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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Eradication of Poverty Is a Moral Commitment |
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Compliance With Charter to Protect Children |
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Diocesan Coordinator for Post-Confirmation
Catechesis |
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Mark Your Calendar |
Eradication of Poverty Is a Moral Commitment |
Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, C.S.,
permanent observer to the Office of the United
Nations and Specialized Institutions in Geneva,
recently talked to the U.N.’s Economic and
Social Council about the need to focus on global
poverty.
“The continued effort to address the plight
of people trapped in poverty and to search for
new ways and means to free them from its
destructive consequences remains essential if
the international community wants to achieve
truly integral human development,” he said.
“Poverty elimination demands an integration
between the mechanisms that produce wealth and
the mechanisms for the distribution of its
benefits at the international, regional and
national levels.”
After highlighting the fact that
“eradication of poverty is a moral engagement,”
Archbishop Tomasi concluded by saying that “the
various religions and cultures see the
achievement of this end as a most important task
that frees people from much suffering and
marginalization, that helps them to live
peacefully together, and that provides
individuals and communities the freedom to
protect their dignity and actively contribute to
the common good.” |
Compliance With Charter to Protect Children |
Gail Fromm, Diocesan compliance
officer, reminds all parishes, schools and
institutions about their responsibilities
regarding the U.S. Bishops’ national Charter
for the Protection of Children and Young People,
specifically the requirement that all employees
in parishes and schools, as well as volunteers
who spend 20 or more hours per year with
children, must have a Pennsylvania Criminal
Background Check and a Pennsylvania Child Abuse
History Clearance. This includes coaches, who
are reminded that no practice may be held until
these clearances have been received.
Mrs. Fromm said the Pennsylvania clearances
are valid for three years, so some individuals
who previously received clearances may need to
be updated. Also, applications for the
clearances are not sufficient for compliance –
the actual clearance documents must be in the
parish or school binder.
“The Diocese has made this a priority,”
Mrs. Fromm said. “We need to stay in compliance
with the Charter for the Protection of
Children and Young People. Our commitment is
that no one, even if they are well known, will
have access to our children without the required
state clearances. I thank everyone in advance
for their full cooperation in this very
important matter, and for all they are doing to
keep our children safe.”
For detailed instructions and to download
the application forms, please go to
www.dioceseofscranton.org and click on
Compliance Office in the green bar on the left
side of the homepage.
Mrs. Fromm is available to answer questions
and provide assistance. She can be contacted at
877-5965. |
Diocesan Coordinator for Post-Confirmation
Catechesis |
The Diocese of Scranton is seeking
applicants for the position of Coordinator for
Post-Confirmation Catechesis. The Coordinator
will work as part of a team within the Office
for Parish Life and Evangelization and also with
pastors and parish personnel to develop regional
approaches to Confirmation and post-Confirmation
instruction.
The candidate must be a Catholic in good
standing with a bachelor’s degree in theology or
equivalent and demonstrated experience working
with parish youth. This individual should
possess excellent catechetical skills as well as
good communication, leadership and
organizational abilities.
This is a full-time position which includes
benefits as outlined in the Diocesan Personnel
Handbook. Applicants are expected to comply with
the requirements of the Charter for the
Protection of Children and Young People and
the Virtus program as administered by the
Diocese of Scranton.
Anyone interested in applying is asked to
send a letter of interest with salary
requirement, a complete resume with references
by August 17, 2007 to: James Burke, Diocesan
Director of Human Resources, 300 Wyoming Avenue,
Scranton, PA 18503 |
Mark Your Calendar |
Support Group for Separated, Divorced &
Widowed Persons, Aug. 17 –– 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 (held every third Friday) offers
support to cope with sorrow, doubt, anxiety and
loneliness after losing a spouse. For more
information/registration, call 342-5166.
Day of Reflection: “Our Journey to the
Eucharist,” Aug. 18 –– 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at
Fatima Renewal Center, Dalton. Guest presenter:
Father James Dougher. Program provides “rest and
reflection” before the Eucharistic Lord, and is
highly recommended for Extraordinary Ministers
of Holy Communion. Day includes celebration of
Mass and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Fee:
$25, includes lunch. To register, call 563-8500
or e-mail: Fatima@dioceseofscranton.org.
Natural Family Planning Course –– series
of classes begins on Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. at St.
Matthew Parish Center, East Stroudsburg. Course
instruction in the sympto-thermal method by an
NFP instructor approved by the Diocese of
Scranton. For more information/registration,
call 420-1319. Registration deadline: Aug. 18.
Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend,
Sept. 21-23 –– in Shillington (Reading area).
Sponsored by the Diocesan Office for Parish
Life/Family Life, the program is an enrichment
experience that helps good marriages grow
stronger. Registration deadline: Sept. 9. For
information & registration, call Butch & Trudie
at 1-800-787-7679, or visit the Web site:
www.wwme-nepa.org.
Married/Engaged Couples Workshop: “Forever
Yes: Communicating for a Lifelong Marriage,”
Sept. 22 –– 9 a.m. to 12 noon at St. Joseph
Parish Center, (Minooka) Scranton. Communication
skills workshop for all married and engaged
couples, sponsored by the Diocesan Office for
Parish Life/Family Life, to help build marital
commitment. Registration fee: $35 (early
registration fee: $30, by Aug. 22). For more
information/registration, call Parish Life
Office (207-2213) or visit the Diocesan Web
site: www.dioceseofscranton.org/Marriage Care.
Natural Family Planning Course –– series
of classes begins on Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. at St.
Matthew Parish Center, East Stroudsburg. Course
instruction in the sympto-thermal method by an
NFP instructor approved by the Diocese of
Scranton. For more information/registration,
call 420-1319. Registration deadline: Sept. 15.
Retrouvaille Weekend, Oct. 12-14 –– at
Fatima Renewal Center, Dalton. Sponsored by the
Diocesan Office for Parish Life/Family Life, the
weekend program is designed for couples to
address marital difficulties. Retrouvaille helps
couples to communicate better, using a method
that can aid in building a loving and lasting
relationship. Call 655-1916 or 800-470-2230 for
confidential information/registration, or visit
the Diocesan Web site:
www.dioceseofscranton.org/marriage & family
support/marriage enrichment. |
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