Mass in Italian to be celebrated Sept. 3 in Scranton

SCRANTON – The annual Mass in Italian will be celebrated on Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023, at 10 a.m. in the Cathedral of Saint Peter. All are welcome to attend.

The liturgy is celebrated in conjunction with La Festa Italiana, which occurs over the Labor Day weekend, Friday through Monday, Sept. 1-4, on Courthouse Square, one block away.

Reverend David P. Cappelloni, V.F., La Festa Chaplain, and pastor of Saints Anthony and Rocco Parish and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Dunmore, will be the principal celebrant and homilist.

Concelebrants will include Monsignor Constantine V. Siconolfi, La Festa Chaplain Emeritus, and priests from the Diocese of Scranton. Deacons from the Diocese will also participate.

The Mass will be broadcast live by CTV: Catholic Television of the Diocese of Scranton and will be rebroadcast on Tuesday, Sept. 5, at 8 p.m., and Wednesday, Sept. 6, at 10:30 a.m. In addition to airing live on CTV, the Mass will air live on the diocesan website and on social media platforms. It will also be available on demand after the live broadcast concludes.

Music ministry for the Italian Mass will be provided by the choirs of Saints Anthony and Rocco and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parishes, accompanied by a brass quartet, all directed by Joseph Moffitt. Dominick DeNaples, mandolin; Patrick Loungo, Nicholas Luongo, Eugene Mentz, organist, and Monica Spishock, timpani, will also accompany.

The Mass will be celebrated in memory of Bishop Timlin, Teresa Andrichak, Billy Arnold, Ron Casper, Joseph A. Guido, Scotty Lemoncelli, Alfred Pantuso, Sr., and Anthony J. Rinaldi, Sr.

James Baress, Patrick Caramanno, Joshua Cillo, Jonathan Eboli, Stephen Eboli, Richard Garofalo and Joseph Wentline will serve as ushers. Guy Valvano will serve as an honorary usher.

SCRANTON – Being deaf or hearing-impaired can be a barrier for Catholics who want to attend church on a weekly basis.

That is why campus ministry members at The University of Scranton are excited to announce they will begin offering a regular American Sign Language Mass next month.

Students and staff members from The University of Scranton who will be participating in a weekly American Sign Language Mass beginning on Sept. 10.

“At World Youth Day, Pope Francis said the Church is open to ‘everyone, everyone, everyone.’ This is a perfect way to make the doors of the Church open to even more people and help more people feel welcome and at home,” Dr. Daniel Cosacchi, Vice President for Mission and Ministry at The University of Scranton, said. “If folks aren’t able to hear the Gospel, they can’t know it.”

Mary Ann Stefko will sign the Mass with the assistance of The Royal Signers. Stefko is an adjunct professor in the World Languages and Cultures Department.

“You want people to be able to worship and experience the Mass in their native language, in a language that is accessible to them,” Stefko said. “For deaf and hard-of-hearing people, spoken English is not always accessible and there aren’t a lot of opportunities throughout the region for deaf and hard-of-hearing people to participate where there is the use of sign language.”

Beginning on Sept. 10, the American Sign Language Mass will be offered weekly at 11 a.m. in Madonna Della Strada Chapel, 415 Monroe Avenue, Scranton. The only times the American Sign Language Mass will not be held is when students are away on breaks throughout the year.

“The students are going to be doing it with me from the beginning. They will be signing pieces of the Mass like the responsorial psalms and other songs,” Stefko added. “There are staff members from The University of Scranton who are also knowledgeable in American Sign Language and they will be included as well.”

The National Catholic Office for the Deaf estimates there are about 5.7 million deaf or hard-of-hearing Catholics in the United States. Only a small fraction of them, estimated to be one-to-four percent of that number, attend Mass on a weekly basis because of the lack of American Sign Language-interpreted Masses and events.

Stefko says it is not only deaf or hard-of-hearing people who rely on American Sign Language. She points to children who are non-verbal and adults who have had strokes as examples of other people who benefit from sign language.

“Everybody is welcome and we welcome anybody who could benefit from the use of sign language,” she added. “We will have special seating available for them so we’ll make sure it is accessible.”

As he expressed excitement for the new ministry that will be beginning, Cosacchi said the new Mass will not only benefit the community but the students who will be participating.

