Humanitarian aid for evacuees from the separatist-controlled regions of eastern Ukraine is gathered and packed in Simferopol, Ukraine, Feb. 21, 2022. (CNS photo/Alexey Pavlishak, Reuters)

WASHINGTON (CNS) – Various Catholic agencies are collecting donations to aid with the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, as people flee to escape Russian bombing and shelling. Here are some places to donate. This list is not exhaustive.

The international Caritas confederation is collecting funds to help Caritas Ukraine. In the United States, that is through Catholic Relief Services: https://bit.ly/3LWtOKa. Internationally, you can donate through https://www.caritas.org/.

The Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia also has a link: https://ukrarcheparchy.us/donate

Two pontifical agencies also are taking donations for Ukraine: Catholic Near East Welfare Association, https://cnewa.org/campaigns/ukraine/  and Aid to the Church in Need, https://bit.ly/3sgpuNV.

Internationally, Aid to the Church can be reached at https://bit.ly/3vfqCn4.

Catholics can make contributions to Aid to the Church in Need, https://www.churchinneed.org.

Reverend Leo J. McKernan of West Wyoming, died on Jan. 23, 2022, at Sacred Heart Hospice, Dunmore, having faithfully served as priest and spiritual director in the Diocese of Scranton for many years.

Father McKernan, son of the late John McKernan and Marjorie Franchi McKernan, was born in Wilkes Barre on September 17, 1953. He was a graduate of St. Leo School and Hanover Memorial High School and attended King’s College earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1975. Father attended Villanova University earning a Master’s degree in 1977. He received his seminary education at St. Pius X Seminary, Dalton; Pontifical North American College, Rome, Italy; and Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, Rome, Italy (Angelicum) earning both a Bachelor and Licentiate in Sacred Theology in 1983. Father McKernan was ordained to the priesthood in St. Peter’s Cathedral, Scranton, on November 5, 1983 by the Most Reverend John O’Connor, late Bishop of Scranton.

Father McKernan was appointed Assistant Pastor at St. Mary’s, Wilkes-Barre, in 1983 and Director of Religious Formation at Bishop O’Reilly High School, Kingston, in September 1985. In June 1986, he was appointed Assistant Pastor at St. Peter’s Cathedral, Scranton, and in September 1987 was appointed to serve on the faculty at St. Pius X Seminary in Dalton.

Father attended Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska earning a Master’s in Christian Spirituality in 1990.

Father McKernan received his first pastorate in June 1992 at Holy Name of Mary, Montrose. In April 1996, Father was appointed Administrator pro tem at Ascension, Williamsport, and in July 1996, was appointed Pastor at St. Mary, Avoca.  Father was appointed Assistant Pastor at Our Lady of the Snows, Clarks Summit, in July 1998, and Assistant Pastor at Holy Name and St. Mary’s, Swoyersville in August 1998.

Father accepted an appointment as Chaplain at Gonzaga University and Bishop White Seminary, Spokane, Washington, in July 2000. Upon his return to the Diocese of Scranton in July 2001, Father was appointed Pastor at Christ the King, Dunmore.  While remaining Pastor at Christ the King, he was also appointed Pastor at Immaculate Conception, Scranton in July 2002. Father was next appointed Administrator at Our Lady of Lourdes, Montoursville, in August 2002 and was appointed Pastor in July 2006. He served as Pastor at St. Elizabeth, Bear Creek, from 2007 to 2008 and Diocesan Preacher for called to Holiness and Mission from 2008 to 2009.  He was assigned to a six month ministry at St. Joseph Hermitage, Laceyville, from December 2009 to July 2010 when he was appointed Pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows, West Wyoming and St. Joseph, Wyoming, which became St. Monica’s, West Wyoming.

In January 2017, Father McKernan was appointed Senior Priest at St. John the Evangelist, Pittston.  In June, he was appointed Pastor at St. Ignatius Loyola, Kingston.

Father retired for reasons of health in November 2018.

Father McKernan also served the Diocese teaching at various Catholic High Schools and Colleges, Religious Education Institute and Veteran Teachers Program. He served as Director of the Diocesan Commission on Ecumenism and Inter-Faith Affairs; Spiritual Director at St. Pius X Seminary and Bishop White Seminary; Chaplain for the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, and for the People of God Community and the Neo Catechumenal Way.  He served as Chaplain and Program Director for JMJ Catholic Radio Station and Chaplain for Catholic Men’s Conference.

