Join us in praying the Novena to St. Philip Neri, in preparation for his feast day on May 26! Check out our YouTube playlist "Novena to St. Philip Neri" as Fr. Jeff guides us through the readings and prayers for each day.
The Diocese of Metuchen is currently celebrating its 40th anniversary of foundation! A number of events and initiatives are planned over the coming year to mark the occasion. For more information please visit: diometuchen.org/40
As the Year of St. Joseph concludes, all are invited to take part in the Consecration to St. Joseph, a 33-day journey of prayer with our spiritual father. Weekly group meetings begin Wednesday, November 3 at 7 pm, and the Consecration will take place Sunday, December 5, all at St. Joseph Church in Raritan. Participants will need a copy of the book Consecration to St. Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father by Fr. Donald H. Calloway, MIC. Please let us know if you need assistance acquiring the book. RSVP to Kristina at 908-526-2394 or office@holytrinitynj.org by October 29.
The Holy Trinity Parish Nurses will be hosting a blood drive in the Parish Center on Wednesday, June 16 from 1-7 pm. Join in providing this precious, lifesaving gift! Walk-ins will be accepted but appointments are recommended. To schedule yours, visit www.nybc.org/njdrive and enter code 10715, or call Amanda at 908-380-9265. Remember to eat & drink beforehand, and bring photo ID or blood donor card.
Bring your appetite and your blanket or lawn chair as we kick off summer with the biggest party of the year! Amazing food trucks, boardwalk games, live music, and more! Saturday, June 19 from 11-7 at the Elks Club, 1500 Brooks Blvd in Hillsborough. A portion of all proceeds will benefit St. Ann Classical Academy.
St. Ann Classical Academy presents their 2021 Love Thy Neighbor Raffle, with fabulous prizes supporting local businesses. Grand prize is a ShopRite gift card worth $2500! Tickets are $25 each and are available at the churches served by the Oratory, as well as by contacting SACAraffles@gmail.com or the school office at 908-725-7787. Drawing will take place on May 9, 2021.
St. Ann Classical Academy will be collecting usable, used clothing, on Friday, March 26. The school will receive a donation based on how much is collected. Volunteers are also needed to assist. Please click the link for more information.
This summer, we'll be joining teens from BOLD Youth Ministry around NJ to go to Catholic Heart Work Camp in Dover, Delaware. This week-long summer mission trip is an amazing opportunity to serve those in need. Go to boldym.com/chwc to learn more and to register. For more information contact Brian Flanagan at BridgewaterRaritan@u-serve.com.
St. Ann Classical Academy in Raritan is in need of a part-time physical education teacher for Grades K-8. Duties would include meeting with each grace once a week (Fridays) and developing and executing a varied physical education program for our students. If you are interested in the position please contact Fr. Peter Cebulka, C.O., Head of School, at 908-725-7787 or pcebulka@stannparish.com.
The Raritan Oratory has added a new feature to our YouTube channel! Each week, join Fr. Jeff for a brief reflection on the Sunday Gospel to jump-start your weekend, prepare for Sunday Mass, or continue reflecting on the Gospel during the week. Don't forget to subscribe to our channel, where we continue to offer live and on-demand video of Sunday Mass in English, Spanish, & Latin (EF), monthly Holy Hours, and more!
At our monthly Holy Hour on September 20, Br. Steven Bolton, C.O. was formally accepted as a triennial member of the Congregation of the Oratory, marking the conclusion of his novitiate. Then, he was also accepted by Fr. Jeff on behalf of the Congregation as a candidate for Holy Orders, the first formal step on the path to eventual priestly ordination. Please join us in congratulating Br. Steven and praying for him as he continues his preparation for ordained ministry.
On Saturday, August 22, Bishop Checchio ordianed five men to the priesthood, including Rev. John Fredy Triana Beltran, C.O.. The ordination took place at the National Shrine of the Blue Army of Our Lady of Fatima, in Asbury, NJ. Fr. John Fredy then celebrated his Mass of Thanksgiving at Holy Trinity in Bridgewater on Sunday, August 23. He has been assigned to continue as Vice Rector of the Shrine Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, Raritan.
Bishop Checchio has appointed Fr. Kevin Kelly, C.O., as Administrator of the Church of St. Joseph, Raritan, effective September 1. Fr. Kevin, a visual artist and musician who is a founding member of the Raritan Oratory, was ordained in 2006. Since 2019, Fr. Kevin has served as Parochial Vicar at St. Joseph's while establishing a Spanish Mass community in Raritan.
We are pleased to announce that, effective the weekend of July 18-19, Mr. Anthony R. Nardino will begin his service as Director of Music and Liturgy for Oratorian Ministries. In this role, Mr. Nardino will be overseeing the liturgical life of the communities served by the Raritan Oratory. Beginning in September, he will also assume the duties of music teacher for St. Ann Classical School in Raritan. For more information, please click the title or image above.
Fr. Peter Cebulka, C.O., currently serving St. Ann Classical Academy, Raritan, as Head of School, will also be entrusted with the duties and responsibilities of the principal for the 2020-2021 school year. He will be working to advance the school's new identity as a center for Catholic classical education, which began in 2019. For more information, click the heading to read Fr. Tom's letter announcing the appointment.
The Raritan Congregation of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri held its triennial elections on Friday, May 1, 2020, with the following results: PROVOST: Very Rev. Jeffrey M. Calia, C.O. DEPUTY/VICAR: Rev. Peter R. Cebulka, C.O. DEPUTY/SECRETARY: Rev. Thomas A. Odorizzi, C.O. The new Provost, Fr. Jeff Calia, C.O., has been a member of the Oratory since 2004. Ordained in 2010, he currently serves as Pastor of the Church of the Holy Trinity, Bridgewater, and Administrator of St. Joseph Church, Raritan. For Fr. Jeff's full bio, click the heading or photo.
The Congregation of the Oratory in Raritan has assumed the pastoral care and leadership of the Shrine Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, Raritan, as of Monday, January 27, 2020. The Shrine Chapel, which is the former St. Bernard of Clairvaux Church, serves as a center for Eucharistic Adoration, Confession, and Mass in the Extraordinary Form. Very Rev. Peter R. Cebulka, C.O., Provost, has been appointed Rector by Bishop Checchio.
The Congregation of the Oratory in Raritan has assumed the pastoral care of St. Joseph Parish, Raritan, as of January 15, 2020, on an interim basis during the sabbatical of the Pastor, Fr. Ken Kolibas. Fr. Kevin Kelly, C.O. continues at St. Joseph in his capacity as Parochial Vicar and is the primary pastoral person serving the spiritual needs of the parish community. Fr. Jeff Calia, C.O., Pastor of Holy Trinity in Bridgewater, serves as financial administrator.
On Thursday, January 9, 2020, the Congregation of the Oratory in Raritan formally accepted fourteen men and women as Postulants for the Secular Oratory. The prospective Oratorians will begin a process of formation with the goal of enrollment as members of the Secular Oratory later this year.
The Congregation of the Oratory thanks all who took part in our first Tricky Tray fundraiser on Sunday, November 3 at Pierre's in South Brunswick. We are grateful to all who attended, to Levy and the outstanding staff at Pierre's, and to the many dedicated volunteers led by Anne-Marie Calderone, S.O., who made this event not only possible but a great success. May God bless you for your generosity and support of the Oratory!