“It gives them a real world opportunity to practice what they’ve been learning in the classroom,” he stated. “That is so much a part of what a Jesuit education is about – reflection and action – what we learn in the classroom is not meant to be kept in the classroom. It’s meant to be given away.”

For further details about the American Sign Language Mass, call (570) 941-7419 or email campusministry@scranton.edu.

HONOLULU (OSV News) – “For us, it’s like a miracle,” Msgr. Terrence Watanabe, the Honolulu Diocese’s vicar of Maui and Lanai, said about Maria Lanakila Catholic Church in the town of Lahaina being seemingly untouched by the fierce Maui wildfires Aug. 8-9.

The blaze burned Lahaina to the ground in the deadliest natural disaster in Hawaii’s history and the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century.

An aerial view shows the community of Lahaina after wildfires driven by high winds burned across most of the town several days ago, in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, U.S. August 10, 2023. (OSV News photo/Marco Garcia, Reuters)

“When we saw the news and saw the church steeple rise above the town, it was a great sight to see,” the priest said in an interview with the Honolulu Star-Advertiser daily newspaper Aug. 10.

There were conflicting news reports on the fate of the church – whose name translates as “Our Lady of Victory” – and its parish school, Sacred Hearts School, which had lost half of its roof to heavy winds Aug. 7. The parish’s priests, women religious and staff were safe and accounted for.

The Star-Advertiser had reported that the church had burned down, while another news source reported the church was still standing. The Star-Advertiser corrected its report Aug. 11 with a story that the church had indeed survived. Before that some photos and video footage posted on a parishioner’s Facebook page clearly showed the church was standing.

The church is a block or two from Front Street, the famous waterfront stretch of visitors’ shops and restaurants which the Lahaina fire reduced to a smoldering pile of ashes. Pictures showed charred trees across the street from the church.

Honolulu Bishop Larry Silva echoed the vicar in saying Maria Lanakila Church “was miraculously spared, as was the rectory.” He said the adjacent convent, school and hall were “burned, along with neighboring homes.”

In comments Aug. 14 to the Hawaii Catholic Herald, the diocesan newspaper, he also reported that the pastor, Father Kuriakose Nadooparambil, a priest of the Missionaries of Faith congregation, “was allowed to go in (to the church) with a police escort, and he reported that not even the flowers in the church were wilted or singed. There was only a covering of ash on the pews.”

“We thank God for this blessing! Of course the church cannot be used until the area around it is cleared and deemed suitable for passage,” Bishop Silva added.

Early Aug. 16 Maui County officials confirmed they have recovered the bodies of 106 people, but the death toll was expected to keep rising “as crews scour the ruins.” About 1,300 people remained missing. About 11,000 others evacuated.

U.S. census data from 2020 shows that Lahaina had a population of about 12,700 out of an overall population on Maui of about 165,000.

As many as 3,000 homes may have been destroyed. Other Maui communities affected by fires include Kihei and Kula, with more than 500 acres burned. According to research done by Moody’s Analytics, the economic cost to Maui from the wildfires could reach $7 billion.

The White House press secretary announced Aug. 16 that President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden will travel to Maui Aug. 21 to meet with first responders and survivors, as well as federal, state and local officials. On Aug. 10 Biden issued a federal disaster declaration for Maui and the Big Island (Hawaii island), ordering “all available federal assets on the Islands to help with response.”

In the days since the fires, Msgr. Watanabe has been fielding hundreds of calls and emails “from all over the world.” The outpouring of concern is “overwhelming,” he told the Hawaii Catholic Herald. “It’s unbelievable.”

The church where Msgr. Watanabe is pastor, St. Anthony in Wailuku, held an ecumenical prayer service for victims the evening of Aug. 15, hosted by Bishop Silva.

“We should do what we do best — pray,” the monsignor said.

Prayer has been a watchword for Bishop Silva, too, as well as calling for the faithful to give “unwavering support” to the fire victims.

“As a community of faith, we are called to come together and provide unwavering support to those who are suffering,” he said in an Aug. 11 message to Hawaii Catholics,. “It is in times like these that our collective love, faith and compassion can make a tremendous difference.”

“This is an opportunity for us to show our solidarity as a Catholic faith community and lend a helping hand to those who have lost so much,” Bishop Silva said.

“Let us also remember the power of prayer,” he said. “In our collective prayers, we ask for strength, resilience, and healing for the fire victims and their families. May we find the grace to rebuild our families, their livelihoods, and the physical structures that were lost. Let our faith guide us as we navigate the challenges ahead, knowing that with the grace of God, all things are possible.” Bishop Silva said.

