DEMAREST- Students in the art department at the Academy of the Holy Angels (AHA) recently received 19 awards in the prestigious Scholastic Arts competition. The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards national competition is the longest-running awards program for artistic teens in the United States.

The Catechetical Office of the Archdiocese of Newark has scheduled a series of courses intended to introduce adult Catholics to key teachings of the faith. “Spotlight on the Catechism” offers a course on each of the four parts of the Catechism while “Spotlight on the Scriptures” consists of two courses: introductions to the Old Testament and the New Testament.

The Season of Advent begins the Church’s liturgical year and consists of the four Sundays before Christmas, which began on Dec. 2. Father Thomas A. Dente, director of the archdiocesan Office of Divine Worship, said Advent is a time of preparation that directs the hearts and minds of the faithful to look forward to the second coming of Christ and to the past, to the birth of Jesus 2,000 years ago.

Archbishop John J. Myers authorized a voluntary emergency collection to be taken at all parishes in the Archdiocese of Newark during weekend masses in November to assist in local relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy and the nor’easter that followed.

Archbishop Savio Hon Tai-Fai, S.D.B., secretary for the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, expressed hope for unity among Catholics in China during a Nov. 8 visit to Immaculate Conception Seminary, School of Theology at Seton Hall University (SHU). The university conferred upon Archbishop Hon a doctorate of humane letters honoris causa.

The fourth annual “Nourishing Your Faith” dinner and fund-raiser was held Nov. 7 at the Teaneck Marriott at Glenpointe despite a snowy nor’easter storm and the aftermath disruptions caused by Hurricane Sandy. Archbishop John J. Myers and the archdiocesan Office of Development, led by Carla Repollet, executive director, hosted the gala event.

The Most Reverend John J. Myers, Archbishop of Newark, has authorized a voluntary special emergency collection to be taken at all Catholic parishes in the Newark Archdiocese to assist in local relief efforts in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy and the Nor’easter. The collections can be taken during Masses over the next three weekends in November as parish schedules allow.

Before Christ ascended into heaven after His resurrection, He commissioned the Apostles to go and proclaim the Gospel to the ends of the earth. The primary reason He sent them on this mission was to make His salvation available to everyone.

NEWARK — Last year in Madrid, when Pope Benedict XVI announced Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as the site of World Youth Day (WYD) 2013, cheers erupted among the crowd. In the Archdiocese of Newark, plans are already underway to gather young pilgrims for the celebration of faith in South America’s largest country.

The fourth annual “Nourishing Your Faith” dinner and fund-raiser will be held Wednesday, Nov. 7, at the Teaneck Marriott at Glenpointe, 100 Frank W. Burr Blvd., adjacent to Interstate 95. The evening begins at 6 p.m., followed by dinner and the event program. The keynote speaker for this year’s dinner is Ralph Martin, president of Renewal Ministries, Ann Arbor, MI.

The Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart was filled to capacity on Sept. 22 as Archbishop John J. Myers celebrated the 25th anniversary of his consecration to the Episcopacy. In addition to three cardinals, 13 bishops and one abbot attended the Mass along with numerous other guests. For additional photos, visit the photo gallery here. 

In recent days religious institutions and persons, including Ambassador Chris Stevens and three colleagues in Libya, have suffered vicious attacks. It is time to recall some basic principles yet again. More than a decade has passed since the New York City meeting of the International Catholic/Jewish Liaison Committee.

NEWARK—Parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Newark next month will open the “Year of Faith” celebration declared by Benedict XVI in his Apostolic Letter Porta Fidei (Door of Faith). Urging the faithful to participate fully in this unique spiritual experience, Father Thomas Dente, director of the archdiocesan Office of Divine Worship and chairman of the local Year of Faith task force, sees the Holy Father’s declaration as a time “to renew our faith as Catholics in Christ through the Church.

A familiar expression, “the squeaky wheel gets the grease,” is the phrase that telegraphs the work of the NJ Network of Catholic School Families. Established in 1996 by the Catholic Bishops of New Jersey, the NJ Network of Catholic School Families, known as “the Network,” is active in all five Garden State dioceses.

