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The Catholic Church does not seek to dominate, control or convert the United States of America as a whole or any individual state within it, including New Jersey. It merely wants its members to be allowed to live and practice their faith in the freedom that was envisioned, encouraged and enjoyed by American citizens from the very beginning of our country, without governmental interference. That is all.

I confess, I’m guilty. Once Thanksgiving is over my thoughts turn to Christmas. I put up my tree and decorate the house for that “most wonderful time of the year.” I pull out my Christmas CDs and watch all those great Christmas specials and movies on TV. All these preparations —-admitted secular —- put me in a happy frame of mind and give me a good feeling to welcome my favorite holiday. I don’t want to miss a minute!

I love holidays and all the traditions that make them special and different from other days in the calendar. One of my favorites is Thanksgiving! Three things single out the last Thursday in November for me: FAITH, FAMILY AND FOOD!

In his 2019 message for World Day of Prayer for Vocations, our Holy Father Pope Francis wrote: The Lord’s call is not an intrusion of God in our freedom; it is not a “cage” or a burden to be borne. On the contrary, it is the loving initiative whereby God encounters us and invites us to be part of a great undertaking. He opens before our eyes the horizon of a greater sea and an abundant catch. … We are called to be bold and decisive in seeking God’s plan for our lives. Gazing out at the vast “ocean” of vocation, we cannot remain content to repair our nets on the boat that gives us security, but must trust instead in the Lord’s promise.

This year, October 20th marks a very special World Mission Sunday, our annual, worldwide Eucharistic celebration of our shared call to mission. It takes place during an Extraordinary Missionary Month, called for by Pope Francis in honor of the 100th anniversary of Pope Benedict XV’s Apostolic Letter Maximum Illud, which emphasized the missionary call to proclaim the Gospel.

Observing the Lord Jesus turning so often to prayer in his ministry, the disciples asked him to teach them to pray. Without missing a beat, he offered them the words we have repeated so often throughout our lives and have come to know as “The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:1-4; Matthew 6:5-15).”

With every passing year, the public assault on human life from conception to natural death seems bolder and more blatant. Although research studies indicate that there has actually been a decline in surgical abortions since 2014, the alternative choice of medical abortions in which the mother takes a drug to cause a miscarriage has risen dramatically, by 75 percent in the last 10 years according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Whether surgically performed or medically induced, abortion is abortion. If we truly believe that life begins at conception, then neither “choice” is morally acceptable.

This year, the theme and accompanying logo for Catechetical Sunday seem to be especially poignant in the context of where we are as Church, and civilization overall. The 2019 theme is “Stay With Us,” and is depicted by an image of Christ walking arm-in-arm with two young followers as they engage with people in all walks of life. This call to stay with Christ and be part of his mission of salvation speaks to us at a time when each day brings new reports of despicable assaults on innocent human life, when too many profess belief in Christ, yet reject the Gospel mandate to care for the least among us, and when more young people than ever have disengaged from the faith.

This month, we are marking a milestone in our diocesan story. Our newspaper, The Monitor, is shutting down its print edition and introducing, in its place, a monthly magazine.

Recently, I contacted the sponsors and co-sponsors of some proposed legislation here in New Jersey to express my concerns about its negative impact upon the Catholic Church and other religious entities. For many decades, the Catholic Church has been a strong advocate for comprehensive health care reform. That advocacy was captured in a letter that the U.S Catholic Bishops sent to members of Congress 10 years ago – in 2009:

Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M. has released a message in response to the Pew Research Study released August 5 which shared that "only 31%" of Catholics "believe that the bread and wine consecrated at Mass BECOME AND ARE the Body and Blood of Christ."

Yes, this Wednesday, August 15, the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven and the Patronal Feast of the Diocese of Trenton, IS a holy day of obligation. In other words, Catholics are obliged to attend Mass either on the vigil (the evening before) or on the day itself. Rather than focus on the “obligation,” which is described in the provisions of canon law (cc. 1246 and 1247) and supported by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) for our country, perhaps we should consider the reasons of faith behind the obligation.

Like virtually all Americans, regardless of their personal religious convictions or lack thereof, I was sickened once again by the tragic, senseless loss of life resulting from the recent mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio. A quick internet search reveals that there have been 248 such slaughters so far in 2019 at a mind-boggling rate of 1.2 shootings per day with over 1,325 victims, 979 injured and 246 killed. Absolutely unbelievable in a civilized society! And the carnage seems to know no boundaries, no respect for persons, no signs of ending.

There are many wonderful public and Catholic schools in New Jersey that do a great job educating our kids. Parents choose “Catholic” schools BECAUSE they are Catholic. With all due respect to public schools, there is and there should be a difference.

Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M. shares a reflection about the "Aid in Dying" Law

Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., issued a brief summer message to his flock June 21.

On the final day of the U.S. Bishops Spring Assembly, which was held in Baltimore from June 11-13, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., compiled a summary of the major issues discussed and voted on, and shared his observations of the experience. His report follows:

My Dad was a good man and a hardworking, great father. He loved my mother and his four sons. He was born before the Great Depression, and was raised in poverty in what today we would call a “dysfunctional family.” Yet he remained attentive to his parents, buying coal for their furnace, turkeys for their Thanksgivings and trees for their Christmas celebrations. My Mom once told me he had never celebrated Thanksgiving at home until they were married.

Memorial Day is observed throughout the United States on the last Monday in May. This national holiday is widely considered the beginning of summer, a few weeks shy of the actual calendar date.

I just returned from visiting my Mother’s grave, where I placed some flowers in her memory for Mother’s Day. It is hard to believe that it has been four years since she passed away. These occasions at the cemetery are sacred moments for me, a time to remember and a time to be grateful for those memories. And, although the Lord has called her home, she has never really left me. I feel her presence with me every single day. I hope and pray that all our faithful whose Moms are with the Lord share that same experience, that same feeling.