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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Bishop Hosting Evening for Youth Ministers |
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Watch It On the Web |
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Clean Indoor Air Act |
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Mass for Emergency Personnel/Public Safety
Workers Sept. 14 |
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Faithful Citizenship and the Public Church |
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Resources Available for Respect Life Month |
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Respect Life Sunday Mass on Oct. 5 |
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Mark Your Calendar |
Bishop Hosting Evening for Youth Ministers |
Bishop Martino is hosting a Special
Evening for Parish Youth Ministers on Tuesday,
Sept. 30, at Fatima Center, Dalton. Mass will
begin at 6 p.m. followed by a light supper and a
presentation on youth ministry by Bishop
Martino.
Person(s) responsible for working with
youth and young adults in our parishes will be
present. Young people of our parishes who
display a strong potential for youth work and
are emerging leaders within their community will
also attend.
This is an evening dedicated solely to the
mission of youth ministry in the Diocese of
Scranton. The work of evangelizing and
catechizing teens and young adults is vital to
the Church of today and tomorrow. This evening
with Bishop Martino is an opportunity to hear
his vision for the evangelization and religious
formation of young people in our Diocese. This
evening is also an opportunity for the Diocese
to show its gratitude to all who work with youth
and young adults with such ability and
dedication.
Pastors and youth ministers are urged to
watch their mail for an announcement about this
special evening with a response postcard to be
returned to the Office for Parish Life. |
Watch It On the Web |
The Diocese of Scranton’s website has
added video of certain programs broadcast by
CTV: Catholic Television.
The programs include the Daily Mass from
St. Peter’s Cathedral, the monthly news program
“Our Faith, Our Diocese” and other special
programs aired on CTV. For example, the recent
Mass in Italian celebrated at the Cathedral can
be viewed on the website.
People in areas of the Diocese where CTV is
not carried by their cable company or on a local
television station can now watch these programs.
Those who do receive CTV have the option of
watching the programs at any time on the
website.
Viewing the videos requires a computer with
a high-speed Internet connection (DSL or cable).
A dial-up phone modem may not be sufficient to
access the video transmission.
The Daily Mass airs live on CTV at 12:10
p.m. each weekday. The video will be added to
the website no later than 3 p.m. each day. A
week’s worth of liturgies will remain on the
website.
“Our Faith, Our Diocese” premieres the
second Sunday of each month. The program will be
added to the website the next day.
To watch the videos, go to
www.dioceseofscranton.org. Then see the “Watch
Video” link on the homepage. |
Clean Indoor Air Act |
On Sept. 11, Act 27 of 2008, known as
the Clean Indoor Air Act, will go into effect.
This state-wide “smoking ban” will directly
impact all parishes, schools and related
Catholic institutions within the Diocese of
Scranton. The two main regulations of the Clean
Indoor Air Act are:
1. All facilities that are open to the public
or are workplaces must be smoke free.
There are no exceptions for church
facilities and no exceptions for non-profit
fundraisers, such as parish festivals or bingo.
All buildings used by the public are subject to
the law and there are fines for non-compliance.
2. Each such facility must also display “No
Smoking” signs.
All entrances that are publicly accessible
will need to display “No Smoking” signs on Sept.
11, 2008, and thereafter. Such signs can be
purchased commercially or you may download the
sign from the diocesan website
(www.dioceseofscranton.org). Failure to post
proper “No Smoking” signs can result in a fine.
It should be understood that the Clean
Indoor Air Act also bans smoking in all vehicles
of a sponsoring organization transporting
individuals or groups by car, bus, van, etc.
The state Department of Health and local
departments of health are charged with
enforcement of the law. The Pennsylvania State
Police may also enforce the law. Act 27
overrides local ordinances, resolutions, and
regulations adopted by political subdivisions
within the Commonwealth.
More information about the law can be found
on the Department of Health website at
www.health.state.pa.us. |
Mass for Emergency Personnel/Public Safety
Workers Sept. 14 |
Bishop Joseph F. Martino has chosen the
Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross,
Sunday, Sept. 14, to offer a Mass of
thanksgiving for the protection of emergency
personnel and public safety workers throughout
the Diocese of Scranton.
Bishop Martino will serve as principal
celebrant for the special liturgy for those who
work in public service at 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s
Cathedral. The Mass is being celebrated three
days after America commemorates the seventh
anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept.
11, 2001.
More than 450 invitations for the Mass have
been sent to police officers, firefighters and
ambulance/emergency service personnel throughout
the Diocese.
In issuing the invitation, Bishop Martino
stated, “The celebration of this Mass gives us
the opportunity to ask God to keep those who
serve in public safety safe from all harm.”
The Mass is also being offered in prayerful
remembrance for the souls of all who have fallen
in the line of duty.
“As the Lord Jesus offered Himself on the
Cross for the salvation of all,” the Bishop
said, “you bear witness to the sanctity of life
through your strength and generous service.”
For all those in attendance, a light
luncheon reception following the Mass will be
held at nearby St. Mary’s Center. The reception
is being provided by the auxiliaries of local
fire departments. |
Faithful Citizenship and the Public Church |
What do Christians believe about their
place in politics? What do churches teach about
politics? This year’s ecumenical forum,
sponsored by the Pennsylvania Conference on
Interchurch Cooperation, examines how citizens
of different faiths wrestle with religion in the
public square. Speakers include Joan Rosenhaur
from the United States Conference of Catholic
Bishops and Andrew D. Genszler from the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
The forum will be held on Sept. 29, from 10
a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Cardinal Keeler Center in
Harrisburg. Cost is $20, and includes lunch.
Visit www.pachurches.org for more details. |
Resources Available for Respect Life Month |
The month of October is designated as
Respect Life Month by the United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops.
During this time, the faithful of the
Diocese of Scranton are encouraged to pray
daily, especially the Rosary, so that we may
create a culture which affirms the miracle of
every human life. Catholics are encouraged to
rededicate themselves to upholding the sanctity
of human life in every way possible.
The Office of Social Concerns/Pro-Life
offers various resources to support parish
respect life programs. Please feel free to call
the office at 570-207-2213, ext. 1130 or e-mail,
David-Clarke@dioceseofscranton.org. |
Respect Life Sunday Mass on Oct. 5 |
The Diocese of Scranton will observe
Respect Life Sunday with the celebration of the
Mass on Sunday, Oct. 5, at 12:15 p.m. in St.
Peter’s Cathedral, Scranton.
The Mass on Respect Life Sunday highlights
the Catholic Church’s respect for the sanctity
and dignity of life spanning all stages and
conditions, 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.
The faithful of the Diocese, particularly
youth and young adults are encouraged to attend
this liturgy.
Contact David Clarke, director of social
concerns/pro-life, for further information at
570-207-2213, ext. 1130, or e-mail,
David-Clarke@dioceseofscranton.org. |
Mark Your Calendar |
Support Group for Separated, Divorced &
Widowed Persons, Sept. 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 offers support to cope with
sorrow, doubt, anxiety and loneliness after
losing a spouse. For more
information/registration, call 489-7769.
Northeastern Pennsylvania Catholic Deaf
Association Interpreted Mass, Sept. 21 –– 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.
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 for Separated,
Divorced & Widowed Persons, Oct. 10-12 at
Fatima Renewal Center in Dalton. The cost of the
weekend is $150, which includes a non-refundable
deposit. For more information or to register
call Ann at 587-2851 or Mary at 629-0651.
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.
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