Month: October 2025

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – While the number of Catholic priests and religious continues to decline, the number of lay missionaries, catechists and permanent deacons continues to increase, according to the news agency Fides.

In anticipation of the celebration Oct. 19 of World Mission Sunday, the Vatican’s missionary news agency shared statistics about the Catholic population, church personnel and the works they are engaged in.

In a message released Oct. 13, Pope Leo XIV, who served for decades as a missionary in Peru, encouraged all Catholics to mark World Mission Sunday with their prayers and financial support for the church’s missionary work.

According to Fides, the number of Catholics in the world was just over 1.4 billion as of June 30, 2023, Fides reported. That represented an increase of 15.8 million Catholics over the previous year, an increase reported in every continent, including Europe, which had reported a decrease in the Catholic population from 2021 to 2022.

The continents with the largest increases were Africa, with more than 8.3 million baptisms, and the Americas with close to 5.7 million baptisms.

“For the past five years, available statistics show that the total number of priests in the world continues to decline, reaching 406,996,” a decrease of 734 over the previous year, the news agency said.

The number of permanent deacons in the world continued to climb, reaching 51,433 in the world. The largest number of ordinations was in the Americas, with 1,257, followed by Oceania – Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific – with 57 new deacons.

The number of religious brothers in the world declined slightly to 48,748 while the number of religious sisters dropped by more than 9,000 to 589,423.

At the same time, Fides reported, the number of lay missionaries grew by more than 31,000 to reach 444,606. And the number of catechists increased by more than 17,000 to reach more than 2.8 million.

The Catholic Church, Fides said, runs more than 103,000 health care facilities, including 5,377 hospitals and 13,895 clinics or dispensaries. There are 504 church-run care homes for people with Hansen’s disease, mainly in Asia and Africa.

Other church facilities include more than 15,000 homes for the elderly or chronically ill and close to 8,600 orphanages.

The number of Catholic schools and the number of students served also continues to grow, Fides reported.

The Catholic Church runs 74,550 kindergartens with more than 7.6 million students, 102,455 primary schools with more than 36.1 million students and more than 52,000 secondary schools serving more than 20.7 million pupils.

ROME (CNS) – “Allowing millions of human beings to live – and die – as victims of hunger is a collective failure, an ethical aberration, a historical fault,” Pope Leo XIV said on World Food Day.

The pope drove across Rome Oct. 16 to address world leaders and government representatives at the headquarters of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. In addition to marking World Food Day, the delegates were celebrating the 80th anniversary of FAO’s establishment.

In his speech, Pope Leo decried the fact that while humanity has made huge advances in technology, medicine, agriculture and transportation, 673 million people go to bed hungry each night, and 2.3 billion people cannot afford a healthy diet.

The FAO statistics are not just numbers, he said; “behind each of these numbers is a broken life, a vulnerable community.”

“This is not a coincidence, but the clear sign of a prevailing insensitivity, of a soulless economy, of a questionable model of development, and of an unjust and unsustainable system of resource distribution,” Pope Leo insisted.

Perhaps referring to the situation in Gaza, but also to other war zones, the pope said that “current conflict scenarios have brought back the use of food as a weapon of war.”

A global conviction that “deliberate starvation as well as the intentional obstruction of access to food for communities or entire peoples, constitutes a war crime” seems to be slipping away, he said.

The “cruel strategy” of using food as a weapon of war, the pope said, “condemns men, women and children to hunger by denying them the most basic right: the right to life.”

While governments have an obvious role in addressing hunger, Pope Leo said no one can consider the problem to be someone else’s responsibility.

“Those who suffer from hunger are not strangers,” he said. “They are my brothers and sisters, and I must help them without delay.”

Hunger “is a cry rising to heaven, demanding a swift response from every nation, from every international body, from every regional, local or private entity,” he said. “It is a battle that belongs to us all.”

“How can we explain the inequalities that allow a few to have everything, while so many have nothing?” Pope Leo asked.

And, he said, “How can we fail to remember all of those who are condemned to death and hardship in Ukraine, Gaza, Haiti, Afghanistan, Mali, the Central African Republic, Yemen and South Sudan, to name just a few places on the planet where poverty has become the daily bread of so many of our brothers and sisters?”

No individual or government can look the other way, the pope said. “We must make their suffering our own.”

