Category: News

 

People Helping People (PHP), a nonprofit program of St. Patrick’s Church in Milford, funded the cost of Christmas dinner hams distributed to the Ecumenical Food Pantry during the past holiday season.

St. Patrick’s works closely with the food pantry throughout the year through ongoing food donations, as well as a team of volunteers who work at the food pantry on a regularly scheduled basis distributing food and other necessary items for families in our community.

The mission of PHP is to assist less fortunate individuals and families experiencing financial hardship and in need of occasional help to meet basic life necessities.

 

 

OBITUARY
REVEREND CONNELL A. MCHUGH

Reverend Connell A. McHugh, Pastor Emeritus of Good Shepherd Church, Drums, and current Sacramental Minister at Holy Rosary Parish, Hazleton, died on January 4, 2026, after having faithfully served the Diocese of Scranton for 54 years.

Rev. Connell A. McHugh was born in Hazleton, the son of Connell and Katherine (Faeley) McHugh. He attended the former St. Gabriel’s School for both his elementary and high school education, graduating in 1964. He began his preparation for the priesthood at St. Charles Borromeo College in Catonsville, Maryland, which was staffed by the Sulpician Order. He continued his studies at St. Pius X in Dalton, the former Diocesan seminary, in the fall of 1966. It was at St. Pius X that he developed a love of biblical studies, inspired by Fr. Robert Barone, a native of Hazleton and a former student of Fr. Raymond Brown whom Father McHugh regarded as the greatest biblical scholar in the United States of any Christian denomination. Fr. McHugh and classmate Fr. William Karle were largely responsible along with Fr. Devlin of Scranton University to have seminarians receive degrees from Scranton University. Fr. McHugh graduated with a B.A. in philosophy from Scranton University in 1969.

In 1969, Fr. McHugh entered Our Lady of Angels Seminary in Selkirk, New York, just outside of Albany.  He was privileged to have excellent Scripture professors including Fr. John O’Grady and visiting biblical scholars such as Fr. Shaun Kiel. Fr. McHugh completed his studies at Our Lady of Angels in 1972, graduating with high honors and earning both a Master of Arts and a Master of Divinity, both in theology.  He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop J. Carroll McCormick on May 13, 1972.

Father McHugh’s summer assignment was at St. Clare’s in Scranton. He then served for a year as assistant Pastor of St. Mary’s, Dunmore and then two years at Nativity of Our Lord in South Scranton. Fr. McHugh also taught in both Diocesan high schools and junior high schools while in the Scranton Area.

In 1975, Father McHugh was assigned as assistant Pastor of St. Francis, West Hazleton, and as catechist at Bishop Hafey High School. He remained as assistant Pastor of St. Francis for nine and a half years and as catechist Bishop Hafey High School for 10 years.

Father McHugh was appointed Pastor of St. Patrick’s, White Haven, in January 1985 and Catholic Chaplain of the White Haven Center. He was named Pastor of St. Francis, West Hazleton, in July 1994, and remained pastor until 2007. He also taught at Bishop Hafey again from 2005-2007. He served briefly at Holy Redeemer High School in Wilkes-Barre and as weekend celebrant for Good Shepherd, Drums, and St. John Bosco, Conyngham. He was appointed Pastor of Good Shepherd in 2012 and served there for over 8 years until his retirement. In retirement, Fr. McHugh became the Sacramental Minister at Holy Rosary Parish Hazleton.

Fr. McHugh was very active in sports, sponsoring many high school boys’ and girls’ basketball teams that competed successfully in the Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, and Hazleton areas. His players were drawn from regional high schools. Father also was an avid tennis player locally and at clubs in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. Father wrote sports articles for many years for Panorama magazine as was widely recognized as an authority on vintage sports cards, especially baseball ones.

Many people know Fr. McHugh for his decades of biblical presentations in which he attempted to offer a high level of scholarship in the tradition of Fr. Raymond Brown and his good friend and mentor, Fr. Robert Barone.

Viewings will take place on Friday January 9, 2026, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Saturday January 10, 2026, from 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. in Holy Rosary Parish, 240 South Poplar Street, Hazleton. Vespers will be celebrated Friday evening at 6:30 p.m. in the church.

