Category: 2026 News

SCRANTON – In the coming days, classrooms in the Diocese of Scranton’s 19 Catholic schools will once again be filled with students, teachers, and the excitement of a new academic year.

This year, a simple invitation will serve as a guiding light for the year ahead: Shine His Light.

That is the theme for the 2026-2027 school year, calling students, families, faculty, staff, and administrators to live out their Catholic faith not simply in words, but through acts of service, compassion and love.

Rooted in Jesus’ words from the Gospel of Matthew – “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (5:16) – the theme will be highlighted throughout the school year through the principles of Catholic Social Teaching.

Each month, students will explore a unique way of shining Christ’s light, beginning with solidarity. Throughout the rest of the school year, they will also focus on respect for life and the dignity of the human person; care for the poor and vulnerable; call to family, community and participation; rights and responsibilities; care for God’s creation; and ending with the dignity of work and rights of workers.

The goal is not simply to teach students about the seven themes of Catholic Social Teaching, but to help them put their faith into action.

“Catholic education is about forming the whole person,” Kristen Donohue, Diocesan Secretary for Catholic Education/Superintendent said. “As we continue to implement our Catholic Schools Strategic Growth Plan, we want our students to understand their faith is not something they simply learn about in a classroom or experience at Mass on a weekend. It is something they live. Focusing on the theme ‘Shine His Light,’ we will help our students see Christ in others, serve those in need and recognize they have a responsibility to bring His light into the world.”

The implementation of the ‘Shine His Light’ initiative reflects one of the central priorities outlined in the Diocese’s “Our Faith. Our Students. Our Future” Strategic Growth Plan, which was released in January 2025 following two years of consultation. The plan outlined goals in seven areas for continued growth: Catholic Mission & Identity, Academic Excellence, Governance & Leadership, Enrollment Management, Development, Infrastructure and Financial Stability.

Now in its implementation phase, the plan is increasingly visible throughout the Catholic School System, with work underway to strengthen student support and expand development efforts.

SUPPORTING INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS

Brittany Krupski, the former principal of All Saints Academy in Scranton, has joined the Catholic Schools Administrative Office in a new role of Director of Student Services.

Krupski will oversee student data and enrollment while also working with special programs, including the ABC Council and Individualized Instruction Program.

Her work will further advance the Strategic Growth Plan’s goal of ensuring that student support services are clearly defined, assessed, and refined so that data can help inform student learning.

“Our goal has always been to look at each student as an individual and use the information we have to understand where that student is and where he or she needs to go next,” Krupski explained.

The Diocese’s use of NWEA Map Growth assessments several times throughout the school year provides educators with valuable information about individual student progress and helps teachers determine what students are ready to learn next.

“Growth data gives our teachers a valuable tool to differentiate instruction and make sure we are meeting students where they are, while helping them reach their full potential,” Krupski added.

The approach reinforces the Diocese’s commitment to academic excellence while recognizing that every student brings different gifts, needs, and challenges into the classroom.

CREATING SAFER SCHOOLS

The new school year will also bring significant investments in safety.

Diocesan Catholic schools recently received more than $1.1 million in Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) safety grant funding. This money will support a wide range of projects designed to strengthen security throughout individual school communities.

The awards will support projects including new security cameras, access-control systems, door and classroom locks, exterior lighting, bollards and school resource officers.

The funds will help fulfill the Strategic Growth Plan’s commitment to infrastructure and ensuring that Catholic schools provide safe, secure environments where students can learn and grow.

NEW MODEL FOR LEARNING

The new school year will also bring a notable change to the academic calendar at Saint John Neumann Jr./Sr. High School in Williamsport, where students in grades 6 through 12 will begin a four-day school week.

With the innovative learning model, students will attend classes Monday through Thursday, with extended school days allowing the school to meet and exceed Pennsylvania’s required instructional hours.

Fridays are being reimagined as opportunities for enrichment rather than simply an additional day away from school. Students will have opportunities for academic support, tutoring, internships, college visits, field trips, guest speakers, and other experiences designed to complement classroom learning.

In line with the Strategic Growth Plan, school leaders believe the change will create new opportunities for academic and personal growth.

INVESTING IN THE FUTURE

The Diocese is also continuing to strengthen the financial foundation of Catholic education through advancement and development initiatives.

