Category: 2024 News

SCRANTON – Many families in the Diocese of Scranton continue to suffer the loss of loved ones who have died as a result of violent or tragic death.

In response, the Diocese of Scranton is offering the annual Mass in remembrance of victims of violent or tragic death; particularly for persons who have died through murder, suicide, or accidental death.

The Mass will be a way for family and friends to remember and celebrate the lives of these victims and to stand together surrounded in God’s love.

The Mass of Remembrance will be taking place this year on Thursday, July 25, at 7:00 p.m. at the Cathedral of Saint Peter, 315 Wyoming Avenue, Scranton.

The Books of Remembrance will not be available to search for a name, but instead will be placed near the altar.

CTV: Catholic Television will broadcast the Mass live for those unable to attend in person.

Parishioners are encouraged to register the name of their loved one for entry into the Book of Remembrance. An online registration form is available on dioceseofscranton.org. Registration is also available by calling the Diocesan Office for Parish Life at (570) 207-2213.

MUNCY – Gregory Fleck is proof that everyone can make a difference in their community.

For the better part of a decade, Fleck has been raising money for Saint Joseph’s Center, which cares for children and adults with special needs.

“Saint Joseph’s (Center) really helps kids and adults who are intellectually and physically disabled,” Greg said. “I feel grateful to raise money for them. I just want to help and give back to the community.”

Fleck, who has cerebral palsy, once again enlisted the support of parishioners at his parish, Church of the Resurrection in Muncy, on Sunday, July 14, 2024. As Gregory rode his tricycle around the church parking lot, many others walked alongside him, all to support Newswatch 16’s ‘Go Joe 27’ event and Saint Joseph’s Center.

“Greg is so dedicated to this cause because he understands what it is like to live a life with a disability. He understands all the roadblocks, all the hardships, all the let downs. He is able to do something about it through all of his connections and all of his volunteering. He is able to reach out and talk for all those who are unable to do that,” Kristin Fleck, Greg’s mother, explained.

Officials at Saint Joseph’s Center are always inspired by Greg’s enthusiasm.

“He just reaches so many people to share the mission of Saint Joe’s and it is incredible to see all the smiling faces here today,” Jo Ann Verduce, Director of Development at Saint Joseph’s Center, said.

This Sunday, July 21, Bishop Bambera will welcome Gregory Fleck and his family to the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Scranton for the celebration of the 10:00 a.m. Mass. Fleck is expected to help serve the Mass and will speak on the importance of Saint Joseph’s Center in the community.

Catholic Television of the Diocese of Scranton will broadcast the Mass live.

LISBON, Portgual – The Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, once again co-chaired the Catholic-Pentecostal International Dialogue, which met at the Center of Spirituality, Alfragide, from July 6-12, 2024.

This dialogue began in 1972 and is co-sponsored by the Catholic Church’s Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity (DPCU) and the Pentecostal World Fellowship’s Christian Unity Commission.

The primary goal of this dialogue is to promote mutual respect and understanding between the Catholic Church and Classical Pentecostal leaders and churches.
All participants are convinced that Christian unity is the will of Christ. In the context of the general theme, Lex orandi, lex credendi, the fourth annual session discussed “Sacramentality and Christian Living.”

Dr. Jean-Daniel Plüss presented the Pentecostal paper, “Conformed to the Image of Christ: Pentecostal Spirituality, Sacramental Practices and Daily Living.”

Rev. Fr. Marcial Maçaneiro, S.C.J., presented the Catholic paper, “The Sacraments and Sacramental Life: A Catholic Perspective.”

Morning and evening prayers, led alternately by the participants, were also essential for the work together.

A visit to “Our Lady of Fatima Shrine,” where the participants attended Sunday Eucharist at the main square, was an occasion for exchange, dialogue, clarification, and reflection. It significantly marked this session in light of the topic discussed: the devoted expressions of many pilgrims impacted the participants, who saw in them a hunger for God and a confidence in God’s action.

