Category: Diocese of Scranton News

WILKES-BARRE – We are stronger together.

That is the message that Father Joseph Verespy hoped to instill in his parishioners on the weekend of Oct. 7 & 8, 2023, as the new parish he now leads, Saint Nicholas-Saint Mary Parish, was officially formed.

After two years of discussion and consultation using the Vision 2030 Pastoral Planning Process, the parish communities of Saint Nicholas and Our Lady of Fatima were officially brought together in a consolidation.

“I said this is a chance for us to hit the reset button, to take a good look at who we are,” Father Verespy said. “We are located right downtown (in Wilkes-Barre) and it is a chance to bring new life together as one parish and look at the talents that we have and examine how welcoming we are.”

Saint Nicholas Parish and Our Lady of Fatima Parish were originally linked in 2021 under the leadership of a single pastor, Father Verespy. After examining many of the priority drivers in the Vision 2030 Process, including demographic changes in the community, Mass attendance, sacramental participation, financial obligations and the availability of clergy, the recommendation was brought forward to create one parish out of the previous two independent entities.

“When people see us now, hopefully it will be a parish people want to be a part of, but that is only going to be because we’re in this together,” the long-time pastor said.

In early September, in preparation of the consolidation, a new weekend Mass schedule was implemented. There is a Saturday 4 p.m. Vigil Mass in English and 6 p.m. Vigil Mass in Spanish. Both are being held at Saint Nicholas Church.

On Sunday, there are Masses at 8 a.m. (English), 10 a.m. (English) and 12:15 p.m. (Spanish) at Saint Nicholas Church and a 12:10 p.m. Mass (English) at Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church.

Father Verespy indicated that the schedule is provisional and will be evaluated as time goes by and the new Saint Nicholas-Saint Mary Parish comes into formation.
One of the most obvious changes for parishioners was a new consolidated bulletin on the first weekend of the new parish. The design of the first bulletin was simple and featured only the name of the new parish and the date it was established, Oct. 7, 2023.

“I started my homily by saying, ‘Take a good look at the bulletin. It’s pretty empty, pretty bland, pretty vanilla … but we are going to fill the blanks in here together,’” Father Verespy stated.

Because of the discussions and consultation that has taken place, the first weekend of the consolidated parish was not anything out of the ordinary.

“We are going to bring our common faith, our talents, our time, and our personalities together so when people see the words Saint Nicholas-Saint Mary Parish, they will see us, our shared life, but it’s going to be up to us to do that together,” Father Verespy added.

Because of the consolidation, the new Saint Nicholas-Saint Mary Parish will have one new parish office located at 226 S. Washington Street, which is formerly the office of Saint Nicholas Parish. Office hours will be Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The phone number is (570) 823-7736.

SCRANTON — Catholics throughout the Diocese of Scranton will unite with faith communities around the nation on Saturday, Oct. 14, at noon, to lend their prayerful pleas to the chorus of intercessions of supplication and reparation as part of this year’s “America Needs Fatima” Rosary Crusade.

Each year since the “America Needs Fatima” campaign was founded in 1985, faithful gather at noontime on a Saturday in October to send their Rosary prayers and petitions heavenward, seeking the Blessed Mother’s intercession on behalf of the United States.

The unified, simultaneous prayer effort coincides with October’s designation by the Catholic Church as the Month of the Holy Rosary and Respect Life Month.

Prayerful recitation of the Rosary as a visible sign of the power of prayer in public arenas pays homage to the Blessed Mother’s final apparition to the shepherd children of Fatima in Portugal on Oct. 13, 1917, culminating her messages of the need to offer the Holy Rosary as an essential tool for world peace and spiritual conversion.

The “America Needs Fatima” Rosary rallies include reparatory prayers for the country, particularly regarding the evil of abortion, and offenses against the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Special intentions also include a greater respect for all human life — from conception to natural death — and converting hearts and minds away from sin.

Joining tens of thousands of similar “public square” prayer gatherings across America, the following outdoor Rosary events will be held on Saturday, Oct. 14, at noon in the Scranton Diocese. All faithful are welcome.

Mountain Top — Weis Parking Lot, 237 South Mountain Boulevard, Mountain Top. For information, call Carmen at (570) 262-7373.

Wilkes-Barre — Our Lady of Fatima Blessed Grotto, 51 North Street, Wilkes-Barre.

Roaring Brook Township — Saint Eulalia Church grounds, 214 Blue Shutters Road, Roaring Brook Township. For more information, contact Mary Ann Brooks at (570) 689-9104.

