Mount Saint Dominic Academy, Caldwell, will host “A Taste of Broadway,” an evening of Broadway music and wine, on Saturday, April 27, at the Doris M. Byrne Performing Arts Center, located on campus. The fund-raiser will begin with a wine tasting at 6 p.m. and musical review at 8 p.m.

NEWARK — Two Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Newark are among 50 private schools nationwide that have been recognized as 2012 National Blue Ribbon Schools. The two schools receiving this honor are Academy of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Tenafly, and Visitation Academy, Interparochial, Paramus. Last year seven Catholic schools in the archdiocese received Blue Ribbon recognition (see The Catholic Advocate, Aug. 22).

Last fall, seven Catholic elementary schools from the Archdiocese of Newark were recognized as 2011 National Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education (see The Catholic Advocate, Sept. 28, 2011). The prestigious award signals that local Catholic schools strive for academic excellence, according to Rev. Msgr. Kevin M. Hanbury, the archdiocesan vicar for education and superintendent of schools.

Only a few months ago, just about every form of our modern media showered constant attention on the occurrence of the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the RMS Titanic.  Some three months after this tragic loss of 1,500 lives, a child was born in Shelton, CT. Unlike the Titanic, this newborn baby is still alive and well as we celebrate his 100th birthday.

Caldwell College will host its 27th Veritas awards dinner Friday, March 23, 6 p.m., at the Essex Fells Country Club, 219 Devon Rd., Essex Fells. Veritas is the highest honor the college bestows on its graduates for their professional excellence in many fields.

NEWARK—The unwavering dedication of three individuals to the mission of RENEW International was honored June 2 at the organization’s 12th annual awards dinner. Sister Mary C. McGuinness, O.P., Ronald J. Bushwell, and William B. McGuire were rewarded for years of commitment to RENEW’s values. The Plainfield-based organization fosters spiritual renewal in the Catholic tradition by empowering individuals and communities to encounter God in everyday life, deepen and share faith, and connect faith with action. (see The Catholic Advocate, June 8)

SCOTCH PLAINS —Kimberly Leegan, a Humanities teacher at Union Catholic Reg-ional High School, was selected to attend the 2011 Microsoft U.S. Innovative Education Forum (IEF), July 28-29, on the Microsoft corporate campus in Redmond, WA. Managed by Microsoft Partners in Learning, the IEFs are a series of regional events held globally celebrating the achievements of innovative K-12 teachers and school leaders improving education by creatively implementing technology in the curriculum.

NEWARK—When the parish of Sacred Heart-Vailsburg closed this past summer, some current and former parishioners alike wondered what would become of the many beautiful statues, stained glass windows and liturgical items that had been as much a part of the life of the parish as the people themselves.

Archdiocesan staff involved in maintaining the patrimony of the parishes of the Archdiocese of Newark were equally concerned and began taking steps even before the Sacred Heart’s final Mass on June 30 to catalogue, assess the condition of, and secure hundreds of windows, statues, altars, baptismal fonts, tabernacles and liturgical vessels, and thus ensure their preservation and possible use within the Church in the future.

The prophesy of Isaiah regarding the birth of Christ came at time when the Arameans and the rest of Israel threatened to attack the land of Judah and make it desolate. The king of Judah, Ahaz was so disturbed and did not know what to do. The Lord sent Isaiah to reassure Ahaz that the threat of these enemies of God’s people “will not stand. It shall not be.” (Verse 7) and requested that Ahaz ask for a sign that this promise shall be so. But Ahaz refused. For him, to relate to God at that level was to tempt God since the relationship between God and man was that of fear and trembling, not that of friendship and love.

 NEWARK—Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Newark unveiled Holy Name Chapel Mausoleum, 823 West Side Ave., Jersey City, on Nov. 6, a two-story neoclassical granite structure that serves the Hudson County community as a house of worship, a place for quiet prayer and reflection and an archive of treasured, newly restored stained-glass windows. According to information provided by Catholic Cemeteries, the mausoleum features 13 windows that were removed from Saint Boniface Parish in Jersey City. Andrew P. Schafer, executive director of Catholic Cemeteries, said that from the outset the chapel mausoleum was designed specifically to accommodate these windows.

Saint Boniface Parish, now closed, was organized in the early 1860s, which served the large immigrant German population of lower Jersey City. The windows, completed in 1896, were designed by the Tyrolean Art Glass Studio of Innsbruck, Austria. Each window was given by either a family or organization of the Saint Boniface Parish community and depict figures such as Saint George, Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Saint Paul and Saint John the Evangelist.

