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Bishop's Corner

A message for Respect Life Month from Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M.

I am convinced, after almost 65 years on this earth, that all of the problems impacting us in this world of ours derive from a single root cause: the failure to “respect life in all its stages, from conception to natural death.”
Bishop O’Connell issues statement on death of Archbishop John J. Myers

It was with sadness that I learned early this morning of the passing of Most Reverend John J. Myers, Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of the ecclesiastical province of Newark and Archbishop emeritus of Newark (2001-2016). He was 79 years of age.
Bishop O’Connell shares Pope’s message for World Day of Migrants and Refugees

Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., shares the following message from Pope Francis for the 106th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, which is Sept. 27. This year’s theme chosen by the Holy Father is “Forced like Jesus Christ to flee” – to focus on the pastoral care of internally displaced people.
Bishop O’Connell stresses importance of Church's stance on palliative care

As Bishop of the Diocese of Trenton, I write to share very important information and instruction in the matter of euthanasia, assisted suicide and end-of-life care, published September 22, 2020, by the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith and summarized below by the Vatican News Service:
Catholics Vote!: ‘Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship’

Baptized Catholic citizens of the United States of America have ...
I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you: Catechetical Sunday 2020

The Bishop of a diocese is considered the Church’s official “teacher” of the Catholic people entrusted to his care in a particular region. That responsibility is derived from the three-fold mission of Christ that he shares by virtue of his episcopal ordination and consecration: “to teach, to govern, to sanctify.”
Painful memories cannot blind us to Gospel message, Bishop says in 9/11 homily

Most of us here this evening can remember a time when 9 and 11 were just numbers. That time and memory abruptly ended on Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, when our country experienced the deadliest attack in its history.
Bishop O’Connell: 'Let us join together in prayer' on 9/11 anniversary

As we remember, in awesome silence, those who died in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, in New York, Washington and Shanksville, Pa., those who gave their lives trying to save them, and their beloved families, co-workers and friends, let us together join in the prayer of Pope Benedict XVI when visiting Ground Zero in New York on April 20, 2008:
Bishop: On this feast of St. Peter Claver, pray for the elimination of racism

September 9 is the feast of Jesuit priest and missionary St. Peter Claver (1581-1654) who traveled to Colombia where he ministered to slaves trafficked there from West Africa.
Bishop asks Diocese’s faithful to help those affected by Hurricane Laura

Hurricane Laura has wreaked havoc in Louisiana and Texas, and devastating families, damaging and destroying homes and churches. Here in New Jersey we are quite familiar with such experiences.
A note of thanks from the Bishop

I wish to express my deep personal gratitude to the faithful of the Diocese of Trenton for their characteristic generosity in contributing to the Diocese’s COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund during the past few months.
Bishop invites faithful to pray daily Rosary for the needs of the nation

For centuries, Catholics have turned to the Blessed Virgin Mary, asking for her intercession in times of need by praying the Rosary.
Mary shows us the way: A teaching on the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary

Although this year the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Mother into heaven is not a holy day of obligation because it falls on Saturday, it remains a pre-eminent Marian feast day that should be honored and remembered.
In the Lord Jesus, we walk in truth

We are all familiar with the tense moment of confrontation between Pontius Pilate and the Lord Jesus when Pilate demands “what is truth?”
‘This Is My Beloved Son: Listen To Him’: A reflection for the Feast of the Transfiguration

The Feast of the Transfiguration of Jesus is celebrated on August 6. It lifts up for our prayerful consideration as Catholics a pivotal moment in the life of the Lord Jesus.
Bishop extends Mass dispensation

Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M., issued the following message July 30, 2020:
Ten years of ‘loving and serving the Lord Jesus and his people'

On July 30, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., will mark the 10th anniversary of his ordination to the episcopacy, less than two months after being named Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Trenton.
Summertime Again

It’s summertime again, although the look and feel of it is quite different this year. Most of us have been working at home or home schooling so, despite the change of seasons, it seems just “more of the same.” But it is different.
Embracing Father’s Day as a celebration of faith

Like “Mother’s Day” in the United States, “Father’s Day” celebrations began here in the early 20th century. Their true origins, however, are rooted in Catholic religious devotions to St. Joseph in the Middle Ages. For the most part, the national observance of “Father’s Day” is a secular holiday.
The Sacred Heart of Jesus and the human heart of the priest shall beat as one

Devotion to the “Sacred Heart of Jesus” can be traced back to the twelfth and thirteenth centuries in the Catholic Church.
This Is My Body, This Is My Blood

In June 2011, our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI reminded us that the feast we celebrate today in Catholic Churches throughout the United States – the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ often referred to as “Corpus Christi” – “is inseparable from the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper in which the institution of the Eucharist is also celebrated (Homily, June 24, 2011).” A profound and beautiful thought that we should keep in mind.
It should not have happened

All of us in our Diocese, in our nation, indeed, throughout the world looked with horror at the video depicting the May 25 death of George Floyd, an African American citizen of the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Bishop on Pentecost: The wind blows where it pleases

The Sacred Scriptures remind us that “the love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit dwelling with us (Romans 5: 5).”
We remember: ‘Greater love than this no one has’

Memorial Day is observed throughout the United States on the last Monday in May.
I Am with You Always

Although the liturgical celebration of the Solemnity of the Ascension has been transferred to this coming Sunday in the Dioceses of New Jersey this year, I can’t help but reflect about its meaning today, Thursday, 40 days after Easter. This great feast – whenever it’s placement of the Catholic Church calendar occurs – commemorates our belief that the Risen Lord Jesus, gathered with his disciples on Mt. Tabor near Jerusalem, ascended body and soul into heaven, returning to his Father.

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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.