Those who are not new to this blog know that yours truly hails from the northern half of the Garden State – Newark, specifically. I lived in Brick City for thirty years until my wife and I moved first to Virginia and the to Texas. Taking it a step further, I am a cradle Catholic who devoted a few years of his young life to the seminary. In the Archdiocese of Newark. Under McCarrick. We up to speed yet? Good.
The Newark Archdiocese covers four counties in northern New Jersey – Essex, Hudson, Bergen, and Union. Like the rest of the state, the land area comprising the Archdiocese is incredibly small yet incredibly populated. Those four counties contain 1.6 million Catholics. and if you’ve ever driven through the area, then you know that you could pass between 15 different municipalities in the span of minutes, each city and town with its own population in the hundreds of thousands. So when I talk about Hudson County, as I’m about to, you know that it is essentially next-door to my hometown. And in Hudson County, lies a city of exactly one square mile that is internationally renowned for being the birthplace of two things. Those two things are baseball and Frank Sinatra. The town is Hoboken. Don’t believe the myth. Baseball was first played in Hoboken and not in Cooperstown. Also, Sinatra’s mother was a back alley abortionist known as “Hatpin Dolly”. Fun fact? Let’s go with that.
Hoboken is actually a beautiful place. A simple grid pattern checkerboards the landscape from the Hudson River opposite lower Manhattan to the cliffs. In that square mile, one will encounter a vibrant business district with an old world charm, several square parks, full of old Elm trees, and many quiet residential neighborhoods. I remember one of my first jobs in high school. I worked for an international shipping company one block from the riverfront in Hoboken doing data entry. I would stare out the window in the evening at the lights of the Twin Towers and think of how incredibly blessed I was to be where I was. I also giggled uncontrollably when I had to enter information for a bill of lading on a ship called the Luna Maersk that was heading to the port of Pusan.
Something else that one will find in Hoboken is an abundance of old, beautiful, Catholic churches. These were built by working-class immigrants, literally right off the boats. It is about one of these churches that I wish to write tonight.
Our Lady of Grace
Built in the 1870s, this magnificent Gothic revival church was featured in several scenes in the movie On the Waterfront. It has witnessed countless baptisms, confirmations, marriages, and many, many, Holy Masses. In recent years, it was merged with a neighboring parish. It was for over a century, the bedrock and cornerstone of the deep seated Catholic faith of the community.
Wondering where I’m going with this? Feast your eyes on this.
Friends, this is not AI. This is a screenshot from the current parish bulletin. And the very weekend where the church celebrates the Sacred Heart of Jesus, this once magnificent edifice will host a “pride mass“.
What is telling is the language used.
In case you couldn’t make out the text, it says:
“After decades of progress in society as well as in the Church, the LGBTQ community is under attack by some segments in our country. To deflect from the failures we struggle with, people need a scapegoat. With fewer than one percent of the population in the U.S., transgender individuals have been targeted. This is dangerous, increasing violence against them and increasing the number of suicides. Instead of attacking people, we need to extend the hand of Jesus to help and heal all individuals who struggle with uncertainty and are targets of hate. This year’s Pride Mass theme is, “Christ’s Hands Heal Our Hurts.” In the spirit of accompaniment encouraged by Pope Francis with the support of our Archbishop, Joseph Cardinal Tobin, we welcome you to our Annual Pride Mass on Sunday, June 14, 2026 at the 10:30 AM Mass. We have pride in all our brothers and sisters and do not reduce people to sexual labels. All are children of God and deserve to be able to worship in community and develop a relationship with God. Some of the language we have used in the past has been off putting and no wonder people stayed away from the church. Pope Francis encouraged us to start fresh and to journey with our LGBTQ brothers and sisters as he did. Francis welcomed trans women to the Vatican including our good friend, Christine Zuba, and also offered a safe space for them. He often welcomed his gay friends to the Vatican. And even offered the church blessings for LGBTQ individuals. We know that we have LGBQ parishioners who reject any labels and simply worship as people of God. No one is taking their faith from them or depriving them of the love of God. We especially are proud of our parishioners who bring their children to Mass so they can grow up in an inclusive church. With the spirit of God, the church renews itself for the good of all. Let’s celebrate this new spirit. Please invite your LGBTQ Catholic friends and family to celebrate life with us.”
“Christ’s hands heal our hurts”? Brother, Christ’s hands were pierced for love of you that in His humility, you might conquer your pride and overcome your sins. They cite Bergoglio and his twisted minion Tobin as if to say, “Look, the Church wants us to do this!” Only problem is, that’s not the Catholic faith. It is a demonic inversion. Does anyone have eyes to see anymore or have we just completely forgotten? Have we forgotten that we need to convert the sinner and admonish him so that he may live? Have we forgotten that we ought to respect God and not man? Have we forgotten that God destroyed the world by water for such abominations? And yet men and women go about their daily lives pretending that lies are truth, sodomy is love, and the Church hasn’t been infiltrated. You don’t even have to guess. They are telling you right in the text. Tobin knows and approves. Bergoglio knew and approved. Pervost most certainly knows and approves.
Sit in silence and ask yourself and be honest; is any of this Catholic?
You know the answer. So do they. They’re just hoping you either don’t catch on or are too effeminate to do anything about it.
I have heard that a local TFP chapter has organized a protest. I join them in prayer.
Please pray, sacrifice, and do good works for these people and especially their pastor.
Harvey Millican's Blog: Musings of a Trad Dad 