News - October 2026 RSS Feed

EVENTS ACROSS THE DIOCESE ARE SET FOR NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER marking of The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, starting with a traveling torch-lighting tradition known as “Las Antorchas Guadalupanas,” or Torches of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The annual celebration is now in its 11th year and takes place at the 5 p.m. Mass Oct. 24 in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton.

THE RESPECT LIFE COMMITTEE IN ST. MARY PARISH, BARNEGAT, WILL HOST A PRESENTATION, “The Last Things: Living the Fourth Quarter Well: The Spiritual, the Medical, the Funeral” Oct. 31.

AS SPECIAL HIGHLIGHT OF THE SOLEMN NOVENA TO ST. JUDE this year will be Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., celebrating the 9:30 a.m. Mass Oct. 25.

Today, as we celebrate World Mission Sunday, I want to speak to you personally about something very close to the heart of the Church–and very close to my heart as your Bishop: our responsibility to share Jesus Christ with the world.

AS THE CATHOLIC CHURCH MARKS THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF WORLD MISSION SUNDAY on Oct. 18, The Monitor Magazine presents a special section highlighting the Diocese of Trenton’s commitment to supporting the Church’s missionary work around the world.

Students from 33 elementary and secondary schools located in Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean Counties joined the Bishop, along with 20 of the Diocese’s priests, for the annual Catholic Schools Mass in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold.

Continuing a cherished tradition, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., celebrated a special Mass Oct. 15 with hundreds of Catholic school students from across the Diocese of Trenton. Students from 33 elementary and secondary schools located in Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean Counties joined the Bishop, along with 20 of the Diocese’s priests, for the annual Catholic Schools Mass in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold.

Continuing a cherished tradition, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., will celebrate a special Mass Oct. 15 with hundreds of Catholic school students from across the Diocese.

THE CLERGY AND FAITHFUL OF THE DIOCESE OF TRENTON continue to join Bishop O'Connell in prayer for the recovery of our Holy Father and his ongoing well-being in the days ahead. We send him our love and best wishes.

THE CHANCERY OFFICES IN LAWRENCEVILLE will be closed Monday, October 12 for Columbus Day, a federal holiday. Regular business hours will resume Tuesday, October 13.

ST. MARY OF THE ASSUMPTION CATHEDRAL IN TRENTON will provide a place of spiritual welcome Oct. 8 as more than a thousand Catholics and people of good will from across the state will gather for the third annual New Jersey Bishops’ Mass for Life.

St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral in Trenton will provide a place of spiritual welcome Oct. 8 as more than a thousand Catholics and people of good will from across the state will gather for the third annual New Jersey Bishops’ Mass for Life.

The New Jersey Catholic Conference, public policy arm of the bishops of New Jersey, launched an advocacy campaign Oct. 5, featuring dedicated web pages, an Action Alert and a packet of digital and social media graphics and bulletin inserts to be shared throughout the state via Catholic schools, parishes and media outlets. The campaign urges voters to reach out to Governor Sherrill and ask her to say “yes” to New Jersey’s participation in the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit.

The New Jersey Catholic Conference, public policy arm of the bishops of New Jersey, launched an advocacy campaign Oct. 5, featuring dedicated web pages, an Action Alert and a packet of digital and social media graphics and bulletin inserts to be shared throughout the state via Catholic schools, parishes and media outlets. The campaign urges voters to reach out to Governor Sherrill and ask her to say “yes” to New Jersey’s participation in the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit.

WASHINGTON – YESTERDAY, THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY released proposed regulations to implement the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit (FSTC), which provides a nonrefundable Federal tax credit for contributions to scholarship granting organizations. States must formally elect to opt-in to the program in order for the children in that state to be eligible for scholarships funded by the program.

Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., announced Oct. 1, 2026, the pending retirement of Rayanne Bennett, Executive Director of Communications and Media and Associate Publisher of The Monitor. His announcement follows: