Where does the Catholic Church go from here? Author James Carroll brings his crystal ball to Morristown, May 17

Award-winning author, Boston Globe columnist and former Catholic priest James Carroll brings a provocative topic to Morristown on May 17:

Beyond nostalgia and survival – an alternative agenda for the Church.

Carroll tackles this one at 7:30 pm at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, where he will be the 2012 speaker of the John Shelby Spong Lectureship. The series began in 2011 with a lecture by Karen Armstrong.

In addition to writing for the Globe, Carroll is the Scholar-in-Residence at Suffolk University and holder of the 2011 Alonzo L. McDonald Family Chair at Emory University.

Born in Chicago in 1943, Carroll attended Georgetown University before entering the seminary to train for the Catholic priesthood. He received BA and MA degrees from St. Paul’s College, the Paulist Fathers’ seminary in Washington, and was ordained to the Catholic priesthood in 1969. Carroll served as Catholic Chaplain at Boston University from 1969 to 1974, then left the priesthood to become a writer.

His 10 novels and six works of non-fiction include the National Book Award-winning An American Requiem; The New York Times bestselling Constantine’s Sword, now an acclaimed documentary; House of War, which won the first PEN-Galbraith Award; and Practicing Catholic.

Carroll’s most recent book is Jerusalem, Jerusalem: How the Ancient City Ignited Our Modern World, which was
named a 2011 Best Book by Publishers Weekly.

The lecture will be followed by a festive reception and book signing in the Parish Hall. General Admission is $15.  Register here.

Delbarton monk accused of sex abuse allegations passes 2 lie detector tests, lawyer says

A criminal attorney in Morristown said the Rev. Luke Travers passed a lie detector test ordered by St. Mary's Abbey in January, then passed another one in March

Holy Week services at Morristown’s Assumption Church

Here is the Holy Week schedule of services for Morristown’s Assumption Church  at 91 Maple Avenue:

Holy Thursday, April 5
Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 8 p.m.

Good Friday, April 6
Liturgy of the Passion at 3 p.m.
Stations of the Cross at 8 p.m.

Holy Saturday, April 7
Blessing of Easter Food at 11 a.m.
The Easter Vigil Mass at 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, April 8
Mass of the Resurrection at 7 ,8:30 and 10 a.m.and 12:15 p.m.
Children’s Easter Mass at 10 a.m. at the school

MORE HOLY WEEK SERVICES AROUND MORRISTOWN

2 brothers sue Delbarton, allege childhood of sexual abuse by 2 monks at private N.J. school

"We were the luckiest kids on Earth," Tom Crane said. "The campus was our playground. We had full access to everything. But, unfortunately, the monks had full access to us."

Sexual abuse lawsuit planned against 2 former Delbarton School monks, complaint says

The allegations, made against Rev. Justin Capato and Rev. Luke Travers, are the latest in a string of accusations that have rocked the elite private school in the past three months

Don’t miss this Sunday’s musical celebration for Advent in the Chapel of The Presbyterian Church in Morristown (December 18 at 4 p.m.). Directed by Dr. Charity Wicks, the Chancel Choir will perform A Spotless Rose, a Vespers service in adoration of the Virgin Mary. This evening prayer service devoted to the mother of Jesus will include music by English and American composers Herbert Howells, Benjamin Britten, William Billings and John Leavitt amongst others, performed by soloists, choir, harp, cellos, flutes and organ. The afternoon will include settings of the ethereal O Magnum Mysterium text by two 16^th-century Spanish composers, Tomás Luis de Victoria and Cristobal Morales, presented by a vocal quartet and The Recorder Consort, as well as settings of the beautiful hymn-tune, Lo, How a Rose E’re Blooming presented in various forms and styles. The event is free and open to the public.

 

New book tells the story of Morristown’s Assumption Church

By Marie Pfeifer

The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrating its 150th anniversary in Morristown. Robert and Jeannette Fredericks have chronicled the evolution of the town’s first Catholic church from a small wooden structure to the beautiful Gothic-style Revival building we know today in We Built a Family Together: The History of the Parish of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

A prior history, The Story of a Parish, 1847-1892, was published in 1892 by former pastor Rev. Joseph M. Flynn.

The new book includes not only the history of the Church, but also the parish schools, Holy Rood Cemetery, convents, the ministry center and rectories, along with a comprehensive guide to the Church’s art (statuary and sculptures), stained glass windows and a section on parishioners’ reminiscences.

The 155-page hardcover book is lavishly illustrated with archival images and new photographs by parishioner Sergio Burani.

Photos copyright © Sergio Burani – Photos by Sergio. Please click icon below for captions.

The authors, long time parishioners, undertook the writing of the book because of their love of the parish. It was, they felt, a story that needed to be told.

Robert is past president of both the Morris County Historical Society and the Washington Association of New Jersey. He’s also honorary historian for Morris Township.

“Assumption Church has made many significant contributions to the community and we wanted to point that out to the reader,” he said. “Assumption was the first Roman Catholic Church in the area; in 1850 they were the first to provide education for children; All Souls Hospital was in existence before any other area hospital.”

The book is available online for a minimum donation of $16 until Dec. 31, 2011; after that date the requested donation is $25. Pre-ordered copies can be picked up at the parish office or shipped for an additional $5.

One block from the Green, Morristown’s Church of the Redeemer is going green

The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, one block from the historic Morristown Green, has decided to go green.

