News - November 2020 RSS Feed

Father James Sichko works hard to maintain a deep trust in the Lord, which makes him ready to touch anyone he meets with the light and love of Christ in his travels around the world — even a famous actress and singer. A while back, Father Sichko, an internationally known preacher, evangelist and motivational speaker, spent time on a flight to Melbourne, Australia, praying the rosary in his seat. A woman next to him told him that she had cancer and asked him to pray for her. Father Sichko gave her a papal crucifix. That woman in need of prayer was Olivia Newton-John, the priest revealed during “60 Minutes for Jesus,” a three-day retreat he gave at St. Vincent Martyr Parish recently.

Through twinkling lights under the stars, Resurrection Parish in Randolph will host Drive-Thru Advent in Lights on the First Sunday of Advent Nov. 29, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the parish’s parking lot. This special light show will be held for families to enjoy the start of the Advent season during a time of social distancing during the pandemic. It will feature teen-agers from the parish presenting a life-size Advent calendar, a living Nativity and an Advent wreath. Giveaways will be offered for children who visit.

Bishop Kevin Sweeney made a pastoral visit to Assumption Parish in Morristown Nov. 21 where he celebrated the vigil Mass marking the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, also known as the feast of Christ the King. During his visit, he administered the Sacrament of Confirma­tion to young adults at the parish.

St. Cecilia Parish in Rockaway welcomed Bishop Kevin Sweeney who celebrated Mass marking the Feast of Christ the King on Nov. 22 — also known as the feast of the parish’s namesake, St. Cecilia, patron saint of musicians.

As The Beacon kicks off its 37th annual Christmas Sharing Fund, it comes during an unprecedented time in human history. The Beacon is honored once again this Christmas season to assist Catholic Charities to bring needed joy during the Advent and Christmas seasons to the least among us. Catholic Family and Community Services, the Department for Persons with Disabilities and Straight and Narrow have been working harder more than ever to assist so many affected by the pandemic who come to Catholic Charities in their time of need.

Christ’s command in Matthew 25 compels Catholics to continue advocating for laws that protect “the least of our brothers and sisters:” the imprisoned, the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the sick and stranger — as well as the unborn child, Bishop Kevin Sweeney declared as he celebrated the annual diocesan Respect Life Mass Nov. 21 in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson.

With just two months left before the Biden Administration takes office, the pro-life community is acutely aware that the clock is ticking until the time when more stringent attacks on life in the womb will begin. With the imminent changes the Democrats want to make to strengthen abortion laws even more, Catholic scholars are calling on the Trump Administration to issue an executive order that offers legal protection for the unborn.

In our reflection this morning, I would like to invite everyone, those gathered here physically, and those joining us by livestream, to pause for a moment and recall the first time you heard or came to appreciate the phrase, “life begins at conception?” Or, perhaps, in other words, can you recall learning or coming to appreciate what it means to say that we believe, as Scripture teaches us, that every person, male and female is created in the “image and likeness” of God, unique and unrepeatable, a child of God?

Holy Spirit School in Pequannock was honored by a morning visit Nov. 6 from Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney, who began the day by celebrating Mass for students in grades 6, 7 and 8 in the socially-distanced environment of Holy Spirit Church.

The pandemic has caused many sectors of society to suffer as outlets for aid have diminished. In particular, food pantries are experiencing low levels of donations. In order to combat this, students at Mount St. Dominic Academy (MSDA) in Caldwell and their families vowed to serve those who cannot care for themselves.

Bishop Kevin Sweeney made a pastoral visit to Our Lady Queen of Peace (OLQP) Parish in the Hewitt section of West Milford on Nov. 15 to preside at the 3 p.m. Mass for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. During his visit, he blessed and dedicated a new outdoor chapel, which gives the parish a permanent structure where it can hold Mass outdoors.

Bishop Kevin Sweeney celebrated the vigil Mass marking the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Boonton Nov. 13. The Saturday vigil Mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel at 7 p.m. is in Spanish for the migrant community in the surrounding area of Morris County.

St. Clare Parish in Clifton welcomed Bishop Sweeney on his pastoral visit there on Nov. 15, the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. The Bishop was main celebrant of Mass which was concelebra­ted by Father Peter Glabik, pastor and Father Thomas Fitzgerald, parochial vicar.

Permanent deacons and their wives from across the Paterson Diocese came together to remember their departed brother deacons and wives at the annual Mass for Deceased Deacons and Wives celebrated by Bishop Sweeney in St. Peter the Apostle Church in Parsippany Nov. 15.

The living room of the Rodriguez home looked a little like a chapel. A small table served as an altar, holding the Bible and statues of Our Lady Queen of Peace and Our Lady of Fatima. For a half hour one evening in October, this cozy room invited the family of four to take prayer into their hands and hearts in the rosary with help from a special visitor, Father Cesar Jaramillo, a parochial vicar of their parish, St. Peter the Apostle in Parsippany.

For police chaplains, it’s all about building relationships with the officers they serve in good times, such as baptizing their children, to the tough times, such as talking them through the pressures and stresses of their job and some of the horrors they have experienced or witnessed. Sometimes in the line of duty, officers get caught up in violent situations, such as shootings, and see gruesome murders, unspeakable brutality and grizzly accidents, said Father Geno Sylva, a chaplain for the FBI and Passaic County Sheriff’s Office.

Ironically, during Respect Life Month in October, state lawmakers introduced the Reproduc­tive Freedom Act (S3030/A4848), legislation that flies in the face of respecting life in the womb and expands, even more extremely, access to abortion and abortifacients in New Jersey. Pro-life activists are urging all people of faith in the state to stand up and be heard as a voice for the voiceless in the womb to stop the passage of the bill that will allow late-term abortions right up to the birth of the child in the womb.

“In the future, there will be pitched battles for religious freedom in courts and Congress, in state legislatures and town halls.” Those prophetic words were spoken by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito in his speech March 15, 2017 at St. Paul Inside the Walls: the Diocesan Center for Evangelization at Bayley-Ellard in Madison. Fast forward to Nov. 14 where in a Zoom presentation to the Federalist Society, the justice again issued a clarion call that religious liberty today was emerging as a “second tier” right, especially during the pandemic.

The Diocesan Ministries Appeal, formerly known as the Bishop’s Annual Appeal, has been under way for the past few months and under the theme, “Love Thy Neighbor.” This annual collection will help fund ministries that serve the poor, sick and needy through Catholic Charities agencies in the Diocese of Paterson; urban elementary school students; education needs of diocesan seminarians and retired priests’ healthcare including support for Nazareth Village, the diocesan home for retired priests located in Chester.

Bishop Kevin Sweeney made a pastoral visit to St. Anthony Parish in Paterson Nov. 2 where he celebrated Mass for All Souls’ Day, also known as the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed.