Compiled by Christina Leslie, correspondent

The Year of Faith

• Faithful in the Diocese of Trenton joined with their spiritual brothers and sisters from around the world to commemorate the opening of the papal Year of Faith proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI. Encompassing the period of Oct. 11, 2012, through Nov. 24, 2013, the Year of Faith marks both the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council, and the 20th anniversary of the promulgation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
• Inspired by the Year of Faith, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., issued his first pastoral letter Sept. 13. The letter, entitled “One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church: I Believe, We Believe” offered the “opportunity for reflection and celebration of our Catholic faith,” Bishop O’Connell wrote. The bishop explained his focus on the four marks of the Church – one, holy, catholic and apostolic – because of the current challenges facing the Church and her people. In an interview with The Monitor, he expressed the hope that, through faith, readers would understand “the Catholic Church was founded by the Lord Jesus Christ and it is he whose truth and holiness have sustained it over the centuries.”
• More than 800 faithful gathered in St. Hedwig Church, Trenton, for a Pontifical Solemn High Mass in the Extraordinary Form celebrated by Bishop O’Connell Nov. 27, the first such event in the diocese in more than 40 years.  The bishop celebrated the Mass in Latin and focused his homily on the feast of the Miraculous Medal observed by the universal Church that day.

Eucharistic Congress

• As an answer to the call of Pope Benedict XVI to celebrate the Year of Faith “in fullness and with renewed conviction, with confidence and hope,” Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., charged a committee to organize the diocese’s first Eucharistic Congress Oct. 12-14 at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel.
• The three-day congress drew an estimated 20,000 men, women, teens and children who took part in Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, concerts, dramatic and cultural performances, spiritual talks and more. Each day’s slate of activities was tailored to the unique faith needs of the diocese’s youth and families in mind, yet engaged and entertained attendees of all ages.

Friday, Oct. 12 – A Day for the Youth

• After arriving in scores of busses which had departed from Catholic schools and parishes around the diocese, youth were treated to a musical performance by Sibling Rivalry and overflowed the amphitheater for a keynote talk by John Angotti entitled “Sunday’s All About Monday!” (with a surprise addition: Bishop O’Connell belting out “Don’t Stop Believing” along with the presenter).
• The youth then donned paper hairnets and put their faith into action with an outreach project to package meals for people in the West African country of Burkina Faso through the Catholic Relief Services’ Helping Hands project.  
• Numerous dramatic, musical, and prayerful acts offered the teens opportunities to learn about and practice their faith. Actor Frank Runyeon told the group about this struggles with his faith in the world of the media, the “rapping priest” Father Stan Fortuna entertained and hockey personality Kerry Fraser spoke about the Catholic Athletes for Christ program.
• The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was celebrated by Bishop O’Connell, who looked out over the standing-room-only assemblage to proclaim, “Today is Youth Day, Jersey style,” and urged them to welcome the greatest guest that stage had ever known: Jesus Christ. The bishop noted that the group had already begun their journey of faith and encouraged them to “reach for the sky in life… sink your roots deeply in Christ, in the Church, in all that is good and true and right.”
• Those men who minister to their flocks were also ministered to at the Eucharistic Congress. Separate sessions for priests and seminarians were held Friday evening; Evening Prayer, presentations by Paterson diocese Bishop Arthur Serratelli and Franciscan Friar of the Renewal Mariusz Koch of the Newark Archdiocese; a priests dinner, and a Holy Hour allowed for spiritual renewal and conviviality among the clergy of the Trenton Diocese.