At the end of the meeting, Bishop Joseph Bambera, Catholic Co-Chair, described the session as follows: “This year’s dialogue has once again affirmed what Pope Francis noted in reflecting upon the upcoming 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, ‘Jesus Christ is the heart of ecumenism … and our mission is to bear witness to him.’ Our discussions, while candid and probing, reflect a depth of mutual respect, understanding and fellowship that emerges from shared faith in Jesus. These days continue to be a blessing to us all as we journey together as brothers and sisters in the Lord.”

Rev. Dr. Cecil M. Robeck, Jr., Pentecostal Co-Chair, affirmed: “After 52 years of dialogue together, we continue to be encouraged as we gain new insight and knowledge of one another. Our visit to Fatima highlighted our discussion on the sacramental life of the Church. We are still discovering how much we hold in common, which leads us to greater love and appreciation for the unique gifts that we bring on the same issues. It has been a rich time of giving and receiving these gifts.”

All participants benefitted greatly from the shared meals, conversations, and fellowship together.

The members from the Classical Pentecostal churches are: Rev. Cecil M. Robeck Jr., Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA, USA (Assemblies of God), Co-Chair; Rev. David Cole, Liaison to the Greater Christian Community for the Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America, Professor of Historical Theology, The King’s University, Southlake, TX, USA (Open Bible Churches), Co-Secretary; Rev. Marcia Clarke, Pastor, Vanguard University, London School of Theology, Los Angeles, USA/UK (Church of God,  Cleveland, TN); Rev. Dale M. Coulter, Professor of Historical Theology, Pentecostal Theological Seminary (Church of God, Cleveland, TN); Rev. Jacqueline Grey, Professor of Biblical Studies, Alphacrucis University College, Australia (Australian Christian Churches); Rev. Opoku Onyinah, Former Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, Ghana; Rev. David Wells, Vice-Chair of the Pentecostal World Fellowship, (General Superintendent of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada); Rev. Pedro Manuel López Castillo, Co-Coordinator, Pentecostal Fraternity (Assemblies of God of Peru), (unable to attend); and Rev. S. David Moore, Professor of Pneumatology, The King’s University, South Lake, TX, USA (International Church of the Foursquare Gospel), (unable to attend). Dr. Jean-Daniel Plüss (Pentecostal Assemblies of Switzerland) was the author of the Pentecostal paper.

The members of the Catholic team are: Most Reverend Joseph Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, PA, USA, Co-Chair; Rev. Msgr. Juan Usma Gómez, Bureau Chief of Western Section, Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, Vatican City/Colombia, Co-Secretary; Rev. Lawrence Iwuamadi, Catholic Professor, Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, Switzerland/Nigeria; Sr. Maria Ha Fong Ko, F.M.A., Professor, Holy Spirit Seminary, Hong Kong, China; Rev. Marcial Maçaneiro, S.C.J., Professor, Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná, Brazil; and Dr. Teresa Francesca Rossi, Co-Director, Centro Pro Unione and Professor, Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Rome, Italy; Dr. Mary Healy, Professor, Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Detroit, MI, USA, (unable to attend).

HONESDALE – Amazed and overwhelmed.

Those are two words that Rev. William A. Asinari used to describe his feelings shortly after his Ordination Mass to the Priesthood on June 29, 2024.

“I am overwhelmed in the best way. All I can think of is God filling me with joy to the point where I overflow, and it doesn’t hurt. It doesn’t feel overwhelming in a negative way. It feels like you’ve just got blessing upon blessing and all you can really do is just sit in it and enjoy it,” Rev. Asinari said.

Hundreds of family members, friends, and fellow parishioners filled Saint John the Evangelist Church in Honesdale for the Ordination Mass. The Wayne County church is the place where Asinari grew up and first learned how to pray.

“I am overjoyed that the people who were here long before I was born, who’ve seen me since I was a little kid, who have watched me grow and have shaped me, get to be present for that moment where they can see the fruit of all of that throughout their lives and how much they cared and really supported me,” Rev. Asinari added.

The Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, served as principal celebrant, homilist, and ordaining prelate for the Mass. The Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, Bishop of Sunyani, Ghana, along with many priests of the Diocese of Scranton concelebrated the liturgy.

“Bill, the priestly ministry that will be entrusted to you this day will bear fruit in your life and in the lives of those given to your care only if you understand that your ministry is a gift from God, that it is Jesus whom you must follow and proclaim, and that it is His life and example that you must make your own,” Bishop Bambera told Asinari during his homily.

Before the Bishop delivered his homily, Asinari was officially called forward.

Father Alex Roche, Diocesan Director of Vocations and Seminarians, testified that after inquiry among the Christian people and upon the recommendation of those involved in Asinari’s formation, he has been found worthy of the Priesthood.

“As a priest, the Church will call you ‘another Christ.’ Remember well, however, that this title has little to do with rank or status among the People of God,” Bishop Bambera added. “Instead, it carries with it a perpetual challenge to be like Christ.

Always hold in your heart the same selfless commitment to love and service that so characterized Jesus’ ministry. Live with integrity the life of celibacy, obedience, and simplicity.”

Prior to the Prayer of Ordination being said by Bishop Bambera, Asinari lied prostrate on the floor of Saint John the Evangelist Church in a gesture of solemn petition. The people in attendance, through the intercession of all the saints, asked God’s blessing upon him.

After the Prayer of Ordination, Father Asinari was vested, his hands were anointed, he received a chalice and paten and was congratulated by all the priests in attendance with a fraternal kiss.

Among all those special moments, Father Asinari said the moment did not hit him until someone greeted him by saying “Congratulations Father.”

“I gasped. It didn’t hit me and just hearing it, it felt like someone acknowledging you for something far greater than what you are,” Father Asinari explained. “It’s as if someone walked up to someone on the street and addressed them as a king. It almost felt otherworldly.”

Upon the conclusion of the Mass, Father Asinari spent an hour greeting family and friends and providing personal blessings to those in attendance.

His first priestly blessing was given to his family.

“They have always been there for me. I learned faith from them. I learned how to pray from them. I learned everything along the way from them. If it hasn’t been for my mother and my father being open to me about this, I don’t know if I would have done it, but the love and support that they’ve shown over the years in the worst times and in the best of times, I wouldn’t trade it,” the newly ordained priest ended by saying.

SCRANTON – Four seminarians from the Diocese of Scranton pledged their intention to continue formation for the priesthood during a special Mass with the Rite of Candidacy at Marywood University on June 26, 2024.

Jeremy Barket of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Dupont, along with Jacob Mutchler, Jan Carlo Perez, and Cody Yarnall, all of Saint Matthew Parish in East Stroudsburg, each indicated their desire to continue forming their mind and heart to serve Christ and His Church during the special Mass.

“What candidacy represents is a seminarian recognizing that, while his discernment is not completed, he has come to a point where he feels reasonably confident that he’s called to be a priest and he’s ready to begin the process of not only discerning where God is calling him, but actually preparing for priesthood,” Father Alex Roche, Diocesan Secretary of Clergy Formation, explained. “On the flip side, candidacy also represents the Church saying we have spent sufficient time with this man, we’ve worked with him, and we’ve seen the gifts that God has given him, and as a Church, we believe that he could be a good candidate for priesthood.”

Perez first entered seminary in 2017. He said the Candidacy Mass is an important step on his journey to the priesthood.

“It was the first time I got to say, ‘I do,’” he explained. “It has been a long time coming for me.”

Perez was drawn to the Catholic faith after being inspired by the stories of different saints. After his first year in college, he transferred to the seminary after feeling called to the priesthood.

“I want to be more like Jesus. He’s the center of everything, He’s the center of reality and I feel like He wants me to be more like him,” Perez explained. “I want to be an example to people. I want to help people. I want to serve people. I want to be holy, and I want to help lead people into deeper union with Christ in the Eucharist especially.”

