Upcoming Liturgies


February 2, 2025

4:30 PM

on Zoom


Presider: Mark DeStephano




February 16, 2025

4:30 PM

on Zoom


Presider: Michael Corso

Zoom details will be provided in the invitations to the liturgies and presentations that are emailed on the Thursday before the event.


We invite everyone not only to join our liturgies but to actively participate! Please let us know if you would like to be a reader or present the Eucharistic prayer.

Presentations

An Evening with Ilia Delio, OSF, PhD


"The Mystery of God and Relational Love"


“An American Franciscan Sister, Ilia Delio, a theologian at Villanova University, is now emerging as the single finest exponent of Teilhard’s vision and its relevance for science and cosmology in the twenty-first century.” ~DIARMUID O’MURCHU


Read about Sister Delio and the Center for Christogenesis here.


"Christianity is about future, not salvation as an end in itself or heaven or eternal life---but new life...about the fulfillment of promise and hope for a new creation ...the direction is forward ... It has become backward looking... We have lost sight of Jesus emerging in history as announcing something new, a new way of being for a new world, a new Big Bang, a new relatedness making wholes for a whole new future."

~ Ilia Delio, The Emergent Christ, p. 91


Bernice Anglin has provided commentary on Sister Delio's presentation. Sister Delio's poem, The Christic, is included.

Read the Commentary and Poem here.

Your Donations Enable Our Free Programs


All of our presentations are free so everyone can join. However, as a non-profit VOTFNJ is entirely supported by membership and donations. If you can afford to do so, please make a tax-deductible contribution to VOTFNJ to help with the cost of honorariums. Click on the button below to donate online, or mail a check to:


Robert Pipchick, VOTFNJ Treasurer

3508 Park Place

Springfield NJ, 07081



Thank you for your generosity!

Donate to VOTFNJ!
Other Virtual Liturgies
You can join Sophia Inclusive Catholic Community, the "sister" community of VOTFNJ, via Zoom for liturgies. Contact Mike Corso for more information.
Call to Action's Alternative Liturgies Directory provides a space to share information about spiritual communities that meet outside a traditional parish setting. These gatherings include online prayer services, Intentional Eucharistic Communities, churches presided over by women priests, Call To Action chapter liturgies, and more.
VOTFNJ Family on the Web

"Beyond Boundaries," Dick Rento's Blog

"Mike Corso's Religious Views," Mike Corso's Blog

"Faith Seeking Understanding," Ken Lasch's Website

"Considerable Thoughts," Sal Umana's Blog

VOTFNJ Family News
Journeying together as family through sadness and joy...

Praying Together...


We mourn the passing of Ted Bustany's brother, Rafik.


We mourn the passing of Sr. Eileen Flannagan, SC, Father James Callan, Spiritus Christi founder, and John Wijngaards of the Wijngaards Institute for Catholic Research.


We pray for Terry Moran, who is now in the Complete Care nursing facility at St. Vincent's in Cedar Grove, NJ.


We continue to pray for the physical and emotional health of Mike and Teri Corso's son, Michael, and the physical health of Mike's mother who is in a rehabilitation center. We also pray for Mike Corso, himself, who suffered a severe and prolonged migraine recently.


We hold Mary Gannon's daughter, Emilie Jane Gannon in our hearts.


We pray that Louise Mancinelli's health improves.


We pray for the families and volunteers of RAMP, members of the Sophia Inclusive Community, Pathways to Prosperity, and the Christian Community in Convent Station, and their families.

Sharing Together...

Carol Jenkins has an art exhibit at the West Orange Art Center.


Carol T. Jenkins has been a professional graphic designer for over 45 years and has produced creative award-winning designs for corporations, small businesses, and government agencies throughout New Jersey. A civic-minded entrepreneur, Jenkins formed the Read-Up! Book Club for Children in 1999 as an educational initiative of the United Way Community Service Council of the Oranges to encourage children to actively participate in organized reading, learning, and social activities.


Carol has been a Nominator for SparkNJ for three years, suggesting local Black-led organizations to receive one of SparkNJ’s unrestricted grants.

Mary Aktay shares the AUSCP invitation to "Women and Priests-Conversations in the Spirit: Understanding and honoring the lived experience of our LGBTQ+ Catholic siblings, parents, family, priests, and allies."

Carole Rogers shares For Those Who Have Far to Travel, A Blessing for Epiphany, a poem by Jan Richardson.


Sal Umana shares his blog post: "An Unhappy But Hopeful New Year 2025"


Bernice Anglin recommends reading Nicholas Kristof's opinion column, "Even This Year Is the Best Time Ever to Be Alive."

Please email if you have news or thoughts to share or need prayers and community support.

