NJ Bishops discuss consecrated life, synodality in joint meeting with superiors

December 10, 2024 at 11:16 a.m.
The Bishops gathered for their final meeting of the year following the presentation. Pictured are: Newark Auxiliary Bishop Michael A. Saporito; Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney, Diocese of Paterson; Newark Auxiliary Bishop Elias R. Lorenzo, O.S.B.; Co-Adjutor Bishop Joseph A. Williams, Diocese of Camden; Bishop Dennis J. Sullivan, Diocese of Camden; Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archdiocese of Newark; Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., Diocese of Trenton; Bishop Kurt Burnette, Eparchy of Passaic; Newark Auxiliary Bishops Gregory J. Studerus and Manuel A. Cruz.
The Bishops gathered for their final meeting of the year following the presentation. Pictured are: Newark Auxiliary Bishop Michael A. Saporito; Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney, Diocese of Paterson; Newark Auxiliary Bishop Elias R. Lorenzo, O.S.B.; Co-Adjutor Bishop Joseph A. Williams, Diocese of Camden; Bishop Dennis J. Sullivan, Diocese of Camden; Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archdiocese of Newark; Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., Diocese of Trenton; Bishop Kurt Burnette, Eparchy of Passaic; Newark Auxiliary Bishops Gregory J. Studerus and Manuel A. Cruz.

From Staff Reports

The Catholic bishops of the state met Dec. 6 with some 60 superiors or their delegates of mens’ and womens’ orders of consecrated life doing apostolic works in the ecclesiastical province of New Jersey. 

PHOTO GALLERY: The New Jersey Catholic Conference Meeting with Major Superiors

Given the proximity of the recent synod in Rome, the bishops and religious chose as their theme "Consecrated Life in a Synodal Church: Resources and Realities.” Sister of Charity of the Incarnate Word (CCVI) Teresa Maya was invited by the group to give the days’ presentation on the concept of Synodality and to coordinate conversation among participants in small groups. 

Held in St. David the King Church and Parish Hall, West Windsor, the Dec. 6 event was the final meeting of 2024 for the bishops from the five dioceses and one eparchy of the province, who gather quarterly each year as the New Jersey Catholic Conference to discuss matters of interest or common concern to the Catholic Church here. Chaired by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Newark, Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., the meetings are usually held in a different diocese each time. The agenda for each NJCC meeting is solicited from among the bishops and then prepared by James King, the Conference’s executive director.

    Sister of Charity of the Incarnate Word (CCVI) Teresa Maya was invited by the group to give the days’ presentation on the concept of Synodality and to coordinate conversation among participants in small groups.
 
 


The day began with the regularly scheduled First Friday Parish Mass at which Trenton’s Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., was celebrant and homilist, joined at the altar by his brother bishops. More than 100 St. David parishioners attended the Mass.  

Following Mass, the bishops and religious leaders moved to the parish hall for the keynote presentation and small group discussions.  The bishops went into their board meeting in the afternoon. 

The joint meetings between the bishops and the Major Superiors of Religious Institutes and Societies of Apostolic Life in the province are typically held every 2-3 years. The last meeting was held in 2019. This year’s meeting with religious was organized by Bishop Elias R. Lorenzo, O.S.S.B., auxiliary bishop of Newark, who shared in a recent facebook post: "Mutual relations between bishops and religious, carried out sincerely and readily, will be of great value in achieving the dynamic vitality of the Church-Sacrament in its admirable mission of salvation" (Mutuae Relationes, April 23, 1978).

Sister Teresa has been a member of her congregation, based in San Antonio, Texas, since 1994.   Her education ministry has spanned several decades and she is a frequently sought after speaker on religious life.  Sister Teresa currently serves as an administrator/consultant for the Catholic Health Association.



Related Stories

The Catholic bishops of the state met Dec. 6 with some 60 superiors or their delegates of mens’ and womens’ orders of consecrated life doing apostolic works in the ecclesiastical province of New Jersey. 

PHOTO GALLERY: The New Jersey Catholic Conference Meeting with Major Superiors

Given the proximity of the recent synod in Rome, the bishops and religious chose as their theme "Consecrated Life in a Synodal Church: Resources and Realities.” Sister of Charity of the Incarnate Word (CCVI) Teresa Maya was invited by the group to give the days’ presentation on the concept of Synodality and to coordinate conversation among participants in small groups. 

Held in St. David the King Church and Parish Hall, West Windsor, the Dec. 6 event was the final meeting of 2024 for the bishops from the five dioceses and one eparchy of the province, who gather quarterly each year as the New Jersey Catholic Conference to discuss matters of interest or common concern to the Catholic Church here. Chaired by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Newark, Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., the meetings are usually held in a different diocese each time. The agenda for each NJCC meeting is solicited from among the bishops and then prepared by James King, the Conference’s executive director.

    Sister of Charity of the Incarnate Word (CCVI) Teresa Maya was invited by the group to give the days’ presentation on the concept of Synodality and to coordinate conversation among participants in small groups.
 
 


The day began with the regularly scheduled First Friday Parish Mass at which Trenton’s Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., was celebrant and homilist, joined at the altar by his brother bishops. More than 100 St. David parishioners attended the Mass.  

Following Mass, the bishops and religious leaders moved to the parish hall for the keynote presentation and small group discussions.  The bishops went into their board meeting in the afternoon. 

The joint meetings between the bishops and the Major Superiors of Religious Institutes and Societies of Apostolic Life in the province are typically held every 2-3 years. The last meeting was held in 2019. This year’s meeting with religious was organized by Bishop Elias R. Lorenzo, O.S.S.B., auxiliary bishop of Newark, who shared in a recent facebook post: "Mutual relations between bishops and religious, carried out sincerely and readily, will be of great value in achieving the dynamic vitality of the Church-Sacrament in its admirable mission of salvation" (Mutuae Relationes, April 23, 1978).

Sister Teresa has been a member of her congregation, based in San Antonio, Texas, since 1994.   Her education ministry has spanned several decades and she is a frequently sought after speaker on religious life.  Sister Teresa currently serves as an administrator/consultant for the Catholic Health Association.


Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092

e-Edition


e-edition

Sign up


for our email newsletters

Weekly Top Stories

Sign up to get our top stories delivered to your inbox every Sunday

Daily Updates & Breaking News Alerts

Sign up to get our daily updates and breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox daily

Latest Stories


Lakewood parish hosts hall-filling Nativity scene display
The tradition of creating houses of gingerbread and confections for decoration ...

Christmas story is worth repeating, Bishop tells Hightstown parishioners
"Christmas never gets old," ...

Don't lose hope, Pope says as he opens Holy Door at Rome prison
Wearing red vestments for the feast of St. Stephen, ...

Pope urges war-torn world to walk through door of peace on Christmas
As millions of pilgrims prepare to cross through ...

Hamilton parish welcomes Bishop O'Connell on Christmas Eve
It's always a special occasion when Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M., ...


The Evangelist, 40 North Main Ave., Albany, NY, 12203-1422 | PHONE: 518-453-6688| FAX: 518-453-8448
© 2024 Trenton Monitor, All Rights Reserved.