The 59th annual World Day of Prayer for Vocations will be celebrated by the Catholic Church on May 8. The Fourth Sunday of Easter is commonly referred to as “Good Shepherd Sunday” for the Gospel reading about the shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep, just as Jesus did for us. While upholding all vocations, the Church places a special emphasis each year on this day to pray for vocations to the ordained ministry and consecrated life, and support for those currently living out one of these vocations.

We write to you as Colleagues in Faith and in response to your statement “Pray for Ukraine!” As members of the New Jersey Coalition of Religious Leaders, an interfaith Coalition of Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, and Sikh Faith Leaders, we unite with you in our prayers for Peace and the well-being of the people of Ukraine.

Families interested in applying for tuition assistance to attend an eligible Diocese of Metuchen elementary or high school may apply online now through FACTS Grant & Aid Assessment by no later than March 31, 2022. Applications are available in English and Spanish.

As the Church in the United States prepares to commemorate the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children, the Diocese of Metuchen invites the faithful to join in a prayerful novena for the protection of all life, from conception to natural death, as part of their local participation in the 9 Days for Life Novena.  

September is National Recovery Month, a time during which we celebrate those who have achieved recovery and continue our support of those still working toward it. During this time, we, the Catholic Bishops of New Jersey, are renewing our commitment to helping those suffering from various forms of addiction and we are calling on all Catholics and people of good will to join us in praying for, supporting, and encouraging those working toward recovery.

Twenty years ago today, 2,996 lives were lost in terrorist attacks in New York City, Washington, D.C. and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. That staggering figure includes citizens of 78 countries, 343 firefighters and paramedics, 23 New York City police officers and 37 Port Authority police officers. It includes the 184 lives lost at the Pentagon building and the 44 lives lost in Shanksville. It includes too the lives of the 19 militants who carried out the unspeakable horror.

SOMERVILLE – A former pastor who diverted parish funds for his own personal use was sentenced Wednesday to serve seven years in state prison.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,   It is not easy to slow ourselves in these days of summer. The summer months may have at one time represented quieted lifestyles and slowed news cycles but now, both seem to be operating at an all-time high, as our minds continuously churn with information about the latest coronavirus updates, Olympic medals won, and, yes, even news about our Catholic Church.

PISCATAWAY – Adding to the systems already in place to report abuse within its boundaries, the Diocese of Metuchen today announced the implementation of an independent third-party reporting system that will allow any person who suspects financial impropriety or other violations of the Diocese of Metuchen’s Pastoral Code of Conduct, to file an anonymous and confidential report.

As the world awaits to hear updates from the Holy See on the continued recovery of Pope Francis after his surgery last weekend, Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued the following statement:

ASBURY – Seated before Bishop James F. Checchio in the open-air National Blue Army Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima on the eve of Father’s Day, five men – four newly ordained priests and one newly ordained deacon, all for the Diocese of Metuchen – were called to emulate the love of St. Joseph for his Son, Jesus, with all God’s people.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations has shared the results of the study A Portrait of the Permanent Diaconate: A Study for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops 2020-2021. This annual survey, conducted by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University, provides an illustration of the state of the permanent diaconate in the United States, including the number of those ordained and retired in the past year, percentages of those involved in various Church ministries, and other demographic information.

At this time, due to the observance of public safety protocols and the increase in the availability of vaccines, we have begun a return to some sense of normalcy in various sectors of our society.

My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, It is hard to believe that the Easter season is nearly at a close. As we draw near to Pentecost, a time of renewal for our Church, I find myself eagerly awaiting that renewal – how it is needed in our day. This has been a challenging year, in what seems to be a series of them, but the Holy Spirit’s coming on Pentecost is a reminder to us that even though at times it would seem easier to hide in the Upper Room as the Apostles did for a time, fortified by the Holy Spirit, we are called as Jesus’ disciples to journey through our lives with holiness and boldness.

The Bishops of New Jersey have recently voted to transfer the Solemnity of the Ascension of Our Lord from Thursday, May 13th to Sunday, May 16th (replacing the Seventh Sunday of Easter). Cardinal Tobin has made it clear that this change is for this year only.

METUCHEN – The Most Reverend James F. Checchio, JCD, MBA, Bishop of Metuchen, will preside at Holy Week and Easter liturgies and services at the following locations. All are welcome and encouraged to participate, but due to limited seating capacity and to allow for proper distancing, congregants may be required to register with the parish in advance to attend in-person.

In less than a week, we will enter into Holy Week, the most sacred days of the year. Through the liturgical celebrations of the week and as we read the Lord’s Passion, we will reflect on Christ’s triumphal procession into Jerusalem and then follow Him on the way of the cross, where we will witness His agony and suffering.

CLINTON, N.J. – The women housed at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility, the only women’s prison in the state of New Jersey, seem to have the cards stacked against them.

PISCATAWAY – In the face of a pandemic, with many people struggling to make ends meet, Bishop James F. Checchio today announced the establishment of a new secretariat in the Diocese of Metuchen – the Secretariat for Charity.

METUCHEN – Fran Johnson is a retired schoolteacher. Frank McCann has years of experience in accounting. Both are parishioners of St. Matthias Parish in Somerset, and both were recently recognized for their efforts to support human life.