Cherished Part of Communion About to Begin Again for NJ Catholics

Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, the archbishop of Newark, has announced the return of a traditional part of Mass.

Beginning Holy Thursday, April 6, the practice of offering consecrated wine will resume during the celebration of Mass in the Newark Archdiocese.

The Archdiocese of Newark serves 1.3 million Catholics in 212 parishes throughout Bergen, Essex, Hudson, and Union counties.

The practice of the faithful partaking of the chalice has been on hiatus since 2020 because of COVID concerns and safety restrictions.

Get our free mobile app

During that time, only priests have been permitted to receive Communion from the cup during Mass.

Courtesy Newark Archdiocese

It's considered a fuller participation

“Although it is not required, taking from the cup is considered a fuller participation in the Eucharist and a direct response to Jesus’ command to take and drink,” said Father Thomas A. Dente, director of the Archdiocese’s Office of Divine Worship.

The directive also calls for parishes to discontinue remaining pandemic restrictions, sich as returning holy water to receptacles and baptismal fonts.

Livestream still an option

According to the Archdiocese, Masses that are live-streamed remain a valuable resource for those who cannot attend in person because of illness or major health concerns, but the directive points out that for those without health concerns, this does not fulfill the obligation to participate in Mass.

Courtesy Newark Archdiocese

To read the full directive, you can click here.

Play ball NJ: These MLB pros are from New Jersey

A fair amount of New Jersey born baseball players have made it to the majors. These pros, active to start the 2023 season, all have NJ roots.

Up or down? Average property tax changes in NJ in 2022

Below are the average property tax bills for every municipality in New Jersey last year.

The towns are listed from the biggest cut in the average bill to the highest increase. On the county maps, the deeper red color means a higher increase above 2% whereas the darker green signifies a smaller increase or a reduction.

Each listing also shows how the average tax bill is split among the county, school and municipal governments.