Mutchler, who just finished his second year of philosophical studies at Saint Vincent’s Seminary in Latrobe, has relied on God to lead the way up until this point.

“I really brought to prayer, ‘Lord, if this is what you want, grant that desire,’” Mutchler said. “I have really experienced through prayer and through affirmation of brother seminarians and formators that this really makes sense. It really just seems to be fitting given where I am in my life and my experiences.”

Yarnall expressed deep gratitude for all the support he has received up to this point and called the Rite of Candidacy a grace-filled moment.

“It’s a continuation of God’s commitment to us. His invitation to extend grace to us, to draw us along in formation and for us to respond in love and fidelity,” he said.

Barket acknowledged the importance of the Rite of Candidacy, indicating this is where many people believe seminarians are considered true candidates for the priesthood.

“I tried to run away from the idea of the priesthood for a long time, but it just kept coming back to me,” Barket said. “I would be in church, and I would start having peace. I would listen to certain homilies, and I used to say, ‘Why isn’t the priest talking about this? Why isn’t he talking about that? If I was up there, I would talk about this and this and this.’ I thought, oh, if I was up there, well, what does that mean?”

After moving back to Dupont from Pittsburgh at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Barket felt called to enter the seminary.

“Every day I just trust that this is where God wants me. I’m excited to continue this journey,” he added.

The Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, served as principal celebrant and homilist for the Candidacy Mass, which was held in conjunction with annual Quo Vadis and Fiat Days at Marywood University.

During his homily, the bishop encouraged each candidate to deepen their resolve to follow Jesus.

“We pray today that you will continue to open your hearts to the call of the Lord, most especially to take all that you have learned and will be shared with you during these times of formation and translate them into lives that are open to the People of God and are willing to walk with them,” Bishop Bambera said.

SCRANTON – Nearly 50 young adults spent part of their summer discerning God’s will in their life.

The Diocese of Scranton held its annual Quo Vadis retreat for young men in high school June 24-26 at Marywood University. For the first time ever this year, high school women were invited to participate in Fiat Days during the same period.

“It was an incredible program. The center of Fiat Days is trying to hear that call that we are given from our Lord,” Emily Frisbie of Saint Katharine Drexel Parish in Forest City, said. “I have seen these past three days the power of young people praying together and praying for each other.”

Participants in both the Quo Vadis and Fiat Days retreat had the opportunity to connect with priests and religious sisters, hear discernment stories and build new friendships with other students through sports, music, and small group discussions.

“I came in here worrying a lot about things. Taking this time to pray by myself and with other people, the power has alleviated the sense of worry,” Jayden Batoon of Saint John the Apostle Parish in East Stroudsburg, said. “Quo Vadis gave me a lot of insight from many different people of many different walks of life to help me sort out where I want to go.”

Defne Ramos, a parishioner of Saint Teresa of Calcutta Parish in Scranton, said the three-day retreat helped her grow closer to God.

“Nowadays there are not a lot of teenagers that like to go to church. Some do really bad stuff. But coming here and seeing so many other people that want to get closer to God and learn more things made me realize that I’m going on the right path, and I think those are the real people you should stay beside,” Ramos explained.

In all, 28 young men and 19 young women participated in this year’s programs.

“It was an amazing opportunity to have so many young Catholics in one space to share their faith together. We don’t get that opportunity enough,” Michael McIlvried of Saint Mary of Mount Carmel Parish in Dunmore, explained.

The young adults also got a chance to celebrate Mass with the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, and meet the Diocese of Scranton’s ten seminarians who are discerning the possibility of becoming a priest.

Raymond Full, a parishioner of Saint Matthew Parish in East Stroudsburg, has thought about the possibility of becoming a priest himself.

“I think there is something in me that is really attracted to that and I can’t explain it other than it is God-given, that he instilled that there and I think there is a certain beauty about it that is attractive to me and I’m very fond of,” he said.

The cost to attend the three-day camp was only $25 for students. Because of donations to the Diocesan Annual Appeal, the Vocations Office can put on these important events.

