Author: Dan Gallagher

As local, statewide and national unemployment rates climb and families find their incomes slashed, food pantries operated by Catholic Human/ Social Services of the Diocese of Scranton are seeing an influx of new faces seeking help. From Hazleton to Carbondale, large numbers of first-time visitors have reached out for assistance as they find themselves out of work.

“People are coming out in droves,” Stephanie Miller, Director, Catholic Social Services Scranton and Carbondale, said. At the Nativity Place Food Pantry in South Scranton, Miller said, “we served more than 90 people in one day. Normally, an average for us is 40 so we are more than double.” In addition to new faces seeking assistance, Miller said many seniors are also now asking for help.

“We’re here to help the community. We want to be there for the community,” Miller added. In Hazleton, where the number of COVID-19 cases is reported to be particularly high, the need is just as great. “During the first three weeks in March, we saw about 550-560 families. Normally for a month, the average is about 425 families,” Neil Oberto, Director, Catholic Social Services Hazleton, said. While the Catholic Social Services food pantry in Hazleton scaled back its operating schedule to two days per week for the sake of volunteers, it is still committed to providing help and hope.

“This is part and parcel of our mission. I think folks recognize that,” Oberto said. In the city of Wilkes-Barre, the Saint Vincent de Paul Food Pantry has seen its numbers remain relatively consistent over the last month. “We have seen newer faces. I think it is people who are scared. Some are getting it (food) because they’re scared,” Mike Cianciotta, Director of Saint Vincent de Paul Kitchen, said. The Wilkes-Barre food pantry remains open weekly on Tuesday and Thursday.

“ Usually they’re only supposed to come once a month but right now I’m not keeping track. People can come whenever they need food,” Cianciotta added. While food pantry operators have seen an increase in need, they have also seen an increase in public support for their operations. “We’re very grateful for the support from the community,” Oberto said.

Oberto said he has received numerous calls from businesses and individuals offering support, donations and outreach.

One of the most recent donations came from the Lackawanna College Hazleton Center, which donated toilet paper, cleaning supplies and non-perishable items to the Catholic Social Services facility in Hazleton.

“As a part of the Hazleton community, our faculty, staff and students are honored to donate what we are able to during this unprecedented time. We are committed to the success of our city and will do whatever we can to help individuals in need,” April Harris-Snyder, Director of the Lackawanna College Hazleton Center, said.

That community support has become apparent in all areas where Catholic Social Services operates pantries. “We just had Giant Food Mart reach out to us and offer to donate to our pantry twice a week so our community has been very supportive,” Miller added about the situation in Scranton.

“The Scranton Federation of Teachers has been sending us money for the pantry. Everyone is realizing this is an issue and they want to help.” Miller adds that even though public Masses have been temporarily suspended, the Church of Saint Gregory in Clarks Green is still holding its regular collection for Catholic Social Services’ food pantries.

“People are aware of what is going on and they really see what we do at this time,” Cianciotta added. During the coronavirus pandemic, operators of each food pantry said it is humbling to see the important work of serving others continue at the time it is needed most. “This is God’s love through people who step up and help,” Oberto said.

 

With Pennsylvania schools now closed for the rest of the academic year, many parishes across the Diocese of Scranton have worked to transition their religious education and faith formation programs to an online learning platform.

During this unprecedented time, the Diocese of Scranton Office for Parish Life has been working to bring Directors of Religious Education and youth ministers together on a regular basis.

Jacki Douglas, Director for WORD and Lifelong Faith Formation and Shannon Kowalski, Coordinator for Youth/Young Adult Ministry, have started to offer weekly video conference chats for parish faith formation leaders.

“We’re in a forum where you don’t have to speak. You can just be there to listen to what is going on and get filled up,” Douglas said. On Wednesday, April 15, 2020, a total of 26 religious education leaders from across the Diocese joined in the weekly discussion. They reflected on scripture and talked about the challenges and opportunities that the COVID-19 pandemic brings.

Kathy Stocki, Faith Formation Director for Saint Ann Basilica Parish in West Scranton, was one of the participants in the conversation.

“In so many ways, we as catechists have lamented that our reach was somewhat specific to the students who were enrolled in our programs and throughout this experience, our reach has become greater,” Stocki said.

Using the REMIND App, Saint Ann Basilica Parish has put out religious education resources to families to support not just children in their faith experience, but everyone, during the coronavirus crisis.

“The extension of the catechesis, I think, has been a blessing in some ways because it has extended our reach,” Stocki added. “Where they are, Church is.”

Sandy Czyczyk, Director of Religious Education at Saint Catherine of Siena Parish in Moscow, said her parish also uses the REMIND App to communicate with parents.

“I used the catechetical Sunday theme, ‘Jesus, Stay with Us,’ as an introduction to our first weekend of Gospel readings and letting parents know that information would be coming from the teachers for lessons each week,” Czyczyk said.

Without having students filling classrooms on a weekly basis, Czyczyk said she has spent her time researching videos that best explain the Gospel message for her different grade levels and coming up with questions for families to reflect on together.

“We are directing it to the family and I think it is really exciting that I’m putting the reading in the hands of the parents,” she added.

During Holy Week, Saint Catherine of Siena Parish encouraged families to make an “Alleluia banner” for their homes.

“We’re trying to continue formation in more creative ways. It is more challenging doing it online but parents are receptive to whatever they’re getting,” Czyczyk said.

