More Good News

Three Daughters of Charity of the Most Precious Blood marked significant anniversaries in religious life during Mass celebrated in St. Gerard Majella Church in Paterson July 24. Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney was main celebrant of the Mass, which was concelebrated by diocesan and religious priests serving at the parish and beyond.

This summer, Finley Triano is giving back in a special way by sharing her dance talents with some of the residents of the Department for Persons with Disabilities (DPD) in Oak Ridge. A rising junior at Passaic County Technical Institute (PCTI) in Wayne, she has been spending some time during summer break and leading a dance group for those served by the DPD, an agency of diocesan Catholic Charities.

Watson Smith, 7, stands in the outfield and raises his baseball mitt, ready for the batter’s swing. On a hot July 22 morning, he and a group of fellow youngsters play America’s Pastime as part of “free time” activities, during the recent Summer Bible Camp at St. Pius X Parish in Montville, where they learned to rely on the all-powerful unseen “coach” in the game and in their lives: God.

To Samuel Milligan, 8, of Assumption Parish in Morristown, St. Joseph is “God’s hero.” During recent classes of Assump­tion’s Catechesis of the Good Shep­herd program, Milligan set down his thoughts about the beloved saint in a short, simple poem, which described him as “the father of Jesus, the husband of Mary, God’s hero.” It was one of more than 120 poems, prayers, and drawings that children of the parish’s faith formation program and Assumption School made for the Year of St. Joseph, now being celebrated by the Diocese and the universal Church.

Hispanic Catholics in the Diocese of Paterson spent a warm July day together for “Encuentro de Verano,” which translates to “summer encounter” at the Shrine of St. Joseph in Stirling July 24. The Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR) hosted the daylong event which included prayer, a picnic, and fellowship. It was highlighted and concluded with the celebration of the vigil Mass marking the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney was the main celebrant with Father Yasid Salas, pastor of St. Therese Church in Paterson and director of the Hispanic Charismatic Renewal in the Diocese, as the concelebrant. Spanish-speaking Catholics from all three counties in the Diocese and of all ages attended.