Resurrected Jesus on the heart of Pope Francis. Jan Murphy Griswold photo
T
here’s the well-known adage that “timing is everything.” And for Jan Murphy Griswold, the timing was such for her to have an unexpected, yet very welcomed and blessed opportunity to combine her love for taking photos and her work as a parish musician. On the morning of April 26, just hours after Pope Francis had been laid to rest in Rome, Griswold was serving as the organist for a funeral Mass in Holy Name Church, part of Resurrection Parish, Delran. Toward the end of Mass, her photographer’s eye noticed the way the brilliant stained glass image of the Resurrected Jesus, that sits above the gathering space and faces the altar, was reflected in a memorial portrait of the Holy Father that was set on an easel near the sanctuary. Between the positioning of the stained glass image, which was illuminated by the shining sun, and the proximity of the portrait, the reflection of Jesus was seen over the Holy Father’s heart.
May 2025
FATHER ANDRÉS SERNA, St. Dorothea Parish, parochial vicar
Celebrating Mass with Pope Francis and millions in Medellín
Father Serna attends the Mass Pope Francis celebrated in 2017 in Colombia. Courtesy photo
P
ope Francis visited my home country Colombia in 2017 to help our mainly Catholic nation achieve peace and reconciliation after a long internal conflict. Here we are, almost 1.5 million people at Medellín Airport. It was a blessing to concelebrate mass with His Holiness; a very spiritual and uplifting experience! I had a second chance to see him with my parents in his address to the clergy and religious people and their families at Macarena Arena. The Holy Father reminded us that forgiveness and justice are necessary for peace. His motto to encourage us to achieve national peace was “Let’s Take the First Step,” which is forgiveness and healing. The Vicar of Christ really taught us to follow in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi, to be instruments of peace!
that I could provide the faith-filled and joyous environment, so many had given me when I was growing up. It is in the moments that I get to teach and live the faith with my students that I know what means to participate
Covering what matters most...
YOUR CHURCH
SAMMY SHAPIRO, St. Aloysius Parish, Jackson
YOUR FAITH
Inspired by Pope Francis, Jackson young adult finds his place in the Church
YOUR CATHOLIC FAMILY
A
s a young adult, Pope Francis was the only Pope that I really knew in my lifetime. In his words and actions, Pope Francis encouraged all young people to take an active role in their faith and Church. After graduating from Catholic high school and my time in youth ministry, it seemed unclear about my place in the Church. It was the words of Pope Francis, “Rather, they [young people] are the now of God and can step into those leadership roles in our churches right now,” that inspired me to live the faith and participate in my Church. Pope Francis’ encouragement was what gave me the confidence to become a catechist and come back to assist the youth ministry of the parish as an adult. It was Pope Francis and his leadership that gave me the hope
in Christ’s mission. Pope Francis taught us to “Dream Big, God does too.” It is that hope and vigor that defined Pope Francis’ papacy and set an example for Catholics everywhere, especially young ones like me.
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THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 31
Special Coverage
The conclave is guided by a rule book and a prayer book BY CINDY WOODEN Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY • The conclave to elect a new pope, scheduled to begin May 7, is governed by a rule book and a prayer book. The rule book is the apostolic constitution, “Universi Dominici Gregis” (“Shepherd of the Lord’s Whole Flock”), which was issued by St. John Paul II in 1996 and amended by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007 and again in 2013. The prayer book is the “Ordo Rituum Conclavis” (“Rites of the Conclave”), which was approved by St. John Paul II in 1998 and released after his death in 2005. If Pope Francis made any adjustments to the rites, they had not been announced as of April 30. The rites of the conclave begin with the public Mass “for the election of the Roman pontiff,” which was to be celebrated at 10 a.m. May 7 in St. Peter’s Basilica. Cardinal Re will begin by praying: “O God, eternal pastor, you who govern your people with a father’s care, give your Church a pontiff acceptable to you for his holiness of life and wholly consecrated to the service of your people.”
After celebrating the morning Mass, the rule book calls for the cardinals to gather in the late afternoon in the Pauline Chapel of the Apostolic Palace and then process into the Sistine Chapel.
“Do you accept your canonical election as supreme pontiff?” Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the highest-ranking member of the College of Cardinals who is under the age of 80 and eligible to enter the conclave, addresses the cardinals: “After having celebrated the divine mysteries, we now enter into conclave to elect the Roman pontiff. The whole Church, united with us in prayer, invokes the grace of the Holy Spirit so that we elect a worthy pastor of the entire flock of Christ.” The cardinals take an oath to “faithfully and scrupulously observe” the rules for electing a pope. Each swears that if he is elected, he will “faithfully fulfill the Petrine ministry as pastor of the universal Church and will strenuously affirm and defend the spiritual Cardinals from around the world pray in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican March 12, 2013, before beginning the conclave to elect a successor to Pope Benedict XVI. CNS photo/Vatican Media
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May 2025
and temporal rights as well as the freedom of the Holy See.” They also promise to keep everything having to do with the election secret. During their general congregation meetings, the cardinals selected Italian Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, retired preacher of the papal household who at 90 is not eligible to vote in the conclave, to remain inside the chapel to offer a reflection on their responsibilities in electing a new pope. After the meditation, he and Archbishop Ravelli will leave the chapel. The cardinals decide together whether they will cast one ballot the first evening; traditionally they have done so, burning the ballots with a chemical additive that produces black smoke pouring from the Sistine Chapel chimney. After that, two ballots can be cast each morning and two each afternoon until a candidate garners two-thirds of the votes. On the fourth day, if no one has been elected, the cardinals pause for extended prayer. As each cardinal places his vote in an urn on a table in front of Michelangelo’s fresco of the Last Judgment, he promises that his vote was cast for the candidate he believes deserves to be elected. When someone reaches the twothirds threshold he will be asked by Cardinal Parolin, “Do you accept your canonical election as supreme pontiff ?” Neither the “Ordo” nor the rule book provides a formula for the assent and neither recognizes the possibility that the person elected will refuse. The second question asked is: “With what name do you wish to be called?” The cardinals approach the new pope and pay homage to him, then sing the “Te Deum” hymn of thanks to God. Then the senior cardinal deacon goes to the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica and declares to the public, “Habemus papam” (“We have a pope”).
Special Coverage White smoke billows from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel March 13, 2013, at the Vatican signaling that Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who became Pope Francis, was elected the 266th Roman Catholic pontiff. The cardinals will again gather May 7, 2025, to elect a a successor to Pope Francis. CNS photo/Paul Haring
Past conclaves give idea of when to watch for smoke from Sistine Chapel BY CINDY WOODEN Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY • The cardinals who enter the Sistine Chapel May 7 to elect a new pope use smoke signals to communicate with the outside world. Black smoke indicates they have cast their votes without anyone garnering the necessary two-thirds majority, while white smoke confirms that the Catholic Church has a new pope. The best time to be in St. Peter’s Square to see the smoke is just after 7 p.m. (1 p.m. EDT) the first day of the conclave, May 7; and on the following days at 10:30 a.m. (4:30 a.m. EDT) and noon (6 a.m. EDT), and again at 5:30 p.m. (11:30 a.m. EDT) and just after 7 p.m. (1 p.m. EDT). Predicting when the smoke will rise from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel is not an exact science. The time needed for the cardinals’ prayers, discussions and vote counting can vary. The rules for a conclave are contained in the apostolic constitution, “Universi Dominici Gregis” (“Shepherd of the Lord’s Whole Flock”), which was issued by St. John Paul II in 1996 and amended by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007 and again in 2013. After the cardinals process into the Sistine Chapel to start the conclave and
take their oaths of secrecy, the papal master of liturgical ceremonies proclaims “extra omnes” (“everyone out”), and the cardinals listen to 90-yearold Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, who they chose to offer a meditation “concerning the grave duty incumbent on them and thus on the need to act with right intention for the good of the Universal Church.” After that, there are prayers and an explanation of the rules for the election of a pope.
