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.”

Join Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney and Communications Director Jai Agnish for episode 33 of Beyond The Beacon, a podcast of the Diocese of Paterson, N.J. Bishop Sweeney gave a Thanksgiving message and reflected on what he is grateful for.

The faith community of St. Simon the Apostle Parish in the Green Pond neighborhood of Rockaway Township welcomed Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney on Nov. 23 for Thanks­giving Day Mass.

The Paterson Diocese Federation Knights of Columbus honored priests on Nov. 20 at its annual “Pride in Our Priests” dinner at Hanover Manor.

At one of the most culturally diverse parishes in the diocese, parishioners of St. Paul in Clifton celebrated their rich diversity with a bilingual Mass for the Feast of the Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, also known as the Feast of Christ the King, on Nov. 26.

Just one look, and she was smitten. Peter Mastroianni and Chantal Marneffe met by chance at a Christmas party in Hobo­ken in 1996. Chantal said she was taken by Peter’s beautiful blue eyes. For Peter, the attraction was mutual. They fell in love, got engaged nine months later, and married on Sept. 12, 1998, in St. Ignatius Loyola Church in Hicksville, N.Y.

Earlier in his legal career, Deacon Joseph Bianco found himself in some anxiety-ridden and dangerous situations — including the possibility of being murdered. As a federal prosecutor and later as a federal judge, Deacon Bianco was part of such cases that involved the mafia, the MS-13 gang, and Al Qaeda terrorists after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. Today, he serves as a judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Several parishes in the Diocese of Paterson have hosted watch parties for the popular series about the life of Jesus called The Chosen. Church of Christ the King in Harding Township and St. Therese Parish of Roxbury Township are two of those parishes.

Last week, 650 local families in need enjoyed fully prepared Thanksgiving dinners — giving them much-needed holiday cheer — thanks to the fourth annual Thankful Giving Initiative through Catholic Charities.

The Eternal City welcomed about 100 Latin-American priests who currently serve Spanish-speaking communities in their respective dioceses in the U.S. The association was established in 1989 and is recognized by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The words above are the opening paragraph of the Synthesis Report from the first session of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, also known as the “Synod on Synodality.” In the following introductory paragraphs, the synod delegates describe the circumstances leading up to the gathering and speak of their awareness, during the gathering, of those suffering in various parts of the world, especially victims of war.

Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney celebrated a Mass on Nov. 12 to mark the closing of the 155th anniversary celebrations of St. Joseph’s Health. The liturgy was held in Holy Family Chapel at St. Elizabeth University in the Convent Station neighborhood of Morris Township.

The National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) took place in Indianapolis, Ind. Nov. 16–18 and 29 youth and their chaperones from the Diocese of Paterson were in attendance with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney.

Bishop Emeritus Arthur J. Serratelli was honored on Nov. 9 for his nearly 16 years of strong leadership of the Paterson Diocese and Catholic Charities. Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney recognized Bishop Serratelli with the Bishop’s Award at this year’s Caritas Gala — the largest annual fundraiser for Catholic Charities — at the Meadow Wood in Randolph.

Days before Thanksgiving, the narthex in Our Lady of Good Counsel (OLGC) Church buzzed with activity. On Nov. 19, an army of volunteers assembled baskets for those in need with all the “fixings” for a holiday meal. Meanwhile, donated turkeys were being collected outside.

Seventy-six couples who were married 25, 50, and up to 70 years ago celebrated their significant anniversaries and renewed their wedding vows before Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney on Nov. 12 at the annual diocesan Silver and Gold Mass in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson.

When I celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation, I sometimes mention that “Piety” is one of the more “under-appreciated” of the seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Join Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney and Communications Director Jai Agnish for episode 32 of Beyond The Beacon, a podcast of the Diocese of Paterson, N.J. Seminarian Carlos Vargas and Father Charlie Lana — assistant vocation director for the diocese — talk priestly vocations as part of National Vocations Awareness Week.

Corazón Puro held a Night of Eucharistic Praise on Nov. 10 at Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace Chapel and the Bishop Rodimer Catholic Campus Ministry Center in Haledon.

120 years of faith St. Stephen Roman Catholic Magyar Parish in Passaic marked its 120th anniversary on Nov. 12 with a Mass celebrated by Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney.