Catholic Star Herald

12/19/2025

Sister Monica Jacques, 95, a Sister of Mercy, and Catholic school and parish educator in the Diocese of Camden, died Dec. 11 at McAuley Hall Health Care Center in Watchung.

https://catholicstarherald.org/sister-monica-jacques-rsm-teacher-social-worker-dies-at-95/

12/18/2025

Best wishes to Amparo Lancara, retiring from her dedicated ministry at Catholic Charities of South Jersey

As she steps away after two dozen years as a mainstay at Catholic Charities of South Jersey’s Cumberland County Family and Community Center, her colleagues will miss the “compassionate and dedicated case manager” with “a heart of gold.”

Read the full story: https://catholicstarherald.org/colleagues-pay-tribute-to-catholic-charities-staffer-retiring-after-24-years/

12/18/2025

Oh what fun it is to work ... at the Catholic Star Herald! This afternoon, the Office of Communications staff for the Diocese of Camden had their annual Christmas Party and White Elephant Gift Exchange.

Not only was there a special appearance by former managing editor Carl Peters, there were some gift shenanigans! Among them, a Carl Peters Funko figure, and a wooden coooking spoon imprinted with a photo of our boss, Mike Walsh.

I think we can all agree - the resemblances are uncanny!

12/18/2025

Calling it “one of my favorite days of the year,” Bishop Joseph Williams celebrated Mass on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe with hundreds of the area’s faithful.

“It’s a beautiful story, and the people we get to serve fit into that story in a beautiful way,” Bishop Williams said of Our Lady of Guadalupe during the liturgy Dec. 12 at Saint Teresa of Ávila Church, Parish of the Holy Cross.

Read the full story now:

Bishop Joseph Williams incenses an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe during a Mass celebrated Dec. 12 in honor of

12/18/2025

"When God looks at us and calls us, we can do great things.”

Encouraging and inspiring St. John Paul II Regional School students gathered Dec. 12 in Saint Luke Church, Bishop Joseph Williams celebrated the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, recalling the Blessed Mother’s love and hope given to a humble peasant farmer on Mexico’s Tepeyac Hill in 1531.

“‘Little Juan, the smallest of my children … do not be afraid. Am I not here, who am your Mother?’” he continued, echoing the enduring words of Mary.

South Jersey Catholic Schools

Read the full story now:

Santiago Doughty, a third-grader at Saint John Paul II Regional School, Stratford, is dressed as Saint Juan Diego for the

12/17/2025

"O Wisdom of our God Most High, guiding creation with power and love: come to teach us the path of knowledge!"

Starting today, December 17–23, the Church prays the beloved “O” Antiphons during Evening Prayer as they accompany the Magnificat. Rich in ancient biblical imagery, they draw from the messianic hopes of the Old Testament and proclaim Christ as their fulfillment—not only then, but now.

Each antiphon begins with the urgent cry, “Come!”, giving voice to the deep longing of all hearts for the Divine Messiah as we draw near to .

See each day's "O Antiphon" prayer: usccb.org/prayers/o-antiphons-advent



United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

12/17/2025

How exciting! Congrats to Saint Joseph Regional School for being a shining example!

We’re excited to share that Saint Joseph Regional School was named Lite Rock 96.9’s Workplace of the Week! 🎉
A heartfelt thank you to Eddie Davis and the Lite Rock 96.9 Morning Show, and to Mr. and Mrs. McManus for the nomination. We are truly blessed to be part of such an incredible community.

12/16/2025

“The shooting in Sydney, Australia is a painful reminder that hatred remains a threat to our lives, our communities, and the bonds that unite us.”

Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, expressed the Catholic Church’s solidarity with the Jewish community in the wake of a Dec. 14 terror attack by two gunmen that targeted Jewish beachgoers at an event celebrating the first day of Hanukkah at Sydney’s Bondi Beach.

Diocese of Camden Life & Justice Ministries

Read the full story here:
https://catholicstarherald.org/usccb-president-expresses-churchs-solidarity-with-jewish-community/

12/16/2025

“For centuries...(the Creed) has been the common heritage of Christians, and it deserves to be professed and understood in ever new and relevant ways.”

In his latest column, Father Joseph Wallace, pastor of Christ The Redeemer Catholic Parish- Atco, NJ unpacks Pope Leo XIV’s apostolic letter, “In Unitate Fidei” (“In the Unity of Faith”), reaffirm their core beliefs and promote unity in this time of global division.

Pope Leo issued an apostolic letter titled, “In Unitate Fidei” (“In the Unity of Faith”), ahead of his first official

12/15/2025

This morning, 13 students from Gloucester Catholic High School visited Catholic Charities of South Jersey's offices in Camden to learn about the organization’s work with .

“These people trust the Church and what we can do for them. They don’t want handouts; they want to take care of their families,” said Jose A. Sánchez, director of Immigration, Refugee and Migrants Services for Catholic Charities of South Jersey.

Sanchez explained that in the last four months, his office has helped 450 individuals and families from countries such as Cuba, Haiti and Honduras make a life for themselves in South Jersey.

The students, all from the school’s Honors Service Learning Religion class, were accompanied by Alaina Silber, who teaches religion at the school and is director of Campus Ministry. They learned about issues that individuals and families face once they arrive in the United States, as well as the tenets of Catholic social teaching.

“We have the right to guard our borders; we also have the right to see the dignity in everyone,” Sanchez said.

In addition, the students met with Dr. Maria Elena Hallion, Catholic Charities of South Jersey’s executive director, and Sharon McHugh, its community development coordinator. They also briefly sat in on an English as a Second Language class being taught to young immigrants by Dr. Vincent Mancuso, coordinator of the organization’s English Learning Center.
Diocese of Camden Diocese of Camden Life & Justice Ministries

📸 Mike Bress

12/15/2025

From The Catholic Spirit - NJ:

Father Jonathan S. Toborowsky, the new administrator for the Diocese of Metuchen, writes on the change of leadership after his diocese’s former bishop – Bishop James F. Checchio, a native of Camden who was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Camden in 1992 – officially became coadjutor archbishop for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans last month.

Father Jonathan S. Toborowsky Editor’s Note: Father Jonathan S. Toborowsky is the new administrator for the Diocese of Metuchen. The