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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Respect the Rights and Dignity of Children |
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ACTION ALERT ON HEALTH CARE REFORM IN U.S.
SENATE |
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Our Lady of Guadalupe Celebrations |
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Charismatic Renewal Plans Advent Brunch |
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Mark Your Calendar |
Respect the Rights and Dignity of Children |
At the end of yesterday's general
audience, the Holy Father recalled the fact that
Friday marks the United Nations Day of Prayer
and Action for Children, called to mark the 20th
anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of
the Child.
“My thoughts go,” said Benedict XVI, “to
all the children of the world, especially those
who live in difficult conditions, and suffer
because of violence, abuse, sickness, war or
hunger.
“I invite you to join my prayers. At the
same time I make an appeal to the international
community to increase its efforts to offer an
adequate response to the dramatic problems of
infancy. May a generous commitment on everyone's
part not be lacking, so that the rights of
children may be recognized and their dignity
given ever greater respect.” |
ACTION ALERT ON HEALTH CARE REFORM IN U.S.
SENATE |
Tell Senators:
*Follow the House’s Lead on Removing Abortion
Funding
*Protect Conscience Rights
*Ensure Affordable Health Coverage
*Allow Immigrants to Purchase Private Health
Insurance
As long-time advocates of health care reform,
the U.S. Catholic bishops continue to make the
moral case for genuine health care reform that
will protect the life, dignity, consciences and
health of all, especially the poor and
vulnerable.
• On Nov. 7, the U.S. House of Representatives
passed major health care reform that reaffirms
the essential, longstanding and widely supported
policy against using federal funds for elective
abortion coverage.
• It is critical that the Senate adopt the
House-approved Stupak Amendment language on this
issue. This Amendment ensures that Americans are
not forced to pay for the destruction of unborn
children as part of needed health care reform.
• The Senate must address other essential moral
priorities: protecting conscience rights; making
health coverage more affordable and accessible
for those in need; and ensuring that immigrants
do not lose or will not be denied health care
coverage needed for the good of their families
and the health of society.
ACTION: Contact Senate and House Members
through e-mail, phone calls or FAX letters.
• To send a pre-written, instant e-mail to
Congress go to www.usccb.org/action
• Call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at:
202-224-3121, or call your Members’ local
offices. Full contact info can be found on
Members’ web sites at www.house.gov and
www.senate.gov
MESSAGE—SENATE:
“Please adopt the House-approved Stupak
Amendment that upholds longstanding policies
against abortion funding, and please protect
conscience rights in health care reform. Health
care must be made more affordable and accessible
to those in need, and immigrants must not lose
or be denied health care coverage.”
MESSAGE—HOUSE:
“I am pleased that the House-passed health care
reform bill maintains the longstanding policy
against federal funding of abortion. Please work
to ensure that this essential provision is
included in any final bill sent to the
President.”
WHEN: The Senate schedule is uncertain.
Act today! Thank you!
For more information on proposed legislation and
the bishops’ position on authentic health care
reform, visit: www.usccb.org/healthcare
Sign PA's Petition to Keep Federal
Abortion Funding Out of Health Care Reform!
Please show your opposition to public
funding of abortion! Sign Pennsylvania’s
petition to prevent federal abortion funding in
health care reform.
Go to http://www.paprolife.org/foca/foca4.htm
to add your signature. Please share the link
with your pro-life friends and family members.
We want to collect as many signatures as well
can so that we can send a strong message to
Congress that abortion is not health care. |
Our Lady of Guadalupe Celebrations |
The Virgin Mary appeared to an Indian
peasant – St. Juan Diego – in December 1531 in
Tepeyac, near present-day Mexico City. The
appearance is said to have resulted in millions
of conversions to Catholicism. Our Lady of
Guadalupe is honored as patroness of the
Americas and her feast day is Dec 12. The
schedule of celebrations in the Diocese of
Scranton is below.
Nativity of Our Lord
633 Orchard Street
Scranton, PA 18505
(570) 344-6159
Saturday, December 12
5:00 a.m. Maņanitas
1:00 p.m. Mass
Celebrant: Bishop John M. Dougherty
St. Mary of the Mount
27 Fairview Avenue
Mount Pocono, PA 18344
(570) 839 7138
Saturday, December 12
5:00 a.m. Maņanitas
St. Ann
Main Street
Tobyhanna, PA 18466
(570) 894-8018
Sunday, December 13
12:45 p.m. Mass
Celebrant: Father Al Bellantonio
St. Luke
818 Main Street
Stroudsburg, PA 18360
(570) 421-9097
Saturday, December 12
7:00 p.m. Mass
Celebrant: Father Al Bellantonio
St. Nicholas
226 South Washington Street
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702
(570) 823-7736
Saturday, December 12
5:00 a.m. Maņanitas
7:00 p.m. Mass
St. Gabriel
122 South Wyoming Street
Hazleton, PA 18201
(570) 454-0212
Sunday, December 6
Noon Mass |
Charismatic Renewal Plans Advent Brunch |
Catholic Charismatic prayer groups in
the Diocese of Scranton invite all diocesan
faithful to an Advent Brunch the groups are
planning for next month. The Charismatic Advent
gathering will be held on Saturday, Dec. 12, at
11 a.m. at the After Five restaurant/supper
club, located at 280 Main St., Dickson City.
Guest speaker for this event of prayer,
praise and fellowship will be Father Richard
Loch, V.E., Episcopal Vicar for Priests in the
Scranton Diocese.
For reservations for the Advent Brunch,
contact Karen McLaine (842-2503), Helen
Silvestri (876-1099) or Jack McQuade (639-0952). |
Mark Your Calendar |
Northeastern Pennsylvania Catholic Deaf
Association Interpreted Mass: Advent Sunday
Liturgy and Christmas Dinner, Dec. 13 –– at
St. Joseph’s Oblate Seminary, 1880 Highway 315,
Laflin. Sacrament of Reconciliation offered at 2
p.m., followed by Advent Mass (signed and
interpreted) celebrated at 3 p.m. Annual
Christmas dinner follows at 5 p.m. at Stultz’s
Family Restaurant (located across from the
seminary). Advance reservations required by Dec.
10. For more information and reservations,
contact Sister Mary Beth Makuch, SSCM, at
207-2213 ext. 1101 –– voice/tdd.
Support Group for Separated, Divorced and
Widowed Persons, Dec. 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.
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