Dear Friends,

“I came so that they might have life, (Jn 10:10).”

Since 1972, the year before abortion was legalized in the United States, the Catholic Church has dedicated the month of October as a special season to promote a culture of life throughout our land. This year’s theme is taken from Saint John’s gospel discourse on the Good Shepherd. 

This venerable image of the People of God as God’s flock and Jesus as our Shepherd is significant for several reasons. First, the image of Jesus as our Shepherd is both consoling and hopeful as we reflect upon the selfless care and guidance of God who walks with us in this journey of life. Second, it’s context in John’s gospel reminds us of the challenges that we confront as followers of Christ. 

In this portion of the gospel, Jesus more precisely refers to himself as the gate for the sheep, the one who gives access to God, the source of all life. Today in our world, however, many sadly seek to redirect the values we hold as Christians. Quite intentionally, they attempt to convince us of the significance of determining our own way while simultaneously setting aside the recognition of the unique and treasured status of all forms of human life. Espousing a flawed notion of freedom, their goal is to diminish appreciation for the ultimate values of the gospel, thereby undermining our conviction as Christians that Jesus alone guides God’s flock to life and salvation. 

Despite the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, the challenge to protect human life has not diminished at all. It’s merely shifted from being a national issue to a state issue. Threats to human life are increasingly evident in our world today; threats that we often fail – or refuse – to recognize. And make no mistake about it, with the efforts of so many influential groups and organizations in our land that seek to undermine the value of human life while masquerading as supporters of freedom and champions of justice, we are on the precipice of a slippery slope that will eventually lead to even more heinous actions that disregard the sanctity of life. It should come as no surprise that in addition to the tragic and continued widespread scourge of abortion, we’re also confronted with proposals and policies that favor assisted suicide, euthanasia, infanticide and human cloning. These too are dire threats to our belief in the dignity and value of the human person – as are the death penalty, human trafficking, and unjust immigration laws. 

The good news, however, is that the voices of faithful, selfless disciples of Jesus and countless others from different faith traditions continue to be heard in our world, proclaiming the value of human life as the treasured gift of God that it is.  

Pope Francis has often reminded us that “every person – from the most vulnerable unborn child to the sick, the elderly and the poor – has an inviolable right to life” and “is a masterpiece of God’s creation, made in his own image, destined to live forever, and deserving of the utmost reverence and respect.” 

Though well beyond our ability to determine or control, life – from the moment of conception to natural end – is a gift to treasure and respect. We do so, however, not through our self-righteous criticisms of those whose beliefs may appear to be different than our own.  …  We treasure and respect life when we are courageous enough to assert our commitment to such values, despite how some may regard us in the process.  …  We treasure and respect life when we vote carefully and thoughtfully according to the beliefs that we treasure within our hearts.  …  And we most effectively witness to life when we are humble enough to embrace the gospel message of Jesus and to treat the lives that come into our own with reverence and dignity as children of one and the same God. 

Therein lies the essence of Jesus’ words, “I came so that they might have life, (Jn 10:10).” 

 

Faithfully yours in Christ,    

Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L.

Bishop of Scranton

(OSV News) – As Hurricane Milton moves away from Florida just days after Hurricane Helene, Catholic Charities USA has launched a dedicated disaster relief donation campaign.

CCUSA – the official domestic relief agency of the Catholic Church in the U.S. and a member of Caritas Internationalis, the church’s global network of humanitarian outreaches – announced the fund Oct. 9, as the Category 4 Milton churned across the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida with maximum sustained winds of 130 miles per hour. Milton has fluctuated in intensity and was rated a Category 5 twice, but it dipped to Category 4 midday Oct. 9.

Members of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office pray outside a shelter in Lakeland, Fla., Oct. 9, 2024, as Hurricane Milton approaches. As the powerful hurricane charged through the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida that day, officials said time was running out for people to evacuate — and the odds of survival were bleak for holdouts determined to stay.(OSV News photo/Jose Luis Gonzalez, Reuters)

Donations to the CCUSA relief fund can be made on the agency’s website at ccusa.online/milton; by texting MILTON to 20406; or by mailing checks to CCUSA at 2050 Ballenger Ave, Suite 400, Alexandria, Virginia, 22314. Information about additional ways to give can be obtained by contacting CCUSA at (800) 919-9338 or donations@catholiccharitiesusa.org.

Milton made landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast sometime during the evening of Oct. 9, according to the National Hurricane Center. With anticipated storm surges of 15 feet, the storm was expected to inflict record-breaking levels of destruction, especially as the region struggles to recover from Hurricane Helene, which killed at least 227 across six states in September.

President Joe Biden – who approved requests for federal emergency declarations from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Marcellus W. Osceola Jr., chair of the Seminole Tribe of Florida – canceled his upcoming trips to Germany and Angola due to the expected impact of the hurricane. Following a briefing, Biden said Milton “is looking like the storm of the century,” urging residents to evacuate as “literally a matter of life and death.”

In its Oct. 9 announcement, CCUSA said that “one hundred percent of all funds raised will be allocated to local Catholic Charities agencies, which will provide critical relief — including shelter, food and other humanitarian aid – to displaced and suffering members of their communities.”

“Our brothers and sisters urgently need our prayers and our support as Hurricane Milton brings life-threatening conditions to Florida communities, some of which are still reeling from Hurricane Helene,” CCUSA president and CEO Kerry Alys Robinson said.

