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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Protect Rights of Migrant Workers and Their
Families |
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Liturgy of Remembrance on July 19 |
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Diocese to Sponsor Session on Grief/Loss |
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25th Annual Charismatic Conference Aug. 3-5 |
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Notice Regarding Sexual Abuse of a Person Under
Eighteen Years of Age by Ordained or Lay
Personnel of the Diocese of Scranton |
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DCCW Plans Women’s Day of Reflection |
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Oblates Seminary to host “Field of Flags”
Honoring Fallen Soldiers |
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Mark Your Calendar |
Protect Rights of Migrant Workers and Their
Families |
Migrants and their families must be
treated with dignity and fairness, said
Archbishop Agostino Marchetto, secretary of the
Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of
Migrants and Itinerant Peoples, during the
Global Forum on Migration and Development, held
in Brussels, Belgium from July 9 to 11.
The archbishop recalled how “migrants
contribute to their host country’s well-being,
and also because of this their human dignity
must be respected and their freedoms guaranteed:
the right to a dignified life, to fair treatment
at work, to have access to education, health and
other social benefits, to grow in competence and
develop humanly, to freely manifest their
culture and practice their religion.”
At the same time, he added, migrants have
the duty to respect the identity and the laws of
the country of residence, strive for proper
integration (not assimilation) into the host
society and learn its language.
“Unfortunately, among them there are
immigrants in an irregular situation, who,
however, independently of their legal status,
have inalienable human dignity,” Archbishop
Marchetto said. “Therefore their rights must be
safeguarded and not ignored or violated. An
irregular migration status, in fact, does not
mean criminality. The solution is better
international cooperation that discourages
irregularity, with increased legal channels for
migration.” |
Liturgy of Remembrance on July 19 |
The Diocese of Scranton is offering the
annual Liturgy of Remembrance, which will be
celebrated on Thursday, July 19, at 7 p.m. in
St. Peter’s Cathedral.
The Mass is offered for those who have died
in tragedy, especially those who lost their
lives through murder, suicide, and accident. All
who grieve the loss of a loved one are invited
to this liturgy to remember and celebrate the
lives of their loved ones who have died.
For more information, contact the Office of
Social Concerns/Pro-Life at 207-2213, ext. 1130. |
Diocese to Sponsor Session on Grief/Loss |
The Diocese of Scranton’s Office for
Parish Life, Pastoral Formation Institute, will
offer a two-hour session on “The Emotional,
Physical and Spiritual Effects of Grief and
Loss,” at Fatima Renewal Center, Dalton, on
Saturday, July 21, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Lunch will conclude the program.
Mercy Sister Jane O’Donnell, a pastoral
educator/counselor at Mercy Consultation Center,
Dallas, will conduct the session. Her
presentation will focus on the effects of grief
on the whole person and how one moves toward
healing and new life.
For reservations, call Fatima Renewal
Center at 570-563-8500. |
25th Annual Charismatic Conference Aug. 3-5 |
The Catholic Charismatic Renewal of the
Diocese of Scranton will host its 25th
Anniversary Charismatic Conference at The
University of Scranton during the weekend of
Aug. 3-5. The theme of this year’s Charismatic
gathering is: “You will receive power” (Acts
1:8).
Scheduled speakers for the 2007 Conference
include renowned Catholic evangelists and
Charismatic Renewal presenters Ralph Martin,
David Thorp, Barbara Shlemon Ryan and Babsie
Bleasdell.
Clerical guests on the program of
conference speakers are Monsignor William
John-Lewis, serving in the Diocese of Roseau,
Commonwealth of Dominica; and Father Michael
Moses, of the Archdiocese of Port-O-Spain in
Trinidad.
The Charismatic Conference also offers a
children’s track, for ages five through 11, and
a youth track, given by a team of youth
ministers for ages 12-18.
For registration and further information,
contact the Diocesan Catholic Charismatic
Renewal Office at 344-2214. |
Notice Regarding Sexual Abuse of a Person Under
Eighteen Years of Age by Ordained or Lay
Personnel of the Diocese of Scranton |
Such an act should be reported to the
Diocese by calling the Victim Assistance
Coordinator (570-344-5216) or the Chancellor
(570-207-2216) or the Vicar for Priests
(570-207-2269).
Upon receiving a report of this kind, the
Diocese of Scranton is committed to assisting
victims or survivors of sexual abuse in their
pursuit of emotional and spiritual well-being. |
DCCW Plans Women’s Day of Reflection |
The Scranton Diocesan Council of
Catholic Women will host a Day of Reflection for
all women of the Diocese on Thursday, Aug. 16,
at Villa of Our Lady Retreat House in Mount
Pocono.
Monsignor John A. Bergamo will serve as
spiritual leader for the day’s program, which
will begin at 9 a.m. The Day of Reflection will
include breakfast, spiritual talks in the
morning and afternoon, Sacrament of
Reconciliation, time for private
prayer/reflection, Eucharistic liturgy and a
luncheon dinner. The day will conclude with
recitation of the Rosary.
Cost for the day is $35, and deadline for
reservations is Aug. 4. For more information and
to secure reservations, contact Helen Oravec at
207-2283 (day) or 489-5231 (night). |
Oblates Seminary to host “Field of Flags”
Honoring Fallen Soldiers |
The grounds of the Oblates of St.
Joseph Seminary, located on Route 315 in Laflin,
will serve as a host site for the traveling
“Field of Flags” exhibit erected in remembrance
of the military men and women who have perished
fighting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The exhibit on the Seminary grounds will be
open daily to the public from Sunday, July 15,
through Sunday, Aug. 19, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
During that time, the Seminary chapel also will
be open for visitors offering prayers for those
who died or were injured, their families, and
the safety of the men and women fighting
overseas.
Along with this event, a flea market and
social will be held on the grounds on Saturday,
Aug. 11, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (rain date:
Sunday, Aug. 12). Interested vendors may request
a registration form by calling 655-1664 or
visiting the Oblates website:
www.oblates-stjoseph.com to download a
registration form. |
Mark Your Calendar |
Support Group for Separated, Divorced &
Widowed Persons, July 20 –– 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.
Natural Family Planning Course –– series
of classes begins on July 28 at 9 a.m. in the
Bishop’s Hall at St. Peter’s Cathedral Rectory,
Scranton. Course instruction in the sympto-thermal
method by an NFP instructor approved by the
Diocese of Scranton. For more
information/registration, call Megan at
941-8935. Registration deadline: July 26.
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.
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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