The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1902-11-20

monuments to the memory of those who
have employed their riches to promote
the glory Of God.
Were it possible for me to do so, I
should visit personally during the coming
year all those who can easily afford to-
contribute generously to the cathedral
fund and appeal to them to assume
their proportionate share of this neces-
sary expenditure. But as my manifold
duties will not permit me to undertake
this personal visitation, have appointed
committee for the purpose, consisting
of the Very Rev. Vicar-General, Father
Shepard, the Rev. Dean Flynn and the
Rev. DR.. Kelly. They have very kindly
consented to visit in my name all the
prominent and more prosperous Catholics
of the diocese, to appeal to their gener-i
osity and public spirit and to afford them
an opportunity of making an offering of
thanksgiving to God, for the blessings
we have all received during the past
fifty years. In their visitation ef the re-
spective parishes the members of the
committee win be accompanied by the
Rev. Pastors, and trust that he will
in every instance heartily cooperate with
them and endeavor to secure the fullest
measure of success for their efforts.
1t is not my intention, however, to
limit this diocesan offering to those who
are wealthy. The great body of the
people will also be invited to contribute
to special collection which will be
taken up in all the churches of the do
cese and of which due notice will be
given hereafter. Thus all without ex-
ception will be expected to share in this
pledge of our gratitude and this testi-
mony of our faith. Never before has the
whole diocese been called upon to exert
all it's energy in a general movement of
this kind. But in union there is strength,
and with cordial good will on the part
of all, both priests and people, there can
be no doubt of happy result.
This is one of the methods, adopted
after mature deliberation, which have
deemed almost suitable for the proper
celebration of the golden jubilee of our
diocese. Our whole history in the past
affords me the assurance that this appeal
will not be in vain. l am confident that
the Catholics of the present day will
prove themselves on this occasion worthy
descendants of the heroic and self-sacri-
ficing pioneers who in the face of almost
insuperable obstacles preserved and
handed down to us unimpaired the price
less heritage of our faith.
That our efforts may not be fruitless
and that the celebration of our jubilee
may be a source of increased graces and
blessings to every Catholic in the di6-
cese, / desire that all the faithful, rich
and poor, young and old, shall make
the coming year season of special
prayer and thanksgiving. To this end,
people in their respective churches at
least every month during the year for
the recitation of the rosary and benedic-
ton of the blessed sacrament, and to
join with them after mass every Sun
day in reciting the prayer of ST Joseph
for the temporal and spiritual welfare of,
the diocese. / would also suggest that
from time to time during the year an
appropriate sermon be preached recall
ing the most important events in the his
tory and development Of the church in
this State. By this means, the present
generation vii lbe reminded of what their
fathers willingly suffered for the faith,
they will learn to appreciate more fully
the blessings which they now enjoy, they
will see more clearly that the secret of
true religious progress and success in the
future, as in the past. is to be- found
in fervent prayre, in devoted self-sacri-
fee and in humble fidelity to the teach
ings and commands Of the one true
church founded by our Lord and Savior,
Jesus Christ.
Wishing you every blessing I am
Yours sincerely in Xto,
JOHN J. O'CONNOR,
Bishop of Newark.
P. S.-Please read this letter to your
people at your earliest convenience, and
explain to them the Importance of max
ing this jubilee offering ,wirthy of the
diocese and of the event which it is de-
signed to commemorate.