“Confirmation to me is not just any Sacrament. Confirmation is the reception of Jesus Christ in our hearts, which we confirm we believe in through Confirmation,” said Isabel McGuire, a recent Confirmandi in St. Matthias Parish, Somerset.

Catholic men need to be involved in their Church; the Church needs its men to be involved. These were two strong messages that emerged from the Leadership Summit for the Men of the County Seat Deanery held at Mary Mother of God Parish, Hillsborough, on Friday and Saturday, April 26-27. The event was organized by the diocesan Office of Evangelization and Communication.

The beautiful and quiet rolling hills of Warren County belied the intense spiritual activity inside the Blue Army Shrine in Asbury, where eleven women from a variety of parishes gathered for a powerful three-day Cursillo experience April 11-14, connecting them to the teachings of the Church, her sacramental life and witnessing to Christ.

Robotics club members from Immaculata High School showed some Jersey moxie during a recent world championship in Texas. The Somerville Catholic high school’s “Team 1279 Cold Fusion” ranked 73rd amongst 600 competitors from around the world in the 2024 FIRST Robotics Competition held April 17-20 in the George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston.

Innovation and creativity were on display at the St. Thomas Aquinas High School STREAM Faire, Edison, April 18, when students from all disciplines came together to display their remarkable projects, drawing in classmates, grammar schoolers, teachers, and parents alike.

The Office of Human Life & Dignity held its annual Respect Life Poster Contest for Catholic Schools and Religious Education students, grades 1-8.

In the span of one half days, the Mount Saint Mary Academy community in Watchung bands together to illustrate the importance of the Mercy Core Values – Inspired by Faith and Compelled by Mercy – by reaching out to improve the lives of others in need during Service Day. This annual event, which was held on April 10, featured separate grade levels under the advisement of faculty/staff in different shifts, assisting various organizations on and off campus.

Nicole Parisi ‘24 was awarded the Brian Piccolo Scholar Athlete Award by the UNICO National NJ District X, The Plainfields’ Chapter during an award ceremony on Sunday, April 14, at the Gran Centurions Banquet Hall in Clark. Award winners from all the Unico NJ District X chapters were honored. Nicole was one of two winners from The Plainfields’ chapter.

Knights of Columbus San Salvador Council #299 honored Perth Amboy Catholic School teacher, Margaret Wilson, as Teacher of the Year at an awards ceremony at Assumption Catholic School, Perth Amboy, on March 16.

“Did anything so great ever happen before?” (Deut. 4:32). Moses asked this question to help his people realize how precious they were in God’s sight. From the beginning of creation, Moses fervently argued, God had showered great favor upon his people. He presented all of Israelite history as a long string of God’s saving interventions in the affairs of his chosen ones. Now, these beloved people must respond properly to God’s goodness by following his commands – not out of fear, but so that they and their descendants might prosper.

The current mental health crisis affecting many people in our country has led Bishop James F. Checchio to request Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen, to address this significant need.

There was no shortage of fun and inspiration in St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Edison, April 20 as the Office of Youth and Adult Ministry held Diocesan Youth Day. Chika Anyanwu served as keynote speaker, and Bishop James F. Checchio issued a challenge to the youth to listen to God speaking.

The Mary V. O’Shea Birth Center at Saint Peter’s University Hospital has been reaccredited through 2026 by the Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers (CABC). The state-of-the-art Birth Center is New Jersey’s first birth center to be located on the grounds of a hospital and is also the location of Saint Peter’s midwifery practice, where prenatal office visits, birthing classes, and the actual birthing experience take place.

The Immaculata High School varsity baseball team was unsatisfied with taking one of New Jersey’s top squads down to the wire, but it was another sign of why this could end up being one of the best seasons in program history.

The National Association of Pastoral Musicians (NPM) Diocese of Metuchen Chapter will host Summer Choral Festival 2024, July 24-28 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 390 County Road 523, Whitehouse Station, NJ. The Festival is open to choral singers of all skill levels ages 18 and up. Singers will experience extraordinary repertoire, three skilled conductors, and the delight of making music with new friends. Registration is now open at www.NPMMetuchen.org. Enrollment is limited.