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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News Briefing |
This Issue:
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Continue To Pray For The Unity Of All Christians |
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All Required To Sign Pastoral Code of Conduct |
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Spread the Word About Adult Faith Formation |
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Youth Ministry Workshop Offered |
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World Marriage Day To Be Celebrated Feb. 14 |
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Pastoral Formation Institute Offering Programs |
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Mark Your Calendar |
Continue To Pray For The Unity Of All Christians |
The theme of the papal catechesis in
yesterday’s audience was the Week of Prayer for
Christian Unity, which is currently being
celebrated and which, the Holy Father noted,
invites us to pray to the Lord for “the visible
unity of all Christians,” because unity is
“first and foremost a gift of God.”
Pope Benedict then remarked how the theme
chosen for this year's Week - "you are witnesses
of these things" - raises two questions: "what
are these things?" and: "how can we be witnesses
of these things?.” The answer to the first
question is "the mystery of the Passion and the
gift of the Resurrection,” said the pope. "By
knowing Christ we know the face of God. ... In
Christ, the distant God becomes close.” As for
the second question, he explained that "we can
only be witnesses of Christ, ... by knowing Him
personally, ... and truly meeting Him in our
life of faith, and thus we can contribute to the
novelty of the world, to eternal life.”
"The modern ecumenical movement has
undergone such considerable development in the
last century as to become an important element
in the life of the Church. ... It not only
favors fraternal relations between Churches and
ecclesial communities, in response to the
commandment to love, ... but also stimulates
theological research. Furthermore, it involves
the real life of Churches and ecclesial
communities, with themes that concern pastoral
care and sacramental life.”
Since Vatican Council II the Catholic
Church has forged fraternal relations with all
the Churches of the East and ecclesial
communities of the West, the pontiff noted. In
particular, with most of them, she has
established bilateral theological dialogue that
has been able to find points of convergence,
even consensus, on various matters, thus
strengthening our bonds of communion. Over the
last twelve months, the various dialogues have
made important progress.
The Holy Father concluded by asking people
"to pray for the complex question of ecumenism,
for the promotion of dialogue, and that the
Christians of our time may show the world a
shared witness of faithfulness to Christ.”
The Diocese of Scranton's observance of the
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity included an
ecumenical prayer service yesterday at St.
Peter's Cathedral. |
All Required To Sign Pastoral Code of Conduct |
Ensuring safe environments for children
depends on various components and the
cooperation of everyone in our parishes, schools
and offices.
Along with background checks and VIRTUS
safe environment training, all Diocesan clergy,
staff and volunteers are required to sign a
Pastoral Code of Conduct. The code spells
out very clearly how we are to conduct ourselves
when working or volunteering with children.
The Pastoral Code of Conduct is a
requirement of the Charter for the Protection
of Children and Young People enacted by the
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The
Conference annually audits dioceses to confirm
they are complying with the Charter, and this
year the audits will emphasize the Pastoral
Code of Conduct.
For Charter compliance, a signed
Pastoral Code of Conduct is needed from all
clergy, employees and volunteers working with
children. The signed codes should be kept in the
compliance binder along with copies of each
individual’s clearances. A printer friendly
version of the Code can be found on the Diocesan
website (www.dioceseofscranton.org) by clicking
on the “Compliance Office” link in the green bar
on the homepage.
In addition to maintaining copies from
previous years, pastors, school principals and
department heads are reminded to obtain signed
codes from new employees and volunteers.
For assistance or any questions concerning
the Pastoral Code of Conduct or the
Charter compliance, please call Gail Fromm at
207-2214 or 877-5965. |
Spread the Word About Adult Faith Formation |
If your parish has an active Bible
study, men and/or women’s faith sharing group,
or any other form of ongoing adult faith
formation, consider getting the word out to the
Diocesan community at large. The Adult Faith
Formation page on the Diocesan website is
looking to publicize adult faith formation
opportunities across the Diocese.
If you would like to publicize your events,
please e-mail a brief description of the faith
formation opportunity — including dates, times
and meeting place — to Brendan Murphy, director
of family life, marriage preparation, and adult
faith formation, at
Brendan-Murphy@dioceseofscranton.org. |
Youth Ministry Workshop Offered |
The Diocesan Office for Parish Life is
offering a Continuing Education course on the
“Dynamics of Youth Ministry” on March 15 and 22
at the Diocesan Center in Scranton.
Father Cyril Edwards will serve as the
instructor for the two-part workshop, to be
offered on the consecutive Monday evenings from
6 to 8 p.m.
The course offering will present a
comprehensive approach to building a successful
youth ministry program in any parish, and will
prove helpful whether a parish is planning to
start a program or seeks to enhance an existing
one.
The first workshop session will focus on
the key concepts of creating a vision statement
that will guide all future activities. It will
also focus on selecting effective leadership
personnel. During the second session of the
course, a host of practical projects will be
presented that can work in any area of the
Diocese.
Course fee is $30 per person or a group fee
of $50 for three or more persons from one
parish. To register, call the Parish Life Office
in Scranton at 207-2213 ext. 1107. |
World Marriage Day To Be Celebrated Feb. 14 |
World Marriage Day, sponsored by the
Worldwide Marriage Encounter, will be observed
this year on Sunday, Feb. 14.
