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Bishop's Corner

Love: the most durable power in the world

No one can reasonably doubt or question that the past year and the first weeks of this new year have been “times of challenge and controversy.” Each person is called at this moment to look deeply into his/her heart and soul to discover “where he/she stands.”
The shepherd and the sheep in a time of pandemic

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that influenza in the United States was associated with over 35.5 million confirmed illnesses and more than 34,200 deaths during the 2018-2019 influenza season.
‘Ordinary Time’ is anything but ordinary

With the Christmas Season behind us, Catholics enter into a period referred to as “Ordinary Time” in the Church’s liturgy. In our vernacular usage, the word "ordinary" describes what is commonplace, "everyday" or without uniqueness or special distinction.
Keeping Christmas Spirit throughout the Season

The “Christmas Season” in the Catholic Church lasts from Christmas Eve until the Feast of the Baptism...
Bishop O'Connell: Solitude cannot extinguish the joy of Jesus’ birth

Sometimes, when you’re all alone – as we have often been throughout these many months of pandemic – you hear things differently, more clearly than when you’re surrounded by others in a crowded room, in a class, in an office where the phone keeps ringing and people file in and out.
Bishop on fourth week of Advent: A time to encounter

The word “advent” comes from the Latin term adventus, literally meaning “coming to.”
A message from Bishop O'Connell: Pope Francis announces 'The Year of St. Joseph'

Today, on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, His Holiness Pope Francis has used the feast day to declare the year ahead, beginning today, the “Year of St. Joseph,”...
A message from Bishop O’Connell: ‘Mary, you have found favor with God'

We have heard St. Luke’s narrative of the Annunciation so often in the Church’s celebrations of Mary, the Mother of God. That word is proclaimed once more at Mass on this year’s feast of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.
A message from Bishop O'Connell: Thanksgiving – taking gratitude a step further

Gratitude and thanksgiving are certainly admirable human qualities and the source of many social graces.
Bishop O’Connell: Proposed legislation targets most vulnerable human life

The proposed New Jersey “Reproductive Freedom Act” (S3030 / A4848) is another legislative attempt to advance and expand the state’s “abortion agenda” in service to the widespread “culture of death” by eliminating the few remaining state regulations intended to protect the life and health of pregnant mothers.
Bishop O’Connell: Day Two of the USCCB fall meeting

The second day of the annual USCCB Fall Meeting began with the bishops of New Jersey and Pennsylvania gathering virtually as Region III of the nation’s prelates.
Bishop O'Connell: Day One of the fall meeting of the U.S. bishops

Although the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops hosted a webinar Nov. 2 to demonstrate how to participate in the Nov. 16-17 online meeting of the nation’s bishops ...
‘In Service to One, In Service to All’

The Knights of Columbus (KOC) of the Diocese of Trenton rejoiced with their brother Knights throughout the world at the Vatican announcement that their founder, Venerable Father Michael J. McGivney, would advance one step closer to canonization with his beatification on October 31, 2020, in St. Joseph Cathedral in Hartford, Connecticut.
A message from Bishop O’Connell: Veterans Day – a noble cause

“We remember those who were called upon to give all a person can give, and we remember those who were prepared to make that sacrifice if it were demanded of them in the line of duty, though it never was. Most of all, we remember the devotion and gallantry with which all of them ennobled their nation as they became champions of a noble cause (Ronald Reagan, 40th President of the United States).”
Bishop O'Connell: A Prayer for the United States of America

Whatever our politics may be, whatever side we may have taken, whatever vote we may have cast, we are all called anew to pray for our country and its leaders that Almighty God ...
A message from Bishop O’Connell: Civility now, civility always

There are virtues and then there are virtues. Here's one you don't see a lot of today: civility.
Marked with the Sign of Faith

Beginning with the Feast of All Saints (November 1) and the Commemoration of All Souls (November 2), the entire month of November has long been dedicated to the faithful departed, ...
Day #6 Election Novena for those who protect our country in the armed forces at home, around the world

On Oct. 31, Day Six of the Novena for the United States of America, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., asks the faithful to pray: For those who protect our country in the armed forces at home and around the world and for peace in the world.
Day #5 of Election Novena focuses on those who protect, serve in law enforcement, and end to violence

On Oct. 30, Day Five of the Novena for the United States of America, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., asks the faithful to pray: For those who protect and serve us in law enforcement in our country and for an end to violence and destruction, especially in our cities.
A message from Bishop O'Connell: Preparing for Christmas during COVID

The COVID pandemic will not take away Christmas 2020! It will, however, change the way we celebrate it, ...
A grateful Diocese honors missionary order marking 125 years since founding

Currently in the Diocese of Trenton, the worldwide religious missionary order Society of the Divine Word (SVD) serves three...
A message from Bishop O'Connell: World Mission Sunday

The annual worldwide Eucharistic celebration of World Mission Sunday, which emphasizes our shared baptismal call to mission, is celebrated on October 18th this year.
Keep Holy the Lord’s Day

When the dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation issued by bishops for their dioceses during the COVID pandemic is finally lifted – and it will be...
Bishop O'Connell: Value of technology use in evangelization affirmed in story of Blessed Carlo Acutis

The COVID pandemic has made the use of technology an essential part of our daily lives more than ever before. Even the sharing of our faith has become dependent upon the computer keyboard.
A message from Bishop O'Connell on the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, Oct. 7

I was born and raised in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in Our Lady of Grace Parish in Penndel.

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The Diocese of Trenton is committed to the initiatives outlined in the U.S. Bishop’s Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People in regard to the reporting and investigation of sexual abuse allegations involving minors.

If you have been sexually abused as a minor by a member of the clergy or anyone representing the Catholic Church, or if you know of someone who was, you can report that abuse through the diocesan Abuse Hotline.

To report the sexual abuse of minors call our hotline 1-888-296-2965 or email us at abuseline@dioceseoftrenton.org

Please note: The Diocese of Trenton reports any allegations of sexual abuse to the appropriate law enforcement agencies. Anyone with an allegation is also encouraged to provide that information to local law enforcement authorities.