Month: September 2025

SILVER LAKE TOWNSHIP – On a picturesque September morning, with sun streaming through the historic stained-glass windows, Saint Augustine Church celebrated a momentous milestone: 200 years of Catholic faith and community.

The bicentennial Mass, held at 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 14, 2025, drew a packed church filled with current parishioners and returning families who came from far and wide.

The Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, served as the principal celebrant and homilist for the special liturgy at the oldest Catholic church in the Diocese of Scranton.

“This is a big milestone in our history. It’s not a small thing,” said Father Thomas Augustine, Pastor of Saint Brigid Parish, of which Saint Augustine Church is a worship site. “It calls back the memories that were planted many years ago and now we can see the fruit of what was planted here.”

CELEBRATING MORE THAN A BUILDING

While the anniversary honored the physical structure built by Irish immigrants in the 1800s, the true celebration was much more about a celebration of faith that has withstood the test of time.

“Our biggest thing was to not just celebrate 200 years of a building, but to celebrate 200 years of faith,” parishioner Mary Homan said.

Homan represents the fifth generation of her family to worship at Saint Augustine Church.

“My grandchildren are the seventh generation of families who have been in this parish,” she added. “That is what the party is really about.”

Founded through the missionary efforts of Father Jeremiah Francis O’Flynn in the early 19th century, Saint Augustine Church began as a simple place of worship in what was then a rural frontier.

Despite hardships, including a devastating fire in the 1870s and even a temporary closure during diocesan consolidations, the church has endured.

“We’re the first to celebrate 200 years in our diocese,” Human said proudly. “What makes this so significant is the resilience of the people.”

Parishioner Cott Demaree, whose family has also worshipped at Saint Augustine Church for generations, also reflected on the church’s humble origins.

“To think what they went through 200 years ago. They didn’t have power tools. They didn’t have everything we’re used to now, but all these Irish people came together and made this magnificent building, and it was also a community, which still stands right now,” she said.

A COMMUNITY STILL ALIVE AND THRIVING

Despite its rural location in Susquehanna County, Saint Augustine Church remains a vibrant, active parish with weekly Sunday Mass, an Adoration Chapel open daily, and events that continue to draw large crowds.

“We have a big following,” Homan said. “In the summer, the church is packed.”
“This is more than a church, it’s “Christ’s community,” Demaree added. “It’s a community of love, sharing, and endearment.”

Patti Dudock, who moved into the area and now has found herself involved in many parish initiatives, said the Mass highlighted the church’s universality.

“To hear Father Augustine, who is not from our country, to bring his insight and faith, shows this is a universal church,” she said. “When the Bishop spoke, what a blessing! The homily was phenomenal. Then he brought up a young boy whose birthday it was – that is our future – to watch that, I got goosebumps. I just got absolute goosebumps.”

CELEBRATION TO REMEMBER

Following the anniversary Mass, the celebration moved outdoors, where guests enjoyed a catered buffet meal, live Irish music, dancing, and decades of memorabilia on display.

“It is better than Christmas,” Dudock said with a laugh. “This is where people were born and raised. This is where they made all their sacraments. It’s their hometown and they’ve come back.”

Even as the parish looked back on 200 years of history, parishioners of Saint Augustine Church remain focused on the future.

When asked what her favorite part of the day was, Demaree didn’t hesitate in her answer.

“I just think it’s all the love. People are just smiling. They’re thrilled to be here. It’s God’s graciousness in all its majesty,” she said.

LARKSVILLE – On Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, parishioners and friends of Saint John the Baptist Church in Larksville will gather in thanksgiving as the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, will celebrate a special 4:00 p.m. Mass marking 125+ years since the founding of the parish.

All are welcome to attend.

The parish reached its 125th anniversary milestone last year, but did not wish to celebrate without its pastor, Rev. Gerald Gurka, who was recovering from an illness at the time.

The history of Saint John the Baptist Parish is one of faith, hope, hard work, and sacrifice.

It began in the late summer of 1898 when a group of Polish Roman Catholic men, most of whom were coal miners of very modest means, seized an opportunity to acquire a lot on the corner of Nesbitt and Third Streets in Larksville, then known as the East Plymouth section of Plymouth Township.

After they received permission from the Diocesan Bishop to begin building, they solicited the funds necessary to build the church.

The parish was organized in December 1898, and during the church construction, services were held at a building nearby.

