A breakout of fake Catholic weddings in Trenton, NJ

 

Planning a Catholic wedding?  First step is to make sure it’s valid

April 30, 2026

A message from Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M.

Photo caption: Father Michael Gentile, pastor of Resurrection Parish, Delran, blesses a newly married couple during a nuptial Mass he recently celebrated. Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., has written a message urging couples who are planning to marry in the Catholic Church to be certain that the officiating clergyman – priest or deacon — is validly authorized to preside at the ceremony. Courtesy photo

I have been informed by a number of priests about several attempted celebrations of marriage within the Diocese of Trenton (Mercer, Burlington, Monmouth and Ocean Counties) by former priests or others posing as bishops or priests who are not authorized by the Roman Catholic Church and the Diocese of Trenton to witness or officiate at weddings, thus making any attempted marriages of Catholics performed by them invalid.

Such invalid weddings regularly occur at places other than Roman Catholic churches (eg., catering halls, hotels, beaches, etc. where Catholic weddings may not take place without dispensations issued by the Roman Catholic Church), and are officiated by individuals misrepresenting themselves as valid, authentic Catholic clergymen. PLEASE NOTE:  Only authorized Roman Catholic priests or deacons (priests or deacons “with faculties”) are permitted to officiate at weddings within the Diocese of Trenton.

Anyone planning for a Catholic wedding should contact his/her parish first to make sure that the officiating clergyman is validly authorized to preside at the ceremony and to ensure that his/her wedding is truly the Sacrament of Marriage recognized by the Roman Catholic Church that they intend.

If you have been an unfortunate victim of such fraud, please contact your parish.

Pope Leo XIV delivers Regina Caeli address today 05.03.2026

 

Pope

• Pope Leo XIV
• Regina Caeli
• faith
• prayer

Pope at Regina Caeli: ‘Anticipate heaven on earth’

At the Regina Caeli prayer in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Leo says that faith “frees our hearts from the anxiety of having and achieving”, and calls on Christians to "reveal to all that fraternity and peace are our calling.”

By Moriba Camara, S.J.

At the Regina Caeli prayer for the fifth Sunday of Easter, Pope Leo said that Jesus’ words to us take on new meaning in the light of the Resurrection, much as they did for the early Church. “What once eluded or troubled the disciples now returns to their memory, warms their hearts, and gives them hope”, the Pope said.

Reflecting on the Gospel of the Last Supper in light of the Resurrection, Pope Leo highlighted Christ’s promise, which draws us into the great mystery of victory over death: “I go to prepare a place for you, and I will come back and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be” (Jn 14:3).

READ THE FULL TEXT OF THE POPE'S CATECHESIS HERE

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A new logic of fraternity

The Pope contrasted the logic of the old world—marked by exclusion and competition—with that of the Kingdom of God: “In the old world in which we are still journeying, what attracts attention are exclusive places (…). In the new world into which the risen One leads us, however, what is most valuable is within everyone’s reach.”

This is a vision according to which every person is recognized in their uniqueness: “no one is confused with another, no one is lost.”

“Death threatens to erase one’s name and memory, but in God everyone is fully themselves. Truly, this is what we spend our whole lives searching for, sometimes willing to do anything just to get a little attention and recognition.”

The crowd gathered in St Peter's Square for the Regina Caeli (@VATICAN MEDIA)

Faith and freedom

The Pope then urged his listeners to trust in Christ: “Do not let your hearts be troubled… believe in God, believe also in me” (Jn 14:1).

Faith of this kind, he explained, “frees our hearts from the anxiety of having and achieving, from the illusion of chasing a prestigious place in order to have value.” Human dignity does not depend on social recognition: “each person already has infinite worth in the mystery of God, which is the only true reality.”

Heaven and fraternal love

The Holy Father also stressed that Christians are called to “anticipate heaven on earth and reveal to all that fraternity and peace are our calling.”

In this form of love, each person discovers their true identity: “amidst a multitude of brothers and sisters, each one discovers that they are uniquely made.”.

In closing, the Pope entrusted this message to the intercession of the Virgin Mary, asking her to pray that “every Christian community may be a home open to all and attentive to each person”.

Yet another Saint (and an Apostle) for Sunday

 

St. Philip

Philip was born in Bethsaida, Galilee. He may have been a disciple of John the Baptist and is mentioned as one of the Apostles in the lists of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and in Acts. Aside from the lists, he is mentioned only in John in the New Testament. He was called by Jesus Himself and brought Nathanael to Christ. Philip was present at the miracle of the loaves and fishes, when he engaged in a brief dialogue with the Lord, and was the Apostle approached by the Hellenistic Jews from Bethsaida to introduce them to Jesus. Just before the Passion, Jesus answered Philip's query to show them the Father, but no further mention of Philip is made in the New Testament beyond his listing among the Apostles awaiting the Holy Spirit in the Upper Room. According to tradition he preached in Greece and was crucified upside down at Hierapolis under Emperor Domitian. His feast day is May 3.

