Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., shared prayers released at the Vatican for the newly-established Year of St. Joseph.  The special declaration took place Dec. 8, 2020 to mark the 150th anniversary of St. Joseph’s title as “Patron of the Universal Church,” Pope Francis encouraged Catholics throughout the world to join him in prayer, including the following:

Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer, 
Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. 
To you God entrusted his only Son; 
in you Mary placed her trust; 
with you Christ became man.
Blessed Joseph, to us too,
show yourself a father 
and guide us in the path of life. 
Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage, 
and defend us from every evil.  Amen.

To learn more about the Year of St. Joseph, and for additional prayers for this special year, click here.

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In his Christmas Eve homily, Bishop O’Connell acknowledged the challenges that the pandemic-stricken world has experienced in the past year and urged every faithful person to look to the hope that Christmas brings.

“This Christmas is an invitation to us and to all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ to let the mystery in, to let it warm our hearts and make them feel new, to let it influence our way of looking at the world he came to save, to give ‘glory to God’ as we embrace one another – although at a distance, although online, although livestreamed yet no less real or compelling – in love, in compassion, in forgiveness, in mercy.”

Bishop O’Connell preached during the Christmas Eve Vigil Mass  in St. Gregory the Great Church, Hamilton Square, and midnight Mass in St. Rose Church, Belmar. 

To read his homily click here. 

To view video streams from the Masses, click here for Mass at St. Gregory the Great Church, Hamilton Square and here for midnight Mass in St. Rose Church, Belmar.