Saturday, Oct. 13 – A Day for the Church Family

• Catholics, from the young and young at heart, to teens and young adults, and to married couples or veterans, found entertaining and faith-filled programming specially tailored to their needs at multiple venues within the PNC Bank Arts Center on “A Day for the Church Family” Saturday, Oct. 13. Children and their parents were enthralled by entertainer Rob Evans “The DonutMan,” clowning puppeteers Rainbow and Mr. T, and hands-on youth-centered activities led by Linda Dix, while their young adult and college-level counterparts found the numerous musical, dramatic and Q&A presentations fruitful.
• Corps of bagpipers and an honor guard by the Knights of Columbus led faithful on a procession to the top of Telegraph Hill adjacent to the main concourse for a prayerful service at the N.J. Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial.  The dedication of men and women in America’s armed forces were honored by Bishop O’Connell, who bade the audience remember “this reminder of the price of the freedoms for which our veterans fought.”
• Throughout the day, ample opportunities for worship before the Blessed Sacrament or within the Sacrament of Reconciliation kept the faithful spiritually fed. Women religious enjoyed prayer and an audience with the bishop, while the laity prayed the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary, Lecto Divina and the Divine Mercy chaplet in a specially-constructed Cenacle Chapel within the confines of the secular arena. During his homily at the daily Mass, Bishop O’Connell drew parallels between the kitchen table and the altar and stressed the importance of the family unit.
• The Sacrament of Marriage was lauded by speaker Damon Clarke Owens in his presentation “Between Intimacy and Awe,” followed by a prayer service where the bishop offered special blessings to couples celebrating their first, 25th or 50th wedding anniversaries. Concerts by the Koinonia Choir, Ken Perry and John Angotti closed out the evening.

Sunday, Oct. 14 – The Eucharist: ‘Source and Summit’

• Reinforcing the belief that diversity only strengthens the bonds of faith, an Hispanic Morning Prayer service greeted attendees on the closing day of the Eucharistic Congress. The gathering included an address in Spanish by Bishop O’Connell, a presentation by Fire of Life Music Ministry and a keynote address by Father Carlos Garcia.
• A four-hour multi-cultural song and dance expo was held on the main plaza under the VIP tent of the Arts Center. Gaily-dressed Catholics of many ancestries shared their artistic gifts with the crowds, offering song, dance and presentations in the Guatemalan, Filipino, Mexican, African American, Ukrainian, Polish and Brazilian faith traditions and languages.
• Bishop O’Connell led a lively question-and-answer session with a group of First Communicants, and Marge McGinley, a member of the board of directors of the National St. Vincent de Paul Council, presented “Journey with the Poor and See the Face of Christ” to fellow Vincentians.
• During the day’s Great Mass celebrated by Bishop O’Connell, papal honors were awarded to two priests, two religious, one deacon and three lay persons of the diocese. The bishop presented Msgr. Thomas J. Mullelly and Msgr. Joseph Roldan the “Chaplains to His Holiness” designation and the title Reverend Monsignor. Sister of St. Joseph Dorothy Payne and Sacred Heart Brother Robert Ziobro received the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Cross; Benemerenti Medals were given to Deacon John Flanagan, Maureen Fitzsimmons, and James and Cheryl Manfredonia. The diocesan-level Gaudium et Spes Award was given to Father Brian McCormick to recognize his 42 years of ministry as president of the Martin House Community Justice Foundation; Immaculate Heart of Mary Sister Janet Yurkanin, director of the diocesan Office of Migration and Refugee Services from 1997 to 2012, was given the Lumen Gentium Award.
• Following the Great Mass and the conferral of honors, a jewel-inlaid monstrance housing the Blessed Sacrament was processed throughout the arena while penitents knelt and prayed under the wafting clouds of incense.  The bishop led all in prayer to obtain the promised plenary indulgence, and the first Eucharistic Congress in the Diocese of Trenton came to its joyful, prayerful conclusion.

