People use smartphones in New York City Feb. 11, 2022. (CNS photo/Andrew Kelly, Reuters)

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Christians must persevere in generously doing good in the world, bolstered by prayer and by fighting evil in their own lives, including an addiction to digital media, Pope Francis said.

“Lent is a propitious time to resist these temptations and to cultivate instead a more integral form of human communication made up of ‘authentic encounters’ – face-to-face and in person,” the pope said in his message for Lent, which begins March 2 for Latin-rite Catholics.

“Let us ask God to give us the patient perseverance of the farmer and to persevere in doing good, one step at a time,” and to know that “the soil is prepared by fasting, watered by prayer and enriched by charity,” the pope wrote.

Released by the Vatican Feb. 24, the pope’s Lenten message was titled, “Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest if we do not give up. So then, while we have the opportunity, let us do good to all,” which is from St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians.

Christians are called to sow goodness their entire lives, but even more so during Lent, he wrote.

The first fruit “appears in ourselves and our daily lives,” radiating the light of Christ to the world, he wrote. And sowing goodness “for the benefit of others frees us from narrow self-interest, infuses our actions with gratuitousness and makes us part of the magnificent horizon of God’s benevolent plan.”

Christians must not grow tired of praying, he wrote. “We need to pray because we need God. Thinking that we need nothing other than ourselves is a dangerous illusion.”

“Let us not grow tired of uprooting evil from our lives,” he added, underlining the importance of fasting and asking for forgiveness in the sacrament of penance and reconciliation.

Christians must resist “concupiscence,” the tendency to sin, which is a weakness that leads to “selfishness and all evil, and finds in the course of history a variety of ways to lure men and women into sin,” he wrote.

One sign of such weakness, he said, is an addiction to “digital media, which impoverishes human relationships.” Lent is an opportune time to cultivate healthy communication and face-to-face encounters.

“Let us not grow tired of doing good in active charity toward our neighbors” and of giving joyfully, he wrote.

“Lent is a favorable time to seek out — and not to avoid — those in need; to reach out — and not to ignore — those who need a sympathetic ear and a good word; to visit – and not to abandon – those who are lonely,” he wrote.

“Let us put into practice our call to do good to all,” he wrote, “and take time to love the poor and needy, those abandoned and rejected, those discriminated against and marginalized.”

And, Pope Francis said, doing good “with love, justice and solidarity are not achieved once and for all; they have to be realized each day” and require patience, prayer and hope.

Salesian Sister Alessandra Smerilli, interim secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, was among the speakers presenting the Lenten message at a Vatican news conference.

Around the world, she said, one sees the “winds of war, after decades of reckless rearmament,” a deadly pandemic, increasing inequalities and fundamental problems with economic and social systems.

But, she said, “God believes in the Earth and cares for it in the same way that a farmer does not abandon his land,” so in his message, Pope Francis is inviting people “to be that fertile soil that creates the conditions for the seeds to grow” and create something “different from the present.”

Italian Cardinal Francesco Montenegro, a dicastery member and retired archbishop of Agrigento, said bringing about these changes requires a different way of facing problems.

People must not turn their back and believe someone else will take care of things but must know “each one of us can do something” and must look for where there is a need and see others as brothers and sisters, he said.

Communities break down without this kind of loving concern and action, he said, and if everyone were to contribute, creating a “network of love, acceptance and mutual integration, then we will discover a more human world will be possible.”

Cardinal Angelo Comastri, archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica, sprinkles ashes on the head of Pope Francis during Ash Wednesday Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican Feb. 17, 2021. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

SCRANTON – The Diocese of Scranton and all of its parishes invite the faithful to receive ashes on Ash Wednesday, March 2, 2022.

The reception of ashes is not mandatory nor required. The faithful should know it is their own internal disposition and intention to repent and start over that is the best fruit of Ash Wednesday and the ashes are an external sign of that internal reality.

Individuals may enter into Lent with a repentant heart even if they decide that receiving ashes is not the right thing for them this year because of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.

Due to continued concerns over health and safety, Bishop Joseph C. Bambera has directed that parishes do not impose ashes by thumb for the second year in a row. Ashes can still be distributed to the faithful through two options. All parishes have been given the ability to choose which method works best.

