A Summer Blessing

May you walk with God

This summer

In whatever you do

Wherever you go


Walking with God means...

Walking with honesty

And with courage,

Walking with love

And respect

And concern for the feelings of others


May you talk to God

This summer

And every day and

In every situation


Talking with God means...

Praying words of praise

For the beauty of creation

Saying prayers of thanks

For friends and good times,

Asking God's help

In all your decisions


May you talk with God

Every day. Amen.


- Author unknown

Upcoming Liturgies

VOTFNJ will be on summer hiatus. Our next liturgy will be


August 18, 2024

4:30 PM

on Zoom

Zoom details will be provided in the invitations to the liturgies and presentations that are emailed on the Thursday before the event.


We invite everyone not only to join our liturgies but to actively participate! Please let us know if you would like to be a reader or present the Eucharistic prayer.

Upcoming Presentations


Sept. 22, 2024

4:30 PM

on Zoom



Sadness and Service at the Border


Sr. Norma Pimentel, Exec. Dir. of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley



The Catholic Church’s Stance on Immigration, Explained


Migration and the Social Doctrine of the Church


IMMIGRATION REFORM AND THE CHURCH

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An Evening with Ilia Delio, OSF, PhD

7:30 PM on Zoom


“An American Franciscan Sister, Ilia Delio, a theologian at Villanova University, is now emerging as the single finest exponent of Teilhard’s vision and its relevance for science and cosmology in the twenty-first century.” ~DIARMIUD O’MURCHU


More information will be coming in the fall. Read about Sister Delio and the Center for Cristogenesis here.

Donate to VOTFNJ!

Our Donation Basket Enables Our Free Programs


Your contributions allow VOTFNJ to provide free online presentations for all to join and still give honorariums to our presenters. We can now accept donations online.

Thank you for your generosity!

Other Virtual Liturgies
You can join Sophia Inclusive Catholic Community, the "sister" community of VOTFNJ, via Zoom for liturgies. Contact Mike Corso for more information.
Call to Action's Alternative Liturgies Directory provides a space to share information about spiritual communities that meet outside a traditional parish setting. These gatherings include online prayer services, Intentional Eucharistic Communities, churches presided over by women priests, Call To Action chapter liturgies, and more.
VOTFNJ Family on the Web

"Beyond Boundaries," Dick Rento's Blog

"Mike Corso's Religious Views," Mike Corso's Blog

"Faith Seeking Understanding," Ken Lasch's Website

"Considerable Thoughts," Sal Umana's Blog

VOTFNJ Family News
Journeying together as family through sadness and joy...
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Praying Together...


We pray for Tish's son, Paul, after surgery revealed the spread of cancer. We hold Tish and her family in our hearts.


We pray for Leo Rogers' continued recovery from a stroke.


We continue to pray for Mary Murphy as she recovers from a serious fall. We hold Theresa and Anthony Padovano in our hearts as Anthony remains in hospice and journeys to his transition to eternal life.


We continue to pray for members of the Sophia Inclusive Community, Pathways to Prosperity, and the Christian Community in Convent Station and their family members with medical concerns.

Sharing Together...

Mary Aktay recommends viewing the documentary, Rebel Nun, which follows the story of leading death penalty abolitionist Sister Helen Prejean, whose story was first captured in the 1995 film Dead Man Walking.

Learn more.

Please email if you have news or thoughts to share or need prayers and community support.

VOTFNJ's Mission Statement:

Voice of the Faithful New Jersey is a welcoming Eucharistic community mindful of its Christian Catholic tradition. Attentive to the Spirit, we seek to be the change we wish to see in the Church. We share responsibility toward spiritual growth, prophetic witness, and the promotion of justice and equality in the Church and society.


VOTFNJ's Goals:

To support and advocate for survivors of clergy sexual abuse

To support and advocate for priests of integrity

To support and advocate for those striving to proclaim an expanded image of God compatible with science and theology in the 21st Century

To provide educational and spiritual opportunities for our community and others.  


If you are not yet a VOTFNJ member you can join by filling out this form and mailing it in.