The church was completed and dedicated with a Mass on Feb. 3, 1899.

Many pastors served the parish in its early years, and as more Polish immigrants settled in Larksville, the parish grew in size and vibrancy.

Rev. Paul A. Kopicki was named the ninth Pastor on Nov. 11, 1918. When the original church was destroyed by fire a year later on Dec. 18, 1919, Father Kopicki led the project to construct a new church. Though it was a huge sacrifice, each parish family contributed $75 to the construction of the new edifice.

It was completed in only seven months time, on the same site as the original church, and dedicated at the Christmas Midnight Mass on Dec. 25, 1920.

Throughout the early and middle part of the 20th century, the parish thrived under the leadership of Father Kopicki, who served as Pastor for 39 years until 1957. He was succeeded by Rev. John J. Piontek (1957-1965), and then by Rev. John J. Kowalkiewicz (1965-1971).

On Sept. 7, 1971, Monsignor John C. Masakowski became the twelfth Pastor of Saint John’s, serving for 29 years.

During his tenure, he completely renovated and refurbished all parish buildings and secured land across the street from the church to insure a permanent location for the annual Saint John’s Bazaar.

On Oct. 11, 2000, Rev. Gerald J. Gurka became the thirteenth Pastor of Saint John’s.

The hallmark of his pastorate has been an emphasis on the spiritual development of his parishioners while maintaining and improving the physical infrastructure.

Upon arriving at Saint John’s, Father Jerry reorganized all parish activities around a Vatican II focus of Word, Worship, Community, and Service. He has continued the annual Saint John’s Bazaar, a festival renowned in the Wyoming Valley, holding 21 festivals during his pastorate.

He has also brought his unique talent of writing and directing Nativity and Passion plays and has involved many parishioners in his productions over the years. His formal training in the culinary arts has made him a regular participant in the annual Rectory, Set, Cook! diocesan fundraiser for anti-hunger and anti-homelessness.

In 2004, he warmly welcomed parishioners from Saint Anthony’s in Larksville and SS Cyril and Methodius in Edwardsville when those parishes closed, and in 2022, welcomed parishioners from All Saints Parish into a linkage with Saint John’s.

He has led numerous physical renovations and improvements in his 25 years at Saint John’s.

The parishioners look forward to the anniversary celebration to remember the past sacrifices, with a hopeful look to the future to continue good works for the honor and glory of God.

SCRANTON – The Cathedral of Saint Peter was nearly filled to capacity on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, as the Diocese of Scranton celebrated its annual Hispanic Heritage Mass.

The liturgy drew hundreds of Spanish-speaking Catholics from parishes across the diocese, uniting them in faith, fellowship, and the celebration of their shared heritage.

“This is not just a Mass – this is more like a family gathering,” Karla Andrade, a parishioner of Saint Teresa of Calcutta Parish in Scranton, explained. “We bring our traditions and cultures and celebrate with different parishes of the Diocese of Scranton.”

Following the Mass, the celebration continued across the street at the Diocesan Pastoral Center with a huge festival featuring food, music, and dancing.

This year’s Mass was especially meaningful as it comes at a pivotal time in the Diocese’s engagement with its Hispanic communities. Over the last year, parish leaders have hosted listening sessions and parish assemblies with Spanish-speaking parishioners to hear their hopes, struggles, and vision for the future.

The insights gathered are being used to help shape a renewed and inclusive pastoral plan for Hispanic Ministry.

“It’s very important that the Diocese is listening,” Andrade added. “Especially in these difficult times – it’s comforting to know that we have a family, a place to be, and a church that speaks our language. It helps us feel closer to our homes.”

The sense of “home’ was echoed by Emmanuel Escoto, a parishioner of Saint Nicholas/Saint Mary Parish in Wilkes-Barre.

For Escoto and his family, finding a welcoming faith community in northeastern Pennsylvania was a gift.

“Two years ago, before we moved here, it was difficult for us to be close to our community and have a Mass in Spanish,” Escoto shared. “When we came here, the Scranton Diocese, there is a church offering Spanish Mass, confessions, and celebrations.”

Both Andrade and Escoto highlighted the Mass as an important way of passing down cultural traditions and faith to the next generation. They both also expressed deep hope that the Hispanic Ministry Planning Process will lead to even greater unity, growth, and opportunity for Hispanic Catholics.

