Priests step away from daily roles for Lenten Spirituality Day
March 25, 2025 at 4:40 p.m.
Each year, the diocesan and religious priests in the Diocese of Trenton gather several times for prayer, spiritual refreshment and fraternal support. On March 25, the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, 85 priests gathered in St. Clement Church in Matawan for their annual Lenten Spirituality Day.
PHOTO GALLERY: Lent Spirituality Day for Priests
The event featured as guest speaker Redemptorist Father James Dowds from San Alfonso Retreat House in Long Branch.Hosted by Father Thomas Vala, St. Clement pastor, and arranged by Msgr. Thomas Mullelly, vicar for clergy and religious, the event featured as guest speaker Redemptorist Father James Dowds from San Alfonso Retreat House in Long Branch. His topic was “Living from One’s Heart: Firmly Anchored in the Heart of Christ.”
Following the conference, the priests shared lunch together and had the opportunity to avail themselves of the Sacrament of Penance.
“These days are important for our priests,” observed Bishop O’Connell. “We spend much of our ministry preaching to the faithful in our parishes. These retreat days give us the opportunity ‘to listen’ to someone else preach. They are also the occasion for our priests to get together, enjoy a meal, and share fraternity as brothers.”
The location of these days rotates in different parish sites around the Diocese and gives the priests the opportunity to visit parishes with which they may not be familiar.
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Each year, the diocesan and religious priests in the Diocese of Trenton gather several times for prayer, spiritual refreshment and fraternal support. On March 25, the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, 85 priests gathered in St. Clement Church in Matawan for their annual Lenten Spirituality Day.
PHOTO GALLERY: Lent Spirituality Day for Priests
The event featured as guest speaker Redemptorist Father James Dowds from San Alfonso Retreat House in Long Branch.Hosted by Father Thomas Vala, St. Clement pastor, and arranged by Msgr. Thomas Mullelly, vicar for clergy and religious, the event featured as guest speaker Redemptorist Father James Dowds from San Alfonso Retreat House in Long Branch. His topic was “Living from One’s Heart: Firmly Anchored in the Heart of Christ.”
Following the conference, the priests shared lunch together and had the opportunity to avail themselves of the Sacrament of Penance.
“These days are important for our priests,” observed Bishop O’Connell. “We spend much of our ministry preaching to the faithful in our parishes. These retreat days give us the opportunity ‘to listen’ to someone else preach. They are also the occasion for our priests to get together, enjoy a meal, and share fraternity as brothers.”
The location of these days rotates in different parish sites around the Diocese and gives the priests the opportunity to visit parishes with which they may not be familiar.