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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Sacred Triduum Begins |
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Bishops Applaud Marriage Protection Amendment
Vote |
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Day of Reflection on Papal Encyclical |
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Mark Your Calendar |
Sacred Triduum Begins |
The three most sacred days of the
Church’s liturgical year, known as the Sacred
Triduum, begin today, Holy Thursday. The
Pontifical Concelebrated Evening Mass of the
Lord’s Supper will begin at 5 p.m. at St.
Peter’s Cathedral. Bishop Martino will be
principal celebrant for this commemoration of
the Last Supper that Christ shared with his 12
apostles. Night Prayer and recitation of the
Rosary will occur at 9 p.m.
The Sacred Triduum is a solemn time of
prayer, reflection and preparation for the
Church’s central feast of the Resurrection of
Christ from the dead, and serves as a reminder
to the faithful of Christ’s gifts to the
apostles on the night before He died: the
sacraments of Holy Eucharist, the gift of His
own body, blood, soul and divinity; and Holy
Orders, the ordained priesthood. It is also the
setting at which Bishop Martino, assisted by
deacons, will perform the solemn and ancient
re-enactment of Christ’s washing of the feet of
the apostles.
Good Friday is the only day of the Church’s
liturgical year on which the Church suspends the
daily celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the
Mass, as Catholics commemorate the Lord’s
Passion, crucifixion and death for the
redemption of humanity. It is a day of fast and
abstinence.
Good Friday services at the Cathedral will
begin at 8 a.m. with recitation of the Rosary
and Morning Prayer. From noon to 3 p.m., Father
Charles P. Connor, Ph.D., rector of the
Cathedral, will present a series of discourses
on the Seven Last Words (or phrases) of Our Lord
from the Cross. These meditations will be
interspersed with sacred music and spiritual
readings. The Stations of the Cross will be
observed at 3 p.m.
The Pontifical Liturgy of Good Friday will
begin at 5 p.m. Bishop Martino will lead the
service, which is comprised of a unique
three-part ceremony of Scripture reading of the
Passion of Christ, Veneration of the Cross and
distribution of the Holy Eucharist. Then
confessions will be heard from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.
The observance of Holy Saturday will begin
at 8 a.m. with recitation of the Rosary and
Morning Prayer. Confessions will be heard from
10:30 a.m. to noon, and 2:30 to 4 p.m. The
Solemn Pontifical Easter Vigil and Mass of the
Resurrection will begin at 8 p.m., with Bishop
Martino as the principal celebrant.
The most joyous day in the Church year is
Easter Sunday. Bishop Martino will be principal
celebrant and homilist at the 12:15 p.m.
Pontifical Mass of the Resurrection at the
Cathedral. Additional Easter Sunday Masses at
the Cathedral will take place at 6:30 and 10
a.m., and at 5 p.m.
Belief in the central mystery of the Risen
Savior unites Christianity in His promise of
life after death that can be achieved despite
the suffering and despair of human life.
Christians celebrate the Risen Lord’s sacrifice
for the redemption of the sins of man after
recalling the events in His life which led to
His passion and death during Lent and Holy Week.
During the Easter season, they renew their hope
for eternal life after their own struggles,
sufferings and deaths, and look forward to new
lives of glory with the Lord.
Catholic Television of the Diocese of
Scranton (CTV) will provide live coverage of the
Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday at 5
p.m., the Good Friday services consisting of the
discourses on the Seven Last Words of Our Lord
from noon to 3 p.m. and the celebration of the
Lord’s Passion at 5 p.m., and the Easter Vigil
liturgy on Saturday at 8 p.m. |
Bishops Applaud Marriage Protection Amendment
Vote |
HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania’s Catholic
bishops are applauding the March 18 successful
vote of SB 1250, the Pennsylvania Marriage
Protection Amendment, in the Senate Judiciary
Committee. The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference
(PCC) is among the strongest supporters of the
measure.
“Pennsylvanians overwhelmingly support
marriage as the union between one man and one
woman,” said Robert J. O’Hara, Jr., executive
director of the PCC. “SB 1250 starts the process
that will give Pennsylvanians the opportunity to
vote on the matter.
“Traditional marriage provides fundamental
benefits to society – mainly, the protection of
family and in particular, children. Research
demonstrates that one mother and one father
joined in a stable marriage is the best possible
situation for raising children. Certainly, not
every family fits this model, but redefining
marriage and creating state-sanctioned
motherless and fatherless families discounts
everything we know to be true about marriage.”
The bi-partisan list of Judiciary Committee
members who supported the bill includes: Sen.
Stewart Greenleaf (R-Montgomery); Sen. Joe
Scarnati (R-Jefferson); Sen. John Gordner
(R-Northumberland); Sen. Jane Orie
(R-Allegheny); Sen. Jeff Piccola (R-Dauphin);
Sen. John Rafferty (R-Chester); Sen. Lisa
Boscola (D-Northampton); Sen. Mike Stack
(D-Philadelphia); Sen. Barry Stout
(D-Washington); and Sen. Mary Jo White
(R-Venango).
The bishops commend the senators who voted
in favor of SB 1250. “It takes courage and
leadership to take a stand on a controversial
issue such as the marriage protection
amendment,” said Mr. O’Hara. “The bishops of
Pennsylvania strongly believe that defending
marriage as the union between one man and one
woman is best for society and is worth
protecting. Thanks to these supporters we are
one step closer to ensuring that marriage
remains defined as it is – one man and one
woman.”
SB 1250 will now be considered in the
Senate Appropriations Committee before being
voted on the Senate floor and in the House of
Representatives. To amend the state
constitution, the bill must be passed in two
consecutive sessions of the legislature, then
put on the ballot as a referendum for the
voters.
Note: Senators Boscola, Gordner and
Scarnati serve districts within the Diocese of
Scranton. To thank them for their support,
please contact them at the following locations:
Boscola, Lisa M. (D)
District 18
Northampton County
559 Main Street, Suite 270
Bethlehem, PA 18018
Ph. 610-868-8667
FAX 610-861-2184
Staff: Nancy Wilt
Gordner, John R. (R)
District 27
Northumberland County
603 W. Main Street
Bloomsburg, PA 17815
Ph. 570-784-3464
FAX 570-784-9379
Staff: Beth Pinterich
Scarnati, Joseph B. (R)
District 25
Jefferson County
315 Second Ave. 2nd Floor
Warren, PA 16365
Ph. 814-726-7201
FAX 814-726-7012
Staff: Todd Nyquist
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Day of Reflection on Papal Encyclical |
The Diocesan Pastoral Formation
Institute will sponsor a Day of Reflection on
Saturday, April 12, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
at Fatima Renewal Center, Dalton.
Presenter for the day is Brian J. Benestad,
Ph.D. from The University of Scranton. His topic
is “Spe Salvi: Encyclical of Pope Benedict XVI.”
Dr. Benestad will discuss how this second
encyclical of the Holy Father emphasizes the
virtue of hope as vital and necessary for
authentic Christian witness in today’s society.
Liturgy will be celebrated and the
Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available.
Fee is $25 which includes lunch. To
register, call Fatima Renewal Center at
570-563-8500. |
Mark Your Calendar |
Support Group for Separated, Divorced &
Widowed Persons, March 28 –– 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.
Natural Family Planning Course –– series of
classes begins on April 8 at 7 p.m. in
Swoyersville. Course instruction in the sympto-thermal
method by an NFP instructor approved by the
Diocese of Scranton. For more
information/registration, call Carol Niewinski
287-4670. Registration deadline: March 30.
Natural Family Planning Course –– series of
classes begins on April 16 at 7 p.m. in
Scranton. Course instruction in the sympto-thermal
method by an NFP instructor approved by the
Diocese of Scranton. For more
information/registration, call 282-5813.
Registration deadline: April 8.
Married/Engaged Couples Workshop: ‘‘Forever
Yes: Communicating for Lifelong Marriage,’’
April 19 –– 9 a.m. to 12 noon at St.
Nicholas Parish Center, Wilkes-Barre.
Communication skills workshop for all married
and engaged couples, sponsored by the Diocesan
Office for Parish Life, to help build marital
commitment. Registration fee: $35 per couple.
For more information & registration, call Parish
Life Office 207-2213 or visit the Diocesan Web
site: www.dioceseofscranton.org/family.
Engaged Encounter Weekend, April 25-27 ––
at Fatima Renewal Center, Dalton. Marriage
preparation weekend program sponsored by the
Diocesan Office for Parish Life/Family Life.
Begins Friday evening and concludes Sunday
afternoon. For more information, call Nancy &
Jim Wilson 344-8028 or Kelly & John Stagen
775-2802. To register, visit Diocesan Web site:
www.dioceseofscranton.org/Marriage Preparation.
Registration deadline: April 10.
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