The first option involves tracing a Cross on an individual’s forehead using a cotton swab or Q-tip. With the cotton tip, the Cross would be traced on the recipient’s forehead. The minister must wear masks during the distribution of ashes and recipients are strongly encouraged to wear masks as well. A new Q-tip or cotton ball must be used for each person. After the use, each swab would be placed in a receptacle for burning.

The second option to distribute ashes is to sprinkle the ashes on the top of an individual’s head, with no contact, rather than imposing them on the forehead. In this method of distribution, the priest says the prayer for blessing the ashes. He sprinkles the ashes with holy water, without saying anything. Then he addresses all those present and only once says the formula as it appears in the Roman Missal, applying it to all in general: “Repent, and believe in the Gospel,” or “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

The priest would then cleanse his hands, put on a mask and distribute the ashes to those who come to him, or if appropriate, go to those who are standing in their places. The priest takes the ashes and sprinkles them on the head of each one without saying anything.

The blessing and distribution of ashes on Ash Wednesday normally takes place during the celebration of Mass, following the homily and general intercessions. When circumstances require, the blessing and distribution of ashes may take place apart from Mass, during a celebration of the Word of God. (Book of Blessings #1656)

To read all of the Diocese of Scranton’s COVID-19 safety guidelines for Lent 2022, visit the “Welcome Home” section tile on this website.

The Diocese of Scranton website (dioceseofscranton.org) also has a full Ash Wednesday schedule for parishes in all 11 counties in the coming days.

 

The replica icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa will be brought to the Catholic Church of St. Luke in Stroudsburg and venerated at all the parish’s liturgies on Saturday and Sunday, February 26th and 27th. The original icon has a legendary past that led in the 14th century to its housing at the Jasna Góra monastery near the town of Czestochowa. Under this title, the Blessed Mother has been considered the protector of Poland through centuries of invasions and wars. Devotion to the Madonna has flourished among Polish-American Catholics and efforts to build a shrine in her honor began in the 1950s. Finally, in 1966, a new and spacious church was erected in Doylestown, Pennsylvania to service the growing numbers of pilgrims.

The replica icon will be brought to the Poconos from that Doylestown National Shrine at the request of the Catholics who celebrate Sunday Mass in the Polish language at St. Luke’s. As explained by Deacon Phil Zimich, himself of Polish ancestry, “This veneration will be in two languages to join our Polish worshippers with the rest of our parish in a testimony to our one faith.” The visit has special meaning this February when the threat of invasion and war are growing near the Polish homeland. St. Luke’s Church is located at the corner of 9th and Main Streets in Stroudsburg.

Call 570.421-9097 for more information.

 

Father Joseph J. Pisaneschi, pastor, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, and parishioner Maria Englot prepare Pesce al sugo, a traditional Italian dish originating from Sicily. (Photos/Eric Deabill)
Father John C. Lambert, pastor, Saints Peter & Paul Parish, cooks up a Guinness Irish stew recipe.

Update: The Rectory, Set, Cook! fundraiser is underway. To view all of the “pastor chef” videos and vote for your favorite – visit https://app.mobilecause.com/vf/PASTORCHEF

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SCRANTON – Did you know Bishop Bambera, a seafood fan, also makes a mean meatloaf? Or that Father Seth Wasnock puts cinnamon in his pasta sauce? Did you also know Father David Cappelloni makes his own pasta – and Italian doughnuts for dessert?

You can learn many more such tasty tidbits by supporting the Diocese of Scranton’s first-ever, all-virtual, cook-off-style fundraiser, which will be a friendly online showdown among more than 25 priests, most of whom know their way around a kitchen.

Rectory, Set, Cook! is scheduled for launch on Fat Tuesday (March 1), and we are inviting Catholics across the Diocese to help turn up the heat and get out the vote for their favorite videos, pastors and recipes.

Participating parish priests are starring in individual videos showcasing a favorite recipe or recipes and counting on their flocks and friends far and near to show their support by making monetary donations as small as $10. Each $10 donation will represent one vote for a pastor chef or team.

Participants can vote as many times as they would like and for as many priests as they would like. The website will be live for nearly six weeks, with winners – those who raise the most dollars – announced in mid-April. Printed cookbooks with all showcased recipes also will be available for purchase online.