Predicting when the smoke will rise ... is not an exact science. Then, the cardinals decide whether to cast their first ballots that same evening. The cardinals chose to have a first ballot in the evening during the 2005 conclave that elected Pope Benedict and the 2013 conclave that elected Pope Francis. The cardinals’ ballots, mixed with a chemical coloring, are burned in a stove in the Sistine Chapel. In 2005 the black smoke from the first ballot was seen at 8:05 p.m. In 2013, black smoke from the first ballot was spotted at 7:41 p.m. On the second day and moving for-
ward, there can be four rounds of voting each day, but only two smoke signals; if the first ballot of the morning or afternoon session does not result in an election, a second vote begins immediately, and the two ballots are burned together. During the conclave that elected Pope Francis, the set schedule called for the cardinals to celebrate Mass each morning at 8:15 a.m. in the Pauline Chapel of the Apostolic Palace and then go into the Sistine Chapel at 9:30 a.m. After a brief prayer, the first ballot of the day was to be cast, meaning that if a pope were elected the smoke would be seen at about 10:30 a.m. If no candidate received the required two-thirds of the votes, the cardinals would vote again and the two ballots would be burned at about noon, before the cardinals were to return to the Domus Sanctae Marthae for lunch and an afternoon break. If this conclave follows the schedule set in 2013, the cardinals would return to the Sistine Chapel at 4 p.m. and continue voting. If someone were to be elected on the first afternoon ballot, the smoke would be visible at about 5:30 p.m. If no one were elected, the smoke from evening ballots would come shortly before the cardinals were to return to the Domus Sanctae Marthae at about 7:30 p.m. for dinner and to sleep. May 2025
THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 33
Special Coverage
Eligo in Summun Pontificem
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May 2025
THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 35
CNS graphic/Jerome Podojil, USCCB
CNS graphic/Jerome Podojil, USCCB
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The lighting of the Paschal Candle takes place at the start of the Easter Vigil in Mother of Mercy Parish, Asbury Park. Jose Santiago photo
Our
Bishop O’Connell incenses the altar in St. Mary Church, Colts Neck, where he celebrated the noon Mass on Easter Sunday. Mike Ehrmann photo
Easter Journey
Parishes of the Diocese share sacred Holy Week, Easter with Bishop
F
rom the most solemn to the most jubilant time of the Church year, the dramatic movements of Holy Week and Easter drew hundreds of thousands of Catholic faithful to the churches of the Diocese April 13-20. Parishioners commemorated the Lord’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem by reading the Passion of the Christ on Palm Sunday, the institution by Jesus of the Eucharist at the Last Supper and the Lord’s suffering and death on Good Friday. At the Easter Vigil, Catholics witnessed the lighting of the new Paschal fire and welcomed newly-initiated Catholics as they waited for the world to again awaken to Christ’s rising from the tomb. Easter Sunday celebrations began at dawn and continued throughout the morning as individuals and families gathered to share the joy of the Resurrection and the grace that it bestowed on all who believe. Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., again observed his long-standing custom of visiting a different parish for each of the events and celebrations of Holy Week and Easter. The Bishop celebrated or presided at events in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton; St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold; St. Aloysius Parish, Jackson; St. George Parish, Titusville; Our Lady, Queen of Peace Parish, Hainesport, and St. Mary Parish, Colts Neck. At each location, the Bishop greeted parishioners and imparted his episcopal message and blessings on all who were making that spiritual journey from Calvary to the empty tomb.
For the 25th year, Catholic Charities Diocese of Trenton’s El Centro and Trenton parish members reenact the Passion and Death of Christ with “Via Crucis” – Way of the Cross – throughout Trenton’s South Ward on Good Friday April 18. Mary Stadnyk photo May 2025
THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 37
Our Easter Journey
He Is
A
Risen Indeed!
s Easter morning dawned April 20, some coastal parishes in Monmouth and Ocean Counties celebrated sunrise Masses on the beach. A few hours later, many churches of the Diocese were filled to overflowing with worshippers who gathered to celebrate Christ’s Victory over Sin and Death.
In the distance, the morning sun rises above the Atlantic Ocean as nearly 1,000 people gathered for a Mass on the beach in Beach Haven celebrated by Franciscan Father Francis DiSpigno, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Long Beach Island. Marianne Hartman photo
Following Easter Sunday Mass in St. Mary Parish, Colts Neck, Bishop O’Connell blesses a young parishioner as he greets people leaving the church. Mike Ehrmann photo
During Easter Sunday Mass April 20 in St. Rose of Lima Church, Father Luke Dun Tran, priest of the Newark Archdiocese of Newark, confers the Sacrament of Baptism. Pastor of Christ the King Parish, Hillside, Father Dun Tran celebrates Mass each week in St. Rose of Lima Church for the Vietnamese community of Freehold and surrounding towns. Mike Ehrmann photo 38 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE
May 2025
Congregants and the sanctuary of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Asbury Park, are aglow with candles lit from the Easter candle during the Easter Vigil Mass April 19. Jose Santiago photo
Alleluia!
P
arish churches from around the Diocese were filled with faithful April 19 as they awaited the moment when the dark hours of Jesus’ Death would give way to the Light of his return during the Easter Vigil in the Holy Night. The Vigil began outdoors with the blessing of the Easter Fire and Paschal Candle. It continued with a procession into the church where that flame was passed from person to person
by way of small taper candles. Other movements of the Vigil that followed included the chanting of the Exultet; proclamation of the seven Readings from the Old Testament that tells the Salvation History of God’s people and the Liturgy of Baptism when new members are welcomed into the Church through the Sacraments of Initiation. In the Trenton Diocese, 304 women and men were fully initiated into the Catholic Church through the reception of the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. Another 491 men and women completed their Sacraments, receiving Confirmation and Eucharist.
Divine Word Father Stephen Michael, pastor of Mother of Mercy Parish, Asbury Park, confirms a catechumen during the Easter Vigil Mass April 19 in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church. Jose Santiago photo The newly lit Paschal fire burns brightly as Bishop O’Connell prepares to light the Paschal Candle at the start of the Easter Vigil in Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Hainesport. Mike Ehrmann photo May 2025
THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 39
Our Easter Journey
Members of St. Joseph Parish and St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, carry a float during a three-hour procession between the worship sites, commemorating Jesus’ Passion and Death through song and prayer. Mike Ehrmann photo
‘By Your Holy
I
Cross’
n somber and quiet reverence, Catholic faithful commemorated the Lord’s Passion and Death on Good Friday April 18 in various ways, including in in their parish churches and tableaus of Living Stations of the Cross.
Living Stations of the Cross are presented on Good Friday April 18 by members of St. Barnabas Parish, Bayville. Matt Marzorati photo
Preparing for Veneration of the Cross during Good Friday Liturgy April 18 in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., removes a purple cloth from a crucifix. Mike Ehrmann photo
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Prayerfully adoring after the Holy Eucharist is brought to the Altar of Repose on Holy Thursday in St. Aloysius Parish, Jackson, are Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., along with his secretary, Father Jean Felicien, and Father John R. Bambrick, right, parish pastor. Mike Ehrmann photo
‘Pange Lingua’
S
inging praises as the sacred oils entered the sanctuary, parish communities including St. Aloysius, Jackson, and Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Maple Shade, joined parishes across the Diocese April 17 in commemorating the movements of Holy Thursday, which included Jesus’ instituting the Eucharist and the priesthood.
Father Joel Wilson, pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Maple Shade, kneels before the Holy Eucharist on the Altar of Repose at the close of Holy Thursday Mass April 17. Rose O’Connor photo
On Holy Thursday April 17, pastor Father Joel Wilson washes the feet of young parishioners of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Maple Shade, as Jesus did for his apostles at the Last Supper. Rose O’Connor photo May 2025
THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 41
Our Easter Journey
Hosanna!
C
atholics in the Diocese joined their brothers and sisters throughout the world during Holy Week in experiencing the solemnities of Jesus’ Passion and Death and the joys of his Resurrection. Palm Sunday, April 13, marked the beginning of Holy Week during which palms were blessed and distributed to the congregants. Parishioners hold up palms to be blessed by Father Al Gamalo, parochial vicar of St. James Parish, Red Bank, as he processes into St. James Church to celebrate the Palm Sunday Vigil Mass April 12. John Batkowski photo
Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., blesses the palms for Palm Sunday at the start of the Mass he celebrated in St. George Church, Titusville. Mike Ehrmann photo
Bishop O’Connell carries palm during the entrance procession to the Mass he celebrated on Palm Sunday in St. George Church, Titusville. He was assisted by his secretary, Father Jean Felicien Mike Ehrmann photo 42 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE
May 2025
Our Easter Journey
Easter Preview
last 50 years, he had never made his first Communion or received the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Look for these stories and more from The Monitor’s Holy Week and Easter coverage, now available on TrentonMonitor.com> FAITH & CULTURE>SEASONS & CELEBRATIONS. in a service celebrated in Spanish, English and Creole.
Via Crucis is powerful Good Friday commemoration in Trenton Each Good Friday for the past 25 years, the typically bustling streets of inner-city Trenton’s South Ward section, along with some of its residential side roads, become, at least for a couple of hours in the morning, quiet, holy places of prayer.
Parishes share sacred Holy Week, Easter with Bishop From the most solemn to the most jubilant time of the Church year, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., joined his flock April 13-20 to commemorate Christ’s Passion and Death and celebrate his Resurrection. Wayside parish expands Lenten project of livestock for Rwanda For the last three Lenten seasons, parishioners at St. Anselm Parish, Wayside, have been supporting a parish across the ocean and south of the equator by purchasing livestock.
‘Jesus’ Resurrection is about new life’ Bishop tells Colts Neck faithful Emphasizing the significance of Christ’s Resurrection, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., said that “For all of us, Easter is the heart of our faith – its life, its breath, its everything. Youth ministries portray Living Stations for 25th year in Bayville With each station, the last moments of Jesus’ life before his Crucifixion were portrayed by members of the youth and young adult ministries at St. Barnabas Parish, Bayville, on Good Friday.
At Easter Vigil in three languages, Mother of Mercy welcomes 40 members
Hainesport parish welcomes OCIA candidates, ages 15-78, at Easter Vigil
Mother of Mercy Parish in Asbury Park welcomed 40 members at the Easter Vigil,
Although Harold Harned had been attending Mass for the
Mass of the Lord’s Supper begins the Triduum in Maple Shade parish On April 17, the evening of Holy Thursday, hundreds of parishioners gathered in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Maple Shade, to celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper.
