Category: News

Reverend E. Francis Kelly, 83 of Dunmore, PA, died on Friday, July 18, 2025 after having faithfully served the Diocese of Scranton for 58 years.  

Reverend E. Francis Kelly, son of the late Edmund Francis Kelly and Mary M. (Kelley) Kelly, was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania on December 10, 1941.  He was a graduate of South Scranton Catholic High School and attended St. Meinrad College of Liberal Arts, St. Meinrad Indiana earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in May 1963.  Father received his seminary education from St. Meinrad School of Theology, St. Meinrad, Indiana and was ordained to the priesthood in St. Peter’s Cathedral, Scranton, on May 27, 1967 by the Most Reverend J. Carroll McCormick, late Bishop of Scranton.

Father Kelly was appointed Assistant Pastor pro tem at St. Vincent, Plymouth on June 10, 1967 and on June 22, 1967 was appointed Assistant Pastor at St. Patrick, Scranton.  In September 1972 Father was appointed Assistant Pastor at St. Rose of Lima, Carbondale.  Father was appointed Assistant Pastor at St. Thomas Aquinas, Archbald in September 1973 and Chaplain at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Carbondale in September 1980. 

Father Kelly received his first pastorate at St. Ann’s, Freeland in September 1982.  In June 1991 he was appointed Pastor at St. Francis of Assisi, West Hazleton.  Father was appointed Pastor at Holy Savior, Wilkes Barre in July 1994 and served for eleven years until September 2005 when he was appointed Pastor at Our Lady of Victory, Harvey’s Lake.  In July 2009, Father Kelly was appointed to the Office of Chaplain of the Little Sisters of the Poor and Holy Family Residence, Scranton and served until his retirement in 2016.              

Father Kelly also served the Diocese of Scranton as Area Representative for the Commission on Ecumenism and Human Affairs in 1974 and Dean of the Freeland Deanery from 1989 to 1991.  He also served three terms as Dean of the Wilkes Barre/Plains Deanery from August 1997 to December 2003; Chaplain to Knights of Columbus Council #302 and Auxiliary Chaplain Ancient Order of Hibernians Upper Lackawanna Valley.

Reverend Kelly celebrated the 50th Anniversary of his Ordination with a Pontifical Mass celebrated by Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, DD., J.C.L. on June 22, 2017.

He was preceded in death by his parents Edmund and Mary.

Father Kelly is survived by his brother Joseph Kelly and his wife Patricia, Pomona, CA, niece Melissa Shephard and nephew Matthew Berkley.

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 Wednesday, July 23, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at the chapel at Marywood Heights, 2500 Adams Avenue, Scranton, PA.  Interment will be in St. Catherine Cemetery, Moscow.   Visitation will take place Tuesday evening from 5:00 to 6:45 pm followed by a Vesper Service to be celebrated at 7:00 p.m., and on Wednesday morning from 10:00 to 10:45 am prior to Mass. 

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the Corcoran Funeral Home, 20 South Main Street, Plains, PA 18705.

For additional information or to leave Father Kelly’s family a message of condolence, please visit www.corcoranfuneralhome.com.

John Paul II Council 13935 in Milford hosted the entire district to the first ever district wide BBQ on July 5th at St Patrick’s Community Hall.

Brothers from Our Lady of the Mountain Council 9832, St John Neumann/Good Shepherd Council 12571, and St John Council 11935 were also in attendance.

It was a great time of fraternal camaraderie and communal bonding. District Deputy Lawrence Commisso spoke about his pride in our district being the 11th for Membership this year and the majority of councils earning star council.

Grand Knight Joseph Saski thanked everyone for comings out and looks forward to another amazing fraternal year.

OBITUARY – MONSIGNOR WILLIAM P. WARD

Reverend Monsignor William P. Ward, Pastor Emeritus of St. Vincent de Paul, Milford, died on the 27^th day of June, 2025, at Smith Health Care, Mountaintop, PA.                     

Monsignor Ward, son of the late Patrick J. Ward Sr. and Elizabeth Breslin Ward, was born in Hazleton on April 30, 1931.  He was a graduate of Saint Gabriel’s High School, Hazleton and attended Mount Saint Mary’s College, Emmitsburg, MD.  Monsignor received his seminary education at Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg, MD was ordained to the priesthood on June 15, 1957 at St. Peter’s Cathedral, Scranton, by the Most Reverend Jerome D. Hannan, late Bishop of Scranton.

Monsignor Ward served as Assistant Pastor at St. Patrick’s, Milford, St. Mary’s, Dunmore, St. Agnes, Forest City and St. Matthew, East Stroudsburg.    He was appointed Assistant Chaplain, at St. Francis, Eagles Mere in 1968 and Chaplain in 1970.

Monsignor Ward was appointed Spiritual Director at North American College, Vatican City in June 1970.  Upon his return to the Diocese, he was appointed Pastor at Sacred Heart of Mary, Jermyn in 1974.  In 1979 Monsignor was appointed Pastor at St. John the Evangelist, Pittston and served until 1984 when he was appointed Pastor at St. Jude’s Mountaintop.  In 1992, Monsignor was appointed Pastor at St. Vincent, Dingman Hills and served fourteen years until his retirement and appointment as Pastor Emeritus on July 6, 2006.  Monsignor also served as Chaplain at Mercy Center, Dallas from 2004 to his retirement in 2006 and post-retirement as Administrator at St. Mary’s Assumption, Wyalusing in 2007 and Administrator at St. Rita Gouldsboro in 2008.      

Monsignor Ward was named Prelate of Honor in March of 1983 by Saint Pope John Paul II. 

