Pope Francis’ recent pastoral visit from Sept. 6 to 11 to Colombia was a great “blessing” to the people of the South American nation who welcomed the pontiff’s powerful message of peace and forgiveness — this after the government and a major rebel group signed a peace accord last year after more than five decades of conflict.

Sunday after Sunday, there’s a special group of people that could be considered the hidden figures behind the celebration of Mass. They aren’t seen but their contribution leaves an indelible mark to the source and summit of the liturgy — the Holy Eucharist. This group ensures that the sacred space of the altar is welcoming and appropriately prepared for worship. Who are they? They are the members of the altar linen ministry.

St. Joseph’s Healthcare System concluded the celebration of its 150th anniversary at a Mass Sept. 9 in Holy Family Chapel, Convent Station, at which the Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth, founders and sponsors of St. Joseph’s, were honored. Bishop Serratelli presided at the Mass with Cardinal Joseph Tobin, Archbishop of Newark. The Mass was attended by those from St. Joseph’s Healthcare System, the Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth and the faithful from the Paterson Diocese.

Bishop Serratelli made a pastoral visit to Holy Trinity Church in Passaic Sept. 17, and marked the Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time. During his visit, he celebrated the 10 a.m. Mass with Father Antonio Rodriguez, pastor, as the concelebrant. For more than 100 years at Holy Trinity, the 10 a.m. Sunday Mass has been said in German. Holy Trinity is the only parish in the Diocese with a Sunday German-language Mass and one of the only parishes in the Northeast that has a weekly German Mass.

The youngest parishioners at Assumption Parish in Morristown gathered together Sept. 9 before their catechetical sessions started for a day of service. The children are part of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) program at Assumption, and along with their families and friends remembered the many children hit by the devastating hurricane in the Lone Star State in a special way.

Last Saturday, Bishop Serratelli helped celebrate a century of faith, service and community of St. Catherine of Bologna Parish in Ringwood — often described as a “A Family of Families.” This year the parish commemorates its long, rich history that actually stretches back to 1765 — long before the Revolutionary War, the opening of its first church in 1917 and its elevation to parish status in 1944.

One would think that in 2017 anti-Catholic bigotry would be a thing of the past. But unfortunately it is not. It was on full display in of all places, the U.S. Senate, during what should have been a routine Senate confirmation hearing for a federal judgeship.

Bishop Serratelli made a pastoral visit to St. Joseph Parish in Mendham Sept. 10. During his visit, the Bishop celebrated Mass for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time.