“We cannot aspire to a more just social life if we are not willing to rid ourselves of the apathy that justifies hunger as if it were background music we have grown accustomed to,” the pope said.

Failure to act, even for individuals, he said, is to be “complicit in the promotion of injustice.”

“We cannot hope for a better world, a bright and peaceful future, if we are not willing to share what we ourselves have received,” Pope Leo said. “Only then can we affirm — with truth and courage — that no one has been left behind.”

SCRANTON – World Mission Sunday is a special day that unites Catholics worldwide in prayer, solidarity, and support for the Church’s mission efforts.

This year’s theme, chosen by the late Pope Francis, is inspired by the Jubilee of Hope: “Missionaries of Hope Among the Peoples.” It is an invitation to bring Christ’s light and hope to the world, especially to communities where the Church is young, growing, and often struggling.

A Pontifical Mass in honor of World Mission Sunday will be celebrated at the Cathedral of Saint Peter, 315 Wyoming Avenue, Scranton, on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, at 12:15 p.m.

The Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, will serve as the principal celebrant, and the homily will be delivered by Bishop Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi of the Diocese of Sunyani, Ghana. All are invited to attend.

This year’s celebration of World Mission Sunday at the Cathedral of Saint Peter will carry special meaning for the Diocese of Scranton, which has enjoyed a long and fruitful relationship with the Diocese of Sunyani. Currently, eight priests from Sunyani serve in the Diocese of Scranton as pastors or assistant pastors, enriching parish life with their faith, energy, and missionary zeal. Their presence is a reminder of the universal nature of the Catholic Church and the bonds of solidarity that connect communities across continents.

Bishop Gyamfi has led the Diocese of Sunyani since 2003, guiding its faithful with a strong emphasis on evangelization, Catholic education, and care for the poor. His visit to Scranton offers an opportunity for local Catholics to hear directly about the joys and challenges facing the Church in Ghana and other mission territories. His presence highlights the vital role that mission dioceses play in the global Church and the importance of prayerful and financial support from Catholics everywhere.

All are warmly invited to attend this special liturgy. Following Mass, a light reception will be held in the Diocesan Pastoral Center, with displays from religious communities serving in the Diocese. Together, Bishop Bambera and Bishop Gyamfi will remind the faithful that the call to mission is shared by all, and that through generosity and prayer, the Gospel continues to reach the ends of the earth.

Catholic Television of the Diocese of Scranton will provide a live broadcast of the Mass. The Mass will also be livestream on the Diocese of Scranton website, YouTube channel and across all Diocesan social media platforms.

My Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Each year, World Mission Sunday reminds us of something profound: we are not simply individual believers, but members of one family in Christ, called to share the hope that has been given to us. This year’s theme, “Missionaries of Hope Among the Peoples,” speaks directly to the heart of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. These words take on deeper meaning under Pope Leo XIV, whose own life as a missionary in Peru gives witness to the very hope we are called to share.

It is worth remembering that the Catholic Church here in the United States was itself once mission territory. Just over a century ago, our parishes and schools were taking root through the generosity of Catholics from across the ocean who understood that faith shared is faith multiplied. They gave to families they would never meet, recognizing the urgency of living their faith in service to sisters and brothers beyond their own church walls.

Today, that same call comes to us. We are asked to extend our hands and hearts to the 1,124 mission territories where the Church is still taking root amid poverty, persecution, and tremendous challenges. These communities in Asia, Africa, Latin America, Oceania, and the Middle East depend on our prayers and support.

When we contribute to the World Mission Sunday collection, we become part of something beautiful. Our gifts help form seminarians, train catechists, build schools where children discover they are beloved by God, and support hospitals where healing becomes witness to Christ’s love.

As Pope Francis reminded us, “We cannot be inactive Christians. To sit on the sidelines as a follower of Jesus makes no sense.” The light of Christ we celebrate each Sunday is meant to reach the ends of the earth through our prayers, generosity, and willingness to see ourselves as missionaries right here, right now.

I encourage you to respond with hearts open to the Spirit’s call. Your sacrifice joins with thousands of others to ensure the Gospel reaches those who might otherwise never hear it, affirming that we are one Church, one family, united in bringing God’s love to all people.

May this World Mission Sunday inspire you to live as missionaries of hope in your homes, workplaces, and communities, discovering more fully who we are called to be as disciples of the risen Christ.