“My hope is that Hispanic Ministry continues to grow,” Andrade said. “That it brings more activities like this one.”

Reflecting on the celebration, Escoto was particularly moved by being able to share the day with his own son, who joined him at the Mass.

“I went to do the reading, and I realized I’m setting an example for him,” he said. “Giving your faith is the best thing you can give to your son, daughter, or the future generation … it will be your legacy.”

ROME – Nearly 100 faithful from the Diocese of Scranton embarked on the journey of a lifetime earlier this month, traveling to Italy as part of the Diocese’s official Jubilee Year of Hope Pilgrimage, led by the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton.

From walking through the Holy Doors of Rome’s four major basilicas to celebrating Mass at the Tomb of Saint Peter, the pilgrimage offered a deep, personal, and transformative spiritual experience for those who participated.

The ten-day trip, organized in partnership with TravelWorld, spanned some of the most sacred and historic sites in the Catholic faith – from Rome and Assisi to Florence, Lucca, and Gubbio.

“The pilgrimage exceeded my expectations, and the amount of ground we covered was remarkable,” Toni Ballenstedt, a pilgrim from Epiphany Parish in Sayre, said. “As a convert to the Catholic faith, it was truly enlightening.”

The group began their journey on Aug. 31, 2025, flying from Newark to Rome. Upon arrival, the pilgrims celebrated their first Mass in Italy at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, setting the tone for a week steeped in prayer, history, and community.

Over the course of the trip, Bishop Bambera and five other priests who participated in the pilgrimage celebrated multiple Masses for the group, including one at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, another at Saint Francis’ tomb in Assisi, and a final liturgy at the Basilica of Saint Ubaldo in Gubbio – the sister city of Jessup.

One of the most spiritually moving moments for several pilgrims occurred on Sept. 4, when pilgrims attended Mass at the Altar of the Tomb of Saint Peter in Saint Peter’s Basilica. Father Andrew McCarroll, one of the Diocese’s newest priests, delivered the homily.

“That space, which is thousands of years in the making, coupled with the homily from Father Andrew was a spectacular experience for me,” Renee Boland, a pilgrim from Our Lady of Victory Parish in Harveys Lake, explained. “In that moment, I felt the closest to Jesus.”

Another unforgettable highlight of the pilgrimage took place on Wednesday, Sept. 3, when the group attended Pope Leo XIV’s General Audience in Saint Peter’s Square.

Pilgrims were elated as their group was acknowledged during the public ceremony – and the moment was made even more special when Bishop Bambera personally greeted the Holy Father.

“We were able to get within 15-20 feet of Pope Leo XIV when he was being driven around Saint Peter’s Square,” Rose Emmett, a pilgrim from Ascension Parish in Forest City said. “Just being in his presence was an overwhelming feeling of calmness and peace.”

Throughout the pilgrimage, the faithful walked through the Holy Doors of the four papal basilicas in Rome: Saint Peter’s, Saint Paul Outside the Walls, Saint John Lateran, and Saint Mary Major – a key act of devotion during the Jubilee Year of Hope, proclaimed by Pope Francis.

The pilgrimage was the first time that Boland had been to Europe, and she admits before the trip she didn’t even know what a Jubilee Year was.

“The opportunity of walking through the Holy Doors was something that I will remember forever,” she said. “Just the privilege of going to Rome during a Jubilee Year has renewed my faith.”

Ballenstedt also highlighted the opportunity to visit the tomb of Saint Carlo Acutis in Assisi just days before his canonization as another powerful experience.

“Every moment was meaningful. I had the opportunity to continuously pray and even light candles for many family members and friends,” she said.

While each day of the pilgrimage was filled with sacred encounters, many pilgrims said there were also many moments of laughter, fellowship, and even new friendships.

“It was a grueling schedule each day, but well worth it,” Boland said. “The holiness of the spaces made me feel closer to the Lord.”

For many, the pilgrimage reaffirmed the universality and unity of the Catholic faith.
“This wasn’t just a sightseeing tour,” Emmett said. “There were nearly 100 of us seeking blessings and answers to our own prayers, but being able to experience it all together as a group was another blessing. I met many individuals who I am happy to now call friends.”

OLYPHANT – Just hours after Carlo Acutis was officially canonized by Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, a parish community half a world away gathered in celebration and thanksgiving.

Parishioners at Blessed Carlo Acutis Parish – now Saint Carlo Acutis Parish – came together Sept. 7, 2025, to honor the young saint who has become both their patron and a symbol of their renewed identity in Christ.

“This is so exciting,” parishioner Liz Sandrowicz said. “He’s the saint that we chose for our parish and he’s the first millennial saint. I think that is wonderful.”

Following Masses at 9:30 a.m. in Throop and 11:00 a.m. in Olyphant, the faithful were invited to spend time in Eucharistic Adoration through 5 p.m., with the Divine Mercy Chaplet and Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary being prayed throughout the day.

Saint Carlo Acutis has captured global attention as a teenage tech-savvy Catholic who used his love for computers to spread Eucharistic devotion online. His life and legacy speak powerfully to many people – especially young people – and that has not been lost on the people of Olyphant and Throop.

“Our God is not just a God of the past or the present but also the future,” Sandrowicz added. “Saint Carlo – by utilizing technology and trying to reach people of all different ages, faiths and backgrounds, reminds us that God is with us, and the future is His.”

For the newly consolidated parish – formed just this past July 1 from the former Holy Cross Parish in Olyphant and Blessed Sacrament Parish in Throop – Sunday marked more than a moment of global significance. It was also the day their parish officially transitioned from “Blessed” Carlo Acutis Parish to “Saint” Carlo Acutis Parish.

“We are a young, vibrant parish community. We have a lot of younger families that belong to the parish and to have a saint that passed away at the age of 15 and did so much in those 15 years, it really means a lot that we’re named after him,” parishioner Jonathan Eboli said.

Eboli sees the naming of the parish after a modern saint as a powerful symbol of new life for his local church.

“I really do think it gave us a fresh start,” he said. “Father Scott is an amazing leader who has the ability to really bring people together and encourage them to be a part of the church. We have an amazing CCD program here that is really full and vibrant and he’s a big part of that.”

In many ways, the life of Carlo Acutis offers a bridge between generations. His love for the Eucharist, his devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and his care for the poor are all timeless virtues – but his use of technology to evangelize speaks directly to the digital age.

Father Scott Sterowski, Pastor of Saint Carlo Acutis Parish, believes the new saint’s youthful witness is more than just inspirational – it’s contagious.

“There is a certain youthfulness, a certain dynamism, regarding Saint Carlo that is a bit contagious. We see that as we look around the world, as we look at how his life, his witness, his simple approach of living the Christian faith has sparked a renewal of faith in the hearts and minds of so many people,” Father Sterowski said.

Father Sterowski emphasized that Acutis was a teenager like many others – he loved soccer, video games, music, and family dinners. What set him apart was his radical love for Christ and his desire to use even the simplest tools – like a website – to make the Eucharist known and loved.

“In a very special way, he is our special intercessor before the throne of God and also a role model – both for young and old – of what it means to be a disciple, a follower of Jesus Christ,” Father added.

The Midvalley parish will continue its celebration of their new patron saint on the weekend of Sept. 27-28 when it hosts a Eucharistic Miracles Exhibit in Throop.

Originally created and written by Acutis, the exhibit has been translated into English and displayed in parishes all over the country.

The display will be open on Sept. 27 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and on Sept. 28 from 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at Saint Anthony of Padua Church, 215 Rebecca Street, Throop.

CARBONDALE – Building strong families is at the heart of building a strong church.
The leadership team at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Carbondale recognizes that faith formation doesn’t end with the final hymn of weekend Mass.

That is why in early August, the parish’s faith formation activities spilled out into the parish parking lot with water ballons, face paint, grilled hot dogs – and the joyful sounds of children laughing, parents talking with one another, and a community building stronger bonds together.

With help from a $1,500 Faith Formation Grant from the Catholic Ministries Appeal, the parish hosted a Family Fun Day – a celebration designed to bring together parents, grandparents, and children to share in their faith and have a little fun at the same time.

“Family Fun Day was an opportunity for our young families in both our religious education program here at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish and also families who go to Catholic schools to come together to share a day of faith and fellowship,” Father Joseph Mosley, Assistant Pastor of Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, explained.

The day began with Mass, where many children stepped forward to serve as readers, ushers, and gift bearers.

For many of the children, the experience was both memorable and formative.

