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“Welcome Home” is the initiative of the Diocese of Paterson to encourage every Catholic to go to confession during Lent in preparation for the Solemnity of Easter. Every Monday evening, from February 22 to March 22, churches in the diocese will be open from 7 to 8:30 for the sacrament of penance. All of us, old and young, should approach the sacrament of penance during this holy time.

The Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments has directed priests to take special anti-COVID 19 precautions this year when distributing ashes on Ash Wednesday, February 17, including sprinkling of ashes on the top of the head rather than making a cross on the person’s forehead. The Vatican document further says that the priest sprinkles the ashes with holy water without saying anything, says only once to the entire congregation – “Remember that you are dust and unto dust shall you return,” cleanses his hands, puts on a face mask and sprinkles the ashes on the top of the head of those who come before him without saying anything. Sprinkling ashes on the top of people’s heads, rather than marking the foreheads with ashes, is the customary practice at the Vatican and in Italy. Given the spread of the coronavirus, the practice has the advantage of not requiring the priest to touch multiple people.

A Holy Hour for Life will take place on January 22nd at St. Mary's in Denville from 12:30 - 1:30, following the noon Mass.

Bishop Sweeney is inviting you to attend this year’s diocesan Christmas concert on Friday, December 18th at 7 p.m. This year’s concert will be live-streamed by visiting: www.patersondiocese.org.

Simbang Gabi—You are cordially invited to join our Diocesan and parish-sponsored Simbang Gabi (Filipino for “Mass of the Night or Evening”) celebration @ Sacred Heart of Jesus, 63 E. Main St., Rockaway: Sunday, December 20th - Eucharistic Celebration at 5:00 pm - Rev. Cerilo Javinez, Main Celebrant - Rev. Pawel Bala, Pastor - For more info, please contact Elmer @ 973-664-1949

His Excellency, Bishop Kevin Sweeney will celebrate the Holy Mass for the intention of the unborn on Saturday, November 21st at the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Paterson at 10:00 a.m. The Mass is sponsored by the Paterson Federation of the Knights of Columbus. All are encouraged to participate and pray via livestream at www.rcdop.org/live. Prayer changes things!

Our Bishop invites you to join with him in a Rosary procession on Sunday, October 11th beginning at 3 pm starting at Saint Paul Inside the Walls in Madison TO St. Thomas More Church in Convent Station. All participants must wear a face mask. The event will take place rain or shine. Let join our Bishop to pray the Rosary for our Nation. Bring your rosary and bring your family! This event is being sponsored by the Order of Malta. For additional information contact Christine Myers at cmgorski@gmail.com.

IN HONOR OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI - When: Saturday, October 10, 2020 - Where: Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish - (Behind the church) - Time: 11:00 am

All are invited to join with the faithful in praying the Rosary outside of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church on Saturday, October 10th beginning at 12 Noon. Join the 2020 Public Square Rosary Crusade today as we pray for our world and one another.

Couples, were you married in 1995? The Diocese of Paterson invites you to celebrate your 25th wedding anniversary during a special Mass to be offered at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, NJ. Bishop Sweeney will serve as main celebrant on this joyful occasion to be held: Sunday, November 8th, 2020 at 3:30 pm. Arrangements can be made by contacting the parish office. The deadline to register is Thursday, October 1st, 2020. You will receive additional information from the Office of Family Life once your registration has been processed. Congratulations on this joyous occasion!

Our Diocesan-wide Corpus Christi Food Drive will conclude on Friday, but there is still time to feed the hungry throughout our Diocese. Visit www.ccpaterson.org/corpus to make a monetary donation or for more information about this important effort. Visit www.yougivegoods.com/ccpaterson-fooddrive2020 to find our parish, and shop for Catholic Charities’ pantries in need. You may also email: Info@ccpaterson.org or call (973) 737-2077 ext.403 with any questions. Thank you for supporting this important effort during this critical time. God bless you all!