Christ leads us to his Cross through the Eucharist, Bishop says on Holy Thursday Bishop O’Connell served as principal celebrant and homilist for the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, April 17. May 2025
THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 43
Our Easter Journey
At Chrism Mass, Bishop reminds priests
of sacred trust God has placed in them BY MARY STADNYK Associate Editor and ANGELICA CHICAIZA Correspondent
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or the Church of Trenton, the Monday of Holy Week is a time of grace when members of the diocesan family join Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., for the annual Chrism Mass. On April 14, lay persons, religious, priests and deacons filled the 1,100-seat nave of St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold, where they joined Bishop O’Connell for the annual Mass, regarded as one of the most solemn and significant liturgies in the Church year. Steeped in rich symbolism and tradition, the Chrism Mass is the annual gathering when the Bishop blesses the holy oils that are used in the sacramental ministry of priests and deacons in parishes throughout the coming year. During the Presentation of the Gifts, designated representa “The faithful tives carried vessels containing the listen to God’s Oil of the Sick and Oil of the Catechumen to be blessed by the Bishvoice ...” op, along with the Sacred Chrism, which the Bishop consecrates. The Sacred Chrism is used for the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, the Ordination of priests and bishops and the consecration of churches and altars. After the Mass, parish representatives carry the blessed oils back to their faith communities to be used in sacramental rites. “The consecration of Chrism and the blessing of the holy oils of catechumens and the sick are a beautiful, sacred expression of the Church’s enduring, sacramental care for the people of God – gifts to and for them,” Bishop O’Connell said.
RENEWAL OF MINISTRY A major focus of the Mass is when the members of the presbyterate renew their priestly promises before Bishop O’Connell. “With all the diocesan and religious priests serving in the local Diocese present before and united with their Bishop as successor to the apostles, they renew their fidelity and loyalty to him and to Jesus Christ,” the Bishop said. In turn, the Bishop asks for the support of their prayers. “For the Bishop, for me, these moments together – the sacramental oils, the gathering of priests, the Eucharistic assembly of this local Church – are all profoundly humbling. I thank you for being here.” 44 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE
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Breathing over the vessel of Sacred Chrism, Bishop O’Connell signifies the coming of the Holy Spirit to consecrate the oil. Mike Ehrmann photos
Bishop O’Connell took the opportunity to focus on the “words, hands and heart of a priest.” Priestly ordination, the Bishop said, “places on your lips the Word of God.” “When you speak, when you preach, when you teach, when you give counsel as priests, the faithful listen to God’s voice,” he said. “My brothers, your words matter. And not only what you say but how you say it, oftentimes your manner can be more instructive. Be thoughtful when you speak. Be careful when you speak. And be faithful in your words to truth.” During the Rite of Ordination, the hands of a priest are Continued on 58
Priests of the Diocese line up outside St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral to process into the Chrism Mass April 14.
Representatives of parishes bring forward the sacramental oils to be blessed. Bishop O’Connell blesses the oils to be used in all parishes for Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Ordination and Anointing of the Sick for the coming year.
Led by Bishop O’Connell, priests of the Diocese stand as they renew their commitment to priestly service.
Chrism Mass attendees witness the Blessing of Oils and diocesan priests’ renewal of priestly promises.
For more photos, video of the Mass and Bishop’s homily go to: TrentonMonitor.com>News>Diocese May 2025
THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 45
Vocations
Rev. Mr. Bridges excited to become a priest, to reflect ‘the heart of Jesus’ BY EMMALEE ITALIA Contributing Editor
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ev. Mr. Alan Bridges may not know what God has up his sleeve per his call to the priesthood, but he trusts there is a higher plan. “I don’t really know why,” he said of God’s inspiring him to his life path, “but he did. There’s nothing terribly exceptional about me, I’m just a regular guy. It’s all in God’s plan, I’m just trying to respond the best I can.” His journey to become a priest for the Diocese of Trenton will culminate May 31 when he is ordained by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., at an Ordination Mass in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton. The ordination will be livestreamed on the diocesan YouTube channel www.youtube.com/ trentondiocese. But the journey began with the help of inspiring family Rev. Mr. Alan members and clergy, who encouraged a Bridges young Alan to explore the possibilities of a priestly ministry.
GREATEST INFLUENCES Rev. Mr. Bridges said his parents and grandparents were among the influential faith forces in his life, “and especially my Uncle Francesco ‘Frank’ Rossi, who helped me to begin to take faith more seriously as a teenager.” Uncle Frank also introduced him to “amazing priests, such as Msgr. Joseph Ambrosio, whose humble example had the biggest impact on my discernment to the priesthood.” Msgr. Ambrosio, who died in 2020, was pastor of the Bridges’ family parish, Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Newark. Born Aug. 27, 1996, in Rahway to Jack and Barbara Bridg-
Alan Bridges, left, poses for a photo with his parents, Jack and Barbara Bridges, and brother John, right. 46 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE
May 2025
Rev. Mr. Bridges, left, stands with other ministers and altar servers at an event in St. Catherine Laboure Parish, Middletown. Second from right is Father Richard M. Osborn, pastor. Courtesy photos es, Alan and his family attended St. John Vianney Parish, Colonia, and later Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Rev. Mr. Bridges and his older brother, John, attended St. John Vianney School, and Bishop George Ahr (now St. Thomas Aquinas) High School, Edison. Following graduation in 2014, Rev. Mr. Bridges joined the U.S. Navy, earning the rank of Fire Controlman 2nd Class. Serving briefly on the U.S.S. Gunston Hall (LSD-44), he continued to anti-submarine warfare in Norfolk, Va.; Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; “I’m just a and Naples, Italy. It was in the Navy that he first began to contemplate regular guy ... the priesthood. “I knew some good chaplains It’s all in who opened me up to the idea, but God’s plan.” I didn’t start seriously discerning until I was in my early 20s and began attending and serving at daily Mass,” he said. He said his 2014-2021 military service helped him realize that the self-sacrifice, discipline and fraternity he found there were also central to the ministry of the priesthood. While still a member of the U.S. Navy Reserve, Bridges entered Seton Hall University, South Orange, in 2017, earning a bachelor’s degree in theology. He attended St. Andrew’s Hall College Seminary, 2019-2021, then in 2022 transferred to Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg, Md., from where he will graduate May 2 with a Master of Divinity degree. Rev. Mr. Bridges has served summer assignments in Visitation Parish, Brick, in 2022, and St. Mary Parish, Middletown, in 2023. As a transitional deacon this year, he ministered in Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony Parish, Hamilton. Continued on 47
Vocations
Newly instituted acolytes from the Trenton Diocese, Benedict Quiambao, second from left, and Nicholas Alescio, second from right, join for a group photo with Father Pablo Gadenz, left, a priest of the Trenton Diocese and faculty member at the seminary; Bishop Lucia; Msgr. Andrew Baker, seminary rector, and Msgr. Thomas Mullelly, diocesan episcopal vicar for clergy and consecrated life and director of seminarians, at right. Courtesy photos
Seminarian Brian Leonard and Bishop Lucia pose for a photo after Mass. Leonard was instituted a lector by Bishop Lucia during an April 5 Mass in Mount St. Mary Seminary.
Seminarians reach milestone as newly instituted acolytes, lector
T
hree seminarians from the Diocese of Trenton who are studying in Mount St. Mary Seminary, Emmitsburg, Md., reached milestones on their journeys toward diaconal and priestly ordination. During an April 5 Mass celebrated by Bishop Douglas J. Lucia of Syracuse, N.Y., Brian Leonard was instituted as a lector while Benedict Quiambao and Nicholas Alescio were instituted as acolytes. Lectors are charged with proclaiming the Word of God in the liturgical assembly, instructing children and adults
REV. MR. BRIDGES Continued from 46
HOBBIES AND SACRAMENTS
Drawn to both the outdoors and the kitchen, he enjoys hiking, hunting, fishing and cooking. When asked about his hobbies, Rev. Mr. Bridges reflected fondly on his early childhood experiences. “My dad and grandfather always took us fishing, and we still enjoy going out fishing in summer out of Point Pleasant or when on vacation,” he said. “I always loved the outdoors but especially began to love long hikes and camping while doing immersive Revolutionary War reenacting while working at Fort Ticonderoga in upstate New York. I was introduced to hunting
in the faith and preparing them to receive the Sacraments worthily. Acolytes serve at the altar, assisting the deacon and priest at Mass and as special ministers to give Holy Communion to the faithful during the liturgy and to the sick. Among the concelebrating priests from the Diocese were Msgr. Thomas Mullelly, diocesan episcopal vicar for clergy and consecrated life and director of seminarians, and Father Pablo Gadenz, who currently serves on the faculty of Mount St. Mary Seminary.
