At Catholic Schools Mass, Bishop urges students to do all that Jesus would do
October 11, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.
UPDATED Oct. 11, 2024
Heads nodded in affirmation when Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., asked the nearly 600 Catholic school students who gathered for the annual Catholic Schools Mass if they knew what “WWJD” meant.
While “WWJD” is the popular acronym for “What Would Jesus Do?” the Bishop said that for Catholic Christians, the phrase means much more. “[It] is a great reminder, a great message for all of us to ask every day in all the things we do.”
PHOTO GALLERY: 2024 Catholic Schools Mass
Celebrated Oct. 10 in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold, the annual Mass had been inaugurated by Bishop O’Connell in 2011 as an occasion for the Diocese to celebrate the mission of Catholic schools. Students representing 32 schools from Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean Counties were accompanied by dozens of teachers, school administrators and parents and about 20 priests who concelebrated Mass with Bishop O’Connell.
Bishop O'Connell preaches his homily during the Mass. Mike Ehrmann photo In keeping with tradition, the event began with the procession of colorful school banners carried down the aisle by students just before the Mass. During the Mass, students from St. Benedict School, Holmdel; Holy Cross Academy, Rumson; St. Raphael School, Hamilton; St. Paul School, Burlington, participated as readers, choir members, altar servers and gift bearers.
A highpoint of this year’s Mass occurred after Holy Communion when it was announced that Linda E. Groh, a faculty member in St. Rose High School, Belmar, was named a New Jersey Nonpublic School Teacher of the Year for 2024.
‘What Jesus Would Do’
In his homily, Bishop O’Connell reflected on the “WWJD” in relation to the day’s celebration. This Mass, he said, “is the most important prayer of the Catholic Church” where students gather with the pastors and priests of the Diocese as well as principals, teachers and classmates.
“It is a very important day for me as your Bishop to pray with you and to offer you a message to take back to your school,” he said. Drawing students’ attention to the parts of the Mass, the Bishop told them that they will hear a message -- the Word of God -- from the Scripture Readings that are proclaimed; they will witness a message in all the actions that take place during Mass, and they will be given a message to remember about Jesus “who gave his life for us as we look at the Cross.”
“If we were to ask ourselves today ‘What Would Jesus Do?’ we find the answer here at Mass,” the Bishop said. “Jesus did, Jesus would, Jesus continues to love us by giving us his Body and Blood as food and drink, the Holy Eucharist at Mass.”
The choir from St. Benedict School, Holmdel, provided the music for the Mass. Mike Ehrmann photo Bishop O’Connell acknowledged that it may be easier for students to understand what Jesus would do inside of a Church and at Mass, the next question is “What about when we go home with our families? In our schools, when we hang out in the neighborhood with our friends and peers?”
The students, he said, may find answers to that question through their parents, “our first teachers by word and by example in our family homes;” in their Catholic schools “where our teachers build upon what we learn from our parents,” and lastly, in the Church “where we learn about the Word of God.”
He encouraged students to look around their parish churches at the statues, stained glass windows and learn about them.
“Make it a point never to miss Mass,” the Bishop said. “That’s what God asks of us.”
Major Takeaways
Ellen Remick, music director for St. Benedict Parish and School, Holmdel, noted the “great honor” it was for the school choir to serve at the Catholic Schools Mass.
She also noted how profound it was to witness all of the schools coming together “to give glory to God” and seeing their amazing enthusiasm and love of the Lord.
Father Al Gamalo, chaplain in St. James Grammar School, Red Bank, and Red Bank Catholic High School, said that “this beautiful Mass brought beautiful people together.
“This Mass serves as a living reminder of Jesus’ call to be childlike. These students are filled with innocence and joy that we grown ups sometimes forget.
“It’s beautiful to watch these young men and women on their journey of discipleship,” he said.
Leila Diane Vargas, who had transferred to St. Benedict School last year as a seventh grader, spoke of how happy she was to be part of a Catholic school community which she has found to be warm and inviting.