Faithfully yours in Christ,

Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L.

Bishop of Scranton

 

 

SCRANTON – Since 2020, the Diocese of Scranton has raised $1,016,918.19 to support mission territories around the world! This impressive total comes from participation in three programs of the Pontifical Mission Societies: World Mission Sunday, the Missionary Cooperative Plan, and the Missionary Childhood Association. Each of these offers us a unique way to live out our faith by supporting those who serve in some of the poorest and most remote areas of the world.

World Mission Sunday, celebrated each October, unites Catholics worldwide in prayer and solidarity for the Church’s mission efforts. Contributions support over 1,100 mission dioceses in Africa, Asia, the Pacific Islands, and remote regions of Latin America. These funds help build churches, train seminarians, support religious sisters, and provide education, healthcare, and pastoral outreach.

The Missionary Cooperative Plan invites missionaries from around the world to visit parishes in our Diocese each summer. Through personal stories and firsthand witness, the parishioners gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced in mission territories. Special collections taken during these visits go directly to the missionaries’ home dioceses or religious communities, supporting essential work in evangelization and humanitarian aid.

The Missionary Childhood Association helps form a missionary spirit in young Catholics through education, prayer, and sacrifice. With the motto of “children helping children,” many of our Catholic schools and parish religious education programs participate in the Missionary Childhood Association. Their support funds schools, orphanages, clinics, and catechetical programs for children in mission lands.

Crossing the million-dollar mark isn’t just a cause for celebration – it’s a reminder of who we are. We are a missionary Church, rooted in love and sent to serve. Thank you for saying “yes” to that call, and for being the hands and heart of Christ reaching out to the world.

ROARING BROOK TOWNSHIP – With the beautiful colors of the changing autumn season providing a picturesque backdrop outside its church, the community of Saint Eulalia Parish gathered in prayer, thanksgiving, and celebration to mark a milestone 75 years in the making.

The Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, was the principal celebrant and homilist of a special 75th Anniversary Mass at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025.

The pews of the church were filled with several hundred faithful, including longtime parishioners older than the parish itself and young children who will carry it into the future.

Following Mass, a catered luncheon in the parish hall drew more than 220 guests.

“We have a vibrant parish with a wonderful past and a hopeful future,” Father David Cramer, pastor, said. “Great things are happening here at the parish for worship and service. We have a good number of kids in religious education – more than 200 – and a lot of baptisms and a nice number of weddings.”

Founded as an independent parish in 1950, Saint Eulalia’s roots reach back even further – to its days as a mission church in the late 1920s. The original stone church was dedicated in 1927 on land donated by the Vogelbocker family, and its current home on Blue Shutters Road – built in 1984 – reflects the growth and vision of a parish constantly evolving to meet the needs of its people.

“Today was a nice celebration to bring everybody together,” parishioner Linda Naro explained. “We had a very good turnout.”

Naro contributed to the anniversary celebration in a special way by painting a new icon of Saint Eulalia for the occasion.

“We had a small one that I did 11 years ago when I was first learning, so I felt that we needed a new one, since my painting has progressed,” she added. “During the Mass, Bishop Bambera blessed it with incense.”

Naro’s icon was also reproduced on commemorative holy cards distributed to attendees at the luncheon, featuring a prayer to the young saint who continues to inspire the community that bears her name.

Saint Eulalia was a 13-year-old Spanish girl martyred in the third century for refusing to renounce her faith. Her courage and faithfulness remain central to the parish’s identity today.

That same spirit of courage, faith, and unity is what 75th anniversary committee member Paulette Nish said makes Saint Eulalia a special place.

“The biggest thing for me is the sense of community that our parish has. We have wonderful families that are part of this community,” Nish stated. “It is just wonderful to have multiple generations celebrating with us this morning.”

The Mass itself was a joyful liturgy – enhanced by the voices of several choirs – including a children’s choir that sang following Holy Communion.

James Muniz, a lifelong parishioner, emphasized the day was not just about the celebration, but about what it represents.

“This is a celebration of the community that we’ve built here. We have a beautiful building, but it is the people that are really the ‘parish,’” Muniz explained. “I’m proud because of the work that we do … we come here to gain the energy to go out into the community, and as the deacon said, to proclaim the Gospel with our lives.”

A strong sense of fellowship was a recurring theme mentioned by parishioners.

