REVIEW
THE MONITOR • JANUARY 7, 2016
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making year DIGITAL MEDIA and THE NEW EVANGELIZATION Officially charged by Bishop O’Connell to develop ways for the Diocese to bring the Good News to a broader, more connected public, the diocesan working group for Digital Media and New Evangelization held a Digital Church Conference Dec. 5 to equip users with the tools they need to more effectively reach their audiences. CATHOLIC SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT A force of about 9,000 Catholic school students from 33 schools mobilized in acts of service to help others and make a positive difference in their communities May 1 during the first annual Diocesan Day of Service. The day was branded with the slogan “Catholic Schools Do It All.” YOUTH and YOUNG ADULTS Kerry Bates, a ninth grader at Red Bank Catholic High School was announced the winner of the Respect Life Ministry’s Loving Life 2015 logo contest. She was awarded an Apple Macbook, and the logo was used on all Respect Life materials, including documents, t-shirts and banners, for the year. Kujenga +Plus, a multi-cultural retreat and leadership exercise, was held Jan. 10 in St. Robert Bellarmine Parish, Freehold, for 45 students in eighth through 12th grades. Activities included guest speakers, group activities, faith sharing, prayer and self reflection. The annual Diocesan Youth Celebration, based on the theme “Called,” was held March 22 in Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville. More than 600 teens gathered for faith formation, music, presen-
Diocese come together for prayer, recreation and service to the Ocean County parish. Realfaith TV, the faith-based television and Internet ministry produced by teens, for teens and about teens, wrapped up its 16th season and began its 17th with episodes about topics including domestic violence, sub-tweeting, facing death, academic cheating, bioethics, among others. A production of Diocese of Trenton Department of Radio and Television, Realfaith TV reaches out to those who are looking for answers to many of the issues they face in today’s world, and helps them with those issues through a Catholic faith perspective.
Milestones
St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, was the site of a joyous Mass June 6 as Bishop O’Connell ordained five new priests of the Diocese. Father James J. Grogan, Father John Large, Father Jason M. Parzynski, Father Jarlath W. Quinn and Father Arian H. Galvis received the Sacrament of Holy Orders before more than 700 loved ones, friends and well-wishers. In May and June, more than 1,500 young men and women graduated from parish, diocesan and private high schools, earning more than $211 million in college scholarships. JoAnn Tier, diocesan superintendant of Catholic schools, noted they were “self-disciplined and self-directed learners… students who live the tenets of the Catholic faith in their responsiveness and compassion for others,” while Bishop O’Connell urged the graduates to “hold onto your Catholic faith… share [it] on the road ahead of you.” Three priests joined the ranks of their retired brethren: Father John J. Scully, Father Robert J. Schecker, Father Michael Waites. Anniversaries were observed by a number of priests of the Diocese. Clergy celebrating 50 years of service included: Msgr. James H. Dubell, St. Mary of the Lakes Parish, Medford, (who also marked his retirement this Nearly 300 couples celebrating one, 25 or 50 or more years of mar- year); Father John Renard, riage renewed their wedding vows and received Bishop O’Connell’s St. Dominic Parish, Brick; blessing during the Diocese of Trenton’s 2015 Bishop’s Anniversary Father Maurizio Nicoletti, Blessing Masses held in October. The Masses were celebrated in St. John Neumann Parish, St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, and St. Robert Mount Laurel; Msgr. EuBellarmine Church, Freehold. Ken Falls photo gene Rebeck, St. Catharine Parish, Holmdel; Augustintations, skits and workshops. The celebration also ian Father Dennis Gallagher, St. Catharine-St. recognized 17 young people of the Diocese with Margaret Parish, Spring Lake. the Timothy Award, honoring them as examples Father Peter J. Alindogan, St. Charles Borof love, faith and service. romeo, Cinnaminson; Father Sheldon Amasa, St. More than 2,000 youth from across the state’s Aloysius Parish, Jackson; Trinitarian Father Charles five dioceses, 550 of them hailing from the DioFlood, chaplain in Robert Wood Johnson Hospital, cese of Trenton, visited Six Flags Great Adventure, Hamilton, and Msgr. Joseph N. Rosie, St. Paul ParJackson, for the 20th N.J. Catholic Youth Rally ish, Princeton, marked 25 years as priests. May 17. The group attended a