Many, many Catholic faithful are not complicit in the least with the moral depravity among the priests. They remain faithful and are further growing in their faith, but are sadly struggling to hear the shepherd’s voice. The baneful influence of the Modernist heresy seeks to rot the faith from the inside out until the whole structure of the institutional Church can appear to outsiders to be at risk of collapse. The moral misbehavior of bishops and cardinals is a symptom of this modernist-fomented rot and should therefore never be considered in isolation from other such symptoms if one seeks to understand the true plight of the church. The Catholic laity still desperately need true spiritual leadership but the same is becoming harder and harder to find in any given diocese. The public weaknesses of many of our prelates really do tend to scandalize the faithful and cause many to turn away from the faith. It’s a shame but it takes time to recover with backsliding always being a possibility (or a present reality).
New York New York, In an a scathing op-ed published Friday in the Wall Street Journal, Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York lamented that the Democratic Party’s shifting principles have effectively shut out and alienated orthodox Catholics.
Dolan cited the Democrat’s current opposition to school choice programs and tax credits for education, along with their unwavering support for abortion rights, among the reasons why he is disappointed with the party in its current state. Dolan said believes that the Democrats of today have abandoned many of the tenets that made the party attractive to Catholics generations ago.
Dolan was particularly critical of a proposed New York law titled the “Reproductive Health Act,” which he says would “morbidly expand” the “most radical abortion license in the country.” The New York State Assembly is overwhelmingly Democrat.
“For instance, under the proposed Reproductive Health Act, doctors would not be required to care for a baby who survives an abortion. The newborn simply would be allowed to die without any legal implications,” wrote Dolan.
What’s more, Dolan explained, is that he feels the Democrats are making it harder for low and middle-class children to get an education at a Catholic school.
“In recent years, some Democrats in the New York state Assembly repeatedly blocked education tax credit legislation, which would have helped middle-class and low-income families make the choice to select Catholic or other nonpublic schools for their children,” said Dolan. The cardinal said this type of legislation impedes the mission of these schools to serve poor, often immigrant, children.
Dolan admitted that while he has “ had spats and disappointments” with politicians from both major political parties in the United States, he is particularly upset by the Democratic Party’s swing in a direction that excludes people like his grandmother.
“But,” he said. “It saddens me, and [it] weakens the democracy millions of Americans cherish, when the party that once embraced Catholics now slams the door on us.”
The Cardinal, 68, said DNC Chairman Tom Perez insisted in 2016 that pro-life candidates have no place in the modern Democratic Party.
“The ‘big tent’ of the Democratic Party now seems a pup tent,” he said.
Ridgewood NJ, If you have not heard, fire destroyed the Fr. English Food Pantry in Paterson last Thursday.
OLMC has had a long working relationship with this food pantry. Our pans of food are sent here, the youth group has volunteered here for over ten years and last Lent, we were able to donate over $9,000 from our “Meals in Motion” service project. The pantry feeds approximately 4,500 families each MONTH.
In speaking to Carlos today, ALL food in the pantry must be destroyed due to smoke and water damage and it will take over two months to rebuild.
With three weeks until Thanksgiving, Carlos is worried for these families.
Some good news, Eva’s Kitchen, a few blocks from the current pantry site, has agreed to rent space for a temporary pantry until the new one is built.
OUR FROZEN TURKEY DRIVE THIS WEEKEND WILL TAKE PLACE!!! But we are expanding it to ALL nonperishable food items. Items can be dropped off SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11TH FROM 9AM TO 12 NOON.
We know that many families will be leaving town for the long weekend with schools being closed. If you wish to drop off nonperishable food TO THE YOUTH CENTER IN THE SCHOOL BUILDING YOU CAN DO SO NOW THROUGH THURSDAY 5PM. PLEASE NO FROZEN TURKEYS UNTIL SATURDAY SINCE WE DO NOT HAVE FREEZER SPACE FOR THEM.
Any questions, please call Glen Mc Call at the Youth Center (201-444-9302). If you need to drop off nonperishable food items because will be out of town on Saturday, you can bring them to the youth center located in the school building through Thursday 5pm (youth center is closed on Fridays.) You can also bring nonperishable items on Saturday between 9am and 12 noon.
Several dozen tradition-minded Roman Catholic theologians, priests and academics have formally accused Pope Francis of spreading heresy with his 2016 opening to divorced and civilly remarried Catholics.
In a 25-page letter delivered to Francis last month and provided Saturday to The Associated Press, the 62 signatories issued a “filial correction” to the pope — a measure they said hadn’t been employed since the 14th century.
The letter accused Francis of propagating seven heretical positions concerning marriage, moral life and the sacraments with his 2016 document “The Joy of Love” and subsequent “acts, words and omissions.”
The initiative follows another formal act by four tradition-minded cardinals who wrote Francis last year asking him to clarify a series of questions, or “dubbia,” they had about his 2016 text.
Francis hasn’t responded to either initiative. The Vatican spokesman didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment late Saturday.
None of the signatories of the new letter is a cardinal, and the highest-ranking churchman listed is actually someone whose organization has no legal standing in the Catholic Church: Bishop Bernard Fellay, superior of the breakaway Society of St. Pius X. Several other signatories are well-known admirers of the old Latin Mass which Fellay’s followers celebrate.
But organizers said the initiative was nevertheless significant and a sign of the concern among a certain contingent of academics and pastors over Francis’ positions, which they said posed a danger to the faithful.
Ridgewood NJ, Mt. Carmel Church’s Homless Retreat Ministry.The OLMC Knights of Columbus Council in partnership with the Run for Hope Foundation will once again support Mt. Carmel’s Homeless Retreat Ministry with their annual stickball tournament.The Homeless Retreat Ministry holds retreats for recently homeless men and women to offer them spiritual and community support. To hear about the experience of these retreats click the photo to the right.
Homeless participants experience the following:
HOPE – in a future that can be brighter than their recent past.
FAITH – by being given the gift of time to discover and explore their relationship with God.
UNITY – through a caring network of men and women from different socio-economic conditions.
All proceeds from the stickball tournament will be donated to the Homeless Ministry.
Dear Friends, Last year I, along with a small group of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel parishioners, joined forces to launch a Homeless Ministry. Over half a million men and women in the U.S. are homeless. Many of them are suffering from the effects of alcoholism and drug addiction. Our ministry works with homeless men and women who are on the road to recovery by providing spiritual retreats. The work of our ministry will help these men and women to set a new and renewed path in their lives. We held our first retreats earlier this year. Click on the video link below to hear testimonials from some of this year’s participants.
The work we do is only possible through the generous support of our community. Through the overwhelming generosity of the Run For Hope Foundation, the Knights of Columbus, friends, family and parishioners, we were able to launch our ministry. We now need ongoing support to continue our work. The OLMC Knights of Columbus Stick Ball Tournament is a fun and exciting way to contribute. Please consider forming a four-person team for $25 per person or simply donate if you are not able to participate.
Thank you for your support and generosity.
Ramon Hache
Tournament Details
When
Date: October 7, 2017
Time:
Registration: 9:30 am
Tournament Start: 10:00 am
Tournament End: 2:00 pm
Add to Calendar
Details: Teams of 4 (co-ed welcome) $100 or $25pp
Picnic lunch included
$120 at Door
FREE T-Shirt guaranteed for registered teams by Wednesday, September 27th.
15 minute intermission with short program describing the charity
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis, who has used his absolute authority in the Vatican to decentralize power from Rome, made a widespread change Saturday to the ways, and words, in which Roman Catholics worship by amending Vatican law to give national bishop conferences greater authority in translating liturgical language.
“It’s hugely important,” said Rita Ferrone, a specialist in Catholic liturgy who writes for Commonweal, a liberal Catholic magazine. She said that by loosening Rome’s grip on the language of prayers, Francis had restored the intention of the reforms of the Second Vatican Council and erased some of the rollbacks of his predecessor, Benedict XVI. “It was especially astute that he put it into canon law because it makes it official.”