“The only thing I can do is thank God,” a reflective Archbishop Emeritus Peter L. Gerety said on the eve of turning 100 years old. As he approaches the century mark, Archbishop Gerety wants everyone in the Archdiocese of Newark to realize “the blessing of our Catholic faith. It’s our compass in life.”

Archbishop Peter L. Gerety comes to Newark as a newcomer but hardly a stranger. Born in Connecticut, he spent most of his priesthood in New Haven’s inner city before going to Portland, ME, as a bishop eight years ago. However, it was in northern New Jersey that the Gerety story began.

Archbishop John J. Myers issued a statement immediately following the June 28 decision by the Supreme Court on the Affordable Care Act (ACA), saying he, along with his fellow bishops of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), share “a profound disappointment over the Supreme Court’s decision upholding as a tax the provision of the ACA that requires individuals to purchase a health plan—the so-called individual mandate.”

Beginning June 21 and continuing until July 4, every diocese across the nation will be participating in a program known as “Fortnight for Freedom.” This is a call for an end to an institutional coercion by the government against conscience, and government intrusion into the ordering of Church institutions.

Archbishop John J. Myers, in September, will mark the 25th year of his Episcopal ordination, a silver anniversary that follows two milestones he celebrated in 2011—the 45th year of his priesthood and his 10th year as the shepherd of the Archdiocese of Newark. He is one of many jubilarians being honored in this edition of The Catholic Advocate.

The Catholic Cemeteries Office of the Archdiocese of Newark hosted Memorial Day masses at seven archdiocesan cemeteries.

Most Rev. John J. Myers, Archbishop of Newark, on May 16, announced several archdiocesan appointments concerned with the development and training of candidates for Catholic priesthood.

The results of a national writing assessment administered in November 2011 to all students in Grades 4 and 7 in the Catholic schools of the Archdiocese of Newark demonstrate the rigor of the Language Arts curriculum and the effectiveness of writing instruction.

AREA—The Archdiocese of Newark will close seven of its schools—six elementary schools and one high school—at the conclusion of the current school year on June 30.

LOS ANGELES—Four years ago, a traumatic car accident left 10-year-old Daniela Duarte blind in her left eye with paralysis of her right eyelids. Recently, Archbishop John J. Myers assisted Daniela and entrusted her care into the hands of Saint Vincent Medical Center.

FAIRFIELD — Faith Quest 2012, an adult spirituality forum organized by four parishes in western Essex County, will be held four consecutive Wednesdays, March 7 through March 28, 7:30- 9 p.m., at Saint Thomas More Parish, 12 Hollywood Ave.

Robert A. Facchina (left), president and chief executive officer of Johanna Companies, Flemington, and Alphonse Rispoli (right), secretary/treasurer of Teamsters Local No. 863, will be honored at the 19th annual Archbishop’s Business and Labor Recognition Reception.

NEWARK—“Pledge Week,” which kicks off the 2012 Archbishop’s Annual Appeal (AAA), will be held Feb. 4 and 5 at parishes throughout the four counties of the Archdiocese of Newark. Supported by the generosity of the faithful, last year the AAA donations registered a 2.5-percent increase compared with the previous year—despite the sluggish economy.

Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan (right), who leads the Archdiocese of New York and serves as the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), was named a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI on Jan. 6. He will be officially elevated to the College of Cardinals Feb. 18 in Rome. The pope also named Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien of Baltimore, 72, as a cardinal.

Archbishop John J. Myers along with active and retired bishops and members of the curia from the Archdiocese of Newark recently traveled to the Vatican to meet with Pope Benedict XVI, visiting “the Threshold of the Apostles” (Ad Limina Apostolorum), which included prayers at the tombs of Saints Peter and Paul. Ad Limina visits are scheduled every five years when a “State of the Province/Diocese” report is given to the Holy Father and the various Vatican Dicasteries/Congregation Offices.