Honesdale — Honesdale Central Park, Church & Ninth streets; sponsored by the four churches of Saint John the Evangelist Parish, Honesdale, and area Knights of Columbus. Event begins with Mass at 11 a.m. in Saint Mary Magdalen Church, Church St., Honesdale, followed by prayerful procession to the park. Facial masks and social distancing required; provide own chairs for the outdoor devotion. In case of inclement weather, the Rosary Rally will be held at Saint Mary Magdalen Church.

Dear Friends,

In 1972, the year before the United States Supreme Court ruled on Roe v. Wade to legalize abortion in the United States, the Catholic Church in the United States dedicated the month of October as a special season to promote a culture of life throughout our land.

As it does every year, this sacred season calls us to focus our prayers upon a renewed commitment to treasure and preserve human life from the moment of conception to natural death. As such, we have and should continue to work tirelessly to create a culture that moves beyond the cavalier attitude that has sadly resulted in far too many lives being lost through abortion, euthanasia, physician assisted suicide and capital punishment.

The theme for our reflections this year is Radical Solidarity.

Years ago, Saint John Paul II affirmed that solidarity “is not a feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of so many people … On the contrary, it is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good … to the good of all and of each individual, because we are all really responsible for all.” In short, solidarity is the means by which we put our love for others into action, making their good a goal for our own lives.

At this critical moment in our world and particularly in the United States, we have been entrusted with new challenges to build a civilization of authentic love, rooted in a fundamental respect for the dignity of every human life. Notwithstanding the fact that the overturning of Roe v. Wade last year has given us hope, it has not diminished the work that still needs to be done to ensure that every human life is valued and loved.

As a result of the Supreme Court decision, some areas of our country now protect the child in the womb, while other areas, sadly, are doing all they can to increase access to abortion. Here in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, tragically, efforts to protect human life are being compromised more than we might realize. Plans are being made to terminate Real Alternatives, a statewide contract maintained by federal and state funding, which has been in existence for over 27 years and has provided a critical lifeline to nearly 350,000 women who have suddenly found themselves in need when confronted with an unplanned pregnancy.

Nearly half of Real Alternatives’ service providers consist of Catholic Charities and Catholic Social Services sites throughout our state. These important human services sites provide critical pregnancy and parenting support from the moment mothers find out they are pregnant through 12 months following the birth of their babies. The termination of this vital contract, should it occur here in the Diocese of Scranton alone, will almost certainly result in diminished funding for Saint Joseph’s Center and challenge the very existence of relief programs for pregnant women in Scranton and Carbondale. Most notably, Shepherd’s Maternity House in Stroudsburg, which provides a safe home for women facing unexpected and challenging pregnancies, could lose over 80-percent of its annual funding that comes through a grant from Real Alternatives.

Simply put, brothers and sisters, if we desire to live our lives as Christians with authenticity, we have no choice. We cannot merely speak of our respect for human life or self-righteously criticize those whose beliefs may be different from our own.

We must enliven our words with action.

We must be fearless in our defense of the unborn – but also mothers in need, the elderly, the sick, the poor, the disabled, the prisoner, the immigrant and all whose lives are in jeopardy. Nor can we shrink from confronting life issues in our prayer, in what and how we teach as a Church, in the pastoral care that we offer and, in the initiatives, and public policies that we are able to influence through our right to vote.

Brothers and sisters, the radical solidarity that so reflects the teaching of Jesus refers to something much more than just a few sporadic acts of generosity or the empty words of the self-righteous. A culture of radical solidarity, as Pope Francis has proclaimed, “gets involved by word and deed in people’s daily lives … and it embraces human life, touching the suffering flesh of Christ in others.”

May each of us who seek to live as authentic disciples work together to build a culture of life through radical, sacrificial, Christ-like love and service of every human life made in the image and likeness of our Creator.

 

Faithfully yours in Christ,

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

SCRANTON – The independent auditing firm of StoneBridge Business Partners recently conducted a thorough on-site audit of the child protection policies of the Diocese of Scranton and determined the Diocese to be in full compliance.

The audit period covered the time period of July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2023.

Auditors examined the Diocese’s protocols regarding training, reporting, and ensuring safe environments for young people according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ mandated Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.

The Diocese of Scranton has passed audits of its child protection procedures, policies and records every year since the policy was adopted by the USCCB in 2002.

In receiving the latest compliance audit results, the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, stated, “Our 21-year compliance record with child protection audits highlights the commitment that the Diocese of Scranton, along with its parishes and schools, has in ensuring the protection of children. This independent verification underscores the fact that rigorous training is being conducted and reliable reporting mechanisms are in place.”