Mass celebrated by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., celebrated the Camden Diocese’s Bishop Dennis J. Sullivan, and fifth anniversary of his Episcopal ordination July 30. enjoyed skits, rides, praise and worship music, food and camaraderie during the day designed to Bishop emeritus John Smith celebrated his 80th birthday June 23. meld fun, friends and faith. Religious of the Diocese marking 50 years of The annual Splash event was held July 29 and service to the Church included Sister of St. Joseph 30 in Precious Blood Parish, Monmouth Beach, Trudy Ahern, Christian Brother Joseph Brienza, and Mother of Mercy Parish, Asbury Park. The Christian Brother Charles Lackes, Sister of St. event saw nearly 100 teens from throughout the
Before a congregation of more than 800 students, along with their teachers and principals, Bishop O’Connell offers inspiring words during which he encourages students to always follow Jesus. Craig Pittelli photo
Francis Daniel Marie McCarthy, Sister of St. Francis Albert Mary McSwiggin. Men marking 25 years in the permanent diaconate include: Frank McKenna, St. Joseph Parish, Toms River; James M. Micali, St. Clement Parish, Matawan, and Donald Miller, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Whiting. Mercy Sister Rosemary E. Jeffries retired after 14 years as president of Georgian Court University, Lakewood, in June. Dr. Joseph R. Marbach assumed the position, marking the first time in the 107-year history of the school that the university is not being led by a Sister of Mercy. Nearly 300 couples celebrating one, 25, 50 or more years of marriage renewed their wedding vows and received the blessings of their Bishop during the Anniversary Blessing Masses held Oct. 11 and 25 in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, and St. Robert Bellarmine Parish, Freehold.
In Memoriam The Diocese mourned the loss of priests who served at one time in the four counties, including Father Leonard Lang, 68, Jan. 15, St. Leo the Great, Lincroft; Father Robert A. O’Leary, 87, Jan. 23, St. Luke Parish, Toms River; Father Robert R. Schulze, Office of Jail and Prison Ministry, 71, Feb. 24; Divine Word Father Victor Butler, chaplain in Holy Cross High School, Delran, March 7; Trinitar-
ian Father John L. Dorn, Incarnation-St. James Parish, Ewing, March 11; Divine Word Father Patrick Connor, 85, April 15, chaplain in Stuart Country Day School, Princeton; Cistercian Father Lino Parente, 76, June 23, prior of Our Lady of Fatima Monastery, Mount Laurel; Msgr. John N. Kennedy, 82, June 27, St. Anthony Parish, Trenton; Father Raymond S. Bianchi, June 30, St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton; Father Arthur F. Conlon, 93, Oct. 28, St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Yardville; Marist Father James McGoldrick, 74, Dec. 20, St. Raphael-Holy Angels Parish, Hamilton. Departed deacons of the Diocese included: John D. Grant, St. Alphonsus Parish, Hopewell, July 15; Gerald T. Riedinger, St. Dominic Parish, Brick, Nov. 18; Conrad J. Provencher, St. James Parish, Red Bank, Nov. 28. Tamara Seidle, long-time religious education coordinator in Mother of Mercy Parish, Asbury Park, was killed June 17.
Pastoral Assignments Father Richard Vila, pastor, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Maple Shade • Father Robert Holtz, pastor, Sacred Heart Parish, Riverton • Msgr. James Dubell, administrator, St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Cinnaminson • Father Michael O’Connor, administrator, St. Pio of Pietrelcina Parish, Lavallette • Father Stanley Lukasewski, Episcopal Vicar of Ocean County • Father Rene Pulgarin, liaison for the diocesan Hispanic/Portuguese communities • Father Daniel Swift, pastor, St. Mary of the Lakes Parish, Medford • Father John K. Butler, temporary administrator, St. Michael Parish, West End • Father John C. Garrett, pastor, Resurrection Parish, Delran • Father Garry Koch, pastor, St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel • Father Fernando Lopez, pastor, Our Lady of Perpetual Help-St. Agnes Parish, Atlantic Highlands • Father Christopher Piccolo, pastor, St. Katharine Drexel Parish, Burlington • Father Thomas Vala, pastor, St. Clement Parish, Matawan • Father Vincent Euk, pastor, St. Veronica Parish, Howell, and Father Joseph G. Hlubik, administrator, St. Andrew Parish, Jobstown, were named “Missionaries of Mercy” by Pope Francis.
Blessings, Dedications The Diocese launched Catholic Schools Have it All in 2015 – an awareness-building campaign about the comprehensive value of Catholic schools.
Mount Carmel Guild dedicated “Father Jim’s House,” a newly renovated building in Trenton which houses the Guild’s Emergency Assistance Program, April 18.
See Unforgettable • S-6