Hurricane Sandy 

• Hurricane Sandy, the worst hurricane on record to strike the Mid-Atlantic coastline, inflicted severe damage in Monmouth and Ocean counties in the diocese as it made landfall Oct. 28-29. But despite the lack of electrical power, gasoline shortages, and personal property damage, the Catholic community of the Diocese of Trenton came together as a caring family, shouldered the load, and found strength in their faith and each other.
• In his open letter to the diocese dated Nov. 8, Bishop O’Connell strove to give meaning to the suffering of his flock, and to find an answer to the ‘why’ on so many lips. Quoting 2 Corinthians, the bishop wrote, “We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.’’
• As of early December, damage to parish and school properties had been estimated at $12 million, and was expected to rise. More than 50 locations sustained some level of measurable damage, ranging from water damage from flooding, to missing materials from roofs, siding, broken windows, etc. Approximately $500,000 has been collected for hurricane relief; receipts from parishes are still arriving.
• Several properties suffered profound loss. Among them, St. Rose High School, Belmar, was heaviest hit, with a preliminary total physical damage and remediation loss of $5 million; most of the damage from severe flooding in the lower level of the building. St. Rose Elementary School lost its roof. Other properties with known significant loss included St. Denis Parish and School (two feet of water on the first floor; $2 million), and St. Ann Parish, Keansburg, and Precious Blood Parish, Monmouth Beach, with $500,000 in losses each.
• Diocesan schools slowly regained power and made repairs, then joyfully opened their doors to their students. The faculty, staff and student bodies of Monsignor Donovan High School and St. Joseph School, both in Toms River, gathered in St. Joseph Church Nov. 12 for a welcome back Mass celebrated by Father G. Scott Shaffer, pastor. St. Rose grade school welcomed back students Nov. 15 after losing a large portion of the roof; St. Denis School, Manasquan, and St. Rose High School, Belmar, re-opened full-time Nov. 19 while still undergoing repairs.
• The Diocese of Trenton’s Office of Catholic Social Services announced a Long-Term Recovery Plan. Financial assistance and other forms of aid are available to hurricane survivors through the St. Vincent de Paul Society conferences, Catholic Charities, The St. Francis Community Center and Project PAUL in Keansburg, according to the plan released by Daughter of Charity Sister Joanne Dress, executive director of Catholic Social Services.

Diocesan Initiatives

• Bishop O’Connell inaugurated the 2012 Bishop’s Annual Appeal “One Family, Our Family in Christ” in all parishes in the diocese the weekend of Jan. 21-22 announcing a goal of $8 million; $7 million of appeal dollars will be directed toward diocesan operations, ministries and initiatives, while the additional $1million was to be used exclusively for parish-based programs and other Catholic social service agencies that serve the poor.
• After more than two years of study and collaboration by the Catholic community in and around Asbury Park, on Jan. 1 Bishop O’Connell announced two parish mergers. Effective July 1, St. Peter Claver Parish, Asbury Park, merged into Holy Spirit Parish, Asbury Park; and Our Lady of Providence Parish, Neptune, merged into Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Asbury Park. The remaining two parishes, Holy Spirit and Our Lady of Mount Carmel, were twinned under the leadership of one pastor, Divine Word Father Miguel Virella, also effective July 1.
• Bishop O’Connell joined more than 100 of his brother bishops from across the country in vowing to fight the mandated contraceptive coverage under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services rule. In a letter read at Masses throughout the diocese the weekend of Jan. 28 and 29, he declared the mandate against “the fundamental right to religious liberty for all citizens of any faith.” More than 900 faithful converged on the state capitol June 8 for Mass in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral followed by the Stand Up for Religious Freedom Rally on the steps of the Trenton State House to protest the mandate.
• Bishop O’Connell convened a new 13-month Commission for the Study of the Sustainability of Our Catholic Schools; members of the commission include parents, clergy, diocesan administrators, educators and business persons. Father Douglas Freer, vicar of Catholic education, will serve as commission chair, and JoAnn Tier, diocesan superintendent of schools is vice-chair. Leading the study is Dr. John J. Convey, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Professor of Education and former provost at The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.
• The Mercer County CYO launched a $950,000 capital campaign to fund a 4,600 square-foot addition to the main building of the organization’s Yardville childcare site and camp in Hamilton Township. The structure is to be named the Monsignor Toomey Annex in honor of the late Msgr. Leonard R. Toomey, the CYO’s founder and first director.