Saint of the Day (and Apostle) for Sunday

 

St. James the Lesser

Feastday: May 3
Patron: of Hatmakers

St. James the Less, the author of the first Catholic Epistle, was the son of Alphaeus of Cleophas. His mother Mary was either a sister or a close relative of the Blessed Virgin, and for that reason, according to Jewish custom, he was sometimes called the brother of the Lord. The Apostle held a distinguished position in the early Christian community of Jerusalem. St. Paul tells us he was a witness of the Resurrection of Christ; he is also a "pillar" of the Church, whom St. Paul consulted about the Gospel.

According to tradition, he was the first Bishop of Jerusalem and was at the Council of Jerusalem about the year 50. The historians Eusebius and Hegesippus relayed that St. James was martyred for the Faith by the Jews in the Spring of the year 62, although they greatly esteemed his person and had given him the surname of "James the Just."

Tradition has always recognized him as the author of the Epistle that bears his name. Internal evidence based on the language, style, and teaching of the Epistle reveals its author as a Jew familiar with the Old Testament, and a Christian thoroughly grounded in the teachings of the Gospel. External evidence from the early Fathers and Councils of the Church confirmed its authenticity and canonicity.

The date of its writing cannot be determined exactly. According to some scholars it was written about the year 49 A.D. Others, however, claim it was written after St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans (composed during the winter of 57-58 A.D.). It was probably written between the years 60 and 62 A.D.

St. James addresses himself to the "twelve tribes that are in the Dispersion," that is, to Christians outside Palestine; but nothing in the Epistle indicates that he is thinking only of Jewish Christians. St. James realizes full well the temptations and difficulties they encounter in the midst of paganism, and as a spiritual father, he endeavors to guide and direct them in the faith. Therefore, the burden of his discourse is an exhortation to practical Christian living.

Papal Foundation grants, scholarships break records for charitable giving

 

Members of The Papal Foundation visit the Vatican Gardens during their pilgrimage  (@Vatican Media)

Church

• charitable organizations
• United States
• Pope Leo XIV

The Papal Foundation reveals record-setting grants for Church-run projects

As it meets with Pope Leo XIV, The Papal Foundation announces it has approved over $15 million in grant allocations for 2026, a record in its 38-year history.

Vatican News

The Papal Foundation announced more than $15 million in grant allocations for 2026, supporting over 144 projects in 75 countries and marking a record level of global impact.

Students who receive scholarships from the Papal Foundation—since the program’s inception, a total of 2,700 students have benefited

In a press statement released on Saturday just ahead of their audience with Pope Leo XIV, The Papal Foundation said the grants will support infrastructure, programming, and humanitarian aid identified by the Vatican, with a focus on communities most in need around the world.

The 2026 grants will assist a wide range of initiatives serving the poor and the Church. These include the construction and renovation of Catholic schools, classrooms, monasteries, orphanages, and medical clinics in numerous countries.

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02/05/2026

Pope Leo: The Papal Foundation’s generosity shows goodness of God

Other projects include a dormitory in Tanzania to help protect girls from early marriage, trafficking, and sexual abuse, and boys from leaving school; a safe school for marginalized tribal children in India; a library and technology center in the Central African Republic; professional IT training for vulnerable women in the Philippines; and a well and water tower in the Republic of Guinea.

Ward Fitzgerald, President of The Papal Foundation Board of Trustees, said the grants are at the heart of the Foundation’s mission.

He described the projects as a sign of “hope,” responding to urgent needs and strengthening Catholic communities in developing nations.

The grants were approved following a review process led by the Foundation’s Grants Committee, chaired by Trustee Dr. Tammy Tenaglia of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

The committee reviewed requests submitted by the Vatican in the Fall of 2025 and recommended 144 grants for approval, with support from the Foundation’s Mission Fund Committee.

The Board of Trustees approved more than $15 million in total allocations, including $12.5 million in current grants and an additional $3 million to be distributed through the Foundation and its affiliates before the end of 2026.

The Foundation also noted continued growth among its Stewards of Saint Peter, with 25 new families joining since the election of Pope Leo XIV.

Its annual pilgrimage to Rome has brought together 56 Steward families.

The pilgrimage, the first since the election of Pope Leo XIV, includes visits to St. Peter’s, the Lateran Palace, the Angelicum, a candlelight rosary at St. Mary Major, and an audience with the Holy Father.

David Savage, Executive Director of The Papal Foundation, said the Foundation’s growth reflects a shared commitment “to serve, to give, and to bring the Church’s mission to life in meaningful ways across the globe.”

Since its founding in 1988, The Papal Foundation has distributed more than $270 million in grants, scholarships, and humanitarian aid to more than 2,700 projects selected by Pope Leo XIV, Pope Francis, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope St. John Paul II.

New members of the Papal Foundation

Pope Leo XIV meets with the Papal Foundation, a U.S. based charitable organization

 

Pope Leo speaks to members of the Papal Foundation  (@Vatican Media)

Pope

• Pope Leo XIV
• audiences
• charitable organizations
• United States

Pope Leo: The Papal Foundation’s generosity shows goodness of God

Pope Leo XIV meets with a delegation from The Papal Foundation and expresses his support for their charitable activities that have helped many in the Church.