The diocese’s Hawai’i Catholic Community Foundation was established to support Hawaii’s parishes and schools. It has a dedicated webpage for donations to Maui wildfire relief efforts: https://tinyurl.com/MauiCatholic. Catholic Charities Hawai’i also is collecting donations for wildfire victims at catholiccharitieshawaii.org/maui-relief.

“Many people have been offering prayers, donations, and their own time to help with this crisis. The outpouring of love and care has also been remarkable!” Bishop Silva.

The bishop flew to Maui late Aug. 12, touring the Lahaina area Aug. 13 and celebrated Mass that Sunday for 200 people about nine miles away in Kapalua at Sacred Heart, the other church that belongs to Maria Lanakila Parish.

“To arrive in Kapalua, we had to drive on the upper road above Lahaina town. At several places along the road we saw spots that were destroyed by the fire, whether homes or businesses, it was hard to tell. We could also overlook Lahaina town, which was shockingly devastated,” he said.

Lahaina holds deep cultural significance for Hawaiians as the district “was once the capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom.” The Lahaina Historic District, which encompassed downtown Lahaina, Front Street and its vicinity, was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1962.

While at the church in Kapalua, “I heard stories of people who lost one or more of their loved ones or neighbors, whose houses burned down, or who lost their livelihood,” Bishop Silva told the Hawaii Catholic Herald. “One of my friends, who often serves as my liturgical master of ceremonies when I am on Maui, told me that his uncle, uncle’s wife, their daughter and their grandson all were burned to death in their car, while they were trying to escape.

“My friend and his wife opened their home to other relatives who lost their home and suspects they will be living there for a couple of years.”

Bishop Silva also noted that because cell towers had burned down and the internet was down, most people “were not aware that Pope Francis had sent a letter expressing his concern, prayers, and support — even though I had published the letter on our diocesan media platforms. I read the letter to them, and they were very grateful.”

The pope’s prayers and support for the people of Maui were in an Aug. 10 telegram sent by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state. On Aug. 13, after he led the recitation of the Angelus prayer, the pope again assured the people of Hawaii of his prayers.

Bishop Silva noted that Maria Lanakila’s pastor and the parish school’s principal “are looking into using some nearby hotel conference rooms to set up a temporary school,” because one of their priorities “is to get the children back to school, so that they can continue their learning, have the support of teachers and peers, and allow time for their parents to fill out insurance forms, FEMA applications, finding new employment, etc.”

The Maui blaze began the night of Aug. 8. The National Weather Service said strong winds from Hurricane Dora, passing hundreds of miles to the southwest of the Hawaiian Islands, were partly to blame for fueling the fires.

When the fire struck, Bishop Larry Silva was taking a few vacation days in California on his way back from World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal. His office quickly organized a Zoom virtual rosary to pray for the victims.

“What is needed is prayer for those who have lost their homes and businesses,” he said, introducing the virtual prayer session that was attended by about 300 people, “prayers for our firefighters and first responders and police, and all those you are trying to protect the community, prayer for our social service agencies, which are gearing up to help those who are most in need in this time of crisis and trial.”

“And so we pray to our Blessed Mother for victory over all these tragedies,” he said.

LISBON, Portugal (CNS) – Pope Francis asked the 1.5 million young people who attended World Youth Day to take “what God has sown into your hearts” back to their home countries and build a joyful church that is open to all.

Young pilgrims, including the 21 from the Diocese of Scranton who made the trip to Portugal, constantly reflected on the pope’s main point during the official welcome ceremony for World Youth Day Aug. 3: in the church there is room for “everyone, everyone, everyone.”

Pope Francis waves as he arrives to lead the Way of the Cross during World Youth Day at Eduardo VII Park in Lisbon, Portugal, Aug. 4, 2023. (OSV News photo/Bob Roller)

He asked the jubilant crowd of flag-waving young people to repeat the refrain with him in Lisbon’s Eduardo VII Park and shouts of “todos, todos, todos” – “everyone” in Spanish and Portuguese – spread throughout the crowd.

As he did often during the trip, the pope solicited engagement from the crowd, asking them to repeat after him or consider in silence a question he posed.