Diocesan Events, Celebrations

• Bishop O’Connell welcomed 158 catechumens to the diocesan family at the Rite of Election Mass held in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral Feb. 26.
• Thousands of diocesan faithful bade a prayerful farewell to Retired Bishop John C. Reiss in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral March 9. More than 160 priests and bishops celebrated the life of the eighth bishop who served as shepherd of the Trenton Diocese for 17 years who died March 4.
• A Diocesan Youth Celebration, with the theme “Faithbook: the Good News Network” attracted more than 350 teens and young adults to St. Aloysius Parish, Jackson, on March 11 for workshops, music, faith witness and testimonials, and the celebration of Holy Mass by Bishop O’Connell. Thirty-two young people were recognized for their faith in action and awarded St. Timothy Awards, named for the saintly young companion of St. Paul.
• More than 800 students, parents, faculty and administrators filled St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, March 19 for the second annual Catholic Schools Mass. Principal celebrant and homilist Bishop O’Connell presented Donna Urmey, an eighth grade teacher in St. Joseph School, Toms River, with a certificate of appreciation from the diocese for having been named the Region 3 2012 Distinguished Teacher Award certificate from the NCEA.
• Bishop O’Connell led a group of diocesan pilgrims on a 10-day pilgrimage to France April 19. The faithful visited shrines, churches, and sacred places in Toulouse, Lourdes, Paris and surrounding areas.
• The third annual RE:IMAGE film festival was held May 6 in the Algonquin Arts Theatre, Manasquan. Nearly 600 movie fans were drawn to the historic theatre to view 20 faith-filled films in four categories, including a screening of the feature-length motion picture “The Way”, an inspiring collaboration between father-son team Emilio Estevez and Martin Sheen.
• The diocese announced the retirement May 11 of Father Brian J. McCormick, long-time director of Martin House, which transitioned to an independently-operated social service agency for the poor of the greater Trenton area. In a statement, Bishop O’Connell cited Father McCormick’s “truly Christ-like ministry” and expressed gratitude for the priest’s nearly 40 years at the helm. In conjunction with Father McCormick’s retirement, the Martin House Learning Center transitioned to the Catholic Youth Organization and was renamed the CYO East State Street Learning Center Aug. 27; the diocese “gave” the Martin House the building that houses its thrift shop, and the foundation moved its administrative offices to another site to continue its mission to provide affordable housing and life skills assistance to young single mothers.

Diocesan Awards

• The Monitor received the award for First Place, General Excellence, in the category of small diocesan newspapers during the 2012 Catholic Media Conference’s annual awards banquet June 22 in Indianapolis. It was the first time in more than 50 years that The Monitor had been presented with this award from the Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada. The newspaper also earned second place in the Best News Writing and Best Editorial categories, as well as third place in the Regular Column, Spiritual Life category.
• Realfaith TV, the diocesan faith-based television program for teenagers, was honored with a 2012 Gabriel Award by the Catholic Academy for Communication Arts Professionals for the episode entitled “Too Young to Die: Grieving Teenagers” during the 2012 Catholic Media Conference. The same episode also garnered a bronze Telly Award from the eponymous organization whose mission is to “strengthen the visual arts community by inspiring, promoting and supporting creativity.”
• Angela Dodson, host of the long-running radio program “Black Catholics Yes!,” was named Outstanding African American Catholic for the diocese during the National Black Catholic Congress in Indianapolis July 19-21.

People in the News

• Bray Barnes of St. Luke Parish, Toms River, was elected world chairman of the International Catholic Committee on Scouting at the committee’s world council conference, St. Louis.
• Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville, alumnus Brian Siemann competed on Team USA in the 2012 Paralympic Games held in London. Siemann took eighth place in the men’s 800m final; sixth in the 100m final; and placed 25th in the final event of the games, the marathon.