Rectory, Set, Cook! will acquaint Catholics with some of the Diocese’s finest priests on a more personal level, but the best part is all voting dollars will support the anti-hunger efforts of Catholic Social Services – Saint Vincent de Paul Kitchen as well as food pantries and programs across the CSS footprint – and the parishes that signed up a chef. Voting dollars will be shared 50-50 between Catholic Social Services and the participating parishes.

All sponsorship dollars will go directly to Catholic Social Services’ anti-hunger efforts. Presenting sponsor – The Executive Chef Sponsor – for this new Diocesan initiative is the Hawk Family Foundation. Other committed sponsors include McCarthy Tire and Automotive, Metz Culinary Management and Damage Control, Inc.

We are still seeking additional corporate and individual or family sponsors. For more information about sponsorships and the range of sponsorship benefits, please contact Rectory, Set, Cook! event director Sandra Snyder in the Diocesan Development Office at (570) 591-5004 or Sandra-Snyder@dioceseofscranton.org.

The event website will debut March 1, and will be linked through Diocesan social media and in the next edition of The Catholic Light. Sponsorship deadline is Feb. 23.

SCRANTON — Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, served as principal celebrant of the Mass of Thanksgiving and Sending Forth for Bishop-elect Jeffery J. Walsh on Tuesday, Feb. 15, at 12:10 p.m. in the Cathedral of Saint Peter.

Dozens of the future bishop’s brother priests from the Diocese of Scranton concelebrated the joy-filled Eucharistic liturgy, which saw the venerable cathedral filled with family, friends, religious and lay faithful who were in attendance to offer prayerful best wishes for Bishop-elect Walsh prior to his embarking on a new chapter in his life of service to the People of God — as the new bishop of the Diocese of Gaylord, Mich.

The episcopal ordination and installation of Bishop Walsh as the sixth prelate to serve the faithful of Gaylord will take place on Friday, March 4, at 2 p.m. in the diocesan Cathedral of Saint Mary.

In welcoming the throng for the Mass of Sending Forth, Bishop Bambera began by stating the crowd was by far the largest gathering in Saint Peter’s Cathedral since the onset of the global pandemic nearly two years ago.

“We owe it all to the grace of God and to our dear brother, Father Jeff Walsh,” the Bishop remarked, leading to a rousing applause.

Noting that the special noontime gathering was being offered in thanksgiving for the blessing and gift of the Bishop-elect to his home diocese, Bishop Bambera said, “We give thanks for his ministry, that has obviously touched so many of us and in so many and different ways. And we send him forth with our love and most especially our prayers as he assumes a new role of service in the Church of Jesus Christ and in ministry to the faithful to the Diocese of Gaylord.”

Serving as homilist for the Mass, Bishop-elect Walsh quipped that he felt sorry for anyone who came to the Cathedral that day expecting a brief, midday Mass.

“I am so grateful for everyone who is here,” the future Gaylord Bishop expressed, stating he believed such a liturgical celebration on his behalf would never occur, as he expected to live out the rest of his priesthood serving the Scranton Diocese.

“Let me begin my offering my gratitude to everyone, especially Bishop Bambera and all in the Diocese of Scranton who invited me to come and celebrate this Mass,” Bishop-elect Walsh remarked. “This is a helpful way for me to have closure, to see so many familiar faces and to give thanks to God for the blessings I’ve had as a priest here over the last 27 years.”

The Bishop-elect graciously thanked the numerous faithful in attendance who traveled from within the diocese and beyond, indicating the many parishioners and laity he had come to know through his many parochial assignments.

In an emotional expression of gratitude to women and men religious he ministered with over the years, Bishop-elect Walsh said, “I thank especially my brother priests and deacons I have had the joy and privilege of serving with. I am most grateful for your witness.”

The future bishop stated, “I am filled with a heart of gratitude,” referring to the Gospel of Saint John proclaimed earlier that emphasizes the gift of Jesus’ love for all. “That has been such a comfort to me.”

He shared with the congregation how he was naturally overwhelmed with emotions upon first learning of the tremendous responsibility that comes with shepherding a diocese. “I was just praying and it came to me that God was saying, ‘I’m giving you this assignment out of love; receive it in love and exercise it in love.’”

“That brought me some peace and consolation that it’s all about love,” Bishop-elect Walsh shared. “Love casts out fear. I came to understand the true meaning of those words in Scripture.”

The Mass of Thanksgiving and Sending Forth concluded with closing remarks and a final farewell by Bishop Bambera.

“Father Jeff has always been willing to set out in faith into the unknown,” the Bishop said, adding that the 56-year-old priest’s latest and most challenging of journeys in well underway. “This is one more opportunity for him to do what he has done throughout his priestly ministry: to place his hand in the hand of God and to follow the Lord Jesus who calls him to serve His Church as a bishop.”

Bishop Bambera extolled the Bishop-elect’s unwavering willingness to always trust in God, as reflected in the motto he has chosen for his new episcopacy — “Divine Providence.”

“Father Jeff, we send you forth with great pride and we thank you not only for your faithful service to this local Church, but also for reminding all of us that whatever our state in life may be, by your example and your resolve, we know what we are called to do and be disciples of Jesus Christ.”

CARBONDALE – Having travelled all over the world to help the less fortunate on mission trips, Father Jeffrey J. Walsh is now preparing to travel to Michigan for what is arguably his biggest mission yet.

On Friday, March 4, 2022, Bishop-elect Walsh will be ordained and installed as the Sixth Bishop of the Diocese of Gaylord. The Most Reverend Allen H. Vigneron, Archbishop of Detroit, will serve as the principal consecrator. The Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, and the Most Reverend Walter A. Hurley, Apostolic Administrator of Gaylord, will serve as co-consecrators.

The Episcopal Ordination and Installation will take place at 2 p.m. at Saint Mary, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral, Gaylord.

Even though it has been nearly two months since the appointment was announced, Bishop-elect Walsh still feels a sense of amazement.

“I understand it as something that is necessary for my salvation, that God must see it as a way I need to follow in order to get to heaven but I also see it as a great challenge,” Bishop-elect Walsh said in a recent interview with The Catholic Light.

Ordained as a priest for the Diocese of Scranton in 1994, Bishop-elect has spent 27 years serving the faithful of northeastern Pennsylvania with a humble heart and deep devotion to God.

“I love northeast Pennsylvania. I grew up here. I know every nook and cranny and have been through every aspect of its natural beauty and all the other aspects of Church life,” he added. “I’ve loved every minute of it, even in the difficult times.”

HEARING GOD’S CALL

When he was a teenager, Bishop-elect Walsh freely admits he wanted to become a truck driver, not a diocesan priest. It wasn’t until attending a weekend retreat while attending The University of Scranton that he began delving deeper into his faith.

“I found myself at a place where I wanted to learn more and I saw my peers interacting with faith at a deeper level,” Bishop-elect Walsh said.

Walsh grew up in an Irish Catholic household in Scranton. The church played an important role in his life.

“I understood the proper place that the Church played in our lives, going to Mass every Sunday, going to CCD during the weekdays, serving as an altar boy and then just trying to be a good person, knowing that my parents and grandparents were good role models. They were involved in civic organizations, they worked hard. They had disciple in the home,” he said.

After graduating from college, Bishop-elect Walsh said three things came together in an unexpected way which led to him joining the seminary. He admits he wasn’t happy in the job that he had, a relationship he was in during college ended and the death of his grandmother showed him that a priest does a lot more than just celebrate Mass.

“When my grandmother died unexpectedly, a young priest came to visit her in the hospital and when I saw what he did there, that fleshed out for me what a priest does … he brings comfort and peace and prays with people and (he) brought us a great sense of relief during that very difficult time,” he explained. “As I started praying about it and thinking ‘What is God saying to me through these things,’ the option of entering into the seminary became one of those realities.”

SERVING AND INSPIRING YOUNG ADULTS

During his 27 years as a priest, Bishop-elect Walsh has held many administrative and pastoral responsibilities, but he says spending time with young adults has been among the most important.

“I looked at those experiences of being with young people as a way to, first of all, draw them into a faith that I saw myself lacking and then finding, and I wanted to be a part of them finding it too because I thought it was exciting to experience that,” he explained.

Bishop-elect Walsh has been involved with more than 20 mission trips – some as far away as Thailand – and has traveled to multiple World Youth Days.

“I draw energy and strength and joy and love from being around young people,” Bishop-elect Walsh explained, emphasizing the love that many young adults show for Mass, adoration, confession and faith sharing groups. “I hope until the day I die I enjoy the company of young people just because of the mutual benefit I think it has.”