A new Diocesan advancement and development position specifically for Catholic schools has been established to assist individual schools with third-source funding, philanthropy, and fundraising.

Sandra Snyder is overseeing this effort, concentrating on growth of the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program, which provides scholarships for eligible students and makes a Catholic education more accessible to families.

“The EITC Program is an incredible opportunity for individuals and businesses to invest in the future of our students. By redirecting state tax dollars you’re already paying to scholarships, donors can make a Catholic education possible for more families while receiving a 90 percent tax credit,” Snyder said. “We are so grateful for the support we have already received and encourage even more people to take advantage of this opportunity.”

 

SCRANTON – As the new school year begins, three Catholic schools in the Diocese of Scranton are welcoming new principals.

Kathy Maguire will serve as principal of All Saints Academy in Scranton, Jason Schlingman has taken the helm at Holy Family Academy in Hazleton, and Michael Catrillo has become principal of Notre Dame Jr./Sr. High School in East Stroudsburg.

While their paths to Catholic school leadership are different, the three new principals share a common desire to place students at the center of their work while strengthening the faith and academics in their buildings.

For Catrillo, becoming a Catholic school principal is a dream that came unexpectedly after five years of retirement.

A veteran educator entering his 40th year in education, Catrillo spent much of his career in public education, most recently serving as principal of East Stroudsburg High School South. He retired in 2021 and spent the next several years traveling with his wife.

In June, during a conversation with his parish priest, Father Brian J.T. Clarke of Saint Matthew Parish, Catrillo casually mentioned that he had always wanted to lead a Catholic school.

When Father Clarke asked if he was interested in Notre Dame, Catrillo said he felt the Holy Spirit urging him to take the opportunity.

“I want to do this to continue my work with teachers and young people and be able to share my faith with them,” he said.

Catrillo is particularly looking forward to the smaller school environment at Notre Dame, where he hopes to know students and staff personally – greeting students outside, visiting classrooms and talking with them in the cafeteria.

He also plans to make prayer a more visible part of daily life at the school, leading morning and afternoon prayer and utilizing a simple message he hopes students will carry with them: “Pray on it, pray over it, pray through it.”

His goals also include increasing student engagement in the classroom, providing additional help for struggling students and strengthening relationships with families.

Catrillo currently serves as president of the East Stroudsburg School Board and as Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus at Saint Matthew Parish.

At Holy Family Academy, Schlingman brings 24 years of experience in education and leadership, including time in both Catholic and public schools.

“Returning to Catholic education was more than a career decision,” Schlingman said. “It felt like coming home to an environment where education is about more than academics.”

He hopes to build upon Holy Family Academy’s family-centered atmosphere while creating a school where students are excited to learn, teachers feel supported and families know they are genuine partners in their children’s education.

His vision extends beyond the classroom. Schlingman hopes to grow enrollment and create new opportunities for students through sports, clubs and extracurricular activities.

Most importantly, he wants the entire school community to develop a renewed sense of pride.

“I want people to be excited about coming to school, excited about what we are building, and proud to say, ‘This is my school,’” he said.

Schlingman also brings a personal appreciation for perseverance and teamwork to his new role. A graduate of King’s College, he was an All-American wrestler and is on the college’s Sports Wall of Fame. He credits wrestling with teaching him lessons in discipline, perseverance and never giving up – lessons that continue to influence his leadership today.

At All Saints Academy, Maguire brings more than two decades of experience in education and a commitment to lifelong learning. She has earned two master’s degrees and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education degree.

As her career developed, Maguire said she increasingly felt drawn toward school leadership, particularly within the Diocese of Scranton.

“I am looking forward to meeting students and families. I am beyond excited to be a part of the All Saints Academy community,” she said.

For Maguire, her new job also represents a chance to give back to the Catholic educational community that played an important role in her own life. A graduate of Saint Paul’s School, she fondly remembers her experience as a Catholic school student as one that shaped who she has become.

“It was an incredible experience for me personally, academically and socially,” Maguire said. “I am thankful to be able to give back to the Catholic community within the Diocese of Scranton.”

As she begins her first year, Maguire hopes to foster an exceptional school environment where both students and staff can grow academically and spiritually.

SCRANTON – The Diocese of Scranton Catholic School System is continuing to invest money in much-needed infrastructure projects. With 19 schools across five counties, and with many of those buildings approaching a century old, the Catholic Schools Strategic Growth Plan made it clear that deferred maintenance had accumulated for many years.