Father McKernan is survived by three sisters; Kathleen (Harry) Miller of Sarasota, Florida, Alice (Reg) Jones of Lido, NY and Mary (Vinny) Appello of Media, PA.  He is also survived by two brothers; Mark McKernan of Grove City, Ohio and Michael McKernan of Kingston, PA, and nieces and nephews.                                               .

Viewing will take place at St. Leo Church, Ashley on Friday, January 28, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on Saturday, January 29, 2022 9:30 a.m.  A Vesper Service will be celebrated at 6:00 p.m. at St. Leo Church, Ashley.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by the Reverend Gerald W. Shantillo, V.G., S.T.L., Vicar General of the Diocese of Scranton, on Saturday, January 29, 2022 at St. Leo Church, Ashley at 10:30 a.m.  Interment will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Wilkes-Barre.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

In his 2022 Lenten message to the Church, Pope Francis invites us to reflect upon Saint Paul’s words in his letter to the Galatians: “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” (Galatians 6:9-10).

The Holy Father challenges us to reflect upon the urgency of using the time that God has given to us in a productive manner by sowing goodness in our world with a view to a future harvest. And Lent, Pope Francis continues, is the opportune time for us to recollect our thoughts and to move forward with resolve, seeking to fulfill our baptismal promises by making the pattern of Jesus’ life our own through our authentic response to his call to discipleship.

Through his invitation to place our trust in the Lord as the surest means of responding to the apostle Paul’s appeal, Pope Francis provides us with some practical reminders of how we might achieve this noble end:

“Let us not grow tired of praying” … We need to pray because we need God.

“Let us not grow tired of uprooting evil from our lives or of asking for forgiveness in the Sacrament of Penance,” knowing that God never tires of forgiving us.

And “Let us not grow tired of doing good in active charity towards our neighbors,” the surest means of reflecting the life of Jesus in our own lives.

This year during our Lenten journey, we have all been given a unique opportunity to sow seeds of goodness in our Church to reap a bountiful harvest. The entire People of God, including our own local Church, have been invited to participate in the preparatory phase of the Synod of Bishops that is being convened by Pope Francis in October 2023, entitled a Synod on Synodality.

A “synodal” Church implies a way of being and of working that engages a more grassroots, collaborative effort among the members of the Christian faithful as we all seek to grow in awareness of the presence of God and engage the mission of evangelization. A “synodal” Church takes the time to discern the path forward that the Holy Spirit is calling us to embrace as together we seek to build a Church where all are welcome, valued and sent forth as ambassadors of Christ. A “synodal” Church highlights the fact that each member of the Body of Christ has been entrusted with gifts for the building up of the Church – “good” that we ought never tire of doing on behalf of one another.

I encourage you to participate in the synodal process through listening sessions in your parishes and through online opportunities that have been generously provided to all of you who desire to share your thoughts, your dreams and where you believe the Holy Spirit is calling the Church at this time in its history. The Diocese of Scranton’s online survey can be found on the “Synod on Synodality” page on the Diocese of Scranton website at dioceseofscranton.org.

As Pope Francis has reminded us, a “synodal Church” is above all a Church that listens: “It is a mutual listening in which everyone has something to learn. The lay faithful, the bishops, the pope: all listening to each other, all listening to the Holy Spirit, the “Spirit of truth” (John 14:17), in order to know what He is saying to the Church” and how best to move forward in faith.

Finally, one of the great gifts given to us by the Church to assist in our response to the Lord’s invitation to do “good” is found in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. As we have done for many years, all of the parishes of the Diocese of Scranton will participate in The Light Is On For You. Every Monday evening during the Lenten season, beginning on the first Monday of Lent, March 7, and continuing through Monday of the last full week of Lent, April 4, confessions will be heard in every parish from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

My friends, our resolve to deepen our faith and to do good on behalf of our brothers and sisters is needed today more than ever. May we open our hearts to this blessed season of Lent and all of the opportunities that we are given to deepen our trust in the ever-present grace of God, that alone can sustain us in our journey of faith as his disciples.

Faithfully yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L.
Bishop of Scranton