by my friend Chris while in the seminary. Both fishing and hunting pair perfectly with my love for cooking! ... An all-time favorite is making a good pot of tomato sauce with braciole.” At ordination, Rev. Mr. Bridges will be vested by Father Michael Roach, a retired priest from Maryland who lives and works at Mount St. Mary Seminary as a professor of Church history, and who has been “a great mentor” to the soon-to-be priest. He will celebrate his first Mass as a priest at 2 p.m. June 1 in St. Catherine Laboure Church, Middletown. In his new ministry, Rev. Mr. Bridges is most looking forward to “celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and bringing people to God’s infinite mercy in Confession.” His particular focus, he be-
lieves, is “certainly through sacramental ministry first and foremost. I am also looking forward to hopefully working with youth and young adults, and in catechesis, helping them to grow to know, and love Jesus Christ, and appreciate the great gift that is his Church.” In his new parish assignment of St. Joseph, Toms River, Rev. Mr. Bridges looks forward to working with students in St. Joseph School and Donovan Catholic High School. He prays that he can serve the people of God “through sound preaching, reverent and loving celebration of the Sacraments, and generally through being an approachable and caring father. I hope I can be a mirror to reflect the sacred heart of Jesus, our high priest and loving Lord.” May 2025
THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 47
Diocese
Daren Miller to lead Mount Carmel Guild
Clergy Assignments:
Ministrare Non Ministrari
Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., has announced the following clergy assignments effective July 1, 2025 unless otherwise noted: ADMINISTRATOR/PASTOR Rev. Mark Nillo, from parochial vicar, St. Mary Parish, Middletown, to administrator, Our Lady of Hope Parish, West Long Branch Rev. Selvam Gerald Johnson (Rev. Selvan Asirvatham), from parochial vicar, St. Joseph Parish, Toms River, to pastor, St. Theresa Parish, Little Egg Harbor Rev. Richard Osborn, from administrator to pastor, St. Catherine Laboure Parish, Middletown, effective immediately PAROCHIAL VICAR Rev. Marcin Kania, from administrator, Our Lady of Hope Parish, West Long Branch, to parochial vicar, St. Mary Parish, Middletown SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT Rev. John Large, from pastor, St. Theresa Parish, Little Egg Harbor, to sabbatical NEWLY ORDAINED Rev. Alan Bridges, to parochial vicar, St. Joseph Parish, Toms River The Monitor
D
aren Miller, who served on the staff of the Mount Carmel Guild, Trenton, as director of external affairs and then assistant executive director since 2023, has been appointed executive director of the diocesan inner-city Trenton outreach agency. Miller’s appointment was announced by the agency’s board of trustees and approved by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., in early April, and will take effect in June. As executive director, Miller succeeds Mary Inkrot, who served in that post since 2018. Since joining the Guild, Miller spearheaded community outreach initiatives, strengthened the Guild’s brand positioning, deepened donor engagement, worked to expand the agency’s visibility and support and bolster programs that serve vulnerable residents of Trenton and the wider Mercer County region. Before immigrating to the United States, Miller built a diverse career in Jamaica’s public service and private sector. He served as marketing and communications director for a national government agency in Jamaica and served on numerous statutory and social service agency boards. He also held senior executive roles in the Jamaican private sector, including leadership of a
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Daren Miller Kingston-based logistics company. “I am humbled and excited to lead Mount Carmel Guild into its next chapter,” Miller said. “This organization has a rich legacy of providing hope and dignity for our neighbors in need. As we face increasing food insecurity and other socioeconomic challenges in Trenton, my priority is to build on our strong foundation and broaden our reach. We will expand partnerships and reimagine our approach to hunger relief - including transforming our pantry into a true community hub where families can find not only food but also support and pathways to stability. I’m grateful for Mary Inkrot’s guidance over the years, and I look forward to continuing her legacy of compassionate service.”
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Collection to bolster Catholic digital, print media efforts to spread the Good News
At left, director of multimedia production Marianne Hartman and videographer Ryan Larason interview a diocesan youth event participant. At right, Brenda L. Rascher, executive director of the Office of Catholic Social Services, is interviewed by The Monitor’s associate editor Mary Stadnyk. Staff photos
F
ulfilling a vital role in the Church’s evangelization efforts, Catholic media keep the faithful informed of local and global events of import and help to spread the faith. Each year, as part of the Church’s commemoration of World Communications Day, the faithful are asked to
support the essential work of Catholic media, especially in their local dioceses. This year, in observance of the 59th World Communications Day on June 1, the Diocese of Trenton joins its counterparts around the nation in participation of the annual Catholic Communications Campaign sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CCC collection will be held at Masses in all parishes of the Diocese the weekend of May 31-June 1. Half of the funds collected in each
diocese will be directed to the national campaign’s grant program supporting projects that use media to spread the Gospel message and advance the USCCB’s general mission goals. Grants have typically been earmarked for the efforts of local dioceses in adapting to technological and demographic changes, upgrading audio and video production capabilities, producing high-quality podcasts and YouTube videos, and much more. The remaining 50% of the CCC collection taken up in the Diocese of Trenton will remain local to subsidize diocesan media outreach across digital, social and print formats. According to Rayanne Bennett, the Diocese’s executive director of Communications and Media, the generous donations of parishioners help to fund the robust network of communications efforts that includes the creation and publication of news content by The Monitor in its magazine and on its website; livestreaming of key Masses and other events as well as video production, and a daily push on social media to maximize engagement with the Catholic community of the Diocese. Pope Francis had released his mes-
Pictured are samples of The Monitor Magazine and mobile versions of the TrentonMonitor. com website. sage for World Communications Day January 24, the feast of St. Francis de Sales, patron saint of journalists. The release also coincided with the Vatican celebration of the Jubilee of World Communications. “I dream of a communication capable of making us fellow travelers, walking alongside our brothers and sisters and encouraging them to hope in these troubled times,” the Pope wrote in his message. The theme for this year’s World Day of Communications, “Share with gentleness the hope that is in your hearts,” taken from the First Letter of Peter, was chosen by Pope Francis because modern communication is “increasingly characterized by disinformation and polarization, as a few centers of power control an unprecedented mass of data and information.”
May 2025
Continued on 51
THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 49
DIOCESAN
DATEBOOK
To learn more about these upcoming events in the Diocese of Trenton, visit TrentonMonitor.com and click on NEWS>DIOCESE. ANNUAL CATHOLIC YOUTH RALLY SET FOR MAY 18 Registration is open for the annual New Jersey Catholic Youth Rally on May 18 at Six Flags Great Adventure, 1 Six Flags Blvd., Jackson Township. The day includes access to rides, meal vouchers, and an evening Sunday Liturgy in the Batman Stunt Arena. Gates will open at 9 a.m. and participants are invited to an opening presentation at 9:45 in the Showcase Arena. Rides open at 10:30 a.m., and the day will close with 6 p.m. Mass. Full admission tickets are $70 per person, which includes a mega meal voucher and parking. Season passholders can enter the park with their pass and meal vouchers are available to
purchase for $20. Pre-orders for parking vouchers are available through May 12, and admission tickets through May 14. For purchases and information, visit dioceseoftrenton. org/njcyr, or contact Dan Waddington, 609-403-7140, dwaddi@dioceseoftrenton.org, or Laura Cortes, 609-4037182, lcortes@dioceseoftrenton.org.
GARDEN REVIVAL LAUDATO SI 10TH ANNIVERSARY MASS SEPT. 6
To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the now deceased Pope Francis’ encyclical, “Laudato Si: On the Care for our Common Home,” Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., will celebrate the 4:30 p.m. Mass Sept. 6 in St. Anselm Church, 1028 Wayside Rd., Tinton Falls. Released in 2015, the encyclical addresses environmental concerns including climate change, man’s impact on ecology and social responsibility while posing the question, “What kind of world do we want to leave to those who come after us?”
Pentecost Rally to ignite ‘Garden Revival’ in Middletown
T
he Diocese of Trenton Catholic Charismatic Renewal will embrace the Holy Spirit June 7, as St. Mary Parish, Middletown, hosts a Pentecost Rally from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Included will be a Vigil Mass of Pentecost celebrated by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. The theme of the rally draws from Acts BISHOP DAVID RAMIL KIPSY MATEJ BRIANNE JIM FR. JEIVI FR. JEFF M.O’CONNELL CARAGAY CARAGAY ZIVKOVIC NEALON TORTORICI HERCULES KEGLEY 2:1, “When the time of Pentecost arrived, they were all in one place.” Organizers MatejSAINT bringsMARY a prophetic voice the younger generation, calling are inviting the faithful from all over New Jersey to gather as one MOTHER OF GOD for CHURCH them into lives of boldness, purity and Holy Spirit-led mission. Church, united in prayer for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Serving as the masters of ceremonies will beREGISTER Ramil and The day will be marked by praise, preaching, teaching, Eucharistic AT:Kipsy MIDDLETOWN, NJ Caragay, a couple known for their leadership of a home-based celebration, and authentic Christian fellowship. DOTCCR.ORG JUNE 7, 2025 worship ministry, with a passion for building Spirit-led communities The event will bring together Catholics of all ages for a day of rooted in love and praise. Spirit-filled preaching, vibrant worship and expectant prayer. A DONATION: $50 Jeivi Hercules, a priest from the AddingSUGGESTED to the lineup is Father multi-generational lineup of speakers will inspire attendees to step Archdiocese of Newark whose is known for preaching with zeal, into the power and mission of Pentecost. Father Jeff Kegley, St. Mary wisdom and the fire of the Gospel. pastor and diocesan director of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, HEALING PROPHECY BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT WORSHIP Worship throughout the day will be led by Brianne Nealon, a will set the tone for the day. worship leader whose music ministry has touched many and draws Also speaking will be Jim Tortorici, director of NJ Encounter people into intimate encounters with the Holy Spirit. Ministry. Tortorici brings his experience in forming missionary A healing service will be held on Saturday evening. Led by the disciples and creating spaces for the Holy Spirit; his testimony and Healing Team from the Encounter School of Ministry – New Jersey teaching will equip rally-goers to become agents of revival in their Campus, the service will include prayer, worship, and the laying on own communities. of hands for those seeking spiritual, emotional, or physical healing. Matej Živković, a former national leader of Unbound Ministries To register and for more information, visit www.DOTCCR.org. in Croatia and current Life Teen Youth Minister in St. Mary Parish, –From Staff Reports will share his journey of deliverance ministry and youth leadership.
