Sunday Night Live Father Groeschel's Guest Paterson Bishop Serratelli

The Shrine of St. Jude - Our Lady of Victories Paterson, NJ

Loci Lenar recently visited a shrine and church that is very near and dear to my heart. Shrine of Saint Jude

This was our parish when we were little kids. I made my First Holy Communion at this Church. Monsignor Vincent Puma was the pastor then. He went on to become the founder of Eva's Kitchen and later Eva's Village, an charitable organization that helped the downtrodden and homeless.

During this time, Father John Catoir was also assigned there. Father Catoir is the syndicated columnist and author of many spiritual books, and one time host of The Christophers.

Thanks Loci for the trip down memory lane.

Scenes from a Church's Rededication Mass

Rose Window

The interior of the beautiful Blessed Sacrament Church
Blessed Sacrament Altar Servers
Bishop Rodimer in the Processional
Bishop Serratelli in the Processional
Father Patrick
Associate Pastor Fr. Heriberto Guerra and the Gospel Reading
Bishop's Homily
Bishop Serratelli Giving Holy Communion to the Faithful
Gift presented to the Bishop by the Blessed Sacrament parishioners
Legionaries of Christ in the Recessional
Bishop Serratelli greeting the faithful after Mass. I got to kiss the Bishop's ring
This past Divine Mercy Sunday, Bishop Arthur Serratelli of the Diocese of Paterson, celebrated the rededication Mass of Blessed Sacrament Church in Paterson, New Jersey.

This is the church that I remember as a little girl of 4 or 5. The huge edifice and marble interior used to intimidate me. Actually, I used to be afraid to go into the Church. This was supposed to be our parish church.

We were parishioners there during my early youth. Then we attended Our Lady of Victories Church for a few years. When we were enrolled at St. John's Cathedral school, (I was in 8th grade then), we attended Mass at the beautiful Cathedral in downtown Paterson.

In our early adult years, nearby Our Lady of Lourdes Church became our church home.

Now over 20 years later, my mother, sister and her husband are back home at Blessed Sacrament Church.

This rededication Mass was very beautiful and fitting for a glorious Divine Mercy Sunday.

It was standing room only. My brother in law who was an usher that day said there were over 100 people standing in the back. There were many invited guests too. A few notables were past pastors like Fr. Trapasso, Monsignor Vincent Puma, former bishop of Paterson, Frank Rodimer, Father Eugene Palumbo, the Legionaries of Christ priests, brothers and seminarians, civic leaders, the Sheriff of Passaic County, etc. We felt privileged to be among the many faithful that day.

The day before was Bishop Serratelli's birthday. We all sang Happy Birthday to him at Father Patrick's prompting.

Credit for this successful and very special occasion has to go to the pastor Fr. Patrick Ryan. He really did a spectacular job in ensuring that everything went well.

Here are some photos from the Mass.