World Mission Sunday was celebrated in the Paterson Diocese with an annual Mass on Oct. 22 at St. Paul Church in Prospect Park. Father Paul Manning, the diocesan vicar for evangelization, was the main celebrant of the Mass, which was concelebrated by about eight missionary priests. Religious sisters from around the diocese also attended.

The community of the Shrine of St. John Paul II/Holy Rosary Parish in Passaic honored St. John Paul II with a Mass on his feast day, Oct. 22. The Mass was followed by a procession.

The Catholic Academy of Sussex County in Sparta on Oct. 17 welcomed Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney, who celebrated Mass for the opening of the new academic year.

The Hispanic Diocesan Catechetical Conference was held on Oct. 21 at Saint Elizabeth University in Morristown. Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney was the main celebrant of a Mass during the event.

The Department for Persons with Disabili­ties (DPD) of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Paterson, established in 1965, supports over 300 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities each day. This pioneer agency was founded by Msgr. John Wehrlen to provide critical support to families who have a loved one with special needs.

After six years and a worldwide pandemic that caused two cancellations, the Diocese of Paterson returned back to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington earlier this month.

Join Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney and Communications Director Jai Agnish for episode 29 of Beyond The Beacon, a podcast of the Diocese of Paterson, N.J. They welcomed Eniola Honsberger to discuss family life and the upcoming Respect Life Convocation on Oct. 28.

76 individuals, couples, and families were recognized for their outstanding service to the Church and the world on Oct. 15 with Vivere Christus awards.

The words I quote above were written by Mr. James J. King, executive director of the New Jersey Catholic Conference (NJCC). Mr. King’s words were written in the September 2023 edition of the NJCC Newsletter, “Town Square.” I encourage you to read the full text of Mr. King’s letter, which can be found at the link cited above or by going to the NJCC website. 

A Mass was held on Sunday, Oct. 7, at Assumption Church in Morristown for the Knights of Columbus. Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney celebrated the Mass, which was concelebrated by Msgr. John Hart, pastor and diocesan director of clergy personnel, and Lukasz Wnuk, parochial vicar.

Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney celebrated Mass on Oct. 8 in St. Gerard Majella Church in Paterson to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Daughters of Charity of the Most Precious Blood. The liturgy also marked the 25th anniversary of the religious profession of Sister Gertrude Nwachukwu, a member of the religious order.

The Paterson Diocese honored the memory of fallen firefighters on Oct. 10 at the 9th annual Firefighters Red Mass in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson. Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney was the main celebrant of the Mass, con­celebrated by several priests.

The Peruvian community from across the diocese came together on Oct. 8 at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson for a Mass to celebrate the feast of Señor de los Milagros (Lord of Miracles). Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney celebrated the liturgy, concelebrated by other priests.

It was already noon on Aug. 16 in the offices of St. Joseph Parish in Mendham. Deborah Kuzma, director of religious education, hadn’t arrived yet, which was unusual. Jackie Cronin and Mary Maximos, two St. Joseph’s staff members, began to sense something was wrong — and they were right. Their worry, intuition, and quick action helped save Kuzma’s life.

In their last year of study for the priesthood, fourth-year theology students, such as Deacon Sebastián Muñoz Chavarría, take on more responsibility. That’s because they’re carrying out fully their roles as deacons — inside and outside the seminary. At Immaculate Conception Seminary in South Orange, Deacon Muñoz and his fellow deacons became role models to younger students.

Join Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney and Communications Director Jai Agnish for episode 28 of Beyond The Beacon, a podcast of the Diocese of Paterson, N.J. They welcome fellow podcasters (Coffee with Kupke), Father Paul Manning, and Msgr. Ray Kupke to discuss the Synod on Synodality.

Catholics from around the Paterson Diocese joined Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney for a Marian pilgrimage to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. Faithful chose either a one-day pilgrimage on Oct. 14 or an overnight, two-day pilgrimage, from Oct. 13 to Oct. 14.

On October 22, we observe World Mission Sunday. With the Church universal, we stand in solidarity with all those who take up the mission of the Church to evangelize. In this annual worldwide Eucharistic Celebration, we pray for missionaries, and we actively support the missionary activity of the Church through our prayers and generosity.

Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 14 and 15, was a beautiful weekend for our diocese. On Saturday, Oct. 14, close to 1,000 parishioners from all over our diocese participated in our Diocesan Pilgrimage to the National Shrine of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. On Sunday, Oct. 15, the Vivere Christus awards were presented to parishioners representing each of the parishes in the diocese, recognizing their service, leadership, and generosity as volunteers and ministers.

The Salesians of Don Bosco welcomed Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney on Oct. 7 to celebrate an afternoon Mass as part of their Salesian Family Festival at Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey in the Newark Arch­diocese. Held from Oct. 6-7, the festival included activities for parents, couples, young adults, teens, and children.