His Excellency, Bishop Joseph C. Bambera, announces the following appointments:

Reverend David W. Bechtel, to Chaplain, Saint John Neumann High School Williamsport.  Father will remain Pastor, Saint Joseph the Worker Parish, Williamsport, effective February 17, 2025. 

Reverend William D. Corcoran, from Retirement, to Administrator, Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Williamsport, and Saint Luke’s Parish, Jersey Shore, effective February 17, 2025. 

Reverend Bert S. Kozen, V.F., from Pastor, Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Williamsport, and Saint Luke’s Parish, Jersey Shore, to Leave of Absence for Reasons of Health, effective February 17, 2025.

 

Front: Mary Vincent, Ann Mellert and Fr. Stephen Brenyah, Assistant Pastor Back: Marty Gervasi, Alfredo Pisa, Fr. David Cappelloni, Pastor, Rob Williams and Rick Sabato.

Saints Anthony and Rocco and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parishes Holy and Altar and Rosary Societies of Dunmore held their Parish Communion Breakfast on Sunday, February 16th at La Buona Vita.

The day began with 8:30am Mass at St. Anthony of Padua Church. Mass was celebrated by the Reverend David P. Cappelloni, Pastor. Rob Williams, Director of St Francis Kitchen was Principal Speaker. Christian Witness Awards were presented by Father Cappelloni. 

Father Cappelloni presents Mr. Rob Williams the Holy Name Society Award

The Pio Ferrario, Pat Grady and Gene Loughney Award was presented to Rob Williams.  The Bette Riccardo Award was presented to Ann Mellert.  Mrs. Mary Vincent was Toastmaster. 

The breakfast is a yearly tradition of the Holy Name Society in the parish drawing a large attendance. Mr. Alredo Pisa is President of the Holy Name Society. Ms. Marty Gervasi is President of the Altar and Rosary Society.

Father Cappelloni offered invocation and benediction. Rick Sabato was General Chairman.

 

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me” (Matthew 25:35) 

Faith is not just about belief. It is also about action.

As noted in the verse above from Matthew’s Gospel, how we treat others – particularly the most vulnerable in society – is directly linked to our relationship with Christ.

Put simply, when we serve those in need, we are serving Jesus Himself.

This basic principle is put into action every day across northeastern and north central Pennsylvania without a second thought: from young students collecting food for the less fortunate, to community organizations working together to provide nightly shelter to those experiencing homelessness, and parishioners in our parishes visiting the sick and lonely.

As Christians, this verse should also shape how we approach complex societal issues, reminding us to always act with mercy, dignity, and love.

The issue of immigration in the United States is one that often divides us. For some, the conversation revolves around safety, security, and order in our great nation, while for others, it is about compassion and human rights.

As followers of Christ, we must never forget one of the central and basic tenets of our faith: the dignity of every human person. Every person is made in the image and likeness of God – and that inherent dignity cannot be taken away by status or nationality.

From the very beginning of Scripture, God’s command to welcome the stranger is clear. The parents of Jesus had to flee their own land and take refuge in Egypt to save the life of their child.

Likewise, we must see Christ in those who seek refuge among us – whether because of war and widespread violence, religious and ethnic persecution, or human rights abuses. For many of these individuals, the decision to leave their homeland is often born out of desperation – and in the face of these concerns – we all have a responsibility to respond with compassion and understanding.

While the Catholic Church teaches us that individuals and families have the right to migrate, likewise, no country should be unduly burdened by those seeking refuge. To be clear, the United States has the responsibility to secure its borders and keep its citizens safe. Yet, as Pope Francis recently noted in a letter to the Bishops of the United States, “the true common good is promoted when society and government, with creativity and strict respect for the rights of all … welcomes, protects, promotes and integrates the most fragile, unprotected and vulnerable.”

Like many of my brother bishops, I am calling on our political leaders to set aside partisan politics and to fix our broken immigration system. But I pray that they do so in a way that respects Gospel values. Threats of mass deportations and allowing immigration officials to enter churches, schools, and healthcare facilities to conduct arrests, have only led to fear and anxiety for many of our brothers and sisters who live in our neighborhoods, attend our schools, provide useful services throughout our communities and worship with us on a regular basis.