USING HIS GIFTS TO BUILD GOD’S KINGDOM

When he is not fulfilling his priestly responsibilities, Bishop-elect Walsh can often be found outdoors. He has often used his love of nature to help whatever parish he has been assigned to.

“It started with running the Steamtown Marathon. I was at Saint Mary of the Lake in Lake Winola and we needed a new rug. I thought, myself I could get people to sponsor me by the mile. I would run the race and see what happens. We called it the ‘Run for the Rug,’” he explained.

That began multiple opportunities to tie together physical exercise and parish fundraising. He subsequently biked from Maryland to Tunkhannock to raise money for windows in a parish hall, and swam the four mile perimeter of Lake Winola to raise money for a new entranceway for his church.

During his most recent pastoral assignment, Bishop-elect Walsh raised $20,000 to renovate the steeple at Saint Rose of Lima Parish in Carbondale by walking the route of the Steamtown Marathon.

“I’ve always loved exercise and I love being active and I thought if I can marry that with opportunities for fundraising for a parish, it’s been successful so I’m grateful for that,” Bishop-elect Walsh said.

SAM, A CONSTANT COMPANION

Nearly everywhere Father Walsh has gone for more than a decade, his beloved dog, Sam, has been by his side. Sam will, of course, move to Gaylord as part of the episcopal transition.

“I can read his mind. He can read my mind,” Bishop-elect Walsh admits.

Sam came into Father Walsh’s life on Sept. 11, 2010.

“I was looking for a dog and I found a rescue organization that was bringing puppies up from Tuscaloosa, Ala., from a kill shelter and it was a match made in heaven,” he added. “I named him Sam because it was the anniversary of 9/11 and I wanted to think of something patriotic to call him so I thought of Uncle Sam and that’s how he got the name Sam.”

With every assignment, Sam has been an ambassador for the church in his own rite. Immediately after learning of his episcopal appointment, when Bishop-elect Walsh couldn’t tell anyone, Sam also became his owner’s trusted confidant.

“Sam was my great comfort for those days when my mind was reeling over all the changes and responsibilities that were coming,” he said.

PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE

As he prepares to assume responsibility for the 21 most northern counties of Michigan’s lower peninsula, and the 44,000 Catholics in the Diocese of Gaylord, Bishop-elect feels confident in his abilities because of his priestly experiences in the Diocese of Scranton.

“They’ve given me a good, broad vision of Church and what typically happens in the life of a local church, at the parish level and diocesan level. I’ve been tremendously inspired and edified by so many in the Diocese of Scranton,” the future bishop said.

When asked about his vision for the future, he answers simply, that it is the “vision of the Gospel.”

“To be Church in a way that we see and read about in the Scriptures,” he explained. “To me, what I keep going back to in prayer, is a sense of the early Church and needing to be able to live the life of the Church with that original sense of excitement and challenge of the Gospel.”

While admitting there is sadness in saying goodbye, Bishop-elect Walsh gives gratitude to God for each person he has gotten to know, home he has gotten to visit and parish he has gotten to serve.

“I am very, very blessed,” he said.

Bishop-elect Jeffrey J. Walsh and his parents, Jerome and Nancy Walsh, reflect on his 27 years as a Diocese of Scranton priest on Jan. 25, 2022, inside his parents home in Scranton. (Photo/Ed Koons)

 

SCRANTON – Both Jerome and Nancy Walsh had the same reaction when their son, Bishop-elect Jeffrey J. Walsh, broke the news over a tray of pizza that Pope Francis had appointed him to be the Sixth Bishop of the Diocese of Gaylord.

“I was shocked that night. We’re still in shock. I just can’t believe it’s real but it is. We’re sort of adjusting to it. The more it sinks in, the more it is real,” Jerome Walsh said.

“It is just overwhelming and very humbling,” Nancy Walsh added. “We’re very thankful.”

The road to the episcopacy emanates from the path to the priesthood. Since his appointment became public in late December, Bishop-elect Walsh has consistently cited his parents and grandparents as the most significant formators in his life.

“I never thought he’d become a bishop,” his mother said with a laugh and a smile. “I was very happy to be the mother of a priest.”

The closeness between Bishop-elect Walsh and his parents is easy to see as The Catholic Light recently joined them around the kitchen table inside Walsh’s childhood home in Scranton. It is a home filled with love, faith and plenty of family photographs.

Childhood memories flow as easy as water.

Father Walsh and his parents celebrate one of his many priestly milestones together, his tenth anniversary to the priesthood, in 2004.

“Growing up, he was a very adventurous boy. He was a typical boy with sports. Whatever ‘ball’ was in season was in that corner. We’re only a block away from the park so he’d be bouncing the basketball all the way from the park. You’d know he was coming. He loved baseball. He was a very good pitcher for the little league. He was a racquetball player, baseball, football, whatever was in season,” his mother recalled.

With his maternal grandparents living only a block away, the church was a big part of this Irish Catholic family’s life. Growing up, Bishop-elect Walsh served as an altar server and always helped at the parish picnic.

“Jeff served up until the time he was a teenager at North Scranton. I think it was sixth grade and he served so many funerals. He’d be a little late for school, about a half hour, and Monsignor would always give him a little excuse. One day the teacher said, ‘I don’t know, isn’t there anybody else, he’s late so much because he’s serving so many funerals,’” his mother added. “Monsignor saw something in him and he told me later on, when Jeff did go into the seminary. He said, ‘I think he has a vocation.’”

Since becoming a priest 27 years ago, Bishop-elect Walsh’s parents have watched their son take on numerous responsibilities in the Diocese of Scranton. They believe God has given him the gifts and talents needed to succeed in any assignment he was given.

“I think he understands people more than a regular person. He can almost feel what they’re feeling. He’s very sincere. He’s always been like that. He’s interested in you and I think it really shows,” his father said.

“I was always amazed that no matter where he was assigned, he fit right in,” his mother added. “We’ve had a wonderful 27 years of his priesthood. We’ve been to every parish. We loved going to his Masses. We’ve met wonderful people, different parishioners from every parish, going to fundraisers and dinners. We have really had a wonderful 27 years.”

With their strong foundation of faith, Bishop-elect Walsh’s parents say it is an honor that their son is becoming a bishop.

“People say to me, he’s always smiling even though he doesn’t even know he’s smiling. That is the truth. He always has a little smile on his face when he’s saying Mass, even though he’s serious, there is a little smile there. He’s just happy doing what he is doing. Different people will say he’s really found his niche and I think he did,” Nancy explained.

During all of his priestly assignments, Bishop-elect has never been more than an hour away from his parents. On his days off, he could often be seen shoveling their driveway or mowing their grass. With his new appointment taking him more than 12 hours away from his childhood home, his parents are preparing to adjust.

“He will be missed here…we’re going to have to adjust,” his father said. “I think he’ll do a good job. He’s got the background now and hopefully, God willing, he’ll do a good job. It’s a big challenge for him. He’s very adventurous so I think he’ll be anxious to see what is out there!”

Surrounded by many of his brother priests, Father Jeffrey J. Walsh, center, celebrates his first Mass after his ordination at Saint Vincent de Paul Church in Scranton on June 26, 1994. Father Eugene Gunning, pastor, and Msgr. Kenneth Roeltgen, rector of Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, were among those who served as concelebrants.

SCRANTON – As Bishop-elect Jeffrey J. Walsh prepares to leave the Diocese of Scranton to minister to the faithful in the Diocese of Gaylord, his brother priests, many who have served alongside him for 27 years are reflecting on his many gifts and talents.

“Father Walsh is truly a servant leader. He understands that to serve is to lead and to lead is to serve and he will do it well,” Monsignor Joseph G. Quinn, pastor, Saint John Neumann Parish and Saint Paul of the Cross Parish, said.

“He’s a very gifted priest and there’s a quality of holiness that is really significant in his life and that permeates when he has conversations with people,” Father Thomas M. Muldowney, pastor, Saint Catherine of Siena Parish, said.

Monsignor William J. Feldcamp knew Jeffrey Walsh and his family long before he decided to become a priest. When Father Walsh was ordained in 1994, his first assignment was to serve along Monsignor Feldcamp as assistant pastor at Saint Rose of Lima Parish in Carbondale.

Even as a young priest, Msgr. Feldcamp recognized the abilities of his young assistant.