“It was fun. I got to participate in Mass,” student Gwenevere Sheare said. “I read a reading. My brother got to pass the basket.”

“It was pretty cool. I liked other kids being in the Mass and the games and the food, families coming to Mass. It was a great experience,” student C.J. Lubash added. “I learned you can have fun at Mass.”

After the liturgy, the celebration moved outdoors, where families enjoyed food, games, and a lot of laughter.

Students say some of the most memorable highlights included wrapping their priests up in toilet paper to make a “snowman” and a spirited water balloon fight.

“The water balloons were awesome,” student Grayson Demchak said. Demchak also said he enjoyed playing games like Jenga with his friend Jack. “I liked spending time with him and the other kids.”

For parents like Nicole Shayka, the day was an excellent example of what parish life can and should be.

“They haven’t stopped talking about it,” she said of her children. “For me, it was amazing to see my children, who attend Catholic school at La Salle Academy, be able to integrate with children who attend the public schools – but we’re all one parish family.”

She also emphasized the importance of seeing money donated by parishioners to the Catholic Ministries Appeal return to the parish in visible, tangible ways.

“I think it’s important for parishioners to be able to see money coming back to the parish. We always have a calling to give, and to continue to give, but to have that be fruitful back in our parish, and to have it be specific to children and our families, I think it’s a beautiful example of that continuous circle of giving,” Shayka added.

Looking ahead, the parish is hoping to build on the momentum. Plans are already underway for future family events – including the possibility of a Christmas-themed brunch.

The Catholic Ministries Appeal makes events like Family Fun Day possible. And thanks to the generosity of faithful donors across the Diocese, more families – like those in Carbondale – will be able to grow in faith, together.

SAYRE – A Catholic parish in Pennsylvania and a Presbyterian church across the state line in New York might seem unlikely partners.

But for Epiphany Parish in Sayre and Valley United Presbyterian Church in Waverly, N.Y., ecumenism is becoming a lived experience.

With the support of a $4,500 Social Justice Grant from the Catholic Ministries Appeal, the two congregations have launched a unique and deeply spiritual ecumenical series, centered on community, shared meals, and the sacred gift of the five senses.

“As a Catholic church it is a blessing when we can work with other Christian brothers and sisters,” Father Dan Toomey, Pastor of Epiphany Parish, said. “Pastor Sharan and I (discovered) we held very common views and concerns about social justice.”

Since that first collaboration, the churches have held several events together. The most recent invited participants to reflect on how sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch connect us with God and one another.

Each session included Ignatian contemplative prayer, a meal, and a presentation from a guest speaker.

“We read a passage of scripture and reflected – putting ourselves in that passage and using the sense that was the topic of the evening,” Epiphany parishioner John Schoonover explained.

The format was intentionally multisensory. The sessions on taste and smell were accompanied by meals designed to highlight flavors and aromas. Discussions of sight and sound included reflections on art and beauty.

The impact of the sessions has been deeply human.

“People are sometimes amazed. They say, you mean you’re working together with a Presbyterian church and I’m like, yeah, why not?” Epiphany parishioner Joan Schoonover said with a smile.

The initiative not only welcomed Catholics and Presbyterians, but also drew Lutherans, Episcopalians, and people with no church affiliation at all.

“This is good to try to break down some of those barriers between different groups,” Epiphany parishioner Rich Maggi explained.

“It has been a beautiful cross-section of the community,” Rev. Sharan Knoell, pastor of Valley United Presbyterian Church added.

The grant from the Catholic Ministries Appeal made the entire series possible – from guest speakers and supplies to hospitality and outreach.

“It allows us to put things together, make sure we feed people, and enjoy the evening in this case because all of our events have been gathering people in the community,” Father Toomey stated.

“Catholics and Presbyterians are not necessarily known for denominations and traditions that work so well together – but we’ve made it work. The Diocese has had enough faith in what we are trying to do here, that they’ve financially supported this work,” Pastor Sharan added.

For those new to learning about Catholic traditions, the experience was eye-opening.

“Without the parish social justice grant, I don’t know if this would have gotten off the ground,” Sally Hickey, a member of Valley United Presbyterian Church, said.

SCRANTON – As the smell of pizza and porketta swirled around Courthouse Square in Scranton Labor Day weekend, hundreds gathered inside the Cathedral of Saint Peter for something even more nourishing.