Francis has not been shy in efforts to reform the church and has tread on some of its most delicate subjects, from challenging the Roman bureaucracy that runs the church to emphasizing acceptance of gays and the divorced.
Ridgewood NJ, Calling all High school sophomores and juniors! We know how hard it is to find the right school! Join us for our first annual College night featuring catholic colleges and universities both near and far!
Our Lady of Mt. carmel Parish Center
(lower level of the church – please use passaic street entrance)
1 Passaic St., Ridgewood, NJ
May 11, 2017
6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Representatives from the following schools have agreed to be present to answer all your questions!
Assumption College
Boston College
Cabrini University
Caldwell University
Catholic University of America
College of Mount St. Vincent
College of St. Elizabeth
DeSales University
Dominican College
Felician University
Georgian Court University
Iona College
Kings College
Manhattan College
Misericordia University
Mount Saint Mary College
Neumann University
Providence College
Sacred Heart University
Salve Regina University
Seton Hall University
Siena College
St. Anselm College
St. Bonaventure University
St. Francis University
St. John’s University
St. Peter’s University
Santa Clara University
Stonehill College
University of Dayton
University of Scranton
Ridgewood NJ, Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, has invited all 214 parishes of the Archdiocese to ring their bells on the morning of Sunday, March 19 in opposition to the incredible fear that is being generated worldwide toward immigrants and refugees.
The Archdiocese is participating in the international Joy of Bells initiative, an effort by people of faith throughout the world to protest against anti-immigrant sentiment. Cardinal Tobin learned about the effort recently from former President of Ireland Mary McAleese, one of its organizers.
In writing to pastors in the Archdiocese about Newark’s participation, Cardinal Tobin stated: “It actually is fitting that March 19 is chosen as the day for this event, since traditionally the Catholic Church observes the Feast of St. Joseph on that day. As we all know, St. Joseph, in whom was entrusted the care of Jesus and his mother, Mary, understood first-hand the trials and terrors of being a refugee and emigrant, forced from his own land by people wishing to do the Holy Family harm.”
Many have also noted that the Joy of Bells also occurs during the weekend of the celebration of the Feast of St. Patrick, who was an immigrant to Ireland, first as a slave, and then as a missionary.
Parishes are free to choose at what time they will join in the demonstration of solidarity with people of faith throughout the world in the Joy of Bells, so long as the ringing occurs during the morning of March 19. The bells of the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, the mother Church of the Archdiocese, will peal at 10:15 a.m.
The Cardinal ended his letter to pastors with this entreaty: “Let your bells join those in England and Ireland, the Vatican and Canada, Thailand and countless other countries, cities, towns and villages to help people overcome isolation and hatred throughout the world.”
It’s been five years since Pope Francis kicked off one of the most striking papacies in memory. Within the Catholic world, sadly divided into warring political camps, he is seen as a hero by progressive Catholics and a scourge of conservatives.
Why do so many conservatives dislike Pope Francis? In many cases, because he makes noises they dislike.
Francis has had harsh words against globalized capitalism, has written a major encyclical on the environment, and has been a major supporter of migrants in the crisis seizing Europe. In all these controversies, he actually hasn’t strayed too far from Catholic orthodoxy. But the most charitable version of the conservative critique, which is not unjustified, is that his tone and emphasis make him sound like a straightforward progressive, and risks identifying the Magisterium of the Church with the progressive left.
A look at the growing need to battle the devil.
Patti Armstrong
INDIANAPOLIS — There is an alarming increase in demonic activity being reported by those who work in exorcism ministry, said the exorcist for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. Although steps are being taken to increase the number of exorcists, demand is still outpacing supply.
Father Vincent Lampert has been an exorcist for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis since 2005 and is the pastor at St. Malachy’s in Indianapolis. He trained at the North American College in Rome and assisted with more than 40 exorcisms with longtime Italian exorcist Father Carmine De Filippi. Although the identities of most exorcists are hidden, Father Lampert often gives talks to warn against evil and turn people toward the power of God.
