Peace was going to be one of the main topics of the Monitor’s March issue long before the first missile dropped on Iran just a few short weeks ago. It was just last month that the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, citing deepening global and domestic tensions, appealed for the Church throughout the country to hold Holy Hours for Peace.
That call was advanced by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., who encouraged local faith communities across the Diocese of Trenton to offer opportunities to pray for peace. See page 7 for a message on peace from the Bishop and page 14 for reporting on some of the diocesan faithful’s prayer response.
Those calls for peace have taken on greater urgency since the United States and Israel began a campaign of military action against Iran. Pope Leo XIV has stridently condemned these hostilities and is calling the world to pray for peace. Special coverage of our Church’s witness to the toll that these military attacks are taking and what the Pope is asking of us begins on page 10.
There is also good news to report about the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults process, which this year involves more than 1,000 individuals who will seek full communion in the Church. This is more than twice the numbers recorded at different points in the last six years and represents a trend that has been recognized around the world. Our WE BELIEVE coverage begins on page 26.
How is your Lent going? You can reach out for some extra inspiration in special content for Lent beginning on page 16.
In the BEREAVEMENT section beginning on page 44, look for the article, “Understanding and planning Catholic funerals,” designed to help you with one of the most difficult tasks we face for ourselves or our loved ones.
We hope you will browse through some of the many other topics in this issue, including: the Catholic Men for Jesus Christ Conference; Investiture Mass ahead of Belmar’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade; local priest becomes U.S. citizen; School superintendent and wife who is battling cancer receive blessing from Pope Leo XIV; Raising holy families in screen-saturated world; Funding sought for increased security in non-public schools; Living and Dying Well seminar preview, and a tribute to Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz.
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As we continue our journey through Lent, let us keep the call for peace before us and join our prayers with those of our Holy Father, our Bishop and millions of Catholics around the world.
May God bless you and yours,
Rayanne Bennett
Associate Publisher
And The Monitor team