EAST STROUDSBURG – April 8, 2023, is a day that Ellen Gomez of Bushkill will never forget.

With her family and friends looking on, the 57-year-old was baptized at the Church of Saint John in East Stroudsburg during the Easter Vigil Mass.

“I just feel good. I just feel like a new person,” Gomez told The Catholic Light.

Gomez grew up in the Bronx with her parents and five siblings before moving to the Poconos in 1995. While she attended church at a young age, Gomez said she never received the Sacrament of Baptism and always felt like something was missing in her life.

“I felt like I needed that blessing. I needed something. I never felt fully included,” she said.

After calling the Church of Saint John last year, staff members, including the parish deacon, made special accommodations to make sure Gomez could successfully complete RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) classes.

Because of generous gifts to the Diocesan Annual Appeal each year, the Diocesan Office for Parish Life is able to provide support and resources for parishes that have people participating in the RCIA Program.

As the 2023 Diocesan Annual Appeal launches in parishes this month, Ellen Gomez is just one of thousands of people who have benefitted from the generosity of parishioners in the past.

The Diocesan Annual Appeal funds the good works and ministries of our local Church that are outside the scope of any one individual parish.

By donating to the Diocesan Annual Appeal, you are helping to pay for the education and formation of seminarians and assisting with the living expenses of retired priests who have faithfully served the Diocese for decades. Your gifts also support the life-changing spiritual encounters organized by the Office for Parish Life.

When you give generously to the Diocesan Annual Appeal, you enable the Church to strengthen the bonds of unity between us and respond to the needs of our community not only in the Name of Jesus, but as members of His Body.

Because no one can fulfill Christ’s mission alone, together, we can form children in faith, bring the mercy of God to those who suffer the lack of basic needs through the work of Catholic Social Services and bring the presence of Jesus and the power of God’s transforming grace to all through Catholic communication efforts.

The Diocesan Annual Appeal is the Diocese of Scranton’s single most important fundraising initiative and we need the support of all parishioners to be successful. Poverty, hunger and homelessness remain serious challenges in our community. Money raised from the Appeal helps our brothers and sisters in need, in addition to funding vocation efforts, Catholic education and parish life programs.

This year, a renewed focus is being placed on the percentage of parishioners from each parish who donate to the Appeal.

Gifts of any amount are welcome and will help us collectively reach our goal of $4.5 million.

The Appeal’s theme, “Our Call to Serve” aligns with the spirit of creating communities rooted in the life of Jesus Christ. Each of us is called to become the loving, compassionate Christ that fed the hungry.

Diocesan ministries supported by gifts to the Diocesan Annual Appeal include Catholic Social Services; parish social justice and faith formation programs; Catholic education in our 19 Catholic schools; care for our current and retired priests and support for seminarians preparing for the priesthood, parish life and pastoral planning efforts; and communication programs such as The Catholic Light and Catholic Television.

We invite all parishioners to visit our new website for Appeal at annualappeal.org. The new website helps to highlight the number of individuals and families served in a new way. You can watch several videos of what your gifts help support and you can make a secure donation online.

This year, parishes around the Diocese will launch the Diocesan Annual Appeal on the weekend of Sept. 23-24 by asking parishioners to commit to a pledge to this year’s campaign. Every dollar donated to the Appeal will support the intended ministries and cannot be used for any other purpose.

In advance of celebration weekend for the Diocesan Annual Appeal, we are asking all people to pray and discern how they can best support this year’s effort and to become familiar with the impact it has in all of the parishes across our diocese.

Anyone interested in making a gift to the Diocesan Annual Appeal can visit annualappeal.org to give online or call the Diocesan Development Office at (570) 207-2250.

SCRANTON — Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, was recently informed that His Holiness Pope Francis has named Reverend Shane L. Kirby, a priest of the Diocese of Scranton, a Chaplain to His Holiness, which bestows upon the priest the title of Monsignor and the privilege of being an honorary member of the Papal Household.