Monsignor also served the Diocese as Tribunal Defender of the Bond, Spiritual Director and Librarian at St. Pius X Seminary, Chairman of Region VI for the “Follow Christ!” Program, Chaplain at Marian Convent, Marywood and Dean of Pike County. 

He was preceded in death by his parents Patrick J. Ward Sr. and Elizabeth Breslin Ward.  He is survived by cousins.  The family is very appreciative of the excellent care and compassion shown to Monsignor by the staff of Smith Health Care over the past two years.

Viewing will take place on Tuesday, July 1, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.  at St. Gabriel Church, St.Pius of Pietrelcina Parish, 122 South Wyoming St., Hazleton. Vespers will be celebrated at 7:00 p.m.

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 Wednesday, July 2, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Gabriel Church, St. Pius of Pietrelcina Parish, Hazleton, PA. Viewing will also take place at 9:30 a.m., prior to the 10:300 a.m. Funeral Mass.  Interment will be in St. Gabriel Cemetery, Hazleton.

All arrangements are entrusted to the care of the Conahan Funeral Home, Hazleton, Pa.

OBITUARY – MONSIGNOR WILLIAM J. FELDCAMP

Reverend Monsignor William J. Feldcamp, Pastor Emeritus of St. Paul Parish, Scranton, died on the 24th day of June, 2025, at St. Mary’s Villa Nursing Home, Elmhurst, under the care of Sacred Heart Hospice, after having faithfully served the Diocese of Scranton for 60 years.

Monsignor Feldcamp, son of the late William Patrick Feldcamp and Mary Moriarity Feldcamp, was born in Scranton on December 24, 1939.  He was a graduate of South Scranton Catholic High and attended the University of Scranton.  Monsignor received his seminary education at St. Mary’s Seminary, Baltimore, MD and was ordained to the priesthood on June 12, 1965 at St. Peter’s Cathedral, Scranton, by the Most Reverend Jerome D. Hannan, late Bishop of Scranton.

Monsignor Feldcamp served as Assistant Director of Camp St. Andrew, Tunkhannock, Assistant Pastor at Holy Rosary, Scranton, St. Clare Church, Scranton and Our Lady of the Snows, Clarks Summit and Catechist at Kingston Catholic High School. 

Monsignor received his first pastorate at St. Mary, Wyalusing in 1979.  He was next appointed Pastor at St. Thomas More, Lake Ariel in 1982 and St. John the Evangelist, Honesdale in 1985.  Monsignor was appointed Pastor at St. Rose of Lima, Carbondale in 1992 and served for nine years.  In 2001 he appointed Pastor at St. Clare, Scranton and in 2007, St. Paul Scranton was added to his pastorate where he continued to serve until his retirement and appointment as Pastor Emeritus on June 29, 2015.  After retirement, Monsignor continued to serve the Diocese assisting at St. Mary’s Villa Personal Care and Nursing Home, Elmhurst.

Monsignor also held the Office of Episcopal Vicar for Consecrated Life from 2005 to 2009.  He served the Diocese as Dean for priests of Wayne County, Director of Religious Formation, Bishop Hannan High School and was a member of the Diocesan Board of Consultors and the Office of Continuing Education of Priests Advisory Board.

Monsignor Feldcamp was named Prelate of Honor on March 14, 1998 by Pope Saint John Paul II. 

He is survived by numerous cousins.  He was preceded in death by his parents, William Patrick Feldcamp and Mary Moriarity Feldcamp, and by his sister, Sr. Mary Feldcamp, IHM,

Viewing will take place on Sunday, June 29, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. at St. Paul Church, Scranton.  A Vespers will be celebrated at 7:00 p.m.

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 Monday, June 30, 2025 at St. Paul Parish, 1510 Penn Avenue, Scranton, PA. Viewing will also take place at 10:00 a.m., prior to the 11:00 a.m. Funeral Mass.  Interment will be in Cathedral Cemetery, Scranton.

All arrangements are entrusted to the care of the Albert P. O’Donnell Funeral Home, Dunmore, Pa.

Condolences to the family may be directed to the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Villa St. Joseph, Dunmore, Pa.

Saint Vincent de Paul Kitchen in Wilkes-Barre held a Volunteer Appreciation Dinner on Saturday, May 31, 2025.

The dinner was held in recognition of the many volunteers that help serve more than 100,000 meals per year at the kitchen to those in need. The dinner was organized by the St. Vincent de Paul Kitchen Advisory Board and sponsored by Highmark.

For information about volunteering at St. Vincent de Paul Kitchen or becoming a meal Sponsor of the Day, call (570) 829-7796.  

The Altar and Rosary Society of Holy Family Parish, Luzerne, recently conducted a Baby Shower, collecting a large variety of new infant outfits along with a generous monetary donation, for the Wilkes-Barre Pro-Life Center. The Society is pictured with Pro-Life volunteers during their recent May meeting where a rosary was prayed for the Pro-Life cause. Pro-Life volunteers gave remarks explaining their daily work for needy families and their newborn babies.

A bus Pilgrimage was organized May 14, 2025 from St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Swoyersville, to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Basilica, and the nearby Mount St. Mary’s Grotto, Emmitsburg, Maryland. The group prayed at the many Grotto Shrines, attended Mass at the Basilica, prayed at the tomb of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (Mother Seton), and toured a newly constructed museum in honor of the Saint. 

The pilgrims consisted of Swoyersville Parish Staff, leaders of: the Knights of Columbus, the local Pro-Life, the Our Lady of Fatima Shrine, St. Anthony/ George Maronite Parish, members of an area Ukrainian Church, students from King’s College and Marywood University, and devotees of Mother Seton. Shown are: