MISSION STATEMENT
We the Catholic faithful of the Diocese of Scranton,
in union with our Holy Father, the Pope, are called
through baptism to share in the mission which Jesus
Christ has entrusted to the One, Holy, Catholic and
Apostolic Church. Priests, deacons, religious and laity,
under the leadership of our Bishop, cooperate to
proclaim the Gospel in accordance with the teaching of
the Church, to celebrate the sacraments, especially the
Eucharist, for the salvation of all, and to witness by
grace to the Kingdom of God so as to promote a culture
of life, justice and peace.
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This Issue:
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The Power of Mercy and Forgiveness |
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Collection for the Church in Central and Eastern
Europe |
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Course Explores Church Teaching on End of Life
Issues |
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Catholic Men’s Breakfast Gathering Sept. 19 |
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Retreat on Praying for Priests |
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Mark Your Calendar |
The Power of Mercy and Forgiveness |
In a recent homily, Pope Benedict XVI
highlighted how the pinnacle of God's power is
mercy and forgiveness. In our modern concept of
what power is, he explained, we think of people
who possess great property, who can influence
the market. We think of those with great
military power, who have the power to threaten.
“But the Revelation tells us that this is
not so. True power is the power of grace and
mercy. In His mercy God shows true power,” the
pope said. “God has suffered and in the Son
suffers with us. Thus He shows true divine
power. He wanted to suffer with us and for us.
We are never abandoned in our sufferings.”
“Why was it necessary to suffer in order to
save the world?” the Holy Father asked. “It was
necessary because in the world there exists an
ocean of evil, of injustice, of hatred and of
violence, and the many victims of hatred and
injustice have the right to see justice done.
... God must enter into this world and oppose
the ocean of injustice with a greater ocean of
goodness and love.” |
Collection for the Church in Central and Eastern
Europe |
The Collection for the Church in
Central and Eastern Europe will be taken up in
all parishes of the Diocese this weekend, Aug.
29-30. This year’s theme is “Believe in the
power of the Spirit of Love,” which speaks of
the rich past, encouraging present and promising
future of the Church of this region. God’s
perfect love has sustained and strengthened the
people and the Church, creating a new generation
of believers while energizing those who clung to
their faith through the darkest of times.
In Central and Eastern Europe and the
former Soviet Union, Catholics are often in the
minority. They sometimes have few resources to
sustain their charitable works, run parishes,
and educate people for ministry. For years, in
many of these countries, Christianity was
practiced in the shadows for fear of
persecution. Yet in spite of these obstacles, a
strong foundation for a revitalized Church has
been set, and Catholics continue to grow in
faith and in numbers.
Gifts to this collection will help build
churches; train and educate pastors and lay
people; publish Catholic newspapers; sustain
orphanages; evangelize children, adults, and
seniors; and provide scholarships to Catholic
students.
A portion of this collection will be sent
in support of the following collections which
annually were taken up in Lithuanian, Slovak,
and Polish parishes:
a. The Lithuanian Catholic Religious Aid
b. The Catholic League for Religious Assistance
to Poland
c. The Slovak Catholic Federation Appeal |
Course Explores Church Teaching on End of Life
Issues |
The Catechism of the Catholic Church
teaches that “God alone is the Lord of Life from
its beginning until its end: no one can under
any circumstances claim for himself the right
directly to destroy an innocent human being”
(CCC, 2258).
However, as a result of modern medical
advances, the teaching of the Catholic Church on
end of life issues has become increasingly
difficult to understand. The Diocese is
presenting a course designed to address
questions such as: How much treatment must be
provided to the sick and the dying? What is the
difference between allowing a person to die and
the practice of euthanasia? Can Catholics have
living wills?
These and many other end of life issues will
be explored in “Church Teaching on End of Life
Issues,” a course that will be held Sept. 8 and
15 (Tuesdays) from 6 – 8 p.m. at the Diocesan
Center, 400 Wyoming Avenue in Scranton. The
presenter is David Clarke, director of social
concerns and pro-life in the Office for Parish
Life.
The course fee is $20 per person or a flat
fee of $50 for three or more persons from one
parish. To register, call 570-207-2213, Ext.