“I was very grateful to have so much time to do the Divine Office. It was really beautiful to take that time,” Marcellina Cavalier of Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Brodheadsville, added.

SCRANTON — Young Dave Bohr answered “the call” some 60 years ago and he has never stopped.

Monsignor David Bohr’s calling to become a priest came to fruition on Dec. 11, 1971, when he was ordained for the Diocese of Scranton, and the “calls” just kept coming.

As he steps down as Diocesan Secretary for Clergy Formation, Director of the Permanent Diaconate & Continuing Formation of Priests, and rector of Villa Saint Joseph home for retired priests, the time has come to reflect upon a priesthood overflowing with unparalleled scholarship, pastoral ministry and administrative leadership.

A mere glance of the curriculum vitae of Monsignor Bohr reads like the index of a history book on the Scranton Diocese.

On more than 20 occasions, Father/Monsignor David Bohr was called upon to serve in a plethora of assignments for the past 52 years — covering an expanse of time that undeniably proved his faithful service and loyalty to his home Diocese and five of the ten Bishops who have headed our local Church.

From assistant chancellor to high school catechist, hospital chaplain to religious education director, seminary rector to Cathedral pastor — and a smattering of assignments in between — Monsignor Bohr has faithfully gone where few Catholic priests have gone before.

Along the way, he also served the Universal Church in a key administrative position at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. His return to the Eternal City stirred memories of his priestly formation and seminary studies at the Pontifical Lateran University and Pontifical Gregorian University.

Rome was also setting for the successful defense of Monsignor Bohr’s doctoral dissertation, leading to the conferral of his Doctorate in Moral Theology a few short years after his ordination.

Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, the most recent Bishop of Scranton Monsignor Bohr has closely ministered with, may have said it best.

In extending his profound gratitude, and that of the entire Diocese, on the occasion of Monsignor’s recent retirement, Bishop Bambera said of his longtime colleague, “It is very hard to sum up 50-plus years of very active ministry of writing, reflecting and teaching. As I look at the number of individuals you have touched, from priests to permanent deacons to religious to lay faithful, in many respects you, more than most any of us, have touched people’s lives and drawn them and given them the ability to come closer to the Lord than any of us could ever hope for or imagine.”

Most notably, Monsignor’s leadership ability and theological acumen were called upon when he was chosen as founding director of the Diocese’s Religious Education Institute, Office of Evangelization, and Office for the Permanent Diaconate.

As he wryly related, “I served twice as director of continuing formation of priests and three times as director of permanent diaconate formation. I tell people, ‘They figured if they gave me these positions enough times, I would finally get them right.’”

A prolific writer, Monsignor Bohr is the author of four books, the most recent — The Diocesan Priest: Consecrated and Sent — receiving the 2010 Catholic Book Award from the Catholic Press Association.

“I am truly grateful for all the wonderful people I have met and have gotten to know along the way,” Monsignor shared. Forever the teacher, he offered one last important lesson upon his departure: “Pope Francis likes to speak of Christ knocking on the door of our heart; not to get in, but to get out to welcome and serve others. I pray that we all can spend the rest of our lives doing just this.”

The positions vacated by Monsignor Bohr will now be filled by Father Mark DeCelles as Director of the Permanent Diaconate Program; Father Ryan Glenn, Director of Continuing Education of Priests; and Father Alex Roche, Secretary for Clergy Formation.

SCRANTON – During their 50 years of marriage, John and Fran DiGregorio have experienced many ups and downs, but they have always worked to keep the Catholic faith at the center of their lives.

From their early days as newlyweds – when their premature son spent six months in intensive care – to more recent times when a football-size tumor was removed from John’s kidney, the Shohola couple has often turned to God for help.

“God has really been with us,” Fran said. “Now, we’re here to say thank you!”

On Sunday, June 23, 2024, the DiGregorios were one of 135 couples that attended the 2024 Diocesan Wedding Anniversary Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Scranton. The Mass recognizes couples who are celebrating their 25th and 50th anniversaries.

