Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney was joined by guest co-host Brian Honsberger for episode 35 of Beyond The Beacon, a podcast of the Diocese of Paterson, N.J. They explored the richness of the Hispanic Catholic experience with Maria Moncaleano, the director of the Office of Hispanic Ministry for the diocese.

In January 1999, Pope John Paul II established the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe in America and bequeathed the dignity of a liturgical feast to Dec. 12 for the Universal Church. He referred to the Virgin of Guadalupe as the “Star of the First and New Evangelization in America.”

The enchanting image of the Christmas crèche, so dear to the Christian people, never ceases to arouse amazement and wonder. The depiction of Jesus’ birth is itself a simple and joyful procla­mation of the mystery of the Incarnation of the Son of God.

On Dec. 9, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney led the diocesan celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe during a Mass in St. Peter The Apostle Church in Parsippany. The feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe is Dec. 12.

Members of the Paterson Fire Department held their 30th annual home-cooked Christmas dinner on Dec. 5 at fire headquarters in memory of Sister of Charity Loretta Weingart and to all living religious.

For its 26th year, Holy Trinity Parish in Passaic hosted a well-attended celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe. This year’s event was held on Dec. 10 with a procession through the streets of Passaic, followed by a Mass in Spanish celebrated by Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney.

The diocesan Office for Hispanic Ministry held the annual “Noche de las Velitas” (“Night of the Little Candles”) on Dec. 3 on the grounds of Holy Face Monastery in Clifton. Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney participated in the event, a Latin-American tradition that honors the Immaculate Conception.

The Diocesan Commission of Catholic Filipino Ministries invites the faithful to participate in this year’s “Simbang Gabi” celebration. It’s a nine-day novena in preparation for the Nativity of Jesus Christ to be held in 17 local churches, from Friday, Dec. 15 to Saturday, Dec. 23.

A veteran, by the initials of R.W., found herself unexpectedly homeless on Dec. 23 after another local agency unexpectedly discontinued services. Swiftly responding to this crisis, our Catholic Family and Community Services (CFCS) veteran program staff sprang into action. Through the collective goodwill of compassionate individuals, we secured a two-week hotel stay for R.W.

It was the end of an era — and the start of a new one — for the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia (formerly of Ringwood) on Dec. 12. They closed their last community that served the Paterson Diocese, ending 92 years of service to the Church here.

The Night of the Little Candles, celebrated every Dec. 7, marks the beginning of Christmas festivities in various Latin American countries. This tradition, part of Latin American popular culture, particularly in Colombia, has its roots in the commemoration of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. As such, it has become a festivity full of meaning and symbolism for the faithful.

“The people of Poland offered hospitality of Biblical proportions …” — The words quoted above represent just some of the observations and insights that were shared by Msgr. Peter Vaccari when he led the annual Advent Day of Prayer for the priests of our diocese this past Monday, Dec. 4, at our St. Paul’s Inside the Walls Evangelization Center.

Join Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney and Communications Director Jai Agnish for episode 34 of Beyond The Beacon, a podcast of the Diocese of Paterson, N.J.

Father Sean McDonnell was installed as pastor of Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish in Lake Hopatcong by Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney on Dec. 2 during a Mass in the church.

The faith community of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Rockaway marked a century of faith on Dec. 3 at a Mass celebrated by Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney in the church.

A monthly Mass for Life at St. Margaret of Scotland Church in Morristown was celebrated by Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney on Dec. 2. After the Mass, he led an outdoor rosary procession for life to Planned Parenthood on Speedwell Avenue, where he prayed the rosary with congregants for an end to abortion.

Last week, Rocco Rodden, 17, a standout football player at St. Joseph Regional High School in Montvale, was remembered on Nov. 30 at his funeral Mass as an “original,” who lived out his faith with compassion, humor, and goodness that came from God. Rodden’s faith-filled life was cut short when he was allegedly stabbed during an altercation on Thanksgiving day in lower Man­hattan, according to news reports.

It was the highlight of her week. Every Saturday, Irene Jeyowski couldn’t wait to feel the joy she experienced proclaiming the word of the Lord as lector of the 5 p.m. Mass. Each week, Jeyowski got to share the Scriptures that help sustain her with her longtime family of faith at the Diocesan Shrine of St. John Paul II/Holy Rosary Parish in Passaic.

On the First Sunday of Advent, together with the whole Church, we begin a new “Liturgical Year.” This year, because Dec. 25 falls on a Monday, the Advent Season will last just three weeks, as the Fourth Sunday of Advent will fall on Dec. 24. So, on Sunday, Dec. 24, it will be Advent in the morning, but, just a few hours later (at approximately 4 p.m.), we will begin the celebration of our Lord’s Birth on “Christmas Eve.”