Diocesan Safe Environment Coordinator Erin McGrady added that the audit results confirm the Diocese of Scranton is following the promises of the Charter.

“While many steps have been taken to address clergy sexual abuse, we must continue to listen, care for and walk with survivors. Every one of us must remain committed to safeguarding and strengthening our policies against the sexual abuse of minors,” McGrady stated.

The Diocese of Scranton’s Safe Environment Office ensures that Charter standards are continually met.

For more information on the Diocese of Scranton’s Safe Environment Program, or for a full overview of all policies and protocols, visit dioceseofscranton.org.

To report sexual abuse by a member of clergy, an employee or volunteer of the Catholic Church, contact your local police department or county District Attorney and Mary Beth Pacuska, victim assistance coordinator for the Diocese of Scranton at (570) 862-7551.

To report sexual misconduct by a bishop or eparch, contact the national reporting website or reporting hotline at ReportBishopAbuse.org, or by calling 1-800-276-1562.

SCRANTON – In a world where many people try to be copycats, every person is uniquely made in the image and likeness of God. That is what more than 200 young people heard as they filled the Diocesan Pastoral Center Oct. 7, 2023, to participate in a Diocesan Youth Rally.

Focusing on the theme of ‘Be an Original,’ the day-long event featured interactive workshops, Eucharistic Adoration, Mass with Bishop Bambera at the Cathedral of Saint Peter, and a keynote address from Steve Angrisano.

“God is so near to us, so close. I can’t put it on a piece of paper, I can’t take it to a court of law, but it’s as real as real can be,” Angrisano told the crowd of young adults.

Angrisano is an internationally recognized Catholic composer, presenter, and passionate music missionary. He has been featured at 10 World Youth Days, emceed three National Catholic Youth Conferences, and served as emcee when Pope John Paul II visited Saint Louis in 1999.

“Our faith is not a superstition. Our God is real. God created this universe, and no one can tell you that is not true. No one. Anyone who says science can disprove God is lying to you,” he said.

Through an artful mix of music and storytelling, Angrisano described the worst day of his life, April 20, 1999, when a mass shooting at Columbine High School, which was next to his church at the time, took the lives of 14 people. He described the grief and pain of that day but also how God was with him and the community.

“I am standing with you here today because I am certain of that. God wins in the end,” he said.

The young adults, many of whom are preparing for Confirmation and used the Diocesan Youth Rally as their retreat, got to choose the workshops they wanted to attend.

The sessions ranged from a panel on vocations, a session of authentic Catholic friendship, and even how Catholic teachings and spirituality can offer support for a person’s mental well-being.

“It has been fun,” participant Anthony Salvi from Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Brodheadsville said. “In one of the workshops we were talking about why God created us and what was his reason and how much he loves us.”

Tanner Corkins of Saint Catherine of Siena Parish in Moscow thought the sessions were very insightful.

“I was really excited to take part in the rally to grow closer to God and really learn more about our faith and understand it on a deeper level,” Corkins said.

Many of the young people said the most meaningful part of the Diocesan Youth Rally was Eucharistic Adoration, which was led by Father Gerald Shantillo, Vicar General of the Diocese of Scranton and Moderator of the Curia.

“Just the peace that it brought me, I’ve never done it before, so it was very nice,” participant Gregory Nalesnik of Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Hawley said.

Organizers hope that the Diocesan Youth Rally gives the young people energy and excitement to be involved in their parish.

“More than anything, I hope that they take what they’ve learned and invest in their own faith,” Shannon Kowalski, Diocesan Director of Service and Mission, said. “We need our young people to step up and to get involved in ministries and take on different things in their parishes, to lead bible studies and youth groups.”

Gifts to the Diocesan Annual Appeal help to make events like the Diocesan Youth Rally possible.

“Everyone did an amazing job and I hope that next year we’ll bring our kids back again,” Ivet Bandirma from Queen of Peace Parish in Hawley said.

SCRANTON – Lawyers, judges, and elected officials from across the 11 counties of the Diocese of Scranton gathered at the Cathedral of Saint Peter on Oct. 6, 2023, to celebrate the 50th Diocesan Red Mass.

“We lift up all those in the legal profession to the mercy and love of God and the power of the Holy Spirit,” the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, said in welcoming everyone to the milestone Mass.

The Red Mass is offered to invoke God’s blessing upon all members of the legal profession. Its name is derived from the color of the vestments worn by the presider and concelebrants, the scarlet robes of attending justices (which were bright scarlet in the Middle Ages) and the scarlet gowns of law professors.