For the second summer in a row, renovations have been underway across multiple schools with the help of $8 million in financing.

After concentrating on roofs last summer, this year many projects were focused on heating/cooling systems and replacing windows. Some of the more significant projects completed over the summer are highlighted below.

HOLY REDEEMER HIGH SCHOOL, WILKES-BARRE

Multiple projects have been completed, including eliminating storm water back-up in the basement, replacing 97 windows and providing enhanced lighting in the school auditorium.

 

GOOD SHEPHERD ACADEMY, KINGSTON

New windows were installed in the school gymnasium and stairwells. The new windows have transformed the gym by restoring natural light, creating a brighter, more welcoming environment.

 

SAINT JUDE SCHOOL, MOUNTAIN TOP

Site work, including storm water drainage improvements, were made across the school campus. The school also received a new boiler for its lower classroom wing and heating/cooling upgrades for its gym.

 

OUR LADY OF PEACE SCHOOL, CLARKS GREEN

The back parking lot has been resurfaced and designed to drain storm water which will create a safer environment for students. New walkways between the school and Saint Gregory Parish were installed.

 

NOTRE DAME SCHOOL SYSTEM, EAST STROUDSBURG

The boiler was replaced, and the elementary and high school heating and cooling systems were separated. The fire alarm system also was upgraded, replacing an outdated system from the 1960s.

 

HOLY CROSS HIGH SCHOOL, DUNMORE

The school’s two original boilers from the 1960s are being replaced with energy efficient boilers along with upgrading its hot water. In addition, the school’s fire alarm system received an upgrade.

 

 

PITTSTON – For Father Joseph J. Adonizio, reaching 100 years old was never something he expected.

Neither was the sight of hundreds of people, many coming from across the country simply to celebrate with him.

Yet on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, the beloved priest who has spent 70 years serving the Diocese of Scranton found himself surrounded by friends, former parishioners and families whose lives have been touched by his priestly ministry.

An open house at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Hall at Communion of Saints Parish in Pittston drew roughly 250 people between 2 and 5 p.m. for an afternoon of fellowship and friendship honoring Father Adonizio, who celebrated his 100th birthday on Aug. 13.

“I was absolutely amazed and so thankful to God that I was able to enjoy so many years of serving people in the name of Christ,” Father Adonizio said. “That was my vocation and it was a gift.”

The celebration was only the latest gathering to mark a remarkable milestone. On Wednesday, Aug. 12, Father Adonizio gathered with the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, and many brother priests for dinner, cake and fellowship.

But Sunday’s open house offered something different – a living testament to the generations of people who have remained connected to a priest who has spent much of his life connecting with them.

“It is something that I never expected,” Father Adonizio said. “It’s absolutely phenomenal.”

Former parishioners traveled from Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Texas and Florida to be there.

“Parishioners from 50 years back and from all different parishes have come without formal invitation,” he added.

For Father Adonizio, their presence was not simply a celebration of his birthday. It was a reminder of the gift he believes his entire life has been.

“My years of living is a gift from God. I don’t attribute it to myself,” he said. “I am so blessed and I always have a heart of gratitude to the Lord and Our Lady, for their goodness to me.”

VOCATION ROOTED IN GRATITUDE

Born in Hughestown, Father Adonizio is the son of Gaetano Adonizio and Concetta Lello. He was baptized at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Pittston on Aug. 29, 1926, the same parish where he later received his First Holy Communion and Confirmation.

After attending grammar school and high school in Hughestown, he continued his education at Scranton University and Bucknell University before entering Christ the King Seminary in St. Bonaventure, N.Y.

He was ordained a priest at the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Scranton in May 1956.

Over the next seven decades, Father Adonizio served Catholics in communities throughout northeastern Pennsylvania in a variety of pastoral and educational roles.

His assignments included assistant pastorates in Bear Creek, Nanticoke, Dunmore and Wilkes-Barre. He served as principal of Dunmore Central Catholic High School from 1964 to 1968, director of campus ministry at Wilkes College in 1972, and was also dean of the West Pittston Deanery for many years.

His pastorates included Saint Mary’s Assumption Parish in Jessup beginning in 1973, Immaculate Conception Parish in West Pittston beginning in 1985 and Blessed Sacrament Parish in Hughestown beginning in 1999.