Since its inception, our nation has been built upon the presence of immigrants who have contributed to the well-being and greatness of our land. As such, it is essential that we continue to support proper, legal pathways for immigration, ensuring that those who seek to contribute to society can do so in a manner that honors both their dignity and the lawful order of our communities.

As we pray for a system that honors the dignity of all people, one that is always guided by God’s love and justice, let us all remain hopeful that with faith, dialogue, and a commitment to justice, a solution to the complex challenges of immigration may be addressed in a way that honors the dignity of all.

May Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of the Americas, intercede for us and for our nation, guiding us toward solutions that uphold the dignity of all people and reflect the mercy of Christ.

 

Defendiendo la Dignidad de Todos- Un Mensaje sobre la Inmigración del Muy Reverendo Joseph C. Bambera, Obispo de Scranton 

 

“Porque tuve hambre, y me diste de comer; tuve sed, y me diste de beber; era forastero, y me acogiste” (Mateo 25:35) 

La fe no es solo cuestión de creencias. También se trata de acción.

Como se señala en el versículo anterior del Evangelio de Mateo, cómo tratamos a los demás – particularmente a los más vulnerables en la sociedad – está directamente vinculado a nuestra relación con Cristo.

En pocas palabras, cuando servimos a los necesitados, estamos sirviendo al propio Jesús.

Este principio básico se pone en acción todos los días en el noreste y centro-norte de Pensilvania, sin pensarlo dos veces: desde los estudiantes más jóvenes recolectando alimentos para los menos afortunados, hasta las organizaciones comunitarias que trabajan juntas para proporcionar refugio nocturno a quienes experimentan la falta de vivienda, y los feligreses de nuestras parroquias visitando a los enfermos y solitarios.

Como cristianos, este versículo también debe moldear nuestra forma de abordar los complejos problemas sociales, recordándonos actuar siempre con misericordia, dignidad y amor.

El tema de la inmigración en los Estados Unidos es uno que a menudo nos divide. Para algunos, la conversación gira en torno a la seguridad, el orden y la protección en nuestra gran nación, mientras que para otros, se trata de compasión y derechos humanos.

Como seguidores de Cristo, nunca debemos olvidar uno de los principios centrales y básicos de nuestra fe: la dignidad de toda persona humana. Cada persona está hecha a imagen y semejanza de Dios, y esa dignidad inherente no puede ser arrebatada por el estatus o la nacionalidad.

Desde el principio de las Escrituras, el mandato de Dios de acoger al extranjero es claro. Los padres de Jesús tuvieron que huir de su tierra y refugiarse en Egipto para salvar la vida de su hijo.

De igual manera, debemos ver a Cristo en aquellos que buscan refugio entre nosotros – ya sea por la guerra y la violencia generalizada, la persecución religiosa y étnica, o las violaciones a los derechos humanos. Para muchos de estos individuos, la decisión de abandonar su tierra natal nace a menudo de la desesperación, y ante estas preocupaciones, todos tenemos la responsabilidad de responder con compasión y comprensión.

Mientras que la Iglesia Católica nos enseña que los individuos y las familias tienen el derecho a migrar, igualmente, ningún país debe ser excesivamente cargado por aquellos que buscan refugio. Para ser claros, los Estados Unidos tienen la responsabilidad de asegurar sus fronteras y mantener a salvo a sus ciudadanos. Sin embargo, como el Papa Francisco señaló recientemente en una carta a los obispos de los Estados Unidos, “el verdadero bien común se promueve cuando la sociedad y el gobierno, con creatividad y un estricto respeto por los derechos de todos… acogen, protegen, promueven e integran a los más frágiles, desprotegidos y vulnerables.”