The annual Mass in Italian was held Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, just one block away from where tens of thousands filled up on bowls of pasta and delicious cannoli.

“There is no way that we could have La Festa without La Messa,” Ashley Yando-DeFlice said.

DeFlice’s words struck at the heart of why so many return each year for the Mass: to honor their ancestors, celebrate their faith and anchor their weekend festivities in reverence and prayer.

“You can have a festival anytime and you can have Italian food and Italian music, but the Italian festival is a celebration of our entire culture, our entire tradition, and without acknowledging the fact that we are rooted in our faith, that is taking a big piece of the Italian American experience away from us,” she added.

Father David P. Cappelloni, Pastor of Saints Anthony & Rocco Parish and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, both in Dunmore, served as the principal celebrant and homilist for the liturgy.

Father Cappelloni reminded the hundreds in attendance about the importance of traditions that keep people going.

“It reminds us of the fact that we’re united, one in God before we’re united as Italians or Americans or anything else. God needs to be first in our lives,” Father Cappelloni said. “The Mass reminds us of all that God has given us and all that God promises to give us, and we celebrate His bounty, especially the bounty of our heritage and all the wonderful things that we associate with being children of our parents and grandparents.”

Monsignor Constantine V. Siconolfi, chaplain emeritus of La Festa, concelebrated the Mass.

This year’s liturgy was once again celebrated in loving memory of members and friends of La Festa Italiana who passed away since last year’s gathering, including longtime ushers, parishioners, community leaders, and supporters.

As the Mass ended and the crowds walked one block away for lunch, those who gathered in prayer surely gave thanks for where they’ve come from and for the blessings they have received.

“God has blessed us with all that we have and the celebration that is on the Square with all the food, fun, and wonderfulness – it all comes from God, and the Mass reminds us of that,” Father Cappelloni emphasized.

RICKETTS GLEN STATE PARK – On a cloudy, overcast Saturday morning with rain expected in the forecast, twenty young adults from across the Diocese of Scranton gathered undeterred by the gray skies.

With rain jackets packed and rosaries in hand on Sept. 6, the group came together for a Rosary Hike along the Falls Trail at Ricketts Glen State Park, a 3.2-mile loop featuring 17 breathtaking waterfalls.

Their goal was simple: to hike, pray, and connect – with God, with nature, and with each other.

“We stopped along the way at beautiful waterfalls and prayed the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary,” said Katie James of Christ the King Parish in Archbald, who is currently serving in the Diocese through the ECHO program at Notre Dame University. “It’s really easy to see this beauty and take it in, and really be able to recognize the beauty of God’s creation and how He is present in our lives.”

The hike, organized by the Diocesan Office for Parish Life, brought together young adults from 16 different parishes.

Even though rain eventually fell, some in the group embraced it, even finding spiritual symbolism in the experience.

“A lot of people would consider the rain as a negative,” Jacob Federo of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Hunlock Creek, said. “But when you’re praying the rosary, there was something really special about it and the rain really didn’t matter. Honestly, I think it made it better!”

While Federo has taken part in other young adult activities, he made new friendships this time around.

“I got to meet three new guys who I’ve never met in my entire life before,” he added. “It was really great to meet with them, share our stories, and help pray for each other.”

That kind of connection – spiritual, personal, and communal – was exactly what Bridget Guarnieri, Family Life Program Coordinator for the Diocese hoped to achieve.

“Our goal in young adult ministry is to encourage and help people understand that faith doesn’t just happen at church on a Sunday,” she said. “Faith can, and should, be involved in every aspect of our lives.”

Guarnieri added that choosing to pray the rosary during the hike was intentional.
“Like a hike, the rosary is both active and contemplative,” she explained. “As you actively move through each bead, and you’re praying and meditating on the mysteries, it’s so much like a hike.”

For Patrick Cullen from Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Dushore, the hike was a meaningful opportunity to build community and grow spiritually.

“I think it’s great to have the ability to develop community and relationships with young adults throughout the Diocese. It’s a great way to get out there and meet people and do something fun,” Cullen said.

Following the hike, the group gathered for fellowship at Crooked Creek Pub and Restaurant, continuing conversations sparked on the trail.

“I loved every moment of this day. I loved meeting new people and I’m grateful to all the young adults that came out for this hike,” Guarnieri stated.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Clerical sexual abuse continues to be “a real crisis,” one that the Catholic Church still must learn to deal with, particularly in improving the way it helps survivors while also ensuring the rights of the accused are respected, Pope Leo XIV said.

