News - March 2022 RSS Feed

As part of their celebrations for Catholic Schools Week, held this year from Jan. 30 to Feb. 5, the faculty and students at St. Matthew School, Edison, collected donations of birthday supplies to help needy families.

NORTH PLAINFIELD — The life of Msgr. Michael J. Corona, a longtime priest, educator and proponent of stewardship who “always had the view of resurrection in mind,” was celebrated at a funeral Mass Feb. 10 at St. Luke Church.

PHILLIPSBURG — Msgr. Terrance M. Lawler, a priest for 45 years who ministered in the diocese since its founding in 1981, died Feb. 6 at St. Luke’s Hospital, Warren.

SOMERVILLE — The gymnasium at Immaculata High School served as the site of a large, yet intimate, family reunion Feb. 27 as hundreds gathered, in both laughter and tears, to commemorate those who had gone on before them.

ISELIN – Joyful parishioners gathered at St. Cecelia Church Feb. 6 for a Mass to mark the beginning of the faith community’s centennial year.

Members of the diocese will have an opportunity to thank some of their former familiar shepherds by donating to the diocese’s annual “Collection for our Retired Diocesan Priests” the weekend of Palm Sunday (April 9-10).

NEW BRUNSWICK — Ministering to the sick as Jesus did is an integral part of the mission of the diocesan-sponsored Saint Peter’s University Hospital, said Bishop James F. Checchio during a Mass celebrated at the health care facility’s chapel Feb. 11.

Why is it that a medical transport helicopter carrying a newborn and two nurses enroute to Philadelphia Children’s Hospital crashed “safely” in Drexel Hill, Pa., in January with the pilot and passengers exiting the wreckage with non-life-threatening injuries; yet a fire in the Bronx, N.Y., started by a faulty space heater left 17 people dead, including eight children?

PERTH AMBOY — Unified only by their prayers and faith, their city, and the blue and yellow ribbons on their school uniforms proudly displaying the colors of the Ukrainian flag, the students and faculty members from Ukrainian Assumption Catholic School and Perth Amboy Catholic School, gathered in a prayerful response to the humanitarian crisis in the Ukraine.

Prayers for a blessed Lent! On Ash Wednesday, we heard the Prophet Joel in the first reading for the day’s liturgy call us to “return to the Lord with your whole heart!” How we need to do that this year as we seek to rest in Our Lord’s merciful Sacred Heart as we watch on television the horrific situation in the Ukraine with more than two million women and children fleeing their homes and homeland to Poland and other neighboring countries. Our hearts are indeed broken as we call out in prayer to our loving Father for all Ukrainians even as we assist them financially and in so many other ways.  

Bishop James F. Checchio announced the following appointments.