Personnel In Ministry

• The bishop ordained seven men as priests of the Trenton Diocese June 9 in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton: Father Neiser Cardenas, Father Carlos Castilla, Father Robert Cro, Father Daniel E. Kirk, Father Matthew J. Pfleger, Father Walter Andre Quiceno and Father Andres Alberto Serna.
• Five seminarians were ordained to the transitional diaconate in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral May 19 by Bishop O’Connell. Carlos Aguirre, Jorge Bedoya, Garry Koch, Juan Camilo Perez and Juan Gabriel Rojas will serve a year in this position prior to their priesthood ordinations in the spring of 2013.
• May 12, 16 men were ordained to the permanent diaconate by the bishop at the Trenton cathedral. They are Thomas W. Murphy, John Scanlon, Gary Schmitt, Michael B. Collins, Joseph Moore, William F.  Palmisano, Jr., Paul Franklin, John J. Franey, Louis E. Jakub, Paul Lang, Charles J. Marino, Sean Patrick Murphy, James J. Neubauer, Richard W. Tucker, Stanley D. Kendrick and Paul J. Serafino.
• The commissioning of two classes of the diocese’s Institute of Lay Ecclesial Formation program served as bookends to the year. A total of 14 women from around the diocese completed the rigorous, three-year program which provides for the spiritual, human, intellectual and pastoral formation of its candidates. On Jan. 18, during Evening Prayer in St. Rose of Lima Parish, Freehold, six women were commissioned by Bishop O’Connell, Michelle Robbins, Karen Craven, Kyle Galante, Carmelle Durand, Terry Anderson and Catherine Collins. Eight more were commissioned Dec. 15, Janice Szarko, Linda Mueller, Donna Goodwin, Pat Werthwine, Lucy Premus, Joan Celiano, Kimberly Williams and Debbie Gallucci, during Morning Prayer in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, by Father Douglas Freer, diocesan vicar of Catholic education.
• Cathleen Sheridan was presented with the 2012 “Chick” McGinty Award for Excellence in Catechetical Leadership within the diocesan Ministry of Catechesis and Evangelization during a professional day held for parish catechetical leaders and staff Nov. 29 in St. Anthony Church, Hamilton. Sheridan served as director of religious education in St. Mary of the Lakes Parish, Medford, from 2001 until her retirement in 2012.
• In February, Joseph Bianchi was appointed executive director of the Office of Child and Youth Protection, and Vincentian Father Martin McGeough was appointed director of Jail and Prison Ministries.
• In July, Sister of St. Joseph Rose McDermott was appointed diocesan delegate for Religious and Institutes of Consecrated Life; Msgr. Thomas N. Gervasio (elevated to a Prelate of Honor to His Holiness by Pope Benedict XVI) assumed the role of diocesan vicar general and moderator of the curia; Msgr. Gregory D. Vaughan became full-time vicar for vocations, seminary formation and spiritual director of newly ordained priests; Father Ian Trammel, pastor of St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square, was named director of Diocesan Pilgrimages; and Msgr. Michael J. Walsh, pastor of St. James Parish, Pennington, was named Bishop’s Representative to the Board of St. Lawrence Rehabilitation Hospital/Morris Hall, Lawrenceville.
• Father Thomas J. Mullelly, vicar for Clergy and Consecrated Life, and Father Joseph L. Roldan, pastor and rector of St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, were designated as Chaplains of His Holiness with the title “Reverend Monsignor.” Msgr. Roldan has also been appointed administrator of St. Joseph Parish, Trenton.

