By early 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic at its strongest ran its course, and everything slowly returned to normal. Father Giovanni Rodriguez, then in his second year as pastor of St. Clement Pope and Martyr Parish in Rockaway Township, told Mary Beth Ramsey, then in her early days of being religious education director, that he wanted the parish’s children to have a greater sense of community.

The Partnership for Social Ser­vices in Franklin, part of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Paterson, welcomed Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney on March 19 to commemorate March for Meals.

The community of St. Paul Parish in Clifton on March 24 welcomed Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney who celebrated Mass for Palm Sunday.

As the Easter season dawns upon us, marking the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, I find myself reflecting on an upcoming journey to Indianapolis. In just a few short months, the Diocese of Paterson will embark on a pilgrimage to the National Eucharistic Congress.

The Permanent Diaconate of the Paterson Diocese celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Since the first class in 1974, 339 deacons have been ordained to serve the diocese. Currently, 91 deacons serve in active ministry.

In this space last week, I passed along the invitation and advice to “take the time to appreciate and enjoy Holy Week.” I offered some thoughts on Palm Sunday, on the opportunity to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Monday**, and on the Chrism Mass on Tuesday.

On March 11 at St. Rita Hall in St. Elizabeth University, in Morris Township, our Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney and Dr. Gary B. Crosby, president of the university, signed a document for the new National Catechetical Leader Certificate Program (NCLCP) to be offered this coming fall in partnership with the National Community of Catechetical Leaders (NCCL).

Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney presided over a St. Patrick’s Day Mass in the chapel of St. Joseph’s University Medical Center in Paterson with staff from St. Joseph’s Health on March 15. The liturgy was held two days before St. Patrick’s Day on March 17.

Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney installed Father Javier Bareno as pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Passaic during a Mass on March 17. The bishop concelebrated the installation Mass with Father Bareno, a native of Colombia, and many other priests.

What’s the secret to passing on the faith? A father and teenage son explore the nuances of this question and more with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney and co-host Jai Agnish for episode 47 of the Beyond The Beacon podcast.

It all depends on the roll — or rather the throw — of a giant inflatable die. This Lent, a Monopoly-like game, gives elementary students of Family Faith Formation at Notre Dame of Mount Carmel Parish a spiritual head start each Sunday.

Catholic young adults of the Paterson Diocese came together with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney for Praise and Worship with Eucharistic adoration, music, and confession on March 10 at St. Mary’s Parish in Pompton Lakes.

Father Boguslaw (Bogie) Kobus, pastor of Franklin’s Immaculate Conception Church, knew of the Legion of Mary ministry from his time spent as a missionary in Africa. When he arrived to pastor his new Sussex County flock, the ministry was not yet at the parish.

Six Catholics at a table agreed they love their faith, priests, and parishes. However, they want the Church to get better at following Jesus’ lead and become more open to all people, including those on society’s margins. This was the experience of those sitting at one table.

In Cardinal Roche’s latest book, The Gardens of God, the Prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments highlights some of the different biblical gardens — both physical and allegorical — that played a vital role in salvation history. In this brief article, I would like to focus on two of those gardens — the womb of our Blessed Mother and the empty tomb — in preparation for the celebration of the Paschal mystery.

“Take the time to enjoy and appreciate Holy Week.” I celebrated Confirmation at St. Matthew’s parish in Randolph on Saturday, March 16. In his remarks after Communion, the pastor, Father Brian Quinn, encouraged the newly confirmed, their sponsors, parents, and all those gathered, as we look forward to Holy Week, to “take the time to enjoy and appreciate Holy Week.” I hope that many readers have heard or shared this advice before, but I believe that it is worth repeating.

In a section of Morristown, often known as the “Dublin” neighborhood, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney celebrated the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade Mass in Assump­tion of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Morristown on March 9. Descendants of the early Irish immigrants to this area more than a century ago and many others who consider themselves Irish by blood or by heart attended the 9:30 a.m. Mass.

An “Encounter with Youth” was held at St. Paul Inside the Walls in Madison on March 6 as part of the diocese’s ongoing participation in the Synod on Synodality. Representing all seven of the high schools in the diocese, 65 students in grades 10th, 11th and 12th shared their ideas and reflections on how to grow as a Church with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney.

How can history inspire our faith? Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney and Jai Agnish visited Our Lady of the Magnificat (OLM) in Kinnelon, N.J., for a remote podcast episode last week.

This week, 50 priests in the Paterson Diocese heard encouraging news about vocations to priestly and religious life in the United States, which has declined sharply. These priests were reminded they could help their dioceses — and parishes — reverse this trend by creating and growing a fun, engaging, and faith-based “culture of vocations.”