News/Press Releases

His Excellency, Bishop Joseph C. Bambera, makes the following appointments effective as noted:  ADMINISTRATORS  Monsignor John J. Bendik, from Administrator, Saint Cecilia and Saint John the Baptist Parishes, Exeter, effective January 19, 2011.  Monsignor Bendik will continue as Pastor, Saint John the Evangelist Parish, Pittston.  Reverend Daniel J. Yenkevich, to Administrator, Saint Cecilia and Saint …

 I offer my sincere congratulations to Father Ryan, to King’s College and the Congregation of Holy Cross. King’s College is a tremendous asset to our region and to our Church, and I know that tradition will continue under Father Ryan’s leadership. I have known Father Ryan for years, and he assisted with liturgies when I …

St. Joseph had a decision to make: follow the custom of society and divorce Mary quietly, or follow God’s plan for salvation. He chose God, and the whole course of history was changed for the better. Men who are facing a similar decision – whether God is calling them to the priesthood – will have …

The Diocese of Scranton is seeking men who want to serve as permanent deacons. Successful candidates will begin the five-year formation program in the fall.  In the Catholic Church, there are three categories of ordained ministers: bishops, priests and deacons. All are members of the clergy. A permanent deacon is called by God to serve …

January 25, 2011  His Excellency, Bishop Joseph C. Bambera, announces the following:  Reverend Christopher T. Washington, who is currently serving as Director of Vocations, Director of the Office for Divine Worship, Master of Ceremonies for the Bishop, and Chaplain of Holy Cross High School, Dunmore, will begin studies in September of 2011 in preparation for …

Bishop Bambera’s Homily for the Ecumenical Service of Prayer Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Saint Peter’s Cathedral January 25, 2011 My brothers and sisters in ministry – dear brothers and sisters in Christ – for just over a century now, beginning substantially with the Edinburgh Conference that took place in June of 1910, Christians …

As the Diocese of Scranton looks to the future, Bishop Joseph C. Bambera has outlined a plan of action created to address the important role of our Catholic School System.  The goal of the plan, he stressed, is to ensure that the Diocese maintains into the future a “stable, sustainable Catholic school system that is …

January 23            Mass – Feast of Our Lady of Alta Gracia                                   Annunciation Parish                                   Hazleton                                   Noon                                   Opening Mass for the National Prayer Vigil for Life                                   Washington, D.C.                                   6:30 p.m. January 24           March for Life                                   Washington, D.C. January 25           Christian Unity Prayer Service                                   St. Peter’s Cathedral                                   Scranton                                   12:10 p.m. January …

The Diocese of Scranton is again participating in the worldwide Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which is celebrated each year in January. This observance, first held in 1908, gathers communities of faith to express the degree of communion which the churches have already received, and to pray together for the full unity which is …

The annual Catholic Campaign for Human Development will be taken up in the Diocese of Scranton in parishes on the weekend of Jan. 29-30. The Catholic Campaign for Human Development is the domestic anti-poverty, social justice program of the U.S. Catholic Bishops. Its mission is to address the root causes of poverty in America through …