Now having the opportunity to attend her first Catholic Schools Mass and serve as the cantor, Vargas said her appreciation of her Catholic education has been further affirmed.
“It’s a beautiful Mass,” she said.
Linda Groh beams when it was announced that she was named a New Jersey Nonpublic School Teacher of the Year for 2024. Mike Ehrmann photo St. Paul School, Burlington, eighth graders Anthony Travia and Riley Allen, both commented on the honor it was to see Bishop O’Connell in person as well as to gather for Mass with their counterparts from all over the Diocese.Travia said he was inspired by Bishop’s homily and appreciated the reminder that “we have to think about what would Jesus do every day.”
“That’s something we have to ask ourselves every day,” he said, then added that is something he wants to keep in mind in all that he does and says.
Allen said she learned how important it was “to take everything we see and hear from the Mass and apply it outside in our everyday lives.”
A Beloved Tradition
The Catholic Schools Mass is an initiative of the Diocese, which has bused students from their schools across Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean Counties to participate each year the event has been held. Coordination of the event and student bus transportation was handled by diocesan staff under the leadership of the Department of Catholic Schools. The Mass was livestreamed by the Department of Multimedia Production on the Diocese’s YouTube channel, allowing hundreds more students to engage with the celebration from their classrooms.
“It’s a good day, it’s outstanding, it’s such a great celebration of Catholic education with all of the signing, praise and prayers,” said a smiling Dr. Vincent de Paul Schmidt, diocesan superintendent of Catholic education.
“There is such an energy about this day. It’s by far the best day of the year.”
Before the Mass began, Bishop O'Connell and his priest secretary and master of ceremonies, Father Jean Felicien, left, greeted the various school communities. Here they are pictured with students from Our Lady of Sorrows School, Hamilton, along with their pastor, Msgr. Thomas N. Gervasio, and Thomas Prendergast, the school's seventh and eighth grade religion, English and social studies teacher. Marianne Hartman photo Related Stories
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UPDATED Oct. 11, 2024
Heads nodded in affirmation when Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., asked the nearly 600 Catholic school students who gathered for the annual Catholic Schools Mass if they knew what “WWJD” meant.
While “WWJD” is the popular acronym for “What Would Jesus Do?” the Bishop said that for Catholic Christians, the phrase means much more. “[It] is a great reminder, a great message for all of us to ask every day in all the things we do.”
PHOTO GALLERY: 2024 Catholic Schools Mass
Celebrated Oct. 10 in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold, the annual Mass had been inaugurated by Bishop O’Connell in 2011 as an occasion for the Diocese to celebrate the mission of Catholic schools. Students representing 32 schools from Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean Counties were accompanied by dozens of teachers, school administrators and parents and about 20 priests who concelebrated Mass with Bishop O’Connell.
Bishop O'Connell preaches his homily during the Mass. Mike Ehrmann photo In keeping with tradition, the event began with the procession of colorful school banners carried down the aisle by students just before the Mass. During the Mass, students from St. Benedict School, Holmdel; Holy Cross Academy, Rumson; St. Raphael School, Hamilton; St. Paul School, Burlington, participated as readers, choir members, altar servers and gift bearers.
A highpoint of this year’s Mass occurred after Holy Communion when it was announced that Linda E. Groh, a faculty member in St. Rose High School, Belmar, was named a New Jersey Nonpublic School Teacher of the Year for 2024.
‘What Jesus Would Do’
In his homily, Bishop O’Connell reflected on the “WWJD” in relation to the day’s celebration. This Mass, he said, “is the most important prayer of the Catholic Church” where students gather with the pastors and priests of the Diocese as well as principals, teachers and classmates.
“It is a very important day for me as your Bishop to pray with you and to offer you a message to take back to your school,” he said. Drawing students’ attention to the parts of the Mass, the Bishop told them that they will hear a message -- the Word of God -- from the Scripture Readings that are proclaimed; they will witness a message in all the actions that take place during Mass, and they will be given a message to remember about Jesus “who gave his life for us as we look at the Cross.”