VOTFNJ is FAMILY! If you need anything at all: groceries, a ride somewhere, or simply someone to talk to, please don't hesitate to reach out. We are here for each other!

The Synod

Call To Action: 2024 Synod Survey


Synod YouTube Channel


Vatican Synthesis Report


FutureChurch Synod Resources


How to begin your own synodal gathering


CCRI's

Multi-generational global synodal gatherings

Staying Involved in the Synodal Process

Calendar of events.

VOTFNJ member and liaison to VOTF National, Mary Murphy, recommends we visit "Listening to the Faithful: Synod 2021-2024"


Diocesan listening session reports address church's 'successes and distresses' ahead of October synod session

A Synodal Church in Mission, A Synthesis Report
For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission
Download the VOTF National Synod Report.
Confronting Systemic Racism

Fr Rayford Emmons, first Black Catholic priest in Philadelphia, celebrating 50 years of ministry


Q&A with Sr. Joséphine Kimbolo, discovering 'the colors of the soul'


How I became an angry Black Catholic


Cardinal Gregory recalls time when Black Catholics could not study in U.S. seminaries


Two-thirds of Baltimore's Black Catholic parishes to close in reorganization plan


Read: Open letter to U.S. bishops on the future of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development


New Black Catholic leader aims to overcome ‘generation gap’ in community


BLACK CATHOLIC HOPE IN THE SHADOW OF AMERICA

VOTFNJ RESOURCE

The VOTFNJ Coordinating Team has compiled a resource list on the subject of systemic racism, offering theological readings as well as historical and political perspectives. Download it here.

VOTFNJ is a founding member and supporter of Refugee Assistance Morris Partners. RAMP is proud of its work sponsoring refugee families from the Middle East since its founding in 2016 thanks to the ongoing support of its deeply dedicated volunteers, faith-based organizations, and generous donors. RAMP partners with the International Rescue Committee (IRC).

RAMP earned status as an independent New Jersey 501 (c)(3) non-profit in 2022. The organization operated initially as a special project of the Community Foundation of New Jersey. Since its founding, RAMP has welcomed and supported 11 families from Syria, Afghanistan and El Salvador.

Read the latest RAMP newsletter.
Supporting Survivors

Clergy Abuse: You Are The Antidote


Life Beyond Religious Trauma


Keep up with coverage in VOTF National, America, NCR, Commonweal, and Crux. We recommend reading Fr. Ken Lasch's posts on his website; keeping up with all the news and events at Road to Recovery and Catholic Whistleblowers; and visiting Catholics4Change, Bishop Accountability; Awake, and Catholic Church Reform International.


Road to Recovery conducts support groups for survivors of clergy abuse. Contact Bob Hoatson for information.


 Active Investigations and Information Hotlines


NJ Clergy Abuse Hotline 855-363-6548


NY Victims and Anyone with Information are Encouraged to Call the Hotline at 

1-800-771-7755 or File Complaint Online at ag.ny.gov/ClergyAbuse


National Resources for Sexual Assault Survivors and their Loved Ones


Keep up with the activities and outreach of Ending Clergy Abuse (ECA) and Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP).

Road to Recovery, Catholic Whistleblowers, and US News

He pushed the NJ church to reckon with sexual assault. A new book shares his journey Bob Hoatson is quoted


Obituary of Andrew Limauro of Brooklyn, NY, New York From Bob Hoatson: "A Hero leaves us."


Bankrupt Long Island Diocese Sent to Mediation for Abuse Claims


Brooklyn diocese: 'Vos estis' finds Chappetto allegations 'unfounded'


John Paul II Shrine mum on Rupnik art ahead of Eucharistic procession


Sexual abuse of Native American children at boarding schools exposed in new report


Following lawsuits, investigations Knoxville diocese makes substantial changes to sex abuse policy


Sex abuse statute of limitations window sees new life in Pennsylvania budget process


Michigan AG releases report on abuse within Catholic Diocese of Kalamazoo


Deadline nears for victims to file in Catholic Church case: ‘A survivor’s last chance’


Abuse survivors rally at Missouri Supreme Court, demand action from Attorney General


Victim advocates call on Missouri officials to hold religious boarding schools accountable


Gatlinburg priest cleared of sexual abuse is leaving the country. His future in ministry is not certain.


