On Sept. 4, 75 religious newly assigned to the Paterson Diocese, N.J., priests, seminarians and discerners gathered for an evening of prayer, fraternity, recreation, and relaxation during the annual gathering at Mary Help of Christians Academy in North Haledon, N.J.
Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney commenced the event with adoration and vespers in St. Joseph’s Chapel of Mary Help, run by the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco. He gave a moving reflection.
Together, they ate a meal, prepared by the Knights of Columbus, in the school cafeteria. Members of the various participating religious communities mingled at the tables to get to know one another. All the new religious men and women serving the diocese also had the opportunity to introduce themselves. The religious also had the opportunity to meet Bishop Sweeney and build relationships with attending seminarians — future priests of the diocese.
That sense of fraternity continued as many of the participants headed to the school gym to play competitive volleyball.
