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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Priests: Inner Strength, Dedication To Souls |
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Collection for the Care and Education of Priests
To Be Instituted |
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Businesses Can Support Catholic School Students
Through EITC Program |
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Mark Your Calendar |
Priests: Inner Strength, Dedication To Souls |
In a recent address to priests who
serve in apostolic nunciatures, Pope Benedict
XVI stressed the importance for all priests to
draw strength from their ultimate source of
inspiration – Jesus Christ.
“In moments of darkness and inner
difficulty,” the pope told the priests, “turn
your gaze to Christ. ... Always remember that it
is vital and fundamental for the priestly
ministry, however practiced, to maintain a
personal bond with Christ, He wants us as His
'friends', friends who seek intimacy with Him,
who follow His teaching and who undertake to
make Him known and loved by everyone.
“The Lord,” the pope added, “wants us to be
saints, in other words entirely 'His', not
concerned with building a career that is
interesting and comfortable in human terms, not
seeking success and the praise of others, but
entirely dedicated to the good of souls, ready
to do our duty unto the end, aware of being
'useful servants' and happy to offer our poor
contribution to the spreading of the Gospel.”
The Holy Father called upon his audience to
be “men of intense prayer who cultivate a
communion of love and life with the Lord.
Without this solid spiritual base, how would it
be possible to continue our ministry? Those who
work in the Lord's vineyard in this way know
that what is achieved with dedication, with
sacrifice and for love, is never lost.”
The Year for Priests, which is due to begin
on June 19, “represents a valuable occasion to
renew and strengthen your generous response to
the Lord's call, in order to intensify your
relationship with Him,” the pope concluded. “Use
this opportunity to the utmost so as to be
priests in accordance with the dictates of
Christ's heart, like St. Jean Marie Vianney,
'Cure of Ars', the 150th anniversary of whose
death we are preparing to celebrate.” |
Collection for the Care and Education of Priests
To Be Instituted |
Bishop Martino, after consulting with
the Diocesan Finance Council and the Council of
Priests, has concluded that he is obliged to
institute a new Collection for the Care and
Education of Priests.
This will be a second collection to be
taken up at Masses over the first weekend of
every month beginning in July. Special envelopes
have been or eventually will be provided to
parishioners as part of their offertory set.
As the priest population in the Diocese of
Scranton continues to age, the costs of
providing medical and post-retirement care
continue to escalate. At the same time, costs
are increasing for the formation of new priests
and the continuing education of current priests
who must be prepared to deal with complex issues
as they minister in today’s society.
“We have an obligation to care for the
priests who have served us so faithfully
throughout the years. And we also must ensure
that we have a well-trained contingent of clergy
to serve us in the future,” he said. “The costs
of fulfilling these obligations are enormous.”
Bishop Martino said the ordinary revenues
generated for the Diocesan budget are simply not
sufficient to cover these costs. As it stands
today, clergy care accounts for 60% of the
Diocesan budget.
The total amount contributed by the
parishes and the Diocesan Annual Appeal is
$6,771,996. The actual expenses are $8,629,837.
This leaves a shortfall of $1,857,841 in the
current Diocesan budget for the care and
education of clergy.
Pastors will announce this new collection
at Masses over the Father’s Day weekend, June
20-21. They will receive a special insert for
use in their bulletins that weekend.
More details about the collection will be
published in the June 11 edition of The
Catholic Light. |
Businesses Can Support Catholic School Students
Through EITC Program |
Applications for tax credits due by June 30
Each year more than 1,100 students are able
to attend Diocesan Catholic schools thanks to
area companies generously supporting the
Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC)
program. In the current academic year, EITC
contributions totaled $921,525. This assistance
reaches into every school system and grade from
pre-kindergarten through high school seniors.
Established in 2001, the EITC program has
been an outstanding way for community-minded
businesses to reduce their amount of taxable
income and provide thousands of families the
opportunity to choose Catholic education. Tax
credits reduce businesses’ actual tax bill,
dollar-for-dollar.
Now is the time for companies to renew
participation or to enter into the program for
the coming academic year. Businesses qualify if
they pay any of the following Pennsylvania
taxes: Corporate Net Income Tax, Capital Stock
and Franchise Tax, Bank and Trust Company Shares
Tax, Title Insurance Companies Shares Tax,
Insurance Premiums Tax, the Mutual Thrift
Institutions Tax, and Personal Income Tax
Liability Tax..
A policy change made last year now opens
participation to Subchapter S corporations and
other business entities that pay their state
business taxes under the personal income tax on
Pennsylvania business income.
Requests by families for financial aid to
attend Catholic schools continue to grow. We are
already seeing an increase for the 2009-10 year
and increased participation in the EITC program
is vital to help meet these needs. Immediate
action is required on three fronts:
Current EITC Participants: The renewal
period is now open and renewal commitments must
be received by Tuesday, June 30, 2009 to be
processed prior to other applications received.
Forms and information have been mailed to all
current participants. If you are an existing
participant and have not received renewal
information, or if you have questions, please
call the Diocese Development Office at
570-207-2250.
Past EITC Participants: Now is your
opportunity to re-commit to helping our young
children receive a quality, Catholic education.
Your past assistance provided critically needed
assistance for future students. Funds received
through EITC support are used in the academic
year in which they are received and must be
renewed annually if assistance is to be there in
subsequent academic years.
New Partners: For those companies that
have not yet been asked to participate, please
consider this your invitation to become
involved. You can make a difference in our
community, and to the families of your employees
and customers. It is a meaningful way for you to
impact the lives of young people and their
future. Members of the Diocese development team
are prepared to visit with you, provide
information on the program, discuss your
specific situation, and assist you with the
enrollment program. To explore your options,
please call the Diocese Development Office at
570-207-2250.
More than 3,200 businesses across
Pennsylvania have provided more than
$350,000,000 to the EITC program since its
inception. This is your opportunity to join with
other leading companies who chose to help
strengthen Pennsylvania’s future through a
strong education of our current generation of
students.
Your help is needed. Together, your company
and the Diocese can do great things for our
students. |
Mark Your Calendar |
Northeastern Pennsylvania Catholic Deaf
Association Interpreted Mass, June 14 –– 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.
Support Group for Separated, Divorced &
Widowed Persons, June 19 –– 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.
Day of Reflection: “Our Journey to the
Eucharist,” July 18 –– 9:30 a.m. to 2:30
p.m. at Fatima Renewal Center, Dalton. Guest
presenter: Father James P. Dougher. Program
provides “rest and reflection” before the
Eucharistic Lord, and is highly recommended for
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and
those involved in the Sacramental preparation of
children. Day includes celebration of Mass and
the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Fee: $30,
includes lunch. To register, call 563-8500.
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