“I would say the biggest thing that stood out was the fact that he was very energized by serving people. He loved to go visit the hospitals. He loved to go and do communion calls, to visit the sick. Anytime there was any kind of social need with the poor or needy, he was right on deck to help,” Msgr. Feldcamp recalled.

Feldcamp believes Bishop-elect Walsh can best be described as a “missionary disciple.”

Father Jeffrey J. Walsh, far left, participates in “Cathedral Capers” with several of his brother priests in this undated photo. “Cathedral Capers,” a long-running fundraiser started by Msgr. Joseph G. Quinn allowed priests to show off their talents while raising money at the same time.

“He always will put himself out to help other people, to help the church in whatever which way he can. He’ll reach out to go on trips with youth. He’ll help with formation of priests,” he said.

After two years in Carbondale, in 1996, Bishop-elect Walsh became assistant pastor at the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Scranton, where Monsignor Quinn served as rector.

“He was filled with energy and enthusiasm in a wonderful way. He gave such added life to everything at the Cathedral but what I loved most of all was that he was always genuinely prayerful, sincerely humble and really selfless in every way,” Msgr. Quinn explained.

Whether working with youth, running mission trips or assisting with the long-running fundraiser “Cathedral Capers,” Msgr. Quinn said Bishop-elect Walsh always put everything in a positive light.

“I’m still smiling about his recent letter in his own parish bulletin at Saint Rose where he said there are three things he was looking forward to as he heads out to Michigan,” Msgr. Quinn said. “One is meeting a moose, two is seeing the night lights at the Great Lakes and the third is driving a snowmobile. Who else could put it in that context? He’s smiling throughout it all and bravely, selflessly and courageously going forward as a leader needed in today’s church.”

Bishop-elect Walsh has also held a number of administrative positions, including Vicar for Clergy, where he often worked side-by-side with Father Muldowney, who previously served as Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia.

Father Muldowney said his long-time friend is authentic in the way he presents himself, celebrates Mass and has conversations.

“The Diocese of Gaylord is getting a fantastic bishop just because of his priestly zeal, holiness and authentic way of life,” Father Muldowney related. “I know the giftedness that he has and that’s a blessing he’s going to give to the faithful of the Diocese of Gaylord.”

When all three priests were asked to give Bishop-elect words of advice, each said almost the same exact thing.

“Be who you are. That’s the advice that I would give him,” Father Muldowney said. “Who he is, is why the Church called him to be a bishop.”

“Don’t change. Be you. Be the real person that everyone in this diocese has loved with every assignment he’s had. Be the humble, honest human, humorous soul that we all know him to be and he will be equally enlivened and at the service of the Church,” Msgr. Quinn said.

“My words of advice would be to be yourself,” Msgr. Feldcamp added. “Because you have all the qualities needed to be a successful bishop. You’re a blessing for the Church and I’m sure everybody in northeastern Pennsylvania is very proud of you. Our prayers go with you and don’t be a stranger. When you come back, let us see you and let us know how you’re doing!”

Joe Mahoney

SCRANTON – The Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, has announced that Joe Mahoney has been named Diocesan Secretary for Catholic Human Services and Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Social Services. Mahoney began his new position on Jan. 31, 2022, and this marks the fourth Catholic Social Services agency for which he has worked.

Mahoney joins the Diocese after most recently serving as Chief Operating Officer of the Pueblo Housing Authority in Colorado. Prior to that position, Mahoney spent ten years as the Executive Director of Catholic Charities of Pueblo. During his tenure, Mahoney focused on early childhood education, homelessness prevention, workforce readiness and immigration services. From 2011 to 2014, Mahoney was also elected to serve on the Executive Committee of the Catholic Charities Council of Diocesan Directors.

Mahoney has a Master’s degree in Nonprofit Management from Regis University. Before joining Catholic Charities of Pueblo, he spent two years coordinating disaster response operations for Catholic Charities USA in Alexandria, Va., and two additional years working as Program Director for Katrina Aid Today with Catholic Charities of New Orleans following the devastation done by Hurricane Katrina.

“I am pleased to welcome Joe Mahoney to our Diocesan family as the new Diocesan Secretary for Catholic Human Services and Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Social Services. Joe has a passion for helping others and is dedicated to community engagement, all of which is underpinned by his strong ministry to the Catholic faith,” Bishop Bambera said. “Joe’s vision, experience and leadership capabilities will help us to continue serving individuals and families in need and grow our presence across northeastern and north central Pennsylvania.”

