Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., issued the following message July 30, 2020:

Given all current public health and safety reports, I am extending the dispensation from Sunday obligation to attend Mass beyond the aforementioned September 7 date listed in our Diocesan Directives “until further notice.”

The faithful are certainly encouraged, but not required, to attend Sunday Mass in their parishes whenever possible or to participate in outdoor or live-streamed parish Masses offered online until the dispensation ceases “to keep holy, the Lord’s Day.”

Please continue to remember one another in prayer, especially the sick, the departed and all those providing care for them at this time.

Respectfully in the Lord,

Bishop O’Connell

Shown is the September 20, 2020 edition of the Faith At Home resource.

Three diocesan departments have collaborated on an online resource that helps individuals and families foster faith conversations in the home during the COVID-19 pandemic.“People have a natural desire to know God, and this pandemic could be a moment of evangelization and catechesis for families to reconnect with the Church,” said Denise Contino, director of the diocesan Department of Catechesis.

The new resource, titled Faith At Home, is a collaboration between Contino; Josue Arriola, director of the Department of Evangelization and Family Life, and Dan Waddington, director of the Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries.

Faith At Home, which is available online in English and Spanish, offers a weekly downloadable pdf that includes links from various Catholic websites, discussion questions related to each Sunday’s Gospel, a “Tip of the Week” that connects to the upcoming Sunday Liturgy, and activities for families.

The webpage, www.dioceseoftrenton.org/faith-at-home or www.dioceseoftrenton.org/fe-en-casa, also offers resources and prayers for individuals, adults, families with young children, teens and marriages.

“I think the Faith At Home initiative is important because it provides a way for parishes and the Diocese to make a connection to families and continue to support their faith growth even though we cannot come together,” Waddington said. “I hope it can be a simple way to help families intentionally live out their faith in their home.”

Faith At Home follows the success of the Department of Evangelization and Family Life’s online resource released at the end of Lent. That guide offered practical advice on how faithful could observe Holy Week and the Sacred Triduum at home. Pastors, parish catechetical leaders and others were appreciative for the guide and praised the ease of sharing it with their communities, Contino said.

The new resource “is meant as a supplement to the Sunday Liturgy,” Contino emphasized. “It serves the faithful by offering families a place to go each week to break open the Word of God as a family.”

She added that it can also help those who might not have a connection to a parish but are searching for ways to connect with their faith.

Arriola said it’s his hope that Faith At Home will help family members enjoy being together.

“Many families involve their children in many activities, and they are always rushing from place to place,” he said, “but the moment they are together with no place to go, it is strange for them. They usually don’t know what to do. Faith At Home will give them ideas on things to do together and start enjoying each other’s company.”

The three diocesan directors said they were pleased to work on a project together that helps the faithful during such difficult times.

“It is an honor to collaborate with other departments,” Waddington said. “I feel the result of sharing our individual gifts, talents and perspectives through prayer and guidance of the Holy Spirit will be a well-rounded resource that can support many.”

“Collaboration with the departments is key,” said Contino, as she cited the Scripture passage, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Mt. 18:20)

Arriola agreed. “We are one Diocese with one mission: ‘Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature,’” Arriola said, quoting from Mark 16:9-15. “This mission can only be accomplished by working together.”