2024

Eucharistic Revival Continues…Jubilee on the Horizon

The national Eucharistic Revival continued into 2024. The parish bulletin contained weekly reflections, Eucharistic Adoration was held every Thursday following the 9:00 am Mass until reposition at 1:30 pm.

May 28-30 saw the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage make its way through the Diocese making stops at the Cathedral in Trenton, St. Mary’s, Manahawkin, and Mary, Mother of the Church, Bordentown. The Blessed Sacrament was carried across the Trenton-Morrisville Bridge on its route to the Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis.

Pope Francis kept our thoughts fixed on the Holy Year 2025 that would open at St. Peter’s Basilica on December 24. The theme of the Jubilee is HOPE… Spes Non Confundit (Hope does not Disappoint). A task force was formed to plan for diocesan Jubilee events.

Cohort Collaboration

The Lumen Christi Cohort again sponsored a “White Mass” for Health Care Workers on February 10 at St. Gregory the Great Church. It also supported the annual Grandparents Celebration on the Memorial of SS. Joachim and Anne at St. Anthony Church on July 26. The celebrant and homilist was Fr. Brian Butch, Pastor of St. Anselm Church, Wayside. A picnic reception followed in the church hall.

Marriage Ministry

The Marriage Ministry Team continued to sponsor a Holy Hour, a “Flash Mob,” and a Valentine Dinner Dance in February and an Wedding Anniversary Mass in September.

Catechesis

Candidates for Confirmation gathered at a local restaurant for “Pizza with the Pastor”—an opportunity to dialog about living the Faith. On the Sunday prior to Confirmation the candidates were welcomed to the 11:00 am Mass and were honored with a luncheon.

Our Summer Intensive Religious Education program took place with an increased enrollment.

Charitiable Works / Fundraising

In addition to the regular contributions made to the poor boxes and groceries for the Cohort Food Pantry at St. Raphael Campus, the parish undertook:

• The Lenten “Work of Love” to restore the Seminary of the Voluntas Dei Institute in Haiti. The appeal realized $15,030. 
• “Loaves and Fishes: volunteers prepared meals for the needy at the Cathedral in June.
• A Food Drive was conducted for Thanksgiving and Christmas gifts were provided to the needy through the annual Adopt a Family Project. 
• The annual Golf Classic was again held at Mercer Oaks, W. Windsor in September. 
• On April 28, The PTA once again sponsored a Knight to Remember which was held at the Trenton Country Club, Ewing. The Gala honored Fr. Eugene Savarimuthu, Natalie Baranowski, Vincent Peroni and posthumously, Joseph Hejda.
• The annual Summer Project help to fray the cost of restoring stained glass windows at Our Lady of Sorrows and the replacement of air conditioning units at St. Anthony Church. A unit was included to service the church hall in order that both church and hall be air conditioned at the same time.

Special Events

In addition to the annual Parish Picnic in September, the parish hosted a number of special events:

• A Day of Recollection was held in October for Liturgical Ministers directed by Fr. Christopher Dayton, Pastor of St. Paul Church, Princeton. A Morning of Recollection was also held in October for the Rosary Altar Society under the direction of Fr. Christopher Colavito, Campus Minister of the College of New Jersey, and diocesan vocation director. 
• Bishop O’Connell honored our parish when he celebrated the Mass to confer the ministry of Lector and Acolyte on candidates for ordination to the Permanent Diaconate. The Mass was celebrated on February 20 at Our Lady of Sorrows Church. A light reception followed in the church hall. The bishop also visited the parish on Christmas Eve to celebrate the Midnight Mass at St. Anthony Church. The liturgy was bi-lingual (English-Creole).
• About 55 parishioners made a pilgrimage to Emmitsburg, Maryland in October to visit the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and the National Shrine of the Grotto of Lourdes on the campus of Mt. St. Mary’s University and Seminary. The group was privileged to celebrate Mass in St. Bernard’s Chapel at the Seminary which was celebrated by Msgr. Gervasio, Fr. Pablo Gadenz, a priest of our diocese and faculty member as well as Fr. Michael Roche, long serving seminary professor. Trenton seminarians served the Mass and Deacon Alan Bridges of our diocese was homilist.
• Catholic Charities honored our parish with its annual “Light of Hope” Award at this Gala Dinner at the Merion in Cinnaminson on September 24 in recognition of the parish’s many works of charity.

Staff Changes / Additions

• The parish rejoiced at the Ordination of Nelson Abreu to the Permanent Diaconate on May 18 at St. Mary’s Cathedral. That evening Deacon Nelson assisted at the 4:00 pm Mass at St. Anthony and on Sunday, the 11:00 am Mass at Our Lady of Sorrows. 
• Alan Bridges, ordained a transitional deacon at the same liturgy was assigned to our parish effective June 7. He would minister in the parish during the summer until his return to the seminary. During holidays during the academic year, he would be free to assist at the parish.
• The director of maintenance, Philip Carlini retired after serving the parish so diligently over twenty years. He was succeeded by Brad Buxton. 
• Denise Mikics, who for many years of faithful served on the parish office staff also retired. She was succeeded by Colleen DeBlois.