The U.S Census Bureau recently confirmed that over 49 million Americans, or 16% of the population, live in poverty. Similarly, the Legal Services of New Jersey Poverty Research Institute has documented the alarming depth and breadth of poverty in New Jersey—a state that is frequently ranked as the second or third richest state in the country. In 2009, over 799,000 New Jersey residents had incomes lower than the official poverty rate—incomes so low that they were unable to make ends meet and required food stamps to survive. Sadly, although the poor are in the hundreds of thousands, they are often invisible to us. As the plight of these, our brothers and sisters, continues to spiral downward, we cannot stand by in silence. We cannot ignore children who go to bed hungry, parents who are jobless, families who are homeless, the sick who suffer without medical care, or the elderly who live in infested or unsafe housing.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has established the First Sunday of Advent, November 27, 2011, as the date on which the ENGLISH TRANSLATION ACCORDING TO THE THIRD TYPICAL EDITION OF THE ROMAN MISSAL, is to be introduced in all the dioceses of the United States of America. This is to take place at all of the Masses, including anticipated Masses, for Advent I. Consequently, from that date forward no other translation of the Roman Missal may be used lawfully in the United States.

NEWARK—On Nov. 27, the first Sunday of Advent, the English-speaking Church in the United States will begin using a new translation of the Roman Missal (see The Catholic Advocate, Sept. 14). This means many of the words used at Mass will change. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Washington, DC, urged that leaders of parish communities should be catechized to help implement the new translation. Anticipating concerns among the faithful, Archbishop John J. Myers sent a letter to parishes last year throughout the archdiocese stressing the importance of preparing for the changes to the missal.

The post-Halloween period of Nov. 1 and 2 are commemorated as All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, respectively. From the very first centuries and throughout the early Middle Ages, days were “assigned” to martyrs, sometimes (with the passage of time) to more than one. This became known as the “sanctoral cycle” or cycle of the holy men and women of the Church.

NEWARK — A professor emeritus along with a member of the Class of 1991 will be honored at Seton Hall University School of Law’s 27th annual Red Mass, to be celebrated on Friday, Sept. 30, 4 p.m., at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, 89 Ridge St. Most Rev. William E. Lori, bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport, CT, will be that main celebrant and homilist. Concelebrants include Father Nicholas S. Gengaro, law school chaplain, as well as archdiocesan and visiting clergy. Archbishop John J. Myers will be in attendance.

For several regional schools in the Archdiocese of Newark, the future, quite literally, looks brighter through inventive use of solar energy. Local schools and parishes are putting “green” into action by installing solar panels—not only to save money, but to preserve the environment. “The (solar energy) industry is unique in the sense that it does not comply with the typical laws of supply and demand,” Steve Belloise, archdiocesan executive director of the Office of Property Management, explained."

WASHINGTON—Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the apostolic nuncio to the United States, died at Johns Hopkins Hospital July 27. He was 73.

A major figure in the diplomatic relations between the Vatican and Israel, Archbishop Sambi served as a featured speaker at a national vocations conference held two years ago in the Archdiocese of Newark. Archbishop John J. Myers issued a statement, noting that Archbishop Sambi “was a strong friend and supporter of the Catholic Church in the United States."

The annual Memorial Day Mass was celebrated at Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington, to honor fallen heroes and celebrate the lives of deceased. Organized by Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Newark, the Mass was celebrated by Rev. Msgr. Michael A. Andreano, Vice Chancellor and Secretary to Archbishop John J. Myers. Memorial Day masses also were celebrated at six other cemeteries throughout the archdiocese. Father Charles M. Kelly, parochial vicar at Queen of Peace Parish, North Arlington, delivered the homily at Holy Cross on the sacred memory of loved ones and the true meaning of the holiday.

NEWARK—Immaculee Ilibagiza, Rwandan genocide survivor and New York Times best-selling author, will be sharing her inspirational story at the Archdiocesan Center, 171 Clifton Ave., on Wednesday, April 6.

The Archdiocese of Newark’s Office of the African-American, African, and Caribbean Apostolate, led by Sister Patricia Lucas, D.H.M., is the sponsor and organizer of the event. A light reception at the archdiocesan chancery, in honor of the visiting author, will be held between 5:30 pm and 6:30 pm.

