Essays and Messages

Outside my office window at the chancery, two flags rise and fall together in the same breeze—the “Stars and Stripes” of the United States of America and the yellow-and-white banner of the Holy See. Their colors catch the morning light in different ways, yet they move in a shared rhythm, reminding me that the story of this nation and the history of the Church --- although the Church is far more ancient --- have long unfolded side by side.

The month of June is traditionally dedicated to the Sacred Heart. On June 11, 2026, as part of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. bishops will consecrate the United States of America to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Catholic faith communities around the country are encouraged to join the bishops in celebrating the consecration of our nation to the Sacred Heart through their own prayer and acts of devotion.

Editor’s note: In light of Pope Leo XIV’s new encyclical on artificial intelligence, we are re-posting a pastoral reflection on the topic written by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., from last December.

Papal encyclicals have long served as a privileged means by which the Successor of Peter offers guidance to the Church and the world. Addressed primarily to bishops but intended for all the faithful, they illuminate moral, theological and social questions that require thoughtful discernment. While not typically issued as infallible ex cathedra (from the chair) teachings, encyclicals carry significant doctrinal authority as expressions of the pope’s ordinary Magisterium and often set the pastoral priorities of a pontificate.

Memorial Day is observed throughout the United States on the last Monday in May. This national holiday is widely considered the beginning of summer, a few weeks shy of the actual calendar date. Many families celebrate by displaying the flag, attending parades and carnivals, opening swimming pools, having backyard barbecues and, for many, taking a day off from work or school. Another custom regularly followed is the traditional visit to cemeteries where members of the military who gave their lives for our country are buried.

The Sacred Scriptures remind us that “the love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit dwelling with us” (Romans 5:5). As we come to the close of the Easter Season and celebrate the great Solemnity of Pentecost – the “birthday of the Church” – we rejoice in the fulfillment of Christ’s promise to remain with us always through the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Since 2022, the dioceses of New Jersey have celebrated the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord on the Seventh Sunday of Easter, rather than on the traditional Thursday, 40 days after Easter. While some dioceses in the United States — including Philadelphia, Boston, New York, Hartford and Omaha — continue to observe Ascension Thursday, the Bishops of New Jersey, after consultation with pastors, discerned that celebrating the Ascension on Sunday allows far more of the faithful to participate in this important feast.

During National Police Week, the Diocese of Trenton joins communities across our nation in honoring the women and men who serve in law enforcement and remembering especially those who have given their lives in the line of duty. Their work often places them in difficult and dangerous situations, requiring courage, sacrifice and a deep commitment to the common good.

With this month's observance of Mothers Day, let us keep the gift of our mothers before us and remember them in our daily prayers.

May arrives each year like a gentle homily written in blossoms and light. The darkness of winter gives way to color, warmth and new life. The Easter season unfolds in hope; and the Church, in her wisdom, invites us to turn our hearts in a particular way to Mary, the Mother of God and Mother of the Church. It is not by accident that this month — so alive with beauty — is dedicated to the one through whom Life Himself came into the world.