Yet was during his meeting Aug. 2 with Portuguese bishops, priests, religious and pastoral workers that the pope first issued his “todos” message.

“Please, let us not convert the church into a customs office” where only the “just,” “good,” and “properly married” can enter while leaving everyone else outside, he said. “No. The church is not that,” he said, rather it is a place for “righteous and sinners, good and bad, everyone, everyone, everyone.”

Asked during his inflight news conference Aug. 6 how the church can be for everyone when women and gay people are excluded from some sacraments, Pope Francis said that “the church is open to all, but then there is legislation that regulates life inside the church.”

“This does not mean that (the church) is closed. Each person encounters God by their own way, inside the church, and the church is mother and guides each one by their own path,” he responded.

At 86 years old, Pope Francis showed no sign of slowing down for the 42nd international trip of his pontificate, which he jokingly told journalists on the flight to Lisbon will “make me young again.”

The pope’s packed agenda had three to four official events per day, and he added private meetings with several groups and individuals at the Vatican nunciature in Lisbon where he was staying. Among them was a group of abuse survivors who met with the pope for over an hour Aug. 2, during which they “dialogued about this plague” of abuse, the pope said.

The pope celebrated Mass with 1.5 million young people sprawled across Lisbon’s riverside Tejo Park Aug. 6 and told them not to be afraid of pursuing their great dreams to change the world.

“Let’s all repeat this phrase in our hearts: ‘Don’t be afraid,’” Pope Francis told the crowd. “Jesus knows the hearts of each one of you, the successes and the failures, he knows your hearts. And today he tells you, here in Lisbon for this World Youth Day: ‘Don’t be afraid.’”

In addition to listening the testimonies of young people and fielding questions from some of them during public events, Pope Francis had a chance for more direct interactions with several young people during the trip. He heard the confessions of three pilgrims and ate lunch with a group of 10 young people Aug. 4.

The pope later shared that he spoke to one young man who had previously considered taking his own life and said youth suicide is a problem today, noting the challenge is especially prevalent in places where universities and the job market are very demanding.

After the closing Mass, the pope announced that Seoul, South Korea, would be the location for the next World Youth Day in 2027, drawing great applause from the South Korean delegations scattered throughout the crowd.

The previous morning, Pope Francis visited the Shrine of Our Lady of Fátima, where he again put aside his prepared remarks and spoke off the cuff, focusing on Mary and skipping over an expected prayer for peace in the world.

He later said that “I prayed to Our Lady, and I prayed for peace” before a statue of Our Lady of Fátima, but “I did not advertise.”

In the shrine’s Chapel of the Apparitions, marking the exact spot where the three Portuguese children claimed to see Mary in 1917, he said the open-air chapel “is like a beautiful image of the church, welcoming, without doors, so that all can enter.”

During the Aug. 6 press conference, Pope Francis also brushed off concerns about eyesight issues that arose after he joked that his glasses “aren’t working” at one of his events and continued to largely improvise his remarks for the rest of his trip. And he said his health and recovery from abdominal surgery in June is “going well.”

SCRANTON – August is “National Make a Will Month.”

“While many folks may not be thinking about their will in the middle of summer, it’s a good time to be reminded of the importance of preparing or updating a will to ensure one’s wishes are executed as they intend,” said Jim Bebla, Diocesan Secretary for Development.

Despite the importance of having a will, many Americans never get around to drafting it, citing that they simply didn’t have time or prefer not to think about it.

Another common misconception is that unless you are wealthy, you do not need a will.

An individual’s wealth and assets may determine how lengthy or in-depth a will or estate planning may be but it certainly does not dictate the need. Every family, regardless of their wealth, should have a will because of the peace of mind and ease that it can bring you.

“Getting a will prepared does not need to be a lengthy or costly project,” said Bebla.

Here are a few tips to get started:

• Make a list of all of your assets, including investments, properties, bank accounts and personal property such as art, jewelry and other valuables.

• Review all of your beneficiary designations of your life insurance, investment and retirement accounts.

• You may wish to consider including the Diocese, your parish or another charitable organization in your will and/or as a beneficiary of your accounts.

• If you already have a will in place, be sure to review it every couple of years, updating it with any new assets, and making any necessary change to your wishes.

• It is also helpful to review the executors that you put in place to execute your will, making sure that you still want the person you designated and that they are still willing to serve in this role.

• If you haven’t yet prepared a will, now is the time! Connect with a lawyer or consider using a free or cost-effective online tool.

