Imagine singing “Angels We Have Heard on High,” while standing in the fields where angels announced the birth of Jesus to shepherds tending their flock. Or singing “Standing on the Peak of Glory” — a contemporary hymn about the Transfiguration of Christ — at the place where it happened: atop Mount Tabor. Last month, 24 members of the Paterson diocesan choir took advantage of blessed opportunities like these to visit, pray and sing hymns of praise at many of the holiest sites in Scripture related to both the joyful and glorious moments in Jesus’ life while on a once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

Parishioners of St. Andrew the Apostle Parish in Clifton welcomed Bishop Serratelli, who made a pastoral visit to the parish on Feb. 29 to serve as main celebrant and homilist of the 5 p.m. vigil Mass for the Saturday after Ash Wednesday during Lent. During his visit, he installed Father Jeider S. Barraza, who was St. Andrew’s administrator, as the faith community’s pastor.

In Deacon Robert Ayers’ role as director of property administration for the Paterson Diocese, his job could be described best by the quote, “When one door closes, another one opens.” For the past 12 years, he has assisted many pastors and parish administrators dealing with the challenge of vacant buildings and facilities they may have at their parish, such as when parish schools close, by opening new doors for the parish.

Scientific analysis has determined that a discarded Communion host at St. Joseph Parish in Paterson, which had the dramatic appearance of “bleeding” in the process of being dissolved in water, had not turned to blood — human or otherwise — but rather was caused by a fungus known as red bread mold. This definitive finding has put an end to speculation of a Eucharistic miracle at St. Joseph Church, Bishop Serratelli announced last week.

Congress last week failed to pass two pro-life bills to protect unborn babies who can feel pain, and babies who survive abortion attempts. The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, introduced by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) would ban abortions after 20 weeks gestation, around the time babies in utero can feel pain.

On the First Sunday of Lent March 1, in dioceses around the world, the Rite of Election took place as catechumens took a step closer to receiving Sacraments of Initiation — Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist — to become full members of the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday, April 11.