TRENTON—In a move that could enable hundreds of students to attend Catholic and private schools in Newark, Jersey City and beyond, the NJ Assembly Commerce Committee voted (by a count of 5-0) to release the long-debated Opportunity Scholarship Act pilot program. The vote took place on Feb. 3 at the Statehouse.

 NEWARK — The 2011 Archbishop’s Annual Appeal (AAA) will kick off “pledge week” Feb. 5th and 6th as parishes throughout the four counties of the archdiocese gear up for this year’s fund-raising campaign. Carla Repollet, executive director of the archdiocesan Office of Stewardship and Development, said the theme of the 2011 AAA is “Serving the Lord by Serving Others.”

The theme, Repollet explained, is based on a passage in the 13^th chapter of Saint John’s Gospel, which reads, “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.”

SOUTH ORANGE — Looking into the mirror each morning during November, seven archdiocesan-area college students were vividly and progressively reminded of their pro-life stance. Three students from Seton Hall University (SHU) and four at Montclair State University (MSU) were joined by Father James Chern, university chaplain at MSU and director of its Newman Catholic Center, in a unique program dubbed “Beards for Breath.”

AREA—The 38th annual “March for Life” rally will be held Monday, Jan. 24 in Washington, DC. Each year the March for Life Education and Defense Fund (Web site: www.marchforlife.org) coordinates the event.

The March for Life rally begins at noon on Jan. 24 at the National Mall (Fourth Street NW). The rally is slated to last 90 minutes, followed by the march. Prior to the rally, a national prayer vigil is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 23. Visit the Web site of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (www.usccb.com ) for details.

To a traveler sailing on the Nile, gazing at the monuments of the pharaohs, 150 years seem to be no more than a blink of an eye. Even in the history of a Church that measures time in centuries, a century and a half does not appear to be so long a time. In the life of the Church in the United States, it is a quite different matter.

Most of the seminaries established in the United States since the first in 1791 have disappeared. Simply to have survived is an accomplishment. To have prospered and thrived is an astounding feat

NEWARK-Attention faithful joggers and exercise walkers: the Archdiocese of Newark's Office for Evangelization will host the "Soles for Faith" 5K run on Saturday, Oct. 2, an event that kicks off at the Elwood Avenue entrance of Branch Brook Park.

Outdoor activities will include a 5-kilometer run, a 3-kilometer walk and various "fun dashes" for children. Most Rev. Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., Auxiliary Bishop of Newark, will be among the intrepid participants.

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NEW YORK-"We're getting closer and we'll never give up," declared a determined Elizabeth D. Rex, Ph.D., president of the Children First Foundation (CFF), of ongoing efforts to make New Jersey the 26th state to authorize "Choose Life" license plates.

Dr. Rex and her husband, Charles, founded CFF almost a decade ago. It's the official sponsor of the special plates in not only the Garden State but in neighboring Connecticut and New York as well. Through CFF's efforts, Connecticut approved their state's "Choose Life" plates in 2003. CFF has filed federal lawsuits in New York and New Jersey that remain in litigation.

AREA-Knights of Columbus members from throughout the Archdiocese Newark are joining with the state organization as part of a North American effort to pay tribute to Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas.

The tribute involves transporting the Silver Rose from Ontario, Canada, through the United States and ending in Monterrey, Mexico.

The Silver Rose is scheduled to journey through the Archdiocese of Newark May 26 through June 2. The handoff from the New York Knights will take place at the George Washington Bridge and end when the Newark Knights transfer the Silver Rose to the Diocese of Paterson.

At this time of year, when every meal seems to be corned beef and cabbage and every drink a foaming pint of Guinness, spare a thought for the man we celebrate and the country he brought to Christ. Saint Patrick lived  over 1500 years ago and is surely not forgotten today but he is still, somehow, the saint that everyone  claims and the man that no one really knows. That is a pity, because to make his acquaintance is to meet an  extraordinary human being.