Monsignor Shane L. Kirby

A native of Waynesburg in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, Monsignor Kirby was ordained for the Scranton Diocese in 2004 in the Cathedral of Saint Peter. Since November 2017, he has served in the Dicastery for the Clergy at the Vatican in Rome, Italy.

Originally appointed as an official of the Congregation of the Clergy, Monsignor Kirby currently serves as coordinator for the Clergy and Administration Offices within the Dicastery. Additionally, the newly elevated Monsignor is the coordinator of the Program for the Newly Ordained at Casa Santa Maria, a graduate house for student priests at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.

At the time of his appointment for Vatican service, Monsignor Kirby was serving as Chancellor and Episcopal Vicar for Canonical Affairs for the Diocese of Scranton, as well as pastor of Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Parish in Jermyn.

HARRISBURG – The third annual PA March for Life will take place on Monday, Oct. 16, 2023, outside the Capitol building in Harrisburg. Both the House and Senate will be in session that day, which will allow the pro-life community to come from every corner of the Commonwealth to have their voices heard.

The PA March for Life is an opportunity to celebrate the beauty of life, advocate for a Commonwealth where every single life is cherished from the moment of conception to natural death and mourn the tragedy of abortion.

After a wave of pro-life legislation across other states, now is a great time to continue the momentum and show our state lawmakers support for protecting the sanctity of life in Pennsylvania.

The schedule of events for Oct. 16 include a Mass at Saint Patrick Cathedral in Harrisburg at 9:30 a.m. At 10 a.m., a Prayer and Praise Pre-Rally will take place on the main stage at the front steps of the Capitol. At 11 a.m., the main rally will take place followed by the noon March around the Capitol. At 1:30 p.m., another Mass will be celebrated at the Cathedral of Saint Patrick.

The speakers announced for the PA March for Life Rally include:

• Dawn Fitzpatrick, who is the Executive Director of the March for Life organization and a former Respect Life Director at the Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago.

• David Bereit, founder of 40 Days for Life. 40 Days for Life helps communities lead prayer vigils outside of abortion facilities as a witness to the tragedy of abortion. David’s work has mobilized 750,000 volunteers in over 700 cities around the world.

• Dr. Kendra Kolb, a Pennsylvania neonatologist and pro-life advocate. She works with newborn and prematurely-born babies, and is a member of the Perinatal Palliative Care Committee, which provides compassionate medical care for babies with life-limiting diagnoses.

• Bishop Timothy Senior, Bishop of the Diocese of Harrisburg. Bishop Senior is a classically-trained pianist and he holds a Master’s in social work and a Master’s in business administration.

• Dr. Don Immel, superintendent of the PennDel Ministry Network with the Assemblies of God. Dr. Immel has been working in ministry as a youth pastor, a pastoral counselor, and a lead pastor since 1982.

• Pastors Jay and Tiffany Gilbert, founders of Voices for the Unborn pregnancy center in the City of Pittsburgh. Jay is senior pastor at Another Level Ministries, where Tiffany works alongside him, and leaders at Another Level Bible Institute.

All are welcome to attend the PA March for Life and no advanced registration is required. For more information on marchforlife.org/Pennsylvania-march-for-life.

The Diocese of Scranton is sponsoring a bus to the PA March for Life in Harrisburg. High school students, college students and families are welcome to join us. The cost of the trip is $30 per adult/$25 per student and includes charter bus and driver gratuity. Passenger pick-up in Scranton is at 7:45 a.m. The bus will depart Harrisburg at 2:45 p.m. following the conclusion of the 1:30 p.m. Mass at Saint Patrick Cathedral. For more information or to register, contact Shannon Kowalski at SKowalski@dioceseofscranton.org or call (570) 207-2213, x1155.

Another bus trip to the PA March for Life will originate from the Wilkes-Barre area. For more information, contact Chris Calore at (570) 824-5621.

