Category: Diocese of Scranton News

SCRANTON — Due to the threat of an impending winter storm, the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, cancelled the Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion traditionally held at the Cathedral of Saint Peter on the First Sunday of Lent.

With the announcement, Bishop Bambera directed that the ceremonies for those seeking full communion in the Catholic Church this year be celebrated in local parishes that weekend, if possible, or during the Second Sunday of Lent weekend.

“I’ve asked our Pastors to celebrate this cherished ritual within your parishes,” the Bishop related in the preface of a prepared text of his homily meant to be delivered in person in the venerable Scranton Cathedral on Feb. 22. “While disappointed, we all have much for which to be grateful as we pray for the well over three hundred catechumens and candidates from parishes throughout our eleven counties who have answered the Lord’s call to discipleship.”

As Bishop Bambera indicated, the 2026 Rite of Election numbers are most impressive.

The 137 catechumens — those who have never been baptized in the Christian faith — and 175 candidates — baptized Christians who desire full communion in the Church through Eucharist and Confirmation — outnumber by more than 100 the 207 catechumens and candidates from last year’s Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion.

The Rite of Election is a pivotal moment in the journey of those seeking full initiation into the Catholic faith. Following months — sometimes even years — of prayerful preparation, study and discernment, the ceremony symbolizes their formal selection to become members of the Church at the upcoming Easter Vigil.

“While it was unfortunate that we weren’t able to celebrate at the Cathedral with the Bishop and hundreds of others, the flip side was that the parish community was able to witness and participate in this important milestone for all of our catechumens and candidates,” Ann O’Brien, coordinator for the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Peckville, said. “It was beautiful to be a part of this ancient tradition at the parish level and surround the catechumens and candidates with our community’s prayer and support.”

Joyce Chowanec, one of five candidates from the Peckville parish where Father Andrew Kurovsky serves as pastor, knew she probably would not be in attendance for her local celebration held on the First Sunday of Lent. However, she was able to enjoy the livestream through her phone.

“While I watched…as my friends continued the process, it was emotional because I could really feel I was there spiritually,” she said. “Father Andy included me with his special message, and I felt that was so very special. I am forever grateful for everyone that has worked with our group.”

Describing his new prospective parishioners as being “on fire” about entering the Catholic Church, Father Joseph Kutch, pastor of Saint Michael Parish in Canton, expressed, “I am thrilled with all six of the individuals involved in our OCIA. I am very proud of each and every one of them. They are so excited and proud about their newfound faith, to the point of tears.”

The pastor also shares in their enthusiasm about the upcoming Easter Vigil ceremonies.

“I, too, am so looking forward to this year’s Vigil, which will be extra special as I have the privilege to baptize the three catechumens and minister the Sacrament of Confirmation to all six,” Father Kutch remarked.

Among the three candidates at Saint Michael’s is Sandy Jackson, who was baptized into the Lutheran church and most recently worshipped in the Methodist tradition.
“Last September, I attended my first Catholic Mass and immediately felt at home,” she shared.

“Participating in the Rites of Initiation and witnessing the Rite of Election was deeply moving,” Jackson continued. “The reverence and formality of these moments made God’s presence tangible. Holding the Rite at our parish allowed the congregation to share in and support our journey.”

Concerning the celebration of this year’s Rite of Election in local churches, Katie James offered her unique perspective as a catechist for the OCIA program at Christ the King Parish in Archbald.

“It is a gift to journey with these catechumens as they prepare to receive the Sacraments of Initiation. One of the beauties of the Order is that the entire parish joins in supporting them,” James explained. “Through the Rite of Election and the Scrutinies, the community comes together to pray for the continued formation of these catechumens, while also being strengthened by their witness and desire to seek the faith.”

Tracey Singletary joins her husband, William, as candidates journeying through the Call to Conversion process at Saint Patrick Parish in Nicholson.

As she returns to her Catholic roots seeking full communion into the Church, Tracey is serving as Confirmation sponsor for her husband, who received Christian baptism and now desires entrance into the Catholic faith.

“Returning to the Church after so many years has been humbling,” Tracey began. “There is something powerful about coming home to the sacraments and the truth of the faith that was always there waiting.”

