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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Promoting A New World Order Worthy Of The Human
Being |
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Week of Prayer for Christian Unity |
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Faithful Preparing for March for Life |
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Campaign is a “Hand-Up” In Tough Economic Times |
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Mark Your Calendar |
Promoting A New World Order Worthy Of The Human
Being |
As the new year began, Pope Benedict
XVI affirmed his wish to dialogue anew with
those responsible at national levels and in
international organizations, offering the
Catholic Church's contribution in promoting a
new world order worthy of the human being.
“At the beginning of the new year,” he
said, “my first objective is precisely to invite
all leaders and ordinary citizens not to be
disheartened in the face of difficulties or
failures, and to renew their commitments.”
The Holy Father noted that “in the second
part of 2008, an economic crisis of vast
proportions arose. This crisis must be examined
in detail as a serious symptom that requires
intervention at its roots. It is not enough – as
Jesus would say – to take a piece from a new
cloak to patch an old one. Putting the poor in
first place means decidedly moving toward the
global solidarity that John Paul II pointed out
as necessary, co-ordinating the potentialities
of the market with those of civil society in
constant respect of the law and tending always
to the common good.”
“Jesus Christ,” the pope concluded, “did
not organize campaigns against poverty but
proclaimed the Gospel for a complete ransom from
moral and material misery to the poor. The
Church, with its unceasing labors of
evangelization and human promotion, does the
same. We call on the Virgin Mary, Mother of God,
to help all men and women walk together the Path
of peace.” |
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity |
Each year, the worldwide Week of Prayer
for Christian Unity is celebrated Jan. 18 - 25.
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 Christ’s will “that all may
be one,” as he and the Father are one.
This desire for Christian unity is
expressed in the text of Ezekiel in which he did
not despair but proclaimed a message of hope for
the renewal and the unity of God’s people, “that
they may become one in your hand.”(Ezekiel
37:17) This text is the theme for the 2009 Week
of Prayer for Christian Unity.
The Diocese of Scranton will observe this
occasion by sponsoring an Ecumenical Celebration
of God’s Word on Wednesday, Jan. 21, at 10:30
a.m. in St. Peter’s Cathedral, Scranton.
Bishop Joseph F. Martino will preside. The
Reverend Samuel R. Zeiser, Bishop of the
Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, will
deliver the homily. Clergy from other Christian
traditions and ecumenical agencies will also
participate.
All are welcome to attend. In addition,
CTV: Catholic Television will broadcast the
service live. |
Faithful Preparing for March for Life |
The faithful are reminded that the annual
March for Life in Washington, DC, will be held
on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009. Following is a
schedule of events to be held in conjunction
with the march. Parishioners, particularly the
youth and young adults, are encouraged to
participate in these events.
Vigil Mass – Basilica of the National
Shrine, Washington, DC
The Vigil for Life Mass will take place on
Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009 at 7 p.m. at the
Basilica of the National Shrine of the
Immaculate Conception. Please note that this
Mass begins one hour earlier than in previous
years. Seating for this liturgy is always at
capacity so please make arrangements to arrive
as early as possible.
Rally for Life and Youth Mass
The Rally for Life and Youth Mass will be held
on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009. Times and locations
will be announced soon. Seating is on a
first-come, first-served basis. Following the
Mass, 150, 000 friends will join together on the
National Mall for the noon National Rally for
Life.
March for Life
Participants will walk to the U.S. Capitol and
visit legislators. Contact the Office of Social
Concerns/Pro-Life for further information and
details on transportation at 570-207-2213, ext.
1130. Information regarding transportation will
also be published in the Jan. 15 issue of The
Catholic Light. |
Campaign is a “Hand-Up” In Tough Economic Times |
In these troubled economic times, funds
raised through the Catholic Campaign for Human
Development will offer much needed assistance to
families living in the Diocese of Scranton.
Established by the Catholic Bishops of the
United States in 1970, the Catholic Campaign for
Human Development (CCHD) provides funds for
anti-poverty programs which enable poor and
low-income people to attain a more sufficient
standard of life. The mission of CCHD is to take
on the causes of poverty by empowering people
and is rooted in the basic principles of
Catholic social teaching.
Each year, CCHD raises funds through a
collection in all Catholic parishes in the
United States. This year’s collection in the
Diocese of Scranton will be taken up the weekend
of Jan. 24-25.
In recent years, funds from CCHD have been
used particularly in our Diocese to bring
assistance and hope to immigrant families
seeking an opportunity to achieve a full life.
Funds are also used in the training of
immigration law counselors who assist eligible,
low-income immigrants with the naturalization
process. Other benefits include family
reunification, employment, ownership of
property, and self-sufficiency.
The goals of the programs to be funded must
address the areas of catechesis, immigration,
and higher education while closely adhering to
the mission of the Diocese and the teachings of
the Catholic Church.
For more information on the local campaign,
contact David Clarke at 570-207-2213. |
Mark Your Calendar |
Support Group for Separated, Divorced &
Widowed Persons, Jan. 16 –– 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.
Northeastern Pennsylvania Catholic Deaf
Association Interpreted Mass, Feb. 8 –– 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.
Weekend Retreat: “St. Paul and Our Call to
Conversion,” Feb. 20-22 –– at Fatima Renewal
Center, 1000 Seminary Road, Dalton. Guest
presenter: Father Richard J. Loch, V.E.,
Episcopal Vicar for Priests. In celebration of
the Year of St. Paul, the retreat weekend will
lead participants into personal conversion
through reflection on the life and writings of
St. Paul. Weekend begins with dinner at 6 p.m.
on Friday and concludes with lunch on Sunday
afternoon. Retreat includes celebration of Mass
and Sacrament of Reconciliation. Cost: $115 per
person $95 per person for couples. For more
information & registration, call Fatima Center
at 563-1131.
Ash Wednesday Day of Reflection: “Lent ––
Responding to God through Reconciliation,” Feb.
25 –– at Fatima Renewal Center, Dalton.
Guest presenter: Father Richard J. Loch, V.E.,
Episcopal Vicar for Priests, who will lead
participants into the Lenten season, seen as an
opportunity to be attentive to St. Paul’s
invitation “to be reconciled to God.” 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 563-1131.
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