For more information on preparing an estate plan or about including the Diocese or your parish in your will, please contact Jim Bebla at Jim-Bebla@dioceseofscranton.org or (570) 207-2250.

WILKES-BARRE – Catholic men from around the Diocese of Scranton are invited to the eighth annual “Be A Catholic Man Conference” on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023, at Holy Redeemer High School.

The daylong conference will begin at 8 a.m. and run until 3 p.m.

All men are encouraged to join together in fortitude and strength in professing our Catholic Faith. As the world becomes increasingly hostile to Catholic teaching, Saint Polycarp reminds us to “Follow the example of the Lord, being firm and unchangeable in the Faith.” Furthermore, Saint Paul advises us to “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day, having done everything, to hold your ground.”

The Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, will celebrate Mass at 1:45 p.m. before the conference officially closes. There will also be opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation as well as Eucharistic Adoration/Benediction.
The conference will feature a dynamic line-up of speakers. They include Mark Houck, Fr. John Anthony Boughton, C.F.R., and Sam Blair.

Mark Houck is founder and president of The King’s Men, a non-profit men’s ministry that promotes authentic masculinity, fatherhood and beloved sonship. He is a former college football All-American, high school teacher, coach and counselor turned activist, radio host, evangelist and motivational pro-life speaker. In September 2022, Mark, his wife, Ryan-Marie, and seven young children made international news with an FBI invasion of their home. Mark was falsely charged with felony violations for defending his 12-year-old son from an aggressive abortion escort. Mark was acquitted on all charges.

Father John Anthony Boughton, C.F.R., of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal is currently stationed in the Bronx, serving as the Vicar General of the CFRs. Through a life of prayer, fraternity, apostolate, penance, and wholehearted living of the gospel, they work in service of the poor and evangelization, sharing the rich treasures of the Catholic faith by the prophetic witness of their lives. Father Boughton is a native of Dallas, Texas. A graduate of the Virginia Military Institute, he was commissioned in the U.S. Naval Reserve, worked as a sales representative, and was vice president and director of operations for St. David’s Relief Foundation in Bosnia and Herzegovina 1992-95.

Sam Blair is a passionate cradle Catholic and a former Navy SEAL Officer with experience leading elite teams around the globe. He taught Leadership and Ethics at the United States Naval Academy and helped screen, select, and train over 90 new future SEAL Officers. Before transitioning from active duty, Sam was a SkillBridge Fellow at Squadra Ventures, a venture capital firm in Baltimore, Md. Sam is passionate about leveraging his unique skills sets and hard-earned leadership experiences to help corporate leaders, portfolio companies and corporations build robust cultures, clarity of purpose and a relentless focus on execution.

To attend the Catholic Men’s Conference, please register either online at www.BeACatholicMan.com, or by mail to: “Be a Catholic Man, Inc.”, P.O Box # 669, Wyalusing, Pa. 18853. Include your name, address, email & parish with your check payable to “Be a Catholic Man, Inc.” with “Men’s Conference” on the memo line.
Cost is $40 (Early Bird $30 until Sept. 8, 2023), Students $15, Priests/Deacons FREE.

For more information, contact Mike Kilmer at (570) 721-0872 or mkilmer@thekilmergroup.com.

SCRANTON – When Bobby Wolliver returned to Saint Francis of Assisi Kitchen on July 31, the first thing he noticed was how bright the inside of the facility looked.

“It is wonderful. It’s brighter,” he said. “I’m happy to be home and back here again.”

The Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, leads a short prayer service prior to Saint Francis of Assisi Kitchen reopening on Monday, July 31, 2023.

For ten weeks, the kitchen was closed for a “once-in-a-generation” renovation project. The nearly $2 million project involved replacing most kitchen equipment, expanding freezer space, creating handicap accessible bathrooms, creating a new front entrance along with painting and making the facility energy efficient.

“Every single ceiling has been replaced. Every light has been turned into an LED light, every wall has been painted,” Executive Director Rob Williams said. “It is exciting to look around the room and see our people where they are most comfortable.”

Albert Vosberg of West Scranton comes to Saint Francis Kitchen for a meal several times a week.

“I was blown away. It is amazing. It is like night and day. I just thank God that we have this place because without it a lot of people would go hungry,” he said. “It is not only the food, it is the comradery. Everybody that works here is like my family.”