Due to the closure of the church during Holy Week the annual Chrism Mass was cancelled. His Excellency, Bishop Kevin Sweeney has rescheduled the Chrism Mass for Wednesday evening, July 22nd at the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Paterson. Due to restrictions this liturgy is by invitation only. Holy Oils will be distributed to all the parishes to be used for sacramental purposes until Holy Week 2021.

By Mandate of the Apostolic Administrator Public Celebration of the Liturgy Resumes on the Solemnity of The Body and Blood of Christ On the weekend of June 13-14, the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, the churches and institutions of the Diocese of Paterson are to resume publicly celebrating the Sacred Liturgy with the faithful. Public celebrations of Holy Mass and all of the Sacraments must be in accord with previously issued Health and Safety Protocols which remain in effect until further notice. The Protocols for the Reopening of Churches to Public Liturgical Celebrations issued on May 18, 2020 by the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese are to be followed for the safety and health of all. Most Rev. Arthur J. Serratelli, S.T.D., S.S.L, .D.D. Apostolic Administrator

This weekend we celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi and Bishop Serratelli is asking all parishes to participate in our Diocesan-wide Corpus Christi Food Drive. This year, the drive has gone virtual, and you can shop online and have items directly shipped to Catholic Charities Food Pantries. Visit www.ccpaterson.org/corpus to make a monetary donation or for more information about this important effort. Visit www.yougivegoods.com/ccpaterson-fooddrive2020 to find our parish, and shop for our pantries in need. You may also email: Info@ccpaterson.org or call (973) 737-2077 ext.403 with any questions or to donate food directly to Catholic Charities Food Pantries.

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted those living in poverty the most and Catholic Charities, Diocese of Paterson's 3 Food Pantries (Father English Center, Paterson; Hope House, Dover; and Partnership for Social Services, Franklin) are giving out more food than ever before. Most months, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Paterson gives out food to 5,000 - 7,000 people at their 3 food pantries. In April of 2020, this number practically doubled, as they helped over 11,000 individuals who are feeling the direct economic impact of COVID-19. Bishop Serratelli has authorized a Catholic Charities Diocesan-wide food collection in all parishes. This year, the drive has gone virtual, and you can shop online and have items directly shipped to Catholic Charities Food Pantries. Visit www.ccpaterson.org/corpus for more information and visit www.yougivegoods.com/ccpaterson-fooddrive2020 to find our parish, and shop for our pantries in need. You may also email: Info@ccpaterson.org or call (973) 737-2077 ext.403 with any questions or to donate food directly to Catholic Charities Food Pantries.

The clothing bins in St. Cecilia Church parking lot that support the work of Catholic Charities have been re-open! Your support is appreciated!

Good and gracious God, we stand on the threshold of a new time for our diocese. As we cross that threshold in thankfulness, we ask you to pour out an abundance of grace on our Bishop-elect Kevin Sweeney that he may faithfully assume his ministry among us and that, together with him, we may work for the building up of our local church. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

“All Catholic cemeteries in the Paterson Diocese will be open to visitors from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. beginning this Sunday, Mother’s Day, and remain open for visitation every Sunday thereafter. Beginning on Monday, May 11th, visitation will be from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, allowing the public to visit the cemeteries after all interments are completed. This is to allow cemetery staffs the time to handle internments earlier in the day. Those who visit the graves of their loved ones must observe the requirements of social distancing and maintain a group of no more than 10 persons. These changes will remain in effect at each cemetery as long as health and safety regulations are observed.”

Unfortunately evil is always at work and so I share with you a matter that has recently been brought to the attention of churches live streaming liturgical services. There have been reports of hackers breaking into live streaming services and interrupting with obscene language and images. Please know that we are doing everything possible to maintain the integrity of our parish broadcasts. Parents should stay vigilant. May St. Michael the Archangel protect us from this evil. – Fr. Pawel

The Mayors of Rockaway Borough and Township have requested that all churches ring their bells each Sunday at 10:00 am to draw attention to the need of prayer for relief from Coronavirus. Please remember to pray each Sunday at 10:00 am by saying the “Hail Mary”.