2026 South Jersey Catholic Ministries Appeal

By supporting the 2026 South Jersey Catholic Ministries Appeal, you are supporting many programs and ministries of the Diocese of Camden and Saints Peter & Paul Parish. These ministries serve the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the hungry and challenged. When you support the South Jersey Catholic Ministries Appeal, you offer comfort to those in your parish, your community, and throughout the entire Diocese.

This year’s theme, “Missionaries of Mercy,” supports the social and spiritual needs of our 62 parishes and 29 schools, with social services, hospital chaplaincy, youth & teen campus ministries, Catholic education, pastoral care initiatives, vocations, and faith formation programs. 

Together we make a stronger community with faith, compassion, and mercy.

Quick, Easy and Secure Online Giving – Click on the link below to make a one-time gift or set up monthly installments, via credit, debit, or checking/savings transaction and to view video.

2nd Sunday of Lent

The common theme of today’s readings is transformation. The readings invite us to transform our lives by renewing them during Lent, and to radiate the grace of the  transfigured Lord around us by our Spirit-filled lives.

The first reading presents the change or transformation of the patriarch Abram into Abraham that made him father of the chosen race. Today’s gospel describes Jesus’ transfiguration during prayer on a mountain. The primary purpose of Jesus’ transfiguration was to give the disciples a glimpse of the glory that will be revealed to the apostles after his death and resurrection. 

So when Jesus was transfigured in the presence of Moses and Elijah, the apostles were really thrilled and Peter wished that great moment be prolonged. He did not want to go down from the mountain but wanted to remain forever in the sheen of glory. That is a feeling which everyone must know. There are moments of intimacy, of serenity, of peace, of nearness to God, which everyone has known and wished to prolong.

But the mountain of Transfiguration is given to us only to provide strength for the daily life and to enable us to walk the way of the Cross. So the message is very clear - those who suffer and accept their daily crosses will experience a crown of glory at the end of life. The transfiguration in the Holy Mass is the source of our strength. In each Holy Mass our offering of bread and wine becomes transformed into the body and blood of Jesus. Hence just as the transfiguration strengthened the apostles in their time of trial, each Holy Mass should be our source of strength against our own temptations, and a source of renewal of our lives during Lent.

Fr. Tomy Thomas