The VOICE of JOHN, in conjunction with Pennsylvanians for Human Life in Hazleton, will host a bus trip that leaves from Saint John Bosco Church in Conyngham after the 8 a.m. Mass. It will return at approximately 4:30 p.m. Cost is $40 per adult/$25 per student. To reserve a seat, contact Carol Matz at (570) 956-0817 or Maryann Lawhon at (570) 788-5646.

 

OLD FORGE – Just one week after La Festa Italiana brought thousands of people to downtown Scranton to celebrate their Italian heritage, the Felittese Festival did the same thing for Old Forge.

Despite rainy weather on Saturday night, many people still attended the annual three-day celebration in honor of Our Lady of Constantinople.

Rev. Samuel Ferretti, Bishop Joseph C. Bambera and Rev. Gus Ricciardi participate in a procession in Old Forge in honor of Our Lady of Constantinople on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023.

“It has been a tradition in Old Forge for years. It is a way for families, the parish and the community to come together to express their faith,” Father Gus Riccardi, pastor, Prince of Peace Parish, said.

The Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, celebrated the 10 a.m. Feast Day Mass at Saint Mary’s Church, on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023.

During his homily, he touched on the importance of relationships as a way to experience God and live out our faith.

“If you want to encounter God, look at the lives that God has placed in your own,” Bishop Bambera said. “In your relationships and in your ability to live in peace with one another and to serve one another, you will encounter God.”

Following Mass, the bishop participated in a procession of the statute of Our Lady of Constantinople that began at Saint Mary’s Church and ended at the Felittese chapel grounds on Third Street.

“The history of this Italian festival started when our ancestors came over from Filetto, Italy, in the early 1900s/late 1800s, and they formed a community here in Old Forge,” Jeff Casella, Felittese Association Chairman, explained. “They brought their faith and traditions with them.”

Joanna Reviello has been participating in the Felittese Festival for decades and has worked to ensure that children participate in the Mass and procession.

“Twenty-five years ago, I began having our children lay the flower before the Blessed Mother and ask for continued family blessings. I wanted to teach them that tradition,” she explained. “When our ancestors left Filetto and came across the ocean and settled here in Old Forge, they wanted to bring their tradition and their faith with them. They attributed all of their family blessings to Our Blessed Mother!”

AVOCA – Faithful from parishes around the Diocese of Scranton came together Sept. 7 to share the message of Our Lady of Guadalupe and pray in an intentional way for the unborn.

Queen of the Apostles Parish in Avoca hosted a Silver Rose program put together by the Knights of Columbus to promote a greater understanding for the dignity of all human life.

A single, silver rose sits next to the altar at Queen of the Apostles Parish in Avoca on Sept. 7, 2023. The parish hosted a Silver Rose program put together by the Knights of Columbus to share the message of Our Lady of Guadalupe and promote a greater understanding for the dignity of all human life. (Courtesy: CTV)

The daylong celebration began with the celebration of Mass at 8 a.m., followed by Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament all afternoon. The day concluded with a special Holy Hour at 7 p.m.

“The Knights of Columbus, who are very dedicated to life, are united around this and continue to find their unity as they honor the Mother of God,” Rev. Phil Sladicka, pastor, Queen of the Apostles Parish, said. “We want to defend the child in the womb. We want to respect that life.”

The Silver Rose program demonstrates the unity between Knights of Columbus in Canada, the United States and Mexico. Each year, from early March through mid-December, six silver roses are stewarded by Knights of Columbus councils along routes from Canada to Mexico. Every stop that each silver rose makes is an opportunity for a rosary-centered occasion for people to pray for respecting life.

“I believe in the power of prayer,” Arthur Philipp, Jr., of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Throop, said. “The world is attacking life right now from all over and I believe a lot of people forget about the spiritual aspects of the world around us. I think it’s important that we gather together and pray for Our Blessed Mother and for all those who are suffering and those who have gone through and had abortions.”

Phil Rodney, a member of Knights of Columbus Cardinal John J. O’Connor Council 12967, said every Knights Council meeting opens with the Rosary in defense against abortion.

“It is a true honor to have the Silver Rose here today,” Rodney said. “Our Lady of Guadalupe is the patron saint for life. Life is sacred no matter whether it’s in the womb or on someone’s deathbed.”

Many who attended the Holy Hour called the experience “moving.”

“I truly believe, with the Grace of God, that events like this are held to evangelize to the world the sanctity of life through Our Lady, through Our Lord and Saint Joseph,” Thomas Gilchrist of Avoca said.

“The sanctity of life is very precious and by the Grace of God, and by the Grace of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Our Blessed Mother, maybe people will understand that,” Barb Gregorio of Scranton added. “It was a beautiful service.”

“Coming together with other people really strengthens me,” Chris Shuleski of Duryea said. “It gives me a lot of joy to be with my brothers and sisters and the Lord.”

Even though the Silver Rose was only in Avoca for one day, it helped many vocalize their respect for life for the unborn.

“It’s not enough to keep our beliefs to ourselves. We have to show and tell other people what they are and in so doing, we become strengthened in our faith and our beliefs,” Nancy Adomiak of Avoca said.

SCRANTON – Calling all teenagers! Are you looking for a highly energetic and engaging opportunity to celebrate the richness of our Catholic faith?

If so, the 2023 Diocese of Scranton Youth Rally is for you!

Students in grades 7-12 are invited to join together on Saturday, Oct. 7 for the Youth Rally which will revolve around the theme, “Be an Original.”

Inspired by our first Millennial Saint, Blessed Carlo Acutis, students will have the opportunity to deepen their faith, make new friends and experience a day of fellowship and fun.

“The goal of the Diocesan Youth Rally is to provide an experience of the Universal Church for the young church of the Diocese of Scranton,” Shannon Kowalski, Diocesan Director of Service and Mission, said. “Many parishes and programs are looking for a way to jump start youth ministry or create excitement in their young people and that is what we are aiming to do.”

The Youth Rally will begin at 10 a.m. at the Diocesan Pastoral Center, 330 Wyoming Avenue, Scranton, and end at approximately 6:30 p.m. following the celebration of Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Peter.

Students will have the opportunity to participate in fun and engaging workshops, experience Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament as well as enjoy praise and worship opportunities with Steve Angrisano, a nationally known Catholic musician and speaker.

“Many of our students and adults know Steve from events such as Steubenville conferences, the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) in Indianapolis and parish missions. Steve has come to our diocese for others events and has always left us with a great experience so we are happy to have him back!” Kowalski explained.
Singer/songwriter Thomas Muglia is also expected to participate in the Diocese of Scranton Youth Rally.

“We are very excited to have Thomas as our house musician. Thomas is a young singer/songwriter from Arizona. His passion for worship and community makes him an excellent addition to our event. He is also a part of the house band for this year’s NCYC,” Kowalski added.

The cost of the full day of events is $20 per student/$25 per adult.

Events like the Diocesan Youth Rally are supported by gifts to the Diocesan Annual Appeal, which fund the work of the Diocesan Office for Parish Life.

“Between the workshops, the live music and the general excitement of gathering together as a community, our intent is to show our young people that the church is grateful for them and welcomes their involvement,” Kowalski said.

For more information or to register for the Diocese of Scranton Youth Rally on Oct. 7, visit dioceseofscranton.org or contact Shannon Kowalski at SKowalski@dioceseofscranton.org.

GREAT BEND – Hundreds of people took to the streets of Susquehanna County this month to celebrate their faith and heritage.

Members of the local Ecuadorian community held a procession throughout Great Bend Sept. 2 with an image of Our Lady of El Cisne, ending with the celebration of Mass at Saint Lawrence Church.

