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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Vatican Decision Refutes SDACT’s Accusations
About Bishop Martino |
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Fatima Center Open Houses Set for July 19 and
Aug. 23 |
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Charismatic Renewal Conference July 31-Aug. 2 |
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Natural Family Planning Classes Offered Monthly
in Scranton |
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Mark Your Calendar |
Vatican Decision Refutes SDACT’s Accusations
About Bishop Martino |
Michael Milz, president of the Scranton
Diocese Association of Catholic Teachers (SDACT),
recently unleashed his latest unfounded attack
on Bishop Joseph F. Martino by claiming that the
Bishop’s decision not to recognize this union
makes a mockery of Pope Benedict XVI’s
pronouncements about the rights of workers made
in his recent Encyclical Letter Caritas in
Veritate.
The encyclical affirms the moral
requirement to ensure the fair treatment of
employees, without suggesting that unions are
the only means to do so. The Holy Father makes
no pronouncements that are contrary to the
policies of the Diocese of Scranton.
Bishop Martino’s decision to implement an
Employee Relations Program to address the needs
of teachers and others working in our Catholic
school systems is faithful to Catholic Social
Teaching. The Vatican confirmed this fact,
through the Congregation for Catholic Education,
in September 2008.
It should be noted that the Vatican
reviewed this issue not because it had any
reason to question Bishop Martino’s decision,
but only because SDACT had filed an official
petition to have that decision overturned. In
fact, the Vatican rendered its judgment solely
on SDACT’s petition, never even seeking a
defense from the Diocese for its stand in this
matter.
At any rate, the Congregation declared that
Bishop Martino violated no Church law, and noted
that fair labor policy and wages can be
guaranteed by means other than those proposed by
the plaintiff. This Congregation functions under
the auspices of Pope Benedict. It is headed by
Zenon Cardinal Grocholewski, who holds very
prominent and numerous roles in offices in Rome
which communicate to the world the teaching of
the Catholic Church and the mind of our Holy
Father.
Therefore, it is both incorrect and grossly
unfair for SDACT to mischaracterize the decision
of the Diocese of Scranton to work with the
Employee Relations Program rather than SDACT as
a departure from Catholic Social Teaching and as
a mockery of the pope’s teaching in Caritas
in Veritate.
Moreover, the Bishop’s decision was not
based on any animosity toward unions, but rather
on the belief that another means of personnel
relations would be best for the restructured
school systems and their employees.
The Diocese established an Employee
Relations Program in January 2008, and 24 of the
25 schools are participating, including several
schools formerly associated with the union.
Faculty and support staff representatives from
the schools have been selected by their peers to
serve on the Employee Councils in the four
regional school systems.
Thus far agreement in principle has been
reached on issues such as an early retirement
package, the number of annual sick and personal
days, the health care opt-out program and an
alternate option for employee medical coverage,
bereavement leave, the classification of
teachers’ aides, and vacation leave for
full-time support staff, a teacher contract and
a grievance procedure.
As Bishop Martino has noted: “This program
will continue the commitment of the Diocese of
Scranton to provide fair and just employment for
teachers and everyone else who works in our
Catholic schools. …It will ensure that we can
maintain a strong Catholic identity in our
schools within an atmosphere of meaningful
dialogue and sincere collaboration with all of
the dedicated employees who share in our
mission.” |
Fatima Center Open Houses Set for July 19 and
Aug. 23 |
Fatima Renewal Center, the Diocese of
Scranton’s retreat center in Dalton, is having
an Open House this Sunday, July 19, and again on
Sunday, Aug. 23. Each event will be held from 3
to 5 p.m.
The Open Houses will give attendees the
opportunity to experience the grounds and
facilities of the center. Located just 10 miles
north of Scranton, this pastoral setting
provides the perfect atmosphere for retreats,
both private and group, and business meetings
away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Fatima Center is a well-maintained and
comfortable facility with a focus on
accommodating individual needs. It offers the
following features:
• Air-conditioned rooms of various sizes to
accommodate both large and small groups.
• Overnight accommodations for up to 185 guests.
• Dining services to accommodate large groups
for breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets.
• Three indoor chapels and three outdoor
shrines.
• Audio-visual equipment and supplies for
meetings.
• Library with DSL access.
• Gymnasium facilities with basketball and
racquetball courts.
• Satellite TV lounge.
Fatima Center has hosted non-profit,
faith-based Christian groups, who use the
facility for their own prayer, retreats,
meetings, workshops, dialogue or education.
Programs/events the center has hosted include:
private group retreats/days of reflection and
marriage programs for adults; weekend retreats
for young people, including youth ministry and
CCD groups, and First Communion, Confirmation,
class and Scout retreats; and college retreats
for young adults.
Costs for overnight accommodations and food
services are available for specific needs. For
more information, contact Fatima Center at
570-563-8500, Monday through Friday, 9 a .m. to
4:30 p.m., or e-mail:
Sarah-mountain@dioceseofscranton.org |
Charismatic Renewal Conference July 31-Aug. 2 |
The Catholic Charismatic Renewal of the
Diocese of Scranton will host its 27th Annual
Charismatic Conference at the University of
Scranton during the weekend of July 31-Aug. 2.
Theme of this year’s gathering is: “For I
AM the Lord Who Heals You” (Exodus
15:26). The 2009 Conference speakers include:
* Monsignor Theophilus Anthony Joseph, from the
Archdiocese of Castries, St. Lucia, West Indies,
who is currently on sabbatical leave in the
Diocese of Brooklyn, N.Y.
* Father Anthony Mario Ozele, from the Diocese
of Wassi, Nigeria, who presently resides at St.
Francis of Paola Parish in Brooklyn.
* Dr. Carol J. Razza, a psychotherapist and
full-time seminary faculty member and formation
advisor, who is coordinator for Magnificat in
the Diocese of Palm Beach, Fla.
* Father Larry Carew, who has been involved in
the Catholic Charismatic Renewal since 1971, and
currently serves as liaison for CCR in the
Diocese of Bridgeport, Conn.
The Charismatic Conference in Scranton also
offers a Children’s Track, for ages five through
11, and Youth Track, presented by a gifted team
of youth ministers, for ages 12 through 18.
For registration or further information,
contact the Diocesan Catholic Charismatic
Renewal Office in Scranton at 344-2214. |
Natural Family Planning Classes Offered Monthly
in Scranton |
While married couples may prefer to be
trained by one of the Diocese’s certified
natural family planning instructors (CNFPI) on
an individual basis, public NFP training
sessions are offered each month in Scranton.
Cost for the training is $45 and includes a
basal body thermometer (if no thermometer is
needed, cost is $35). Upcoming training sessions
are scheduled as follows:
Aug. 20 –– 7:30 p.m., St. Peter’s
Cathedral Rectory basement (315 Wyoming Ave.,
Scranton). Instructor: Megan Murphy, CNFPI
Sept. 17 –– 7:30 p.m., St. Peter’s
Cathedral Rectory basement (315 Wyoming Ave.,
Scranton). Instructor: Megan Murphy, CNFPI
Oct. 15 –– 7:30 p.m., St. Peter’s
Cathedral Rectory basement (315 Wyoming Ave.,
Scranton). Instructor: Megan Murphy, CNFPI
To register for a public class, please
contact Brendan Murphy at (570) 207-2213, ext.
1133. |
Mark Your Calendar |
Support Group for Separated, Divorced &
Widowed Persons, Aug. 21 –– 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.
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