FAITHFUL SHOW GRATITUDE

Cynthia Owens traveled from Massachusetts to celebrate Father Adonizio’s 100th birthday.

For her, the long-time priest has been much more than someone who simply served her parish.

“He has been a source of inspiration, support and love,” she said. “He is the epitome of what you think of when you think of a wonderful priest – or just a wonderful person.”

Owens said Father Adonizio has remained a source of spiritual and personal guidance even after his active parish assignments ended.

“Every time we come back to visit, we are sure to go and see him at his home for his support,” she added. “He actually calls us at home to offer his blessing and support for us.”

Ann Sorick of Corpus Christi Parish in West Pittston also came to celebrate Father Adonizio, who has been a part of her family’s life for decades.

“He married us 40 years ago, seven years ago he concelebrated when our children got married and he baptized my twins in 1991,” Sorick recalled. “He has just been a life-long friend.”

She described the celebration as a fitting tribute.

“It is amazing. I can’t believe how big it is,” she said. “It’s a well-deserved tribute to Father. He is just a great guy. He has been a loyal and faithful priest first, and then a friend to everyone.”

LARKSVILLE – 39,156 pierogies.

That is how many dumplings parish volunteers at Saint John the Baptist Parish in Larksville made and sold during this year’s annual summer bazaar.

If that number seems impressive, it is, but it is only part of the story!

Across northeastern and north central Pennsylvania, summer weekends have long been marked by parish picnics, bazaars and festivals – gatherings where the smell of ethnic food fills the air, familiar music plays and families reconnect.

While the festivals certainly help support parish ministries and expenses, if you ask those who volunteer and attend, it quickly becomes clear that these events are about much more than fundraising.

They are about coming home.

In Larksville, the 82nd annual bazaar once again brought parishioners and visitors together for food, prizes, music and plenty of fellowship.

“It is a community gathering,” Father Thomas Augustine, Pastor, said. “People like to come here to have the ethnic foods, and it is also faith oriented. We can see how people are coming together and having a good time.”

Judy Lucchino, who helped oversee the bake sale and 67 raffle baskets, said the bazaar has become a reunion of sorts, attracting former parishioners and families from near and far.

“It’s a community parish and we all get together and make friends and see old friends that come in from all over the northeast,” she said. “People also come in from Virginia, South Carolina, and they come home just for this bazaar.”

The same spirit could be found in Pittston, where Communion of Saints Parish recently held its second festival of the summer – Summer Fest ’26 – following the consolidation of three historic Pittston parishes.

Father Joseph Elston, Pastor, said the festival gives parishioners an opportunity to build relationships that might not otherwise develop.

“Even though our three churches are in close proximity, a lot of people don’t know each other,” he explained. “But they come together – working together here at the picnic in various places.”

For Stephanie Lynch, who was busy preparing fresh chicken wings with homemade sauce, Summer Fest provides a rare chance to meet the people who sit nearby at Mass each weekend.

“In church, you don’t really get a chance to talk to anybody,” she said. “But for these three days in the summer, whether it’s hot or raining, we all come together and enjoy feeding the community.”

In Throop, Saint Carlo Acutis Parish celebrated its annual Family Festival with food, music, raffle baskets and bingo.

Father Scott Sterowski, Pastor, described it as a celebration of “our oneness in Christ,” while parishioner Joseph Butash called it a time for sharing stories, laughter and memories.

“It’s a very relaxed atmosphere,” Butash said. “It’s fun to get to know people in the community. It is showing how vibrant our parish community is.”

That vibrancy may be the greatest gift of the festival tradition that takes place in many parish communities.

While the work is considerable – planning, cooking, setting up, cleaning up and relying on countless volunteers – it is all about community.

“It’s about sharing stories, sharing laughter, sharing time together,” Butash added.

HAZLETON – For more than a century, Catholics walked through the doors of Our Lady of Grace Church in Hazleton to grow in their faith.

Over its history, thousands of children were baptized, received First Holy Communion and Confirmation in the church, while weddings were celebrated beneath its soaring arches, and funerals brought together loved ones to pray for those who died.

On Sunday afternoon, Aug. 2, 2026, those same doors closed for the final time.

A standing room-only crowd, filled with hundreds of parishioners and former parishioners filled Our Lady of Grace Church for a Closing Mass that brought together memories spanning more than 115 years of faith.