During his homily, Bishop Bambera used the Gospel message, the familiar story from the Last Supper of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples, to remind all those in attendance – whether they are a lawyer, judge, or public servant – that they must serve the most vulnerable among us.

“The gesture of Jesus washing the feet of His friends is recalled in the Gospel as a sign of His commitment to serve the suffering world in which He was immersed,” the bishop said.

Bishop Bambera also shared the words of Pope Francis, who recently spoke about those involved in the legal profession. The Holy Father said those whose vocation lies in law have the capacity to do great good but only if they use their authority “in a way that reflects a well-formed conscience and the use of that authority to serve others and the common good with prudence and responsibility.”

The first Red Mass was held in the Diocese of Scranton in 1971 but the tradition traces its origins to Rome, Paris, and London.

In closing his homily, Bishop Bambera acknowledged the difficulties and challenges people in the legal profession face, but offered some four pieces of advice as they face changing societal values and political pressure.

“First, never be too proud or self-inflated to pray for strength in the work that you do,” Bishop Bambera began. “We would also do well to recognize the need to acquire not only mere professional competence but wisdom and creativity in our exercise of the law … most of it comes with humility and a willingness to engage and learn from the experiences of others.”

Bishop Bambera also encouraged those in attendance to “be willing to serve beyond the bare minimum of what is required by your profession” and finally “always maintain a deep respect for the dignity of every person impacted by the work that you do.”

 

SCRANTON – On the Memorial of Saint Jerome, Sept. 30, the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, designated nine deacon candidates for the Diocese of Scranton as Lectors in the Rite of Institution of Lectors.

The candidates are Fernando B. Alves, Ernesto A. Capo, Jr., Francisco Castelan, Michaelangelo J. Colaneri, Frank A. Fanelli, Joel A. Marte, Jorge Roca, Rafael Sanchez Velasquez, and Christian D. Saunders.

The Rite is a major step on the path to becoming a permanent deacon, allowing the candidates to read the Word of God, except for the Gospel, at liturgical assemblies. The next step will be the Rite of Acolyte.

“How providential that we celebrate the conferral of the ministry of Lector on the Memorial of Saint Jerome, whose life was synonymous with devotion to the Sacred Scriptures and with a deep love for the written word of God,” Bishop Bambera said during his homily. “It is no surprise that Saint Jerome, who was equally known for never shying away from expressing his views on most subjects in a clear and decisive manner, would rightly claim, ‘Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.’”

Bishop Bambera told the men receiving the ministry of Lector that this moment is not merely a stepping stone in their path to becoming a deacon.

“To the contrary, 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 bishop noted. “What an awesome responsibility to walk with Jesus through your encounter of Him in the Word of God.”

Most importantly, Bishop Bambera explained to the candidates that the Word of God must be “living and vibrant” in their lives and never “reduced to mere symbols on a page.”

“Live with authenticity the Word of God that you will proclaim through love and service to the People of God,” Bishop Bambera said.

WILLIAMSPORT – Two parishes in Lycoming County are working to become more welcoming to the community – especially young mothers and their infants.

In late August, Saint Boniface Parish in Williamsport and Saint Lawrence Parish in South Williamsport signed on to the ‘Breastfeeding Welcome Here Initiative.’ The move comes after Williamsport was one of two cities in the commonwealth designated a ‘Breastfeeding Family Friendly Community’ by the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

“We want to welcome young families. We want church to be a place where children are always part of the picture,” Rev. Glenn McCreary, pastor, explained. “I’ve often said that I don’t mind when a child is crying during Mass. We’re Catholic, we’re pro-life and crying children is what life sounds like. Now, we want to clearly extend that welcome to the breastfeeding individuals and families among us.”

Lisa McCloskey, RN, BSN, IBCLC, Lycoming/Clinton Breastfeeding Coalition Chair, and a parishioner at Saint Boniface, helped both parishes with the process.

“We are creating a welcoming environment to remove barriers to make it easier for all families to choose and to continue human milk feeding and to change a culture to normalize breastfeeding,” McCloskey said.

For the best health outcomes, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for approximately six months followed by continued breastfeeding with complementary foods for at least two years and beyond as mutually desired.

“There are short-term and long-term health benefits for both children and the breastfeeding parent which improve the health of the community, reducing healthcare costs, higher productivity, and lower absenteeism from work and school,” McCloskey continued.