VOTFNJ's Mission Statement:

Voice of the Faithful New Jersey is a welcoming Eucharistic community mindful of its Christian Catholic tradition. Attentive to the Spirit, we seek to be the change we wish to see in the Church. We share responsibility toward spiritual growth, prophetic witness, and the promotion of justice and equality in the Church and society.


VOTFNJ's Goals:

To support and advocate for survivors of clergy sexual abuse

To support and advocate for priests of integrity

To support and advocate for those striving to proclaim an expanded image of God compatible with science and theology in the 21st Century

To provide educational and spiritual opportunities for our community and others.  


If you are not yet a VOTFNJ member, you can join by filling out this form and mailing it in.


VOTFNJ is FAMILY! If you need anything at all: groceries, a ride somewhere, or simply someone to talk to, please don't hesitate to reach out. We are here for each other!

Confronting Systemic Racism

In Newark, Catholic bishops host interfaith leaders to oppose mass deportation


In Texas, an uncommon collaboration between two high-profile Catholic leaders highlights Sister Norma Pimentel


Arizona bishops, faith leaders denounce spectre of immigration raids on churches


St. Martin de Porres and the call of the supernatural


One Black Catholic's prayers for the 2025 Jubilee Year


60 days later: Introspection is needed on White Catholic rejection of Kamala Harris


Preparing for Trump's mass deportation plans: 7 things Catholics need to know

VOTFNJ RESOURCE


The VOTFNJ Coordinating Team has compiled a resource list on the subject of systemic racism, offering theological readings as well as historical and political perspectives. Download it here.

VOTFNJ is a founding member and supporter of Refugee Assistance Morris Partners. RAMP is proud of its work sponsoring refugee families from the Middle East since its founding in 2016 thanks to the ongoing support of its deeply dedicated volunteers, faith-based organizations, and generous donors. RAMP partners with the International Rescue Committee (IRC).


RAMP helps people bridge to a new life for a better future. RAMP assists vetted and documented refugee families and individuals who fled their homes under threat of war or violence. Since its founding in 2016, RAMP has supported 22 adults and 21 children from Syria, Afghanistan, and El Salvador. Thirteen are now U.S. citizens and two are serving in the military. 


RAMP earned status as an independent New Jersey 501 (c)(3) non-profit in 2022.

Our next Family Team is looking for volunteers.


Family teams are instrumental in getting ready to receive and support #refugees resettling in the U.S. Join RAMP as they prepare to welcome another family.

Read RAMP's latest newsletter.
Visit RAMP's website.
Supporting Survivors

Report: 20 years of data shows clerical abuse allegations down in U.S.

Dr. Robert Hoatson's Response to the Study.

The Abuse Crisis is So Over by David Gibson. A must-read!


More than $5 billion spent on Catholic sexual abuse allegations, new report finds


Clergy abuse survivors react to New York diocese's bankruptcy settlement


Long Island, New York, parishes forced to pay millions to settle sex abuse claims


Not listening to children at heart of abuse


New Jersey Diocese Insurers Win Appeal to Halt Abuse Settlements


He knew of sex abuse allegations on campus. Now he’s university president.


New clergy abuse report ups pressure on NJ to release long-delayed findings


Zollner: Work, 'change of attitude' needed to make zero tolerance for abuse universal in church


Keep up with coverage in VOTF National, America, NCR, Commonweal, and Crux. We recommend reading Fr. Ken Lasch's posts on his website; keeping up with all the news and events at Road to Recovery and Catholic Whistleblowers; and visiting Catholics4Change, Bishop Accountability; Awake, and Catholic Church Reform International.


Road to Recovery conducts support groups for survivors of clergy abuse. Contact Bob Hoatson for information.


 Active Investigations and Information Hotlines


NJ Clergy Abuse Hotline 855-363-6548


NY Victims and Anyone with Information are Encouraged to Call the Hotline at 

1-800-771-7755 or File Complaint Online at ag.ny.gov/ClergyAbuse


National Resources for Sexual Assault Survivors and their Loved Ones


Keep up with the activities and outreach of Ending Clergy Abuse (ECA) and Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP).

VOTFNJ has developed an Action Packet of useful steps you can take to confront the abuse crisis in our Church.
Structural Change in the Church

Theologian: Synod clarified that 'we are the church,' not just clergy

Pope Francis has named the first woman to head a major Vatican office, choosing an Italian nun


Catholic Women Strike!


Bishop Stowe blesses 3 women in ceremony recognizing lay ministry roles


Pope Francis picks an advocate for church reform for Washington, DC 


The Last Word with John Wijngaards

Ten pastoral reforms submitted to the Synodal discussions by the Wijngaards Institute

As We Enter 2025

A Catholic guide to migration ethics in the Trump era


Inspired by Thomas Merton, this 'Planetwalker' traversed the world in silent activism

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Morristown, NJ 07960-4528
Call +1 862-377-9914
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