“It is, in fact, the most difficult moment in my 27 years of priestly ministry,” Father Anthony Generose, Pastor of Our Lady of Peace Parish, told the faithful at the start of his homily for the Closing Mass. “Recently, someone asked me if I’m feeling sad. Yes, I’m feeling the sorrow of one in mourning.”

Father Generose acknowledged the profound grief many parishioners have experienced throughout the past year as they prepared for the church’s closure.

“I mourn with others among us or over those whose very reference to life as an individual and as a family are deeply rooted in this sanctuary,” he said. “How often I have heard in this last year and a half, ‘I lived up the street from this church all my life,’ or ‘I received all my sacraments from here,’ or ‘This just breaks my heart.’”

While recognizing the sadness of the day, Father Generose encouraged parishioners not to lose sight of the hope found in Jesus Christ.

“There is hope,” he said. “Without Christ, this church would not have been a place of grace and holiness.”

Reminding those gathered that they don’t go to Mass because of a building or priest – but because of Jesus – Father Generose emphasized that God’s grace continues wherever the faithful gather to celebrate the Eucharist.

The closing of Our Lady of Grace Church follows more than a year of consultation and discernment that began after the July 2025 consolidation of Most Precious Blood Parish and Queen of Heaven Parish into the newly established Our Lady of Peace Parish. Throughout that process, parish leaders evaluated financial data, demographic trends, sacramental activity and the long-term condition of parish facilities.

Among the most significant findings was an independent facility assessment estimating that Our Lady of Grace Church would require more than $3.6 million in repairs over the coming years, including nearly $2.5 million in immediate needs. At the same time, changing demographics within Hazleton have reshaped the pastoral needs of the community. While the city’s growing Hispanic Catholic population has outgrown the available space at Our Lady of Grace and will now worship at Saints Cyril and Methodius Parish, participation among the church’s English-speaking community has steadily declined.

For many people who attended the Closing Mass, it marked the end of a deeply personal chapter in their faith lives.

“It was very emotional,” Robert Umbriac, whose family connection to the church stretches back to its construction.

Umbriac, who now lives in Danville, recalled that his grandfather was among several men who placed their homes up as collateral to help finance the church’s construction in the early 1900s.

“He was the father of 15 children, and he still put the house up as collateral,” Umbriac said. “I was baptized in that church. I made my First Communion in that church.”

His wife, Mary Susan, reflected on attending kindergarten at the parish school and how those early years shaped her faith.

“It solidified my Catholic faith, even back when I was just five years old,” she said. “I hope the church’s legacy lives on. This world really needs God right now.”

Following the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the priests and deacons in attendance, numbering more than a dozen in all, recited special prayers over many parts of the church.

Everyone in attendance was then invited to approach and venerate the altar by touching or kissing it or offering a final prayer. Afterward, the deacon locked the church doors for the final time the church’s long-time sacristan tied a bow across the doors.

Although worship at Our Lady of Grace Church has come to an end, Father Generose said its spirit will continue to live on through the people whose faith was formed within its walls.

One specific example of this took place on the weekend following the closure. Our Lady of Peace Parish at Most Precious Blood Church renamed its annual festival which marked its 127th anniversary this year.

“We’re bringing along the saints that were mentioned in the final prayers, Saint Mauro, which is Our Lady of Grace’s patronal saint, and Saint Nazarius and Saint Aniello, who belonged to the other Italian parishes that closed in 2009 and came here. Since they’re all from the same region of Italy, now we’re calling it the ‘Madonna del Monte & Saints of Cilento Festival.”

SCRANTON – For more than four decades, Catholics searching for an encounter with Christ have made the journey to Scranton each summer for a weekend of prayer, worship, and renewal.

That tradition continued July 31 through Aug. 2, 2026, as hundreds of people from across the east coast gathered at The University of Scranton for the 44th annual Catholic Charismatic Renewal Conference.

Through inspiring speakers, praise and worship, the celebration of the Eucharist, and time for fellowship, participants were invited to deepen their relationship with Jesus and return home renewed in faith.

For many, the conference has become a cherished annual pilgrimage.

“My prayer group usually comes every year to Scranton to praise the Lord, to learn about the Holy Spirit, and to be in fellowship with each other,” Thereze Hargraves of Brooklyn, N.Y., said.

