The Gospels often record Jesus referring to God as “Abba” — in much the way that a child would refer with love to his or her own father back then — in his teachings. That was unusual for that time, when Jews often referred to God as the Father of the nation of Israel as a whole, not as an individual. No doubt, Jesus learned about God’s love for us in a personal way in part through the love that St. Joseph, his earthly foster father, had shown him growing up, Bishop Emeritus Arthur J. Serratelli told faithful on Sept. 29 at St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish in Sparta.

Ten men in formation in the permanent diaconate program of the Diocese of Paterson took the next formal step in their journey to ordination as deacons as they were instituted as readers/lectors in St. Peter the Apostle Church in Parsippany by Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney on Oct. 4.

With so many ministries supported by the Diocesan Ministries Appeal (DMA), Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney and the diocesan Development Office invite all of the faithful to watch a series of video modules with a new one premiering each week to get a firsthand look of the work of the DMA.

During National Hispanic Heritage Month, which concludes Oct. 15, the Diocese of Paterson has recognized the rich culture, tradition, and influence that Hispanic Americans have had in the Catholic Church, especially in the Diocese of Paterson, as their numbers continue to grow.

Nicholas MacDonald, 6, listened with rapt attention, as his mother, Theresa, read a story on a placard in front of them more thrilling than any tale of fantasy or suspense: one about a miracle that involved the Eucharist. On Sunday, they walked around the gym of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (OLMC) School in Boonton, reading many of the 76 placards set up to tell about Eucharistic miracles around the world — from it turning to actual flesh and blood to being thrown into a fire and coming out unscathed.

Plans to erect a small adoration chapel in honor of St. Padre Pio on a 40-acre wooded site in rural Michigan has gotten serious pushback from local residents and the town, sadly necessitating a lawsuit focusing on religious land use and religious liberty rights.

Have you ever heard of a “Vademe­cum?” Personally, I cannot recall hearing of a “Vademecum” until a month or so ago. If you look up or Google the definition, you will find: Noun: vademecum; borrowed from the Latin, “go with me,” a handbook or guide that is kept constantly at hand for consultation; “His book is an excellent vademecum for writers.”

Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney celebrated Mass in St. Michael the Archangel Church in Paterson on Oct. 3 to mark the feast day of the parish’s patron, which is marked on Sept. 29. St. Michael is known as the guardian of the Catholic Church and he is com­mon­ly associated with being the patron of police officers and those in the military.

Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney made a pastoral visit to Assumption Parish in Morristown where he celebrated the vigil Mass marking the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time Oct. 2.

Today, Oct. 7, marks the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary and each year, the Church dedicates the month of October to the Most Holy Rosary. To mark this special month, throughout the Diocese rosary events will be held, many with the intention to pray for the current state of the country.

St. Therese School in Succasunna welcomed Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney, who visited the school and celebrated Mass for the community Oct. 1 to mark the feast day of the parish and school’s patron, St. Therese of Lisieux.

When Father English Food Pantry in Paterson first opened decades ago, it served 70 people per month. In the mid 2000s, it served more than 2,000 people a month. Today, the food pantry serves more than 20,000 people a month. A consistent narrative for many who seek food from the Father English Center, an agency of Catholic Charities, is of the working poor. After working low wage jobs and paying for rent and utilities, many individuals and families have no money left for food. With the COVID-19 pandemic, more people than ever needed assistance. At the peak, around Christmas of 2020 nearly 27,000 people were being helped.

Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney recognized the past six recipients of the diocesan Advocati Christi Award, which honored them for their commitment to the legal profession and their Catholic faith, during the sixth annual Red Mass on Oct. 3 in the auditorium of St. Paul Inside the Walls in Madison. The Bishop thanked the past awardees, all lawyers, for demonstrating “integrity, professionalism, and collegiality” in the field of the law as people of faith.

Records are made to be broken. That’s an adage in sports heard all the time, but more often than not, athletes fall short in a record-breaking moment. Then there is Justin Tucker, kicker for the Baltimore Ravens.

Since 1972, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has been promoting the month of October as Respect Life Month. The theme for this year’s Respect Life Month is “St. Joseph, Defender of Life.” You can find a wealth of material and resources at the USCCB website. We pray through the intercession of St. Joseph, that he would inspire us to “defend life” as he defended and protected the lives of Mary and the child Jesus, especially during the journey to Bethlehem, as Mary carried her unborn child, through the birth of Our Savior in the stable in Bethlehem, through the flight into Egypt, the slaughter of the Holy Innocents and the return to Nazareth (Mt. 2:13–24).