THE NATIONAL RELIGIOUS RETIREMENT OFFICE ANNOUNCED that the annual Retirement Fund for Religious collection for parishes in the Diocese of Trenton will take place the weekend of Dec. 7-8.

Steve Pavone, a parishioner and longtime co-director of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults in St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Hightstown, along with his pastor, Father Oscar Sumanga, visit with Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M., Dec. 3 during which Pavone presented a very generous gift to the Diocese in honor of his parents.

THE WORD “ADVENT” COMES FROM THE LATIN TERM ADVENTUS, literally meaning “coming to.” The four weeks of the season of Advent before Christmas create a unique season of hope-filled preparation for all of us in the Catholic Christian community — although it can easily be missed by society at large as simply an extended, early celebration of Christmas. True enough, Christ has come, and we should rejoice in his Incarnation every day of our lives. But Advent gives us all time for a prayerful “retelling” of the story of the “Hope of Israel.” We prepare ourselves for the commemoration of Christ’s coming in history in Bethlehem, his coming in mystery each day in the Church and the sacraments, and his coming in majesty at the end of time.

Responding to needs of social service agencies in the Diocese of Trenton, the diocesan Office of Catholic Social Services has announced the programs that will receive grants from the 2023 collection for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.

The word “advent” comes from the Latin term adventus, literally meaning “coming to.” The four weeks of the season of Advent before Christmas create a unique season of hope-filled preparation for all of us in the Catholic Christian community — although it can easily be missed by society at large as simply an extended, early celebration of Christmas. True enough, Christ has come, and we should rejoice in his Incarnation every day of our lives. But Advent gives us all time for a prayerful “retelling” of the story of the “Hope of Israel.” We prepare ourselves for the commemoration of Christ’s coming in history in Bethlehem, his coming in mystery each day in the Church and the sacraments, and his coming in majesty at the end of time.