World Marriage Day is an opportunity for
everyone to give thanks to God for the Sacrament
of Matrimony and to offer prayers for those who
have undertaken this vocation. We should
especially pray for spouses as they work to
raise families devoted to Christ and His Church.
Regarding this aspect of married life, the
Catechism of the Catholic Church says:
“In our own time, in a world often alien and
even hostile to faith, believing families are of
primary importance as centers of living, radiant
faith. For this reason the Second Vatican
Council, using an ancient expression, calls the
family the Ecclesia domestica [Domestic Church].
It is in the bosom of the family that parents
are “by word and example . . . the first heralds
of the faith with regard to their children. They
should encourage them in the vocation which is
proper to each child, fostering with special
care any religious vocation.”
Remembering that Jesus Himself willed to be
raised in a human family, let us all take a
moment on Feb. 14 to pray for healthy families
and marriages in our Church and world.
(See “Mark Your Calendar” for two
upcoming programs regarding marriage.) |
Pastoral Formation Institute Offering Programs |
Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion
Training
Deacon Gerard Carpenter will serve as the
instructor at three sites in February and March.
At St. Rose of Lima School Annex, Carbondale,
the training will take place on Feb. 16, 23, and
March 2, Tuesdays, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
The second training session will take place
on Saturday, Feb. 27, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at
St. John Church Hall, Susquehanna.
On March 9, 16, and 24, the sessions will
take place at the Diocesan Center, Scranton,
from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Fee: $30 per person, materials included. To
register, call 207-2213, Ext. 1107.
Basic Skill Classes for Catechists
Two Basic Skills classes will be held at
two locations. These classes are for teachers in
the parish religious education programs and will
discuss: using a teacher’s manual, lesson
planning, classroom management, and methods of
prayer, among other topics. They will offer
practical ways in which the family can be
incorporated into the religious education
program, and will explain the importance of
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, The
National Directory for Catechesis, and
The Directives for Religious Education in
Parishes/Schools in the Diocese of Scranton.
The first class will take place at Holy
Cross High School, Dunmore, Feb. 25, March 4,
11, 18, 25 from 6 to 9 p.m. The instructor is
Mary Anne Malone. The second class will be held
at Bergan Hall (adjacent to St. Ignatius Loyola
Rectory), Kingston. Carmella Faust will serve as
the instructor. Dates are March 2, 9, 23, 30,
from 6 to 9 p.m.
Fee: $30 per person or a flat fee of $50
for any number of participants from a given
parish. To register, call 207-2213, Ext. 1107.
One’s Giftedness in New Parish Structures
Presented by Sister Jane O’Donnell, RSM.,
at St. John the Evangelist Church in Pittston on
March 16 from 6 to 8 p.m. Fee: $30 per person or
a flat fee of $50 for any number of participants
from a given parish.
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Mark Your Calendar |
Northeastern Pennsylvania Catholic Deaf
Association Interpreted Mass, Feb. 7 –– at
St. Joseph’s Oblate Seminary, 1880 Highway 315,
Laflin. Bible study and Sacrament of
Reconciliation begin at 2 p.m., followed by Mass
signed and interpreted, celebrated at 3 p.m.
Refreshments follow. For more information,
contact Sister Mary Beth Makuch, SSCM, at
207-2213 ext. 1013 –– voice/tdd.
Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend, Feb.
12-14 –– in the Bethlehem 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 and
registration, call 1-800-787-7679, or visit the
website: www.wwme-nepa.org. Pre-registration
required.
Ash Wednesday Day of Reflection: “Lent –– A
Time of Invitation and Response,” Feb. 17 ––
at Fatima Renewal Center, 1000 Seminary Road,
Dalton. Guest presenter: Father John Polednak,
V.E., Episcopal Vicar of the Southern Pastoral
Region, who will lead participants into the
Lenten season, defined as an invitation by the
Lord to draw closer to Him in a spirit of true
repentance, humbly acknowledging our sins and
opening our hearts to a deeper sense of true
conversion. Mass will be celebrated, with the
distribution of ashes; opportunity for the
Sacrament of Reconciliation. Fee: $30 includes
lunch. To register, call Fatima Center at
563-8500.
Support Group for Separated, Divorced and
Widowed Persons, Feb. 19 –– 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.
Retrouvaille Weekend, March 12-14 –– at
Fatima Renewal Center, Dalton. Sponsored by the
Diocesan Office for Parish Life/Family Life,
Retrouvaille is a weekend program for couples in
a stressed marriage. Led by a trained priest and
married couples who have survived marital
difficulties, the weekend does not consist of
counseling or group therapy. Focus will be on
healthy communication, trust/forgiveness issues,
and issues connected with intimacy/rediscovering
romance. A registration deposit is required;
donation is also requested. For more
information, call Bob and Nettie at 587-0415.
All calls are confidential. Registration
deadline is March 8.
Day of Reflection for Catechists: “Jesus as
Prophet, Priest and King –– Model for
Catechists,” March 20 –– 9:30 a.m. to 2:30
p.m. at Fatima Renewal Center, Dalton. Guest
presenter: Monsignor David Tressler. This
Reflection Day will lead catechists in an
understanding of how they, through faith and
Baptism, share in the Church’s mission of
service and how they are set apart as bearers of
the Word in their parish religious education
programs. Day includes celebration of Mass and
the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Fee: $20
catechist discount per person, includes lunch.
To register, call Fatima Center 563-8500.
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