Historians have been fighting over him for ages. Even the simplest things-his date and place of birth, his length of life, his years in Ireland-still produce good-natured scholarly squabbles.

NEWARK-Thomas Conboy, a member of Saint Leo Parish in his hometown of Elmwood Park, is the new director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries of the Archdiocese of Newark.

In his new post, Conboy, who is an Elmwood Park councilman, will be responsible for promoting, in conjunction with the pastoral moderator and staff, the pastoral plan for youth ministry in the archdiocese in accordance with the guidelines of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. He will also direct day-to-day activities and ministry programs at the Kearny center.

NEWARK-Archbishop John J. Myers has appointed Sister Joanne Bednar, S.C.C., as the new archdiocesan Delegate for Religious, effective June 1.

Sister Joanne will serve as the liaison between Archbishop Myers and the communities of Religious men and women and those belonging to Secular Institutes within the Church of Newark. She succeeds Sister Margaret Thomas McGovern, O.P., of the Dominican Sisters of Caldwell who served some seven years prior to resigning for health reasons.

Collection is largest in Archdiocesan History in Response to Disaster Relief
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January 27, 2010

AREA — On Feb. 6 and 7, the 2010 Archbishop’s Annual Appeal (AAA) will kick off “pledge weekend” as parishes throughout the archdiocese gear up for the major fund-raising campaign.  Last year, despite the economic turmoil of a recession, the AAA managed to reach its goal of $10.5 million dollars in donations. This year, the appeal hopes to raise the same amount to benefit parishes, schools and charitable organizations throughout the four counties in the archdiocese.
The theme of this year’s appeal, “Fulfilling the Corporal Works of Mercy,” is especially poignant in continuingly difficult financial times. Jesus’ plea to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and aid those in need is extremely relevant today.

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EAST RUTHERFORD - Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the apostolic nuncio to the United States, issued a clarion call to North American vocation directors Sept. 28, addressing the ubiquitous "sense of emptiness and uncertainty" that troubles many young adults.

The keynote speaker for the 46th annual National Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors (NCDVD), which was held at the Sheraton Meadowlands Hotel and Convention Center, Archbishop Sambi spoke directly and forcefully to over 190 vocation directors, many of whom face daunting challenges with regard to cultivating priestly and Religious vocations in their respective communities.

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NEWARK-Heeding the advice of Pope Benedict XVI's call for encouragement of "spiritual perfection" as he declared a "Year for Priests," the Archdiocese of Newark has launched a series of events and liturgies to do just that.

It was, in many ways, a golden moment for Msgr. Joseph Chiang when members of his family were on hand to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his ordination during a Mass at Saint John Vianney Retirement Home, Rutherford, earlier this year.

NEWARK-As the oldest bishop in the United States, Archbishop Emeritus Peter L. Gerety has reached a multitude of ministerial milestones. The latest is the 70th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood on June 29, 1939. That will be followed by his 97th birthday July 19. He has served as a bishop for 43 years.
 
Archbishop John J. Myers and the entire Church of Newark will celebrate Archbishop Gerety's long and holy life with a commemorative noon Mass Monday, June 29, at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, 89 Ridge St., followed by a reception at the nearby Rink in Branch Brook Park.

Born in 1912, the oldest of nine boys, Archbishop Gerety credits his parents as among of the major influences on his decision to become a priest. Another source of inspiration was the clergy at his boyhood parish, Saint Joseph, located in his hometown of Shelton, CT.

NEWARK-As the oldest bishop in the United States, Archbishop Emeritus Peter L. Gerety has reached a multitude of ministerial milestones. The latest is the 70th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood on June 29, 1939. That will be followed by his 97th birthday July 19. He has served as a bishop for 43 years.

Pope Benedict XVI Honors 28 in Archdiocese



His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has bestowed the honorary title of Reverend Monsignor upon 18 priests of the Archdiocese of Newark, and further elevated two monsignors of the archdiocese. Eight Religious priests, Brothers and Sisters also were honored by the pontiff with the Benemerenti Medal for Religious men and women.