Faithful of the Ecuadorian community hold a procession throughout the streets of Great Bend Sept. 2 with an image of Our Lady of El Cisne, which was later dedicated at Saint Lawrence Church.

“Latin Americans are very devoted to Our Lady. She has been such a role model for our faith,” Jose Flores, Diocesan Coordinator for Hispanic Ministry, explained. “They have a really strong love of God, our faith and to Our Lady of El Cisne.”

During the Mass, an image of Our Lady of El Cisne, which was brought from Ecuador to be permanently placed in the church, was formally dedicated.

Throughout Ecuador, the faithful have figurines, shrines, pendants and other trinkets dedicated to Our Lady of El Cisne.

“Today’s liturgy was very special. It was a long process of more than a year to get the image here and to see it happening is very, very special,” Flores added. “The main purpose was, for the Ecuadorian community, to find a space in the church and this church is welcoming them.”

In addition to the procession and Mass, the Ecuadorian community also celebrated with music, dancing and food outside of the church.

“It is a way for everyone to get together in the community. It’s just exciting for everyone to celebrate,” Ashlee Sanchez, a parishioner of Saint Lawrence Church said. “Our Lady of El Cisne is very special to us. She brings us hope when we need it.”

Rosa Mishell Loja’s father and uncles worked for months to make the celebration a success.

“I’m so excited because while I was here in America, I have never seen anyone doing this for Our Lady of El Cisne. It is our first time and it’s going good so far,” she said.

Melisa Loja Pulla agrees. She reiterated how important it is to honor Our Blessed Mother in this way.

“She is magic for us. She is always there for us. She takes care of us,” Pulla said.

In his role as Diocesan Coordinator for Hispanic Ministry, Flores has helped to grow the Spanish-speaking faith community in Susquehanna County over the last two years. Your gifts to the Diocesan Annual Appeal help the Diocesan Office for Parish Life fund its Hispanic ministry efforts in several different communities.

 

 

 

WILKES-BARRE – Planning for the new, permanent home of Mother Teresa’s Haven, a shelter for homeless men operated by Catholic Social Services of the Diocese of Scranton, is now underway.

On Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023, agency leaders toured the space above Saint Vincent de Paul Kitchen at 39 E. Jackson Street, which will soon be transformed into space that will be available for 20-24 men experiencing homelessness.

Harry Lyons, program director for Mother Teresa’s Haven shelter, center, leads a tour of the second floor of the Saint Vincent de Paul Kitchen building in Wilkes-Barre. This space will soon be transformed into the new, permanent location for the emergency shelter serving men experiencing homelessness. (Photos/Eric Deabill)

“I couldn’t be more excited about being here, seeing the space and getting in,” Harry Lyons, program director for Mother Teresa’s Haven, said. “There is a lot of potential here.”

In late April, the Wilkes-Barre zoning hearing board unanimously approved an application for a special exception to establish the shelter above the Kitchen.

“We have a very supportive community,” Joe Mahoney, Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Social Services, explained. “We met with the mayor. We met with the neighbors and met with King’s College. We have got all of this support but we need to make sure we keep talking to them.”

The second floor space that will be converted into the shelter was most recently occupied by a health clinic. The space, which is currently divided into several exam rooms, will need to be reconfigured to accommodate the needs of the shelter.

“We’re excited about opening up the walls so we can get some line of sight. We’re excited about having adequate bathroom space with showers. We don’t currently have showers or laundry facilities but both are a basic need, a dignity issue,” Lyons said.

For the last several years, Mother Teresa’s Haven has been utilizing space in the basement of Saint Mary’s Church of the Immaculate Conception at 134 S. Washington Street. Prior to that, the shelter had rotated between several churches in Wilkes-Barre.

Catholic Social Services leaders say having a permanent home for the shelter located directly above Saint Vincent de Paul Kitchen will also lead to better coordination of services for our brothers and sisters in need.

“We will be a one-stop shop, hopefully making our clients lives just a little bit easier,” Mahoney said. “Having a permanent home is going to be a big relief to our staff and the people we serve.”

“Mike Cianciotta, who runs Saint Vincent de Paul Kitchen, has been providing meals for us for several years. I work closely with Mike. The Kitchen is an amazing operation and we want people to be able to say that about us. We want that same feeling about what they do at the Kitchen to apply to us,” Lyons added.

The timeline needed for renovations is still being determined so there is no expected completion date. While hoping to get the work done quickly, Lyons says it can’t be rushed.

Your gifts to the Diocesan Annual Appeal each year help to support all of the work done by Catholic Social Services of the Diocese of Scranton.

“This is something we’ve been waiting for a long, long time,” he said. “Ten years ago, on my very first day we started talking about it. This has been a goal forever.”

BALTIMORE, Md. – After a busy summer for many of our Diocesan seminarians – in which several attended World Youth Day in Portugal and two visited the Diocese of Sunyani in Ghana – a new semester of classes has just gotten underway.

Five seminarians are attending classes this fall at Saint Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore. Three are attending Saint Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, one will be studying at Saint Andrew’s College Seminary in S. Orange, N.J., and the final seminarian is serving his pastoral year at Saint Boniface and Saint Lawrence Parishes in Lycoming County.

For more than 200 years, Saint Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore has been supporting the formation of Holy men.

At Saint Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore, Harrison Rapp of Dunmore has just entered his second year studying theology.

Since its founding in 1791, Saint Mary’s Seminary has been supporting the formation of Holy men, including many from the Diocese of Scranton.

“It is really an intentional time to be with God and to just open your heart to the ways in which God wants to lead us,” Rapp said.

At Saint Mary’s Seminary, men begin their day with Morning Prayer as a community. There is also Adoration, Mass during the day and Evening Prayer in addition to academic classes.

Saint Mary’s currently serves 13 dioceses in the United States and Canada but also welcomes men from Africa, China and Vietnam.

“It’s good because you do get to see a lot of different perspectives in the way the church operates in their own respective locations in the United States and abroad,” Rapp added.

Harrison Rapp, a seminarian for the Diocese of Scranton, prays in the chapel of Saint Mary’s Seminary. (Photos/Eric Deabill)

Seminarian Jeremy Barket of Dupont studied theology at Saint Mary’s during the last academic year.

“The whole environment, inside and outside, is very conducive to having a very spiritual and prayerful atmosphere. There are so many times where I’ll just walk around the whole seminary and just pray a rosary,” he said.

Barket describes seminary as a community of men who want to grow closer to Christ.

“We’re normal guys. We just happen to pray a lot,” he said with a smile.

Before being ordained a priest in June, Father Michael Boris spent four years at Saint Mary’s Seminary.

“It was just a wonderful place of prayer and discernment,” Father Boris said.

Father Boris benefited from many mentors and spiritual directors as well as the classes he took.

He knows it is only because of the generous financial support from parishioners that his seminary experience was possible.

“To give somebody an education, to feed somebody, to house somebody, requires money,” Father Boris noted.

Your gifts to the Diocesan Annual Appeal go directly to supporting our future priests who will faithfully lead our parishes in the decades ahead.

The Diocese of Scranton currently has ten highly talented men in priestly formation.

You help pay for their education, helping to form each man intellectually, pastorally and spiritually – so in return – they can share the love of the Gospel with all people.

“You’re investing in us, but you’re also investing in your own diocese and the future of the diocese as well,” Barket said.

“You can really recognize and be grateful for the importance of the gifts that have been given to us, from our housing to our food to our classes. All of that means a great deal,” Rapp added. “I’ve really benefited from my experience here so far. It has been blessed. I love the community life and I do look forward to continuing the journey!”