By Devin Watkins

Pope Leo XIV met with stewards, trustees, and members of The Papal Foundation on Saturday, as the US-based charitable organization makes a pilgrimage to Rome.

He recalled that his former Diocese of Chiclayo, in Peru, received financial support from the foundation, and thanked them for their mission to assist the Successor of Peter’s ministry to the universal Church.

“I was pleased to learn that membership in the Foundation continues to grow each year and that you have expressed an openness to increase the support provided as well as find new ways of being of service,” he said.

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The Papal Foundation reveals record-setting grants for Church-run projects

Though Christ commissioned the Apostles and their successors, the Bishops, to guide the Church, he said, every Catholic has been entrusted with the mission to proclaim the Gospel in word and charitable deed.

“As St. James wrote to the early Christian community, faith without works is dead and has no power to save,” he said, “and the Gospels teach us that the Lord expects His disciples to care for the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable.”

Pope Leo noted that The Papal Foundation provides humanitarian aid and scholarships for people from around the world, participating in the Church’s evangelical mission.

These include priests and consecrated religious who are able to receive an advanced education so that they may become future leaders in the Church.

“Your generosity,” he said, “has allowed countless people to experience in a concrete fashion the goodness and kindness of God in their own communities.”

The Pope thanked members of The Papal Foundation for their generosity on behalf of all those who have benefited from their kindness.

Recalling that their encounter takes place during the Easter Season, he pointed to the Lord’s greeting “Peace be with you!” and renewed Christ’s invitation for His disciples to be instruments of peace.

Pope St. Paul VI, he noted, called development “the new name of peace,” adding that his predecessor meant that “true harmony is not simply the absence of conflict, but comes from actively promoting an authentic integral human development.”

“Fostering genuine progress through tangible initiatives like those supported by the Foundation is a sure way to encourage concord among communities and individuals,” he said.

Finally, Pope Leo XIV renewed his gratitude to The Papal Foundation for their pilgrimage to Rome and for their support for his ministry and the work of the universal Church.

“I ask for your continued prayers for my ministry as the Successor of Saint Peter and for the needs of the Church.”

Pope Leo XIV today ordained 4 new Bishops for the Diocese of Rome at St. John Lateran

 

Pope

• Pope Leo XIV
• Rome
• bishops
• peace
• Pope Francis

Pope ordains four bishops for Rome: Be men of peace and unity

Pope Leo XIV, Bishop of the Diocese of Rome, ordains four priests as auxiliary bishops, urging them to remain available to all, to proclaim God’s closeness, and to rekindle hope.

By Stefanie Stahlhofen

“This is a celebration of the people,” Pope Leo XIV declared at the beginning of his homily during the Mass at the Archbasilica of St John Lateran, during which he ordained four priests as auxiliary bishops of the Diocese of Rome: Stefano Sparapani, Alessandro Zenobbi, Andrea Carlevale, and Marco Valenti. With the exception of Marco Valenti, who comes from Cantalupo in Sabina, all were born in Rome.

In his homily, the Pope addressed the new auxiliary bishops as “dear brothers” and emphasized that, together with the Cardinal Vicar, they would help him, the Bishop of Rome, “to be for the Roman people an image of the Good Shepherd and to watch over the charity of the whole holy People of God spread throughout the world.”

Pope Leo also explained how he envisions their ministry: “You will be prophets in your ministry if you are men of peace and unity, who weave together—with threads of grace and mercy—the vast and populous spaces of this diocese, harmonizing differences, welcoming, listening, forgiving.”

Pope Leo told the new Auxiliary Bishops to be 'men of peace and unity (@Vatican Media)

Proclaiming and bringing hope to all

In his homily at the solemn Mass, the Pope - who since his first address after his election on May 8, 2025, has advocated for “an unarmed and disarming peace” - recalled that Jesus “walked among us as an unarmed and disarming prophet.”

He also emphasized, recalling the words of his predecessor Pope Francis, that it is necessary “to carry in our hearts the material and existential peripheries” and to go out to those on the margins of society, in order to proclaim to them “that no one is excluded from becoming an active part of the sacred building that is the Church and of the fraternity among human beings.”

The Bishop of Rome told the new auxiliary bishops of his diocese that "as priests, you have accepted this call, together with the parish communities you have accompanied. Now comes a new call, a further vocation, which always has the same core: no one, absolutely no one, must consider themselves rejected by God, and you will be heralds of this good news that stands at the heart of the Gospel."

Close to everyone

Pope Leo also stressed the importance of being available to everyone, whether lay faithful, religious, or clergy: “Do not let yourselves be searched after; rather, let yourselves be found”.

“Ensure that priests, deacons, religious sisters and brothers, as well as lay people engaged in apostolic work, never feel alone,” the Pope stressed. “Help them to rekindle hope in their various ministries and to feel part of one and the same mission”

“May the poor of Rome, the pilgrims, and the visitors who come here from all over the world find, in the inhabitants of this city, in its institutions, and in its pastors, that maternal care which is the true face of the Church. May the Salus Populi Romani, the Mother of our trust, always guide and protect us on our path.”