“It is an honor and privilege to take on this new position. I am excited and enthusiastic to begin working with our boards, staff and many volunteers to provide help and create hope for those in need in our Diocese,” Joe Mahoney said.

As Diocesan Secretary for Catholic Human Services and Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Social Services, Mahoney is responsible for providing leadership, administration and oversight of all programs operated by Catholic Human Services and Catholic Social Services. He will also oversee the fundraising efforts and community outreach to ensure the organization is meeting the vision, mission and values of the Diocese.

For nearly 100 years, the mission of Catholic Social Services of the Diocese of Scranton has been to serve individuals and families in poverty and hardship, as we are called by Christ to do, and to respond compassionately to their needs. The agency provides assistance to tens-of-thousands of men, women and children on an annual basis. To learn more about the food assistance, housing, shelter, relief, pregnancy and maternal health, children and youth programs, or immigration assistance programs provided, visit: dioceseofscranton.org/css/catholic-social-services.

Mahoney is a former Marine Corps Officer and is married to Nhung Mahoney.

Mary Hallman

SCRANTON – The Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, has announced that Mary Hallman has been named Diocesan Secretary for Parish Life. Hallman was selected from a number of highly qualified candidates following an extensive nationwide search process. She began her new position on Jan. 3, 2022.

Hallman joins the Diocese after most recently serving as Director of Evangelization in the Diocese of Syracuse for eight years. In that position, she worked closely with both clergy and lay leaders, forming relationships and building trust, in an effort to create vibrant parishes and form disciples of Jesus Christ. Through her experiences in that position, Hallman is keenly aware of the many obstacles that parishes face and has been successful in collaboratively implementing innovative solutions.

Prior to her work at the diocesan level, Hallman also served for five years in parish ministry as Director of Evangelization & Catechesis at Saint Charles/Saint Ann Parish in Syracuse. During that time, she assisted in implementing a parish strategy for conversion and discipleship that was inclusive of adults, children and youth.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of California, Irvine, and a master’s degree in theology from Augustine Institute in Denver, Colo.

“Mary’s skills and qualifications will be a tremendous asset to the Office for Parish Life and all of our parishes, especially as we continue our long-range pastoral planning process in the Diocese of Scranton,” Bishop Bambera said. “She shares the Diocese of Scranton’s mission of calling all the baptized to imitate the servant leadership of Jesus and to enter into a personal relationship with Him.”

“In my short time in the Diocese of Scranton, I have come to know so many people who are committed to building a more vibrant Church that meets the needs of the poor and the disenfranchised. God is already at work,” Hallman said. “I believe God has provided us with everything we need; our challenge is to intentionally call forth the gifts and talents of the laity so each person recognizes their particular role in the missionary work of our parishes. The future depends on our willingness to surrender our lives to Christ and live distinctively, in a way that is attractive to those who are far from the Church. We are all called to grow as disciples.”

As Diocesan Secretary for Parish Life, Hallman is responsible for overseeing the Office for Parish Life and its team, as well as regularly interacting with Regional Episcopal Vicars, Deans, Pastors, Priests, Parish Life Coordinators and Deacons regarding diocesan initiatives and services related to parish vitality. She will also play a key role in the Vision 2030 Blueprint Process, which is the long-range pastoral planning process for the Diocese of Scranton.

While looking proactively at the realities of our local church in the present moment, Vision 2030 strives to meet the opportunities and challenges of the coming decade in order to create vibrant expressions of parish life rooted in the life of Jesus Christ.

“The collaborative style of Bishop Bambera and his leadership team is what brought me to the Diocese of Scranton. Like most dioceses, especially during COVID, we have challenges, but we are able to see them together and share our hopes and dreams. It’s an exciting time, with lots of opportunities! I’m hoping the experiences of my life – as a Catholic school student, a college student involved in campus ministry, a youth ministry coordinator, Director of Faith Formation for linked parishes, and diocesan Director of Evangelization – allow me to contribute from a variety of perspectives. With the great team in place in the Office for Parish Life, we look forward to supporting parishes through the Vision 2030 process and beyond,” Hallman added.

Hallman welcomes the opportunity to network and collaborate with clergy and parish staffs. She can be reached in the Office for Parish Life at (570) 207-2213.