This Issue:

Bishop To Preside At Corpus Christi Celebration

Kathleen P. Hanlon Appointed Superintendent of Schools

Summer Speaker Series Event in Wellsboro

Diocesan Adult Faith Formation Initiatives Nominated for National Catechetical Award

Pastoral Formation Institute Offers Programs

Mass of Remembrance

Mark Your Calendar

Bishop To Preside At Corpus Christi Celebration

     The Catholic Church celebrates Corpus Christi, the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, 60 days after Easter to commemorate the institution of the Eucharist and to emphasize the recognition of Jesus Christ’s real presence in the Eucharist.
     The Diocese of Scranton will celebrate the solemnity on Sunday, June 6 as various parishes conduct special services, processions and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
     Bishop Joseph C. Bambera will preside and give the homily at the 11 a.m. Mass at Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Dickson City. Bishop Bambera was pastor there from 2001-2005.
     The liturgy will include an outdoor procession with the Blessed Sacrament carried under a canopy to three altars for veneration. Scripture readings and hymns, led by the St. Mary Parish Choir, will be offered at each altar.
     Following Mass, a reception will be held in the LaSalle Academy Primary Campus school building.
     Monsignor Patrick Pratico, pastor, and Fathers Joseph Rusin and Walter Skiba will concelebrate. Deacons for the Mass are Gerald Carpenter and Ed Kelly.
     A listing of other parishes that have provided information about special services for Corpus Christi will be published in the June 3 issue of The Catholic Light.

Kathleen P. Hanlon Appointed Superintendent of Schools

     Bishop Bambera has appointed Kathleen P. Hanlon as Diocesan Secretary for Catholic Schools and Superintendent of Schools. She had been serving in these positions on an acting basis since Jan. 5.
     In this role, Ms. Hanlon oversees the four regional Catholic school systems in the Diocese. The systems consist of four high schools and 21 elementary schools.
     “I am pleased to appoint Ms. Hanlon as Superintendent of Schools,” Bishop Bambera said. “She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience as well as creative ideas that will serve this aspect of the Church’s mission very well.”
     Ms. Hanlon has held several faculty and administrative positions in Diocesan Catholic schools.
     She was a teacher and administrative intern at Bishop Hafey Jr./Sr. High School, Hazleton, from 1994-98; and principal of Regis Elementary School, Forty Fort, from 1999-2002.
     From 2003-07 she was assistant superintendent for secondary education and principal of Allentown Central Catholic High School in the Diocese of Allentown. She also has been an adjunct instructor in the Graduate School of Education at Marywood University.
     For the past three years, she has been serving as a system director for the Diocese.
     Ms. Hanlon is a graduate of Bishop O’Reilly High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in math/secondary education and principal certification from Marywood.
     She received a Master of Education degree from Harvard University, and is pursuing a doctorate in education from the University of Pennsylvania.
     Ms. Hanlon has professional certification in secondary administration and in mathematics, both instructional and advanced professional.
     She is a member of Holy Name/St. Mary Parish in Swoyersville.

Summer Speaker Series Event in Wellsboro

     Dr. Cyrus P. Olsen will speak at St. Peter’s Church in Wellsboro at 7 p.m. on June 21 as part of the Summer Speaker Series sponsored by the Office for Parish Life and Evangelization. The topic will be “Beauty, Justice, and the Catholic Tradition.”
     Dr. Olsen is an assistant professor of systematic theology and director of the graduate program of theology at The University of Scranton. He has a doctorate in systematic theology from the University of Oxford and has been published in numerous academic journals.
     The June 21 event is free and open to the public. To register, call St. Peter’s Parish office at 570-724-3371.

Diocesan Adult Faith Formation Initiatives Nominated for National Catechetical Award

     The adult faith formation initiatives of the Diocese of Scranton were nominated this past spring for the National Conference of Catechetical Leadership’s “New Wineskins” Award.
     The NCCL created the award to “highlight and celebrate extraordinary achievement occurring in a diocese in the ministries of evangelization and catechesis” and initiatives that “reflect the spirit of the ‘new evangelization’ promulgated by Pope John Paul II and the General/National Directories for Catechesis.”
     Particularly singled out were the Diocese’s comprehensive adult faith formation website and Disciple, a free adult faith formation resource published online each month. To visit the Diocese’s adult faith formation page, please visit www.dioceseofscranton.org and see the link in the left column for "Adult Faith Formation."

Pastoral Formation Institute Offers Programs

Continuing Ed Programs on Bereavement and Youth Ministry
     The Office for Parish Life and Evangelization/Pastoral Formation Institute is offering two continuing education programs for those involved in parish ministries.
     On Tuesday, June 8, Sister Jane O’Donnell, RSM, a counselor at Mercy Consultation Center, Dallas, will present Bereavement: Season of Hope and Healing at St. John the Evangelist Church Hall, Pittston. The session is from 6-8:30 p.m.
     The program is designed for parish support groups that offer assistance to those experiencing grief and loss. Sister will share with the participants the elements of being compassionately present to those in the grieving process. These elements include: learning listening skills, understanding feelings of grief, acknowledging that grief is part of the healing process, providing a safe environment for those who grieve, and respecting the confidentiality of each person.
     This session is essential for parishes who are beginning bereavement programs or for those who need refreshing input to their existing ones. Fee: $20 per person or a flat fee of $50 for three or more persons from one parish.
     Father Cyril D. Edwards, pastor of Holy Rosary, St. Joseph, and St. Anthony of Padua Parishes, Scranton, will present Dynamics of Youth Ministry, at St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Mater Dolorosa Hall, Williamsport, on Thursday, July 8, from 6:30-9 p.m.
     This session will present a comprehensive approach in forming a successful youth ministry program in any parish. The key concepts that will be addressed are: creating a vision statement that will guide future activities, selecting effective leadership personnel, and discussing the problematic areas that often impede the creation of a successful youth program. In addition, a variety of practical projects for youth groups will be given.
     The workshop will prove helpful for parishes just starting a youth group or for those that wish to enhance an existing one. Fee: $20 per person or a flat fee of $50 for three or more persons from one parish.
     To register for these programs, call 570-207-2213, ext. 1107.

Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion Training set for June and July
     Two training sessions are set for those wishing to serve as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion in their parishes. Attendance at all three sessions is required for certification.
     The first session will take place at the Diocesan Center, Scranton, on July 13, 20 and 27 from 6:30-9 p.m. Instructor is Deacon Gerard Carpenter.
     On July 12, 19 and 26, the training will take place at Holy Redeemer High School, Wilkes-Barre, from 6:30-9 p.m. Instructor is Deacon Thomas Cesarini.
     Fee is $30 per person. To register, call 570-207-2213, ext. 1107.

Mass of Remembrance

     The Diocese of Scranton is offering the annual Mass in remembrance of victims of violent or tragic death. The Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, July 15, at 7 p.m. in St. Peter’s Cathedral.
     The Mass is offered for those who have died in tragedy, especially those who have died through murder, suicide and accident. All who grieve the loss of family members or friends are invited to this liturgy to remember and celebrate the lives of their loved ones.
     For more information, please contact the Office of Social Concerns/Pro-Life at 207-2213, ext. 1130.
     To register the name of a loved one to be remembered at the Mass, please call the Office of Social Concerns/Pro-Life or visit the Social Concerns/Pro-Life web page on the Diocese of Scranton’s web site, www.dioceseofscranton.org. On the web page, visitors will find registration forms that may be downloaded and printed.

Mark Your Calendar

Sacred Heart Enthronement Guild annual Mass and dinner in celebration of the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, June 10 – 5 p.m. in the IHM Center at Marywood University. Father Daniel Toomey, spiritual moderator of the Enthronement Guild, will serve as principal celebrant. Liturgy followed by dinner in the IHM Center, with featured speaker Father Bryan Wright. For information on Sacred Heart Enthronement or to make reservations for the June 10 dinner, call Immaculate Heart of Mary Sister Celesta Sinisi at 330-0248.

Up and Over weekend youth retreat for 7th and 8th graders at Fatima Renewal Center, June 11-13. Theme is teamwork and recognizing the ways in which God has gifted you. Weekend includes Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Sacrament of Reconciliation, a movie, fun activities, opportunities for free time, all you can eat buffet-style meals, and your own private room. Cost is $100 (which includes a $25 non-refundable deposit). To register call Fatima Center at 563-8500 or register online at www.fatimarenewalcenter.org. Deadline to register is June 1.

Northeastern Pennsylvania Catholic Deaf Association Interpreted Mass, June 13 –– at St. Joseph’s Oblates 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. 1101.

Wedding Anniversary Mass, June 13 – 2:30 p.m. at St. Peter’s Cathedral. Diocese will honor couples from 11counties who are celebrating their 25th, 50th and beyond wedding anniversaries this year. Bishop Bambera will be the principal celebrant and homilist, and couples will renew their wedding vows. A reception for couples and their guests will follow at Holy Cross High School on Wyoming Avenue across from the Cathedral. During the reception, Bishop Bambera will greet each couple and a photo will be taken. Couples who have not yet registered for the Mass can do so by contacting the Office for Parish Life and Evangelization at 570-207-2213.

Support Group for Separated, Divorced & Widowed Persons, June 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 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 Call to Holiness,” July 17 –– 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Fatima Renewal Center, Dalton. Guest presenter: Immaculate Heart of Mary Sister Cor Immaculatum Heffernan, who will lead participants in a day of prayer and reflection on the Baptismal call to be Christ in the world. The day includes celebration of Mass and opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Fee: $30, includes lunch. To register, call Fatima Renewal Center at 563-8500.