Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. has shared a Christmas message this year exhorting faithful in the Diocese of Trenton to slow down, and take a few moments in this season to reflect on the birth of Christ in silence:

The manger scene, the crèche.  We know the words that tell its story. We have read and heard them many times before and even struggled to put them into other words, homilies written to say just what the story means.

But silence is the sound that makes me hear their lesson differently.

The child and his mother; St. Joseph and the shepherds; the kings along their way; the stable; the crib of straw; the animals all around; the star and the angel.  “Behold, I bring you glad tidings of great joy.”

Joy is often easier to hear about in “glad tidings” that are shared with others.

It sounds different, however, when we are alone. And sometimes it is good just to be alone, to push aside the rest of the world for a moment or two and listen to the reasons for Christmas joy: the One who was delivered that Christmas night has brought deliverance. The One who was innocent has saved the guilty. The One whose birth was so humble has scattered the proud and lifted up the lowly. The One who was born has given new birth to us all. 

The Diocesan Chancery in Lawrenceville recently announced its schedule for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.

In order to allow staff time to spend with their loved ones this Christmas, the Chancery will be closed on Dec. 24-26, returning to regular business hours on Friday, Dec. 27 at 9 a.m.

The Chancery offices will again close for New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, and New Year’s Day, Jan. 1, and reopening  at 9 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 2.

Please hold in prayer the soul of Deacon Neil Pirozzi, beloved Father, Friend and Colleague, who died Dec. 19.

Check back with TrentonMonitor.com for viewing and funeral information, which will be posted as soon as they become available.