50 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE
May 2025
CATHOLIC COMMUNICATIONS Continued from 49
Today’s communication too often “generates not hope, but fear and despair, prejudice and resentment, fanaticism and even hatred,” the Pope wrote. “All too often it simplifies reality in order to provoke instinctive reactions; it uses words like a razor; it even uses false or artfully distorted information to send messages designed to agitate, provoke or hurt.” In his letter, the apostle Peter tells Christians
that they have an obligation to give others an account of their hope, something which the Pope said is accomplished best when Christians allow “the beauty of love” to shine through their words and actions. Pope Francis asked Catholic communicators “to discover and make known the many stories of goodness hidden in the folds of the news, imitating those gold prospectors who tirelessly sift the sand in search of a tiny nugget.” Seeking out those “seeds of hope” and sharing them, he said, “helps our world to be a
little less deaf to the cry of the poor, a little less indifferent, a little less closed in on itself.” The full text of the Pope’s message in English can be found at: www.vatican.va/content/ francesco/en/messages/communications/documents/20250124-messaggio-comunicazioni-sociali.html. The full text in Spanish is here: www. vatican.va/content/francesco/es/messages/ communications/documents/20250124-messaggio-comunicazioni-sociali.html. Cindy Wooden of Catholic News Service contributed to this article.
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2025
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Be part of the celebration! To digitally submit your message, photo and payment visit:
dioceseoftrenton.org/congratulations-graduates For more information contact Frances Koukotas at 609-403-7153 or email monitor-marketing@dioceseoftrenton.org
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At Scuba VBS, kids explore what it means to have a friendship with a real, loving, trustworthy God-a friendship that lasts forever! You can expect a week full of faith discoveries, memorable music, and adventures that help kids grow in faith! Registration visit: www.mmotcp.org>Religious Education>VBS Contact Margaret Zola for information at mzola@mmotcp.org
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THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 51
Church
Bishop O’Connell looks on from the pews as fellow pilgrims view the incorrupt body of St. Vincent de Paul enshrined above the altar in the church bearing his name. From left are Father Juan Daniel Peirano, pastor of St. Thomas More Parish, Manalapan; Father Oscar Sumanga, pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Hightstown; and Msgr. Joseph N. Rosie, pastor of St. James Parish, Red Bank. Courtesy photos
The diocesan pilgrimage group gathers in front of Notre Dame de Paris before Vespers.
Bishop, diocesan priests and staff visit Paris for Vincentian anniversary
A
s the Vincentian community celebrated its 400th anniversary April 17, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., and a contingent of 17 Trenton Diocese priests and two diocesan staff traveled to Paris, France, for an April 22-May 1 pilgrimage to commemorate the occasion. Since Bishop O’Connell was ordained a Vincentian priest – a member of the Congregation of the Mission – it was a priority for the group to visit St. Vincent de Paul Church in St. Vincent de Paul Lariboisière, where the Bishop was principal celebrant for the trip’s opening Mass April 23. Additional sites the pilgrims experienced included the Church of Notre Dame de Montmarte; Sacre Couer; the Shrine Church of the Miraculous Medal; the Basilica of St. Therese of Lisieux; the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Museum, and Vespers and Mass in the newly restored Notre Dame de Paris.
Check back on TrentonMonitor.com for more on Bishop O’Connell’s pilgrimage. 52 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE
May 2025
After venerating St. Therese of Lisieux, priests vested for Mass in the Basilica of St. Therese of Lisieux accompanied Bishop O’Connell, third from right.
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THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 53
Spirituality
Followers of Jesus who though still sinners like all of us, steer us towards the Kingdom of God and the promise of eternal life.
THE WORD
MAY 18 OUR GREATEST CHALLENGE AS DISCIPLES IS TO LOVE
Father Garry Koch
Acts 14:21-27; Rv 21:1-5a; Jn 13:31-33a, 34-35
Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41; Rv 5:11-14; Jn 21:1-19
F
or the second time since the Resurrection, Peter has failed at recognizing what is in front of him. On that Easter morning upon entering the tomb Peter missed what was evident to the other disciple – that the empty tomb pointed to the Resurrection of Jesus. Peter, perhaps influenced then by the fear spoken by Mary Magdalene, missed what was in front of him. Now, as the disciples are fishing, perhaps now symbolic of the mission ahead of them, Peter does not recognize the stranger on the shore as Jesus. Again, it is the other disciple who tells Peter what is happening. After all this time, Peter still fails to see Jesus in the moment. MAY 11 GOOD SHEPHERDS GUIDE US AS PILGRIMS OF HOPE
Acts 13:14, 43-52; Rv 7:9, 14b-17; Jn 10:27-30
I
t is no coincidence that the liturgical life of the Church is so often also embedded into the ordinary historical events. The Church mourns the loss of Pope Francis, while we reflect on how he served the Church as a Good Shepherd, faithful to the mission, and the call of the Gospel to care for the least among us. But in the midst of the loss, as with the Resurrection of Jesus, we stand in joyful hope. As “pilgrims of hope” we do not wander aimlessly, we walk instead under the guidance and protection of our shepherds – Good Shepherds,
I
t sounds easy enough; Jesus gives a new commandment to his disciples as he speaks with them just hours before his arrest: “love one another.” However, he did place a qualifier on this commandment as his instruction continues: “As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.” Usually, a qualifying instruction makes the burden easier, allowing for exceptions. This is not the case with Jesus; he takes the already challenging commandment to love one another to the level of his own love for his disciples. This should hit us to the very core of our souls as each and every day we are called to live this commandment as sinners in a sinful world. Freepik image
MAY 4 LIKE PETER, WE CAN OFTEN MISS WHAT IS CLEAR TO OTHERS
MAY 25 GUIDED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE CHURCH STANDS ALWAYS IN NEED OF RENEWAL
Acts 15:1-2, 22-29; Rv 21:1014, 22-23; Jn 14:23-29
W
e are observing the 1700th anniversary of the first Ecumenical Council – Nicaea I. That council met to respond to the dogmatic challenges of three centuries of development without clear direction, which resulted in differences in language and understanding of the Gospel, the nature of Jesus, and the role of the Holy Spirit. Like the disciples gathered in Jerusalem to settle a dispute over the teaching of Paul, the Church always renews through careful study and discernment. Now again, like the early Church, we must be willing to proclaim anew to every age the Gospel that Jesus left with us. This stands at the heart of the new evangelization. Father Garry Koch is pastor of St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel.
To read extended versions of Father Koch’s columns, visit TRENTONMONITOR.COM>FAITH & CULTURE>YOUR FAITH 54 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE
May 2025
Spirituality
Listen more deeply for a heart formed by God THINGS MY FATHER TAUGHT ME Mary Morrell
T
he morning news disturbs me. I know what I’m going to see and, yet, I am regularly overwhelmed at the capacity of human beings to hurt each other, not just in small ways, which are damaging enough, but with viciousness and a total disregard for the life of another person. I am often reminded of my father’s prediction when there was a steady stream of bad news: “The world is going to hell in a hand basket,” and it seems we have arrived. It seems our ability to be self-indulgent at the expense of others is not just gaining ground, it is snowballing out of control. If we were really to examine even our own lives honestly we might be surprised at the depths of our ability to be selfish, to rationalize our need to put ourselves first – our wants, our needs, our political ideologies, our race, our ethnic group, our religion. We do not truly look at or listen to those who are different, often meaning those who don’t agree with us. We simply destroy, by word or by deed. The morning news scares me, but in those moments, I have to turn to God, because if I put my faith only in my own understanding and emotions, then I become less … less capable of being a part of the goodness in the world. Bad news propels me to turn again to God’s command, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, on your own intelligence do not rely.” All of the news we are likely to hear throughout the day reminds me that we are the ones who make life more difficult and more painful for ourselves and for others because we allow our lives to be
Dennis Schmidt/unsplash image
ruled by our emotions. I was reminded of this during Mass when the pastor preached on the story of Abram and Lot who found it necessary to separate their flocks.