She continued by stating how her faith journey has become even more meaningful with William walking beside her as a candidate for First Eucharist and Confirmation.

“As Easter approaches, I feel a deep longing to receive the Eucharist again — to encounter Christ truly present — a gift I once took for granted but now cherish with a grateful heart,” Tracey said. “This journey has reminded me that even when we wander far, Christ patiently waits for us and never stops calling us home.”

Carlie Craven of Dupont, an OCIA candidate at Saint John the Evangelist Parish in Pittston, was candid about her circuitous path to full communion in the Catholic Church.

“Some people grow up with faith and never leave it. My story is different,” Craven related, explaining that as a “cradle Catholic” she was baptized into the faith and received First Communion and First Reconciliation.

“Mine is the story of leaving, wandering, questioning everything — and slowly, unexpectedly, finding my way home,” she continued as she told how a fractured family unit prevented her from receiving Confirmation, leading ultimately to separation from her faith and even her beliefs.

“The faith that was planted in me through baptism had never truly disappeared. It had simply waited…for the moment when I would finally be ready to return,” Craven said. “And when that moment came, I realized something profound. I had not just rediscovered the Catholic Church. I had come home.”

Matt Rosencrans, who participated as a catechumen in the Rite of Election at Saint John the Evangelist on March 1, describes his faith journey of conversion to Catholicism with a quote by Saint John Henry Newman: “To live is to change, and to be perfect is to have changed often.”

Stating it took years for him to “succumb to my thoughts and pursue my faith,” Rosencrans said during the past year, “it just clicked, everything aligned, and I knew it was time.”

“A dear friend of mine from the Harrisburg area, who also recently converted, stated that it must have been a calling,” he expressed. “I wholeheartedly believe that because I was blessed with a great (OCIA) class, led by amazing people, and a beautiful church.”

Also among the three candidates from the Pittston parish is Ryan Camaratta, who openly shared that he celebrated seven years of sobriety on the same day he participated in the Rite of Election at Saint John’s.

“I was baptized as a Catholic at birth and raised in a Catholic family and attended a Catholic school. I was adherent to the faith and the Church until about the age of 14, when I developed an addiction to opiates,” Camaratta declared forthrightly.

From there, his story spirals steeply out of control, eventually leading to chronic homelessness and extended incarceration.

“Last year I felt compelled to come back to the Church after years spent rebuilding my relationship with Christ, and I felt called to the parish of Saint John the Evangelist,” he remarked. “I requested to meet with a priest and had the great fortune to meet Father (Joseph) Elston, who welcomed me back to the Church after having willfully spent most of my life away from it.”

Camaratta concluded, “I’ve learned what a powerful force God can work on the sick and the afflicted and the lost, and that forgiveness truly is unconditional and never ending. Above all, I’ve learned and come to appreciate that living with Christ and with His Church is the only key to happiness and contentment I have ever found.”

 

 

“Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified.
He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said.”

Dear Friends,

These words from Saint Matthew’s Gospel that will be proclaimed during the great Vigil of Easter, confronted the first followers of Jesus on the very day of his resurrection and boldly affirmed God’s promise to save his people.

Yet despite such powerful words of faith that we read in the scriptures and proclaim whenever we gather for the celebration of the Eucharist, the reality of life at times can consume us with grief, pain and fear. These days are no exception.

Once again, we approach Holy Week and Easter with our world engulfed by war and suffering – in Iran, throughout the Middle East, for four years in Ukraine, and in far too many places to name around the world. At this very hour, men and women in our armed forces are in harm’s way as they seek to secure a more peaceful existence for all. Right here, in our own land, immigrants who have become our neighbors and friends, fear for their well-being as their hopes for a better life for themselves and their families are dashed. Antisemitism has once again raised its ugly head. And amid such upheaval and pain, we have our own stories to tell of the crosses that we carry – crosses made of grief and loss, illness, addiction, loneliness and sin.

And so as we have done countless times before in the face of such heartbreak, these sacred days beckon us to turn to the only place that enables our broken world and lives to find forgiveness, healing, hope and peace: the Paschal Mystery, the Easter miracle, the promise won for us through the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus!

But how does a mystery fraught with suffering and death provide us with hope? In his work, The Passion and the Cross, Father Ronald Rolheiser writes that it is only in and through the mystery of the cross of Jesus and our own, which we feebly attempt to carry with dignity and hope, that we find our peace. “Jesus never promised us rescue, exemptions, immunity from cancer or escape from death. Rather, he promised that in the end, there will be redemption, vindication, immunity from suffering and eternal life. But that’s in the end; in the early and intermediate chapters of our lives, there will be the same kind of humiliation, pain and death that everyone else suffers.” Yet, Rolheiser goes on to note, “Taking up your cross and being willing to give up your life means living in a faith that believes that nothing is impossible for God.”

Brothers and sisters, for all that we have experienced throughout the journey of our lives – in joy and gladness – and, yes, even in suffering, death and in the many wounds that we have endured – our belief in the power and grace of God to work wonders in our world even in these most challenging times is where resurrection begins to enter our lives today and peace begins to take hold of our wounded spirits! While God doesn’t promise us a perfect world free from suffering, no matter how faithful we are, he does promise forgiveness, redemption and life because of Jesus’ cross.

One of the greatest signs of the power of God at work in our world through the Risen Lord is the presence of well over 300 catechumens and candidates from throughout the Diocese of Scranton who will be baptized into the life, death and resurrection of Jesus and presented for full communion in the Catholic Church during the great Vigil of Easter. These catechumens and candidates – our relatives, neighbors and friends – will join with catechumens and candidates from around the world in numbers that we have not experienced in years to publicly profess their faith in Jesus Christ and to assume their place with us in Jesus’ body, the Church.

As bishop of this great local church of the Diocese of Scranton, I am profoundly touched by the example of your lives. In the midst of all that life unfolds, you continue to live your faith and fulfill the promises of your Baptism. You continue to serve your brothers and sisters. And you continue to derive hope from a living relationship with the risen Jesus.

During these final days of Lent, Holy Week and Easter, I pray that we will come to appreciate more deeply than ever the fact that we are indeed blessed by God in more ways than we might believe or imagine. May we continue to trust in God’s promise to sustain us and dispel our deepest fears. And may we open our hearts to the risen Jesus and allow him to fill them with his love and peace.

Faithfully yours in Christ,

Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L.
Bishop of Scranton

SCRANTON – Hundreds of Catholics from across the Diocese of Scranton are gathering in churches throughout the region this Lent, filling pews for special evenings of prayer, reflection, and Eucharistic devotion as the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, leads Lenten Holy Hours in each of the Diocese’s 12 deaneries.

At Divine Mercy Parish in Scranton, the church was nearly filled as parishioners from multiple parishes came together to pray before the Blessed Sacrament. At Saint John Bosco Parish in Conyngham, more than 300 people attended the Holy Hour for the Hazleton Deanery.

For many participants, the experience has been both powerful and deeply personal.

“It made me feel connected,” said Angel Parra of Saint Teresa of Calcutta Parish in Scranton after attending the Holy Hour at Divine Mercy Parish. “As a young Catholic, I don’t have many friends around my age who are Catholic. Just being around that many people praying together was a really refreshing experience.”

The Holy Hours began Feb. 19 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Wyalusing and eight more have taken place since that time. The final three Lenten Holy Hours will all take place within the next week.

Each evening includes Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, time for silent prayer and adoration, sacred music and a homily offered by Bishop Bambera. The theme for this year’s reflection is “Finding Peace in Challenging Times.”

For many who attend, the opportunity to spend quiet time in prayer before the Eucharist during Lent is a meaningful break from the noise and pace of everyday life.

“When you’re in the church right now, there’s nothing to bother you – no phones or television,” said Judy Korgeski of Saint Carlo Acutis Parish in Olyphant. “You can really feel Jesus around us. And especially because of all the people who are with us, you can tell they feel the same way.”

Others say the Lenten Holy Hours offer a powerful reminder of the Church community that stretches beyond their own individual parish.

“We love to pray as a community – just to be together with everybody else and experience these things together,” said Elizabeth Pass of Saint Thomas More Parish in Lake Ariel. “A lot of times we’re praying by ourselves.”

The Holy Hours also give many parishioners the opportunity to see and pray with their bishop in a personal way.

“The shepherd coming to the sheep is very key,” added Marian Menapace who also attended the Holy Hour at Saint Thomas More Parish. “We didn’t have to go to Scranton. To have the Bishop here was pretty awesome.”

Throughout his homily, Bishop Bambera reflects on the Gospel account of the Road to Emmaus, reminding the faithful that Christ walks with them even in the midst of life’s struggles and uncertainties.

He encourages Catholics to trust that God’s love remains constant, even during moments of difficulty.

“God’s love isn’t based on our righteousness or how perfectly we recite our prayers,” Bishop Bambera told those gathered at each Holy Hour. “It is pure gift.”

For many parishioners, hearing that message while kneeling in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament has been especially meaningful.

“When you are there, in the presence of Christ, it just pours through your heart and enlivens your faith,” said Annette Deitz of Divine Mercy Parish in Scranton.

As the Lenten season continues, Bishop Bambera hopes the remaining Holy Hours will help Catholics deepen their relationship with Christ and discover the peace that comes from encountering Him in prayer.

All Holy Hours begin at 7 p.m., and Catholics are welcome to attend any of the gatherings regardless of parish or deanery affiliation.

SCRANTON – There is now only one week left to vote in the Diocese of Scranton’s popular pastor chef cooking competition, Rectory, Set, Cook!

Because of the generosity of people across northeastern Pennsylvania (and beyond), the friendly competition has already raised more than $125,000 from more than 1,400 donors.

This year, the fundraiser could potentially surpass $1 million in total funds raised since the initiative first launched in 2022.

Rectory, Set, Cook! invites priests from the eleven counties of the Diocese of Scranton to step into their kitchen as “pastor chefs,” creating cooking videos and encouraging supporters to vote for their favorite dish through online donations.

Half of all funds raised benefit hunger and homelessness initiatives of Catholic Social Services. The remaining half goes directly to the participating priest’s parish.
This year’s competition continues through 4 p.m. on Friday, March 27.

Visit dioceseofscranton.org to view all videos and vote for your favorite! You can vote for as many pastor chefs as you would like!

SCRANTON – Hundreds of faithful gathered at the Cathedral of Saint Peter on March 14 to begin one of the region’s most beloved traditions – Scranton’s annual Saint Patrick’s Parade – with prayer and thanksgiving.

The Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, served as principal celebrant and homilist for the annual Parade Day Mass, which has long marked the official start of one of the largest Saint Patrick’s Day parades in the country.

In his homily, the Bishop reflected on the enduring example of Saint Patrick, who returned to Ireland after escaping slavery to preach the Gospel.

“God takes us as we are and uses us as instruments of peace in building his Kingdom,” Bishop Bambera said, noting that Patrick’s life reminds Christians of their call to forgiveness, reconciliation, and service to others.

The Mass drew members of Irish cultural organizations, civic leaders, and parade participants, including visitors from Scranton’s sister city of Ballina in County Mayo, Ireland.

“It’s so fitting that the parade starts with Mass,” said Jarlath Munnelly, Cathaoirleach of Ballina, who traveled to Scranton for the celebration. “Faith was such an important part of keeping (Irish) communities together.”

Local Irish groups also highlighted the religious roots of the celebration.

“It is a celebration of Saint Patrick – traditionally a Catholic holiday,” Tammy Jackson, President of the Society of Irish Women, said. “It almost has to start with the Catholic Church.”

“We are very proud to be Irish Catholic, and we love to come to Mass at the Cathedral on this day,” Anna McTavish of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians in Scranton, added.

 

SCRANTON – More than 500 young people from across the Diocese of Scranton are being recognized this Lent for their commitment to faith and service as recipients of the 2026 Bishop’s Youth Award.

The honor, presented annually since 1996, recognizes eighth- and twelfth-grade students who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to their Catholic faith through volunteer service in their parishes, schools, and communities.

This year’s recipients are being celebrated during three special Masses throughout March at the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Scranton.

“While today is exciting and it’s an honor to receive this award, it is a reminder to all of us that whether we’re going into high school or later years in life, we have to continue doing the service that we’ve done to receive this award,” Kevin Vincent Jr., a senior at Holy Cross High School and member of Saints Anthony & Rocco Parish in Dunmore, said.

Students from the Southern Pastoral Region were honored during the first Mass on March 1. The Cathedral celebration drew a standing-room-only crowd of families, friends, and parish leaders.

Among those recognized was Lilly Holtz, an eighth-grade student from Saint Jude Parish in Mountain Top.

“I’m so happy because I just get to help people in my community,” she said, noting her service as an altar server and her role as student body president at Saint Jude School.

Blake Pribula, an eighth-grade student from Corpus Christi Parish in West Pittston, said receiving the award carried special meaning because he had watched his brother receive the same honor.

“I always thought it was really interesting when he received it, and I’m really excited that I can do the same,” he said.

The second Mass, held March 15 for students from the Northern Pastoral Region, drew such a large crowd that overflow seating was needed in the Diocesan Pastoral Center.

For Jesus Hernandez, a senior at Scranton Prep and a member of Saint Teresa of Calcutta Parish in Scranton, faith has served as a steady foundation in uncertain times.

“For me, faith has always been my biggest anchor. Christ has always been my biggest anchor,” Hernandez explained. “I think it’s pretty awesome to see how many young people are devoted to their parish and I hope it stays like this for many years to come.”

Meredith Duffy, a senior from Saint Gregory Parish in Clarks Green agreed, saying the Masses are a powerful reminder that young Catholics are not alone in their beliefs.

“I am a sacristan, I’m a catechist for the 8th grade Confirmation class, I volunteer at a lot of bible camps and children’s ministry activities, and it is just a blessing for me to be able to have that involvement in my parish,” Duffy explained. “It is great to be surrounded by fellow parishioners who have also been noticed for the great contributions they’ve made to their parishes.”

The final Bishop’s Youth Award Mass will take place Sunday, March 22, honoring students from the Eastern and Western Pastoral Regions of the Diocese.

HAZLETON – On the weekend of the Third Sunday of Lent, hundreds of people in the greater Hazleton area encountered the story of a modern-day saint whose devotion to the Eucharist continues to inspire believers around the world.

Parishioners from the Hazleton Deanery and beyond were invited to visit Most Precious Blood Church March 7-9 to view an exhibit on Saint Carlo Acutis, the first millennial saint to be canonized by the Catholic Church.

The traveling display, on loan from Malvern Retreat House in southeast Pennsylvania, features more than 100 Eucharistic miracles that Acutis researched and cataloged before his death from leukemia in 2006 at the age of fifteen.

Using his skills in computer programming, the Italian teenager designed a website to share the stories of these miracles – a project that continues to evangelize people today.

The exhibit was put on display as part of the Hazleton Deanery’s ‘Road to Resurrection’ initiative for Lent 2026 – a series of opportunities for the faithful to deepen their relationship with Christ during the Lenten season.

The ‘Road to Resurrection’ events began on March 5 with a Holy Hour at Saint John Bosco Church, where more than 300 people gathered in prayer with the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton.

For Father Anthony Generose, pastor of Our Lady of Peace Parish, said the activities all came together as the result of a Spirit-led collaboration across the deanery.

“This has all come together by God’s grace and the Holy Spirit,” Father Generose said.

Father Generose said he was particularly touched by a video on Saint Carlo Acutis that was part of the exhibit.

“When you watch the video, you get to see this child that can connect with adults and with youth,” he explained. “I sat there and I wept. I’ve never had the experience of listening to the mother of a saint speak about her son and his friends and the adults that grew up with him in Italy.”

Parishioner Maureen Franzosa suggested bringing the exhibit to Hazleton after encountering it while visiting family near Philadelphia. Franzosa first experienced the display while visiting her granddaughter, who had been asked to reflect on Acutis as part of her Confirmation preparation.

“I walked in and got this serene feeling of peace,” Franzosa said. “I couldn’t believe everything that this young man, in his short life up to 15, had done to try to connect us to the Eucharist.”

She believes the young saint’s witness offers an important connection for youth today.

“He’s a millennial saint. I think he could speak to our youth who need some kind of connection today,” she added.

That same hope inspired members of the Our Lady of Peace Parish Vocation Ministry Team, who helped welcome visitors throughout the weekend.

“One of the target groups for us, as a vocation committee, is the young. We want to bring more teenagers back to the church,” parishioner Nicole Composto said.

As visitors moved from panel to panel, they encountered detailed accounts of Eucharistic miracles from around the world – events recognized by the Church as scientifically inexplicable signs connected to the Blessed Sacrament.

“The displays, the pictures, (they’re) all beautiful,” Composto expressed. “I didn’t realize how many Eucharistic miracles there were. It’s overwhelming to walk through and see how many.”

Judy Kotzer, 84, was also struck by the number of Eucharistic miracles.

“A lot of times we go to Communion and don’t really realize what is there,” she said. “But this really shows us.”

DUPONT – Two newly linked parishes in Luzerne County joined forces at the start of Lent to offer something they had not experienced in years – a parish mission designed to renew hearts and strengthen unity in Christ.

From Feb. 26-28, parishioners from Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Dupont, and Queen of the Apostles Parish, Avoca, gathered for “Return to the Heart of the Father,” a three-day Lenten retreat led by national Catholic speaker Allan Wright.

Hosted at both parish churches, the retreat featured opportunities for Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Stations of the Cross, a communal penance service and multiple presentations – along with shared meals that gave parishioners time to connect.

“We decided to begin Lent with three days of prayer to reflect upon God’s love for us as we return to the heart of the Father,” Father Thomas Petro, pastor of both parishes, said.

This marks the first Lent the two communities are together in a formal linkage, and the retreat was planned intentionally to build a sense of togetherness.

“It was our hope to allow the parishioners from both parishes to come together and get to know each other in a better way, but also find unity in Christ,” Father Petro added.

The mission was made possible through a grant from the Catholic Ministries Appeal.
Wright, an author, adjunct professor at Seton Hall University and Executive Director of the N.J. Family Policy Center, brought Scripture to life through real life stories.

He encouraged participants to recognize the “silent witnesses” of the Gospel – figures such as the servants at Cana and the friends of the paralytic – who made a difference without saying a word.

He also focused on practical reflections of family life and discipleship.

“So much of what Jesus does takes place in the home – his teaching, healing, forgiving, sharing meals – it doesn’t take place on the sandy shores of the Galilee or the bustling streets of Jerusalem but in the home,” he added. “How can we bring our faith alive in the home?”

Parishioners said the retreat left a lasting impression.

“I thought it was fantastic,” parishioner Gary Beccaloni said. “I loved his presentation, his humor, it was an amazing three days.”

Scott Hilenski, who attended all three days, appreciated the insights Wright provided.

“He had a great way of portraying images through meditations that he’s had from different parts of Scripture that you usually don’t hear about,” he said.

In the days since the retreat ended, Father Petro said it offered much more than simply words of positive feedback.

“This retreat, for us, provided us with a great gift – inner renewal,” Father Petro stated. “I could really feel among our people a certain joy and lightness of spirit.”

WILKES-BARRE – Each Friday during Lent, the faithful gather at Saint Robert Bellarmine Parish for a tradition that blends prayer, sacrifice and fellowship.

Known as ‘Stations and Soup,’ the weekly gathering begins with Stations of the Cross at Saint Aloysius Church at 12:10 p.m., followed by a simple meatless meal shared among parishioners and visitors.

“It’s a meager meal,” Father Richard Cirba, pastor of Saint Robert Bellarmine Parish, said. “During Lent, there is obviously no meat on Friday, so the people who make the soup prepare things like clam chowder or cream of broccoli.”

While the meal offers nourishment, the focus of each week’s gathering remains on the centuries-old devotion of the Stations of the Cross, which invites the faithful to reflect on Christ’s journey to Calvary.

“The Stations are a powerful devotion because they allow us to walk the road with Jesus – the 14 Stations of the Cross,” Father Cirba explained. “We do it out of love for Him and because He died for our sins and for our salvation.”

Following the prayer service, parishioners gather to share soup, bread, and conversation.

“We usually have five different types of soup,” parishioner Peg Warmouth said. “It’s nice because it gets people together that we don’t see every day because we all go to different Masses. We also have people who don’t belong to our parish who come. Everybody is welcome.”

Barbara Flora, another parishioner who helps prepare soup for the gathering, said the meal reflects the spirit of sacrifice that marks the Lenten season.

“It is my little offering that I can do, and I bring it here to share it with people,” Flora said.

For many participants, the gathering offers more than a meal – it provides an opportunity to build relationships within the parish community.

“One of the sweetest things is the camaraderie,” Flora added. “You get a chance to speak with people that you don’t get a chance to see during the week. You see them at Mass, and you see them for Stations – but you don’t know their names yet – so you can sit with them and enjoy being together with one another.”

In a busy world, Father Cirba believes the ‘Stations and Soup’ tradition offers an opportunity to pause, pray, and remember the meaning of the Lenten season.

“We live in a world that is in desperate need of peace and justice,” he said. “This is one of my favorite devotions during Lent because it helps us to grow in our love for Jesus and the cross.”

VATICAN CITY (OSV News) – Pope Leo XIV announced March 19 that he is asking the presidents of all bishops’ conferences around the world to convene in Rome in October to renew and deepen the Church’s discussion on marriage and family in light of “Amoris Laetitia.”

The pope issued the invitation at the end of a message marking the 10th anniversary of the signing of “Amoris Laetitia,” Pope Francis’ post-synodal apostolic exhortation on the pastoral care of families published after the 2014 and 2015 Synods on the Family.

“In light of the changes that continue to impact families, I have decided to convene the presidents of the Episcopal Conferences from around the world in October 2026, in an effort to proceed, in mutual listening, to a synodal discernment on the steps to be taken in order to proclaim the Gospel to families today, in light of Amoris Laetitia and taking into account what is currently being done in the local Churches,” Pope Leo said.

“I entrust this journey to the intercession of Saint Joseph, guardian of the Holy Family of Nazareth,” he added.

“Amoris Laetitia,” Latin for “The Joy of Love,” was signed by Pope Francis on March 19, 2016, and released publicly the following April. The document, which runs more than 50,000 words, addressed married life and love, children, extended family, education and related pastoral challenges, with special attention to integrating wounded or marginalized families into the life of the Church.

“Our era is marked by rapid changes which make it necessary, even more than ten years ago, to give particular pastoral attention to families, to whom the Lord entrusts the task of participating in the Church’s mission of proclaiming and witnessing to the Gospel,” Pope Leo explained in the message.

He added that there are “places and circumstances in which the Church ‘can become the salt of the earth’ only through the lay faithful and, in particular, through families.”

“For this reason, the Church’s commitment in this area must be renewed and deepened, so that those whom the Lord calls to marriage and family life can, in Christ, fully live out their conjugal love, and that young people may feel attracted, within the Church, to the beauty of the vocation to marriage.”
At the time of its publication, “Amoris Laetitia” garnered an uneven reception. While Church leaders generally praised the exhortation’s aim of improving pastoral care for families, it met swift and sharp criticism for some ambiguities that appeared difficult to reconcile with Church teaching, especially pertaining to divorced Catholics in new civil unions, without a prior declaration of nullity, and their reception of the Eucharist. Disagreement among theologians and Church leaders persists over these elements.

Pope Leo called the document “a luminous message of hope regarding conjugal love and family life” adding that both “Amoris Laetitia” and St. John Paul II’s 1981 exhortation, “Familiaris Consortio,” “strengthened the Church’s doctrinal and pastoral commitment to the service of young people, married couples and families.”

“On this 10th anniversary, we give thanks to the Lord for the stimulus that has encouraged reflection and pastoral conversion in the Church, and ask God for the courage to persevere on this path, always welcoming the Gospel anew in the joy of being able to proclaim it to all,” Pope Leo said.