Como muchos de mis hermanos obispos, hago un llamado a nuestros líderes políticos para que dejen de lado la política partidista y arreglen nuestro sistema de inmigración roto. Pero rezo para que lo hagan de una manera que respete los valores del Evangelio. Las amenazas de deportaciones masivas y permitir que los funcionarios de inmigración entren en iglesias,

escuelas y centros de salud para realizar arrestos, solo han generado miedo y ansiedad en muchos de nuestros hermanos y hermanas que viven en nuestros vecindarios, asisten a nuestras escuelas, brindan servicios útiles a lo largo de nuestras comunidades y adoran con nosotros de manera regular.

Desde su inicio, nuestra nación ha sido construida sobre la presencia de inmigrantes que han contribuido al bienestar y la grandeza de nuestra tierra. Por lo tanto, es esencial que sigamos apoyando caminos legales y adecuados para la inmigración, asegurando que aquellos que buscan contribuir a la sociedad puedan hacerlo de una manera que honre tanto su dignidad como el orden legal de nuestras comunidades.

Mientras oramos por un sistema que honre la dignidad de todas las personas, uno que siempre esté guiado por el amor y la justicia de Dios, sigamos teniendo esperanza de que, con fe, diálogo y un compromiso con la justicia, se pueda abordar la solución a los complejos desafíos de la inmigración de una manera que honre la dignidad de todos.

Que Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, patrona de las Américas, interceda por nosotros y por nuestra nación, guiándonos hacia soluciones que defiendan la dignidad de todas las personas y reflejen la misericordia de Cristo.

 

The annual Friday Lenten Buffets at St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish in Pocono Pines are scheduled to begin on Friday, March 7, from 4 – 6 p.m.  All three buffets will include a variety of meatless dishes for your dining pleasure.  Our first dinner will offer a garden salad, a choice of two soups, and many delicious entrées and side dishes, including, but not limited to, fish, stuffed shells, macaroni and cheese, halushki, baked ziti, veggie penne, pierogi casserole, spinach lasagna, Mexican casserole, penne with vodka sauce, plus steamed and roasted vegetables. There will be several gluten-free offerings as well.  The buffet includes rolls, hot and cold beverages and a visit to St. Max’s famous dessert table.  Our menu is subject to change and all menu items will be available while supplies last. Enjoy a delicious array of food at the low price of $14 per person with a discount to our Senior citizens (65+) whose meal price will be $12.  Reservations are not needed. You are welcome to dine in or take out.

All meals will be held downstairs in Our Lady of the Lake Hall, which is handicap accessible.  Additional buffets are planned for Friday, March 21st and Friday, April 4th.  In the event of snow or hazardous road conditions, a dinner will be postponed and rescheduled for Friday, April 11th.

For many years, the Social Concerns Committee of St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish has held three dinners during the Lenten season. Since the committee does not use any parish funds, they are dependent on the generosity of St. Max parishioners, the community, and the proceeds of these dinners – their only fundraisers – to support their many outreach endeavors. 

The committee, guided by the Corporal Works of Mercy, is actively involved in programs benefiting both the parish and the surrounding community.  They have served the community at large by supporting the following agencies with their time, talent and treasure: Family Promise of the Poconos, Shepherd’s Maternity House, Pregnancy Resource Center of the Poconos, Nurse-Family Partnership, Safe Monroe (formerly Women’s Resources), Meals on Wheels, and the Top of the Mountain Ecumenical Council Food Pantry.  In 2024, the committee donated funds to the Sunyani Diocese, Ghana, to help drill a well in an area of need and donated to the American Red Cross for disaster relief after Hurricane Helene.  They offer monetary gifts to parish families in need during the holidays and host Bereavement luncheons for parishioners and their guests.  In addition, the committee hosts three free Community Dinners each year. These dinners are offered regardless of need and warmly welcome all to share a meal and enjoy a time of fellowship. 

St. Maximilian Kolbe is located at 5112 Pocono Crest Rd., Pocono Pines, near the intersection of Routes 940 and 423.  For additional information, please call 570-646-6424 or visit the parish website www.stmaxkolbepoconos.org.

 

 

The Knights of Columbus John Paul II Council 13935 and St. Joseph’s Parish welcomed scouts from the Hudson Delaware Council for a special Scout Mass in honor of the 115th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. The Mass, held at St. Joseph’s Church, was a tribute to the values of leadership, service, and faith that Scouting fosters in young people.

