January 5, 2005
Service and progress mark past year
The milestones, challenges, transitions and accomplishments of the year made 2004 a historic time for this local Church of Newark. Of course, every season of time is unique. What will be best remembered in 2004 are the people, issues and events that affected the entire archdiocese and supported the mission of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and building His Church.

In 2004 the Archdiocese of Newark continued to be in compliance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, instituted a new youth protection office, marched for the sanctity of life in Trenton and Washington, DC, moved forward with the New Energies Task Force parish project, ordained 14 priests and launched the Heritage Tour of landmark local churches.

Archbishop Myers led his assistant bishops and suffragan bishops on the quinquennial ad limina visit to the Holy See and called for a new and energetic emphasis on evangelization.

The year also saw the opening of the Bishop Francis Center for Immigration Services and a nationally recognized focus on helping the victims of human trafficking, key personnel changes and reorganization at the chancery, the retirement of two bishops and the translation of one to a neighboring diocese, as well as the episcopal ordination of two new auxiliary bishops.

The parishes under the leadership of our clergy continued to be the keystone of the faith of the 1,300,000 Catholics in this crucial year of action and self-examination.

Our schools and colleges, too, made progress as individual institutions and as an important, unified component of the local Church. Seton Hall University announced a major capital campaign to tie in with its upcoming sesquicentennial.

Grammar and high school students, especially during the Christmas season, lived out the meaning of the birth of Christ through prayer, study and service to others less fortunate, including our service personnel overseas.

Importantly, the three archdiocesan seminaries welcomed more candidates for the priesthood than they had in many years, visibly demonstrating the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of this local Church in union with Rome.

The sesquicentennial commemoration of the founding of the diocese ended in October, coincident with the golden jubilee of the dedication of the most visible symbol of the archdiocese, the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Newark.

In one way or the other all of these events touched the lives of those who call the Church of Newark home. The year that just passed into history again illustrates the vibrancy and holiness of the Archdiocese of Newark.

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