For the next two years, the church will seek certification from GreenFaith, a national interfaith environmental organization based in Highland Park.

“What I love about this program is its comprehensiveness. It’s not just about recycling or using compact-fluorescent light bulbs– this is about taking our commitment to ‘do justice’ seriously, as Redeemer has done so well throughout its history,” said Redeemer’s rector, the Rev. Cynthia Black, in a statement.

The focus will be inward and outward, addressing the church’s use of energy while also supporting local environmental leaders and working to help the poor who often are most affected by pollution, according to the church.

Green Faith, established in 1992, has promoted sustainable practices within the faith community, helping the Sun Farm Network install 25 solar arrays at 25 religious institutions across the state. More details follow:

FROM CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER:

Church near the Green goes green

Church of the Redeemer, located on South Street just one block away from the historic Green in Morristown, NJ, is launching a major environmental initiative to “Go Green” by participating in a rigorous two-year environmental certification program sponsored by GreenFaith, a national interfaith environmental organization (www.greenfaith.org).

The Rev. Cynthia L. Black, Rector of Redeemer, will publicly announce the church’s participation in the GreenFaith program on December 11 in a brief ceremony on the church’s front lawn. As a visual symbol of the church’s environmental commitment, the youth group has constructed an 8-foot lighted peace symbol from recycled plastics collected from parishioners and the local community. Paul Miller, Morristown’s Sustainability Director, will be on hand to wish the church well in its initiative.

The GreenFaith Certification Program is the first environmental leadership program of its kind in the country designed exclusively for religious institutions. To become certified as a “Green Sanctuary,” Church of the Redeemer will address environmental issues and take action holistically both within its walls and by reaching out into the community.

 

Looking inward, the church will conduct eco-themed worship services and offer adult and youth religious education about the environment, as well as multi-generational programs designed to enhance members’ spiritual connection to the earth. It will also implement a rigorous set of environmental stewardship measures aimed at improving the church’s use of and relationship to food, water, energy, transportation, waste, toxics and grounds maintenance.

Focusing on the community, the church will seek to develop working relationships with area environmental justice leaders, aiding their ongoing efforts to improve the plight of poor communities that often absorb the brunt of local environmental degradation in the form of toxic waste dumps and incinerators located in their vicinity. Redeemer will also actively engage in legislative advocacy efforts to promote responsible and meaningful environmental legislation. Church members also plan to reach out to other local religious and community organizations to jointly plan sustainability initiatives.

Rev. Black comments, “What I love about this program is its comprehensiveness. It’s not just about recycling or using compact-fluorescent light bulbs– this is about taking our commitment to “do justice” seriously, as Redeemer has done so well throughout its history.”

The Church of the Redeemer, located at 36 South Street, Morristown, is a Christian liberation community in the Episcopal tradition, serving the people of Morristown and beyond for more than 150 years. Sunday services are at 8:00 (prayer book) and 10:30 am (inclusive language). As part of its practice of radical hospitality, the church provides space to the Community Soup Kitchen of Morristown, the Eric Johnson House (part of NJ AIDS Services), a number of 12 step groups, and Empty Bowl Zendo. To learn more, please visit: www.redeemermorristown.org

Leading Holocaust Educator Sister Gemma Del Duca Speaks at the College of Saint Elizabeth, November 16, 2011

Internationally known Holocaust educator Sister Gemma Del Duca, S.C., leads an interfaith dialogue entitled, Teaching Catholics about the Holocaust, Wednesday, November 16, from 7:30 to 9 p.m., in Dolan Performance Hall, College of Saint Elizabeth, 2 Convent Road, Morristown, N.J. The event, which is free and open to the public, is sponsored by the CSE Holocaust Education Resource Center.
Well Respected Leader in Holocaust Education Addresses College Audience
Sr. Gemma is the founder and co-director of Seton Hill University’s National Catholic Center for Holocaust Education, Greensburg, Pa., and she is also the former chair of the history department at the university.
Sr. Gemma lives in Israel since 1975, and has led seminars at Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem for more than 20 years as an educator at the international School of Holocaust Education. Her association with Yad Vashem began in 1987 when she approached the administrators with her idea to host seminars for Catholic educators in response to Pope John Paul II’s call to recognize the significance of the Holocaust. The seminars are intended for groups of Catholic educators and clergy, primarily from the United States. According to Yad Vashem’s records, hundreds of educators have taken part in the seminars. Her presence as lecturer and coordinator of the program is one of its most important components, according to Ephraim Kaye, who works with international educators at Yad Vashem.
“(Sr.) Gemma is the person who opened the door here to bringing Catholic educators to Yad Vashem,” said Kaye, “They have been a real dedicated and determined group of people who take back what they have learned here. We have (Sr.) Gemma to thank for that. It is really not to be taken for granted.”
In 2007, Yad Vashem honored Sr. Gemma with the Award for Excellence in Holocaust Education.
She is the first non-Jewish and non-Israeli recipient.
Sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, Convent Station, New Jersey, the College of Saint Elizabeth enrolls more than 2,100 full- and part-time students in more than 25 undergraduate, 10 graduate and one doctoral degree programs. For information on other activities or programs, visit the College of Saint Elizabeth web site at www.cse.edu.

Video: Morristown’s steeple rescue, no fear of heights here

Here is video of Thursday’s steeple rescue at the Morristown United Methodist Church.

READ MORE ABOUT THE STEEPLE RESCUE

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