By MARY STADNYK
Associate Editor
Updated Aug. 19, 2025
Pointing out that there is no reference about the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Bible and that Mary, mother of the Lord Jesus, is mentioned only 16 times in the Gospels, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., said that for true believers, the events of the solemnity – Mary being assumed into heaven, body and soul, at the end of her earthy life – is largely based on faith.
Addressing the congregation gathered in St. Michael Church, Long Branch, for the 12:15 p.m. feast day Mass Aug. 15, Bishop O’Connell reflected on the significance of the Assumption by sharing a favorite Scripture passage on the meaning of faith from the Book of Hebrews: “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.”
PHOTO GALLERY: Bishop celebrates Mass for Assumption feast
PHOTO GALLERY: Assumption Mass/Blessing of Water in Belmar
PHOTO GALLERY: Assumption Mass/Blessing of Water in Middletown
Another translation of that passage he shared was: “Faith is confident assurance about what we hope for and conviction about what we do not see.”
“The Assumption of Mary, Mother of God, is one of those things,” he said.
As parishes across the Diocese marked the day with Masses and processions, several coastal parishes in Monmouth and Ocean counties led processions from their respective churches to the ocean or a nearby body of water for the blessing of the water. The blessing is a tradition that dates back to 15th-century Italy, when a bishop traveling from Venice encountered a fierce storm at sea on the Feast of the Assumption. Praying for the intercession of the Virgin Mary, the prelate tossed his pastoral ring into the waters, which immediately became calm.
In his homily, Bishop O’Connell said Mary has been referenced in art, liturgy and music “more than any other person in our Church’s history.” He also pointed out the “deep and profound belief” the community has placed in the Blessed Mother from the beginning of the Church.
Bishop O’Connell described the Assumption of Mary – along with the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, which is celebrated Dec. 8 – as “mysteries of our faith.”
After Mary died, “her body was never found,” he said, adding that the question remains whether she actually died.
“The Church has left that question open,” he said. “Mary was so close to Christ. It’s more than reasonable to believe and to have faith that she shares his ultimate reality, with hope, conviction and without any need of proof.”
He said the Feast of the Assumption promises Catholics “eternal glory with the Blessed Mother as our model.”
Carrying On The Tradition
Following the Mass, the Bishop led a procession from the church, across the street, to the deck of the Imperial House apartment complex, which overlooks the ocean. There, he led a prayer service and the Blessing of the Sea, which, according to Father John Butler, pastor, was the first time the parish introduced the tradition.
“With the proximity of our church to the ocean and the devotion of many of parishioners to the Blessed Mother, it seemed a very natural fit to follow in the footsteps of other parishes who conduct the Blessing of the Ocean,” said Father Butler.
He said he hoped this would help parishioners get to know and appreciate Mary, her Assumption and the history of the church.
After the 9 a.m. Mass in St. Rose Church, Belmar, congregants joined Father David Baratelli, who assists the parish, and Msgr. Edward Arnister, pastor, for the annual procession to the borough’s Pier Marina. Msgr. Arnister threw a ring of fresh flowers into the waters, then he blessed the boats and water.
In his homily, Father Baratelli, a priest of the Newark Archdiocese and chaplain in Newark Airport, reminded the congregants that “just as Mary was taken bodily and soul into heaven, you and I are called to participate in a transformative process as we live out our baptismal life and our ongoing relationship with the Lord in our journey.”
The Assumption, Father Baratelli said, serves as a “glimpse into the destiny of all believers,” and it “encourages us to strive for personal holiness, recognizing that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit destined for glory.”
“It assures us that death is not the end, but a passage to a new and more glorious life, just as it was for Mary,” he said. “Just as the Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus conquered sin and death and opened up heaven for our inheritance, today, on this holy feast, we honor this holy woman, this beautiful flower of God’s love, Mary, who is the first to receive this reward, the merits of her son, Jesus the Christ.”
In St. Catherine Laboure Parish, Middletown, the feast of the Assumption began with a novena that started Aug. 7 and concluded Aug. 14. Each evening of the novena, parishioners were invited to attend Mass and recite novena prayers.
On Aug. 15, a special feast day Mass was celebrated at 6:30 p.m. by Father Richard Osborn, pastor, with the procession to nearby Ideal Beach following. Once at the beach, parishioners had a chance to witness the tradition of tossing a floral wreath in the water by Father Osborn, who also blessed the water.
Father Osborn as joined at the altar by area priests, Father Garry Koch, pastor of St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel; Father Michael Kennedy, pastor of St. Luke Parish, Toms River, and Father Jarlath Quinn, pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help-St. Agnes Parish, Atlantic Highlands.
A Mother’s Meaningful Experience
Tina De Stefano-Kerney, who participated in the Mass in St. Michael Church with her two young sons, said the Feast of the Assumption “particularly tugs at my heartstrings.”
As a mother, De Stefano-Kerney said, she appreciates the range of emotions that Mary must have felt during her earthly time.
“Mary fully and wholeheartedly accepted Our Lord’s plans for her life, even though so much did not make sense at the time,” said De Stefano-Kerney, whose family attends St. Dominic Parish, Brick. “A mother’s love is hard to explain, since it has no boundaries. We love through the fear of the unknown of having a child, raising them, protecting them and teaching them to the best of our abilities. Try as we might, it is impossible for us to shelter them from all of the hurt in this world for every second of their lives.”
“To me, Mary is a source of never-ending motherly love, an inspiration to keep the faith even when facing the unknown, the voice of hope through the struggles and a reassuring breath in knowing that a mother’s heart has no limit,” she added.
Msgr. Arnister tosses a floral wreath into the water during the ceremony of the Blessing of Water and the Boats at the Pier Marina in Belmar. Courtesy photo
For the second year, a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary was carried in procession from St. Catherine Laboure Church, Middletown, to nearby Ideal Beach as part of the parish’s observance of the Assumption on Aug. 15. The day closed out the parish’s Assumption novena during which a Mass was celebrated by Father Richard Osborn, pastor, followed by the procession. Courtesy photo 
Congregants from St. Catherine Laboure Parish, Middletown, file out of church and line up in procession to Ideal Beach where a Blessing of Water ceremony was held. Courtesy photo