Tania Durmiaki of Carbondale agreed.

“Some people live alone or they need to talk to people other than their family. It puts a smile on people’s faces,” she explained. “This is open to anyone.”

Saint Francis of Assisi Kitchen serves 10 hot meals every week. They include a daily meal at 11 a.m. every day of the week (including weekends and holidays) and evening meals at 5 p.m. every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Head chef Selena Hitchens stands in the newly renovated kitchen area.

Each meal includes a garden salad, fruit salad, protein, starch, vegetables, dessert and beverages.

The kitchen also provides hundreds of weekly meals that are distributed at parishes in Carbondale, Olyphant and Roaring Brook Township.

“It is a wonderful mission we have here,” volunteer Jane Roberts said.

Roberts, who was born and raised in Scranton, waited until the official grand reopening to see the completed renovation work.

“It is magnificent. It was needed. It is beyond what I expected. I love it,” she said.

Head chef Selena Hitchens was excited to get back into the kitchen and prepare the first meal for the community.

“It’s like feeling like a kid in a candy store, you know when you walk in and you see everything and your eyes just light up, that’s how it felt walking in here and seeing everything,” she said.

Monsignor Constantine V. Siconolfi founded Saint Francis of Assisi Kitchen in 1978. In those 45 years, officials believe there has only been four missed meals.

None of those missed meals occurred during this latest renovation project.

Lackawanna College allowed the kitchen to utilize its facility to prepare meals in its commercial kitchen. Meals on Wheels of Northeastern Pennsylvania let the kitchen serve its weekday meals out of its facility in the 500-block of Wyoming Avenue.

“They did a lot for us to have the meals at the other location,” Durmiaki noted. “It was smaller but they did a lot.”

The Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, led a short prayer service before blessing the renovated facility ahead of its first meal.

“This is a great day for all of us. It is really beautiful and we’re very happy to be able to provide this to all of you,” Bishop Bambera said.

The bishop read a short Gospel passage and prayed for all those who helped make the renovations possible as well as all those who will benefit from the project.

“We ask you, Lord, to bless us and all who use this building. May all who come here know the presence of Christ, experience His compassion and grow in His love,” Bishop Bambera said.

Williams stressed that the mission of Saint Francis of Assisi Kitchen continues to be providing a space for people to have a warm, nutritious meal, no matter their circumstances in life.

“By taking good care of them and loving them, we emphasize that our brothers and sisters in need have dignity and are deserving of a dignified meal,” Williams said.

With the renovation project now complete, Williams said Saint Francis of Assisi Kitchen can now focus on possible future expansion.

“We have a really strong staff. We must discern God’s will for the future of this organization … I’m excited to see what God has in store for us,” he added.

SCRANTON – On Thursday, Aug. 2, 2023, members of the Knights of Columbus presented the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, with a charitable donation in the amount of $1,871.34 to support the good work of the Diocese of Scranton.

Members of the Knights of Columbus presented a check to the Diocese of Scranton on Aug. 2, 2023. Pictured at the check presentation are, from left: Charlie Vagnarelli, Past State Deputy; George Schneider, Jr., Former State Advocate; the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton; and Art Bobbouine, Community Director.

The donation came from money raised from the Knights of Columbus Labels Program.

During their meeting, Bishop Bambera expressed his gratitude to the Knights for the good works they are doing in many parish communities as well as for their active participation in many Pontifical Masses throughout the year.

The Knights encourage local families to participate in their Catholic School Student Grant Program. The Knights Educational Foundation offers up to fifty $1,000 grants to families who have Catholic School students enrolled in Grades 1-12 where the Knight of Columbus member’s child is enrolled.

Applications are traditionally accepted during the month of January each year. For more information on the Catholic School Student Grant Program, visit kofcpennsylania.org.

Thank you to the Knights of Columbus for their continued generosity!

CARBONDALE – For the last several months, Father Seth Wasnock has used one phrase more than most others when talking about the two parishes he leads.

The saying, ‘Building Disciples, Sharing Love,’ has been gaining traction amongst his parishioners in Lackawanna County’s Up Valley.

Father Seth Wasnock, V.F., celebrates the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Feast Mass on July 18, 2023, at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Carbondale.

During Lent, the pastor of Saint Rose of Lima Parish and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish launched a new stewardship program focused on that theme. In just a short amount of time, the success has been noticeable!