In an interview with the Register, he said that he sees an increasing number of people involved in Satanic rituals and opening themselves up to evil.
“The problem isn’t that the devil has upped his game, but more people are willing to play it,” Father Lampert said. He pointed to rampant pornography, illegal drugs use and the occult. “Where there is demonic activity, there is always an entry point,” he said.
Ridgewood NJ, NJ TRANSIT will operate extra bus service on selected routes to and from the Port Authority Bus Terminal (PABT) on Friday, March 17, to accommodate customers traveling to the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City. Trains will operate on a regular weekday schedule. Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, Newark Light Rail and River Line will also operate regular weekday schedules.
Please note: liquid containers of any kind, open or closed, will not be permitted on any train to and from New York/Hoboken on March 17. Beverages of any kind are prohibited at all times on board buses.
NJ TRANSIT will have Ambassadors will be on hand at Secaucus Junction, Aberdeen/Matawan, Middletown, N.J., and Penn Station New York to assist customers.
Extra trips to and from New York will be offered on the following bus routes:
To New York – PABT:
No. 163 (Ridgewood – New York) additional local trips from Hackensack (Summit Ave. and Essex St.) to PABT from 8:46 a.m. until 10:42 a.m. operating via the Boulevard in Hasbrouck Heights, Wood-Ridge, Carlstadt, and East Rutherford. Additional Turnpike Express (T) trips from Paramus (Paramus Rd. and Ridgewood Ave.) to NY/PABT at 8:57 a.m. and 9:17 a.m.From New York – PABT:
No. 163 (New York – Ridgewood) additional local service from PABT to Hackensack (Summit Ave. and Essex St.) operating via East Rutherford, Carlstadt, Wood Ridge, and Hasbrouck Heights at 4:25 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. Additional Turnpike Express (T) service from PABT to Ridgewood Terminal operating via Hackensack, Maywood, Rochelle Park, Paramus and Ridgewood at 3:20 p.m. and 4:58 p.m.
No. 321 (Vince Lombardi Park & Ride – New York) frequent express service from the PABT to Vince Lombardi Park & Ride every 30 minutes beginning at 12:45 p.m. through the late afternoon, then every 10-15 minutes during the afternoon peak hours.
Travel Tips
Ticketing: To speed your return, purchase round-trip tickets at the start of your trip from bus operators inbound to New York or at ticket vending machines where available. Bus customers departing Port Authority Bus Terminal (PABT) are reminded that tickets must be purchased before boarding the bus.
Allow Extra Travel Time: Traffic congestion during the morning period and early to mid-afternoon hours before and after the parade may affect bus travel times to New York City. Customers should plan accordingly.
Plan Ahead: Extra bus service will operate a few minutes ahead of regularly scheduled trips on the routes listed above. Customers should arrive at their bus boarding location 10 minutes earlier than the departure time.
Parking: Customers traveling from Park/Rides at Allwood Road, North Bergen, Willowbrook Mall, Mothers and Wayne/Route 23 Transit Center are advised that parking fees still apply. IMPORTANT NOTE: No liquids of any kind, in any type of container, open or closed, will be permitted on any train to and from New York/Hoboken. This policy will be strictly enforced. Beverages of any kind are prohibited at all times on board buses.
For schedules and fares, visit njtransit.com or call 973-275-5555.
Statement of Cardinal Tobin on St. Patrick’s Day Dispensation
February 23, 2017
My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
This year, the celebration of the Feast of St. Patrick — March 17, 2017 — falls on the Friday of the Second Week of Lent.
After due consideration of a number of requests, I dispense the people of the Archdiocese of Newark from the obligation to abstain from meat on Friday, March 17, 2017.
I remind Catholics who avail themselves of this dispensation that the Church highly encourages you to substitute some other act of penance, such as special prayer, acts of piety or works of charity on March 17th.
Please share this information with all in your parish and school communities. I also encourage you to take advantage of the opportunity to remind your communities of the Lenten Regulations, a copy of which is attached.