Look back period for child abuse lawsuits could be extended in Louisiana


‘We were encouraged to be with younger boys’: breaking down a child molester priest’s secret testimony


WA AG: Archdiocese of Seattle refusing to share sex abuse documents


Catholic church is stonewalling sex abuse investigation, Washington attorney general says


Ex-Boston College High School teacher accused of raping student

Vatican and International News

Vatican investigator urges bishops to report all suspected child abuse


Experts offer insight into specific dynamic of abuse in Latin America


Polish abuse victims demand suspension of bishops’ conference president

Top Polish archbishop accused of negligence in sex abuse case


French former Catholic priest convicted of raping and sexually abusing four boys


[Swiss] Catholic Church asks for more time to set up abuse help centres


Successive bishops covered up abuse in German diocese


Nun and carer who abused children have sentences cut


Jesuits in Bolivia deny ‘systematically covering up’ clerical abuse

VOTFNJ has developed an Action Packet of useful steps you can take to confront the abuse crisis in our Church.

Supporting Priests of Integrity

Rhode Island priest known for food ministry is new bishop of Portland, Maine

Financial Accountability


Good news for smaller parishes? Vatican upholds three merger appeals from St. Louis Catholics


Baltimore Archdiocese finalizes plan that will reduce city parishes by half


19 Catholic parishes in west, south suburbs [of Chicago] could be closed or merged

A Catholic deacon preyed on a boy. Now in prison, the victim files in church’s bankruptcy.


Baltimore Catholic parishioners call closure plan a 'punch in the stomach'

Structural Change in the Church

The long journey of the church, in hyper speed


Pope Francis disappoints progressives. He will do so again.


The rise of the Catholic bully by Phyllis Zagano


Editorial: Is the US church really taking 'a step back in time'?


Hispanic theologians to focus on synodality at upcoming meeting


People’s Catholic Seminary’s Response to the Synthesis Report of SYNOD


Between Butker, Candace Owens, and Nick Fuentes Tradcaths Are Having a Moment — A Moment with Something to Tell Us about Christian Nationalism


Monday Starter: Benedictine sisters denounce remarks by NFL's Butker


US bishops' report on the Synod on Synodality enumerates tensions but finds hope

Women in the Church

Voice of the Faithful Responds to 60 Minutes Interview with Pope Francis


WOC Responds to Pope Francis on CBS: “No” to Women Deacons?


FutureChurch Disappointed by Pope Francis’ Dismissal of Historical Evidence, Global Call for Women Deacons


Pope Francis voices firm opposition to women deacons in CBS interview

LGBTQ+ Rights

Catholic diocesan hermit approved by Bishop John Stowe comes out as transgender


'Denigration of my humanity': Gay priests reflect on pope's use of homophobic slur


LGBTQ Catholic groups call pope's use of Italian slur 'shocking and hurtful'



Is now the time for LGBTQ priests and religious to come out?


How Pope Francis opened the Vatican to transgender sex workers


2 conservative groups influence US Catholic transgender policies


New York's St. Francis Xavier redefines acceptance in the Catholic Church


Pope Francis reportedly repeats gay slur, warns priests against 'ideologies' in church

Young People



Pope Francis clears path for canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis



Living Laudato Si'

Wildlife crossings connect practical ecology needs, Catholic creation care



Three Catholic bishops and a nun walk into the White House. Here's why it's no joke.

Father's Day

Fathers in Our Lives


Fatherhood does not come with a manual, and reality teaches us that some fathers excel while others fail. We ask for Your blessings for them all and forgiveness where it is needed.


This Father's Day we remember the many sacrifices fathers make for their children and families, and the ways--both big and small--they lift children to achieve dreams thought beyond reach.


So too, we remember all those who have helped fill the void when fathers pass early or are absent; grandfathers and uncles, brothers and cousins, teachers, pastors and coaches and the women of our families.


For those who are fathers, we ask for wisdom and humility in the face of the task of parenting. Give them the strength to do well by their children and by You.


In Your Holy name, O God, we pray. Amen.


~Rev. Chuck Currie

Pray more!
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