“We would like to change the mentality that you just have to come to Mass on Sunday,” Father Seth said. “It is about having a relationship and encounter with Jesus Christ every day and how we go out and share that love and be the disciples that we are called to be through the gift of our Baptism.”

With the help of Our Sunday Visitor, a resource company that partners with parishes and dioceses, Father Seth spoke at Masses of the many ways people can use their time, talent and treasure to better both parishes. He also sent mailings to parishioners and posted videos on his parish website.

“We always have to look at the traditional three ‘t’s’ – time, talent and treasure – but also move into prayer, service and giving. How do we pray? How do we serve and how do we give?” he explained.

Parishioners have responded in all three ways!

“We had several new parishioners come forward to embark on new initiatives,” Father Seth said. “One was to reinvigorate our weekly Holy Hours. About 30 people have signed up to devote an hour of their time in front of the Blessed Sacrament. It is something that we had at Saint Rose and Our Lady of Mount Carmel in years past but COVID changed some of that.”

The stewardship program also led to the creation of a new Marian Society for the two parishes.

“The Marian Society is focusing on social, spiritual and service efforts. Members have come together from both parishes to host events,” he added. “We’re looking forward to the fall and maybe hosting a baby pantry, back to school Mass and grandparents day.”

More than 40 percent of parishioners (440 households total) also pledged to increase their charitable giving to their parish, pledging an additional $89,105 to Saint Rose of Lima and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parishes combined over the next calendar year. Parishioners of the two parishes donated $13,105 in one-time financial gifts as well.

“The stewardship effort is really just a way of re-engaging people,” Father Seth added.

In the months ahead, the Carbondale pastor plans to highlight different parish ministries in the joint bulletin, put together a ‘State of the Parish’ report and help his pastoral council become more of a “mission advancement team.”

“It is so important that we look at how we interact with one another and how we go out, as we are commissioned, to be a disciple of Jesus Christ,” Father Seth ended by saying.

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MOUNTAIN TOP – After publishing the financial report and parish life statistics for Saint Jude Parish in January and February respectively, Father Joseph Evanko, V.E., made a conscious effort to focus on stewardship efforts this past spring.

“It really allows us to continue to build upon the mission of what a parish is,” Father Evanko said. “It allows us to continue to create new ministries with how our pastoral plan guides us.”

Father Joseph Evanko, V.E., confirms a RCIA candidate during the Easter Vigil Mass in April at Saint Jude Parish in Mountain Top.

Using the theme, “United by the Eucharist,” Father Evanko invited his parishioners to recommit themselves to financially supporting his Mountain Top parish as well as dedicating their time and talents to the church by hosting a ministry fair.

“It was an awareness, first and foremost, as well as educational and formational in the sense of stewardship,” he explained. “We’re not just asking for money. We’re putting it in the context of what it means to be a disciple and a good steward of the gifts and resources God has given to us as a parish and as individuals.”

The ministry fair featured information and an invitation for parishioners to join Saint Jude’s more than 30 ministry programs, which include hospitality ministers, peer grief support group, rosary makers and children’s choir.

Nearly 40 percent of parishioners at Saint Jude Parish pledged to increase their weekly commitment to the church, which will allow Father Evanko and parish staff to be creative in developing new programs.

“Some of the money will be used to have our second ECHO apprentice from Notre Dame. We had such a great success with that program last year, so that helped us commit to a second ECHO apprentice and that whole program which has provided a lot of different ministries for us that we wouldn’t have otherwise,” Father Evanko explained.

Last year, the parish’s ECHO apprentice helped to create many young adult and young adult family programs.

“We will use some of this money to make sure that young adult/young adult family ministry continues to be developed and have further outreach,” Father Evanko added. “It gives us that ability to be creative with outreach of all different types.”

Saint Jude Parish also stresses inter-generational faith formation. The parish invested in ‘FORMED’ that brings Catholic video content to families and individuals.
“The increase in offertory is going to help us continue to pay for FORMED and then do spin-off faith formation. We’re trying to do that on an adult level, obviously at a religious education level, as well as men’s and women’s groups with more formation and offering spiritual retreats,” Father Evanko added.

As more people return to church after the COVID-19 pandemic, evangelization efforts are also top of mind.

“We’re talking about how to reach out to those people on the margins that have not come back from COVID, or are not coming to church, and how to evangelize them,” Father ended by saying.