During his homily, Fr. Joseph Manurchuck reflected on the Scout Oath as a representation of Christian virtues, emphasizing the commitment to duty, honor, and service to God and others. He encouraged the scouts to live out these principles in their daily lives, mirroring the Gospel call to discipleship.

Following the Mass, the Knights of Columbus hosted a pancake breakfast for the scouts and their families, fostering fellowship and community spirit. The breakfast was part of a fundraising effort conducted in partnership with Ben’s Fresh of Port Jervis, further supporting the mission of the Knights and local Scouting initiatives.

“We are honored to support the next generation of leaders through this event,” said Joseph Saski, Grand Knight of Council 13935. “Scouting instills values that align closely with our Catholic faith, and we are proud to celebrate this milestone with them.”

The event served as a reminder of the shared mission between the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Church, and the Scouting community—to develop young men and women of character, faith, and service.

For more information about upcoming events and initiatives, visit KofC13935.org.

 

Left to right:  Event Organizer/Volunteer Referee Tim Wolff; St Francis Kitchen Executive Director Rob Williams;  Scranton High Student Volunteers Zahir Kennedy, Henry Bartlebaugh, Connor Thomas, Carter Tomczyk; Event Organizer/SHS Athletic Director Ted Anderson

Scranton High School Athletic Department conducted the 12th Annual Donald J. Wolff Freshman Basketball Tournament over the recent holiday. 

All proceeds were donated to the St Francis of Assisi  Kitchen.  A check presentation of $850 is shown here.

 

 

Pictured in foreground from left are Kitchen Executive Director Rob Williams, Advisory Board member and Campaign Chair Michael Colarusso and Advisory Board President Maria McCool.

Campaign Celebration Event is April 30; RSVPs Required by April 15

With more people than ever requiring its services, Saint Francis of Assisi Kitchen in Scranton has begun the 47th annual Host‑for‑a‑Day campaign to support its mission of feeding and clothing individuals and families in need.

For a donation of $100 or more, an individual, family, business, community organization or faith-based group can help to fund a day’s meal. Major sponsorship levels are also available starting at $500.

In effect, each contributor becomes a “host” for a day. Contributors may then select a date on which they or someone they designate or memorialize will be recognized as helping to provide that meal.

Financial contributions to the Kitchen also help to fund other programs such as a Client-Choice Food Pantry and Free Clothing Store and weekly meals at parish locations and high-rise housing buildings in Carbondale and Olyphant and also weekly meals at parish sites in Roaring Brook Township and Archbald.

The Kitchen’s Free Clothing Mobile Trailer visits various locations to bring clothing items to those in need who might not be able to come to the Scranton property.

Also, the Kitchen maintains a “Code Blue” collaboration with the City of Scranton and Keystone Mission. When the temperature gets below 20 degrees, the Kitchen provides hot soup to homeless folks welcomed to shelter at Weston Field.

Rob Williams, Kitchen Executive Director, noted that the Kitchen recently had the highest single month serving counts in its history. In just one month, the Kitchen served nearly 10,000 meals, provided more than 1,000 family servings through the Client Choice Food Pantry and had nearly 1,000 visits to the Free Clothing operations. In 2024, a total of 96,000 meals were provided.

“Now more than ever, our brothers and sisters in need are relying on us for help,” he said. “Fortunately, through donations and the dedication of our staff and volunteers, we are able to provide for those we serve in a dignified and compassionate manner.”

Michael Colarusso, a member of the Kitchen’s Advisory Board, is chairing the 2025 Host-for-a-Day campaign and leading the effort with his fellow board members.

“Considering all the services that the Kitchen provides, you truly realize that it’s only possible thanks to the generosity of individuals and organizations within our community,” he said. “The need is so great and you understand how important the Host-for-a-Day campaign is.”

Recent contributors to the campaign are receiving an appeal directly from the Kitchen through the mail or will be contacted by members of the Kitchen’s Advisory Board.

