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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News Briefing |
This Issue:
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Safe Environment Lessons for Parish Religious
Education Programs |
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Retreat: St. Paul and Our Call to Holiness |
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Lecture Series on Traditions of Christian Art |
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Diocese Seeks Director of Development |
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Position Available: Accounts Receivable Clerk |
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Mark Your Calendar |
Safe Environment Lessons for Parish Religious
Education Programs |
The Diocese of Scranton is introducing
safe environment lessons in its parish Religious
Education programs this fall. The lessons are
designed by the VIRTUS Teaching Touching Safety
Program to help educate children and young
people about how to recognize and prevent sexual
abuse.
Since the spring of 2005, this program has
been used in Diocesan Catholic schools. It will
now be added to the religious education program
to complement the safe environment programs used
by public schools as required by the state
Department of Education.
VIRTUS has designed six lessons to be
taught in Catholic schools and in parish
Religious Education programs over a period of
three years. The catechists in the Religious
Education programs will be teaching the first
two lessons in the fall semester. Two lessons
have been condensed into one so that they can be
taught in one religious education class.
Gail Fromm, Diocesan compliance officer,
will introduce each director of religious
education (DRE) or parish coordinator to the
program to ensure its success. Upon completion
of the lesson, a report will be made to Sarah
Mountain, Diocesan VIRTUS coordinator.
The Catholic Church affirms that parents
are the first educators of their children and
parental involvement is critical to the success
of this program. Before any lessons can be
taught in the religious education class, parents
will receive a letter from the pastor and DRE
explaining the program and including an Opt-Out
form. In addition, parents will be given a
VIRTUS publication entitled: Protecting God’s
Children/Teaching Touching Safety: A Guide for
Parents, Guardians, and Other Caring Adults.
Parents who decide that they do not want their
child to participate in the program will be
given the lesson to complete at home.
The lessons have been geared to four
different grade levels: K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12.
They will be taught over the next three years:
Fall 2008 – Lesson 1 for Religious Education:
1. Touching Safety Rules
2. Safe Friends, Safe Adults, and Safe Touches
Fall 2009 – Lesson 2 for Religious Education:
1. Boundaries
2. Telling Someone You Trust
Fall 2010 – Lesson 3 for Religious Education:
1. Grooming
2. “No Secrets”
Descriptions of the lessons have been
posted on the Diocesan website. Go to
www.dioceseofscranton.org and then click the
“Virtus” link on the green bar on the left of
the homepage. |
Retreat: St. Paul and Our Call to Holiness |
The Pastoral Formation Institute will
sponsor a weekend retreat at Fatima Renewal
Center, Dalton, Oct. 17 – 19. Father Richard J.
Loch, V.E., will conduct the retreat.
The theme of the retreat is “St. Paul and
Our Call to Holiness.” It is being conducted to
celebrate the Year of St. Paul, which the Church
is commemorating from June 2008 to June 2009.
The agenda for the weekend will lead the
participants into personal conversion through
prayer and reflection on the life and writings
of St. Paul.
The weekend will begin with dinner at 6
p.m. on Friday and ends with lunch on Sunday.
Cost is $115 per person and $95 per person if
registered as a couple.
To register, call Fatima Renewal Center at
570-563-1131 or the Pastoral Formation Institute
Office at 570-207-2213, Ext. 1107. |
Lecture Series on Traditions of Christian Art |
As part of its Continuing Education
Program, the Pastoral Formation Institute is
sponsoring a lecture series on “The Christian
Traditions in Art.” The series will be held Oct.
2, 9, 16, 23, and 30, at the Diocesan Center,
Scranton. Each session is from 6 to 8 p.m.
The presenter is Josephine Dunne, Ph.D.,
art historian and associate professor at The
University of Scranton. Dr. Dunne received her
doctorate in the History of Art from the
University of Pennsylvania. She is the author of
several publications and is well-known
throughout the state of Pennsylvania for her
presentations and exhibitions on the study and
history of art. She has also been the recipient
of many awards, grants and scholarships, among
them the Summer Research Grant: State Archives,
Harrisburg and the NEH Summer Seminar for
Teachers, Center for Hebrew and Judaic Studies,
Oxford, England. Dr. Dunne is active in many
professional and community service programs.