1107. |
Catholic Men’s Breakfast Gathering Sept. 19 |
The Guardian of the Redeemer Catholic
Men’s Fellowship, based in Dallas, is sponsoring
a Catholic Men’s Breakfast Gathering on
Saturday, Sept. 19, from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at the
East Mountain Inn and Suites, 2400 East Mountain
Blvd., Wilkes-Barre.
This gathering for Catholic men has been
coordinated in response to Bishop Martino’s
pastoral plan for the Diocese of Scranton
through the “Call to Holiness and Mission”
initiative.
Guest speaker for the event will be Mark
Houck, co-founder of The King’s Men, a Catholic
men’s apostolate based in the Philadelphia area
dedicated to strengthening and encouraging men
in the practice of their faith.
Suggested offering for the breakfast
gathering is $15. Registration deadline is Sept.
15.
For more information, visit:
www.guardianoftheredeemercmf.org Guardian of the
Redeemer Catholic Men’s Fellowship can be
contacted by calling (570) 362-0417, or by
e-mailing: gmyanik@epix.net. |
Retreat on Praying for Priests |
In observance of the Year for Priests
declared by Pope Benedict XVI, the Diocese will
offer a weekend retreat focused on “Praying for
Priests.” It will be held Sept. 25-27 at Fatima
Renewal Center in Dalton.
Presented by Father Richard J. Loch, V.E.,
Episcopal Vicar for Priests, this retreat
weekend will be a time to reflect on the gift of
priesthood which Christ has given the Church and
to pray for those who have accepted this gift.
The weekend will include teachings on
priesthood, reflections on the life of St. John
Vianney, the patron of diocesan priests,
Eucharistic Adoration, an opportunity for the
Sacrament of Reconciliation, and the celebration
of Mass.
The retreat begins on Friday at 6 p.m. with
dinner and ends with lunch on Sunday. Cost is
$115 per person or $95 per person if registered
as a couple. To register, call Fatima Renewal
Center at 570-563-8500. |
Mark Your Calendar |
Support Group for Separated, Divorced &
Widowed Persons, Sept. 18 –– 7 to 9 p.m. at
St. Ann Basilica Parish Center, 1200 St. Ann
St., Scranton. Sponsored by the diocesan Office
for Parish Life, this “Beginning Experience”
monthly session offers support to cope with
sorrow, doubt, anxiety and loneliness after
losing a spouse. For more
information/registration, call 489-7769.
Weekend Youth Retreat: “Up & Over,” Sept.
18-20 –– at Fatima Renewal Center, Dalton.
Weekend retreat for 7th & 8th grade students
features fun activities and events, including
outdoor obstacle course. Retreat experience also
includes Mass, Eucharistic adoration,
reconciliation, movie, free time, buffet-style
meals and private rooms. Cost: $100 includes $25
non-refundable deposit. Financial aid is
available. Registration deadline: Sept. 8. For
more information & registration, contact Fatima
Center at 563-8500 or register online through
the Diocese Web site: www.dioceseofscranton.org.
Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend, Sept.
18-20 –– in the Reading area. Sponsored by
Worldwide Marriage Encounter, the weekend
program Friday evening through Sunday afternoon
is an enrichment experience that helps good
marriages grow stronger. For information &
registration, call 1-800-787-7679, or visit the
Web site: www.wwme-nepa.org. Pre-registration
required.
Beginning Experience Weekend, Nov. 6-8 ––
at Fatima Renewal Center, Dalton, offering
support for widowed, divorced, or separated
persons. Cost for the weekend is $150 which
includes a non-refundable deposit. For more
information or to register call either Ann
(587-2851) or Mary (629-0651). Once you’ve
experienced the weekend retreat be sure to join
other Beginning Experience alumni for a monthly
support group in Scranton.
“Rachel’s Vineyard”: Post-Abortion Healing
Retreat –– Nov. 6-8. Confidential weekend
retreat facilitates spiritual and emotional
healing for men and women struggling with the
pain of abortion. Exercises based on Scripture
are designed to help participants experience
God’s mercy and compassion, and to reconcile
with their church, themselves and their child.
The retreat concludes with a Memorial Service
and Mass of Resurrection. Participation is
strictly confidential; financial assistance is
available. For more information, including
registration, contact Denise Rowinski at
822-7118, ext. 307 or
drowinski@csswb.org.
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