“If we were to ask ourselves today ‘What Would Jesus Do?’ we find the answer here at Mass,” the Bishop said. “Jesus did, Jesus would, Jesus continues to love us by giving us his Body and Blood as food and drink, the Holy Eucharist at Mass.”
The choir from St. Benedict School, Holmdel, provided the music for the Mass. Mike Ehrmann photo Bishop O’Connell acknowledged that it may be easier for students to understand what Jesus would do inside of a Church and at Mass, the next question is “What about when we go home with our families? In our schools, when we hang out in the neighborhood with our friends and peers?”
The students, he said, may find answers to that question through their parents, “our first teachers by word and by example in our family homes;” in their Catholic schools “where our teachers build upon what we learn from our parents,” and lastly, in the Church “where we learn about the Word of God.”
He encouraged students to look around their parish churches at the statues, stained glass windows and learn about them.
“Make it a point never to miss Mass,” the Bishop said. “That’s what God asks of us.”
Major Takeaways
Ellen Remick, music director for St. Benedict Parish and School, Holmdel, noted the “great honor” it was for the school choir to serve at the Catholic Schools Mass.
She also noted how profound it was to witness all of the schools coming together “to give glory to God” and seeing their amazing enthusiasm and love of the Lord.
Father Al Gamalo, chaplain in St. James Grammar School, Red Bank, and Red Bank Catholic High School, said that “this beautiful Mass brought beautiful people together.
“This Mass serves as a living reminder of Jesus’ call to be childlike. These students are filled with innocence and joy that we grown ups sometimes forget.
“It’s beautiful to watch these young men and women on their journey of discipleship,” he said.
Leila Diane Vargas, who had transferred to St. Benedict School last year as a seventh grader, spoke of how happy she was to be part of a Catholic school community which she has found to be warm and inviting.
Now having the opportunity to attend her first Catholic Schools Mass and serve as the cantor, Vargas said her appreciation of her Catholic education has been further affirmed.
“It’s a beautiful Mass,” she said.
Linda Groh beams when it was announced that she was named a New Jersey Nonpublic School Teacher of the Year for 2024. Mike Ehrmann photo St. Paul School, Burlington, eighth graders Anthony Travia and Riley Allen, both commented on the honor it was to see Bishop O’Connell in person as well as to gather for Mass with their counterparts from all over the Diocese.Travia said he was inspired by Bishop’s homily and appreciated the reminder that “we have to think about what would Jesus do every day.”
“That’s something we have to ask ourselves every day,” he said, then added that is something he wants to keep in mind in all that he does and says.
Allen said she learned how important it was “to take everything we see and hear from the Mass and apply it outside in our everyday lives.”
A Beloved Tradition
The Catholic Schools Mass is an initiative of the Diocese, which has bused students from their schools across Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean Counties to participate each year the event has been held. Coordination of the event and student bus transportation was handled by diocesan staff under the leadership of the Department of Catholic Schools. The Mass was livestreamed by the Department of Multimedia Production on the Diocese’s YouTube channel, allowing hundreds more students to engage with the celebration from their classrooms.
“It’s a good day, it’s outstanding, it’s such a great celebration of Catholic education with all of the signing, praise and prayers,” said a smiling Dr. Vincent de Paul Schmidt, diocesan superintendent of Catholic education.
“There is such an energy about this day. It’s by far the best day of the year.”
Before the Mass began, Bishop O'Connell and his priest secretary and master of ceremonies, Father Jean Felicien, left, greeted the various school communities. Here they are pictured with students from Our Lady of Sorrows School, Hamilton, along with their pastor, Msgr. Thomas N. Gervasio, and Thomas Prendergast, the school's seventh and eighth grade religion, English and social studies teacher. Marianne Hartman photo