Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception - Camden, NJ

Click Here

Most Rev. Dennis J. Sullivan, D.D
Bishop of Camden Diocese

Administered by
The Oblates of St. Francis de Sales
Fr. John Fisher, OSFS - Rector

Click Here

Parish Mission Statement
Encountering Christ in word, sacrament and in each other, we serve to create hope and peace for our community and world.
Encontrando a Cristo en palabra, sacramento y en unos y otros, servimos para crear esperanza y paz en nuestra comunidad y mundo.

Parish Bulletin

Parish Calendar

Directions

Nuestro camino cuaresmal.

Clique aquí para obtener una hoja que contiene una lista de actividades y ofrecimientos en la parroquia. Esperamos que puedas reunirnos.

Talleres en español durante la Cuaresma

El diácono Rene Zayas ofrece un taller de formación cada lunes durante la Cuaresma 6:30-8 PM en nuestro salón. La primera session comienza el 24 de febrero. Clique aquí por una descripción de cada clase

Bro. Mickey & the Prophets of Hope and Joy
Saturday, February 29, 10-12 @ the Cathedral

Best Lent Ever

Dynamic Catholic offers a 40-day series "Best Lent Ever" to help you on your journey during this great season up to the celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord. To sign up, click here.

Daily Catholic Wisdom: A Morning Snippet

St. Joseph Communication offers Simple Catholic Inspiration Every Morning to help you "Grow in Faith Day By Day" offering you "brilliant snippets to help you grow in your faith and wisdom every day" as their website states. To enhance your Lenten experience, sign up here.

Formed ofrece Reflexiones de Cuaresma

Recibe nuestras reflexiones de cuaresma y vive este tiempo litúrgico con un espíritu de reflexión. Mediante los diferentes tiempos litúrgicos, la Iglesia nos invita a vivir los misterios de la vida de Cristo, en este caso al prepararnos para predicar el Reino de los Cielos, su pasión, muerte y resurrección. ¡No pierdas la oportunidad de acompañar y crecer en tu relación con Nuestro Señor Jesucristo! ¡Clique aquí para inscribirse!

Word on Fire: Daily Gospel Reflections

Bishop Robert Barron offers daily Gospel reflections to break open the Word of God in meaningful ways. It can be yours through email in English or in Spanish. Click here to get started.

Feast of St. Francis de Sales January 24

January 24 is the Feast of St. Francis de Sales, the patron saint of writers and Christian unity whose role as a priest and bishop helped bring thousands of Protestants back to the Catholic Church.
In the late 16th and early 17th century, St. Frances de Sales conducted spiritual direction both in person and in written correspondence. This inspired his famous works; "Introduction to the Devout Life" and "Treatise on the Love of God."
During his ministry in Switzerland, he wrote and distributed religious pamphlets that made inroads among Protestants and helped over 50,000 people return to the Catholic faith.
Because he is a patron saint of writers, his feast day traditionally marks the release of the Pope's annual message for World Communications Day. Pope Benedict XVI's 2013 message reflected on social networks and their potential to strengthen unity and harmony between people. He also warned that these enable a mindset that rewards popularity, rather than rewarding what has intrinsic value.
St. Francis de Sales was no stranger to unpopularity. As a priest he volunteered to lead a mission to return the Calvinist Switzerland back to the Catholic faith. He faced much hostility, including death threats and potential assassins.
He was born in 1567 in the Savoy region in what is now part of France, near the famous Lake of Annecy. He was a diplomat's son, born into a household with great devotion to St. Francis of Assisi, in whose honor DeSales was named. As the oldest son, it was planned from his birth that the young Francis would follow in his father's footsteps.
He studied rhetoric, the humanities and law in preparation for a political career. He had resolved to hold to religious celibacy, and he held a deep devotion to the Virgin Mary, but he kept this strong spiritual life secret from the world.
This devotion clashed with the wishes of his father, who had arranged a marriage for him. The Catholic bishop of Geneva found Francis de Sales a position in the Swiss Church, leading to his ordination as a priest in 1593.
Francis was named Bishop of Geneva in 1602, after which he worked to restore Geneva's churches and religious orders. He helped the future saint Jane Frances de Chantal, whom he had served as spiritual director, found a women's religious order, The Visitation of Holy Mary.
He died in 1622 in Lyons at a convent of the Visitation that he had helped to found. Francis de Sales was canonized in 1665 and named a Doctor of the Church in 1877.
Source: Adapted from The Catholic News Agency