“Our parish is like a big family,” parishioner Teri Taynton, added, describing the Mass as “absolutely beautiful.”

Father Cramer said he believes the parish’s best days are still to come because its people remain rooted in faith, love, and service.

“The Lord has even greater blessings for us in the future,” Father Cramer said.

 

SCRANTON – Eight men in the Diocese of Scranton’s Permanent Diaconate Formation Program were instituted as Lectors on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, during a special Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Peter celebrated by the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton.

The men receiving the ministry of Lector were: William Chechel of Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Brodheadsville; Daniel B. Cosacchi of Saint Gregory Parish in Clarks Green; Jeffrey R. Kovaleski of Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Dickson City; Thomas J. Krzan of Saint Jude Parish in Mountain Top; Kevin J. Martin of Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Brodheadsville; Stephen O. Muntzenberger of Saint Jude Parish in Mountain Top; Justo Paula-Martinez of Saint Teresa of Calcutta Parish in Scranton; and Paul M. Zwolan of Saint Therese Parish in Shavertown.

As a part of the Rite, each man knelt before the Bishop and received a Book of Holy Scriptures – a powerful moment marking their call to not just proclaim the Word of God during liturgical celebrations but to live that Word through their daily witness.

In his homily, Bishop Bambera reflected on the Gospel of the Road to Emmaus, reminding those gathered that “the voice of the Lord that we seek speaks powerfully to us through the sacred scriptures.”

He encouraged the new Lectors to embrace their new role not as a mere step on their journey, but as a sacred trust, saying, “You are being called to a special recognition of the Word of God in your lives that is essential to the life of the Church.”

The diaconate candidates say experiencing the Rite was deeply moving and personal.

Thomas Krzan, a parishioner of Saint Jude Parish in Mountain Top, reflected on the weight of the responsibility.

“Not only can I now proclaim the Word of God in the liturgy, but I must act it out – be an example of the Word of God in my workplace, in my family, and among my group of friends,” Krzan said. “The Word of God is not just words. It is action.”

Kevin Martin of Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Brodheadsville echoed the spiritual gravity of the moment.

He described the moment of kneeling in front of the Bishop to receive the Book of Holy Scriptures as “powerful.”

“I tend to get teary-eyed a lot and that is one of those moments where it just hit. Both our hands being on the Book and realizing what I’m getting into,” Martin explained. “But we’re not walking this journey by ourselves. There are a lot of people around us supporting us. The (Diaconate) Formation Program shows us that over and over.”

The Rite of Lector is one of the key milestones in the Diaconate Formation Program. It precedes the Rite of Acolyte and leads toward ordination as a Permanent Deacon. It also marks the Church’s formal recognition of the candidates’ growing commitment to serve.

William Chechel, also from Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, described the day as a powerful affirmation.

“I have been active in my parish for more than 20 years and I’ve watched two of our permanent deacons – what they do and how they serve the community. They go to nursing homes, they do food banks, and I have felt compelled,” Chechel said. “I thought that was something I was being called to do, as a servant leader, more than just the average volunteer.”

Bishop Bambera concluded the celebration with a note of gratitude for the loved ones who are accompanying these men in their formation.

“To the wives and children, parents, family members, and friends – I thank you for your support, your encouragement, your willingness to allow these men to listen to the call of Jesus and to say ‘yes’ to his invitation to serve,” Bishop Bambera stated.

Please continue to keep these eight men in your prayers as they continue their journey in service to the Church and the people of the Diocese of Scranton.

PITTSTON –– Our Lady of the Eucharist Parish will host its 68th annual Novena to Saint Jude –– patron saint of hopeless cases and things despaired of –– at Saint Mary, Help of Christians Church, 535 North Main St., Pittston.

The well-known and time-honored Saint Jude Novena begins Sunday, Oct. 19, and concludes on the Feast of Saint Jude, Tuesday, Oct. 28.

Mass, homily, Novena prayers and veneration of the relic of Saint Jude will be held Monday through Saturday at noon & 5:30 p.m.; and on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. & 5:30 p.m.

Recitation of the Rosary and sacramental confessions (except Sunday) precede all Novena devotions.