“It was glorious to see couples of all ages and at all points in their marriage,” Linda Romano of Matamoras said.

Linda and Peter Romano, parishioners of Saint Joseph Parish, are celebrating their 25th anniversary this year.

“You could just feel the love, joy and everyone’s happiness celebrating together. I really enjoyed it. It was quite the celebration and I’m grateful that we have this available to us,” Linda added.

The Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, served as principal celebrant and homilist for the special Mass. In welcoming the couples to the Cathedral, the Bishop acknowledged that they are each a witness to “love, faith and the power of Christ at work in our lives.”

In all, the couples registered to attend the Mass signified 5,914 years of married life.
During his homily, Bishop Bambera noted that many of those times weren’t always blissful, but reflective of hard work, struggle, disappointment and fear.

“Your marriage has endured not because your years together have been perfect, but because you have come to see your marriage as part of something much bigger than yourselves – as part of the mystery of God’s love woven into creation – embraced in your lives and lived through God’s grace and mercy,” the bishop said.

Before ending his homily and asking each couple to renew their commitment to one another, Bishop Bambera asked each man and woman to look into the eyes of their spouse and think about how their relationship is sacred.

“For all that you have been through, realize how blessed you are to have each other,” he said. “For as familiar as those eyes are, see through them to discover the face of God abiding within the heart of the one you love and offer a prayer of thanks.”

The Wedding Anniversary Mass took on special significance for the Pender and Jackson families.

Donald and Margaret Pender, parishioners of Saint John the Evangelist Parish in Honesdale, celebrated 50 years of marriage, while their daughter and son-in-law celebrated 25 years.

“It has all happened so quickly. The years went by so fast. We raised five children, and we were just busy raising them and building a home. My husband built a business. There have been ups and downs, but it has all been wonderful,” Margaret Pender explained.

William and Emily Jackson, who are currently living in West Virginia, made the four-hour drive to attend the Mass and celebrate with their parents.

“It was a nice opportunity,” William said. “It’s nice to see that people stay together and work through things.”

“It’s beautiful to see how people still look at each other with love in their hearts. I hope me and my husband can make it to our 50th (anniversary) too and be the same way,” Emily said with a smile.

SCRANTON – Ushu Mukelo came to the United States after spending 12 years in a refugee camp in Uganda.

Explaining that armed groups often take over small villages causing widespread poverty and chaos, Mukelo was happy to celebrate World Refugee Day at Nay Aug Park in Scranton on June 24, 2024.

“For us, as refugees, it is a day to get together, it is a day to remind us of those difficulties and it is a day to remember that resilience is real and if we are to continue to be human, we’re not supposed to forget the stories of our past,” Mukelo explained.

Catholic Social Services of the Diocese of Scranton works with the federal government to assist refugees resettling in northeastern Pennsylvania. The agency works with several other non-profit agencies to sponsor World Refugee Day each year.

“The main purpose is to celebrate that we’re here to help them to be a part of the community,” Joe Mahoney, CEO of Catholic Social Services, explained. “We invite them to partake in Scranton, to share with us.”

Fikile Ryder is the Director of Community for Catholic Social Services. She oversees the immigrant and refugee resettlement program.

“The United States has a history of immigrants that are building this country,” Ryder said. “Each one of them brings a special unique talent and they bring the diversity that reaches our country.”

During World Refugee Day, refugee communities share music, food, fellowship and personal stories.

“Refugees don’t come here because it is a choice that they make. They had to leave their homeland because of violence, persecution and war,” Julie Schumacher Cohen, Assistant Vice President of Community Engagement at The University of Scranton, said. “It’s really an enriching experience and the more that we can do to welcome them and learn from one another, the richer the community we are and the richer the country we are.”

Downpours during the event forced many attendees to seek shelter together under pavilions at the park – but many say that helped facilitate people talking to one another.

“Everyone was huddled under the gazebo. There were people from all different areas and walks of life talking to each other,” Ann Montoro Williams, Stewardship Manager with Friends of the Poor, said.