“It would be naive for myself or for anyone” to think that dismissing the offender and giving the victim a financial settlement completely solves a case, “as if those wounds are just going to go away because of that,” the pope said in an interview for a book by Elise Allen, a journalist.

For Allen’s biography, “Leo XIV: Citizen of the World, Missionary of the XXI Century,” Pope Leo spoke about a range of issues, including the abuse crisis, U.S. President Donald Trump, the war in Gaza, Vatican policy toward China, the church’s openness to LGBTQ Catholics, the role of women in the church, and the celebration of the pre-Vatican II Mass in Latin.

Excerpts of Allen’s July 30 interview, her second interview with the pope, were published Sept. 14, but the full transcript was released Sept. 18 in conjunction with the publication of the Spanish edition of the book by Penguin Peru.

Pope Leo said that while the church has enacted tougher laws and policies to prevent and punish abuse, it cannot say that the crisis is over.

“This will continue to take time because victims must be treated with great respect and with an understanding that those who have suffered very deep wounds because of abuse sometimes carry those wounds for their entire life,” he said.

At the same time, he said, there is the “complicating factor” of ensuring that the rights of the accused are respected.

“Statistics show that well over 90% of people who come forward and make accusations, they are authentically victims. They are telling the truth. They are not making this up,” he said. “But there have also been proven cases of some kind of false accusation. There have been priests whose lives have been destroyed because of that.”

And even when the accusation is well founded, the pope said, the accused has a right to a presumption of innocence and due process.

“But even saying that at times is cause of greater pain for the victims,” Pope Leo acknowledged.

On the topic of President Trump, Pope Leo said he had not met the president nor spoken to him, although his brother Louis has and “has been very outspoken about his political views.”

Trump “at times has made clear” his concern about questions of human dignity and promoting peace, the pope said. “In those efforts I would want to support him.”

“The United States is a power player on the world level, we have to recognize that,” he said, but “sometimes decisions are made more based on economics than on human dignity,” such as the current immigration policy, and the church will continue to challenge that approach.

Pope Leo declined to get into “some of the things that have been said about the episcopacy in the United States and the relationship between church and politics.” However, he said, “the fact that I am American means, among other things, people can’t say, like they did about Francis, ‘He doesn’t understand the United States; he just doesn’t see what’s going on.'”

Regarding the war in Gaza, Pope Leo told Allen that “the word genocide is being thrown around more and more. Officially, the Holy See does not believe that we can make any declaration at this time about that. There’s a very technical definition about what genocide might be, but more and more people are raising the issue, including two human rights groups in Israel.”

On China, and most of the other issues the pope discussed in the interview, he said he would follow the basic path laid out by Pope Francis.

“I in no way pretend to be wiser or more experienced than all those who have come before me,” Pope Leo said.

However, before becoming pope he made several visits to China, and Pope Leo said he is “in ongoing dialogue with a number of people, Chinese, on both sides of some of the issues,” particularly concerning cooperating with the government so the church can operate openly while showing respect for Chinese Catholics who have undergone oppression for their refusal to join the government-controlled church.

The pope said he also intends to continue Pope Francis’ welcoming approach to LGBTQ Catholics while not changing church teaching, especially the Catholic vision of marriage as being between one man and one woman committed to each other for life and open to having children.

“What I’m trying to say is what Francis said very clearly when he would say, ‘todos, todos, todos.’ Everyone’s invited in, but I don’t invite a person in because they are or are not of any specific identity. I invite a person in because they are a son or daughter of God,” he said.

He said he also would “continue in the footsteps of (Pope) Francis” by appointing women to leadership roles in the church, “recognizing the gifts that women have that can contribute to the life of the church.”

Studying the question of ordaining women to the diaconate will continue, he said, but he did not expect church policy to change any time soon, especially since the permanent diaconate is still not valued throughout the church. “Why would we talk about ordaining women to the diaconate if the diaconate itself is not yet properly understood and properly developed and promoted within the church?” he asked.

On continuing requests for greater access to celebrations of the pre-Vatican II Mass, Pope Leo said the Mass has been caught up in “a process of polarization — people have used the liturgy as an excuse for advancing other topics. It’s become a political tool, and that’s very unfortunate.”