November 17, 2024

4:30 PM

on Zoom

Community Liturgy

Advent Reflection

"The Mystery of the Incarnation"

November 24, 2024

4:30 PM

on Zoom

Speaker: Fr. Anthony Randazzo

Thanksgiving

November 28, 2024

10:00 AM

on Zoom

Presider: Mike 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.

An Evening with Ilia Delio, OSF, PhD

7:30 PM on Zoom

"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.

Your Donations Enable Our Free Programs

Your contributions allow VOTFNJ to provide free online presentations for all to join and still give honorariums to our presenters. We can now accept donations online.



Thank you for your generosity!

"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

Praying Together...

We hold Mike and Teri Corso's son, Michael, in our hearts with prayers for both his physical and mental health.

We pray for Terry Moran as he continues his recovery from a severe stroke.

We pray that Louise Mancinelli's health improves.

We pray that Carol Jenkin's foot pain will cease.

We congratulate Peg and Bob Pipchick on the baptism of their granddaughter.

We wish Teri and Mike Corso and Peg and Bob Pipchick many blessings in their new homes.

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...

(Repeating from last month because of Ilia Delio's presentation in January)

Bernice Anglin and Peg Pipchick recommend The Not-Yet God: Carl Jung, Teilhard de Chardin, and the Relational Whole, by Ilia Delio.

Mary Aktay suggests this reflection and review of the book.

Mary Aktay recommends seeing "Conclave."

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

Call To Action: 2024 Synod Survey

Synod YouTube Channel

Vatican Synthesis Report

FutureChurch Synod Resources

How to begin your own synodal gathering

CCRI's Vatican Briefing Podcasts

The Synod on Synodality is over. What does the final document say?

Five things to watch for in the upcoming October synod

VOTFNJ member and liaison to VOTF National, Mary Murphy, recommends we visit "Listening to the Faithful: Synod 2021-2024"

November is Black Catholic History Month

Where to find a Black Catholic History Month event (2024 edition)

Servant of God Thea Bowman 'right in the middle' of diocesan phase for sainthood

How a White Jewish Catholic professor found God at an HBCU

Christian nationalism distorts the faith, says Lexington Bishop John Stowe

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.

RAMP needs volunteers for transportation, medical and educational coordination, translation, and shopping assistance.

Catholics ashamed by clerical abuse have stopped going to mass

Church Reputation May Take Priority Over ‘Survivor Support’

Vatican child protection board calls for transparency and compensation for clergy abuse victims

Catholic Church must do better job on compensating abuse victims, says Vatican commission

Vatican Issues First Report on Sexual Abuse, to Immediate Criticism

4 takeaways from a first-of-its-kind report on sexual abuse in the Catholic 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).

Henning acknowledges a 'wounded church' at installation as Boston archbishop

Robert Hoatson, a clergy sex abuse survivor and reform advocate, said he did not expect 'much to change at all' in the new church leadership in Boston.

'The bishops all play from the same playbook and that is to protect the assets and protect the image of the church,' Hoatson told National Catholic Reporter."

Fall River bishop: ‘Father Jay’ Mello admitted to ‘serious misconduct’ in investigation

Survivors frustrated as Mass. AG asks for 'patience' on release of long-awaited clergy abuse report

Nate’s Mission: Survivors of clergy abuse urge Wisconsin AG Kaul to continue to pursue evidence after recent bankruptcy ruling

New archbishop headed for Archdiocese of Milwaukee

Sally Butler, Nun Who Blew the Whistle on Sex Abuse, Dies at 93

BBC Last Word: Dick Pope, Sister Sally Butler, Professor Tim Darvill OBE, Patti McGee Fr. Ron Lemmert of Catholic Whistleblowers is interviewed

Twenty years after Spotlight, Boston Catholic Church slowly recovers

'Ungodly Acts: The Ted McCarrick Scandal'

Vatican’s first report on clergy sex abuse, by panel led by Boston’s Cardinal O’Malley, is met with criticism

LA Catholic Church covered up molesting priests for decades. The price: $1.5 billion and so much pain

'At least it's acknowledgement': Abuse survivors welcome LA settlement

Diocese of Rockville Centre takes smaller role in social justice causes, advocates say

Catholics on LI react with relief, skepticism to diocese's settlement with clergy abuse survivors

