Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

What would you be willing to give up to follow Jesus? Last week, Bishop Serratelli posed that provocative question to a group of young men of the Diocese — teenagers, who have just begun to think about their vocation — on Feb. 5 at a “Pizza with the Bishop” vocations-awareness evening at Pope John XXIII High School in Sparta.

Bishop Serratelli made a pastoral visit to St. Clare Parish in Clifton Feb. 9, where he was principal celebrant of the vigil Mass for the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. During the Mass, the Bishop blessed red candles for parishioners to mark the upcoming feast of St. Valentine’s Day on Feb. 14.

Bishop Serratelli made a pastoral visit to Our Lady of Lourdes (OLL) Parish in Paterson on Feb. 3, where he celebrated Mass for the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time. During the Mass, the Bishop named Father Raimundo Rivera, who has been serving as administrator at the parish, as pastor effective Feb. 11.