Tag Archives: Diocese of Scranton

Little Sisters of the Poor Host St. Joseph’s Day Celebration

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Little Sisters of the Poor - St. Joseph's Celebration

The Most Rev. James C. Timlin, D.D., Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Scranton,; Sister Laurelliya, l.s.p.; the Rev. E. Francis Kelly, chaplain of Holy Family Residence; Mother Theresa Louisa, l.s.p., superior of the Little Sisters’ Scranton community; and resident Loretta Culkin, (seated), pause for a moment during the Little Sisters of the Poor’s annual St. Joseph’s Day celebration.

The Little Sisters of the Poor at Holy Family Residence hosted their annual St. Joseph’s Day celebration on Monday, March 19.. The Most Rev. James C. Timlin, D.D., Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Scranton, and several diocesan priests, celebrated a special Mass at 10:30 a.m., in the chapel at the residence, 2500 Adams Ave., Scranton. At 11:30 a.m., the priests served lunch and visited the residents.

St. Joseph, who is the husband of the Blessed Mother and the foster father of Jesus, is the patron saint of the universal Church as well as the protector of the Little Sisters of the Poor.

The Little Sisters, who have been serving the elderly of Northeastern Pennsylvania since 1908, work closely with staff, volunteers, and benefactors to create a family spirit for the residents who make their home with them. They welcome the elderly who have limited funds and provide for their needs so they can thrive in an atmosphere of respect, dignity, and love.

Ash Wednesday Begins Season of Lent

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ashToday, Ash Wednesday, March 1, will mark the start of the solemn 40-day season of Lent. Parishes throughout the 11-county Diocese of Scranton will distribute ashes as a sign of penance and to remind individuals of Lent’s call to a more complete gospel lifestyle.

At the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Scranton, ashes will be distributed during the 6:30 a.m., 8 a.m., 12:10 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Masses. The Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L., Bishop of Scranton, will be the principal celebrant of the 12:10 p.m. Pontifical Mass. CTV: Catholic Television will broadcast the Mass.

Ash Wednesday commemorates the ancient rite of placing the sign of the cross on the forehead with the reminder “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Lent’s invitation to repentance and conversion may also be found in the optional words of this rite: “Repent, and believe in the Gospel.” These ashes are gathered from the burned branches of palm carried the previous year in the Palm Sunday procession.

The Office for Parish Life is conducting an Ash Wednesday Retreat from 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. in the Diocesan Pastoral Center, 330 Wyoming Avenue, Scranton. All are welcome. To register, call the Office at 570-207-2213.

Since, the Church encourages us to make confession a regular part of our spiritual life, especially during the holy season of Lent, parishes are participating in a Lenten initiative called The Light Is On for You, which means that every Monday evening during the Lenten season, beginning on the first Monday of Lent, March 6, and continuing through Monday of the last full week of Lent, April 3, confessions will be heard in every parish from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

The Diocesan website contains a variety of resources to help parishes extend the invitation to The Light Is On for You, and to help penitents prepare for and participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. See www.dioceseofscranton.org (Parish Life Office menu tab, then The Light Is On for You). The site also includes a Parish Directory listing parishes by location. Note: In parishes with multiple worship sites, call the parish office to confirm the site where the Monday evening confessions will be heard. Also check the specific parish bulletins or websites for details.

During Lent the Cathedral of Saint Peter will offer several ways in which the faithful can deepen their relationship with Jesus and come to know him in a more intimate way.

On Fridays the Stations of the Cross will be prayed following the 12:10 p.m. Mass and Novena to St. John Neumann. The Stations will air on CTV live on March 3 after the 12:10 p.m. Mass on that day and then on succeeding Fridays at 11:30 a.m., 2:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

On Sundays, March 5, 12, 19 and 26; April 2 and 9, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will begin at the conclusion of the 5 p.m. Sunday Mass. Evening Prayer and Benediction begin at 6:30 p.m.

                                                                                                      

 

Bishop Bambera Releases Statement on President Trump’s Executive Order

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President Donald Trump Signs Executive OrdersThe United States has a long and proud history of welcoming persons from other countries who come to our land seeking freedom to practice their religion, live in safety and work hard to provide a decent life for their families. Indeed, the region of the Diocese of Scranton owes much of its heritage and prosperity to immigrants who have and continue to contribute greatly to the fabric of life in northeastern and north central Pennsylvania.

Not unlike those who settled in the United States a century ago, the vast majority of today’s immigrants simply seek a better life for themselves and their families. Sadly, many of these same individuals also look to our great land as a refuge in the face of persecution, war and terror in their homelands. These refugees are vetted through a rigorous program that has proven to be effective over the course of many years.

Our Catholic faith calls us to respect life: to welcome the stranger, to treat every life with dignity and respect, and to offer compassion to all, regardless of their country of origin or religious background. Simply put, turning our backs on the most vulnerable in need of our help is not consistent with the values upon which our country was founded and is not consistent with the message of the gospel of Jesus.

Pope Francis urged Americans to put aside fear and instead offer the world hope and solidarity. In 2015, he shared these challenging words to members of the United States Congress and to the people of America,“If we want security, let us give security; if we want life, let us give life; if we want opportunities, let us provide opportunities.”