Milestones

• Anniversaries were observed by a number of priests of the diocese in 2012. Clergy celebrating 50 years of distinguished service included Father John V. Bowden, Msgr. Richard C. Brietske, Msgr. Casimir H. Ladzinski, and Father Joseph Radomski. Bishop O’Connell celebrated his 30th priestly anniversary, and Father Bernardino C. Esguerra and Divine Word Father Pelagio Pateno, Jr., marked 25 years of priestly service.
• The religious of the diocese celebrating major anniversaries include (50 years): Mercy Sister Gloria Jean Bateman, Sister of St. Joseph of Philadelphia William Evelyn Galloway, Dominican Sister Loretta Maggio, Mercy Sister Mariann Mahon, Redemptorist Father John McGowan, Sister of St. Francis of Philadelphia Patricia McNiff, Christian Brother Joseph Radice; (25 years): Christian Brother James Martino, Sister of St. Joseph of Philadelphia Eileen Marie Rush.
• Men marking 25 years in the permanent diaconate include: Stephen W. Andrews, William F. Malone, Anthony Martucci, Philip J. Mylod; Deacons Henry Ernst, Martin Ervin and Heriberto Lopez are serving outside the diocese of Trenton.
• Five priests of the diocese joined the ranks of retired senior priests: Divine Word Father Victor Butler, Msgr. Casimir H. Ladzinski, Father Brian J. McCormick, Msgr. Ronald J. Bacovin and Father Brendan H. Williams.
• Joyful congregations also marked milestone anniversaries of their parishes’ inception: St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Farmingdale, 100 years; St. Veronica Parish, Howell, 50 years; St. Martha Parish, Point Pleasant, 40 years; St. Ann Parish, Lawrenceville, 75 years; St. Alphonsus Parish, Hopewell, 135 years; and St. Isaac Jogues Parish, Marlton, 10 years.
• The St. Francis Center on Long Beach Island celebrated 40 years of community service April 29.

In Memoriam

• The diocese mourned the loss of priests and deacons who served in the four counties, including Father Joseph W. Hughes, retired pastor of Holy Cross Parish, Rumson; March 7; Conventual Franciscan Father Christopher Balas, St. Catharine of Siena Parish, Seaside Park, April 28; Father James McConnell, retired pastor of St. James Parish, Pennington, Sept. 21; Father Louis Kralovich, retired pastor of St. Luke Parish, Toms River, Sept. 22; Father Daniel J. Ryan, pastor of Corpus Christi Parish, Willingboro, Dec. 24.
• Departed deacons of the diocese included Caleb Weller, Jan. 12; John Cole, Jan. 17; Francis A. Jones, Feb. 28; Stephen R. Vagrin, April 17; Manuel F. Iglesias IV, May 30; John Joseph Gimblett, July 8, and Joseph de Paolis, Aug. 23.

Blessings, Dedications

• Ground was broken for a new mausoleum in St. Ann Cemetery, Wall Township, and Bishop O’Connell blessed the new St. John Vianney High School, Holmdel, Vianney Activities Center, funded by the school’s capital campaign.
• St. Alphonsus Parish, Hopewell, blessed its newly restored grotto and St. Theresa Parish, Little Egg Harbor, dedicated a new granite pro-life monument on the church plaza. The Medford Conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society continued its work with area poor, blessing its newly renovated and expanded thrift store, caring center and food pantry.

