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Bishop O’Connell’s message for July ∙ Diocesan news∙ Plenary indulgence announced by the Vatican
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July 8, 2023BISHOP DAVID M. O’CONNELL, C.M., HAS SHARED THIS MESSAGE for the month of July,
Since 1849, the Catholic Church throughout the world has celebrated the month of July as the Feast of the Most Precious Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Devotion to the Blood of Christ has been a pious tradition in the Church since its beginnings. In 96 AD, Pope St. Clement I wrote:
Let us fix our gaze on the Blood of Christ and realize how truly precious it is, seeing that it was poured out for our salvation and brought the grace of conversion to the whole world (First Letter to Church at Corinth).
The early Fathers of the Church taught that the Church was born from the pierced side of the Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross at Calvary.
Read Bishop O’Connell’s entire message HERE.
A NEW GRANT HAS BEEN CREATED to assist parishes and Catholic schools in providing religious education instruction to adults and children with special needs.
The Romanello Holy Innocents Society Catechesis Grant has been established by the Holy Innocents Society, Diocese of Trenton catechesis committee to award six $250 grants to be used toward updating catechetical resources or the training of catechists and teachers. Four of the grants will be presented two parishes and the other two grants will be presented to schools.
“A parish may need assistance with adaptive materials geared for the individual,” Pat Hertz, chair of the catechesis committee, pointed out. “We can steer them to publishers who have adaptive material. We can share our experiences when working with families who want their child to be included and treated as a typical student. In addition, we can meet with the parish [director or coordination of religious education] and the family to offer suggestions.
“Our goal is to keep the student in their local parish providing supports as needed,” she said.
Read the complete story HERE.
EUCHARISTIC THEMES WILL BE THE TOPIC OF HOMILIES IN
CHURCHES
across the Diocese over the next year,
thanks to a new homiletic series for the Eucharistic Revival in the Parish 2023-2024. Recently commissioned by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., the series includes the work of 13 priests, and features sample homilies – in English and Spanish – along with other notes and information to assist any members of the clergy who opt to use it.
The series has been sent to all clergy of the Diocese and is available at dioceseoftrenton.org/eucharistic-revival-homilies. The first installment is scheduled for Masses the weekend of July 8 and 9 and will follow through with one homily per month. Each will be posted to TrentonMonitor.com after their designated weekend.
In announcing the new series to the Diocese’s clergy, Bishop O’Connell wrote: “I wish to thank all the priests who participated by preparing excellent homilies for use in the parishes throughout the next year. Yours was a real labor of love for our brother clergy and all the faithful during this parish phase of the Eucharistic Revival. I found them all truly inspirational.”
BISHOP O’CONNELL WAS PRINCIPAL CELEBRANT OF A MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL July 6 in St. James Church, Red Bank, for Msgr. Frederick A. Valentino who died June 29, the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul.
At the time of his death, Msgr. Valentino had been the oldest priest of the Diocese.
Joining Bishop O’Connell at the altar were 20 of Msgr. Valentino’s brother diocesan priests who concelebrated the funeral Mass in the church where Msgr. Valentino had been pastor from 1976 until 1990. Homilist was Father Jeffrey Lee, pastor of St. Mary Parish in Colts Neck, who recounted many memories of Msgr. Valentino from over the years. Father Lee cited many of the late priest’s “words of wisdom” – often very humorous – and “his keen insights into priestly ministry.”
Read the full story HERE.
CATHOLICS WHO CELEBRATE THE WORLD DAY FOR GRANDPARENTS
AND THE ELDERLY July 23 can receive a
plenary indulgence, which is a remission of the temporal punishment due for one's sins, the Vatican said.
See the conditions for the plenary indulgence HERE.