More than 1,000 youth attended the N.J. Catholic Youth Rally at Six Flags Great Adventure with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney as the main celebrant of Mass on May 19. The Mass marked the Feast of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles. Several priests from around the Diocese of Paterson concelebrated the Mass.

Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney will ordain Deacon Sebastián Muñoz Chavarría, a seminarian, to the priesthood of the Paterson Diocese, during a Mass on June 1 at 10 a.m. in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson.

The recent announcement of the probable canonization of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati during the upcoming Jubilee Year is tangible proof that the Lord continues to raise men and women that underscore the loftiness of our Christian vocation while at the same time providing concrete examples of heroic virtue we can imitate—each within our own vocation and state in life—during our own time.

In an episode of his Word on Fire Podcast, released on Feb. 19, 2024, with the title “Understanding the Mental Health Crisis,” Bishop Robert Barron recalls his experience of making a presentation at the November 2023 meeting of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

Notre Dame of Mount Carmel Church in the Cedar Knolls neighborhood of Hanover Township hosted adoration for young adults on May 9. Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney celebrated the adoration.

The community of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Paterson on May 12 welcomed Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney who celebrated Mass in the church. There, he administered the sacrament of confirmation to 15 parish youths.

About 1,600 Spanish-speaking Catholics of the Paterson Diocese felt their hearts filled with inspiration and spiritual renewal during the celebration of the Pentecost Vigil on May 11 in the National Guard Armory in Morristown.

About 200 Hispanic Catholics of St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Morristown recently responded to Pope Francis’ call to maintain a spirit of synodality within faith communities by participating in “First Encuentro of Prayer, Formation and Listening.”

When Victor Salazar enters the bookstore and gift shop of St. Agnes Parish in Paterson, he enjoys quiet moments and views of the spiritual wealth on display. A parishioner for 30 years, Salazar has been behind the counter and often roamed the tiny spot he has maintained for almost 10 years.

While every Catholic pilgrimage site offers a journey of spiritual wonder, the mission of a Lourdes pilgrimage is specific: bringing love and healing to the sick. On Beyond The Beacon episode 53, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney discusses with Jai Agnish, diocesan communications director, his recent pilgrimage to Lourdes, France with the Order of Malta.

Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney will ordain Carlos D. Penagos, a seminarian of the Paterson Diocese, to the transitional diaconate on Saturday, May 25, during a Mass at 10:30 a.m. at St. Margaret of Scotland Church in Morristown. It’s an important step before he is called to be ordained as a priest of the diocese.

The Christmas party quickly kicked into full swing. The cafeteria of DePaul Catholic High School in Wayne bustled with activity as staff, football players, and “football moms” had fun spreading holiday cheer to residents of the Department for Persons with Disabilities (DPD).

On Tuesday, April 30, we departed (from Baltimore-Washington Airport, after a bus ride from Basking Ridge) on an evening flight to Lourdes, France. Our departure had been delayed a few hours, so we took off close to midnight and arrived in Lourdes around noon (local time) on Wednesday, May 1.

Pictured are scenes from the Holy Thursday Mass on March 28 and the Tenebrae candlelight choir service on Good Friday, March 29, both at Our Lady of Fatima (OLF) Parish in the Highland Lakes neighborhood of Vernon.

The community of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in the Highland Lakes neighborhood of Vernon on April 5 welcomed Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney, who celebrated Mass.

Sometimes, when a man and a woman enter a marriage with the best of intentions, it may still end badly. Thankfully, the Catholic Church has a process to determine if a marriage that ended badly may be declared invalid. The process is called an annulment.

Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney traveled with a group of knights and dames of the Order of Malta to accompany the sick and disabled to Lourdes, France from April 30 to May 7. This was the 66th international pilgrimage to France’s Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes.

St. George Syro Malabar Catholic Church in Paterson celebrated the 10th anniversary of its elevation to parish status with a Mass in the Malayalam language of India on April 28. It was part of celebrations from April 9 to 29 to mark the anniversary and the feast of St. George, the parish's patron saint.

Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney on April 27 celebrated Mass in Good Shepherd Parish in Andover. During the liturgy, he administered the sacrament of confirmation to 18 10th graders.

The Christ the King Parish community in the New Vernon neighborhood of Harding Township on April 23 welcomed Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney.