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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Strengthening the Missionary Spirit of
Christians |
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Diocese Will Observe Respect Life Sunday |
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Background Checks Are Key Requirement of Efforts
to Protect Children |
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Learning About the Marriage Protection Amendment |
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Convocation for Catechists |
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Mark Your Calendar |
Strengthening the Missionary Spirit of
Christians |
In a recent letter for the Feast of St.
Therese of Lisieux, patron saint of missions,
Pope Benedict XVI affirms that the faithful are
encouraged “tirelessly to recognize the
importance of mission, so that Christ may be
known and loved everywhere.”
“… it is my hope that missionary vocations
may be forthcoming among priests, consecrated
people and laity, like those of missionaries of
earlier centuries who traversed all the
continents. May the Lord awaken in the hearts of
many young people the desire to commit
themselves completely to announcing the
salvation of Christ, above all in Africa, South
America, Asia and Oceania!”
The Diocese of Scranton will observe World
Mission Sunday with a Mass at 12:15 p.m. in St.
Peter’s Cathedral.
Bishop Joseph F. Martino noted that during
Baptism, each of us is given the responsibility
to be missionary – to share our faith and to be
active participants in the Church’s mission to
all peoples.
“World Mission Sunday gives us the
opportunity to reach out in faith to more than
two-thirds of the world’s people who have yet to
hear the ‘Good News’ of Jesus Christ, their
Savior, or to experience – through the word and
witness of missionaries – His abiding love,” the
Bishop said. “On World Mission Sunday, within
the context of the Eucharist, we can offer our
prayers and support, through the Society for the
Propagation of the Faith, for the mission of
making Jesus known ‘to the ends of the earth.’” |
Diocese Will Observe Respect Life Sunday |
The Diocese of Scranton will observe
Respect Life Sunday with the celebration of the
Respect Life Sunday Mass this Sunday, Oct. 7, at
10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Cathedral.
The public is invited to attend. The Mass will
also air live on CTV: Catholic Television.
Auxiliary Bishop John M. Dougherty will be
the principal celebrant and homilist. Students
from area Catholic schools and religious
education programs will serve in various
ministry roles.
The Respect Life Sunday Mass highlights the
Catholic Church’s respect for the sanctity and
dignity of life from conception to natural
death. It celebrates the life of the unborn,
persons with disabilities, the deaf, the ill,
and those in the last stages of earthly life. It
reminds us of the alternatives to abortion by
honoring those who have chosen adoption. The
liturgy is also offered for victims of abortion,
euthanasia, and the death penalty.
The Mass will provide an opportunity to
raise awareness about issues which the Church
vigorously opposes including embryonic stem cell
research, abortion, capital punishment, and
euthanasia.
Youth and young adults are encouraged to
attend this liturgy. The Mass will provide an
opportunity to foster and develop a sense of the
mission to uphold the sanctity and dignity of
human life, and to renew the Church’s commitment
to build a culture of life. |
Background Checks Are Key Requirement of Efforts
to Protect Children |
The national Charter for the
Protection of Children and Young People,
enacted by the U.S. Bishops, requires that all
employees in parishes and schools, as well as
volunteers who spend 20 or more hours per year
with children, must have an up-to-date
Pennsylvania Criminal Background Check and a
Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance. This
includes coaches, who are reminded that no
practice may be held until these clearances have
been received.
Gail Fromm, Diocesan compliance officer,
explains why this is so important to the
Diocese’s efforts to protect children:
“Almost every week, we read in the
newspaper about another adult arrested for child
sexual abuse. We watch television news in horror
as sexual offenders are caught by undercover
police officers in stings. We all shake our
heads in disbelief when the perpetrator is
someone we know, and we had no idea they were
capable of doing anything like this. Yet, I am
frequently asked, ‘Why do we need background
checks?’
“This is not a surprising reaction, given
that many of our employees and volunteers have
devoted many years of faithful service to our
parishes, schools and other institutions.
Naturally, we would assume that our colleagues,
friends and neighbors are beyond suspicion. But
when it comes to protecting children, we can’t
simply assume; we have to be as certain as
possible.”
Pennsylvania’s system for background checks
is twofold. The first is a State Police Criminal
History background check that can be done online
in a matter of minutes, and the second is a
Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance that
needs to be mailed in to Harrisburg and will be
returned to the applicant’s home address in two
weeks time. A copy of each of these clearances
needs to be on file in the parish or school
binder, or in the employee’s personnel file. The
clearances are valid for three years.
Obtaining background clearances, attending
a VIRTUS training session and reporting any
suspicious behavior are vital to creating safe
environments for children, Mrs. Fromm says.
