Spurred by the recent terrorist attack against innocent civilians of Israel and the escalating violence it has unleashed, Pope Francis has issued a call for a day of fasting, penance and prayer for peace in the world on Oct. 27.

Bishop O’Connell wrote: “The First Session of the Synod of Bishops 2021-2024 begins Oct. 4 and continues until Oct. 29, 2023 with the theme ‘For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, Mission.’ Our Holy Father Pope Francis has said, ‘Without prayer there will be no Synod.’”

WASHINGTON – The Catholic Church in the United States will observe National Migration Week from September 18-24. Each year, this week-long celebration culminates with the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, established by the Holy See over 100 years ago and commemorated by Catholics across the globe. Throughout this week, the faithful and others of good will are encouraged to reflect on the challenges facing migrants, refugees, and others impacted by the complex phenomenon of forced displacement, the ways these newcomers enrich welcoming communities, and how we are each called to respond to them as members of the same human family. 

Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., will ordain Rev. Mr. Kevin Hrycenko to the priesthood for the Diocese of Trenton June 3 at 10 a.m. in St. Joseph Church, Toms River.

People of all faiths throughout Central New Jersey are invited to pray for law enforcement personnel who work to keep their communities safe when the Diocese of Trenton hosts the 21st Annual Blue Mass April 13 in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold, beginning at 10:30 a.m.

THE CHRISM MASS, THE ANNUAL COMMEMORATION OF SACRAMENTAL UNITY AND PRIESTLY COMMITMENT that unfolds across the universal Church each Holy Week, will take place locally April 3, beginning at 7:30 p.m. in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold.

Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., will be celebrating Holy Week and Easter Masses and services this year at the following locations:

In observance of St. Patrick’s Day 2023, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., announced the following dispensation from the Friday obligation to abstain from eating meat and to fulfill the spirit of the obligation through other works, actions: ​​​​​​​

We are a Eucharistic people.” This profound truth is at the heart of the 2023 Annual Catholic Appeal, set to launch in all parishes the weekend of Feb. 18-19.

The faithful of the Diocese of Trenton will gather in prayerful remembrance of the late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI when Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., celebrates a Memorial Mass Jan. 5, at noon in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral in Freehold.

On Dec. 31, 2022, as the world learned of the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., of the Diocese of Trenton released a personal reflection about the pontiff who named him a bishop in 2010 and who had visited The Catholic University of America in Washington during then-Father O’Connell’s tenure as president. 

In a new five-part series on the Eucharist, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C. M., highlights “many aspects of the inexhaustible gift and mystery of the Holy Eucharist as the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ drawn from Scripture and Tradition.” Titled “Catechetical Series on the Eucharist,” the segments will begin Oct. 18, the Feast of St. Luke. An installment will drop each week in text, video and podcast across all diocesan digital platforms.  The entire series will be printed in the November issue of The Monitor Magazine.

The Mass of Ordination will be celebrated at 10 a.m. in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, 151 North Warren Street, Trenton, and will be livestreamed here youtube.com/trentondiocese.

On May 12, the New Jersey Catholic Conference released a joint statement from the state’s Catholic bishops responding to Gov. Phil Murphy’s announcement in which he renews a push to expand abortion access in the state. The bishops describe this new effort as “a direct attack on the dignity and sanctity of life,” and reaffirm the Church’s commitment to help expectant mothers in need.  The statement was signed by seven New Jersey prelates, including Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., of the Diocese of Trenton.

Catholics across the globe will flock to their churches April 10 for Palm Sunday, commemorating Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem for the Jewish feast of Passover and the beginning of Holy Week, the most solemn and sacred time in the Church calendar. With the easing of many pandemic-related concerns and restrictions that impacted Holy Week in the last two years, hundreds of thousands of parishioners and newcomers will gather for special services and Masses in the churches of the Diocese of Trenton to give witness to the week-long retelling of Christ’s Passion, Death and Resurrection.

LENTEN ABSTINENCE FROM MEAT. In accordance with Canon Law, the Lenten Friday abstinence from meat is dispensed on this Friday, March 25, 2022, the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord (canon 1251: Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.)

The people of war-torn Ukraine will be remembered by the faithful in the Diocese of Trenton March 31 when Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., celebrates a livestreamed Mass for Peace in Ukraine at 7 p.m. in St. Joseph Church, part of Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Keyport. The Mass will be livestreamed at youtube.com/trentondiocese. St. Joseph Church is located at 376 Maple Place, Keyport. For reporting on these events and ongoing coverage of the war against Ukraine, visit TrentonMonitor.com/Ukrainian-crisis

Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., will celebrate the 12:10 p.m. Mass in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral in Trenton -- the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord -- Friday, March 25, at which time he will unite in prayer with the Holy Father as he consecrates Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  All are welcome to attend.  The Mass will be live-streamed on youtube.com/trentondiocese.

I remember with great fondness my visit to Ukraine during my tenure as president of The Catholic University of America and my tour of the Catholic University you served so well there.  I remain grateful to you for that cherished memory which has created a special bond in my heart with Ukraine and its people in these difficult days.