She described the weekend as an opportunity to step away from everyday responsibilities and focus entirely on God.

“It’s like an oasis,” Hargraves explained. “It gives you encouragement that despite what is going on in your life, God is good and His presence is amazing.”

Michele Guerrier, who also lives in Brooklyn, has been making the trip to Scranton for approximately 25 years.

“It is a wonderful place to come to renew, to reflect, and to revitalize my own spiritual life,” she said.

Guerrier believes one of the conference’s greatest strengths is the sense of family that has developed over the years.

“The Holy Spirit is alive,” she said. “Most of us have been coming here for so long that you look forward to seeing everyone. I think that brings a whole other dimension to our faith as Catholics.”

While many attendees have made the conference an annual tradition, organizers were especially encouraged by the number of first-time participants who discovered the event this year.

“I came not really knowing what to expect,” Christy Ghigiarelli of Saint John Paul II Parish in Dunmore, said. “I came to just spend the day with God and be around people and be able to praise Jesus.”

Walking into the conference for the first time quickly made an impression.

“The best part was walking in and just everyone singing and literally praising Jesus,” Ghigiarelli added. “It’s just uplifting, it’s incredible … I’ll definitely be back.”

Karen McLain, who helped coordinate this year’s conference, said the annual gathering invites participants to express their faith with joy and openness to the Holy Spirit.

“The Catholic Charismatic Renewal is regular Catholics who love the Mass, who love the tradition and love the liturgy and the ritual, but they also like to be more expressive sometimes in their worship,” McLain explained. “We raise our hands when we praise. We sing more contemporary songs. Sometimes we dance and we clap.”

McLain said that some Catholics are uncertain about what “charismatic” means, but she emphasized that the movement is firmly rooted within the life of the Church.

“Our popes have been wonderfully supportive and have spoken to the Renewal many times over the last 50 years,” she said. “They’ve said this is a grace for the whole Church.”

Throughout the weekend, participants heard presentations from speakers that included Father Anthony Abraham of the Diocese of Saint Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands; Father Joe Freedy of the Diocese of Pittsburgh; Father August Ricciardi, spiritual moderator for the Diocese of Scranton’s Catholic Charismatic Renewal; evangelist Caroline Gambale-Dirkes; Timmy McCaffery of Pentecost Today USA; and Leonor and Genry Batista of Inmaculada Radio and TV.

The conference ended with a Closing Mass on Sunday celebrated by the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton.

Reflecting on his recent pilgrimage along Spain’s Camino de Santiago, the Bishop connected his own journey with the readings for the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, reminding the faithful that every Christian is searching for lasting fulfillment.

Drawing from the prophet Isaiah and the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, Bishop Bambera encouraged participants to seek satisfaction not in temporary things but in the life-giving grace offered through Jesus Christ and the Eucharist.

“Jesus is present,” Bishop Bambera said. “See Him here before us. Feel His love poured forth from the cross for you. Know that there is nothing in your past or in your life at this moment that cannot be forgiven and healed by Jesus.”

LARKSVILLE – More than three years after a devastating fire destroyed the former Saint Hedwig’s Church in Kingston, a cherished symbol of the parish has found a new home.

On Sunday, July 19, 2026, former parishioners and members of the Knights of Columbus gathered at Saint Hedwig’s Cemetery in Larksville to dedicate and bless a statue of the Blessed Mother, which was rescued from the fire scene, preserving an important piece of the parish’s history for future generations.

The statue, which now stands near the entrance to the cemetery, has been placed on a new base that is inscribed with the words, “Mother of Hope … Pray for Our Loved Ones.”

When fire engulfed the vacant church in February 2023, many people praised the quick-thinking of members of the Edwardsville Public Works Department who saved the special statue which had graced the church grounds for decades.

For decades, people paused at the statue outside the church to offer prayers and seek the Blessed Mother’s intercession. It had become one of the parish’s most recognizable landmarks.

“As the church was being torn down, the statue was on the ground and the people that were watching the demolition wanted the statue to be saved. They didn’t want the rubble and things to engulf it, so the folks from Edwardsville borough were kind enough to come with equipment and they took the statue out of the wreckage,” Ed Raver of the Knights of Columbus said.

Over the next two years, members of the Assumpta Council 3987 and Our Lady of Czestochowa Assembly 1928 of the Knights of Columbus worked alongside borough officials and local craftsmen to secure the statue, construct a permanent pedestal, and relocate it to Saint Hedwig’s Cemetery.

