As Bishop of the Diocese of Metuchen, one of my great joys is to be able to spend time with the young people of our Diocese in many different settings. Each weekend, as I visit our parishes, I have the opportunity to see many families and hear from the children on any number of topics! They are always filled with questions! My visits to our Catholic schools are always a great gift that brings me joy and hope for our world.

Editor’s note: The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Jan. 18-25, has been celebrated for more than 100 years. In observing the week, Christians move toward the fulfillment of Jesus’ prayer at the Last Supper “that they may all be one” (cf. John 17:21), according to the website of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

(Editor’s note: Father Sirianni, pastor, St. Helena Parish, Edison, recently spent three days with Catholic Extension in the United States Virgin Islands in one of the poorest dioceses in the United States. Since Catholic Extension was founded in 1905 by Father Francis Clement Kelly in Lapeer, Mich., the now Chicago-based Papal Society has contributed more than $500 million — $1.2 billion in today’s dollars — to poor mission dioceses in the U.S. where the faith is thriving but the resources are scarce. Below is an excerpt from a message from Father Sirianni to his parishioners about the visit.)

WATCHUNG – Bishop James F. Checchio issued the newest pastor of St. Mary-Stony Hill Parish a loving challenge at his installation Dec. 8, saying his task would be “to help us open our hearts more widely to Jesus so that his presence may fill us and all those we encounter each day.”

METUCHEN – With a worshipful mix of prayer, song, veneration and reverent pageantry, Catholics of Filipino descent honored the Virgin Mary Dec. 15 during the opening Mass of a nine-day novena known as Simbang Gabi.

On the Solemnity of the Epiphany, I started a week retreat together with the bishops of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Be assured that I am praying for you during my retreat, but I also ask that you pray for me, too. The Epiphany was a great day to begin a retreat, a longer period of intense prayer.