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:
|
| Plenary
Indulgence For World Meeting Of Families |
| Bishop
Martino Directs Special Collection For Flood
Relief |
| Time
Is Now To Protect Marriage In Pennsylvania |
| Liturgy
Of Remembrance To Be Celebrated July 12 |
| Beginning
Experience Weekend Assists Grieving Spouses |
| Day
Of Reflection On The Eucharist |
Plenary Indulgence For World Meeting Of Families |
For the occasion
of the Fifth World Meeting of Families to be
held in Valencia, Spain from July 1-9, Pope
Benedict XVI will concede Plenary Indulgence to
those faithful who participate in any of the
associated celebrations and in the closing
ceremony. Those who cannot attend the meeting
can obtain the indulgence by praying for the
family.
The Holy Father
will attend the closing ceremony of the meeting
and hopes, the decree states, “that the many
people from all over the world who come together
in Valencia may participate enthusiastically and
dutifully in the various initiatives and
liturgical celebrations taking place there in
favor of the family, and that, having returned
to their own homes fortified by the grace of
God, they may dedicate themselves generously to
molding their own families and those of their
neighbors to the holy rules of the Gospel.”
Moreover, the
decree continues, the pope asks the Most Holy
Trinity “that great benefit may be forthcoming
to the Church; especially through profound
reflection on the theme of the family, seat of
life and of love, domestic church in which
parents transmit to children the priceless gift
of faith.”
The Plenary
Indulgence will be granted under the usual
conditions (sacramental confession, Eucharistic
communion and prayer in keeping with the
intentions of the Supreme Pontiff, with the soul
completely removed from attachment to any form
of sin), to those who participate in any of the
solemn functions of the World Meeting of
Families.
All other faithful
who are unable to participate in that event, may
obtain the same gift of Plenary Indulgence,
under the same conditions, over the days the
meeting is held and on its closing day if,
united in spirit and thought with the faithful
present in Valencia, they recite in the family
the Our Father, the Creed, and other devout
prayers calling on Divine Mercy to concede the
above-mentioned aims. |
Bishop Martino Directs Special Collection For
Flood Relief |
Bishop Joseph F.
Martino has directed that a second collection be
taken in all parishes at Masses of obligation
this weekend, July 1-2, to provide assistance to
people afflicted by the recent flooding in the
area.
In a letter to
pastors, Bishop Martino said the collection was
necessary “to help alleviate the suffering in
our midst. The damage in the Diocese of Scranton
is very widespread. Thousands of our brothers
and sisters have been affected.”
“Please know of
my gratitude for your cooperation in this most
necessary outreach to the victims of this
natural disaster,” the Bishop wrote.
Monies raised by
the collection will be forwarded to Diocesan
Catholic Social Services.
Msgr. Joseph P.
Kelly, Diocesan Secretary for Catholic Human
Services and executive director of Catholic
Social Services, said the agency will be
coordinating assistance to households at the
parish level. |
Time Is Now To Protect Marriage In Pennsylvania |
On June 6, by a
vote of 137-60, the Pennsylvania House of
Representatives approved a proposal to amend the
Pennsylvania Constitution with this statement:
Only a marriage
between one man and one woman shall be valid or
recognized as a marriage in this Commonwealth,
and neither the Commonwealth nor any of its
political subdivisions shall create or recognize
a legal union identical or substantially
equivalent to that of marriage for unmarried
individuals.
On June 13, the
Senate Judiciary Committee amended the measure
by striking all the language “after the
comma.” This version will not prevent civil
unions that are identical or nearly equivalent
to marriage.
The legislation
will now go back to the House of
Representatives. The two chambers must reconcile
the language differences. To amend the state
constitution, both chambers of the Pennsylvania
Legislature must pass an identical bill in two
separate legislative sessions before it can be
placed on the ballot for voters to ratify. This
must occur 90 days before the general election,
which means they would have to agree on the
wording before leaving for the summer recess to
get it on the ballot next year.
So, the battle to
protect marriage in Pennsylvania is not over
yet, but this is a critical moment.
The constitutional
amendment to protect marriage in Pennsylvania
has a good chance of getting one more shot at
success this week. But for this to happen,
legislators need to hear from constituents that
the time is now to protect marriage in PA! The
vote could happen between now and Saturday, so
action must be taken now. Here’s what you can
do:
* Even if someone has already contacted his or
her state lawmakers before, they need to hear
from them again. The marriage protection bill
has changed and lawmakers will be casting
important votes – again – that may determine
the future of marriage in Pennsylvania.
* Call and E-mail your State Representative with
this message: PLEASE VOTE IN FAVOR OF RESTORING
HB 2381 WITH PROTECTIONS FOR MARRIAGE DEFINITION
AND PROTECTIONS AGAINST CIVIL UNIONS. Without
full protection, an activist court could order
civil unions or other marriage substitutes in
our state in the near future.
* Call and E-mail your State Senator with this
message: PLEASE VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE MARRIAGE
PROTECTION AMENDMENT WITH PROTECTIONS AGAINST
CIVIL UNIONS, WHEN IT’S SENT BACK FROM THE
HOUSE. Tell your State Senator that simply
protecting the word “marriage” is not
enough!
* Spread the word to your trusted friends,
family, parish and anyone who cares about the
fate of the institution of marriage in
Pennsylvania. Urge them to contact their PA
State Representatives and State Senators ASAP.
Direct them to www.pacatholic.org to look up
their legislator’s phone number or to quickly
and easily send an e-mail message today. |
Liturgy Of Remembrance To Be Celebrated July 12 |
The annual
Liturgy of Remembrance will be held on
Wednesday, July 12, at 7 p.m. at St. Peter’s
Cathedral in Scranton.
The Diocese of
Scranton offers this special Mass to remember
individuals who have died in tragedy, especially
through murder, suicide and accidental death.
All who grieve the loss of a loved one are
invited to this liturgy to remember and
celebrate the lives of the deceased.
There will be a
light reception at St. Mary’s Center, 320
Mifflin Ave., Scranton, immediately following
the liturgy. |
Beginning Experience Weekend Assists Grieving
Spouses |
The next
Beginning Experience Weekend for men and women
who have lost a spouse through death, divorce or
separation will meet July 21-23 at St.
Gabriel’s Retreat House in Clarks Summit.
The Beginning
Experience weekend program creates an atmosphere
of care and concern that helps persons emerge
from their grief into renewed hope. The program
is presented by a team of people who have
suffered the loss of a loved one and are willing
to share their own experience.
The weekend
consists of talks given by team members followed
by personal private reflection and small-group
sharing. It is a healing journey through which a
deep sense of community develops.
For more
information on the Beginning Experience weekend,
please contact Shirley at 654-9523 or Gregory at
868-8740. |
Day Of Reflection On The Eucharist |
The Diocese of
Scranton’s Pastoral Formation Institute will
sponsor a Day of Reflection at St. Joseph Oblate
Seminary, Pittston, on Saturday, July 29, from
9:30 a.m. to
2:30 p.m. Father Paul McDonnell, OSJ, provincial
superior of the Oblates of St. Joseph, will make
a presentation on “Our Journey to the
Eucharist.”
The day will focus
on one’s personal response to the Lord’s
invitation to “come and rest a while” before
the Eucharistic Presence. It will provide quiet
time and reflection to move prayerfully into a
deeper relationship with the Lord. Liturgy will
be celebrated and the Sacrament of
Reconciliation will be available.
Fee is $25 which
includes lunch. To register, contact the Office
for Parish Life at 570-207-2213, Ext. 1107.
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