Feast of St. Léonie Aviat, OSFS January 10

St. Léonie Frances de Sales Aviat, OSFS (1844 – 1914)

The second child of a loving working-class family, Léonie Aviat was born on September 16 in Sézanne, France, a small town of the Champagne area. At age eleven she began boarding school at the Troyes Visitation. There, her life was changed forever. She came under the influence of the monastery’s celebrated and holy Superior, Mother Mary de Sales Chappuis, known even then as “the Good Mother,” as well as Father Louis Brisson, the chaplain to the monastery and instructor in the school. He later became Léonie’s spiritual directory. The perceptive Mother Mary de Sales recognized in her “a very determined young woman.” This strength of character, coupled with an enterprising spirit and excellent organizational skills, was to serve Léonie well throughout life.

Mother Mary de Sales is now “Venerable”, Louis Brisson “Blessed” and Léonie Avait “Saint.” There must have been something very special, very holy, about that particular time and place. Saints always seem to find one another.

Upon leaving the monastery school at 16, Léonie was convinced that she was called to the contemplative life. Prudently, both Mother Mary de Sales and Father Brisson encouraged her to return to her family and to work for a few years while leading an ordinary life. This, they felt, would test the strength of her vocation. Although her parents encouraged a marriage to a suitable young man, she refused, convinced that her heart, her call, was elsewhere. In 1858 Father Brisson founded an apostolate for working girls. That proved to be Provident’s moment for Léonie’s vocation. Within several years, he invited her to be the Foundress of a new religious congregation whose members would provide both spiritual and maternal care for young working girls. This was the beginning of the Oblate Sisters of St. Francis de Sales who saw themselves from the very beginning as “workers among workers.” Mother Mary de Sales served as novice mistress for Léonie and for her first companion, Lucie Canuet. At the end of the retreat prior to her first profession, Léonie made as resolution that would serve as her life’s project: “to forget myself entirely” --to which she later added, “Let us work for the happiness of others.” Throughout all the eventful years ahead, the life of this great-hearted woman – to paraphrase Father Roger Balducelli—“was one of an uninterrupted sequence of actions that were faithful to her decision to live for God and others in a total forgetfulness of self.”

Hers was not an easy life. There were many trials, set-backs and disappointments. In time her beloved Congregation, along with many others, was exiled from France, and its apostolates closed down by a hostile government. The exiled Congregation re-located to Perugia, Italy. It was there that this holy, caring and gifted woman died on January 10, 1914, twelve years after the death of her spiritual director, life-long friend and co-Founder, Father Louis Brisson.

From beginning to end, Léonie led a life of selfless, ceaseless service on behalf of the spiritual and human happiness of others. Her faithful practice of the Spiritual Directory of St. Francis de Sales provided her with a simple but sure means to great holiness, a holiness that was formally recognized by a grateful Church at her canonization in Rome on November 25, 2001.