Ridgewood NJ, The following is a statement from James Goodness, Vice Chancellor and Director of Communications for the Archdiocese of Newark.
While the unfortunate situation at Saint John’s School in Clark has affected many, the Archdiocese of Newark has special concern for the students involved – the two girls and the boys on the Saint John’s JV Black team, and all other students participating in the league – who have been upset through no fault of their own. The CYO basketball program is organized not only for the enjoyment of the students involved, but also to teach them the importance of fair play, good and healthy competition and how faith can be expressed through sports and in community.
By their very nature, competitive sports call for rules and regulations. What is more, the educational purpose of CYO athletics needs policies that create a safe and healthy environment for the athletes, while serving the goals of the Catholic Youth Organization.
For more than two decades, the rules and practices in the Archdiocese of Newark CYO call for boys-only and girls-only teams in older grades. The rule recognizes that some sports, like basketball, feature greater physical contact and aggression as student players age and mature. The logic is similar to the rules requiring the separation of players by age groupings. Both rules seek to reduce the possibility of injury to a younger, smaller child by older and more physically developed athletes.
While he recognizes that the recent decisions by CYO officials were aimed at an appropriate and consistent application of the organization’s rules, Cardinal Joseph Tobin, the Archbishop of Newark, believes that the Saint John’s JV Black team should not have been penalized for mistakes that adults responsible for following the league rules may have made.
Consequently, the Cardinal has directed that the Saint John’s JV Black team may retain its current team roster as a co-ed team for the remainder of the current season, and have its win/loss record restored. The league will attempt to reschedule the final two games of the season that the JV Black team had forfeited, and the team will participate in the league playoffs.
Further, the Cardinal has directed that CYO officials, under the aegis of the Archdiocesan Secretariat for Catholic Education, convene a working group to study the current league rules regarding participation and team makeup in all age groups.
“We want the children to play for the very reasons CYO sports leagues were established: to provide a source of both recreation and reaffirmation of our Christian faith,” Cardinal Tobin said.
We regret the difficulty, disappointment and discouragement that have affected the children, whose growth remains our highest priority and concern.
In a separate matter dealing with litigation brought by a family against St. Theresa School in Kenilworth, Cardinal Tobin has directed Archdiocesan legal counsel to cease seeking to enforce the school’s Parent/Student handbook provision about removal of students because of litigation. The two girls in this matter will continue to attend St. Theresa for the remainder of the year. It should be noted, however, that St. Theresa Parish and School will continue to defend itself in the lawsuit brought against it by the family.
Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Knights of Columbus are once again proud to be sponsoring their annual St. Patrick’s Dinner Dance on Saturday, March 18, beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Mount Carmel gymnasium at 52 Passaic Street in Ridgewood.
Guests will first be greeted by bagpipers. The Best of Everything will cater a full-course of traditional Irish fare including corned beef and cabbage. The Celtic Cross Band will be playing Irish classics and great dance music, along with a special appearance by the Irish Step Dancers from the Ridgewood Irish Dance Academy. There will also be a grand prize raffle drawing for a trip to Ireland, with the proceeds going to benefit many local and worthy charities.
Tickets are $55 per person. Payment can be mailed to:
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Conservative criticism of Pope Francis intensified Saturday after his intervention in the Knights of Malta order, with posters appearing around Rome citing his actions against conservative Catholics and asking: “Where’s your mercy?”
The posters appeared on the same day that Francis cemented his authority over the Knights by naming a top Vatican archbishop, Angelo Becciu, to be his special delegate to the ancient aristocratic order.
Francis gave Becciu, the No. 2 in the Vatican secretariat of state, “all necessary powers” to help lay the groundwork for a new constitution for the order, lead the spiritual renewal of its professed knights and prepare for the election of a new grand master, expected in three months.
The Vatican’s intervention with the sovereign group had provided fuel for Francis’ conservative critics, who until Saturday had largely confined their concern with his mercy-over-morals papacy to blogs, interviews and conferences.