SOUTH ORANGE - Immaculate Conception Seminary (ICS) will always be part of their lives.

As the venerable institution of priestly formation located on the campus of Seton Hall University (SHU) marks an astounding 150 years, three archdiocesan priests reflected recently on what Immaculate Conception Seminary meant to them while they were seminarians and how it influences practically every day of their varied ministries among God's people in the Church of Newark.

It is Holy Week, that time out of time, when we remember the most important events of all time: Jesus' suffering, His crucifixion, and His conquest of death. The world, of course, is filled with distractions. In this holy season some, especially the news media, want us to focus instead on the supposed failures of our Pope, Benedict XVI.

The New York Times is again leading the attack, now accusing the Holy Father himself of being complicit in "the widening sex abuse scandal in the Catholic Church." I want to share with you my reflections about this subject.

Unlike the Roman papacy, in certain circles 0 still enjoys the presumption of authority. So when the front page carries a story headlined "Vatican Declined to Defrock U.S. Priest Who Abused Deaf Boys," people notice.

Written by Laurie Goodstein and published March 25, the thrust is twofold. First, that the Rev. Lawrence Murphy, a priest who abused children at St. John's School for the Deaf in Milwaukee from the 1950s to the 1970s, went unpunished. Father Murphy, she wrote categorically, "was never tried or disciplined by the church's own justice system."

This all feeds the kicker: "the effort to dismiss Father Murphy came to a sudden halt after the priest appealed to Cardinal Ratzinger for leniency." In other words, Murphy got off scot-free, and the cardinal looked the other way.

Ms. Goodstein cites internal church documents, which the Times posted online. The documents were provided by Jeff Anderson and Mike Finnegan. They are described as "lawyers for five men who have brought four lawsuits against the Archdiocese of Milwaukee."

I have been troubled lately by the recent attacks in the media aimed at our Holy Father and his purported disregard for victims of sexual abuse. I can tell you from personal experience that the claims of disregard for victims that these media stories relate are clearly false; Pope Benedict XVI has dealt quickly and decisively with allegations, and he has been compassionate and understanding of the pain of victims of abuse.

These stories tell only half-truths and draw conclusions that do not stand up to honest scrutiny. I have joined with my brother bishops in the United States in condemning these stories and in standing fully in support of our pope.

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The Sacraments of Eucharist, Reconciliation and Confirmation for People with Developmental Disabilities:  A brief discussion of determining readiness ^1,2

For readiness for First Eucharist, Canon Law simply requires the ability to differentiate between the Host and regular food.  This can be nonverbally as well, by demonstrating reverence or pointing when asked where Jesus is, for example.  In the USCCB Guidelines to Celebration of the Sacraments for People with Disabilities, it says we should err on the side of inclusion^{_. 3}

For readiness for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, in general it is asked if there is the ability to communicate remorse or sadness for his/her actions, verbally or some other way.  It is also possible for the child to be ready to celebrate Eucharist, but not Reconciliation.  The Commentary acknowledges that parents, who have the primary responsibility for a child’s catechesis, may feel their child is not ready for the Sacrament of Reconciliation but is ready to celebrate First Eucharist. The important thing to note here is the deference to a parent’s determination of readiness. 

Relative to the Sacrament of Confirmation, Guidelines to Celebration of the Sacraments for People with Disabilities specifically says, “Persons who because of developmental or mental disabilities may never attain the use of reason are to be encouraged either directly or, if necessary, through their parents or guardian to receive the sacrament of confirmation at the appropriate time.”⁴  The Commentary’s discussion allows that preparation is not necessary for a person who does not have the use of reason.⁵  See below for more on this. 

The above specifically addresses the question of readiness.  Relative to preparation and celebration of the Sacraments, it is good to be as inclusive as possible.  There is significant value for all when there is at least some shared experiences for the person with a developmental disability and his/her peers preparing for the sacrament, as well as with connections with the worship community.  However, as in all questions of parish life, pastoral implications should be considered.  The preference of the person (if able to be determined) and the family are very important. 

Please feel free to contact the office for Pastoral Ministry with Persons with Disabilities regarding any questions or particular details.                   

