Catholic Charities Diocese of Metuchen (CCDOM) Maternity Services, in collaboration with The Middlesex County Mobile Family Success Center (MFSC), hosted its first drive-thru diaper distribution on Wednesday, April 26th from 4pm-6pm. Approximately 30 families and 49 children received a trunk full of baby items including: a full box of diapers, baby wipes, baby books, a brand-new diaper bag, a baby swaddle and bottle. Families in need also received select infant formula donated by the NJ Department of Children and Families. Additional partners included, WellCare, Replenish of Middlesex County and various donors.

Prayer is the way we communicate with God. The way of prayer for Christ’s followers is to imitate Him by praying as He did to God Our Father in Heaven. In Matthew’s Gospel, we are counseled by Jesus: “This is how you are to pray: Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name” (Mt 6:9).

SOMERVILLE — The Church of the Immaculate Conception has hired a former police captain as its first director of security to oversee safety and security measures for the parish and its two parochial schools, Immaculate Conception School and Immaculata High School.

WATCHUNG — For the second consecutive year in a row, the Mount Mary Academy Euro Challenge team has taken home the first-place trophy after competing on April 24. Among some very tough competition, the team excelled at explaining the current economic conditions in Europe and answered some very tough questions on the future of work in Italy.

METUCHEN — Saint Joseph High School volleyball coach and alumni Miguel Cabrita (Class of 1991) earned a milestone victory as head volleyball coach during the Falcons’ victory over East Brunswick High April 21.

The ice hockey program at Saint Joseph High School, Metuchen, is filled with tradition. However, there might be no greater one than the team’s annual fundraiser to support a local charity.

The 2023 edition of “Presence: A Journal of Catholic Poetry” is now in print, and this year’s cover features the work of Caldwell University studio arts major Benjamin Fernandez. The piece that Fernandez photographed is called “Awaken.”

John M. Grondelski, at right in photo, recently received the Centennial Medal of the Catholic University of Lublin (Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawla II, KUL) from Father Miroslaw Kalinowski, rector, for his service to the institution in a ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Nurses Week is observed nationally in May in honor of Florence Nightingale’s birthday. The nurses of Saint Peter’s University Hospital, New Brunswick celebrated Nurses Week on May 2 at a Mass celebrated by Bishop James F. Checchio.

A year ago, we emerged from the pandemic to face financial struggles and the beginning of the war in Ukraine. As a diocese, we joined with Catholics from all over the world in participating in the listening sessions to prepare for the Synod called for by Pope Francis. It was wonderful that so many participated in person or by sending in their observations and hopes for our beloved Church. While many concerns were raised, many people desired to give witness to hope and hungered for something even more in life. For us as disciples of Jesus, this hope and hungering finds comfort in encountering and embracing our Eucharistic Lord, the ultimate source of love, mercy and hope!

WARREN — When the Inspire Family Life Center opened a year-and-a-half ago, a number of the goals of the three co-founders were achieved. Bunny Brinck-Lund, Carol Spina and Rosanda Grau had worked to establish the center with a shared vision of utilizing their collective experiences and talents to be of service to God’s most precious children, born and preborn by saving lives through transforming hearts.

At some point in his or her life, every human being hears these words in one way or another. It may be in a moment of loneliness, in a time of sickness, when a job opportunity closes or a move to a new home is necessary. It may happen in the breath-taking beauty of a sunrise or in the exquisite harmony of a song. Finally, it will certainly happen when we come to the end of our life and are called to leave this world. Whenever and however God speaks these words to us, we sense, however dimly, that we are called to follow a path that I must walk alone and that leads to an unknown place.

The Euro Challenge team at Mount Saint Mary Academy, Watchung, recently advanced to the semifinal round of the competition in Manhattan, N.Y., against other teams from the New York Metropolitan area.

Saturday, May 20 at 7:00pm – Cathedral Concerts at Saint Francis is pleased to present a Mozart Festival, its final concert of the season.  Come and hear the brand-new Saint Francis Chamber Orchestra, under the baton of Maestro Christopher M. C. Deibert, perform Mozart’s Symphony #40 (The Great G minor Symphony), Symphony #41 (Jupiter), plus Mozart’s Bassoon Concerto in B-flat, featuring bassoonist Timora Thurston. 

The Brotherhood of Hope is a relatively new community of religious brothers. We celebrated our 40th anniversary three years ago. Our main canonical home is the Archdiocese of Boston, but our roots are in New Jersey. A large percentage of our community is from the Garden State and so we were thrilled to be invited to serve as campus ministers at Rutgers University in 2005. We continue to serve students at Rutgers as well as a young adult community at St. Peter the Apostle University and Community Parish, New Brunswick.

Recently, the Mother Seton Knights of Columbus Council 15540, Three Bridges, helped coordinate the delivery of 100 blankets from Quilts for Kids to the Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s University Hospital, New Brunswick. The Council has provided financial support to Quilts for Kids for a number of years. From left: Knight Andrew Casella, Sophia Kim and Gabrielle Salzarul, music therapists, Saint Peter’s University Hospital, and Deputy Grand Knight Gerry Enzmann, pose during the delivery of the quilts to the diocesan-sponsored hospital. Casella’s wife, Gretta, is a longtime volunteer at Quilts for Kids (www.quiltsforkids.org), a nonprofit network of volunteer quilters dedicated to providing handmade quilts to children facing serious illnesses or who have been victims of abuse or other trauma.

From left, Deputy Grand Knight Gerry Enzmann of Council 15540, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Three Bridges, presents a $500 check to Rosemary Fleming, president, Operation Jersey Cares; assisted by Pete Grice; Grand Knight Rick Dool and Knight Rusty Williams. Operation Jersey Cares is a nonprofit organization dedicated to honor and support the men and women of the United States Armed Forces, their families and veterans. It includes sending care packages to those who have been deployed overseas. Volunteers from the Council recently helped pack some of the care packages for shipment. Additionally, the Council planned to donate 50 blankets to veterans who live at the V.A. in Lyons.

Mercy Sister Lisa D. Gambacorto, directress, Mount Saint Mary Academy, Watchung, was honored at the borough’s first Women In Business ceremony March 27.

During a pastoral visit to Our Lady of Mercy Parish, South Bound Brook, Bishop James F. Checchio presided at a Mass at Our Lady of Mercy Church, then led a blessing and dedication of Mary’s Garden behind the rectory. In top photo, Father John Lee (left), administrator, assists Bishop Checchio. The altar server is Austin Chu. Center, the bishop sprinkles holy water on the statue, which is 4-and-a-half-feet high and made of white marble from Italy. The garden, which was installed by Greenview Land Sculpting, includes two benches and lighting for visitors at night. Pavers start at the pedestals, including a crucifix, that allow a visitor to pray the rosary while circling the statue. Ten pavers go around Mary’s statue to help people count their Hail Marys. Parishioners Vincent Han and Jim Sickoria were instrumental in all aspects of the project, which was initiated by Father Namwoong Lee, former administrator, who has since returned to his native South Korea. Father Lee wanted to leave a lasting legacy to the parishioners.

NEW BRUNSWICK — This year, as college students across the country left their studies behind for fun in the sun and personal pursuits, a group from the Catholic Center at Rutgers continued their God-centric tradition of prayer and service via their Alternate Spring Break trips.