Hamilton parish welcomes Bishop O'Connell on Christmas Eve
December 25, 2024 at 9:15 a.m.
It's always a special occasion when Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M., visits a parish and celebrates Mass for the parishioners.
But to have the Bishop visit a parish with a significant Haitian community and celebrate a bilingual Mass in French and English on Christmas Eve, that's an occasion "you just can't miss," said an exuberant Gerald Charmant following the 10 p.m. Mass in St. Anthony Church, Hamilton.
As he looked around the vast nave of the church and the large number of parishioners of varying cultural backgrounds in attendance, Charmant speaks about the sense of unity that has been created in Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony Parish.
"We may speak different native languages but we are one parish," he said.
Bishop O'Connell served as principal celebrant of the Mass. He was joined at the altar by Msgr. Thomas Gervasio, pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony Parish and diocesan vicar general, and Father Pierre-Michel Alabre, parochial vicar, who also ministers to the Haitian community.
For Bishop O'Connell, the Hamilton church was the second location where he celebrated Mass on Christmas Eve. Earlier in the day he visited St. Thomas More Parish, Manalapan. On Christmas Day, he was scheduled to celebrate the 10:30 a.m. Mass in St. Anthony of Padua Church, Hightstown.
More to come on this story.
Parishioners present the gifts of bread and wine to Bishop O'Connell. Seated to the Bishop's left is Father Pierre-Michel Alabre, parochial vicar of Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony Parish. Standing next to the Bishop is Father Jean Felicien, the Bishop's priest-secretary. Mike Ehrmann photo
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It's always a special occasion when Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M., visits a parish and celebrates Mass for the parishioners.
But to have the Bishop visit a parish with a significant Haitian community and celebrate a bilingual Mass in French and English on Christmas Eve, that's an occasion "you just can't miss," said an exuberant Gerald Charmant following the 10 p.m. Mass in St. Anthony Church, Hamilton.
As he looked around the vast nave of the church and the large number of parishioners of varying cultural backgrounds in attendance, Charmant speaks about the sense of unity that has been created in Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony Parish.
"We may speak different native languages but we are one parish," he said.
Bishop O'Connell served as principal celebrant of the Mass. He was joined at the altar by Msgr. Thomas Gervasio, pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony Parish and diocesan vicar general, and Father Pierre-Michel Alabre, parochial vicar, who also ministers to the Haitian community.
For Bishop O'Connell, the Hamilton church was the second location where he celebrated Mass on Christmas Eve. Earlier in the day he visited St. Thomas More Parish, Manalapan. On Christmas Day, he was scheduled to celebrate the 10:30 a.m. Mass in St. Anthony of Padua Church, Hightstown.
More to come on this story.
Parishioners present the gifts of bread and wine to Bishop O'Connell. Seated to the Bishop's left is Father Pierre-Michel Alabre, parochial vicar of Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony Parish. Standing next to the Bishop is Father Jean Felicien, the Bishop's priest-secretary. Mike Ehrmann photo