Category: Diocese of Scranton News

SCRANTON – World Mission Sunday is a special day that unites Catholics worldwide in prayer, solidarity, and support for the Church’s mission efforts.

This year’s theme, chosen by the late Pope Francis, is inspired by the Jubilee of Hope: “Missionaries of Hope Among the Peoples.” It is an invitation to bring Christ’s light and hope to the world, especially to communities where the Church is young, growing, and often struggling.

A Pontifical Mass in honor of World Mission Sunday will be celebrated at the Cathedral of Saint Peter, 315 Wyoming Avenue, Scranton, on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, at 12:15 p.m.

The Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, will serve as the principal celebrant, and the homily will be delivered by Bishop Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi of the Diocese of Sunyani, Ghana. All are invited to attend.

This year’s celebration of World Mission Sunday at the Cathedral of Saint Peter will carry special meaning for the Diocese of Scranton, which has enjoyed a long and fruitful relationship with the Diocese of Sunyani. Currently, eight priests from Sunyani serve in the Diocese of Scranton as pastors or assistant pastors, enriching parish life with their faith, energy, and missionary zeal. Their presence is a reminder of the universal nature of the Catholic Church and the bonds of solidarity that connect communities across continents.

Bishop Gyamfi has led the Diocese of Sunyani since 2003, guiding its faithful with a strong emphasis on evangelization, Catholic education, and care for the poor. His visit to Scranton offers an opportunity for local Catholics to hear directly about the joys and challenges facing the Church in Ghana and other mission territories. His presence highlights the vital role that mission dioceses play in the global Church and the importance of prayerful and financial support from Catholics everywhere.

All are warmly invited to attend this special liturgy. Following Mass, a light reception will be held in the Diocesan Pastoral Center, with displays from religious communities serving in the Diocese. Together, Bishop Bambera and Bishop Gyamfi will remind the faithful that the call to mission is shared by all, and that through generosity and prayer, the Gospel continues to reach the ends of the earth.

Catholic Television of the Diocese of Scranton will provide a live broadcast of the Mass. The Mass will also be livestream on the Diocese of Scranton website, YouTube channel and across all Diocesan social media platforms.

My Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Each year, World Mission Sunday reminds us of something profound: we are not simply individual believers, but members of one family in Christ, called to share the hope that has been given to us. This year’s theme, “Missionaries of Hope Among the Peoples,” speaks directly to the heart of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. These words take on deeper meaning under Pope Leo XIV, whose own life as a missionary in Peru gives witness to the very hope we are called to share.

It is worth remembering that the Catholic Church here in the United States was itself once mission territory. Just over a century ago, our parishes and schools were taking root through the generosity of Catholics from across the ocean who understood that faith shared is faith multiplied. They gave to families they would never meet, recognizing the urgency of living their faith in service to sisters and brothers beyond their own church walls.

Today, that same call comes to us. We are asked to extend our hands and hearts to the 1,124 mission territories where the Church is still taking root amid poverty, persecution, and tremendous challenges. These communities in Asia, Africa, Latin America, Oceania, and the Middle East depend on our prayers and support.

When we contribute to the World Mission Sunday collection, we become part of something beautiful. Our gifts help form seminarians, train catechists, build schools where children discover they are beloved by God, and support hospitals where healing becomes witness to Christ’s love.

As Pope Francis reminded us, “We cannot be inactive Christians. To sit on the sidelines as a follower of Jesus makes no sense.” The light of Christ we celebrate each Sunday is meant to reach the ends of the earth through our prayers, generosity, and willingness to see ourselves as missionaries right here, right now.

I encourage you to respond with hearts open to the Spirit’s call. Your sacrifice joins with thousands of others to ensure the Gospel reaches those who might otherwise never hear it, affirming that we are one Church, one family, united in bringing God’s love to all people.

May this World Mission Sunday inspire you to live as missionaries of hope in your homes, workplaces, and communities, discovering more fully who we are called to be as disciples of the risen Christ.

Faithfully yours in Christ,

Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L.

Bishop of Scranton

 

 

SCRANTON – Since 2020, the Diocese of Scranton has raised $1,016,918.19 to support mission territories around the world! This impressive total comes from participation in three programs of the Pontifical Mission Societies: World Mission Sunday, the Missionary Cooperative Plan, and the Missionary Childhood Association. Each of these offers us a unique way to live out our faith by supporting those who serve in some of the poorest and most remote areas of the world.

World Mission Sunday, celebrated each October, unites Catholics worldwide in prayer and solidarity for the Church’s mission efforts. Contributions support over 1,100 mission dioceses in Africa, Asia, the Pacific Islands, and remote regions of Latin America. These funds help build churches, train seminarians, support religious sisters, and provide education, healthcare, and pastoral outreach.

The Missionary Cooperative Plan invites missionaries from around the world to visit parishes in our Diocese each summer. Through personal stories and firsthand witness, the parishioners gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced in mission territories. Special collections taken during these visits go directly to the missionaries’ home dioceses or religious communities, supporting essential work in evangelization and humanitarian aid.

The Missionary Childhood Association helps form a missionary spirit in young Catholics through education, prayer, and sacrifice. With the motto of “children helping children,” many of our Catholic schools and parish religious education programs participate in the Missionary Childhood Association. Their support funds schools, orphanages, clinics, and catechetical programs for children in mission lands.

Crossing the million-dollar mark isn’t just a cause for celebration – it’s a reminder of who we are. We are a missionary Church, rooted in love and sent to serve. Thank you for saying “yes” to that call, and for being the hands and heart of Christ reaching out to the world.

ROARING BROOK TOWNSHIP – With the beautiful colors of the changing autumn season providing a picturesque backdrop outside its church, the community of Saint Eulalia Parish gathered in prayer, thanksgiving, and celebration to mark a milestone 75 years in the making.

The Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, was the principal celebrant and homilist of a special 75th Anniversary Mass at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025.

The pews of the church were filled with several hundred faithful, including longtime parishioners older than the parish itself and young children who will carry it into the future.

Following Mass, a catered luncheon in the parish hall drew more than 220 guests.

“We have a vibrant parish with a wonderful past and a hopeful future,” Father David Cramer, pastor, said. “Great things are happening here at the parish for worship and service. We have a good number of kids in religious education – more than 200 – and a lot of baptisms and a nice number of weddings.”

Founded as an independent parish in 1950, Saint Eulalia’s roots reach back even further – to its days as a mission church in the late 1920s. The original stone church was dedicated in 1927 on land donated by the Vogelbocker family, and its current home on Blue Shutters Road – built in 1984 – reflects the growth and vision of a parish constantly evolving to meet the needs of its people.

“Today was a nice celebration to bring everybody together,” parishioner Linda Naro explained. “We had a very good turnout.”

Naro contributed to the anniversary celebration in a special way by painting a new icon of Saint Eulalia for the occasion.

“We had a small one that I did 11 years ago when I was first learning, so I felt that we needed a new one, since my painting has progressed,” she added. “During the Mass, Bishop Bambera blessed it with incense.”

Naro’s icon was also reproduced on commemorative holy cards distributed to attendees at the luncheon, featuring a prayer to the young saint who continues to inspire the community that bears her name.

Saint Eulalia was a 13-year-old Spanish girl martyred in the third century for refusing to renounce her faith. Her courage and faithfulness remain central to the parish’s identity today.

That same spirit of courage, faith, and unity is what 75th anniversary committee member Paulette Nish said makes Saint Eulalia a special place.

“The biggest thing for me is the sense of community that our parish has. We have wonderful families that are part of this community,” Nish stated. “It is just wonderful to have multiple generations celebrating with us this morning.”

The Mass itself was a joyful liturgy – enhanced by the voices of several choirs – including a children’s choir that sang following Holy Communion.

James Muniz, a lifelong parishioner, emphasized the day was not just about the celebration, but about what it represents.

“This is a celebration of the community that we’ve built here. We have a beautiful building, but it is the people that are really the ‘parish,’” Muniz explained. “I’m proud because of the work that we do … we come here to gain the energy to go out into the community, and as the deacon said, to proclaim the Gospel with our lives.”

A strong sense of fellowship was a recurring theme mentioned by parishioners.

“Our parish is like a big family,” parishioner Teri Taynton, added, describing the Mass as “absolutely beautiful.”

Father Cramer said he believes the parish’s best days are still to come because its people remain rooted in faith, love, and service.

“The Lord has even greater blessings for us in the future,” Father Cramer said.

 

SCRANTON – Eight men in the Diocese of Scranton’s Permanent Diaconate Formation Program were instituted as Lectors on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, during a special Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Peter celebrated by the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton.

The men receiving the ministry of Lector were: William Chechel of Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Brodheadsville; Daniel B. Cosacchi of Saint Gregory Parish in Clarks Green; Jeffrey R. Kovaleski of Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Dickson City; Thomas J. Krzan of Saint Jude Parish in Mountain Top; Kevin J. Martin of Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Brodheadsville; Stephen O. Muntzenberger of Saint Jude Parish in Mountain Top; Justo Paula-Martinez of Saint Teresa of Calcutta Parish in Scranton; and Paul M. Zwolan of Saint Therese Parish in Shavertown.

As a part of the Rite, each man knelt before the Bishop and received a Book of Holy Scriptures – a powerful moment marking their call to not just proclaim the Word of God during liturgical celebrations but to live that Word through their daily witness.

In his homily, Bishop Bambera reflected on the Gospel of the Road to Emmaus, reminding those gathered that “the voice of the Lord that we seek speaks powerfully to us through the sacred scriptures.”

He encouraged the new Lectors to embrace their new role not as a mere step on their journey, but as a sacred trust, saying, “You are being called to a special recognition of the Word of God in your lives that is essential to the life of the Church.”

The diaconate candidates say experiencing the Rite was deeply moving and personal.

Thomas Krzan, a parishioner of Saint Jude Parish in Mountain Top, reflected on the weight of the responsibility.

“Not only can I now proclaim the Word of God in the liturgy, but I must act it out – be an example of the Word of God in my workplace, in my family, and among my group of friends,” Krzan said. “The Word of God is not just words. It is action.”

Kevin Martin of Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Brodheadsville echoed the spiritual gravity of the moment.

He described the moment of kneeling in front of the Bishop to receive the Book of Holy Scriptures as “powerful.”

“I tend to get teary-eyed a lot and that is one of those moments where it just hit. Both our hands being on the Book and realizing what I’m getting into,” Martin explained. “But we’re not walking this journey by ourselves. There are a lot of people around us supporting us. The (Diaconate) Formation Program shows us that over and over.”

The Rite of Lector is one of the key milestones in the Diaconate Formation Program. It precedes the Rite of Acolyte and leads toward ordination as a Permanent Deacon. It also marks the Church’s formal recognition of the candidates’ growing commitment to serve.

William Chechel, also from Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, described the day as a powerful affirmation.

“I have been active in my parish for more than 20 years and I’ve watched two of our permanent deacons – what they do and how they serve the community. They go to nursing homes, they do food banks, and I have felt compelled,” Chechel said. “I thought that was something I was being called to do, as a servant leader, more than just the average volunteer.”

Bishop Bambera concluded the celebration with a note of gratitude for the loved ones who are accompanying these men in their formation.

“To the wives and children, parents, family members, and friends – I thank you for your support, your encouragement, your willingness to allow these men to listen to the call of Jesus and to say ‘yes’ to his invitation to serve,” Bishop Bambera stated.

Please continue to keep these eight men in your prayers as they continue their journey in service to the Church and the people of the Diocese of Scranton.

PITTSTON –– Our Lady of the Eucharist Parish will host its 68th annual Novena to Saint Jude –– patron saint of hopeless cases and things despaired of –– at Saint Mary, Help of Christians Church, 535 North Main St., Pittston.

The well-known and time-honored Saint Jude Novena begins Sunday, Oct. 19, and concludes on the Feast of Saint Jude, Tuesday, Oct. 28.

Mass, homily, Novena prayers and veneration of the relic of Saint Jude will be held Monday through Saturday at noon & 5:30 p.m.; and on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. & 5:30 p.m.

Recitation of the Rosary and sacramental confessions (except Sunday) precede all Novena devotions.

This year’s scheduled celebrants/homilists for the Saint Jude Novena include:
Father Joseph Elston, host pastor of Our Lady of the Eucharist Parish; Saint Joseph Oblate Father Jackson Pinhero, parochial vicar; Holy Cross Father Richard Bevington; Father Thomas Dzwonczyk; Father Sam Ferretti; Holy Cross Father Walter Jenkins; Saint Joseph Oblate Father Paul McDonnell; Father Ric Polmounter; Father Kenneth Seegar; and Father Joseph Verespy.

The celebrant/homilist schedule is available on the parish website: www.eucharist-pittston.org.

Novena prayer programs are provided at all services. For more information, contact the parish office at (570) 654-0263.

SCRANTON – With great excitement and a public procession of faith, Saint Michael Parish in Scranton officially opened a new chapter in its history on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025.

After several years of growth and increasing needs at their longtime church, Saint Michael Church located at 1703 Jackson Street, parishioners joyfully celebrated a big move. They celebrated the first Traditional Latin Mass at their new parish home – Saint Lucy Church, 949 Scranton Street, a beloved and historic site in Scranton’s West Side neighborhood.

The transition, which came after extensive conversation and consultation, is part of the Diocese of Scranton’s Vision 2030 Pastoral Planning Process. Vision 2030 seeks to address challenges facing parishes – including clergy shortages, aging infrastructure, and shifting parishioner demographics – while also embracing opportunities to grow and strengthen vibrant worshipping communities.

PROCESSON TO NEW HOME

The day began early that Sunday morning with a final 8:00 a.m. Mass at Saint Michael Church. Following the celebration, the church officially closed its doors, and parishioners, altar servers, and clergy formed a Eucharistic Procession that made its way reverently down Jackson Street.

The procession was a public sign of transition and unity.

“We entered gloriously into this beautiful church (Saint Lucy’s) with our Lord, greeted by a lot of parishioners,” Father Anthony Dorsa, F.S.S.P., pastor of Saint Michael Parish, said. “It was incredible to see how many people were in this wonderful church.”

In 2023, Saint Lucy Church – long known as the Italian mother church of Scranton – consolidated with Saint Patrick Parish in West Scranton and was being utilized for only one Mass each weekend. Through prayer and collaboration between both Saint Patrick and Saint Michael parishes, a bold idea emerged: Saint Michael Parish would assume responsibility for Saint Lucy Church, revitalizing the space with its growing attendance and liturgical life.

“It is an amazing move. (Saint Lucy) Church is just absolutely gorgeous and it is a lot bigger,” said parishioner Sean Michelin, who has been a member of Saint Michael Parish for more than a decade.

Beyond the practical needs of providing more space and parking, Saint Michael parishioners were struck by the architectural and spiritual beauty of their new home.

“The frescos on the ceiling are beautiful,” Michelin added. “The choir and the acoustics are absolutely amazing. You hear the organ and everyone singing, and it just comes together as a beautiful symphony.”

VISION BEHIND THE MOVE

According to Diocesan leadership, the relocation was prompted by converging needs.

While Saint Patrick Parish faced ongoing financial strain with caring for Saint Lucy Church, Saint Michael Parish – the only parish in the Diocese that offers the Traditional Latin Mass – had been growing in attendance.

The change was the result of a careful, months-long discernment process, involving parish council meetings, town halls, and input from parishioners. The move was finalized after receiving approval from the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton.

Father Dorsa called the move a “remarkable opportunity.”

“Saint Michael’s didn’t really have any classroom space, so it was constantly a struggle for us to provide space for our children for catechism and space for hospitality and gathering after Masses,” he said. “This campus provides us a much greater opportunity to grow, to educate, to have more groups, outreach and evangelization in the neighborhood.”

A SHARED FUTURE

Parishioners of Saint Michael Parish are inviting those who attended Mass at Saint Lucy Church to continue to join them.

“This is a very exciting day for us as parishioners of Saint Michael’s (Parish). This is very exciting for everyone,” parishioner Michael Pheasant explained. “It reminds me of a wedding. We’re two families coming together and I think we have a lot to learn from each other, and I think it will be overall a great experience for all of us.”

Parishioner Jennifer Cilia, who moved to northeastern Pennsylvania in 1999, described the moment as surreal.

“As we came up here, just seeing the grandeur, God’s glory approaching Saint Lucy’s, the marble steps and the bells ringing … it gives you hope that God’s Church is flourishing and we’re very blessed,” Cilia said.

“We’re incredibly blessed,” Father Dorsa ended by saying.

WILKES-BARRE – Nearly 400 Catholic men from across the Diocese of Scranton and beyond gathered on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, at Holy Redeemer High School for the 10th annual “Be A Catholic Man” Conference.

Participants said the day provided them with a chance for spiritual renewal, brotherhood, and the opportunity to step away from the noise of daily life and step deeper into their identity as followers of Jesus Christ.

The day began with the Rosary and included Eucharistic Adoration, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, food, and fellowship, and more than a dozen exhibitors featuring Catholic organizations and religious artwork.

“They call it a retreat and that is what it is,” Gary Morgiewicz from Warwick, N.Y., said. “God is going to speak to us most clearly and loudly at a place like this, where we put everything aside and concentrate and focus on what is important, family and faith, and that is why I’m here.”

Thaddeus Zielinski, a parishioner of Saint Ann Basilica Parish in Scranton and long-time conference attendee, added, “There is nothing like hearing 400 men say the ‘Our Father’ at one time. It’s very powerful.”

The conference theme, “Christ is King,” was central to each of the speakers’ powerful messages.

Author and theologian Mike Aquilina, a native of nearby Kingston, opened the day with a call to model authentic Christian masculinity through sacrificial love.

“Christ, Our King, laid down his life for the sake of His subjects and so must we. We must live the love that he modeled for us,” Aquilina said, urging men to place Christ above all else – even above family – so that their homes may flourish under God’s reign.

Through stories of his own father, he painted a vivid picture of love expressed through hard work, service, and presence.

“We need to share our lives with our families. Put away the phones. Put away the games,” he added. “We need to share our lives with others, through friendship and neighborliness.”

Father Charles Connor, Diocesan priest, author, and Church historian, challenged attendees to rediscover the strength and courage of the Catholic man in 2025.

“We have a gift that proportionally few people have been lucky enough to receive in life,” Father Connor said. Quoting Saint John Henry Newman, who will be made a Doctor of the Church on Nov. 1, he added, “The true Catholic, Christian gentleman is a warrior. Not because he loves the fight, but because he loves the truth.”

Drawing from history and saints like Saint Joseph, Father Connor reminded the audience that fidelity to the truth and holiness might be countercultural – but are necessary.

“Saint Joseph shows us the characteristics of authentic fatherhood,” he added. “Every one of us men can learn from him.”

The final speaker was David Bereit, founder of the international 40 Days for Life movement. A convert to Catholicism, Bereit shared how answering God’s call led him from sales into pro-life advocacy.

“The King is calling – the question is, will we answer?” he asked. “The change that is needed in our world today may be sitting in this auditorium here today. Is it you? If it’s not you – then who?”

A deeply moving moment of the conference came when family members of the late Attorney Glenn Yanik was honored with a commemorative plaque. Yanik was one of the original founders of the conference and served as co-chair for several years.

“We honor him as a great Catholic man, husband, father, grandfather, and mentor to many,” Dr. Lou Guarineri said during the presentation. “His legacy will live on in all of us.”

The day concluded with a Pontifical Mass offered by the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, who delivered a homily tying the day’s mission to Respect Life Sunday.

Acknowledging the growing secularism in society, the Bishop urged the men to be light in the darkness.

“We must enliven our words with action. We must both choose and serve life – life in the womb, life that is found on the margins of our world and even life that struggles to respect and reverence others,” Bishop Bambera said.

Citing Jesus’ words in the Gospel and Pope Leo’s call to defend life from the unborn to the elderly, the Bishop concluded by saying, “Christ our King will reign and the vision of his Gospel of life and salvation will continue to be a source of hope for our world when you and I discover and accept our responsibility as Christian men to live, to love, to forgive, and to serve as Christ.”

As the conference concluded, many men said they left with something deeper than they came in with.

“You almost want to run out the door as a warrior for Jesus,” Joseph DeGraba, a first-time attendee from Saint Therese Parish in Shavertown, said. “The speakers have been excellent. There is a brotherhood, a camaraderie, where everybody is feeling the same thing and getting together with one purpose.”

Zielinski summed it up even more succinctly.

“Refreshed … walking proud to be a Catholic,” he stated.

SCRANTON – The Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Scranton is pleased to announce the appointment of Paul H. Rooney, Jr. to its Board of Directors effective Aug. 20, 2025.

Rooney, a longtime banking executive and community leader from Williamsport, brings nearly four decades of leadership experience and a deep commitment to faith-based service to the Foundation’s growing mission.

“I am very honored to have been asked to be a part of the Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Scranton,” Rooney said. “I believe the Foundation is the long-term answer to the viability of our Diocese. Our success will depend on strategic planning, commitment and support of board members, parishioners, priests, and administration.”

Rooney joins the Board at a pivotal moment, as the Catholic Foundation continues to expand its impact by building and managing endowments that will sustain Catholic ministries across the 11 counties of the Diocese of Scranton.

Established to ensure the long-term support for the spiritual, educational, and charitable needs of the Diocese, the Foundation works to create lasting legacies that will serve the Church of Scranton for generations to come.

Rooney’s career in banking spans more than 37 years, with senior leadership roles at institutions including Sovereign Bank, Sun Bank, and Banco Santander. He is currently the principal of Paul H. Rooney Jr. Consulting, L.L.C., helping businesses grow through strategic planning and community engagement. In addition to his professional achievements, Rooney has also served on numerous nonprofit and charitable boards.

For several decades, Rooney has been an active supporter of Catholic education. He has been instrumental in leading fundraising efforts for Saint John Neumann Regional Academy in Williamsport.

“In order for us to sustain our ministries now and in the future, dollars will be needed,” he noted. “I have been involved with promoting and raising money supporting Saint John Neumann for the past 18 years. Dollars raised assisted needy families with the cost of tuition.”

As a resident of Lycoming County, Rooney brings vital regional representation to the Catholic Foundation Board, and he is eager to help raise awareness of its mission in the western part of the Diocese.

“The challenge is that every nonprofit, school and public organization has a foundation,” Rooney acknowledged. “Everyone is chasing the same dollars. We need to make our Foundation the preferred charity of choice to potential donors. We need to utilize contacts like attorneys, accountants, and insurance agents who could influence those in their estate planning. This is a huge opportunity. We need to involve people who know people, are passionate about their faith, and not afraid to make a referral or ask for money.”

Mark DiPippa, the recently appointed Executive Director of the Catholic Foundation, welcomed Rooney’s appointment, citing his extensive financial background and grassroots fundraising experience as strong assets to the Board.

“Paul’s ability to combine business expertise with a heart for mission perfectly aligns with the goals of the Foundation,” DiPippa said. “His commitment to Catholic education and his leadership in the Williamsport community will help expand our message and mission.”

The Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Scranton supports a wide range of ministries through the creation and stewardship of endowment funds. These funds provide lasting financial support for parishes, Catholic schools, seminarian formation, retired priests, Catholic Social Services, and more. As a separately incorporated entity, the Foundation ensures that gifts are managed according to Catholic moral and ethical principles, with professional oversight and donor intent at the forefront.

To learn more about the Catholic Foundation visit catholicfoundationscranton.org or contact Mark DiPippa at (570) 207-2212 or MDiPippa@catholicfoundationscranton.org.

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025, more than 600 pilgrims from the Diocese of Scranton made a sacred journey to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. as part of a Jubilee Year of Hope pilgrimage.

The pilgrimage brought together faithful from all corners of the Diocese’s 11 counties. Twelve buses carried groups from dozens of parishes – ten departing early that morning and two others arriving from overnight trips. Many others traveled by car, all drawn together by a desire to be together in faith, fellowship, and prayer.

The National Shrine – reverently called “Mary’s House” – is the largest Catholic church in North America and among the ten largest in the world.

With more than 80 chapels and oratories honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary under various titles, the National Shrine reflects not only the cultural diversity of the United States but the universality of the Catholic Church.

Upon arrival, pilgrims were welcomed by Rev. Monsignor Vito A. Buonanno, Director of Pilgrimages for the Shrine, who urged the faithful to allow Mary to be their model and guide for the day.

“From the moment you enter this magnificent edifice, the sign of the Blessed Mother is present,” he explained.

Pilgrims spent the late morning and early afternoon touring the Basilica, praying at its chapels, and taking part in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. At 2:00 p.m., Diocesan pilgrims gathered for a Eucharistic Holy Hour with the Rosary, followed by a Pontifical Mass celebrated by the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, in the Upper Church.

‘WE MOVE FORWARD WITH HOPE’

In his homily for the Pilgrimage, Bishop Bambera called pilgrims to deepen their trust in God’s promises – especially through the example of the Blessed Mother.

“What a blessed day this has been as we’ve journeyed here, to Mary’s house, in celebration of the great Jubilee Year of Hope. I’m grateful to be with all of you on this pilgrimage,” Bishop Bambera began by saying.

Quoting Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIV, Bishop Bambera reminded the faithful that Christian hope is not naïve optimism, but a living trust in God’s love – a hope that “does not disappoint.” He drew from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Romans, proclaiming that “our hope rests solely upon God’s saving action realized in his Son, Jesus Christ.”

Preaching both in English and Spanish, the Bishop turned often to Mary’s example as the “threshold of hope.”

In a world “fraught with suffering and pain,” Bishop Bambera said, it is Mary’s posture of trust and openness that shows each believer how to live in hope.

“Her willingness to say ‘yes’ to God’s plan to bring salvation to his people is rooted in a faith so strong that it establishes the parameters for authentic discipleship down through the ages, even to our own,” he said.

Looking out at all of the pilgrims, the Bishop invited each one to find their place in God’s plan of hope – whether they are young people jugging life and faith, parents forming their children, the elderly, immigrants, or those burdened by regret.

“God uses us as we are,” he said, “when we open our hearts to him and trust.”

As he concluded, the Bishop urged pilgrims to move forward with hope, “knowing that God is with us all our days, even until the end of the age.”

PILGRIMS SHARE THEIR JOY

As he toured the Basilica, Edward Facciani of Saint John Vianney Parish in Montdale reflected on the beauty and theological richness of the side chapels.

“They give us a wonderful historical opportunity to view our whole salvific history. I found that really striking,” he said. “And, of course, the Crypt is magnificent. I really love spending time down there.”

His wife and first-time visitor Bernice Facciani felt personally called to come on the pilgrimage.

“The Lord has been trying to teach me a little bit more about Mary and when I heard that the Diocese was coming here, I thought it was a place I needed to come,” Bernice stated.

Bernice found herself thinking about all of the people who built the Basilica out of love for the Lord.

“It’s a gift that they gave to the rest of us,” she said, adding, “You could spend three days here and still not see everything there is to see in the Basilica itself.”

Karen Bernavage of Saint Catherine of Siena Parish in Moscow was also overwhelmed by the beauty of everything she took in during her tour.

“The amount of statues, the prayers on the wall. Everything about it, it just goes on and on,” she stated. “It gives you a feeling of warmth.”

Bernavage said she was happy she toured the Basilica as part of a large group.
“When everybody comes together, it makes it like a family because you’ve all experienced it together,” she added.

‘LET HOPE SPREAD’

Monsignor Walter R. Rossi, Rector of the Basilica and a priest of the Diocese of Scranton, expressed his joy at welcoming the faithful to Washington, D.C.

He noted that the Diocese of Scranton has made pilgrimages to the Basilica since 1973.

“For the past five decades, the Diocese has continued to make pilgrimages to Mary’s Shrine, especially during significant moments in the life of the Diocesan Church as well as the Church universal, as you are today, in celebration of the Jubilee Year of Hope,” he noted.

“I am thrilled that we have over 20 priests joining us this day,” Monsignor Rossi added. “Through the intercession of Mary, may the power of love fill your life this day and all days.”

After taking a group photo on the steps of the Basilica, pilgrims boarded their buses to return home.

Bishop Bambera hopes their pilgrimage serves as a powerful reminder that the Church is alive – and united – in hope.

“Let us now be drawn to this great hope,” the Bishop said, echoing Pope Leo’s Jubilee message. “And through our witness, may hope spread to all those who anxiously seek it.”