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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Pope Inaugurates Year for Priests |
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Bishop Martino to Ordain Two Men to Diocesan
Priesthood |
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Day of Reflection: Our Journey to the Eucharist |
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Mark Your Calendar |
Pope Inaugurates Year for Priests |
Pope Benedict XVI has sent a letter to
the priests of the world for the occasion of the
Year for Priests, which has been called to mark
the 150th anniversary of the death of St. John
Mary Vianney. The Holy Father inaugurated this
special year on June 19, the Solemnity of the
Sacred Heart of Jesus and day of prayer for the
sanctification of the clergy.
The pope said this Year for Priests is
meant to deepen the commitment of all priests to
interior renewal for the sake of a more forceful
and incisive witness to the Gospel in today’s
world. “The priesthood is the love of the heart
of Jesus,” the saintly Cure of Ars would often
say.
“This touching expression makes us reflect,
first of all, with heartfelt gratitude on the
immense gift which priests represent, not only
for the Church, but also for humanity itself,”
Benedict said. “I think of all those priests who
quietly present Christ's words and actions each
day to the faithful and to the whole world,
striving to be one with the Lord in their
thoughts and their will, their sentiments and
their style of life. How can I not pay tribute
to their apostolic labours, their tireless and
hidden service, their universal charity? And how
can I not praise the courageous fidelity of so
many priests who, even amid difficulties and
incomprehension, remain faithful to their
vocation as ‘friends of Christ,’ whom He has
called by name, chosen and sent?”
The Holy Father announced that he is
entrusting this Year for Priests to the Blessed
Virgin Mary. “I ask her to awaken in the heart
of every priest a generous and renewed
commitment to the ideal of complete
self-oblation to Christ and the Church which
inspired the thoughts and actions of the saintly
Cure of Ars. It was his fervent prayer life and
his impassioned love of Christ Crucified that
enabled John Mary Vianney to grow daily in his
total self-oblation to God and the Church. May
his example lead all priests to offer that
witness of unity with their bishop, with one
another and with the lay faithful, which today,
as ever, is so necessary.
“Despite all the evil present in our world,
the words which Christ spoke to His Apostles in
the Upper Room continue to inspire us: ‘In the
world you have tribulation; but take courage, I
have overcome the world.’ Our faith in the
Divine Master gives us the strength to look to
the future with confidence. Dear priests, Christ
is counting on you. In the footsteps of the Cure
of Ars, let yourselves be enthralled by Him. In
this way you too will be, for the world in our
time, heralds of hope, reconciliation and
peace!” |
Bishop Martino to Ordain Two Men to Diocesan
Priesthood |
Faithful throughout the Diocese of
Scranton are invited to join in the celebration
of the upcoming ordination of two young men to
the Diocesan priesthood.
All are welcome to attend the Mass of
Ordination this Saturday, June 27, beginning at
10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Cathedral. Bishop Joseph
F. Martino will serve as principal celebrant and
ordaining prelate, and Catholic Television (CTV)
of the Diocese will broadcast the morning
ceremony live.
The 2009 Ordination Class includes the
following ordinandi — both native sons of the
Scranton Diocese — who will be conferred the
Sacrament of Holy Orders for service as priests
in the Diocese: Rev. Mr. Sean G. Carpenter, 28,
of Williamsport; and Rev. Mr. Gerald W.
Shantillo, 42, of Athens. Following are the
personal biographies of the two candidates for
the priesthood who will be ordained to the Order
of the Presbyter for the Diocese:
Rev. Mr. Sean G. Carpenter
Born in Williamsport, Rev. Mr. Carpenter
turned 29 on June 13. He is the son of James and
Margaret Bennett Carpenter, residents of
Williamsport, where they are members of St.
Boniface Parish.
The priest-candidate received his early
education at Montgomery Area Elementary School
and attended the former Bishop Neumann High
School in Williamsport for two years. He
graduated from Montgomery Area High School in
1999.
