The Season of Lent offers the faithful an opportunity to become spiritually renewed as they prepare for Easter. Attending Mass, the Stations of the Cross, retreats and days of recollection are among the ways that Catholics can grow in their faith. Following are some offerings available around the Diocese. More can be found at TrentonMonitor.com>Faith&Culture>Seasons&Celebrations.
Station Churches offer a Lenten pilgrimage for Mercer County parishes
Every year during Lent, Catholics living in Rome made an ancient pilgrimage to the basilicas and churches located throughout the city. A different “station church” was designated each day for Catholics from around the city to gather for Mass early in the morning as a visible reminder of the unity of the Church.
This Lenten season, Catholic parishes in Mercer County are once again adapting the Roman tradition that traces its roots as far back as the late second and early third century, by inviting others to visit their churches and celebrate evening Mass during Lent.
The Station Churches of Mercer County was started in 2013 by Msgr. Vincent Gartland and Msgr. Michael Walsh, both of whom were pastors of Mercer County parishes. The initiative evolved into an annual Lenten offering over the years with the greater majority of parishes participating.
Along with attending Mass, visitors to the parishes may hear about their history through presentations given before Mass or after Communion. Some parishes may lead tours and offer hospitality.
Looking ahead to the start of the 2026 pilgrimage, Msgr. Dennis Apoldite, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Trenton, and episcopal vicar of Mercer County, sees it as an “opportunity for us to glean a bit of history as we make our way to the various churches throughout the county.” As pilgrimage coordinator, Msgr. Apoldite said it’s his hope that the visitors will appreciate how each parish has its own special history and particular treasures, then added that he’s pleased to see the number of bilingual Masses that will be celebrated or those in native languages. It’s the first time that the pilgrims will attend a Mass in Korean in St. Michael Church, Trenton, he said.
The Station Church pilgrimage begins Feb. 23 in St. John the Baptist, Allentown, and continues on the following dates and locations. All Masses begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted: Feb. 24, St. Alphonsus Church, Hopewell; Feb. 26, St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton (Spanish); March 4, St. Anthony of Padua, Hightstown, 6 p.m.; March 5, Our Lady of Sorrows Church, Hamilton; March 6, St. Michael Church, Trenton, 8 p.m. (Korean); March 9, St. Gregory the Great Church, Hamilton Square; March 10, St. Paul Church, Princeton; March 12, Sacred Heart Church, Trenton, with Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., presiding; March 13, Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, West Trenton, 6 p.m.; March 18, St. Anthony Church, Hamilton (Creole); March 19, St. Raphael-Holy Angels Church, Hamilton, 6:30 p.m.; March 20, St. Joseph Church, Trenton; March 23, St. David the King Church, Princeton Junction; March 24, Incarnation Church, Ewing; March 25, St. Ann Church, Lawrenceville; March 26, St. Joachim Church, Trenton (Holy Hour begins at 6 p.m. with Mass following at 7).
The pilgrimage will conclude with the celebration of the Chrism Mass on March 30 in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold.
Way of the Cross
Rosary offered on Lenten Fridays in Mount Laurel mausoleum
Jesus, Bread of Life Cemetery & Mausoleum will return to its time-honored tradition of praying the Stations of the Cross on Fridays for the Holy Souls in Purgatory, beginning Feb. 13, the Friday before Lent.
Sponsored by the diocesan Department of Catechesis, all are welcome to pray the Stations together from 3 to 4 p.m. on Feb. 13, 20 and 27 and March 6, 13, 20 and 27 at the mausoleum. The Way of the Cross represents the sorrowful journey that Jesus made with the Cross to die on Calvary. This annual event includes both prayer and music.
The mausoleum is located at 3055 Fostertown Road, Mount Laurel. For more information, visit catholiccemeteriescentraljersey.org.
Parishes to host Lenten missions and retreats
Lawrence Council, Knights of Columbus, will host a Lenten Retreat, “God With Us and God Through Us” March 14 from 8:30 a.m.-noon in St. Ann Church, Lawrenceville. Presenter is Msgr. Thomas Mullelly, diocesan vicar for clergy and consecrated life and director of seminarians. For questions, email JWSkiorski@yahoo.com.
Mother of Mercy Parish, Asbury Park, will hold a retreat, “A Lenten Journey, Into the Desert With Christ,” Feb. 28, from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. in the church’s Carmel Hall. Presenter will be Redemptorist Father Anthony Michalik, who resides in San Alfonso Retreat House, West End. A catered lunch will be provided. To register, call or text 201-259-4294 by Feb. 22.
Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, West Trenton, will hold Soup & Stations Feb. 27. The evening will begin with a simple soup and bread dinner at 5:30 p.m. in the parish hall. A presentation on the Resurrection and the Shroud by Dan Palmieri of JMJ Missions will follow. Stations of the Cross will then be prayed in the church.
St. David the King Parish, Princeton Junction, will hold a Lenten Mission March 23-27. The schedule includes: March 23, Mass at 7 p.m.; March 25-27, Mission presentations by Dr. Anne DeSantis, Catholic author and speaker, at 7 p.m.; March 26, penance service, 6:30 p.m.; March 27, Stations of the Cross with Benediction, 7 p.m.
St. Mary of the Lakes Parish, Medford, will hold a parish Lenten mission with Dominican Father Stephen Dominic Hayes March 2-March 4. Morning session will be held from 9:30-11:30 a.m. in the Emmaus Center. Evening session will be held from 7-9 p.m. in the church.
A Lenten Intergenerational Scripture Study: The Last Supper, will be held on Mondays from Feb. 16-March 3 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the Emmaus Center and via WebEx. No session on Feb. 2. Led by Father Dan Swift, pastor, the study is based on Brant Pitre’s Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist: Unlocking the Secrets of the Last Supper. To sign up, email father_dan@smlparish.org or call 609-654-8208, then press 1. Virtual participants should use the link: tinyurl.com/yx34uvxz. Password: LeoXIV.
St. Veronica Parish, Howell, will hold a Lenten Mission, “Can you Drink This Cup?” March 23-24 at 7 p.m. Presenter will be Mary Neary, a member of Sacred Heart Parish, Riverton, and Catholic retreat and mission presenter.
Chrism Mass
The annual Chrism Mass, a special event celebrated during Holy Week in Catholic churches throughout the world, will be celebrated by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., March 30 at 7:30 p.m. in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, 61 Georgia Rd., Freehold.
During the Mass, Bishop O’Connell will consecrate the Sacred Chrism and bless the Oil of the Sick and Oil of the Catechumens – sacred oils used in parishes throughout the coming year for the conferral of Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Orders and Anointing of the Sick.
The Chrism Mass is also a time when priests of the Diocese formally recommit themselves to their ministry and service in the Diocese.
The Chrism Mass will be livestreamed at youtube.com/trentondiocese.