A Pontifical Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by the Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L., Bishop of Scranton, on Saturday January 10, 2026, at 10 a.m. in Holy Rosary Parish, 240 South Poplar Street, Hazleton.

Arrangements are entrusted to the care of the Joseph B. Conahan Funeral Home, Hazleton.

 

Obituary
Reverend John Francis Turi

Reverend John Francis Turi, Pastor Emeritus of Saint Joseph Church, Matamoras, died on Sunday, December 28, 2025 at the Hospice of the Sacred Heart Inpatient Unit having faithfully served the Diocese of Scranton for seventy years.

Father Turi, son of the late Martin A. and Florence Walsh Turi, was born April 20, 1929 in Scranton, PA. Father attended Saint Patrick’s from Grade school through High School in Scranton.  He attended Saint Bonaventure University in New York receiving his B.A. in Philosophy in 1951.  Father Turi then entered Christ the King Seminary in St. Bonaventure, Olean, New York where he received his Theology Degree in 1955.  He also received a Master of Science Degree in Education from Marywood University in 1983.  Father Turi was ordained to the priesthood on June 4, 1955, in Saint Peter’s Cathedral, Scranton, by the Most Reverend Jerome D. Hannan, D.D., late Bishop of Scranton

         Father Turi’s first assignment was as an assistant pastor at St. Elizabeth’s Church in Bear Creek in 1955, he then served as assistant pastor at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Scranton.  In 1958 he was appointed Chaplain of Mercy Hospital in Scranton and served in that capacity till 1964 when he became assistant pastor of St. Ann’s in Tobyhanna.  Father Turi then returned to Mercy Hospital in Scranton to serve his second stint as Chaplain where he remained until he was appointed to his first pastorate at Saint Joseph’s in White Mills in 1971.  Father Turi then became pastor of St. Joseph’s Parish, Matamoras in 1975 where he remained until his retirement and appointment as pastor emeritus on July 6, 2004. 

Father Turi also served as the chaplain to the Knights of Columbus at Honesdale Council #363 in 1973.

Father is survived by several nieces and nephews.   He was preceded in death by a sister Rose Marie Roche and husband AJ; brothers Martin Turi & Sebastian Turi and wife Ann Marie.

Viewings will take place Friday January 2^nd 2026 from 5 to 7 pm and Saturday January 3^rd 2026 2026 from 9 – 10 am in St. Patrick’s Church, 1403 Jackson St., Scranton. Vespers will be celebrated Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. in the church.

A Pontifical Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by the Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L., Bishop of Scranton, on Saturday January 3^rd, 2026 at 10 am in St. Patrick’s Church, 1403 Jackson St., Scranton. Interment will follow in Cathedral Cemetery, Scranton. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph’s Center, 2010 Adams Ave, Scranton, PA 18509, stjosephscenter.org/donations/.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of the Solfanelli-Fiorillo Funeral Home Inc., 1030 N. Main Ave., Scranton.

Please visit the funeral home website to leave an online condolence.

 

 

Pro-abortion bills are bad anytime of the year, but during this season when we celebrate the birth of the Christ child, the House has scheduled a package of SEVEN pro-abortion bills. Rather than embracing life and celebrating a time of good will to all, pro-abortion forces in the House have chosen death and division. Please contact your state Representative today and ask them to vote no.

These bills would:
• Provide a legal “shield” for abortionists and stop victims’ families from seeking justice (HB 1640, HB 1641, HB 1643, and HB 1966)
• Remove safety rails, like informed consent and the 24-hour waiting period (HB 2005)
• Be used as a tool to prosecute those who peacefully communicate and offer resources outside abortion clinics (HB 670)
• Enshrine abortion in our Commonwealth’s constitution, effectively allowing abortion until birth, removing parental consent, and forcing taxpayers to pay for elective abortions (HB 1957)

Click the link below to log in and send your message:
https://www.pacatholic.org/resources/voter-voice/?vvsrc=%2fCampaigns%2f132155%2fRespond

 

The Knights of Columbus John Paul II Council in Milford has donated $400 to The Tri-State Family and Pregnancy Center as part of their ASAP (Aid and Support After Pregnancy) program. This will make the council’s total contribution to the center in 2025 over $3500. The Tri-State Family & Pregnancy serves the Tri-State area by serving children, mothers, and families with free maternity tests, peer counseling, formula, diapers, clothes, furnishings, and more. Serving Pregnancy Resource Centers is part of the Knights of Columbus Faith in Action mission.

