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.
Subscribe to News Briefing |
This Issue:
|
|
Diocese Educating Staff and Volunteers About
Child Protective Services Law |
|
Catholic Communication Campaign Collection May
19-20 |
|
“Our Faith, Our Diocese” on CTV |
|
Sacred Heart Enthronement Guild Annual Dinner |
|
Mark Your Calendar |
Diocese Educating Staff and Volunteers About
Child Protective Services Law |
The Diocese of Scranton is taking steps
to ensure that all clergy, religious, lay
employees and volunteers are fully informed
about the duties and the responsibilities that
are imposed upon them by the Pennsylvania Child
Protective Services Law.
The law, which spells out who is required
to report actual or suspected cases of child
abuse, was recently amended to expand the
categories of people who must report. The
amended version of the law also makes failure to
report suspected cases of child abuse a crime.
Previously, law enforcement personnel,
medical personnel, day care staff, teachers and
lawyers were required to report. Now, effective
May 28, those required to report include any
individuals both paid and volunteer to whom
children are “under the care, supervision,
guidance, or training of (the mandated reporter)
or of an agency, institution, organization or
other entity with whom that person is
affiliated.”
For the Catholic Church, this means that a
variety of employees and volunteers are now
required to report, according to Gail Fromm, the
Diocese of Scranton’s compliance officer. She is
directing an effort to make everyone aware of
the law their responsibilities to comply with
it.
The Diocese has produced a brochure
detailing the law. The brochure is posted on the
Diocesan website and will be printed in the May
17 issue of The Catholic Light.
Mrs. Fromm and James Burke, Diocesan human
resources director, recently made presentations
to all clergy and provided them with copies of
the brochure to pass on to their staff and
volunteers. Brochures have also been distributed
to the Catholic school principals for
dissemination to their staff and volunteers.
Plans are being made to distribute
brochures to those involved in religious
education programs and to the staff and
volunteers of any other program or institution
that deals with children.
“We would like to emphasize that we are not
required to investigate any suspicions; that is
the jurisdiction of the proper authorities,”
Mrs. Fromm said. “It is only our job to report
‘any reasonable cause to suspect’ that child
abuse has occurred. But if there is any question
about whether to report, we strongly urge to err
on the side of making the report and then
depending on the trained professionals to
determine what has actually transpired.”
She added that the law specifically grants
legal immunity to any individual who, in good
faith, reports suspected child abuse. Clergy are
not permitted by Church law and are not required
by state law to report information received
during sacramental confession or spiritual
counseling.
Details on what constitutes child abuse and
how to report it are spelled out in the
brochure. Any questions about the law or
requests for copies of the brochure should be
directed to Mrs. Fromm at 570-207-2214. |
Catholic Communication Campaign Collection May
19-20 |
A variety of print and electronic media
are now key components of the Catholic Church’s
mission to evangelize the world.
All of these endeavors are aided by the
Catholic Communication Campaign, which annually
seeks monetary support for a range of
communication programs, nationally and locally,
that bring the Gospel message to people of all
ages.
This year’s collection will be taken up in
Diocesan parishes the weekend of May 19-20.
The Catholic Communication Campaign is an
activity of the United States Conference of
Catholic Bishops that develops media
programming, public service announcements, and
other resources to promote Gospel values.
Donations from Catholic parishioners to the
annual collection make possible the work of the
CCC.
Since 50% of all contributions to the
annual campaign stay right in the Diocese to
support local projects, the generosity of the
faithful directly impacts and aids The
Catholic Light, Catholic Television (CTV),
and the Diocesan website.
“The Catholic Communication Campaign and
our diocesan communications office produce a
variety of programming that educates,
entertains, and inspires the faithful. I ask
that you review what is offered each week and
make informed choices that will nurture the
faith of your family members,” said Bishop
Joseph F. Martino. “The Good News must be part
of our busy lives. I urge you to support the
Catholic Communication Campaign, to make the
Good News part of your daily life.” |
“Our Faith, Our Diocese” on CTV |
The May edition of “Our Faith, Our
Diocese” premieres Sunday, May 13, at 8 p.m. on
CTV: Catholic Television.
In this program, Bishop Joseph F. Martino
reminds us how our daily witness of faith is a
powerful means of sharing the good news with
others.
Gail Fromm, compliance officer for the
Diocese, discusses what Church personnel,
teachers and volunteers need to know regarding
the new provisions of the Child Protective
Services Law that take effect on May 28.
Jessica Johnstone and Paul Walters,
coordinators of a new program known as Catholic
Underground, explain how area Catholics are
gathering at the Shrine of the Sacred Heart in
Harleigh each month for the opportunity to
worship our Lord and celebrate their Catholic
faith.
Another segment reports on how the youth
ministry programs from three local parishes are
joining forces to sponsor a summer youth rally
at St. Jude’s parish in Mountaintop next month.
As part of his on-going series on the
history of the Diocese, Father Charles Connor
takes us to Towanda in Bradford County, where
the Sisters of the Holy Child congregation in
England established their first foundation in
America.
Air dates for the May program are:
Sunday, May 13, 8 p.m.
Tuesday, May 15, 9 a.m.
Friday, May 18, 2 p.m.
Tuesday, May 22, 8 p.m.
Wednesday, May 23, 4 p.m.
Thursday, May 31, 11 a.m.
Thursday, May 31, 9 p.m. |
Sacred Heart Enthronement Guild Annual Dinner |
The annual Mass of the Enthronement of
the Sacred Heart Guild in celebration of the
Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus will be
offered on Thursday, June 14, at 4 p.m. in the
IHM Center at Marywood University, Scranton.
Father Daniel Toomey, spiritual moderator of the
Enthronement Guild, will be principal celebrant.
The Enthronement Guild’s annual dinner
following the Mass will feature guest speaker
Raymond de Souza and his presentation, “The Real
Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist – Logic at
the Service of Faith.”
Founder and director of St. Gabriel
Communications, which promotes Catholic
Apologetics, Mr. de Souza also serves as
chairman of the New Evangelization Office of the
National Shrine of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in
Harleigh. He is internationally known for his
work on Catholic radio and television and among
lay organizations around the world. Mr. de Souza
is currently featured on the new series
broadcast on EWTN, “Jesus Christ: True God and
True Man.”
The Enthronement of the Sacred Heart
apostolate enables individuals and families to
consecrate their homes to the Sacred Heart of
Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Homes
then become an extension of the liturgy, whereby
members of enthroned households may follow up on
their Eucharistic devotion in Church with
further prayerful devotion at home.
For further information on Enthronement or
to secure reservations for the annual dinner,
please contact Immaculate Heart of Mary Sister
Celesta Sinisi at 330-0248. |
Mark Your Calendar |
Support Group for Separated, Divorced &
Widowed Persons, May 18 –– 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 (every third Friday) offers
support to cope with sorrow, doubt, anxiety and
loneliness after losing a spouse. For more
information/registration, call 342-5166.
Natural Family Planning Course –– offered
in Scranton. Series of classes beginning June 4
at 7 p.m. Course instruction in the sympto-thermal
method by an NFP instructor approved by the
Diocese of Scranton. For more
information/registration, call 941-8935.
Registration deadline: May 30.
Day of Reflection for Senior Citizens,
June 26 –– 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Fatima
Renewal Center, Dalton. Guest presenter: Msgr.
David L. Tressler, pastor of St. Patrick Parish,
Scranton. Day includes Mass, talks and quiet
time for reflection. Sacrament of Reconciliation
available; picnic lunch is included. Groups and
buses are welcome. Cost: $25. Pre-registration
required. For more information and registration,
call Fatima Center (563-8500), or e-mail:
Fatima@dioceseofscranton.org.
|
|