Our Schools

• Both students and teachers of Catholic schools in the diocese earned accolades in 2012, reflecting the value of Catholic education. St. Paul School, Princeton, and St. Leo the Great School, Lincroft, were two of 269 schools nationwide, only 50 of which were non-public schools, to receive the prestigious Blue Ribbon School of Excellence award.
• Two diocesan schools celebrated 50 years of educating children in the faith in 2012: St. Benedict School, Holmdel, and Trenton Catholic Academy, Hamilton.
• Donna Urmey, an eighth grade teacher in St. Joseph School, Toms River, was one of 12 teachers across the country to receive the 2012 National Catholic Educational Association Distinguished Teacher Award granted by the NCEA Department of Elementary Schools, and Sister of St. Joseph Jude Boyce, principal of Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, Asbury Park, was selected as NCEA Distinguished Principal for the 2012-2013 school year.
• Red Bank Catholic High School was named one of the five honorees for the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception’s Charity and Social Service Award, which was presented during the Mass in Washington, D.C. April 15. Their award-winning three-minute video presentation chronicled their efforts to perform corporal and spiritual works of mercy.
• Steven Rosso, a junior in St. John Vianney High School, Holmdel, was named the N.J. first place winner and the eighth place national winner of The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association Foundation’s InvestWrite student essay competition; and Stephen Bruce of St. Denis School, Manasquan, was one of 24 students nationwide to have his artwork chosen as a winner in the annual Holy Childhood Association national Christmas Artwork contest.
• Austin Steady, a parishioner of St. Veronica, Howell, and a junior in Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft, was voted winner of the 2012 Loving Life Logo Contest held by the Respect Life Ministry in the diocesan Department of Pastoral Care.
• Graduation ceremonies throughout the diocese celebrated the academic achievements of Catholic school young men and women. The 11 Catholic high schools in the diocese held baccalaureate Masses and commencement ceremonies during May and June to celebrate the 1,437 students graduating from their hallowed halls.
• The Diocese of Trenton becomes the first national diocesan-wide secondary school chapter of Catholic Athletes for Christ, an integrated network of sports-oriented clergy and lay people to serve Catholic athletes, coaches and staff in the practice of their faith and utilize the unique platform given to them to reach the world for Jesus Christ and His Church. A 29-person committee was formed to establish, outline and implement CAC in the eight diocesan secondary schools.
• Bishop O’Connell joined over 1,000 students, parents, staff, clergy and friends on the campus of St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square, Sept. 7 to mark the new designation of the Pre-K through eighth grade school as St. Gregory the Great Academy.
• Eight new diocesan elementary and secondary school principals took the reins in September: Peter Santanello, Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft; William Belluzzi, Holy Cross School, Rumson; Carla Chiarelli, Sacred Heart School, Mount Holly; Cornelius Begley, St. Leo the Great School, Lincroft; Dr. Trisha Stevenson Medeiros, head of Upper School and Michelle Dowling head of Lower School divisions of Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, Princeton; Brian Albanese, Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, Maple Shade; and William Robbins, St. Paul School, Burlington.
• A number of teachers were bid farewell as they retired from active service to the diocese’s children, including St. James School, Red Bank, teachers Susan Walsh, Marsha Walsh, Neil Fitzpatrick and Ann Fitzgerald; Holy Cross High School, Delran’s Patricia Sacks and Thomas Camp; and Jolynn Green of St. Mary of the Lakes School, Medford.

School Sports

• Trenton Catholic Academy seniors Brandon Taylor and Robin Perkins both scored their 1,000th point in basketball games held at the Hamilton high school March 1, and Erin Ruddy, a junior at Monsignor Donovan High School, reached a career milestone of 100 goals as a member of the school’s varsity lacrosse team. Taylor Totland clinched the 2012 NJSIAA Girls Golf Individual Championship May 23 at the Trump National Golf Club, Colts Neck.
• Sean McGovern, a senior and two-sport athlete in Monsignor Donovan High School, Toms River, was honored by Sports Faith International, a Chicago-based organization that honors Catholic athletes for spirituality and leadership on and off the playing fields. McGovern was also honored with the “Virtues of St. Paul” award and inducted into the National Catholic High School Hall of Fame.
• Amy Hoyer was named head coach of the Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville, varsity girls soccer team, while Joseph Gomulka was named new athletic director in Monsignor Donovan High School, Toms River.
• Georgian Court University, Lakewood, in its first year as a co-educational institution, appointed three new coaches for the inaugural men’s athletic programs: Dino Raso, men’s soccer; Brett Harvey, men’s cross-country and track & field programs; and Enrico Mastroianni, men’s head basketball coach. The school also named Kerry O’Donnell as new head women’s lacrosse coach.