Bishop begins Christmas celebration with visit to Manalapan parish
December 24, 2024 at 6:32 p.m.
For Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M., the Christmas season began with celebrating the 4 p.m. Mass on Christmas Eve in St. Thomas More Church, Manalapan. He was joined at the altar by Father Juan Daniel Peirano, pastor, and Msgr. Peter Kochery, parochial vicar.
In his homily, Bishop O'Connell spoke of how "the whole world becomes different but truly, profoundly, only if we allow Christmas to touch and move our hearts.
"Today, this eve's vigil begins our Christmas Day. But what about tomorrow, and the day after that, and the day after that? he said. "Christmas must continue to make those days different too, [Christmas] must continue to make us different too," he said.
St. Thomas More Parish was the first of two parishes Bishop O'Connell will visit on Christmas Eve. At 10 p.m., he is scheduled to celebrate Mass in French for the Haitian community in St. Anthony Church, Hamilton. On Christmas Day, the Bishop will celebrate the 10:30 a.m. Mass in St. Anthony of Padua Church, Hightstown.
More to come on this story.
Bishop O'Connell celebrates Mass in St. Thomas More Church, Manalapan on Christmas Eve. Mike Ehrmann photo
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For Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M., the Christmas season began with celebrating the 4 p.m. Mass on Christmas Eve in St. Thomas More Church, Manalapan. He was joined at the altar by Father Juan Daniel Peirano, pastor, and Msgr. Peter Kochery, parochial vicar.
In his homily, Bishop O'Connell spoke of how "the whole world becomes different but truly, profoundly, only if we allow Christmas to touch and move our hearts.
"Today, this eve's vigil begins our Christmas Day. But what about tomorrow, and the day after that, and the day after that? he said. "Christmas must continue to make those days different too, [Christmas] must continue to make us different too," he said.
St. Thomas More Parish was the first of two parishes Bishop O'Connell will visit on Christmas Eve. At 10 p.m., he is scheduled to celebrate Mass in French for the Haitian community in St. Anthony Church, Hamilton. On Christmas Day, the Bishop will celebrate the 10:30 a.m. Mass in St. Anthony of Padua Church, Hightstown.
More to come on this story.
Bishop O'Connell celebrates Mass in St. Thomas More Church, Manalapan on Christmas Eve. Mike Ehrmann photo