“Instead of asking, ‘Why do we need
background checks?’ let’s be sure we never have
to answer the devastating question, ‘Why didn’t
we get a background check?’” she adds.
For detailed instructions and to download
the application forms, please go to
www.dioceseofscranton.org and click on
Compliance Office in the green bar on the left
side of the homepage.
Mrs. Fromm is available to answer questions
and provide assistance. She can be contacted at
877-5965. |
Learning About the Marriage Protection Amendment |
The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference is
conducting a campaign to encourage support for
the Pennsylvania Marriage Protection Amendment.
In conjunction with this effort, all priests
serving in the Diocese of Scranton have been
invited to a special presentation on Wednesday,
Oct. 10, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish Center
in Pittston.
The talk will be given by Eleanor Rossman,
executor director, and Christine O’Donnell,
communications director, Pennsylvania for
Marriage (www.pa4marriage.org). It will assist
clergy and parish personnel to communicate
effectively with legislators and others about
the necessity of a constitutional amendment to
protect marriage.
Bishop Joseph F. Martino noted that at some
point the Pennsylvania General Assembly may be
considering a bill to redefine marriage to
include same-sex unions.
“It is my sincere wish that all of the
faithful in the Diocese become informed and able
to communicate well the Church’s position on
marriage protection and why an amendment to the
state Constitution is necessary,” the Bishop
said.
More information on the Marriage Protection
Amendment will be forthcoming in The Catholic
Light, on CTV: Catholic Television and on
the Diocesan website: www.dioceseofscranton.org. |
Convocation for Catechists |
The Diocesan Convocation for Catechists
will be held on Saturday, Oct. 27. The day will
begin with Mass at 9 a.m. in St. Mary of the
Immaculate Conception Church in Wilkes-Barre.
Bishop Joseph F. Martino will be the principal
celebrant.
At 11 a.m. in Holy Redeemer High School
Auditorium, Christine Fletcher, Ph.D. will
deliver the keynote address entitled
“Evangelize? Me? How?” Lunch and workshops are
planned for the afternoon, and the day will
conclude at 3 p.m.
A special youth presentation offered by
Mike Filamor is planned for students preparing
to receive Confirmation and those who have
recently been confirmed. Mr. Filamor has been
working and volunteering in youth ministry for
15 years. He will make his presentation at 1
p.m. |
Mark Your Calendar |
Beginning Experience Weekend, Oct. 12-14
–– at Fatima Renewal Center, Dalton. Open to all
men and women who have lost a spouse through
death, divorce or separation. From Friday
evening through Sunday afternoon, the weekend
consists of talks by team members, followed by
private reflection and small-group sharing. For
more information & registration, call Mary at
629-0651 or Ann 587-2851.
Retrouvaille Weekend, Oct. 12-14 –– at
Fatima Renewal Center, Dalton. Sponsored by the
Diocesan Office for Parish Life/Family Life, the
weekend program is designed for couples to
address marital difficulties. Retrouvaille helps
couples to communicate better, using a method
that can aid in building a loving and lasting
relationship. Call 655-1916 or 800-470-2230 for
confidential information/registration, or visit
the Diocesan Web site: www.dioceseofscranton.org/marriage
& family support/marriage enrichment.
Northeastern Pennsylvania Catholic Deaf
Association Interpreted Mass, Oct. 14 –– at
St. Joseph’s Oblate Seminary, 1880 Highway 315,
Laflin. Religious information 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. 1013 –– voice/tdd.
Support Group for Separated, Divorced &
Widowed Persons, Oct. 19 –– 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 held every third Friday offers
support to cope with sorrow, doubt, anxiety and
loneliness after losing a spouse. For more
information/registration, call 342-5166.
Day of Reflection: “The Our Father: The
Prayer of Jesus,” Oct. 27 –– 9:30 a.m. to
2:30 p.m. at Fatima Renewal Center, Dalton.
Guest presenter: Father Joseph R. Kopacz, V.G.
Day includes celebration of Mass and the
Sacrament of Reconciliation. Fee: $25, includes
lunch. To register, call 563-8500 or e-mail:
Fatima@dioceseofscranton.org.
Natural Family Planning Course –– series of
classes begins on Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. at St.
Matthew Parish Center, East Stroudsburg. Course
instruction in the sympto-thermal method by an
NFP instructor approved by the Diocese of
Scranton. For more information/registration,
call 420-1319. Registration deadline: Oct. 20.
“Rachel’s Vineyard”: Post-Abortion Healing
Retreat –– Nov. 2-4. 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. For more information, including
registration, contact Denise Rowinski at
822-7118 ext. 307 or
drowinski@csswb.org.
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