A grant was recently awarded that will enable St. Patrick School in Chatham to broaden the scope of its middle school Holocaust- and genocide-studies curriculum — which now brings students face to face with its victims through literature — by adding more related books and other features, such as inviting an expert in the field to speak.

Bishop Serratelli made a pastoral visit to St. Brendan/St. George Church here Jan. 1, New Year’s Day, where he celebrated the 11 a.m. Mass to mark the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God.

In anticipation of Christmas, Filipino Catholics in the Diocese continued their tradition of novena Masses celebrated Dec. 15 to 23, known as “Simbang Gabi.” In the Philippines, “Simbang Gabi, which translates to “Masses of the Night,” is traditionally celebrated at 4 a.m.

St. Michael Parish here welcomed Bishop Serratelli on New Year’s Eve Dec. 31. During the Bishop’s pastoral visit he celebrated the 5 p.m. vigil Mass marking the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God. The Bishop also wished Father Adam Muda, pastor, well on his next assignment as a chaplain with the Archdiocese for the Military Services.

The Department for Persons with Disabilities (DPD), a Catholic Charities agency of the Paterson Diocese, is beginning the New Year with eight big reasons to be thankful. Due to the generosity of the thousands of faithful Catholics in the Paterson Diocese, the agency recently received a check from Partners in Faith, the Diocesan capital and endowment campaign.

Joy can be contagious That’s the message that Pope Francis delivered to young Catholics recently. “Proclaiming to all the love and tenderness of Jesus, you become apostles of the joy of the Gospel. And joy is contagious,” he told the youths.

It has been more than four decades since the Supreme Court, in its Roe v. Wade decision on Jan. 22, 1973, made abortion legal. But since that infamous date, pro-life advocates have never given up the fight. Still valiant and courageous in their efforts, they are gearing up for the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., which will be held Friday, Jan. 27. This year’s theme is “The Power of One.”