“When someone speaks to you, wait for them to finish ... Listen. Listen a lot.” Abram put Lot first and allowed him to choose the land he wanted. Lot chose what he thought was the choicest land for himself, “all the valley of the Jordon,” near the city of Sodom, without consideration of what would happen to Abram, who was left with the dust of the land on which he stood. But Lot’s happiness and prosperity would be short lived. Moses reminds us that, “This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah” (Genesis 13:10). Lot would lose everything, but God blessed Abram for his faithfulness, and promised to give him all the lands for as far as his eyes could see, including the valley of the Jordon. Reflecting on the choices of two very different men, the pastor stressed that we are also “called to go beyond what we feel and make choices from our hearts.” This may seem like a contradiction,
since in our society we treat the heart as the center of all feeling. But in Scripture, the heart has much more depth and purpose. As the organ of life, it is the seat of will, the center of both emotional and intellectual life. It reflects our nature and our true character. When we allow the heart to be formed by God, it will lead us to do good rather than cause harm. The heart molded after the heart of God can transform the bad news of the world, of our communities, our workplaces, our parishes, schools and families, into good news. And who couldn’t use some Good News. The challenging news is that the choice is up to us. Perhaps that is one of the reasons Pope Francis, just a month before his hospitalization, recorded a video for teens and young adults, stressing that “one of the most important things in life is to listen – to learn how to listen. … When someone speaks to you, wait for them to finish so you can really understand, and then, if you feel like it, respond. … Look closely at people – people don’t listen. Halfway through an explanation, they’ll answer and that doesn’t help peace. Listen – listen a lot.” “It doesn’t help peace.” Pope Francis always had the ability to say a lot with just a few words. Mary Morrell is editor-in-chief of The Catholic Spirit, the Metuchen Diocesan newspaper. May 2025
THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 55
Spirituality
Why do we need Confession if Jesus’ Death cleansed us from our sins? could Jesus’ Death “cleanse us from our sins” and “assure Q. How our entrance into heaven?” If that is the case, why do we need
Confession?
think the exact “mechanics” of how Jesus’ Passion and A. IDeath redeemed the fallen human race are ultimately
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going to be beyond our full understanding. But by that same token, this means it is something we can ponder for the rest of our lives without ever exhausting the theme. St. Leo the Great makes an effort to explain this in one of his letters, a passage of which the Church includes in the Liturgy of the Hours for the Solemnity of the Annunciation on March 25 in the Office of Readings: “To pay the debt of our sinful state, a nature that was incapable of suffering was joined to one that could suffer. Thus, in keeping with the healing that we needed, one and the same mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ, was able to die in one nature, and unable to die in the other.” As we recall, Adam and Eve, the first humans created, introduced sin into the human experience by their primordial act of disobedience toward God. From that time on, humanity has been laboring under the negative effects of this original sin. These effects include the inevitability of suffering and bodily
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QUESTION CORNER
death, as well as a certain inborn weakness of the will and a tenJenna Marie dency toward sin (in technical Cooper language called “concupisOSV News cence”). All humans everywhere are subject to these negative effectives, even if they have not personally committed any serious sins themselves. As the rift caused by original sin was so radical and severe, human beings on their own are unable to repair this breach. However, we Jesus’ believe that in the Incarnation, the second person of the Trinity, the eterperfect nal Word of God, “became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (Jn 1:14). obedience We believe that Jesus, son of God ... has the and son of Mary, was one person with two natures, meaning that he was power to free both fully human and fully divine. humanity ... Jesus in his human nature endured a human death, but because he was God he had the power to resurrect himself and did not remain dead. Since he took on our nature, we as humans can follow the path Jesus took in inheriting eternal life. Similarly, Jesus’ perfect obedience to God’s will as the “new Adam” has the power to free humanity as a whole from the guilt incurred by the sin of the first Adam. However, even with these great gifts which Jesus has made available to us, God still respects our free will and it always remains our choice to accept or reject God’s offer of His friendship and eternal life. Our Baptism is what initially conforms us to Jesus in this way, and Baptism is always a choice, either our own choice or – for those who were too young to speak for ourselves – a choice on the part of our parents. Baptism frees us from the guilt – sometimes poetically referred to as the “stain” – of original sin. Yet any time we personally commit a sin, we are deliberately rejecting God and thus the gift of redemption which Jesus gained for us. A serious “mortal” or deadly sin totally cuts us off from God; and this essentially brings us back to square one, as it is effectively forfeiting our share in the life and forgiveness gained by Jesus’ Passion, Death and Resurrection. Even less serious venial sins can still damage our relationship with God, and can make it easier to fall into more serious sin. Still, we know that God is totally loving and merciful, and is always ready to forgive. And this is why Jesus left the Church with the sacrament of penance, to provide a means for reconciliation after post-baptismal sins. Jenna Marie Cooper, who holds a licentiate in canon law, is a consecrated virgin and a canonist whose column appears weekly at OSV News. Send your questions to CatholicQA@osv.com. Weekly installments of The Question Corner are available at TrentonMonitor.com>Commentary>Columns
56 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE
May 2025
Family Life
Papacy and the conclave can generate family faith conversations BY DENISE CONTINO Special Contributor
W
hen I awoke Monday morning on April 21 – Easter Monday – I looked at my phone and instantly saw the news of the passing of out his mission or what it Pope Francis. My first feeling was that means to be a leader in the there had been a death in the family. faith. Say a prayer together The news of the Holy Father’s death was for the repose of his soul. deeply felt, both personally and univerTalk about the Consally by Catholics around the world. clave. Whether it’s at the dinner Along with feeling sad, I also felt a table, during a car ride or while quiet joy knowing that he is no longer out on a family walk, discuss the suffering and is now resting in the arms process for choosing a new pope and of the Lord. This is a momentous time how the selection takes place during a for us as Catholics, a time for reflection, conclave. The conclave is prayer and an opportunity held in the Sistine Chapel to open family conversain Vatican City where the tions, especially with our AT Cardinals from throughchildren, about our faith out the world gather to and the sacred traditions vote in secrecy. The Carof the Church. Making Faith Come dinals take an oath before Pope Francis was a Alive for Your Family the doors are sealed, and humble and compassionthey continue voting by ate shepherd. He led with secret ballot until one candidate receives mercy and joy and had a deep love for the poor and marginalized. His legacy EN a two-thirds majority. Each vote is counted and recorded carefully by desprovides a natural opening for families ignated cardinals. This sacred process, to engage in conversation about the parooted in centuries of tradition, reflects pacy and the process for electing aHaciendo new que la fe both discernment and the guidance of pope. Here are a few suggestions on how se mantenga viva en tu familia the Holy Spirit. to do that. Discuss the smoke! One of the Introduce your children to the pamost visual and meaningful traditions of pacy. The Pope is the Vicar of Christ, the the conclave is the smoke. Families often head of the Church on earth, and he is find this moment exciting – especially also the Bishop of Rome. The first Pope children. The world watches the chimwas St. Peter, chosen by Jesus himself, ney atop the Sistine Chapel: black smoke and the lineage has continued unbroken means no pope has been elected; white to this very day. Pope Francis was the smoke signals that a new pope has been 266th Pope to serve our Church. chosen. This is a beautiful opportunity Share stories of Pope Francis. to watch the moment together, reflect Show your children a photo of the on the symbolism of the smoke and to Pope and perhaps talk about what he express pride in our Catholic identity. meant to you personally, how he lived
FA IT H HOM E
FE CA SA
White smoke will rise from the chimney above the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, indicating a new pope has been elected. Freepik images When the white smoke rises, we can joyfully proclaim, “Habemus Papam!” which means “We have a Pope!” Once a Cardinal has received the necessary votes and accepts the call, he will choose a papal name, dress in his new vestments and appear on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. It is there that he greets the world as our new Holy Father. When that moment comes, take the time to learn about him, read about his background and ministry, and the name he chose. Offer a prayer for our new Holy Father as he takes on the immense responsibility of shepherding more than 1.2 billion Catholics around the world. As we mourn the loss of Pope Francis, we also move forward in hope and unity. Use this sacred time to pause, pray, and to draw closer as families and as a Church. May Pope Francis be granted eternal rest and may the Perpetual Light shine upon him. For more resources, visit: dioceseoftrenton.org/catechist-resources Denise Contino is director of the diocesan Department of Catechesis.
Faith at Home is a monthly column coordinated by the Diocese of Trenton’s Departments of Catechesis, Evangelization and Family Life, and Youth and Young Adult Ministry. For additional Faith at Home resources, visit dioceseoftrenton.org/faith-at-home. May 2025
THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 57
CHRISM MASS Continued from 44
anointed with the Oil of Chrism, “the same Chrism we consecrate tonight,” the Bishop said. “Your hands were and remain anointed to sanctify, to offer sacrifice. Your hands are anointed with oil as both an instrument and a symbol.” The heart of a priest, Bishop O’Connell said, “gives the truest meaning to the words he speaks and how he speaks them. The heart of the priest gives the truest purpose
and direction to his anointed hands ... The heart of the priest gives the truest love to those for whom he was ordained and how he serves them – always.” Following the homily, Bishop O’Connell invited the priests to renew their personal dedication to Christ. The Bishop also acknowledged Rev. Mr. Alan Bridges, a transitional deacon for the Diocese who is expected to receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders May 31 at 10 a.m. in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton.