For the third time in recent years, the Archdiocese of Newark is leading the nation with the number of men to be ordained to the priesthood. Archbishop John J. Myers will ordain 13 new priests, including two who call the Church of Newark home, on Saturday, May 23, at 10 a.m. in the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, 89 Ridge St., Newark.

ELIZABETH-It was a celestial, "full-circle" moment for the principal of Blessed Sacrament elementary school and one of her former students, who is now a space traveler.

Students and staff at Blessed Sacrament welcomed NASA astronaut Col. Alvin Drew on Nov. 25. Drew, an Air Force colonel, is based at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. He was a member of the crew for the August 2007 Endeavor Space Shuttle mission that went into orbit and visited the International Space Station to make repairs and replenish supplies.

Special Windows Illuminate Mausoleum



COLONIA - Most Rev. Dominic A. Marconi, D.D., Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Newark, celebrated Mass Nov. 8 to dedicate Saint Gertrude Chapel Mausoleum of the Crucifixion.

In addition to creating a visually stunning sacred space for families to remember their loved ones, the chapel mausoleum now serves as the permanent archive and exhibition site for three vintage stained-glass windows that previously were part of the now-closed Saint Brigid Parish, North Bergen. A fourth window installed at the chapel-the Nativity scene- offers an interesting sidebar of "rediscovered" liturgical art history.

Since I was first called to serve as a bishop more than 20 years ago, I have taught plainly and forcefully on the primacy of protecting the sanctity and the dignity of life at all stages, and on the need to care and nurture pregnant women so they will choose to have their babies.

I have also plainly and forcefully taught that it is the responsibility of all Catholics, whether in public life or not, to form our consciences according to authentic Catholic teaching and tradition, and not societal fashions and fads. Even more so, it is our responsibility to live our teaching and tradition every day, not just on Sundays.

Most recently, I joined with the Administrative Committee of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to endorse statements by Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia and Bishop William E. Lori of Bridgeport, CT, that point out that life begins at conception, and that from her very beginning the Church has taught the grave moral evil of abortion.

The pilgrimage of the Salesians of Don Bosco Youth Ministry, South Orange, to World Youth Day (WYD), Sydney, Australia, last July was a long journey and spiritual quest that was three years in the making. Sixty-six members of the group worked hard to prepare themselves spiritually for this pilgrimage, taking part in special masses, retreats, increased prayer and meditations. Preparations also included making financial sacrifices to pay for the trip.

Archbishop provides background on decision made by Holy See



Every once in a while, especially as we come close to the day of an episcopal ordination, someone asks me about what is involved in selecting an auxiliary bishop. How does the process start? What are the steps that a diocese must follow? Does an auxiliary bishop always come from the diocese where he has served as a priest? Does the pope actually choose an auxiliary?

NEWARK-It would be profoundly accurate to say Dr. Irma Chavez is fluent in many fields: languages, academics, international relations and a broad spectrum of spiritual outreach encounters.

Working with Plainfield-based RENEW International for the past 25 years in areas such as her native El Salvador, Chavez has been to the poorest communities in Central America, spreading the Gospel. Interaction with dangerous young gang members in rural El Salvador is a far cry from her previous role traveling the globe as a diplomat's wife, college professor and poet.

Born to an Irish-American mother and a Nicaraguan/Spanish father in Cojutepeque, El Salvador, Chavez speaks Spanish, English, Italian, French and German. She was educated in Europe, earned a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Bologna, Italy, and master's degree in theology from Saint John's University, New York.

NEWARK-The Archdiocese of Newark will inaugurate its observance of the "Year of Saint Paul" with a special noon Mass to be celebrated by Archbishop John J. Myers on Sunday, June 29, at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart.

The worldwide celebration, proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI last year, will run from June 28 to June 29, 2009. Pope Benedict announced the Church's Pauline year marking the 2,000th anniversary of the saint's birth last June on the eve of the feast of Saint Paul and Saint Peter. The pontiff said the celebration year, to be marked by liturgies and special events in Rome, also should be celebrated in dioceses throughout the world.

