By Patrick T. Brown | Associate Editor

The priests who serve the Diocese of Trenton see themselves as brothers in one big family, spread across Mercer, Monmouth, Ocean and Burlington Counties.

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And just like a yearly family reunion, the annual convocation of priests gives them a chance to spend time together in prayer, touch base on what others are up to and, together, focus on some of the most important issues they are dealing with as priests.

“For some guys, it’s the only time you get to see them all year, so it’s good to kind of reconnect -- you might see them at Chrism Mass for five minutes,” said Father Michael Hall, director of the diocesan Office of Worship.

“We tend to be in places where there’s really only one or two of us, so we don’t get to see each other very often,” said Father Hall. “I think the priestly fraternity of ministry is important because the only people who can really relate to the things that we have to do and hear and see are the guys who are doing the same thing.”

This year’s retreat, held Sept. 15-17, drew roughly 175 priests to an Avalon hotel and conference center.  The schedule had plenty of time for conversation and relaxation with brother priests, but also included Masses with Bishop David O’Connell, C.M., and multiple presentations.

“We had good fellowship, the opportunity for people to relax with one another, enjoy good conversation, good food, and just be energized in the presence of the Bishop and one another,” said Msgr. Thomas Mullelly, vicar for Clergy and Consecrated Life for the Diocese, who helped plan the time together.

Timely Topics

“This year, we had as the topic the ‘Faith in Our Future’ planning in the Diocese of Trenton,” said Msgr. Mullelly, “a very important topic that the Bishop and the priests will be focused upon in the near future.”

The “Faith in Our Future” pastoral planning process will launch later this year, and will engage the whole Diocese – clergy and laity alike – in discerning a solid path forward for the Church of Trenton in the years ahead.

Presenters from the Reid Group, a strategic planning consultancy based out of Seattle that specializes in strengthening faith-based ministries and organizations, led the attending priests in a presentation and discussion around the process and its timeline.

“[We] are looking forward to engaging in that process of discerning the best way for the Diocese to fulfill its mission of proclaiming the Gospel and being the body of Christ in the four counties which make up the Diocese of Trenton,” said Msgr. Mullelly.

“Msgr. Gervasio had a very wonderful homily at the closing Mass on Thursday, and he said we are challenged by the current Holy Father not just to remain static but rather to move forward on the road and to proclaim the Gospel and accomplish the tasks that are entrusted to us,” Msgr. Mullelly said, noting that the pastoral plan will help strengthen the Diocese to better life out that mission.

Another session featured representatives from the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness. In light of events like the fatal shootings last June at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C, priests heard from emergency response and counter-terrorism experts in identifying potential threats and best practices to keep parishes safe.

“It’s a very important topic for you as pastors and priests to be aware of in this crazy world we live in,” said Bishop O’Connell in introducing the session. “I’m sure that when many of you were ordained, you never even once thought about having to address things like this.”

The 16,000 houses of worship in the state of New Jersey are considered “soft targets” by law enforcement agencies due to usually lower levels of security and a desire to remain open and welcoming to all.

Centered on Christ

In his homily at Mass he celebrated on Wednesday with all the priests gathered, Bishop O’Connell reminded them that their ministry of priesthood is “all about the Lord Jesus Christ.”

“It doesn't matter if we are from Colombia or the Philippines or New Jersey or anywhere in between,” the Bishop said. “It doesn't matter if we feel tired or beaten up or if we are in mint condition, raring to go; it doesn't matter whether we are looking at the Church and our Diocese from 1,000 feet in the air or staring it right in the face.

“All that matters is the Lord Jesus Christ who took us each by the hand and said ‘follow me,’ and we said yes.  It's all about him and dying and rising and the life he lived and has asked us to live as priests, as brothers.”

Whatever their backgrounds and wherever they serve, the priests of the Diocese of Trenton come back renewed and refreshed from their time on the shore as a fraternity.

For Father Hall, however, this year’s convocation was not as relaxing as previous years. In addition to his assignment as parochial vicar in St. Gregory the Great Parish in Hamilton Square, he was recently appointed to his post as director of the Office of Worship and was responsible for the retreat’s liturgies. If anything was out of place, he knew he’d hear about it from his brother priests.

“It was a little more nerve-wracking for me than normal,” said Father Hall. “For the first time, I was the one making sure that I brought everything and set up everything, so I found myself more worried about what I had to do next, which was a different experience.

“It’s like a family reunion … Guys will pick at each other, but it’s all in good fun. At the end of the day, they are very happy and supportive, and it’s great to feel that.

“The time we get to spend together is important, to kind of share the fun stuff – there’s always crazy stories – but also always the good things that happened, the hope, and what’s working.”