This year’s scheduled celebrants/homilists for the Saint Jude Novena include:
Father Joseph Elston, host pastor of Our Lady of the Eucharist Parish; Saint Joseph Oblate Father Jackson Pinhero, parochial vicar; Holy Cross Father Richard Bevington; Father Thomas Dzwonczyk; Father Sam Ferretti; Holy Cross Father Walter Jenkins; Saint Joseph Oblate Father Paul McDonnell; Father Ric Polmounter; Father Kenneth Seegar; and Father Joseph Verespy.

The celebrant/homilist schedule is available on the parish website: www.eucharist-pittston.org.

Novena prayer programs are provided at all services. For more information, contact the parish office at (570) 654-0263.

SCRANTON – With great excitement and a public procession of faith, Saint Michael Parish in Scranton officially opened a new chapter in its history on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025.

After several years of growth and increasing needs at their longtime church, Saint Michael Church located at 1703 Jackson Street, parishioners joyfully celebrated a big move. They celebrated the first Traditional Latin Mass at their new parish home – Saint Lucy Church, 949 Scranton Street, a beloved and historic site in Scranton’s West Side neighborhood.

The transition, which came after extensive conversation and consultation, is part of the Diocese of Scranton’s Vision 2030 Pastoral Planning Process. Vision 2030 seeks to address challenges facing parishes – including clergy shortages, aging infrastructure, and shifting parishioner demographics – while also embracing opportunities to grow and strengthen vibrant worshipping communities.

PROCESSON TO NEW HOME

The day began early that Sunday morning with a final 8:00 a.m. Mass at Saint Michael Church. Following the celebration, the church officially closed its doors, and parishioners, altar servers, and clergy formed a Eucharistic Procession that made its way reverently down Jackson Street.

The procession was a public sign of transition and unity.

“We entered gloriously into this beautiful church (Saint Lucy’s) with our Lord, greeted by a lot of parishioners,” Father Anthony Dorsa, F.S.S.P., pastor of Saint Michael Parish, said. “It was incredible to see how many people were in this wonderful church.”

In 2023, Saint Lucy Church – long known as the Italian mother church of Scranton – consolidated with Saint Patrick Parish in West Scranton and was being utilized for only one Mass each weekend. Through prayer and collaboration between both Saint Patrick and Saint Michael parishes, a bold idea emerged: Saint Michael Parish would assume responsibility for Saint Lucy Church, revitalizing the space with its growing attendance and liturgical life.

“It is an amazing move. (Saint Lucy) Church is just absolutely gorgeous and it is a lot bigger,” said parishioner Sean Michelin, who has been a member of Saint Michael Parish for more than a decade.

Beyond the practical needs of providing more space and parking, Saint Michael parishioners were struck by the architectural and spiritual beauty of their new home.

“The frescos on the ceiling are beautiful,” Michelin added. “The choir and the acoustics are absolutely amazing. You hear the organ and everyone singing, and it just comes together as a beautiful symphony.”

VISION BEHIND THE MOVE

According to Diocesan leadership, the relocation was prompted by converging needs.

While Saint Patrick Parish faced ongoing financial strain with caring for Saint Lucy Church, Saint Michael Parish – the only parish in the Diocese that offers the Traditional Latin Mass – had been growing in attendance.

The change was the result of a careful, months-long discernment process, involving parish council meetings, town halls, and input from parishioners. The move was finalized after receiving approval from the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton.

Father Dorsa called the move a “remarkable opportunity.”

“Saint Michael’s didn’t really have any classroom space, so it was constantly a struggle for us to provide space for our children for catechism and space for hospitality and gathering after Masses,” he said. “This campus provides us a much greater opportunity to grow, to educate, to have more groups, outreach and evangelization in the neighborhood.”

A SHARED FUTURE

Parishioners of Saint Michael Parish are inviting those who attended Mass at Saint Lucy Church to continue to join them.

“This is a very exciting day for us as parishioners of Saint Michael’s (Parish). This is very exciting for everyone,” parishioner Michael Pheasant explained. “It reminds me of a wedding. We’re two families coming together and I think we have a lot to learn from each other, and I think it will be overall a great experience for all of us.”

Parishioner Jennifer Cilia, who moved to northeastern Pennsylvania in 1999, described the moment as surreal.

“As we came up here, just seeing the grandeur, God’s glory approaching Saint Lucy’s, the marble steps and the bells ringing … it gives you hope that God’s Church is flourishing and we’re very blessed,” Cilia said.

“We’re incredibly blessed,” Father Dorsa ended by saying.