Having long rested quietly atop Mary’s altar in the beautiful and iconic Sacred Heart Church, Trenton, a 600-year-old work of art is getting new attention as part of a national video series on the healing power of beauty.
The painting is the subject of a video titled “Hidden in Plain Sight,” which is narrated by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C. M., for the series curated by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The series, “Beauty Heals,” features short videos in which bishops tell the stories of meaningful works of art in their dioceses. In an introduction to the series, the creators explain that the initiative is a response to a reported uptick in incidents of vandalism against houses of worship and symbols of faith: “The recent vandalism of churches and their sacred art gives us the opportunity to bear witness to our hope in the Lord whose beauty is revealed on the Cross. ‘Beauty Heals’ invites us to learn about works of devotional art significant to local churches and how they inspire Catholics to live beautifully.”
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To view the video click here.
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Knights of Columbus councils throughout the United States have joyfully looked forward to Oct. 31, the day that their founder, Father Michael J. McGivney, was to be beatified. In the Diocese of Trenton, that long-awaited event will be commemorated two weeks later during a Mass of Thanksgiving and the presentation of a special gift to the local Knights councils.
The Vatican announced the beatification in May, when Pope Francis signed the decree recognizing a miracle through the intercession of Father McGivney. That cleared the way for his beatification, which took place during a Mass celebrated in St. Joseph Cathedral in Hartford, Conn. by Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin of Newark. Attendance was limited, but a video of the Mass is available on www.kofc.org.
Locally, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving for the Beatification of Blessed Father Michael J. McGivney Nov. 14 at 10:30 a.m. in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold. Due to COVID restrictions, attendance will be limited to Knights and their families, and will be by invitation only, with all safety and health protocols observed. The Mass will be livestreamed by the Diocese and can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/user/trentondiocese.
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For a related story on Blessed McGivney, click here.
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Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., announced the morning of Nov. 2 that Trinitarian Father Thomas Morris, pastor of Incarnation-St. James Parish, Ewing, since July 1, 2016, died suddenly.
The Mass will be at 11 a.m. Nov. 7 in St. James Church, 11 East Paul Ave., Trenton. There will be no visitation and all COVID-19 diocesan directives will be followed.
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The fifth annual celebration of Las Antorchas Guadalupanas – Torches of Our Lady of Guadalupe, “A Season of Remembrance” — was held Oct. 30, in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold. The ceremonial lighting kicks off the annual pilgrimage, which was started in the Diocese in 2016 and has become a tradition leading up to the celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Dec. 12.
The torches, of which there are 17 this year, will now travel throughout the four counties of the Diocese during November and early December visiting parishes, schools and Catholic service organizations. The pilgrimage will conclude Dec. 5 when the traveling torches will be brought together in Trenton for a Mass in the city’s St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral. This year’s pilgrimage of torches has taken on special meaning with its dedication to the memory of those who have died from any illness, including the coronavirus, and their grieving loved ones.
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