The five-day slide and lecture course will
focus on images and buildings produced to serve
Christian doctrine, liturgy and education.
Topics include: The Birth of Christian Art,
Eucharistic Imagery in a Sixth Century Church,
St. Bonaventure and St. Francis of Assisi,
Salvation Time in Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel,
and The Christian Tradition in the Cathedral of
St. Peter, Scranton.
Cost is $35 per person; discounts are
available for large group attendance. To
register, call the Pastoral Formation Institute
office at 570-207-2213, Ext. 1107. |
Diocese Seeks Director of Development |
The Diocese is seeking qualified
candidates for the position of Diocesan Director
of Development. This position reports directly
to the Diocesan Secretary for Financial Services
and is responsible for directing a full-time
Development Office. The primary responsibilities
include planning and conducting the Diocesan
Annual Appeal, advancing the Earned Income Tax
Credit (EITC) Program, developing strategies for
increasing offertory, establishing a planned
giving program and overseeing development
personnel in diocesan schools.
Qualifications:
▪ Demonstrated knowledge of and commitment to
the Catholic Church’s teachings, mission, vision
and values.
▪ Bachelor’s Degree with at least 5 years
development experience with proven success in
fundraising and major gift giving. Experience in
a diocesan setting preferred.
▪ Strong organizational, written and oral
communication skills are required.
Interested applicants are asked to send a letter
of interest with salary requirements
and a complete resume by no later than October
17, 2008 to:
James Burke
Diocesan Director of Human Resources
300 Wyoming Avenue
Scranton, PA. 18503 |
Position Available: Accounts Receivable Clerk |
The Diocese is seeking qualified
applicants for the position of Accounts
Receivable Clerk. This position is full-time in
the Diocesan Finance Office with benefits as
outlined in the Diocesan Personnel Handbook. A
minimum of 3 years of proven accounts receivable
experience and computer proficiency is required.
Anyone interested in applying is asked to send a
letter of interest with salary requirements and
a complete resume by no later than October 10,
2008 to:
James Burke
Diocesan Director of Human Resources
300 Wyoming Avenue
Scranton, PA. 18503 |
Mark Your Calendar |
Intermediate Sign Language, Oct. 6, 20, 27 &
Nov. 3 Mondays –– 6 to 8 p.m. at Holy
Redeemer High School, Wilkes-Barre. A
continuation of “Introduction to Sign Language,”
this course will present the language of the
Deaf Culture on a higher and broader level of
learning. Presenter: Sister Mary Beth Makuch,
SSCM. Fee: $30. For more information &
registration, call 207-2213 ext. 1107.
Beginning Experience Weekend, Oct. 10-12
–– at Fatima Renewal Center, Dalton. Sponsored
by the Diocesan Office for Parish Life/Family
Life, Beginning Experience support groups for
divorced, separated or widowed offer an
opportunity for healing one’s loss in a caring
atmosphere. Cost: $150, includes non-refundable
deposit. For more information & registration,
call Mary at 629-0651 or Ann 587-2851.
Northeastern Pennsylvania Catholic Deaf
Association Interpreted Mass, Oct. 12 –– at
St. Joseph’s Oblate 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. 1013 –– voice/tdd.
Support Group for Separated, Divorced &
Widowed Persons, Oct. 17 –– 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 Journey to the
Eucharist,” Oct. 18 –– 10:30 a.m. to 3:30
p.m. at St. Lawrence Church, Great Bend. Guest
presenter: Father Alfred Vito. Offered by the
Diocesan Office for Parish Life, this Day of
Reflection is designed to help participants come
to experience the Eucharist as the “source and
summit” of our faith. The Reflection Day is open
to all and focuses on one’s personal response to
the Lord’s invitation to “come rest awhile”
before his Eucharistic presence. The day’s
program includes quiet time for reflection,
celebration of Mass and the Sacrament of
Reconciliation. Fee: $25, includes lunch. To
register, call 207-2213.
“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.
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