Register for each liturgy separately. If you have any problems registering or joining VOTFNJ Zoom Meetings please email or call 862-377-9914.

Please email if you would like to be a reader for VOTFNJ Zoom Liturgies.

We welcome Carole and Leo Rogers' new grandson, Theo Scott, to this world!

We pray for the contuned recovery of Tom Hoffman, Gerry Gannon and Pat Franks.

Please email if you wish to include prayers or share news events.

Mary Gannon and Carole Rogers suggest visiting New Jersey Together for ways to get involved in your own community to work for social justice. It has pages dedicated to every county. Morris County can be found here.

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.

Dr. Shannen Dee Williams will give a presentation to VOTFNJ on Zoom at 4:30 pm on Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021.

Dr. Williams is the Albert LePage Assistant Professor of History at Villanova University. She is completing her first book, Subversive Habits: The Untold Story of Black Catholic Nuns in the United States. 

Resmaa Menakam, My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies (Central Recovery Press: 2017), 137, 35. This practice is featured in Richard Rohr's Daily Meditations on May 8, 2021.

Voices for Racial Justice Now has a new website. Here you will find information about the beginnings of this new local effort and about its current initiatives. You can sign up to receive updates directly from VRJ.

"A Home Called Nebraska" spotlights people who escaped war, torture and persecution. It also introduces the generous Nebraskans who welcomed them, taught them, celebrated with them, and helped them find jobs and houses. Today these refugees are succeeding and are giving back to the communities that supported them. Learn more.

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. The first two families are now independent, and are no longer relying on RAMP for their support. Click here for the latest update. Click here for a Migrant and Refugee Fact Sheet from "Education for Justice." Ramp partners with the International Rescue Committee (IRC). IRC showcases the top 10 crises the world should be watching in 2021 RAMP continues to work with IRC in its current mission of refugee resettlement.

The RAMP Coordinating Committee annouces new committees to work on housing and employment for refugees and welcomes Rev. Anne Thatcher, Rector of St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Morristown, as RAMP's new Clergy Convener. It is hoped that the Biden Administration's new proposals for accepting refugees into the US will soon be inacted and RAMP will be able to help more families.

If you would like to join this multi-faith and civic effort, go to the RAMP website and check for all the opportunities available. Contact: [email protected] for more information and updates.

RAMP is a Special Project Fund of the Community Foundation of New Jersey. CFNJ manages and administers RAMP funds, and donations made to RAMP through CFNJ qualify for 501(c)3 status. Donations can be made here.

Surviving abuse in all its forms. 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 the Catholics4Change website, the Bishop Accountability website; and the Catholic Church Reform International website.

 Active Investigations and Information Hotlines

NY Victims and Anyone with Information are Encouraged to Call Hotline at 1-800-771-7755 or File Complaint Online at ag.ny.gov/ClergyAbuse

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

If you would like to attend a memorial service for Kevin P. Waldrip (RIP) who died on March 30, 2021, please email Bob Hoatson or on his Facebook page and he will provide necessary details. Sunday, May 16, 2021 (rain date of May 23rd) at 11:00 at Eagle Rock Reservation (gazebo) in West Orange.  Please bring a folding chair if possible. Afterwards, we will go to Alan Smith’s house at 148 Forest St. in Montclair for a get-together (sandwiches, etc). Please let Bob Hoatson know how many will be coming if possible. Hope to see you.

A memorial Mass for Cecilia “Grace” Springer is scheduled for June 26th, 2021, at 10:30 am at St. Francis Xavier Church, West 16th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, Manhattan. All are invited.

Lawmakers move closer to letting child sex abuse victims sue

 Vatican and International News

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

Author, historian, and journalist James Carroll speaks on the themes of his new book, The Truth at the Heart of the Lie: How the Catholic Church Lost Its Soul.

Fermanagh priest has no objections to women being ordained. The Enniskillen priest believes the role of women, in particular, has to be recognised more within the Church, adding: “The role of women has to be more fully recognised for their role in the Church.

“I would have no problem with women being ordained priests in the near future, but I think there’s a conservative element in our church that wouldn’t wouldn’t want that. But, again, that’s a discussion that needs to be ongoing.” Read more.

Catholic Church Reform International (CCRI) lauds Catholic priests around the world who are continuing to bless same-sex couples. We agree with Georg Bätzing, president of the German bishops conference, that such blessings have "their own theological dignity and pastoral significance." Learn more.

The bishops fail to defend democratic principles by Massimo Faggioli

Two very different parishes point to divisions in the church Donna Doucette, executive director of Voice of the Faithful, National, is quoted in the article.

Synods will make the difference by Joan Chittister, OSB

Wealthy conservative Catholics are the new US magisterium definitely NOT "moving forward" and NOT change in a good way!

Thoughts on Mary by Joan Chittister OSB

Women in leadership roles in Catholic Church feel ignored, study shows (Independent.ie requires registration)

WATER is a non-profit educational center and public charity in Silver Spring, MD, USA, that focuses on feminist work in religion. Since our founding in 1983, WATER has built a growing network of scholars, ministers, and activists around the world who are committed to engaging theological training and scholarship in the service of social change. We promote empowerment, justice, peace, and systemic change. Learn more.

Pastoral practice on gay couples ‘has overtaken church teaching’

Catholic bishops opposed a suicide prevention hotline. Why? 😠

Discover the Progressive Roots of Mother's Day

God,

Both mother and father for humankind and creation,

We are grateful and thankful for mothering,

For the feminine touch of parenting,

For the special connection of mother and child,

And thankful for all the women in our lives,

Who offer care, comfort, encouragement and support.

We are grateful for the self-sacrifice of love that is given,

And we offer our love in return.

We remember the mothers who are.

We remember the mothers who have been and are gone.

We remember the mothers who can’t be.

We acknowledge that mothering is hard,

And not all are able to do so as they would like.

We acknowledge that we all fall short in life and love,

And that mothers are no exception in this.

However, today, we honour mothering,

Especially those who give of their best.

We pray for mothers all

And those who offer mothering beyond the circle of bloodlines and family.

For mothers and motherers we pray.

Amen.

Giving Life: On the Poignancy of Motherhood Hildegard of Bingen