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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The Church, An Assembly Called By God In The
World |
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Vatican Declines Petition from SDACT Regarding
Union Recognition |
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Weekend Retreat: St. Paul and Our Call to
Conversion |
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Lector Training Class |
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Mark Your Calendar |
The Church, An Assembly Called By God In The
World |
In a recent general audience, Pope
Benedict continued his catechesis on St. Paul,
speaking about the Apostle and the Church.
The Holy Father recalled that “the word
‘ekklesia’ in Greek comes from the Old Testament
and means the assembly of the People of Israel
called by God.” The word Church appears for the
first time in the Letter of St. Paul to the
Thessalonians, and in other Letters he speaks of
the Church of God that is in Corinth and
Galatia, etc., “but he also speaks of the fact
that ‘I have persecuted the Church of God,’ not
a particular local community, but the Church of
God.
“The Church possesses a pluridimensional
meaning: on one hand it means assemblies of God
in specific places – a city, a country – but it
also means the entire Church as a whole. In this
way we see that the Church of God is not an
association of local churches, but that these
are the realisation of the one Church of God.
Benedict XVI emphasised that “the word
Church is almost always accompanied by the words
‘of God;’ it is not a human association of ideas
and common interests but a call made by God. He
has called it and therefore it is one in all its
manifestations. God’s unity creates the Church’s
unity wherever it is.” |
Vatican Declines Petition from SDACT Regarding
Union Recognition |
The Vatican Congregation for Catholic
Education has declined the petition from the
Scranton Diocese Association of Catholic
Teachers (SDACT), which sought recourse to
Bishop Joseph F. Martino’s decision that SDACT
would not be recognized as a collective
bargaining unit for teachers in Diocesan
Catholic schools.
The decree from the Holy See, dated Sept.
24 in Rome and received here on Oct. 14, was
mailed to Bishop Martino and SDACT president
Michael Milz.
It notes that the Congregation for Catholic
Education is the competent superior authority in
this matter, and having studied the matter
carefully, has reached the following
conclusions:
1. That the Bishop and the Diocese of Scranton
have violated no civil or ecclesiastical law.
2. That Canon Law does not prohibit the Bishop’s
action.
3. That fair labor policy and wages can be
guaranteed by means other than those proposed by
the plaintiff.
4. That the law of the Church safeguards the
diocesan bishop’s broad authority over Catholic
education in his jurisdiction and discretion in
avoiding such actions he judges may interfere
with that authority.
5. That the Bishop, especially in view of the
restructuring of the Catholic schools in the
Diocese, was within his rights to alter the
Diocesan Policy Manual pertaining to Catholic
schools.
The Diocese issued the following statement
on the Vatican decision:
“The Diocese of Scranton is gratified that
the Holy See has affirmed the right of Bishop
Martino to make prudential judgments about the
most effective means to operate the Catholic
schools according to current circumstances in
his diocese, in a way that will be most
beneficial to students, teachers, parents,
parishioners and all those who support the
schools through generous stewardship.
“Moreover, this decision affirms the
Bishop’s position that dignity and justice for
his employees can be achieved in ways other than
membership in a union. In fact, the Employee
Relations Program is accomplishing that goal by
giving teachers and all school support staff the
opportunity to provide regular input concerning
wages, benefits, working conditions and a
process to address grievances.
“Most importantly, this decision refutes
what some people have erroneously charged: that
Bishop Martino was violating Church teaching or
social doctrine regarding labor unions. The
Bishop has consistently acted with the goal of
providing authentic Catholic education in an
atmosphere of respect and cooperation, and at a
cost that is affordable for as many families as
possible.” |
Weekend Retreat: St. Paul and Our Call to
Conversion |
| A weekend retreat, entitled “St. Paul
and Our Call to Conversion,” will be held at
Fatima Renewal Center, Dalton, on Oct. 24-26. It
begins with dinner on Friday at 6 p.m. and ends
with lunch on Sunday. Presenter is Father
Richard J. Loch, V.E. Fee is $115 per person or
$95 per person if registered as a couple. To
register call:570-563-8500. |
Lector Training Class |
| A Lector Training class will take place
at the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows, West
Eighth Street, West Wyoming, on Saturday, Nov.
8. The session will be held from 10 a.m. to
noon, followed by lunch, and then continuing
from 1 to 3 p.m. Marie Lendacky of King’s
College will be the instructor. Fee is $15. To
register, call the Pastoral Formation Institute
Office at 570-207-2213, Ext. 1107. |
Mark Your Calendar |
Religious Vocation Discernment Retreat, Oct.
24-26 — at Mother of the Eucharist Convent,
6100 Jacks Hollow Road, Williamsport. Open to
all young women, age 16 to 30. Sponsored by the
Capuchin Sisters of Nazareth, the weekend
retreat begins Friday at 4 p.m. and concludes 11
a.m. on Sunday. Retreatants will have the
opportunity to learn more about religious life,
how to discern a call to a religious vocation,
and experience community life and prayer.
Offered free of charge. For more information and
to register, call Sister Kelly in Williamsport
at 745-3334.
“Rachel’s Vineyard”: Post-Abortion Healing
Retreat –– Nov. 7-9. Confidential weekend
retreat facilitates spiritual and emotional
healing for men and women struggling with the
pain of abortion. Exercises based on Scripture
are designed to help participants experience
God’s mercy and compassion, and to reconcile
with their church, themselves and their child.
The retreat concludes with a Memorial and Mass
of Resurrection. Participation is strictly
confidential; financial assistance is available.
For more information, including registration,
contact Denise Rowinski at 822-7118 ext. 307 or
drowinski@csswb.org.
Day of Reflection: “Mary, Woman of Faith and
Mother of Compassion,” Nov. 15 –– 9:30 a.m.
to 2:30 p.m. at Fatima Renewal Center, Dalton.
Guest presenter: St. Joseph Oblate Father Paul
McDonnell. Offered by the Diocesan Office for
Parish Life, this Day of Reflection commemorates
the 150th anniversary of the Blessed Mother’s
apparitions to St. Bernadette at Lourdes, where
she proclaimed, “I am the Immaculate
Conception.” In addition to the celebration of
Mass and the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the
day’s program will also include a special
healing service in honor of Our Lady of Lourdes.
Fee: $25, includes lunch. To register, call
Fatima Center at 563-1131.
Support Group for Separated, Divorced &
Widowed Persons, Nov. 21 –– 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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