Lord, Make Me a Channel of Your Peace

The hit musical, Come From Away, which details the events of 28 planes having to land in Newfoundland on 9/11, is peppered with excellent music that details the fears of the passengers that are quickly allayed by the tremendous hospitality and generosity of the residents from a small town named Gander and other places. Only one piece is not original. At a tense-filled part of the musical, some have a need to go to a Catholic Church to pray for their loved ones back home as well as the world. One worshipper began singing a song he heard in his dream that morning which he recalled in a timely fashion: Make Me A Channel of Peace. I have never been so moved by this song as I was then. Ethnic tension had slightly descended on the cast with its accompanying fear and suspicion, and at this moment they all realized there was one God who created and graced them all regardless the name of this God or their faith. They were bonded in this God. With all of the infighting in the halls of Congress, the lack of civility in government, the tension and division in our Church, society and families, we now face the threat of war. What can we do? This Prayer of St. Francis, that can be traced back to 1912, gives us the brief, yet succinct solution. In our own hearts weighed down by failure and regret, in our interactions with others at work, home or play, in our fears and desires for what may be, let us sow peace. Lord, Make Us A Channel of Your Peace!
El exitoso musical,” Come From Away”, que detalla los eventos de 28 aviones que tuvieron que aterrizar en Terranova el 11 de septiembre, está salpicado de excelente música que detalla los temores de los pasajeros que se disipan rápidamente por la tremenda hospitalidad y generosidad de los residentes de un pequeño pueblo llamado “Gander” y otros lugares. Solo una pieza no es original. En una parte se llena de tensión el musical y algunos tienen la necesidad de ir a una iglesia católica para rezar por sus seres queridos tanto en casa como en el mundo. Un adorador comenzó a cantar una canción que escuchó en su sueño esa mañana y que recordó en una manera oportuna: Hazme un Instrumento de tu Paz. Nunca me conmovió tanto esta canción como lo estaba entonces. La tensión étnica descendido sobre los personajes con el miedo y la sospecha que le acompañaban, y en este momento todos se dieron cuenta de que había un Dios que los creó y los bendijo a todos sin importar el nombre de este Dios o su fe. Estaban unidos en este Dios. Con todas las luchas internas en los pasillos del Congreso, la falta de cortesía en el gobierno, la tensión y la división en nuestra Iglesia, sociedad y familias, ahora enfrentamos la amenaza de la guerra. ¿Qué podemos hacer? Esta Oración de San Francisco que se remonta a 1912 nos da la solución breve pero sucinta. En nuestros propios corazones agobiados por el fracaso y el arrepentimiento, en nuestras interacciones con otros en el trabajo, el hogar o el juego, en nuestros temores y deseos de lo que puede ser, sembremos la paz. ¡Señor, haznos instrumentos de tu paz!

Illumination Ceremony & All Souls Day at Cemetery

On Saturday evening at St. Joseph's Cemetery in Chews Landing, we celebrated the Zaduszki Ceremony. The following day, many met at the Mausoleum for Mass. Click here for pictures.

Parish Convocation & Multicultural Celebration

There was so much excitement from the Diocesan Convocation of Leaders: The Joy of the Gospel held last March with parish delegates throughout the diocese that one of our "leaders" suggested that we have a "mini-convocation" that would end with a multicultural celebration that we have always wanted to do especially as it was one of the recommendations for our V Encuentro process.

On Saturday, October 12, we married both goals celebrating the Joy of the the Gospel, our call to be missionary disciples, and our unity within our great diversity.

We began the day with morning prayer followed by a keynote address Missionary Discipleship: The Time is Now to be a Prophet (based on Sr. Joan Chittister's recent book). Bro. Mickey McGrath, OSFS gave a pictorial presentation of the brown-skinned Madonnas recognizing all cultures present interspersed with poignant quotes from Pope Francis on the issue. Then, participants attended two different sessions from a choice of six talks. We ended this portion of the day with a review of our parish EASTeR project established at the diocesan convocation.
Our multicultural celebration followed replete with delicious Polish, Filipino, Mexican, Dominican and Puerto Rican foods. Check out the gallery containing over 300 pictures.

St. Joseph Polish Apostolate Gallery Fall '19

Pictures from various events this Fall 2019 pertaining to the St. Joseph Polish Apostolate can be found in the second tab under gallery in the "What about us" menu.

Executive Summary of Prayer and Listening Session

Click here to read the summary from our prayer and listening session held back in March on the clergy sexual abuse crisis. An open and heartfelt discussion on this most sensitive issue has given hope for the future in our Church.

Información importante y urgente

Aquí contiene información muy importante con respecto a posibles redadas de inmigración. Aquí está un video "conozca sus derechos" en inglés que debe ver y aquí en español. Aquí está un video titulado "Preparando a su familia" en inglés y en español. El tercer video titulado "conectándose a su comunidad" está en inglés y en español.