MAKING THE CONNECTION Kyle McBride of St. Thomas More Parish, Manalapan, found his first Chrism Mass to be meaningful, especially since he is discerning his own priestly vocation. McBride extended appreciation to Father Christopher Colavito, diocesan director of vocations, for the invitation to attend the Chrism Mass, and noted “how really beautiful it was to see so many priests, young and old” in one place as well as the Bishop who exuded much joy. Giovanna Jesusi, a member of
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St. Rose of Lima Parish, Freehold, has attended the Chrism Mass for the past five years. She found the 2025 celebration to be “much more joyful and overwhelmingly happy. “I felt the warmth, the love and Holy Spirit among us,” she said, noting that she believes it’s important for the faithful to attend the Chrism Mass and show support for priests, and to encourage young men to consider the priesthood. “To see all of the men in the Diocese who have given up their life to serve is such a joy,” Jesusi said. “We need to be there for them because they are here with us.” First time Chrism Mass attendee Evelia Garcia of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Lakewood, also spoke of how impressed she was to see so many priests including her pastor, Divine Word Father Guilherme Andrino and, of course, the Bishop. Garcia said it was a “great joy” to participate in the Chrism Mass with the Bishop and she appreciated how in his homily he spoke about the priests “and the mission they have.” She added how moved she was when the Bishop acknowledged Rev. Mr. Bridges and that “there was a new person who was looking to become a priest.” Rose McVey usually attends the 7 p.m. Monday Mass in St. Michael Church, West End, where she volunteers as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion and a lector. But when the chance to attend the Chrism Mass for the first time surfaced, she arranged for coverage of her parish ministries and found her way to the Co-Cathedral. “It’s true what the Bishop said about how a priest uses his voice, hands and heart to connect with his parishioners,” she said. “This was wonderful to experience,” McVey added, “to hear the Bishop, see so many priests and be part of this diocesan community.”
In Memoriam RICHARD SWANTEK, 87, FATHER OF PRIEST
three children. Mr. Gadenz worked as the head of the electrical engineering department at the University of Chile. After his family moved to Los Angeles, he earned a doctorate from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1972. In 1973, the family moved to Tinton Falls where he worked at AT&T Bell Labs in Holmdel. He was on the team that designed the first AT&T digital signal processors. His job later gave him the opportunity to present seminars around the world. In St. Dorothea Church, Mr. Gadenz was active as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, which included his bringing the Eucharist to the residents to an area rehabilitation hospital. He was also a member of an area prayer group and participated in Bible studies. He and Cecilia also helped to establish and organize the parish’s Adoration program. Mr. Gadenz was predeceased by his parents, Rodolfo and Maria Pia Gadenz and his wife, Cecilia, to whom he was married 56 years. In addition to his priest-son he is survived by a daughter, Maria (and her husband, Michael) Stanton Jr., a son, Rodolfo (and his wife, Amalia), and a grandson, all living in New Jersey or New York. He is also survived by a sister, two sisters-in-law and many nieces and nephews and their families, all of whom reside in Italy. Burial was in Mount Carmel Cemetery, West Long Branch. Memorial donations may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated May 5 in Epiphany Church, Normal, Ill., for Richard Swantek, who died April 26. He was 87. Mr. Swantek was the father of Father Zachary Swantek, priest of the Diocese of Trenton and chaplain for Princeton University. Father Swantek will plan a memorial service for his father in St. Helen Church, Westfield, at a later date. A resident of Normal, Ill., Mr. Swantek was born in June 1937 in Newark. He graduated from Seton Hall Preparatory School, West Orange, and attended Seton Hall University before entering St. Mary Seminary in Baltimore. He ultimately decided to withdraw from seminary and joined the Peace Corps, serving in Colombia and building bridges across cultures and communities. Upon returning to New Jersey, Mr. Swantek worked for the Jesus Bread of Life Union County Welfare Board, dedicating his career to helping Bread of Life Jesus Bread of Spanish-speaking immigrants and refugees. It was there that he Catholic Jesus Cemetery & Life Mausoleum met his future wife, Linda. The two married in October 1974 in St. Catholic Cemetery Cemetery & Catholic & Mausoleum Mausoleum Helen Church, where he was an active member and daily communicant. The couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2024. Mr. Swantek was pre-deceased by his parents, Henry and Patricia; and his brother, Donald. In addition to his priest son, he isJesus Bread of Life survived by his wife, Linda; son, Luke (Trulie); and five grandchilCatholic Cemetery & Mausoleum dren, Linus, Chiara, Monica, Zelie and Anastasia. To express condolences online, please visit www.carmodyflynn. A community of believers in the hope of eternal life A community believersininthe the hope hope of lifelife com. A community of of believers ofeternal eternal
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In Memoriam SISTER MARIAN WILLIAM FITZGERALD, SISTER OF THE LATE MSGR. FITZGERALD Funeral services were held April 10 in Assisi House, Aston, Pa., for Franciscan Sister Marian William Fitzgerald, who died April 3 at age 88. Sister Marian William was the sister of the late Msgr. William F. Fitzgerald, who was a priest of the Diocese of Trenton for 63 years and served for 48 years in the central administration including as vicar general and chancellor. Msgr. Fitzgerald died in 2014. Sister Marian William was born Marianne Rose Fitzgerald in South Amboy, where she was a member of St. Mary Parish and a graduate of St. Mary’s High School. A professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 65 years, she entered the congregation in 1957 and professed her first vows in 1960. She earned an associate’s degree in dietetics from the New York Institute of Dietetics and a bachelor of science degree in dietetics from Immaculata College, Immaculata, Pa. Ministering primarily in healthcare, she served for 44 years in the Diocese of Trenton, including St. Francis Medical Center, Trenton, first as the food service director and later as a volunteer receptionist. Sister Marian William also ministered as a therapeutic dietitian in St. Francis Hospital, Wilmington, Del., for one year; St. Mary Hospital, Philadelphia, for five years, and St. Joseph Hospital, Lancaster, Pa., as food service manager for six years. In 2016, Sister Marian William moved to Assisi House, the congregation’s retirement home where she served in prayer and hospitality ministry until her death. Sister Marian was survived by her cousins and her Franciscan family. Burial was at Our Lady of Angels Cemetery, Aston. Memorial donations can be made to the Sisters of St. Francis Foundation, 609 S. Convent Rd., Aston, PA 19014.
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Funeral Directory
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Timothy E. Ryan Home for Funerals DeChristopher Memorials AP-GCI0811637-03
Family Style Care And Comfort For All Faiths
Family Owned & Operated Since 1915
Timothy E. Ryan, Founder •1951-2019•
Cemetery Monuments, Markers & Mausoleums
Consider the Ryan Family
To Comfort and Care for Your Family
Peace of Mind and Heart before, during and beyond
Lavallette • 706 Rt. 35 N. • 732-793-9000 Seaside Park • 809 Central Ave. • 732-793-9000 Toms River • 145 St. Catherine Blvd. • 732-505-1900 Serving Holiday City, Silver Ridge Park and the Leisure Villages Toms River • 995 Fischer Blvd. • 732-288-9000 Serving East Dover, located next to St. Justin Church Bayville • O’Connell Chapel • U.S. Hwy. 9 • 732-269-0300 Jackson • DeBow Chapel • 150 W. Veterans Hwy. • 732-928-0032
Mark L. Sarin, Senior Director, NJ License No. 4134
Free information by phone or mail ◾ www.ryanfuneralhome.com
On Site Lettering & Cleaning We service all cemeteries in the Camden & Trenton dioceses.
Theresa DeChristopher-Bellon 1010 Hollis Ave., Cherry Hill, NJ 08002 856-428-4882 Charles DeChristopher, Jr. 5004 Hulmeville Road, Bensalem PA 19020 215-638-9004 www.dechristopherbros.com
May 2025
THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 61
Fun & Games
SCRIPTURE SEARCH Gospel for May 11, 2025 Acts 13:14, 43-52 / John 10:27-30
GRACE
SABBATH
GATHERED
JEALOUSY
NECESSARY
THE WORD
UNWORTHY
GENTILES
A LIGHT
EARTH
ETERNAL
REGION
WOMEN
STIRRED
PROTEST
SHEEP
FOLLOW ME
PERISH
HAND
FATHER
GREATER
© 2025 TRI-C-A Publications / tri-c-publications.com
Following is a word search based on the First and Gospel readings for the Fourth Sunday of Easter, Cycle C. The words can be found in all directions in the puzzle.
