Saints Cyril and Methodius Roman Catholic Church

Bishop Serratelli administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to 40 candidates at the 5 p.m. vigil Mass for the Second Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday) on Saturday, April 7 at St. Mary Parish in Denville during a pastoral visit. Concelebrants of the Mass included Father Martin Glynn, St. Mary’s pastor, and Father Richard Tartaglia, parochial vicar. Assisting was Deacon Jim Rizos.

Bishop Serratelli installed Father Michael Rodak as pastor of St. Jude the Apostle Parish in Hardyston on April 8, Divine Mercy Sunday, during the 11:30 a.m. Mass. The Bishop served as main celebrant and homilist for the liturgy. Father Rodak and Father Kevin Corcoran, diocesan vice chancellor and the Bishop’s priest-secretary, concelebrated the Mass. Afterward, parishioners attended a reception that was held for Father Rodak.

Bishop Serratelli installed 15 candidates, who have been studying to become permanent deacons in the Diocese for the past three years, to the Ministry of Reader, during the Rite of the Institution of Lectors at a Mass on April 6 in St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Parsippany. The installation of these men as readers marks the next step in their continuing formation as they advance closer to their anticipated ordination as permanent deacons of the Diocese in 2020.

Choirs and ensembles from several of the communities of religious sisters that serve the Paterson Diocese displayed their considerable musical talents with a varied and multicultural program, during “Our Sisters in Concert” on April 8, Divine Mercy Sunday, in St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Paterson. Among the more than 300 people, who attended the 3 p.m. concert was Bishop Serratelli, who delivered remarks following the concert.

In marking National Child Abuse Prevention Month during April, the Diocese’s Office of Child Protection and Youth Protection has announced the implementation of its new website for Virtus Online and Fastrax Select, along with other child protection initiatives. A service of Selection.com, it simplified the registration and verification process of criminal background checks for the more than 20,000 clergy, employees and volunteers, who minister, work or serve in parishes, schools and agencies of the Diocese. Since its implementation was completed in February, the Diocese has registered more than 300 new volunteers and employees with “relatively few issues.”

Jennifer Nelson and Faith Rose enjoyed the Bible study offered by St. Cecilia and Sacred Heart of Jesus Parishes in Rockaway on Thursday mornings, but for the busy moms who home school their children, it was tough getting there during the week. “It’s so hard to have that quiet time when you’re a mom or a caregiver,” said Nelson, who has five children ranging in ages from 14 months to 11 years old.

On Palm Sunday, Confirmation candidates of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (OLMC) Parish in Swartswood heard from teens like them, who had experienced attempts to muffle their religious expression in public school. Those stories were part of a short video they watched that delivers an eye-opening message: that public schools are not “God-free” zones and that students and teachers have the right to express their faith, as protected by the U.S. Constitution and U.S. Department of Education guidelines.

This year, the Church is marking the 50th anniversary of Pope Paul VI’s encyclical “Humanae Vitae.” On July 25, 1968 Pope Paul VI promulgated his prophetic encyclical letter courageously reaffirming the Church’s constant teaching about the joyful duty of married couples to collaborate freely and responsibly with God the Creator in the creation of new human life.