Bishop O’Connell reflects on the Christmas Season’s Feasts and Solemnities December 28, 2021The “Christmas Season” in the Catholic Church lasts from Christmas Eve until the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord and includes Christmas; the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph (December 26, 2021); the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God[…]
Christmas: Make it last A Christmas message from Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. Wouldn’t it be great if we could hold on to our youthful Christmas excitement and enthusiasm for our whole lives? Remember what it was like when you were younger, how you waited with such expectation and joy for Christmas Day to arrive?[…]
On Dec. 17, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., issued “Advent and the surprise of Christmas,” a message for the fourth Sunday of Advent. An excerpt follows: The four weeks of Advent, which will soon draw to a close, are like a snapshot, a miniature, a glimpse of the whole of salvation history. The themes of[…]
Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., shared a reflection Dec. 10 for the third Sunday of Advent: ‘I say it again: Rejoice!’ For most of us, the idea of “going home” brings eagerness, comfort and joy, whether it be simply after a long day at work or, in some cases, a much longer period of separation.[…]
In his reflection for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on December 8, 2021, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., shares “Nothing is impossible with God” NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD Never had our world heard better news than that spoken by the Angel Gabriel to an innocent Jewish maiden, barely a teenager, in today’s Gospel[…]
A Voice Cries Out: Prepare His Way A reflection by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. In this Sunday’s passage from Luke’s Gospel (3:1-6), St. John the Baptist features prominently, proclaiming a “baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” The sacred author reminds us of the words of the prophet Isaiah which he uses to[…]
The Diocese of Trenton will once again take part in #GivingTuesday on Nov. 30 to raise funds in support of Catholic schools. As a national day of philanthropy, #GivingTuesday was established in 2012 and has garnered millions of acts of generosity in the form of monetary donations and volunteerism. The Diocese of Trenton has participated[…]
Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., issued the following message Nov. 26: The Church year is celebrated with different seasons: Advent, Christmas, Ordinary Time, Lent, Easter, Pentecost. This weekend, we begin the Season of Advent: four weeks before Christmas. The two seasons are related but distinct. Advent is NOT Christmas; Advent is the beginning of the[…]
Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., shared the following message with his community for the Thanksgiving holiday: Give thanks to God for all his gifts, especially faith, family and friends. With grateful prayers and best wishes this Thanksgiving! More than 100 members of the catechetical ministry from across the Diocese were asked to “imagine what could[…]
Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., joins other U.S. bishops for the annual USCCB Fall General Assembly held Nov. 15-18 in Baltimore. This will be the first in-person meeting of the full body of bishops since November 2019. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the June 2020 spring meeting was canceled, and the November 2020 fall[…]
