Dear Parishioners,

First, I am glad to say that after much trial, Fr. Caesar is safe in Rome and is beginning his studies. As he mentioned a couple weeks ago, he was having trouble with his visa and passport. Then, just as he figured that out, his flight plans had to be changed because of wildfires in Spain. I hope his studies go much more smoothly than his travels! Let us all pray that Fr. Caesar studies well and becomes more learned, holy, and wiser in his time in Rome. May he return to the Diocese of Trenton safely. He plans to still serve here on his breaks. So, maybe we will see him around Christmas time.

Second, I know many of you have been anxious to hear who will replace him at the hospital and in the parish. The Bishop just informed me yesterday (as of writing this) that we will have a new priest serving at the hospital named Fr. Aleksander Bialas. He is from the Paterson Diocese and will be serving in our parish starting sometime at the end of September after his vacation in Poland.

Third, as many of you already know, Christa Dalmazio has accepted a position as Music Director at St. John the Baptist Parish in Allentown, NJ. She has been helping out there for the last year in their Latin Mass community. She did such a good job that they offered her a full-time position which enables her to no longer have to work a full-time teaching job in addition to her church music ministry. I am very glad for her to be using her talents well and her life will be a lot less complicated now that she has completed her Doctoral studies (Congratulations to her for that!) and is fully focusing on music ministry at one parish. You may see her again in the future if you come to some of our special music events in the year such as the Seven Last Words service. In the meantime, we wish her well.

Lastly, we have a new Music Director named Roy DeMarco. Roy is a great guy and I am sure you will all love his presence, singing, and music skill. He has served as a cantor, conductor and section leader in many churches. Now he wants to take the next step in his music career to be a director. He has a degree in Music Education from Westminster Choir College of Rider University, Lawrenceville. He has worked in choral ensembles and operas. I am very glad to have him as part of our team here. I hope you will take the time to give him a warm welcome!

God Bless!

Fr. Carter