 

AND THE WINNER IS—-

The VOICE of JOHN Ministry is pleased to announce the winner of the 2025 Christmas Card Contest who submitted the winning verse after her mom showed her the article in the Catholic Light inviting area students to participate in the Christmas Card Contest.

Isabella Novajosky, an 11^th grade student from Lakeland Jr/Sr High School and a member of Queen of the Apostles Parish in Avoca, defines herself as prolife.  She is a member of the National Honor Society, FCCLA (family, career, community, leaders of America), Future Business Leaders of America, and Students Against Dangerous Decisions.

Her Mom, Mary Novajosky, read about the contest and encouraged Isabella to write a verse appropriate for the art depicted on the card.  Competing against students throughout the Scranton and Allentown diocese, Isabella chose a beautiful bible verse befitting the artistry of Linda Ross, from St Matthew’s Parish in East Stroudsburg. 

Reflecting on John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life”.

From Isabella, and the entire team of the VOICE of JOHN Ministry, we wish you peace and blessings as this Christmas we celebrate the greatest gift ever given – Jesus, The Christ”. 

 

 

The Knights of Columbus John Paul II Council 13935 and Our Lady of Guadalupe Assembly 2605 held an unveiling ceremony for a memorial dedicated to the unborn victims of abortion on Sunday October 27th at St. Patrick’s Church in Milford PA.

The ceremony was officiated by Rev. Fr. Joseph Manurchuck and a few words were made by Antonio Perito, the council Life Director. In attendance were dignitaries from Pennsylvania’s Central District along with the Pennsylvania State Council executive team.

Brother Perito reminded and called us to remember the victims, have mercy on the mothers, and to promote the Gospel of Life through support of local pregnancy resource centers, advocating for pro-life and pro-family policies, and to be compassionate and understanding to mothers and family’s in need.

After the dedication three new brother Knights joined our order in an exemplification of Charity Unity and Fraternity. Finally, the night ended with a community dinner where Elvia Toombs, director of Tri-State Family & Pregnancy Center, spoke to the group on the personal, familial, and community effects of abortion.

 

Your help is urgently needed! Urge your members of Congress to ensure that lifesaving social safety net programs, like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), are funded and to end the government shutdown as quickly as possible. 

More than 42 million Americans rely on SNAP to put food on the table. As the government shutdown continues, these families in need are at risk of losing access to this lifeline. Last night, Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued a plea to lawmakers and the Administration to work in a bipartisan way to ensure funding for lifesaving programs and an end to the government shutdown. He wrote:

“As this government shutdown continues, the U.S. bishops are deeply alarmed that essential programs that support the common good, such as SNAP, may be interrupted. This would be catastrophic for families and individuals who rely on SNAP to put food on the table and places the burdens of this shutdown most heavily on the poor and vulnerable of our nation, who are the least able to move forward. This consequence is unjust and unacceptable.”

As people of faith, let us stand shoulder to shoulder with our brothers and sisters in need. Tell your members of Congress to work in a bipartisan way to ensure continued funding of lifesaving programs and to put an end to the government shutdown. 

By advocating today, your voice can help families with children, soon-to-be mothers, senior citizens, people with disabilities, and veterans.

Take Action Now

 

 

Arrangements are well underway for the 13th annual “Run Against Hunger,” which benefits the St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen. This will take place on November 8, 2025.

The Scranton Running Company and AllOne Charities are hosting the weekend’s events. 

For information about sponsorships, participating and to pre-register for the event, visit https://runsignup.com/runagainsthunger

For online sponsorship payments, visit: https://formstack.io/BD418