The cemetery was chosen as a fitting location because it is the final resting place for generations of parishioners from the parish.

“This is the cemetery for the parish. The statue was purchased by a former pastor (Father Richard Zavacki) as a tribute to his mother,” Raver added. “We see it as a place for people who were members of the parish to come and reflect and find peace.”

For former parishioner Michael Stretanski, who became a member of Saint Hedwig’s Parish when he married in 1969, the dedication brought back memories of a parish known for its close-knit community, vibrant choir, and popular annual bazaar.

“It gives us a memory to hang onto,” Stretanski said. “We no longer have a church. The church was closed and now it’s just an empty lot, and there is nothing to remind us … But to have Mary here is just a lovely gesture. It’s a beautiful spot for her.”

The dedication ceremony reunited several former choir members who spontaneously sang a traditional Polish hymn, the first time many of them had sung together since the parish closed in 2007.

Father Michael Boris, Assistant Pastor of Saint Ignatius Loyola Parish in Kingston, said the statue represents far more than a piece of salvaged stone.

“They realized that it is part of the heritage of the parish and people are very passionate about their roots,” Father Boris said. “They wanted to help keep that legacy going – not forgetting what was – but also looking ahead now.”

Father Boris said the preservation of the statue serves as a reminder of God’s providence and the Blessed Mother’s loving intercession.

“When people see her, driving out or coming in, they will remember that Our Blessed Mother is praying for our loved ones,” he added.

Michael J. Berish, a past grand knight who helped with the project, said the dedication also brought a long-awaited sense of closure.

“A lot of people didn’t know where it (the statue) was at,” Berish said. “Now she’s home. It just goes to show that from a fire, you can rise again.”

SCRANTON – For more than a century, generations of faithful have made their way to West Scranton each summer, carrying with them prayers, petitions and hopes – and the Solemn Novena to Saint Ann continues to give them a place to bring it all.

From July 17-26, 2026, thousands of people once again gathered at Saint Ann Basilica for the annual Solemn Novena to Saint Ann, filling the grounds for nine days of prayer and preaching and culminating with the Feast Day of Saint Ann and a Closing Mass celebrated by the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton.

This year’s Novena challenged attendees to consider how faith speaks to a rapidly changing world.

The theme for the 2026 Novena was “Reading the Signs of the Times,” with Passionist priests Father Rick Frechette, C.P., and Father Jack Conley, C.P., offering reflections throughout the observance.

Father Rick encouraged the faithful to look honestly at the blessings and challenges surrounding them and to consider how they could live the Gospel faithfully in an increasingly complicated world.

He spoke about the ways technology, artificial intelligence and constant connectivity can contribute to alienation, while also emphasizing the distinctly human gifts of compassion and community.

“We are made in the image of Trinity, a togetherness, a community,” Father Rick said in his reflection for the Novena’s first day, urging those gathered to bring their personal and collective needs to Saint Ann and seek God’s guidance in navigating the difficulties of the times.

Father Jack similarly challenged the faithful not to allow their faith to remain something learned only in childhood, but instead to continue growing in understanding and wisdom. His reflections explored faith formation, doubt, and the importance of listening for the voice of God amid the many competing messages of life.

As the Novena ended, Father Jack reminded pilgrims that faith is not static.

“As we conclude our Novena this year, we allow God to continue to transform us,” he said.

Domenica Matuszewski of Saint Ann Basilica Parish has attended the Novena since she was a child. She describes it as a highlight of her family’s summer and said she has experienced prayers answered through Saint Ann’s intercession.

“There is a peacefulness and a sacredness when you are here,” she said.

James Kryzanowski of Saint Teresa of Calcutta Parish in Scranton said he first started attending the Novena with his parents, aunts and uncles when he was young. Now a parent himself, he said it is important for future generations to understand the significance of Saint Ann and the Novena.

“It’s almost like a family get-together,” he said. “You see people that you haven’t seen for a while. It has become a family tradition.”

Young people also played an active role in this year’s celebration. Many volunteered to serve the crowds who visited the parish’s food pavilion.

“I love the environment here. I love the people here. Everybody is so sweet and so nice,” Olivia Wasp, a young adult from Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Dickson City said.

