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A message from Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M.
The month of October is filled with a series of commemorations and celebrations to be observed in the Catholic Church. As Bishop of the Diocese of Trenton, I write to highlight some of these.
The Month of the Holy Rosary
The entire month of October is dedicated to the Holy Rosary, and the Feast of the Holy Rosary is celebrated on October 7.
The Rosary is one of the most popular, meditative prayers of the Catholic Church. Seeking the intercession and help of the Blessed Mother Mary in our daily lives is understandably attractive, praying to her Divine Son through her. The mysteries of the Rosary are really contemplations of the whole life of the Lord Jesus – his life, death and resurrection – in a real sense through Mary’s eyes. She was there, after all, present throughout his life. The Rosary, like all Catholic prayer, should lead us to the Lord Jesus with Mary his Blessed Mother as our intercessor and guide. She brings our prayers to him through the Rosary. Would any loving Son refuse the prayers of his Mother?
The recently beatified Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen once wrote: “The Rosary is the book of the blind, where souls see and there enact the greatest drama of love the world has ever known; it is the book of the simple, which initiates them into mysteries and knowledge more satisfying than the education of other men; it is the book of the aged, whose eyes close upon the shadow of this world, and open on the substance of the next. The power of the Rosary is beyond description (Blessed Archbishop Fulton Sheen 1895-1979).”
Respect Life Month
In this Month of the Holy Rosary, which is also Respect Life Month, what better time could there be for praying the Rosary for the protection of human life in all its stages, from conception through natural death, and for the conversion of hearts? With this year’s theme, “Mary, Mother of Life,” as Bishop, I invite all the clergy and faithful of the Diocese to join in praying the Rosary for this and all our special intentions. Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026, is “Respect Life Sunday.”
We who follow Jesus Christ, the Lord of Life, cannot do otherwise than respect life in all its stages. To do less, regardless of any circumstance or situation that we can conceive of or experience, is to be less human, rejecting what God has created, rejecting what Jesus has redeemed in his own human body, rejecting what the Holy Spirit has sustained. On this earth, only the human being can truly respect life and know what that means and requires. O Mary, Mother of Life, pray for us.
Jubilee Year of St. Francis of Assisi: Feast of St. Francis, October 4
In a world that cries out for peace and justice, Pope Leo XIV has announced a Jubilee Year of St. Francis of Assisi (January 2026 – January 2027). This special commemoration of the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’ death is an urgent invitation to put our faith into action following the example of St. Francis of Assisi. How can we live like Francis? As the Jubilee Year continues, all Catholics are called to look honestly at our lives and ask what it would mean to follow the Gospel more closely in the spirit of St. Francis.
St. Francis of Assisi has been quoted as saying, “Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” It’s a roadmap to achieving amazing things but it begins in absolute simplicity. It makes sense that a saint who once renewed the Church by embracing poverty should come up with such an axiom because his life story demonstrates how all things are possible through simple acts of humility.
In one famous story, St. Francis was exploring the countryside around Assisi when he came upon the crumbling church of San Damiano, where he entered and knelt down in prayer, asking God for guidance. It was then St. Francis heard the voice of God respond, saying, “Francis, go and rebuild my Church.” St. Francis proceeded to repair San Damiano, along with a few other churches near Assisi. It wasn’t until later that he realized a deeper meaning to the words God had spoken to him. He realized God was calling him to renew people’s faith in Christ and to actually restore Catholicism.
The Diocese of Trenton has long been blessed by the charism of St. Francis of Assisi, through the tremendous ministry and witness of Franciscan friars, the Order of Friars Minor (OFM) currently serving the faithful in Long Beach Island and the Order of Friars Minor Conventual (OFM Conv.) currently serving the faithful in Point Pleasant and Seaside Park
As Bishop, I congratulate our friars and offer heartfelt thanks for their wonderful ministry in our Diocese. The feast of St. Francis is October 4, 2026.
Mental Health Awareness Month: Mental Health Sunday 2026 (October 10-11)
The National Catholic Mental Health Campaign has designated that the Sunday that falls within October 10 -18 timeframe is “Mental Health Sunday.” In 2026, that Sunday is October 10-11, 2026, the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time.
The Holy Innocents Society of the Diocese of Trenton (https://dioceseoftrenton.org/holy-innocents-society) confirms the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ position that “the mental health crisis is a profound challenge to the Church and society. Catholics can and should respond with prayer, generosity, hope and compassion to everyone who needs help. The USCCB invites all people of goodwill to pray for mental health and wellness with a special nationwide novena available on the USCCB Mental Health webpage (usccb.org/mentalhealth-novena) beginning on World Mental Health Day (Oct. 10), continuing to the feast of Saint Luke, patron of heath care (Oct. 18).”
In the Diocese of Trenton, the Holy Innocents Society, diocese oft provides special needs religious education and sacramental preparation as well as guidance, referrals and advocacy for families. With parish chapters in Jesus the Good Shepherd, Beverly; Divine Mercy, Trenton; St. Mark, Sea Girt; St. Mary, Middletown; St. Martha, Point Pleasant, and St. Justin Maryr, Toms River, the Holy Innocents Society deserves our encouragement and support.
World Mission Sunday (October 18)
World Mission Sunday is celebrated annually on the second-to-last Sunday of October. On this day Catholics throughout the world unite in prayer, the Eucharist, and generosity in support of the Church’s missionary work.
In 2026, with the theme “One in Christ, One in Mission,” the Diocese of Trenton celebrates the 100th World Mission Sunday on October 18, first established by Pope Pius XI. Our Holy Father Pope Leo XIV reminds us: “Proclaiming the Gospel is an action that is always harmonious, communal and synodal.”
Under the leadership of Father Peter James Alindogan, director of missions, the Diocese of Trenton encourages the clergy and faithful of the Diocese to promote and support the Church’s missionary efforts. Each year the Diocese of Trenton celebrates World Mission Sunday with a diocesan Mass and special collection. Please be generous.
Some Other October Events – NOTE: Some events are by invitation only, as noted. Livestream available where noted.
October 4: 3 p.m. Mass for Wedding Anniversary Blessings for Mercer and Burlington Counties, St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton
October 8: New Jersey Bishops’ Mass for Life, 9:30 am, St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton (Livestream available at youtube.com/trentondiocese.)
October 10: 9 a.m. Mass for Diocesan PTA, St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold (For members only; not open to general public.)
October 15: 10:30 a.m. Catholic Schools Mass, St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold (By invitation only; not open to general public; livestream available at youtube.com/trentondiocese.)
October 17: 22nd Annual Regional Altar and Rosary Society 9 a.m. Mass, St. Raphael Church, Hamilton (For members only; not open to general public.)
October 17: 11 a.m. Mass for Convocation of Deacons, Princeton Marriott at Forrestal (By invitation only; not open to general public.)
October 18: 12 p.m. White Mass for Health Care Professionals, St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold
October 18: 3 p.m. Mass for Wedding Anniversary Blessings for Monmouth and Ocean Counties, St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold
May all these October commemorations and celebrations bring us closer to Sacred Heart of Jesus through the intercession of Mary, Queen of the Rosary and Mother of Life!