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There is one thing we all have in common. Regardless of our race or place of natural origin; regardless of our religion or absence of it; regardless of our age or status or station in life: God gave us the gift of life which our mothers carried until the day of our birth. We were allowed to live!

Since the Second Vatican Council (1962-65) and the restructuring of the Liturgy of the Word within Mass, lectors and readers have concluded their Scripture Readings at Mass with the phrase “This is the Word of the Lord,” more recently shortened to simply “The Word of the Lord.” Once that statement is made, the congregation responds “Thanks be to God!” In the case of the Gospel, the deacon or priest proclaims “The Gospel of the Lord” to which the faithful respond “Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!”

Sunday, Jan. 26 was set aside in the Catholic Church throughout the world as Sunday of the Word of God. This designation came about when, on Sept. 30, 2019, Pope Francis issued the apostolic letter “Aperuit Illis” instituting the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time each year as the Sunday of the Word of God, a Sunday “devoted to the celebration, study and dissemination of the word of God.” At Mass, we will hear the existing readings from the three-year Lectionary, as they highlight God’s word in different ways.

Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., has shared the following statement of Archbishop José Gómez, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, in observance of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, which is being observed this year Jan. 20.

All of us who are familiar with the New Testament know the story of Jesus’ Baptism by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. It is reported in all four Gospels: Matthew 3:1-17, Mark 1:1-11, Luke 3:21-22 and John 1:30-34, although John’s account is less descriptive. The details in the Gospels are quite similar.

Hace más de medio siglo, la Iglesia Católica en los Estados Unidos ha celebrado la Semana Nacional de Migración, que es una oportunidad para la comunidad eclesial reflexionar sobre las circunstancias que afrontan a los migrantes, incluyendo a inmigrantes, refugiados, niños y víctimas y sobrevivientes del tráfico humano.

Camille S. Biros y Kenneth R. Feinberg, los administradores del programa independiente estatal de New Jersey de recompensa para víctimas del abuso sexual (IVCP por sus cifras en inglés), anunciaron el 2 de enero que la fecha limite ahora está extendida al 31 de enero del 2020 para el registro de nuevas alegaciones y al 15 de febrero del 2020 para la entrega de todos los casos.

Camille S. Biros and Kenneth R. Feinberg, administrators of the New Jersey state-wide Independent Victim Compensation Program (IVCP) announced Jan. 2 that the program’s deadline has been extended to Jan. 31, 2020 for the registration of new allegations and to Feb. 15, 2020 for the submission of all claims.

For much of contemporary secular society, Christmas is over for another year. For Catholics and Christians, however, there is “still more to come.” This weekend, January 4-5, the Roman Catholic Church anticipates the Christmas feast of the “Epiphany of the Lord,” traditionally celebrated throughout the Western Christian world on January 6. Known by many other names in a number of different cultures – “Little Christmas,” “Three Kings’ Day,” the “Twelfth Day of Christmas,” “Twelfth Night,” etc. – this feast extends the Christmas season by commemorating the visit of the “magi” or “wise men” to the Christ Child. What is the Feast of the Epiphany all about in the Church?

For nearly a half century, the Catholic Church in the United States has celebrated National Migration Week, which is an opportunity for the Church community to reflect on the circumstances confronting migrants, including immigrants, refugees, children and victims and survivors of human trafficking.

¡Feliz Año Nuevo! Estoy de la edad ya en que la Víspera del Año Nuevo me encuentra en casa en el sillón, comiendo bocadillos y esperando que bajara la bola en Nueva York para poder ir a la cama.

Happy New Year! I am at the age now when New Year’s Eve finds me at home on the recliner, snacking on Hickory Farms cheese and summer sausage with a Coke Zero chaser waiting for the “ball to drop” in Times Square on TV at midnight so that I can go to bed! This year was no exception, although an added feature was my iPhone in hand, furiously sending and receiving New Year’s greetings through the miracle of text messaging.

¡Feliz Navidad! “En verdad, Dios ha manifestado a toda la humanidad su gracia, la cual trae salvación”, escribió San pablo a Tito en la segunda escritura de hoy, “mientras aguardamos la bendita esperanza, es decir, la gloriosa venida de nuestro gran Dios y Salvador Jesucristo. Esto es lo que celebramos esta noche...

Sometimes, when we’re all alone, we hear things differently, more clearly than when we’re surrounded by others in a crowded room, in a class, or in an office where the phone keeps ringing and people file in and out. Things sound different when on a busy street, a crowded train or bus, or maybe sitting in traffic that doesn’t seem to move. Sometimes an empty church may be the place where things sound different than they do when preachers preach and choirs sing.

 Donovan Catholic High School in Toms River is seeking a qualified applicant to fill the position of Part-Time Religion Teacher effective January 2020

Donovan Catholic High School in Toms River is seeking an individual to assume the responsibilities of Vice Principal.

Donovan Catholic High School in Toms River is seeking a qualified applicant to fill the position of Database Administrator starting January 2020 

I don’t know how you feel but preparations for Christmas seem to be coming earlier and earlier every year. The leaves haven’t even begun to change color and fall from the trees when evergreens and Christmas lights find their way into malls and department stores.

Yo no sé cómo se sienten ustedes pero me parece a mía que las preparaciones navideñas empiezan más temprano cada año. Las hojas ni han empezado a cambiarse de color y caerse de los árboles y ya vemos arboles pinos y luces navideñas en los malls y mercados.

El viernes, 13 de diciembre, nuestro Santo Padre Papa Francisco celebra su quincuagésimo aniversario al sacerdocio. Los aniversarios son hitos en todas nuestras vidas y ciertamente merecen nuestra atención. Dado que el papa Francisco, como Vicario de Cristo y Sucesor de San Pedro, es el Padre y el Pastor de la Iglesia Católica de por todo el mundo, debemos celebrar este hito maravilloso con él en oración.