Category: Diocese of Scranton News

(OSV News) – As the Catholic Church prepares to join Christians around the world in commemorating the 2026 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, the theme chosen also reflects Pope Leo XIV’s hope of unified humanity in an increasingly individualistic world.

“There is one body and one Spirit,” drawn from St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, is the theme.

Unity is “more than simply an ideal,” but a “divine mandate at the core of our Christian identity,” according to resource materials for the week published by the Vatican.

“It represents the essence of the Church’s calling — a call to reflect the harmonious oneness of our life in Christ amidst our diversity,” the materials stated. “This divine unity is central to our mission and is sustained by the profound love of Jesus Christ, who has set before us a unified purpose.”

The material for the Jan. 18-25 octave of prayer, which was published on the website of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, was prepared by the Armenian Apostolic Church, as well as members of the Armenian Catholic Church, and evangelical churches.

The full theme chosen for the week of prayer reads, “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling,” which “encapsulates the theological depth of Christian unity,” the materials said.

The theological vision of Christian unity has also been a recurring theme since the start of Pope Leo’s pontificate, starting with his motto: “In Illo uno unum” (“In the One, we are one.”)

During his return flight from Lebanon Dec. 2, Pope Leo noted that although his motto is a Christ-centric hope for unity, that hope is not limited to just Christians, but an invitation “to all of us and to others” to promote “authentic unity and understanding, respect and human relationships of friendship and dialogue in the world.”

For the pope, true and sincere unity increases the hope that “we will put aside the arms of war, that we will leave aside the distrust, the hatred, the animosity that has so often been built up, and that we will find ways to come together and be able to promote authentic peace and justice throughout the world.”

Pope Leo also told journalists aboard the papal flight that his first apostolic visit to Turkey and Lebanon, which commemorated the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, was “organized thinking about ecumenical affairs” and “seeking unity in the Church.”

During his visit, the pope signed a joint declaration with Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, which stressed that unity could not be reduced to mere agreements.

Christian unity, the declaration stated, “is not merely the result of human efforts, but a gift that comes from on high.” It went on to call all Christians to earnestly seek “the fulfilment of the prayer that Jesus Christ addressed to the Father: ‘that they may all be one, even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you … so that the world may believe.'”

The choice of the Armenian Apostolic Church in preparing the resource materials for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, was notable given the pope’s admiration for the suffering endured by the people of Armenia, which he expressed during his Nov. 30 visit to Archbishop Sahak II Mashalian, the Armenian Apostolic patriarch of Constantinople, in Istanbul.

Reflecting on the Nicene Creed, Pope Leo said unity must take the form of “a communion which does not imply absorption or domination, but rather an exchange of the gifts received by our Churches from the Holy Spirit.”

When Christians gather to pray as one during the week of prayer, its theme, the witness of Armenian Christians and Pope Leo’s vision for unity all converge on a central message that Christians are called not only to reflect on unity, but to live it.

SCRANTON – The Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, will once again travel throughout the Diocese of Scranton during Lent 2026 to lead Holy Hours in each of the Diocese’s 12 deaneries, continuing a tradition that began several years ago.

The 2026 Lenten Holy Hours will begin on Thursday, Feb. 19 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Wyalusing, Bradford County, and continue through Tuesday, March 24, at SS. Peter and Paul Parish in Plains, Luzerne County.

Each Holy Hour will offer Catholics the opportunity to gather for prayer, reflection, and Eucharistic devotion during the Lenten season.

First launched several years ago as part of the National Eucharistic Revival, the Lenten Holy Hours with Bishop Bambera have drawn strong participation and elicited positive responses from parishioners. Many attendees return year after year, finding the evenings to be a moment of quiet encounter with Christ.

Each Holy Hour includes Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, time for silent prayer and adoration, a homily offered by Bishop Bambera, and sacred music that enhances the reverent atmosphere.

“It is such a special occasion to have the Bishop with us and to have him here in our little town,” Christine Aydelotte said after a 2024 Holy Hour at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Tunkhannock. “He helps to strengthen our bond with Jesus. He’s an inspiration and a reminder that we all play a small part in our one Holy Catholic Apostolic Church.”

Amid a busy and often chaotic season – leading up to Easter – many parishioners have found profound peace in spending quiet time in prayer before the Lord.

“If people put themselves fully into this experience and really sit with the Lord, He makes Himself known. I think everyone, when they fully enter into it, has their own personal revelation,” Concetta Cooney said following a 2025 Holy Hour at Saint John the Evangelist Parish in Pittston.

A full schedule of dates and locations for the 2026 Holy Hours is located below. Every Holy Hour will take place at 7 p.m.

All are welcome to attend any of the Holy Hours, regardless of parish or deanery affiliation.

With the beginning of Lent now only a month away, Bishop Bambera invites the faithful to save the dates of these special Holy Hours and encourages them to attend at least one of the special evenings of prayer.

NEWPORT TWP. – The pews of Saint Adalbert Church in Glen Lyon were filled one final time on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, as approximately 350 faithful gathered at 2 p.m. for a Closing Mass for the affectionately-known “Church on the Hill.”

The Mass was celebrated by the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, with Father James E. McGahagan, a native son of the community and longtime priest of the Diocese of Scranton, serving as homilist.

Throughout the liturgy, the voices of the Holy Spirit Parish choir echoed through the ornate interior built by hard-working Polish immigrants who sacrificed to establish a spiritual home for their community.

While the occasion was marked by sadness, the tone of the celebration consistently pointed toward gratitude, faith, and hope – themes echoed throughout the homily and remarks from Bishop Bambera.

“It is a bittersweet day – no doubt,” Bishop Bambera said following Communion. “But thank you for filling this church as it should be, to give honor and praise to God and thanksgiving for the blessing that this sacred space has been to so many of you.”

Saint Adalbert Church, founded 137 years ago when Glen Lyon was known as Morgantown, flourished for decades as a center of faith and community life.

Over time, however, demographic shifts, declining Mass attendance, rising costs, and mounting maintenance needs brought significant challenges. In recent years, average weekend Mass attendance at Saint Adalbert had declined to approximately 50 to 55 people, while an independent facilities assessment identified hundreds of thousands of dollars in necessary repairs that would be needed over the next decade.

After several years of discussion and prayer through the Diocese of Scranton’s Vision 2030 Pastoral Planning Process, the decision was made to close Saint Adalbert Church and suppress Holy Spirit Parish, which had been formed in 2010 and included Saint Adalbert, Saint Mary Church in Mocanaqua, and Saint Martha Church in Fairmount Springs.

Under reconfiguration, Saint Mary Church has now become a secondary worship site of Saint Faustina Kowalska Parish in Nanticoke, while Saint Martha Church has become a secondary worship site of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Hunlock Creek.

Acknowledging the pain of the moment, Bishop Bambera reminded the faithful that the Church’s identity is rooted not in buildings, but in its people.

“This is a difficult day. Make no mistake about it,” he said. “We have to say goodbye to a cherished part of so many of our lives. It is not a day that any parishioner, any priest, or any bishop would ever relish – but we take hope in our faith.”

Bishop Bambera spoke personally of change and sacrifice, recalling his own experiencing presiding at a closing Mass of a church several years ago where his great-grandparents were founding members.

“Change is never easy,” he said, “and the loss of a treasured house of worship is particularly painful for all who have experienced the consolation of our faith within the walls of this church.”

Yet, he noted, change has always been a part of the Church’s story.

“If my great-grandparents – and yours – were unwilling to change in response to the circumstances of their lives in Poland over a century ago, they would have never ventured to this land,” he said. “They taught us that despite the heartaches and losses they endured, life goes on. For them, the most important legacy to pass from one generation to the next is the faith that sustains us.”

Father McGahagan, who began his homily speaking Polish, powerfully recalled the sacrifices of Saint Adalbert’s founders – many of them poorly paid coal miners – who built a magnificent church with little more than faith and determination.

“As we look around at the beauty of this church, we find it amazing to see what they were able to do when they had so little for themselves,” he said. “What a tribute to their faith, their generosity, and their desire to celebrate that faith.”

He reflected on memories tied to the parish – baptisms, weddings, funerals, Stations of the Cross, and crowded holy days – memories shared by nearly everyone gathered.

“All of you here have similar, emotionally charged memories,” Father McGahagan said. “Today, we have gathered in sadness with the realization that those days have passed.”

Still, he urged parishioners not to grieve without hope.

“At this moment, we must remember the words of Saint Paul when he wrote that he would not have us grieve like those who have no hope,” he said. “Because of our faith in Jesus, risen from the dead, we face this loss as we face the loss of loved ones, grieving – but not without hope. Brought low – but not crushed – drawing from Christ Jesus himself the strength to go on and remain strong and faithful.”

Throughout the Mass, the message was clear: the Church lives on in the people who carry its faith forward.

“This church has been a spiritual beacon in our lives,” parishioner Heidi Jarecki said. “As time went on, our population diminished and so that led us to today. It’s very emotional for a lot of us. We are very humble and grateful that our church has been here all these years.”

“It was a tough decision to make but it was one that had to be made and now we have to move on,” parishioner Joseph Hillan added. “On Christmas Eve we had a nice crowd of 175 people. If we had those 175 people every week, we wouldn’t be in this situation that we are today.”

At the end of the Mass, all parishioners were invited to reverence the altar one final time and then leave the church. At 3:52 p.m., the doors were locked one final time, and the Blessed Sacrament was given a police escort to Saint Faustina Parish.

“May our memories today be filled with gratitude and hope,” Bishop Bambera said. “Gratitude for all that has been, and hope for all that will be, through the grace of God present in our lives.”

ARCHBALD – From the window of the room where Austin Burke paints, he can see the spire of Saint Thomas Aquinas Church in Archbald, his home parish and spiritual anchor.

The view is not lost on him as he spends many mornings carefully sketching, mixing colors, and patiently bringing to life some of the most sacred and iconic church buildings across the Diocese of Scranton – one brushstroke at a time.

For nearly the past year, Burke has been quietly undertaking a remarkable act of stewardship.

The retired community leader has committed himself to painting Catholic churches throughout the Diocese, donating every completed work to benefit the Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Scranton.

More than a dozen churches have already been captured on canvas, representing communities from Dunmore, Stroudsburg, Williamsport, Wilkes-Barre to Scranton, with more to come.

“I feel blessed. I really do,” Burke said. “God’s given me some talent, given me the health to go through with it, given me the community and the affirmation to say, ‘Austin, we like your stuff.’ I totally feel blessed and privileged to be able to do this.”

Burke, a native of Archbald, is well known across northeastern Pennsylvania for his decades of leadership in economic development. He served for 40 years with the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce and later as Pennsylvania’s Secretary of Community and Economic Development under Governor Ed Rendell.

But while business and civic leadership have defined his professional life, art has long lived quietly alongside it.

“I’ve always had an interest in art,” Burke said.

That interest took a more serious turn in 1997 during a family vacation in Florida, when Burke borrowed a set of watercolors and began painting clouds.

“When I came home, I continued,” he joked. “I started slow. I painted trees for the next month.”

After retiring in 2013, Burke audited art courses at Keystone College and immersed himself in color theory, perspective, and drawing.

“I ended up taking 15 art courses and that really upped my game,” he acknowledged.

Over time, his paintings of Scranton-area landmarks gained attention. But Burke found himself increasingly drawn to churches.

“I think the most iconic buildings that we have in Lackawanna County are all of our churches,” he said. “They are real treasures that we have.”

For Burke, churches represent far more than architecture.

“A church is where humanity encounters God,” he reflected. “Not only do you encounter God there, but you meet your community there, and that is important.”

That insight eventually led to an idea: using his talent to help raise money for the Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Scranton. Burke offered to paint local churches and the artwork could be put up for auction online.

Diocesan leaders embraced the idea – and encouraged him to expand beyond his home region.

“The Bishop said, ‘Would you mind doing a few more out in Williamsport, Muncy and Stroudsburg?” Burke recalled. “I was honored.”

Each painting is a significant commitment.

Most are 16-by-20-inch oil paintings, with the Cathedral of Saint Peter a little larger. Burke and his wife, Marianne, travel to each location, carefully photographing the church under ideal lighting conditions.

“Morning light is different from evening light,” he explained.

In his home studio, the process begins with days of sketching.

“If you don’t get the sketch right, you don’t know what you’re going to paint,” he said.

In total, Burke estimates that each painting takes about 200 hours from start to finish.

“These churches, they have great stained glass, stonework and buttresses,” he said. “Those lines often pull the whole painting together.”

Painting, for Burke, is a daily discipline.

“I like to paint most mornings,” he said, noting author Stephen King’s advice to work every day. “I would bet you that I paint four or five days a week for several hours.”

Some churches present unique challenges. He joked about the countless stones at Saint Catherine of Siena Church in Moscow but also acknowledged the joy that comes when a painting finally reveals a building’s true beauty – as what happened with Annunciation Church (Saint Joseph the Worker Parish) in Williamsport.

“All of a sudden – bang – you can see what a beautiful church this is,” he said, reflecting on the color he used for the columns near the church’s stained-glass windows. “That was one of the delights.”

For Burke, the greatest reward comes when others see the finished work.

“When you get it right, you bring joy to people that see it – and that brings joy to me,” he said.

Displayed in early January at a leadership donor reception for the Catholic Ministries Appeal, the paintings sparked pride among parishioners from across the Diocese.

Burke hopes his paintings also help people recognize the breadth and diversity of the Church of Scranton.

“I’d like to see people recognize how huge this diocese is,” he said, “and the variations (of churches) depending on where immigrants come from.”

As the Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Scranton prepares for an auction of Burke’s paintings after Easter 2026, his effort already stands as a powerful witness. It is a reminder that stewardship takes many forms – and that the gifts God gives to each of us, when offered generously, can help build the Kingdom in unexpected and lasting ways.

“The Foundation is going to be great, and I hope this helps drive home the fact that we have one huge community,” Burke said.

 

SCRANTON – One of the Diocese of Scranton’s most popular and creative fundraisers is returning for a milestone season, as Rectory, Set, Cook! will launch its fifth annual competition next month – with the hopes of surpassing $1 million raised since its inception.

The 2026 Rectory, Set, Cook! campaign will officially kick off on Tuesday, Feb. 17, and continue through 4:00 p.m. on Friday, March 27, inviting everyone across northeastern and north central Pennsylvania to support priests-turned-“pastor chefs” as they cook – and compete – for a good cause.

Half of all funds raised through Rectory, Set, Cook! benefit Catholic Social Services of the Diocese of Scranton, specifically supporting hunger and homelessness initiatives, while the remaining half goes directly to the participating priest’s parish.

The new season will begin with a Launch Party on Tuesday, Feb. 17, from 6-8:30 p.m. at the Diocesan Pastoral Center in Scranton. The 21-and-over event will feature food from local restaurants, musical entertainment from some of the pastor chefs, and a collaborative beer brewed by Breaker Brewing Company in partnership with Father Brian Van Fossen. Admission is $20 at the door.

Now in its fifth year, Rectory, Set, Cook! has grown into a signature fundraiser for Catholic Social Services, combining friendly competition, humor, and generosity.

Priests from across the Diocese film short cooking videos – sometimes solo, sometimes alongside parishioners, friends, or fellow clergy – encouraging donations and votes through an online platform.

For Father Michael Boris, assistant pastor at Saint Ignatius Loyola Parish in Kingston and Holy Family Parish in Luzerne, the competition is about much more than cooking.

“I really do think it’s important that we support Catholic Social Services,” Father Boris said. “As a priest, I have an obligation to do what I can to promote those services.”

Entering his third year in the competition, Father Boris this year is cooking Pan-Seared Chicken with Lemon Riccotta Pasta alongside several parishioners.

“Every time I do it, I’m impressed with how the people I work with come together,” he added. “I think it helps them appreciate what we do as priests – and I get to learn new skills.”

Monsignor Jack Bendik, who has participated in Rectory, Set, Cook! every year since its launch, said his continued involvement reflects an enduring commitment to service.

“I want to show that even though we’re retired, we still have a commitment to the Diocesan mission – especially to the poor,” Monsignor Bendik said. “Everything we receive is given to the poor.”

Monsignor Bendik will be joined by Father Phil Sladicka in this year’s video for the Villa Saint Joseph. The pair will share several simple, crowd-pleasing recipes, including a zucchini quiche that became a parish favorite in Avoca.

“Every time I had Bible study or a Sunday morning gathering, this was so easy to make that I would feed it to everybody and they loved it,” he said. “They kept coming back.”

Since its inaugural year in 2022, Rectory, Set, Cook! has steadily grown, raising $171,747 in its first year, followed by $197,412 in 2023, $218,001 in 2024, and a record-breaking $227,162 in 2025.

Proceeds have supported food pantries, kitchens, emergency shelters, and housing initiatives across the Diocese, helping Catholic Social Services respond to increasing needs in local communities.

For more information on Rectory, Set, Cook!, visit the Diocese of Scranton’s website or follow Diocesan social media channels.

It is also not too late for priests to participate in this year’s effort. For more information, contact Shannon Kowalski at Skowalski@dioceseofscranton.org.

SCRANTON – In celebration of the vocation of marriage and National Marriage Week (Feb. 7-14), the Diocese of Scranton is hosting a Swing Dance on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, at the Diocesan Pastoral Center in Scranton.

The Swing Dance, which will take place in the Pastoral Center Auditorium, will feature the Swing Fever Dance Band from Limekiln, Pa., a 17-piece traditional Big Band, and swing dance instruction from local instructors, Philip Spinka and Jill Wetzel.

The Swing Fever Dance Band is a non-profit corporation whose purpose is to perform and encourage the enjoyment of big band music.

Swinging since 1983, the Swing Fever Dance Band has been recreating the big band sound of the 1930s and 1940s and performing music selections that span over five decades.

In addition to performing throughout Pennsylvania, in 1992, the band performed in England and Wales. They were also invited to return in 1994 to participate in the United Kingdom’s official commemoration of the 50th anniversary of D-Day.

The Swing Fever Dance Band has several CDs, which include great selections like Take the A-Train, Eager Beaver, Moonlight in Vermont, and The Shadow of Your Smile.

Please mark your calendars now for this special event in Scranton.

All people over the age of 18 are welcome to join us from 4 – 5 p.m. for the dance instruction from our local instructors and then enjoy open dance from 5 – 8 p.m.

Tickets to attend will be $20 per person in advance, and $25 at the door.

Guests also have the option of reserving a table for their families and friends in advance for $10 for tables of 8 guests.

For more information or to purchase tickets now, visit dioceseofscranton.org.

All who are attending are welcome to bring their own food and drinks to enjoy at the dance.

If you have any questions, you may call Bridget Maille, Program Coordinator, Family Life, in the Diocesan Office for Parish Life, at (570) 207-2213 ext 1133 or email: familylife@dioceseofscranton.org.

SCRANTON – As many people continue to experience food insecurity, Saint Francis of Assisi Kitchen in Scranton has begun the 48th annual Host‑for‑a‑Day campaign to support its mission of feeding and clothing individuals and families in need.

For a donation of $100 or more, an individual, family, business, community organization or faith-based group can help to fund a day’s meal. Major sponsorship levels are also available starting at $500.

In effect, each contributor becomes a “host” for a day. Contributors may then select a date on which they or someone they designate or memorialize will be recognized as helping to provide that meal.

Financial contributions to the Kitchen also help to fund other programs such as a Client-Choice Food Pantry and Free Clothing Store and weekly meals at parish locations and high-rise housing buildings in Carbondale and Olyphant, and also weekly meals at parish sites in Roaring Brook Township and Archbald.

In addition, the Kitchen is also now providing meals for Saint Anthony’s Haven shelter for the homeless.

The Kitchen’s Free Clothing Mobile Trailer visits various locations to bring clothing items to those in need who might not be able to come to the Scranton property.

Also, the Kitchen participates in the “Code Blue” initiative with the City of Scranton and Catholic Social Services of the Diocese of Scranton. When the temperature gets below 20 degrees, the Kitchen provides hot soup to those experiencing homelessness who are being welcomed at Weston Field.

Rob Williams, Kitchen Executive Director, noted that the Kitchen has been serving historic numbers of meals.

In 2025, the Kitchen provided more than 125,000 meals, far surpassing the approximately 95,000 meals in 2024 and 75,000 meals in 2023.

In recent months, the Client Choice Food Pantry and Free Clothing operation have also experienced higher visits by families in need.

“For a variety of reasons, we are seeing more people than ever coming to us for help,” he said. “There is nothing more basic than the need to eat, and we are privileged to be in a position to address this need for our brothers and sisters.”

Michael J. Cummings, a member of the Kitchen’s Advisory Board, is chairing the 2026 Host-for-a-Day campaign and leading the effort with his fellow board members.

“The Host-for-a-Day campaign is essential to the operation of the Kitchen,” he said. “The generosity of so many individuals and organizations within our community enables us to continue the mission.”

Recent contributors to the campaign are receiving an appeal directly from the Kitchen through the mail or will be contacted by members of the Kitchen’s Advisory Board.

Host‑for‑a‑Day gifts can also be made by calling the Kitchen at (570) 342‑5556, or sending a check to Saint Francis of Assisi Kitchen, 500 Penn Avenue, Scranton, PA 18509.

Donations can also be made online at: www.stfranciskitchen.org or facebook.com/stfranciskitchen or text SFAK to 26989.

The culmination of the campaign will be celebrated at Fiorelli’s in Peckville on Wednesday, April 29, beginning at 6 p.m.

Each contributor and a guest is invited to attend. RSVPs are required by April 15 to confirm attendance and an accurate meal count.

Those who would like to sponsor the reception are asked to call the Kitchen at (570) 342‑5556.