The Monitor was on location in more than a dozen churches throughout Holy Week and Easter, photographing the faithful movements of its parishes and people.
See how the beauty of Holy Week was celebrated by faithful around the Diocese through our hundreds of photos. More ... Thursday, April 25, 2019
Hours would pass before Kasia Pawka, her husband, Jacek and their daughters Marta and Ula could breakfast on the culinary treasures that filled the woven reed basket sitting tucked between them on a pew in Lakewood’s St. Mary of the Lake Church. More ... Tuesday, April 23, 2019
The sun shone brightly on faithful from around the Diocese as thousands gathered on Easter Sunday to celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord.
In two of the Diocese’s parishes – St. Joan of Arc, Marlton, and St. Isidore the Farmer, New Egypt – faith, new life and a sense of community was at the forefront of Easter messages.
VATICAN CITY – On Easter Monday, Pope Francis led thousands of people in St. Peter's Square in praying for the hundreds of people who died or were injured in bomb blasts the previous day in Sri Lanka.
Pope Francis had already condemned the bombings and offered prayers April 21 after celebrating Easter morning Mass.
Churches across the Diocese assumed the look of a starry night during Easter Vigil Masses April 20 as candles held by thousands of faithful shone in the dark.
“This is the night,” faithful in Trenton’s nearly filled St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral heard as the “Exsultet,” or Easter Proclamation, was chanted. Only moments before, Bishop David O’Connell, C.M., had lit and blessed a new fire from which the newly marked Paschal candle, symbolizing Christ, the Light of the World, would process down the aisle, lighting parishioners’ candles along the way.
ROME – As the machine of warfare continues to churn out more dangerous weaponry, only the power and joy of Christ's resurrection can fill hearts with comfort and peace, Pope Francis said before giving his Easter blessing. More ... Sunday, April 21, 2019
VATICAN CITY – As individuals and as a Church, it can be tempting to dwell on mistakes, failures and sins that block the fullness of life, but Easter is the proclamation that the Lord is victorious and his love will triumph, Pope Francis said.
"Easter is the feast of tombstones taken away, rocks rolled aside," the Pope said in his homily April 20 during the Easter Vigil. More ... Saturday, April 20, 2019
Following the Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion April 19 in Holy Cross Church, Trenton, Maritza Williams said she gained a new perspective on the meaning of the Cross from Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. More ... Friday, April 19, 2019
Moans and wails drowned out passing traffic on Good Friday as parishioners portraying witnesses to Christ’s Crucifixion followed their “savior” as he carried his Cross to his Death. More ... Friday, April 19, 2019
VATICAN CITY – The Cross serves as a warning to the powerful and a message of hope for the poor and oppressed, said the preacher of the papal household. More ... Friday, April 19, 2019
The way Debbie Roble of St. David the King Parish, Princeton Junction, sees it, Holy Thursday begins the three days of what she calls the “Super Bowl” of the Church’s liturgical year and this year, she was very pleased that her parish was able to welcome the “best quarterback there is” to celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper – Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. More ... Friday, April 19, 2019
ROME – Jesus' gesture of washing his disciples' feet, an act once reserved to servants and slaves, is one that all Christians, especially bishops, must imitate, Pope Francis told hundreds of inmates and prison employees on Holy Thursday. More ... Friday, April 19, 2019
VATICAN CITY – Just as Jesus always sought to be with the people to serve, teach and heal them, so, too, must priests always be in the midst of God's people, "pouring ourselves out" for them, Pope Francis said. More ... Thursday, April 18, 2019
Daylight was quickly turning to dusk as faithful from around the Diocese entered a dimly lit and reverently quiet St. Catharine Church, Spring Lake, the evening of April 17.
Gathered for the celebration of a Tenebrae, the congregants were led in a meditation service on the Passion and Death and Resurrection of Jesus.
Angela La Manna was looking to gain a broadened sense of awareness of Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice and Resurrection as she participated in a program on the subject ahead of Holy Week and Easter.
“Having Father [Gadenz] come here to explain it in adult terms,” she said, reinforced with depth and clarity the “amazing fact that from the Cross, [Jesus] didn’t condemn anyone but instead offered humanity a blanket forgiveness that extends throughout time.” More ... Wednesday, April 17, 2019
Fran Thompson was exuberant as she described witnessing for the first time the sacred traditions of the annual Chrism Mass.
“It was nothing like what I expected. It was just beautiful. You have to see it to believe it. You have to experience it,” the St. Mary Parish, Barnegat, parishioner said. “I’m bringing my husband next year.”