TEST YOUR CATHOLIC KNOWLEDGE Answers on back cover. ACROSS 3 A Doctor of the Church from Jerusalem 6 Wife of Moses 8 Word from Pontius Pilate 9 “Can any of you by worrying ___ 1
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a single moment to your lifespan?” (Mt 6:27) 11 “Sing ___ of angels…” 13 Most likely, Paul’s first epistle (abbr.) 15 “…now and at the ___ of our
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www.wordgamesforcatholics.com
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death. Amen” 17 Catholic Academy Award-winning actress Hayward 20 The ___ of Ars 21 “Cheer, cheer for old ___…” 23 “…my ___ overflows” (Ps 23:5) 24 Physical remains of, or items that have touched the body of, a saint 26 Deborah, the Judge, sat under this tree 27 Passover meal 30 Follows 2 Thess 32 Type of saint 34 Good News 37 OT wisdom book 38 Where Samson slew the Philistines 39 Short text chanted before and after a psalm 40 Catholic columnist and TV commentator, Robert ___ DOWN 1 “…and the Word was ___ God, and the Word was God” (Jn 1:1) 2 Recent pope, affectionately 3 August 1, Feast of St. Peter in ___ 4 Wife of Jacob
5 The Chosen People 7 …on earth peace to those on whom his favor ___” (Lk 2:14) 10 French-Canadian Catholic singing phenomenon 11 Catholic singer and songwriter George M. 12 Ursuline order letters 14 Wife of Abram 16 First word in the title of a 19th century encyclical 18 Ishmael, to Jacob 19 Eden fruit? 20 “Regina ___” 22 Archdiocese in Nebraska 25 John wore clothes made from this animal 27 Original and actual 28 Catholic composer of the “New World Symphony” 29 Adjective for the Reverend Bishop 31 Theology on ___ program 32 Catholic Brazilian soccer great 33 There were 40 days and nights of this 35 Michaelmas mon. 36 Esau’s descendants’ land
www.wordgamesforcatholics.com
WTW – Trusted Insurance Broker Serving the Diocese of Trenton We would like to thank WILLIS TOWERS WATSON for their sponsorship of this page. 62 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE
May 2025
- Mount Carmel Guild
Mount Carmel Guild is a 105-year-old trusted nonprofit, located in the heart of Trenton, NJ and is part of the Diocese of Trenton. The organization serves the most vulnerable across Mercer County through food assistance and home health nursing services and is currently seeking a creative and mission-driven Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator to join our dynamic team. This role is ideal for a motivated brand storyteller who is passionate about community impact and thrives in a fast-paced, purpose-driven environment... Primary Responsibilities Marketing and Communications •Develop, implement marketing and PR strategies that reflect the Guild’s mission and programs; •Manage all internal, external communications, including press releases, newsletters, and donor materials; •Lead content creation and manage all digital platforms (website, social media, email marketing etc.)...and more Donor Engagement and Event Support •Assist the Executive Director and development team in creating donor-facing materials and campaign messaging; •Attend business or social networking events to help build strategic community relationship and promote the Guild’s vital work...and more Community Engagement and Advocacy •Represent the Guild at community meetings, events, and networking opportunities to build partnerships and increase visibility...and more Requirements •Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, public relations, or related field •Minimum 2-3 years of experience in a marketing or PR role (nonprofit a plus)...and more Work Schedule and Benefits: •Full-time, 40 hours/week (8:00 AM–4:30 PM), with occasional weekend or evening hours required for special events •$55,000-$60,000 annual salary •Health and dental insurance...and more www.mtcarmelguild.org/job-openings To Apply: Send a resume, cover letter, and 2–3 samples of writing or design work to Barry Breen, Search Committee Chair at information@ mtcarmelguild.org by Friday August 8, 2025.
Further information about the Guild and its operations can be found at www.mtcarmelguild.org
BUSINESS
Marketing & Public Relations Coordinator
D I R E C T O R Y
CLASSIFIED
Position Available
ENDOWMENT MONIES AVAILABLE Applications are now being accepted for grants from the Bishop George W. Ahr Endowment Fund. These grants are available to any church, office, apostolate or ministry within the Diocese of Trenton attempting to provide services for needy and vulnerable. Requests for funds should not exceed $2,500. Applications may be obtained by contacting Grace Magee at the Chancery & Pastoral Center of the Diocese of Trenton: gmagee@dioceseoftrenton.org or by visiting: dioceseoftrenton.org/bishop-ahrendowment-fund. All completed applications must be postmarked no later than Monday, June 2, 2025, OR emailed as a PDF to gmagee@dioceseoftrenton.org by 4:00 p.m. Monday, June 2, 2025.
THE DIOCESE OF TRENTON is committed to THE DIOCESE OF is committed to THEinitiatives DIOCESE OF TRENTON TRENTON committed to the outlined in the U.S.is Bishops’ Charter the initiatives outlined in the U.S. Bishops’ Charter the initiatives outlined in the U.S. Bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People for the Protection of and for of Children Children and Young YounginPeople People andthe to Protection its own policies and guidelines regard and its and in andtheto toreporting its own own policies policies and guidelines guidelines in regard regard to and investigation of sexual abuse to the reporting and investigation of sexual to the reporting and investigation of sexual abuse abuse allegations involving minors. allegations allegations involving involving minors. minors. If you have been sexually abused as a minor by a IfIf you been sexually abused as a you have have been sexually abusedrepresenting as aa minor minor by by member of the clergy or anyone thea member of the clergy or anyone representing the member of the clergy or anyone representing the Catholic Church, or if you know of someone who Catholic Church, or you know of who Catholic or ififthat youabuse know through of someone someone who was, youChurch, can report the diocesan was, you can that the was, youHotline: can report report that abuse abuse through through the diocesan diocesan Abuse 1-888-296-2965 or via e-mail at Abuse Hotline: Abuse Hotline: 1-888-296-2965 1-888-296-2965 or or via via e-mail e-mail at at abuseline@dioceseoftrenton.org. abuseline@dioceseoftrenton.org. abuseline@dioceseoftrenton.org. The Diocese of Trenton reports any allegations of The of Trenton reports allegations of The Diocese Diocese reports any any of sexual abuseoftoTrenton the appropriate law allegations enforcement sexual abuse to the appropriate law enforcement sexual abuse to the appropriate law agencies. Anyone with an allegationenforcement is also agencies. Anyone with an is also agencies. withthat an allegation allegation is to also encouragedAnyone to provide information local encouraged to that encouraged to provide provide that information information to to local local law enforcement authorities. law enforcement authorities. law enforcement authorities.
APOSTOLATE
THE DIOCESE OF TRENTON is comRELIGIOUS MERCHANDISE mitted to the initiatives outlined in the Bibles, Rosaries, U.S. Bishops’ Charter for the Protection See our Patron Saint of Children and Young People and to its many First Medals, Statues, Communion own policies and guidelines in regard to Crosses & gifts! the reporting and investigation of sexuCrucifixes, al abuse allegations involving minors. ALSO Jewelry, Candles, Irish Gifts & ReligiousItems Items Jewelry, Irish Gifts & Religious Candles, Irish Irish Gifts If you have been sexually abused as 1669 Highway 33, Hamilton Square 1669 Highway 33, Hamilton Square, NJ 08690 Gifts, Gifts Gifts for Baptism, a minor by a member of the clergy 609-586-9696 • www.crossandshamrock.com 609-586-9696 for Baptism, Communion, or anyone representing the Catholic ‘Like us’ on Facebook Confirmation, www.crossandshamrock.com Confirmation, Church, or if you know of someone who Mon-Wed. 10-6pm, Thurs. & Fri. 10-7pm, Sat. 10-5pm & Weddings M-W: 10am-6pm • Th-F: 10am-7pm • Sat: 10am-5pm & Weddings was, you can report that abuse through the diocesan ABUSE HOTLINE: RESTAUR ANT • DINING 1-888-296-2965 or via e-mail at
abuseline@dioceseoftrenton.org.
The Diocese of Trenton reports any allegations of sexual abuse to the appropriate law enforcement agencies. Anyone with an allegation is also encouraged to provide that information to local law enforcement authorities.
Leonardo’s Restaurant family owned and operated Robert Pluta HSG 2012 Brunswick Ave. (Business Rte. 1 South) Lawrenceville • 609.396.4466
Everybody Loves Magda!
To place an ad here, call 609-403-7153 OR email monitor-advertising@DioceseofTrenton.org May 2025
THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 63
MONITOR Official publication of The Diocese of Trenton
THE
MAGAZINE
701 Lawrenceville Rd. • P.O. Box 5147 Trenton, NJ 08638-0147 www.TrentonMonitor.com
Serving the Catholic Community in Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean Counties.
Answers to the crossword puzzle.
The Monitor Magazine & TrentonMonitor.com Information and inspiration for your faith journey! Just $30 for home delivery of the magazine, email delivery of the digital edition and unlimited access to the website. SUBSCRIBE TODAY: At dioceseoftrenton.org/monitor-subscriptions By email: Monitor-Subscriptions@DioceseofTrenton.org By phone: 609-403-7131
www.wordgamesforcatholics.com
W J C Y R I L J Z I P P O R A H E C C E T I E A D D A W I I T H E S S C H O I R S S T N O A O H O U R S U S A N C U R E A E N P A A N O T R E C U P R E L I C M U L L L A P A L M S E D E R I T I M H I V I A E O G O S P E L P A T R O N E A S I R H E D L E H I A N T I P H O N N O V A K T M E
Grow in Your Faith. Nurture Your Calling. Announcing the Monsignor Thomas Ivory Scholarship for Students Pursuing an M.A. in Pastoral Ministry Cohorts Start Summer and Fall 2025
• TUITION IS FREE FOR YOUR FIRST COURSE • 50% DISCOUNT ON REMAINING COURSES Whether you’re currently serving or discerning the call, our master’s program provides the spiritual tools to grow in faith and impact the Catholic Church today. VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO LEARN MORE
setonhall.edu/mapm 64 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE
May 2025