Host‑for‑a‑Day gifts can also be made by calling the Kitchen at 570-342‑5556, or sending a check to Saint Francis of Assisi Kitchen, 500 Penn Avenue, Scranton, PA 18509. Donations can also be made online at: www.stfranciskitchen.org or facebook.com/stfranciskitchen or text SFAK to 26989.

This year the celebration that concludes the campaign will be held at Fiorelli’s in Peckville on Wednesday, April 30, beginning at 6 p.m. Each contributor and a guest is invited to attend. RSVPs are required by April 15 to confirm attendance and an accurate meal count.

Those who would like to sponsor the reception are asked to call the Kitchen at 570-342‑5556.

 

Pictured in picture: Prince of Peace Finance Council (left to right) are: Mark Voyack, Alan Coolbaugh, Rich Ciuferri, Rev. August Ricciardi, George Dunbar, Robert Potosky, Robert Gillette, absent from photo Sal Luzio. Sr.

The Gym at Prince of Peace Parish in Old Forge was recently remodeled with new electrical capacity, new lighting, signage, emergency lighting, exit signs, and a completely refurbished floor. The water damage issue was rectified prior to the upgrades. It is now open for approved youth groups within the community for basketball and other sports-related activities. 

SCRANTON – A Mass for the Preservation of Peace and Justice will be celebrated on Wednesday, January 22, at 6:30 p.m. in the lower church of St. Ann’s Basilica, 1233 St. Ann St., Scranton, to prayerfully mark the anniversary of the 1973 Supreme Court decision, Roe vs. Wade. 

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops have called for all dioceses of the United States to observe “a day of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life and of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion.” 

All area faithful are invited to attend this Mass, which will conclude with a period of Eucharistic Adoration and the Divine Mercy Chaplet.  A light social will follow. 

This evening of prayer is sponsored by the Scranton Section of the Eastern Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem and will be led by the Reverend Thomas J. Petro, KCHS, Section Prior.  Sir Brian C. Hallock, KHS, serves as the Section Delegate. 

The knights and dames of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre who are residing in the Diocese of Scranton are invited to vest in their regalia and assist at the Mass. 

The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem is a Public Association of faithful with a legal canonical and public personality having as its primary mission the support of the Christian presence in the Holy Land. 

It is a Catholic order of knighthood under the protection of the Holy See and is an internationally recognized order of chivalry. 

The origins of the Order date back to 1099 during the First Crusade, when its leader, Godfrey de Bouillon, liberated Jerusalem. 

For more information on the Order’s presence in the Diocese of Scranton, visit www.eohsjscranton.org

 

 

On Saturday, December 28th, the Pennsylvania Central District witnessed a truly inspiring and historic moment as The Most Reverend Jeffrey J. Walsh, Bishop of Gaylord, Michigan, was the Honoree for the Exemplification Ceremony of 16 new Sir Knights exemplified into the Fourth Degree of the Knights of Columbus. Led by Master Brian Hallock, this significant event marked the beginning of a new chapter in the lives of these men, who were officially welcomed into the proud ranks of Sir Knights in the Fourth Degree.

The day began at the magnificent St. Ann’s Basilica in Scranton, Pennsylvania, where the Exemplification Ceremony filled the air with a sense of patriotism and love for our country. As the candidates took their Fourth Degree, they committed to live and promote patriotism, and honor—values that the Knights of Columbus hold sacred.

The ceremony was further elevated by the presence of State Deputy Gary Damich and State Chaplain, Father Pierre Bud Falkenhan, whose support and leadership added to the sense of unity and strength throughout the day.

The spirit of the day soared even higher as His Excellency, Bishop Walsh, celebrated a powerful 4:00 PM Mass, deepening the sense of unity and spiritual devotion that defined the entire occasion. The celebration then culminated in a heartfelt banquet at Arcaro & Genell in Old Forge, where brothers in Christ came together to reflect, share, and give thanks for the bonds forged that day.

This event was more than just a ceremony—it was a powerful reminder of the values that drive us to serve others, strengthen our faith, honor our country and build lasting brotherhood. We are deeply grateful to all who made this unforgettable day possible, and we look forward to the continued journey of these new Sir Knights as they live out their commitment to the principles of the Knights of Columbus.