Educar a su comunidad sobre Acciones de Cumplimiento: Recursos para la preparación y Protección

¿Recursos; Conoce tus Derechos (KYR): Es importante que las personas conozcan sus derechos en la interacción con los agentes de inmigración. Para más información, ver:

De Justicia Para Inmigrantes (JFI): Nueve maneras de protegerse de antecedentes en Inglés y en español ;
USCCB / MRS vídeos de corta duración para teléfonos móviles en Inglés y en español ;
Red Católica de Inmigración Legal, INC (CLINIC) recursos adicionales recursos .

Recursos de preparación de la familia: Alentamos a las familias que puedan verse afectados para hacer un plan, determinar quién va a cuidar a sus hijos en el caso de su aprehensión, y organizar documentos y puntos de contacto. Para más información, ver:

De Justicia Para Inmigrantes (JFI): Nueve maneras de protegerse de antecedentes en Inglés y en español ;
USCCB / MRS vídeos de corta duración para teléfonos móviles para los niños en la preparación de su familia en Inglés y en Español .

Conectarse con recursos para la comunidad: Las familias pueden desear considerar el registro con sus parroquias locales o unirse a un grupo solidario. También animamos a las personas a consultar con un proveedor de servicios legales de buena reputación, si es posible. Para más información, ver:

De Justicia Para Inmigrantes (JFI): documento de antecedentes la importancia de inscribirse en su parroquia;
USCCB / MRS vídeos de corta duración para teléfonos móviles para los niños en conexión con su comunidad en Inglés y Español .
Información sobre los proveedores de servicios legales locales en:
- El Departamento de Justicia (US Departamento de Justicia sitio web);
- American Immigration Lawyers Association ( AILA ) página web;
- CLÍNICA página web

Action Alert: ICE Raids

Dear Faith Leaders and ALL peoples of conscience:

As you are well aware, the Trump administration has announced that there will be large raids in at least 9 cities throughout the country by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) beginning this weekend. According to news reports, individuals and families with “final orders of removal/deportation” are anticipated to be targeted. According to our own information and what has been shared by many of our partner immigrant rights and advocacy organizations, many of these individuals and families have been denied fair and just treatment under law and have been deprived of “due process”. Children will likely be separated from their parents, spouses will be torn apart, and as breadwinners are arrested, households will be thrown into economic chaos.
We also anticipate that these raids will result in collateral arrests, meaning persons that are undocumented but do not have a final order of deportation will likely be detained as well. “Undocumented does not mean illegal – no human being is or can be considered illegal – for Islam and our various faith traditions teach that we are all ennobled and sanctified by God as a result of the infusion of the Divine spirit within each and every one of us and must be treated with the utmost of respect and honor and in America, at its base, this means a path to citizenship for the DACA recipients, Dreamers, TPS and the undocumented,” said Imam Saffet A. Catovic, Muslim Chaplain, Drew University.
Faith in New Jersey (FINJ), its Religious Leadership and its constituent faith communities, religious congregations and partner organizations are mobilizing our trained rapid Response teams on the ground and across the state to support and protect our families, and where and when necessary provide sanctuary through the Statewide congregation sanctuary network to those unfairly targeted by this unwarranted governmental action. Rabbi Joel Abraham, of Temple Shalom in Scotch Plains stated, “Jewish history teaches us to remember what it was like to be a stranger, and to be oppressed. Make no mistake, our government is oppressing people it has ‘othered’ by calling them strangers. Our tradition, our text calls us to stand up because we know what this is like, because we went through the same experience, and, in as much as we have any power and wisdom, we must act.”

Make no mistake, the social fabric of America is being unraveled and our historic reality as a nation of immigrants is being threatened by these immoral and unjust governmental actions. Our country’s motto - E Pluribus Unum – from the many and diverse multitude a unified nation - is crumbling before our very eyes. And this is tragic for, “America is a nation of immigrants. We are all created in God’s image and our nation’s policies must be filled with compassion in the pursuit of justice   .” -Rabbi Faith Joy Dantowitz

We, as peoples of faith and conscience, stand ready to safeguard and protect those among us, our neighbors, the refugee and migrant - our Sisters and Brothers in faith and humanity who are unfairly targeted and who are most in need during this dire time. We shall continue to stand by them and for the moral principles and ethical values which bind us as a nation for ‘the human tie that binds, should never be separated by force. Only evil tries to destroy love and love in action is justice. So TOGETHER let’s fight against evil!”- Rev. Heyward Wiggins, President of FINJ.
What can you do (RIGHT NOW)?
Show up and stand up – come out and join in one of the many protests/marches/rallies/vigils being held tonight and this weekend (what we in the Faith community call “Praying with our feet”) in our Garden State of New Jersey in support of immigrant rights. Learn the facts from elected officials, clergy and immigrant rights activists and oppose the ICE Raids and the unjust antiimmigrant governmental policies and the inhumane conditions for migrants in detention. You can find one near you by visiting lightsforliberty.org. Also Join FINJ this Sunday, in Newark, New Jersey at St. Lucy Church located at 118 7th Ave., Newark, N.J. 07104 beginning at 10:00am as we:

> Inform and educate the local community about their rights. > Distribute KYR materials > Have a FACEBOOK LIVE as well.

Share the ATTACHED FLYER with your network and post it on your social media platforms.
#RESIST #ICEFREENJ #AbolishICE
FOR NO ONE STANDS OR FIGHTS ALONE!
What can you do (ONGOING)
Connect and become actively involved with the programs and actions of migrant-led rights organizations and interfaith immigration coalitions in your area like Faith in New Jersey.
Become informed and educated as to the issues at hand and what you can do to make a difference in the lives of our neighbors and fellow Jerseyman who are most in need. Our friends at LA RED and our national organization Faith in Action have provided the following information and materials to help you in this.
This is an urgent moment to be certain our families are ready, so we strongly urge:
• Share LA RED’s Deportation Defense Guide. Here is the guide.
• Share Know Your Rights (English and Spanish) materials. For other languages, click here.
• Rapid Response Hotline: Share your local hotline in the community. Materials:
• From Raids to Deportation: A Community Resource Kit

ICE Raid's Toolkit Immigrant Defense Project
• Call Elected Officials: Contact local leaders in your jurisdiction and urge sheriff and police not to participate in raids or cooperate with ICE in sharing information about immigrants at risk. See this sample script for your calls.
• Sanctuary: Share your local list of sanctuary congregations or share this list to find houses of worship that can provide housing to families that are scared of being in their homes or sending their kids to school.
Remember LA RED team is here for you. Please reach out with questions, if you need help with an online training or defense organizing strategy.
For Rich Morales: rmorales@faithinaction.org
For Sara Melton, LA RED Lead Organizer: smelton@faithinaction.org

In solidarity, En la lucha,    Salam-Peace-Shalom

Board of Directors Faith in New Jersey 609-256-4118, ext. 701 (Office) 203-278-2729 Cell

www.faithinnewjersey.org

Faith in New Jersey is a multi-faith and multi-racial network of faith leaders and faith communities working together to protect religious liberties and advance an immigration, racial, economic and human justice agenda at the local, state and federal level. Faith in New Jersey’s mission is to develop grassroots community leaders, analyze the policies that shape our communities, and mobilize faith voices and faith voters to effectively act on the prophetic call to build the Beloved Community.

House of Charity 2020
Who is my neighbor?
¿Quién es mi prójimo?

The House of Charity: Bishop's Annual Appeal seeks to raise funds to provide care, respect, justice, peace and dignity for every soul in the Diocese of Camden. Support of the 2019 House of Charity – Bishop’s Annual Appeal ensures the vitality of essential Diocesan ministries and programs that sustain the healing, teaching and redemptive Presence of Jesus Christ through the Diocese of Camden. Click here to view the video in English or here for Spanish. Our parish goal is $52,863.13