“You definitely meet new people,” Gregg Russo, a young adult from Saint Patrick Parish in Scranton, added. “It’s very fun to do. You make friends.”

At the July 26 Closing Mass of the Novena, Bishop Bambera reflected on the parables of the buried treasure and the pearl of great value – proclaimed during the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time – as a fitting conclusion to the Novena.

The true treasures of life, the Bishop explained, are not things that can be bought, built or brokered, but the values rooted in Jesus Christ, including love, justice, mercy, faithfulness, gratitude and peace.

“For as much as we struggle to find our way,” Bishop Bambera said. “Your presence on this hillside for the past nine days is a powerful sign to our complicated world about where we are willing to invest our lives.”

That investment, he said, is ultimately not in a place or thing, but “in the person of Jesus Christ.”

SCRANTON – Father Rick Frechette, C.P., D.O., was in West Scranton in late July to preach during the 102nd annual Solemn Novena to Saint Ann. While his visit gave him a chance to reconnect with fellow priests and longtime friends, it was only a brief break from the work that has consumed his priesthood for nearly four decades.

As founder of the Saint Luke Foundation for Haiti, Father Rick has spent much of his life serving some of the poorest and most vulnerable people in the world, providing medical care, building schools and providing much needed humanitarian outreach.

“Over these 37 years that I’ve been there, we’ve built two hospitals, 35 schools and seven clinics,” he said.

While those numbers are impressive and significant, Father Rick’s own ministry remains intentionally close to the people he serves.

“I don’t work in our institutions. I don’t want to take employment away from a Haitian physician,” he explained. “I work front-line work, medical work off the back of a truck in poor areas.”

That firsthand ministry has given Father Rick a unique perspective on the worsening humanitarian crisis gripping Haiti – a crisis he says has placed millions of innocent people in the hands of armed gangs.

“I think primarily for Passionists, our number one concern is the crucified people of today. The people of Haiti, because of their history, certainly qualify as crucified today,” Father Rick said. “When I had the chance to be able to work with them and for them, I embraced it.”

Since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, Father Rick says international terrorist gangs have expanded their control across Haiti, particularly in and around the capital of Port-au-Prince.

The international airport in the capital has also been closed to American carriers for nearly two years, he said, forcing missionaries and other traveling in and out of Haiti to find alternate routes through the northern part of the country.

But the disruption of travel is only a small part of the crisis.

“More importantly, huge areas of the city have been devastated by attacks and fires,” Father Rick said.

Among the places destroyed by gang violence was the original home for the dying established by Mother Teresa. More recently, a chapel associated with that ministry was also destroyed.

The impact on Haiti’s health care system has been devastating. Father Rick said approximately 70 percent of hospitals are now closed, while many missionaries have been forced to leave the country.

More than 1 million people have also been internally displaced.

“There has been no major success in trying to curtail the activity of the grants,” he said.

For Father Rick, the tragedy is particularly painful because of the people caught in the middle. Yet, he is quick to point out that the story of Haiti cannot be reduced to poverty, violence and despair.

One of the things that has struck him throughout his years of ministry is what happens when Haitians are given an opportunity to flourish outside the conditions that have constrained them at home.

“Almost any Haitian that can get themselves out of Haiti, thrives where they go,” he said, pointing to Haitians succeeding in medicine, culture, music and even politics in places such as Canada.

“Haiti stifles life for the Haitian person, so that is what our circumstances are,” he continued.

After recognizing the immense need in Haiti, Father Rick founded the Saint Luke Foundation which provides health care, education and humanitarian assistance to some of Haiti’s least-served populations.

Today, the Saint Luke Foundation operates independently while collaborating with international partners to strengthen its efforts in agriculture, community development, and disaster relief.

Even as the security crisis has intensified, the work has continued.

This summer, for example, the foundation launched a series of camps for children living in displacement sites around Port-au-Prince. The initiative began June 8 when approximately 150 children and vulnerable community members participated in a three-week camp.

The children received nutritious meals, refreshments, participated in recreational activities, prayer and received support from a dedicated team.

For Father Rick, these efforts are about more than simply meeting immediate needs. They are about restoring dignity and hope to people who have endured extraordinary suffering.

That same message was at the heart of what he shared with the faithful during the Solemn Novena to Saint Ann July 17-26, as he urged people to resist the forces that divide and dehumanize them and instead embrace the authentic life that Christ offers.