Sue Burke, Director of Faith Formation at Our Lady of the Snows Parish and the Church of Saint Benedict, said she has been working to make sure her students, especially those involved in youth ministry, are supported at this time.

“We have a group FaceTime we try to do two times a week and we just try to stay in touch with them and stay positive for them,” Burke said.

In terms of seizing this moment as an opportunity, Burke said, “it has taken me back to the basics.”

The struggle of young adults is also being felt at Saint Joseph the Worker Parish in Williamsport, where youth ministry members typically met on Sunday night before the coronavirus.

“They’re longing for the Eucharist…They don’t know when this will end,” Makenzie Conner, Director of Youth Ministry, said. “That has been the hardest part, hearing how students are upset over not being able to go to Mass or confession. Holy Week was rough.”

At the Lycoming County parish, young adults are being encouraged to take part in online programming. One student has even started a Catholic teen blog during this uneasy time period.

“We’re really trying to push the domestic church, what are you doing as a family together? What does your home life look like every Sunday? People are posting pictures of how they watch Mass or posting what they did as a family. There has been a lot of great stories,” Conner added.

While there are a lot of uncertainties over the current health situation, including when things will get back to normal, Directors of Religious Education and youth ministers say every challenge presents an opportunity.

“I think it’s a wonderful time to really encourage all of our families to be united with our priests and our bishop and all those who are serving us in the faith and doing such a wonderful job bringing so many of these virtual and electronic resources to us in our homes,” Stocki said.

Any Director of Religious Education or youth minister who would like to join the weekly video conference discussion can email JDouglas@dioceseofscranton.org for the weekly link.

 

More than 300 people have made donations to the Diocese of Scranton Coronavirus Emergency Fund in support of parishes, Catholic Social and Human Services ministries and Catholic schools during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Donors to the Coronavirus Emergency Fund may support a specific parish in the Diocese, one of the Diocese’s food pantries, kitchens and shelters, or any of the 20 Diocesan Catholic Schools. More than $50,000 has already been raised so far with gifts ranging from $10.00 to $2,000.

“I am extremely grateful to everyone who has supported the Coronavirus Emergency Fund,” Bishop Joseph C. Bambera said. “Your generosity is of great help to our parishes and public ministries as we continue to serve our brothers and sisters in Christ during this critical time.”

Gifts to the fund support the increasing number of people in need at five food pantries in Carbondale, Hazleton, Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, kitchens in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre and three homeless shelters in Hazleton, Scranton and Wilkes-Barre.

The Coronavirus Emergency Fund also provides an opportunity to support emergency tuition assistance for Catholic school families and support for faculty and staff. Donors can also contribute to any of the Diocese’s 118 parishes that have seen a reduction in weekly offertory contributions due to the suspension of Masses as a result of the COVID-19 health crisis.

Interested donors are encouraged to make gifts to the Coronavirus Emergency Fund online at www.dioceseofscranton.org/ emergencyfund.

If donors prefer, they can mail gifts to Coronavirus Emergency Fund, Diocese of Scranton, 300 Wyoming Ave., Scranton, PA 18503. Checks should be made to the Diocese of Scranton and list the gift designation – either the parish name, Catholic Human and Social Service program or specific Catholic School they wish to support.

 

As the national conversation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic shifts to discussion and coordination of gradually reopening some businesses, many faithful in the Diocese of Scranton are wondering when the suspension of public Masses will be lifted.

In our Diocese, leadership has started discussing ways to safely return to sacramental life and other parish activities, even if on a limited basis, but stress it is still too early to determine any timelines.

The Diocese of Scranton will rely on the guidance of both governmental and health care professionals as this process moves forward.

On Monday, April 20, 2020, Governor Tom Wolf extended the state’s stay-at-home order until at least May 8, 2020, which he set as a “target date” to begin opening parts of the state’s economy but reiterated the process would be slow and gradual.

“As time unfolds, people coming back into normal activities will probably happen a little more slowly than some might expect,” Bishop Joseph C. Bambera said. “We have to be extremely cautious that we do it in such a way that we protect those individuals entrusted to our care and that we do it mindful of our need to be good to one another.”

The Diocese recognizes that it will need to be cognizant of the important balance between allowing people the ability to gather while still protecting their health and safety.

“People have often said to me, can’t we do something to experience the sacraments? Isn’t there some way that we can participate in the life of the Church, especially the Eucharist? No one wants to gather to celebrate the Eucharist with the faithful of our Diocese more than me. Yet, I am also charged by God to care for all the lives that are given to me. Our faith is far, far more powerful and more significant than any other reality or power in the world. But God has also given us common sense and places us in the midst of the world to care for what we’ve been given. That’s why we must be careful during these particular days as we plan the best steps moving forward,” Bishop Bambera added.

 

CARBONDALE, PA (April 17, 2020) – Catholic Social Services of the Diocese of Scranton will hold an emergency food distribution on Friday, April 24, 2020 at Saint Rose of Lima Parish, 6 North Church Street, Carbondale.

The event will be held from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. and will provide assistance to individuals by drive-thru and walk-up services.

Requests for assistance in Catholic Social Services food pantries has continued to increase during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the month of March, the Catholic Social Services Office in Carbondale had more than 1,000 pantry visits by members of the community which is significantly higher than normal.