Attorney: 900 to 1,000 filed sex abuse claims in Archdiocese of Baltimore bankruptcy case

Former Scranton St Patrick Catholic Priest Permanently Defrocked for Child Sexual Abuse

Clergy abuse victim: Four more [Louisianna] priests should be on credibly accused list

Pennsylvania priest laicized after investigation finds he sexually assaulted two minors

Pope Francis and practicing what one preaches:

Pope Francis urges cooperation on child abuse cases, but the Vatican's lack of transparency contradicts this

Pope’s child protection board urges transparency from Vatican sex abuse office and compensation

Sexual abuse of children by priests was known ‘at all levels’ in Catholic Church, says Archbishop of Dublin

Reparation for abuse ‘never enough’ says Madrid archbishop

Bishop Brennan Celebrates Hope and Healing Mass in Glendale

Vatican: Swiss bishops mishandled sex abuse claims, but no cover-up found

Pope Francis expels two more leaders of the Sodalitium

Irish archbishop blocks Vatican interference in abuse case

DDF voids Vatican Secretariat of State’s ‘extraordinary’ interference in abuse case

3 years after landmark French abuse report, experts still work with survivors, urge vigilance

Clergy abuse survivor advocates hope $880 million LA settlement will work in their favor

L.A. Catholic Church payouts for clergy abuse top $1.5 billion with new record settlement

Expert hired to help resolve New Orleans archdiocese bankruptcy faces FBI scrutiny

Louisiana diocese prepares to file for bankruptcy over clergy abuse claims

Vatican Newsfeed of the Synod

Leave the Synod, Take the Cannoli

Synodality demands transparency and accountability from bishops

Catholic global synod: what did it achieve?

Cardinals Cupich and McElroy call on US bishops' conference to be more synodal

Synod's final report calls for all baptized Catholics to shape future church All Baptised Catholics? Sounds like 50% are left out.

The bishop selection process is still a concern among synod delegates

Canon lawyers and theologians recommend ways to make synodality more concrete

Worldwide Catholic lay leaders call for inclusive church at Rome conference

Liberation theology icon and champion of the poor Gutiérrez dies

Vatican statistics show decline in baptisms, clergy, religious, worldwide

Unlike at Francis' past synods, conservative resistance sits out this year's summit

Pope Francis prepares college of cardinals for next conclave

Attention Parody! We reproduce Vatican statements on women's issues - but in reverse. The parodic reversal of Vatican deliberations and announcements on the full equality of women makes their absurdity clear.

Women’s Ordination Advocates respond to final Synod on Synodality Document

Women priests secretly ordained in the shadow of the Vatican

Women Defy Catholic Church Through Secret Ordination Services

Women, make your presence in the Church known by your absence. Catholic Women Strike

Major Vatican meeting sidelines talks of women priests, deacons

Catholic synod ends with no resolution on women

Nuns in months-long feud with Fort Worth bishop dismissed from religious life, Vatican-appointed leader says

‘Protectionist waffle’ – Mary McAleese hits out at results of Catholic church meeting on reform that failed to address issue of women priests

Ordination of women an 'open' question, says the Catholic Church

The potential of women's consecrated life as a sacrament equal to holy orders Equal but still separate?

Pope Francis' Catholic church reform process ends without giving more equity to women

Cardinal Fernández: Let us work to give women more space and power

Women say they want church to talk to them, not about them, on diaconate

Vatican Punts Question of Female Deacons at Major Meeting

Celebrating Mary Magdalene and Hidden Women of the Lectionary

Benedictine Sr. Joan Chittister is 'Risking the Questions' in a new podcast

LGBTQ+ Rights

Intersex Catholic Tells Pope Francis a Story of Faith, Violence—And God’s Mercy

Meeting the pope as my true self: A transgender man's encounter with Pope Francis

Transgender Catholics face barriers to religious life, find peace in communities

Meeting with Pope, Deacon Faults Church for “Stunning Lack of Compassion” to Trans People

'Queering the Pulpit' author on a new exegetical framework for sexuality in the church

LGBTQ issues surface inside and outside Vatican synod

Young People

National group highlights ways church can reach Hispanic young adults

Pope, king, bishops decry 'devastation,' send condolences after dozens die in Spain's floods

Millions at risk of hunger amid historic drought in southern Africa