Bishop Lorenzo Visits Kean

March 23, 2026

Kean University's Campus Ministry was delighted to invite Bishop Elias Lorenzo O.S.B. to celebrate Mass on campus this spring. After Cardinal Tobin was invited to celebrate Mass with our students last spring semester, our community was left asking ourselves, "who should we invite next?" It only made sense that the Auxiliary Bishop Bishop Elias R. Lorenzo, O.S.B. receive the next invite, as he is the Regional Bishop for Union County.

On March 23, 2026 Bishop Lorenzo celebrated Mass in Kean's student center. We were happy to have student Elimar lector, and student Lorena altar serve for the Mass. In his homily, His Excellency spoke on the Gospel reading we heard for Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent. In John Chapter 8, we hear Christ tell the crowd who is quick to condemn a woman caught in the act of adultery, “Let the one among you who is without sin 
be the first to throw a stone.” Bishop Lorenzo’s message touched on forgiveness, repentance, and called on us to not be casting stones if we are not free from sin ourselves.

Following Mass, we took a group photo, and had a time for students to “meet and greet” with the Bishop one on one. Some asked for blessings and prayer requests, some asked for photos, and some had the chance to chat over refreshments. We presented Bishop Lorenzo with his very own KeanCatholics t-shirt to end the afternoon!

If you are curious, yes, we did ask the Bishop’s opinions on the debate that keeps our community talking for hours: where to get the best pizza (New Jersey or New York?) and the age old theological question, “Bishop, you are Italian…. is pineapple on pizza a sin?”

His definitive reply: “It is a sin.”

Check out some photos below of our afternoon with Bishop Lorenzo. Who should we invite to campus next to see how the Holy Spirit is moving at Kean University?