Loving God and Father, You have given us every good gift and promised to be with us always. We ask for your blessing as we journey through this Year of Youth in the Diocese of Trenton.

Even though St. Stanislaus Kostka was born more than 400 years ago, he experienced something many students experience today – bullying.

St. Catherine was born in the second century A.D. to a wealthy family in Alexandria, Egypt. She studied science, philosophy and medicine, and was admired for her knowledge and her beauty. She had many suitors, but turned them all away, considering none of them her equal.

The Student's of Monmouth University are invited to take part in Catholic Campus Ministry April and May events at the Catholic Center and at Saint Michael's Church in West Long Branch. 

The faithful are invited to take part in 24 Hours for the Lord, the Lenten observance called by Pope Francis and observed in dioceses around the world.

Meet people from around the Diocese of Trenton who share their personal experiences of how they are helping build the culture of life in their communities.

As with so many traditions in the Church, Lent has evolved over the years.  People began to emphasize more “giving” rather than “giving up.”  The sober and serious tone of the forty days of Lent, beginning with Ash Wednesday, became lighter and less intense. 

St. Teresa was baptized Juana Enriqueta Josefina Fernandez Solar on July 13, 1900, in Santiago, Chile. She grew up in a loving, faith-filled family, with her parents, two sisters and three brothers, surrounded also by her great-grandfather, aunts, uncles and cousins. Those who knew her well called her Juanita.

The liturgical season of Lent will begin Wednesday, March 6. To commemorate this new season,Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. has recently issued his 2019 Lenten Reflection and instructions to his flock on the faithful observance of Lent. 

All teens and their families are invited to view a special screening and discussion of the 2018 feature film “Paul, Apostle of Christ.” 

Catholic Men for Jesus Christ will present its 22nd Annual Men’s Conference on Feb. 23 in St. Mary Parish, 19 Cherry Tree Farm Rd., Middletown.

It is my sad duty to announce the death on Jan. 22, 2019 of the Most Rev. John Mortimer Smith, Bishop Emeritus (2010-2019) and Ninth Bishop of the Diocese of Trenton (1997-2010), former Coadjutor Bishop of Trenton (1995-1997), former Bishop of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee in Florida (1991-1995) and former Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Newark (1988-1991).  Bishop Smith died in Morris Hall Meadows, Lawrenceville, after a long illness. He was 83 years old. 

I have said it before and I say it again.  There is one thing we all have in common, my brothers and sisters.  Regardless of our race or place of natural origin; regardless of our religion or absence of it; regardless of our age or status or station in life: God gave us the gift of life which our mothers carried until the day of our birth. We were allowed to live! 

José Sánchez del Río was born in the western Mexican state of Michoacán de Ocampo on March 28, 1913. When the Cristero War erupted in 1926, he begged his mother to allow him to join his brothers as a soldier supporting Catholic efforts. She refused but he persisted. Even at his tender age, José possessed a remarkable faith. When his mother relented, the boy performed menial tasks for the Cristeros forces. His dedication to Christ the King — mature beyond his years — never wavered. Despite governmental prohibition of the public practice of religion, José attended Mass whenever possible, received Holy Communion and never hesitated to proclaim his faith.

While we don’t know too much about his early life, what we do know is that young Pedro Calungsod loved the Lord. He was born around 1654 in Visayas, part of the Philippines controlled by the Spanish empire. He was taught by Spanish Jesuit missionaries there and excelled in the study of the Catechism, so much so that, around the age of 14, he accompanied some of the Jesuit priests — among them, Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores — and other lay volunteers on a missionary trip to Guam in the Marianas Islands. San Vitores is credited with establishing the first Catholic Church on the Islands.