973-497-4309      masteran@rcan.org        www.rcan.org/disabilities                 

So, here we are, Christmas Eve and we wonder where our Advent went. Maybe we resolved at the beginning of this holy season that this year was going to be different. We weren't going to get so caught up in the commercial. Certainly the state of the economy and the lightness of our pocketbooks might have "helped" keep that promise.

Still, now that Christmas is upon us, we might wish we had done better in focusing our thoughts on the reason for the season. But, like Scrooge awakening from his dreams and finding he hasn't missed Christmas at all, it's not too late for us either. Just because we have misplaced the spirit of Christmas doesn't mean we can't reclaim it. It's as near as the excited faces of our children and grandchildren or the warmth we feel on truly listening to an ancient carol.

Urgent Call to Protect, Promote Marriage
In the face of the attempts to establish same-sex "marriage," the Catholic Bishops of New Jersey have issued a comprehensive message: "The Call to Marriage is Woven Deeply into the Human Spirit."

The message from the NJ bishops calls upon all Catholics to: protect and promote marriage; hold firm to the Church's teaching on marriage and the complementarity of the sexes; support all family members, including those who choose to remain single; help those entering marriage to prepare for the challenges, sacrifices and joys to come; and reach out with the special compassion of Christ to those married couples and families experiencing difficulties, anxiety and illness.

NEWARK-An archdiocesan taskforce has been formed to work in solidarity with the national "Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America," which is being coordinated by Catholic Charities USA. The taskforce will work as a partner with similar organizations in other dioceses in New Jersey and throughout the United States.

Ecumenical Dialogue Strives for Unity

"Pray for those who will believe in me through their word that all may be one as you, Father, are in me and I in you. I pray that... they may be one as we are one... that their unity may be complete"
(John 17:21-23)

The goal of the international ecumenical movement is "visible unity" among all of Christ's disciples; unity in a common understanding of the one apostolic faith, a common sacramental life and a common understanding of ministry, which for Catholics means hierarchical ministry.

Through the covenant, Israel was initiated into intimacy with God, which may be described as a filial bond. "I have called my son out of Egypt" (Hos 11:1; see Ex 4:22-23). Brought into God's family, Israelites should recognize the divine presence in their midst. The title "glory" designates the impressive, illuminating presence of God, especially associated with the Temple that demands acknowledgment (which is the act of "giving glory" to God).

Former Pastor Recalls his Path to Priesthood



While serving as a pastor during the past nine years, Father John D. Gabriel, saw the parish as a focal point of supporting men who are considering the priesthood. Now, as the new director of vocations for the Archdiocese of Newark, that outlook will carry an even greater emphasis and sense of urgency. A product of Nativity Parish in Midland Park, Fr. Gabriel was ordained in the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark 21 years ago. Looking back fondly on his recent pastorate at Saint Thomas More Parish in Fairfield, he says it was "perfect preparation" for his new responsibilities at the Newark chancery.

NEWARK-The Urban Ministry Task Force-the first in a comprehensive evaluation of spiritual, cultural, economic and community life throughout the four counties of the Archdiocese of Newark-is defining and addressing challenges faced by inner-city parishes.

NEWARK-When the people of the Archdiocese of Newark join with others from around the world on the weekend of Feb. 16 and 17 to celebrate World Marriage Day, they will be doing much more than honoring the lifelong commitment of husband and wife and the openness to life.

They will be taking a stand, along with hundreds of thousands of people of all faiths across the state, to defend the definition of marriage as a union of one man and one woman at a time when the very meaning of marriage itself is being challenged by a society more focused on individual satisfaction than on God's plan for married couples as seen in the Old Testament and the Gospel. They also will continue to recognize that while traditional marriages may not always be perfect, they are by far the best setting for a child to grow and learn while excercising his or her natural right to know, love and be loved by his or her natural parents.

Small Allotment Provided to Archdiocesan Parishes

NEWARK-Pope Benedict's choice to celebrate the Eucharist with the Catholic people of the tri-state area at Yankee Stadium on Sunday, April 20, during the Easter season, makes this first Papal Visit to the United States a special blessing.

JERSEY CITY-Archbishop John J. Myers brought something very large into the Grand Banks Café on a Tuesday night in July: a spiritual concept of self discovery that challenges a person to "give themselves away" in order to discover the roadmap for a life journey.

CALDWELL-Immaculee Ilibagiza stood before 600 people on the stage of the Caldwell College student center auditorium and discussed how the power of prayer saved her life 13 years ago.

It was, she admitted, a simple message, but one that was born out of living through a complex nightmare of mayhem and death.