Prior to pursuing studies for the
priesthood, the ordinand enrolled at Mansfield
University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree
in education in 2003.
Shortly thereafter, he entered St. Pius X
Seminary, Dalton, to begin his formation as a
Diocesan priest. While a seminarian at St. Pius
for one year, he pursued theological and
philosophical studies at The University of
Scranton.
Rev. Mr. Carpenter continued his seminary
formation at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary,
Overbrook, in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
As a seminarian for the Diocese of Scranton, he
completed his preparatory studies and training
for the priesthood at St. Charles Borromeo,
where he received his master of divinity degree
in 2008.
Following his ordination, Father Carpenter
will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving on Sunday,
June 28, at 1:30 p.m. in his home parish of St.
Boniface Church. Scheduled to concelebrate with
the newly ordained priest are Monsignor Stephen
McGough, host pastor; Father Michael Morrone,
Father Michael Olivere and Father William
Trader, who will deliver the homily.
Rev. Mr. Gerald W. Shantillo
Rev. Mr. Shantillo was born Nov. 30, 1966,
son of Samuel and Kathleen Ostrum Shantillo of
Athens, Bradford County, who are parishioners of
the Church of the Epiphany in Sayre.
He received his early elementary education
at St. Paul School in Binghamton, N.Y., and
later graduated from Epiphany Elementary School,
Sayre.
Following graduation from Athens Area High
School, the ordinand began accounting studies at
Bloomsburg University, where he earned a
bachelor’s degree in business administration in
1988. He received his master of business
administration (MBA) from Bloomsburg in 1991,
while serving as a controller with Guthrie
Clinic in the Guthrie Healthcare System, Sayre.
The future priest-candidate continued his
career in business and finance as chief
operating and financial officer with United
Medical Associates of United Health Services in
Binghamton, from 1995 to 2003.
In 2003, he began his priestly formation
with philosophical studies at the Catholic
University of America in Washington, D.C. Two
years later, he enrolled as a seminarian at the
Pontifical North American College in Rome,
Italy, and continued his theological training
for the Diocesan priesthood at the Pontifical
Gregorian University.
Rev. Mr. Shantillo received his degree in sacred
theology in 2008 from the Gregorian, where he
has begun studies for a licentiate in sacred
theology.
As a newly ordained priest, Father
Shantillo will serve as principal celebrant of
his Mass of Thanksgiving on Sunday, June 28, at
4:30 p.m. in Epiphany Church. Concelebrating the
liturgy will be several priests of the Diocese
and priest-friends, including Father Joseph
Kopacz, V.G., Vicar General for the Scranton
Diocese. |
Day of Reflection: Our Journey to the Eucharist |
The Diocesan Office for Parish Life
will sponsor a Day of Reflection on the Holy
Eucharist this summer at the Fatima Renewal
Center in Dalton.
Father James P. Dougher will serve as guest
presenter for “Our Journey to the Eucharist,” a
daylong reflection program to be offered
Saturday, July 18, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
at Fatima.
The day will focus on one’s personal
response to the Lord’s invitation to “come and
rest awhile” before his Eucharistic presence. It
will provide reflective time to move prayerfully
into a deeper relationship with the Lord.
The reflection offering is especially
recommended for those who serve as Extraordinary
Ministers of Holy Communion in their respective
parishes, as a means of being rejuvenated for
service in the parish, to the sick and
homebound.
Teachers in parish religious education
programs, especially those who prepare children
for the sacraments, would benefit from this day.
It is also highly recommended for all persons
desiring personal refreshment through prayer and
reflection before the Eucharistic Lord.
The day of reflection includes celebration
of Mass and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Cost to attend the program is $30 and includes
lunch.
For more information and to register, call
Fatima Renewal Center at 563-8500. |
Mark Your Calendar |
Support Group for Separated, Divorced &
Widowed Persons, July 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 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 website:
www.dioceseofscranton.org.
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