North American Church leaders have issued calls for the faithful to study the life and missionary spirit of Saint Paul during the next 12 months (see The Catholic Advocate, May 7). Father C. Anthony Ziccardi, executive director of mission and ministry and a professor at Immaculate Conception Seminary on the South Orange campus of Seton Hall University, said most of the information on...

YONKERS, NY-"Take Courage! Fix your gaze to our saints," cried Pope Benedict XVI as he addressed the crowd of 22,000 young Catholics and seminarians from across the nation at Saint Joseph Seminary on April 19.

Large, colorful banners of yellow and violet were hung on the stage of the field where thousands gathered, including over 2,000 seminarians, on the field of the 40-acre seminary. The crowd was given flags in the papal colors of white and gold, which were emphatically waved as the Holy Father arrived on stage.

Pope Benedict, during his address, stressed the idea of courage in faith to the young people at the rally. "You are Christ's disciples today," he said. "Shine His light upon this great city and beyond."

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the dean of the College of Cardinals, was elected pope on Tuesday, April 19, 2005 in the shortest conclave in modern history. He succeeded Pope John Paul II who was the second-longest serving pope in recorded history: nearly 27 years. (Blessed Pius IX occupied the Chair of St. Peter for nearly 32 years, from 1846 to 1878.) He was reportedly elected on the fourth ballot with 84 of the 115 votes.

Cathedral Basilica to Host Evening Prayer on Feb. 11
Catholics around the world will join together during the month of February to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes. To honor the Blessed Virgin Mary on the occasion of this sesquicentennial event, Pope Benedict XVI has granted a Plenary Indulgence to those who honor her in a special way.

On this joyful occasion, all of the faithful of the Archdiocese of Newark are invited to participate in a celebration of evening prayer on Monday, Feb. 11, 7:30 p.m., at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, 89 Ridge Street, Newark, where, having fulfilled certain conditions, they will have the opportunity to gain the Plenary Indulgence. Archbishop John J. Myers will preside at the evening prayer.

Outreach Work Sparkles under Midnight Sun


SADDLE RIVER-In a far-away land famous for its cold weather, glaciers and "midnight sun," youth group members and their chaperones from St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish received a warm welcome. And then they went to work.

Leap of Faith Sparked Shift in her Career


From managing logistic operations for multimillion-dollar accounts to managing over 800 children at a summer catechetical program, Mahwah resident and religious educator Gladys Pozza has found that following her heart, creativity and a lot of organization are key to leading a fulfilling spiritual and professional life.

Archdiocese of Newark Celebrates Annual Mass Honoring Fire Service Personnel

With the ordination of 13 men to the priesthood on May 26 at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, the Archdiocese of Newark-for the second consecutive year- led the nation with the largest ordination class.

Teens, Young Adults Gather to Share Faith Experiences

KEARNY-Nearly 200 teenagers and young adults from across the Archdiocese of Newark gathered here at the Archdiocesan Youth Retreat Center on April 20-22 to attend Rejoice 2007.

The event was a chance to unplug from the distractions of the outside world and focus on faith. Instead of iPods, cell phones or MySpace, those attending the retreat opted to spend time in the presence of the Eucharist and in the company of other young people. All those who gathered were searching for one thing: a closer relationship with Jesus.

SOUTH ORANGE-Over bright lights, pounding guitars and screaming fans, an animated bald man in heavy makeup and black leather sings to an adoring crowd in a music video filmed in the 1980s.

A few years later, the same man sings-this time, with an acoustic guitar in hand, wearing plain jeans and a T-shirt and surrounded by a belting choir.

The St. Helen Parish community is active, multifaceted, and known for its numerous outreach efforts, its vibrant liturgical celebrations and programs for children and adults.

The most dramatic moment of the journey came when the group visited The Church of the Holy Sepulcher, traditionally identified as the site where Jesus was crucified and where Christianity literally marks its origins.

Along with 22 other seminarians, John Carlos De Sousa visited historical religious sites in Jerusalem. The seminary organizes trips every few years to religiously significant areas. De Sousa attended the last ICS trip to Greece two years go.