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April 2020

Petition New Jersey Governor to Reconsider Complete Closure of Religious Houses of Worship

April 28, 2020

Some parishioners may wish to to express their wishes that religious houses of worship should be given at least as much consideration as liquor stores, lottery sales, big box home repair centers, etc. when determining safe occupancy and social distancing requirements. 

This petition is organized by NJ State Senator Mike Doherty and can be signed online.

Several parishioners have reported difficulty in sending the governor emails regarding the closure of houses of worship. At times, for example, the state senate webpage appears to have been offline over the last 24 hours. 

An article from NJ.com appears at this link: https://www.nj.com/coronavirus/2020/04/reopen-churches-during-the-coronavirus-lockdown-nj-state-senator-says.html

The petition can be found here:https://www.senatenj.com/petitions/openreligion/

Both the governor and Cardinal Tobin have pushed back on the petition, as we might expect from their previous comments on the issue. 

P.S. It looks as though the petition has now been amended to ask for OUTDOOR religious services. Maybe there is some negotiating going on behind the scenes. 

Please let our elected officials know what you think, whatever position you take. 

Posted at 05:02 PM in COVID-19, Current Affairs | | Comments (0)

Zoom ?

April 20, 2020

Bishop O'Connell has reported one parish's recent distasteful experience with the video streaming platform "Zoom."


The videoconferencing app “Zoom” has become the most popular videoconferencing platform, especially during the pandemic shut down.

Its popularity has resulted in more extensive scrutiny of its privacy and data-sharing policies. Despite “Zoom’s” assurances, intruders have been hacking and crashing meetings and classes held over “Zoom” and infiltrating them with offensive and pornographic content. This happened today in one of our parishes during a live-steamed Sunday Mass using “Zoom,” when racist statements and pornographic images —- a experience labeled “Zoombombing” —- appeared on family television screens during the Gloria. That parish had actually paid “Zoom” to guarantee privacy as a “closed meeting!”

“Zoom” is being selected as the platform of choice because it is very easy to use and is without cost or, at least, cheap to use. Again, despite its assertions, “Zoom” has been cited for selling user data and other content obtained from its users. Platform content becomes the property of “Zoom Video Communications, Inc.” with privacy and confidentiality cannot be guaranteed and has been reported to have been violated.

In addition, “Zoom” is on record as a promoter and supporter of Planned Parenthood and supports abortion rights. Its CEO Eric Yuan Is reported to have spoken out with blatant disregard for human life if it is not “useful.”

“Zoom” users (business, schools, parishes, chanceries and dioceses, etc.) are being informed (Business Insider, NYTimes, CNN, Catholic World Report, National Catholic Reporter) about these concerns and some have stopped employing its services, among them US governmental agencies, NY City School District, Elon Musk’s Company Space X, Diocese of Gallup, etc

 

Posted at 08:21 PM in Current Affairs | | Comments (0)

Thank you for prayers and financial support

April 16, 2020

Thank you to everyone for their prayers, cards for well wishes and financial contributions during this time of uncertainty for us all. I especially appreciate those who continue to support the parish with their financial contributions. Your financial support is urgently needed, as many of our expenses are fixed, such as our mortgage.

I encourage school families to keep up to date with their tuition payments. Many families are falling behind in their payments and the school has yet to receive any government or diocesan financial assistance. Our payroll remains a major obligation. As you know, classes are continuing online. 

Let us continue to pray for one another. I remember all of you at daily mass and pray for the day we can gather again to come swiftly. 

Fr. Manning

 

Posted at 11:58 AM in COVID-19 | | Comments (0)

Good Friday

April 10, 2020

We've lowered the Cross for the Veneration of the Cross liturgy and hope to be able to transmit a suitable image for meditation. On a typical Good Friday it is amazing to see how reverently and thoughtfully people venerate the cross when we are able to place it at the foot of the altar.

 

Posted at 01:00 PM in Triduum | | Comments (0)

Update From Diocesan Catholic Cemeteries

April 01, 2020

My brothers and sisters,

Updated funeral committal policies have been issued by Catholic Cemeteries of Trenton to help regulate the flow of visitors and mourners at graveside services.

This would not necessarily be binding on all Catholic cemeteries (such as Mt. Olivet) and not relevant at all to secular cemeteries like Fairview Cemetery. It limits the number of family cars per committal to four and the number of family members at graveside to four. Cemetery staff may at their discretion issue personal protective equipment. Safe social distancing is to be maintained even at the service. 

 

Posted at 10:48 AM | | Comments (0)