By signing onto the ‘Breastfeeding Welcome Here Initiative,’ the two parishes will allow a mother to freely feed her infants and young children in public, without ever being asked to cover up or move. If families request a private location to pump or feed, they will be directed to a comfortable space that is not a bathroom. Restrooms are not a hygienic place to prepare or eat a meal.

“We don’t want to send a mother off to a lavatory to feed,” Father McCreary said. “Nor do we want her to feel she doesn’t belong here because the Mass and feeding schedules overlap.”

Before affixing stickers to the doors of his parishes to let the community know of their support, Father McCreary also explained to his parishioners what this new ‘welcome’ will look like.

“If you’re comfortable feeding in your pew, do it. If you want to step out to a more private place, we will give you some options. Our confessional rooms in both churches are open and offer comfortable seating. Saint Boniface also gives the option to go to the lounge, where you can continue to hear the Liturgy while you care for that child.”

McCloskey said the more we see breastfeeding, the more natural it becomes. In addition to the two Roman Catholic parishes that have signed on, James V. Brown Library in Williamsport and the Lycoming County State Health Center have also signed onto the initiative.

“It’s through creating an environment of acceptance to make families feel more comfortable and by educating the community to learn why it’s important to accept breastfeeding that we are able to change our culture,” McCloskey said. “We need to sensitively provide options to meet families where they are at to make sure they are comfortable.”

For the two churches, it is all about being a part of the “welcoming church.”

“Let young families – visitors and members – find a home here,” Father McCreary said.

HAZLETON – More than 700 people filled the streets of Hazleton earlier this month participating in a large Eucharistic Procession. The goal was to bring people’s faith and love of Jesus out into the community.

On Sunday, Oct. 1, both Spanish and English-speaking parishioners of Annunciation Parish spent more than 90 minutes navigating the narrow streets of the city’s south side while singing and praying.

“During this magnificent procession through the streets of the south side, I just felt the Lord, the Lord of the Miracles, El Señor de Los Milagros, our Eucharistic Lord, was touching hearts and touching lives in the way that only he can,” Father Kevin Miller, pastor, Annunciation Parish, said. “For my part, I am nothing but grateful to everyone who helped put this together and everyone who participated.”

The Eucharistic Procession was held as part of a three-day celebration at Annunciation Parish in honor of Saint Gabriel, patron of the parish church. Saint Gabriel is most well known as the angel chosen by God to be the messenger of the Annunciation.

The Procession was also held to honor El Señor de Los Milagros (The Lord of the Miracles), the Patron of Peruvian residents, which is celebrated during the entire month of October. El Señor de Los Milagros is traditionally one of the most popular religious celebrations in Latin America.

“The community of Saint Gabriel is a magnificent community. We are so happy to be part of this community. Everyone came here so joyful. We love doing things together,” Father Neftali Feliz-Sena, assistant pastor, Annunciation Parish, said.

Prior to the Eucharistic Procession, a bilingual Mass was held inside Saint Gabriel Church.

Mary Jane Thomas, who has attended Mass at Saint Gabriel Church all her life, found the Mass and procession to be very inspiring.

“I am so happy to see that we are all joining together as one, as we should be, because it is one church, one God, and it was just beautiful today,” Thomas said. “I walked just about all of it.”

Thomas has seen a lot of change in her parish over the last several decades, but she believes her faith has only been strengthened by the influx of Spanish-speaking parishioners.

“When I first started to go to the Hispanic Mass, it was a little challenging at first, but then I found myself moving along with everybody and clapping. I thought, they are praising the Lord and we can all praise the Lord in whatever form we can,” she added.

Veronica Mizenko of McAdoo recently returned to the Catholic faith and was pleased that the Eucharistic Procession was held so that Jesus could be shared with the entire community.

“Father is taking Jesus out into the streets and amongst the people. All languages, all creeds, anybody is welcome in this church and he makes you feel so warm and so welcome,” Mizenko said. “Father Kevin is bringing Him (Jesus) out for everyone to see and hear. It is so touching.”

Mizenko said she saw several people watch the procession from their porches and cars, with some even joining in.

“People were just walking up and saw the procession and just started walking behind the procession and it is all for God. It was wonderful. It really was,” she explained.

The procession was held as the Catholic Church in the United States has entered its second phase of the U.S. Bishops’ National Eucharistic Revival, a three-year initiative by the prelates to inspire belief in the Eucharist following a 2019 Pew Research study that suggested only about one-third of U.S. Catholics believe the Church’s teaching that the Eucharist is truly the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.

The second phase of the revival, the Year of Parish Revival, is meant to foster Eucharistic devotion at the parish level.