Author: Dan Gallagher

All people of goodwill are invited to participate in a Mass celebrating the centenary of the Little Sisters of Saint Francis (LSOSF) on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, at 4:30 p.m. at Christ the King Parish in Archbald.

The Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, will serve as the principal celebrant and homilist.

The Little Sisters of Saint Francis are a missionary community of Catholic sisters who reach out in service to the poor and the marginalized in society. The religious congregation has convents in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and America.

Two sisters, Sister Nancy and Sister Julietha, are both currently living in the convent at Our Lady of Czestochowa in Eynon and are serving local missions that benefit many people in the Scranton area.

Sister Nancy is the National Superior of the Little Sisters of Saint Francis and is the Director of Development of ASEC (African Sisters Education Collaborative) at Marywood University, which raises funds to provide tuition for religious sisters in Africa to do undergraduate and graduate work to deepen their service of the Church locally and abroad. In addition to her work in Scranton, Sister Nancy oversees communities in five other parts of the United States, including Binghamton N.Y., Williamsburg, Va., Milwaukee, Wis., Brooklyn, and Springfield, Mo. Many of the sisters from those communities will be travelling to Archbald to attend Saturday’s centenary Mass.

Sister Julietha serves selflessly in pastoral ministry at Saint Joseph’s Center.

Mother Kevin Kearney founded the Little Sisters of Saint Francis, a fully-fledged religious congregation, in 1923. In 2016, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints officially accepted the Cause for the Beatification of Mother Kearney and she was declared a ‘Servant of God.’

Please join us and guests from all over the world, on Oct. 1 as we give Glory to God for the gift of the Little Sisters of Saint Francis.

A $1,000 contribution was recently presented to Saint Francis of Assisi Kitchen in connection with the Dunmore Community Charity Bowl.

From left are:  David Hollander, Saint Francis Advisory Board President, Jackie Ruddy of Century 21 Jack Ruddy Real Estate, and Elyse Lexxus of Ricardo’s Market.

For information about volunteer opportunities or the donation needs of the St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen, call (570) 342-5556.

St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen recently installed a new member and officers to its advisory board.

Shown, from left: Judge Julia K. Munley, past board president, who swore in the new member and the new officers; Paola Giangiacomo, the newest addition to the Saint Francis Advisory Board; David Hollander, incoming advisory board president; Maria McCool, incoming advisory board secretary; Michele Bannon, incoming advisory board vice president.

For information about volunteer opportunities or the donation needs of the St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen, call (570) 342-5556.

The A.O.H. Paul “Hook” O’Malley Division Four has been keeping the memory of their Vice President Kevin Shaughnessy alive through the annual scholarship fund. This year‘s recipients were Allie Romanchick and Andrew Watter.

They are eighth grade students at All Saints Academy in West Scranton and will each receive a check for $500 for their high school education. Andrew will be going to Scranton Prep and Allie will be going to Holy Cross.

They are two fine young students who are going to do great things in their lives.

All people of goodwill gathered at the Cathedral of Saint Peter, located at 315 Wyoming Avenue in Scranton, for a special Prayer Service for an End to the War in Ukraine on Sunday, Sept. 25, at 2:30 p.m.

During the Prayer Service, everyone in attendance was invited to offer prayers for peace in Ukraine and for the innocent people who continue to suffer in the country.

Fr. Myron Myronyuk, Pastor, St. Vladimir Ukrainian Catholic Church of Scranton, and Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, led the Prayer Service..

A goodwill offering for those on the ground helping the Ukrainian people was collected at the conclusion of the Prayer Service.

On Thursday, September 8, 2022, nearly a thousand students, faculty and staff from the University of Scranton gathered at the Byron Recreation Complex for the school’s annual Mass of the Holy Spirit.

The Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L., Bishop of Scranton served as the principal celebrant and Rev.  James F. Duffy, S.J., M.D., the new superior for the Scranton Jesuit Community delivered the homily.

The Mass of the Holy Spirit is a tradition among Jesuit academic institutions dating back to the 16^th century, in which the community gathers to thank God for the gifts of creation and salvation and to seek the guidance and wisdom of the Holy Spirit in the coming school year.

John Frank, chairperson of the VOICE of JOHN’s 2022 Christmas Card Contest announced that this year’s contest is opening to all students in Grades 7 – 12.  The Christmas Card features the beautiful artwork of Jenn Witner.   The front of the Christmas Card depicts Our Blessed Mother looking upon the face of her child, Jesus.

Our local parishes and schools will receive a copy of the artwork to inspire the verse within the card.  All entries must be received no later than October 11th: the winner will be announced on October 14th.  The author of this year’s verse will receive a $100 prize.

Maryann Lawhon, president of PHL and director of the VOICE of JOHN,  encourages participation from CCD, homeschool, public and private school students in this year’s event.

John Frank, from Holy Rosary Parish in Hazleton, a member of Pennsylvanians for Human Life, serves the VOICE of JOHN as the spokesperson for Down Syndrome.  John is featured in a video podcast on the VOICE of JOHN website and will be a guest on an upcoming radio program, JMJ Catholic Radio’s weekly program The VOICE of JOHN with Maryann Lawhon.  He will be joined by his sister Amanda Frank during the month of October, which is designated as Down Syndrome Awareness Month.

Jenn Witner is a local artist who has gifted the pro-life ministry with her immense talent, designing last year’s first ever Christmas Card, and again this year, designing the magnificent portrayal of Mary, holding her child Jesus, as the flow of her veil resembles the child in the rose, the theme of the prolife movement.

All entries are to be submitted by October 11th, mailing your entry to:

The VOICE of JOHN
103 John’s Jog
Drums, PA 18222

The Knights of Columbus Abington Council 6611 recently presented Seminarian Bill Asinari with a $500 check to further his vocational studies toward the priesthood.

Please ask your PA senator and representative to contact the PA Department of Education to encourage them to process textbook orders for our Catholic schools in a timely fashion.

For whatever reason, this is not happening and does not seem to be a priority with PDE officials. Classes have already started for many of our schools and are very close to beginning for the rest.

Thank you so much!

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https://www.pacatholic.org/resources/voter-voice/?vvsrc=%2fCampaigns%2f97235%2fRespond