So far, CCUSA has distributed more than $1.9 million to Catholic Charities agencies in states affected by Hurricane Helene, and the agency said it “will stand by these communities through the long-term recovery.

The agency said it responds to more than 60 disasters every year, ranging from hurricanes and tornadoes to fires and floods.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – The Vatican group studying the question of women’s ministry, including the ordination of women to the diaconate, will expand its consultative phase to include women who do not serve as consultors to the dicastery in charge of the study group, synod officials announced.

Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith which is in charge of the study group, announced in a message to synod members Oct. 9 that in addition to receiving input from the dicastery’s appointed consultors, the dicastery will consult other women as well as receive input from participants in the Synod of Bishops. It was not specified who the outside women consultors are.

Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, attends the opening session of the Synod of Bishops in the Vatican’s Paul VI Audience Hall Oct. 2, 2024. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)

Among the 27 consultors to the dicastery listed in the Vatican yearbook, four are women, and among the 28 new consultors appointed by Pope Francis Sept. 23, six are women.

In his message to synod members, read to journalists at a news conference Oct. 9, Cardinal Fernández said the dicastery would also receive input from all members and theologians of the Synod of Bishops in the coming months. Among synod participants, 82 non-member experts are participating in the synod as theologians, facilitators and communicators.

Additionally, synod members voted to have a dialogue with leaders of the 10 study groups assigned to study complicated topics Oct. 18, and Cardinal Fernández said two people from his dicastery will receive written and oral input from synod members on the topic of women’s ministry in the church.

In a written report delivered to synod members Oct. 2, Cardinal Fernández had said that at this point, his dicastery “judges that there is still no room for a positive decision by the magisterium regarding the access of women to the diaconate, understood as a degree of the sacrament of holy orders.”

At the Vatican news conference Oct. 9, Belgian Deacon Geert De Cubber, the only synod member who is a permanent deacon, said that incorporating more input from deacons would benefit the synod proceedings and members’ understanding of how the role of deacons can fit into service of the church.

Referencing a criticism of last year’s synod assembly that not enough attention was given to the reality of parish priests, and the Vatican’s response of inviting more than 200 parish priests to Rome to offer their input for the drafting of the working document for the synod assembly, Deacon De Cubber said, “It could be a good idea to bring together some deacons.”

“Inevitably, you have to consult deacons on the diaconate,” he said, but also, “you have to involve their wives, you have to involve their kids.”

Deacon De Cubber said the church needs to have a larger discussion about vocations in the church, one which includes analysis of the role of priests and bishops, since, for him, the diaconate is “not at all a preparation for becoming a priest.”

He added that the topic of women deacons did come up during synod discussions despite the topic being assigned to a study group.

Archbishop Luis Fernando Ramos Pérez of Puerto Montt, Chile, noted that there are more permanent deacons in his archdiocese than diocesan priests, and he said that deacons offer an “extraordinary service” to the church and should not be confused with “junior priests.”

PHILADELPHIA (OSV News) – A Philadelphia priest assaulted in his rectory said the attack marked a “turning point” that forced him “to reflect deeply on life, faith and the forces of evil” – as well as justice and mercy.

On Oct. 2, Father Andrawos El-Tabchi, a Maronite Catholic priest, was assaulted in his rectory, located across the street from St. Maron Maronite Catholic Church in Philadelphia.

Police reported that the suspect approached the priest’s home just before 9:30 a.m. and began kicking and banging on the door before gaining access. Inside the rectory, the man physically attacked Father El-Tabchi before fleeing.

Maronite Father Andrawos El Tabchi, pastor of St. Maron Maronite Catholic Church in Philadelphia, says an Oct. 2, 2024, attack he suffered in his Philadelphia rectory was a “turning point” that forced him “to reflect deeply on life, faith and the forces of evil” — as well as forgiveness. He is pictured in an undated photo. (OSV News photo/courtesy St. Maron Maronite Catholic Church)

Local media coverage noted that the priest is using a cane to aid him in walking after the incident.

The Philadelphia Police Department told OSV News that the suspect — described in the police report as a Middle Eastern male with gray hair and a stocky build — assaulted Father El-Tabchi “by punching and slapping him,” then running westbound after being pushed out of the rectory. The incident remains under investigation, and police told OSV News there has been no arrest as of Oct. 8.

Father El-Tabchi declined to speak by phone with OSV News, saying in an email that following the assault, he was “trying as much as possible to stay away from the phone.”

However, Father El-Tabchi shared with OSV News an Oct. 5 letter he wrote to parishioners after the attack, in which the priest drew on various Scripture passages to place the traumatic experience in the context of faith.

“The morning the rectory was attacked was a turning point for me, one that forced me to reflect deeply on life, faith and the forces of evil,” wrote Father El-Tabchi. “The experience reminded me how short life is and how evil can be lurking just around the corner, ready to strike at any time.”

Yet “the attack only strengthened my resolve to protect the parish and to stand up for the safety of each and every one of my parishioners,” he said. “This is my duty, and I will not waver in defending the sacred space that we all cherish.”

Father El-Tabchi pointed to Christ’s parable of the faithful servant (Mt 24:45-51), noting that “as priests, we are called to be that faithful and wise servant, always vigilant, ready to protect and serve the people of God.

“The attack on the rectory brought this to life for me, as I felt the weight of my responsibility to care for this parish family,” he said. “Just as the servant must remain watchful and diligent, we too must remain steadfast in our duty, guarding the faith and the souls entrusted to us.”

He also cited St. Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians, in which the apostle warned that “the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.”

“We do not know when challenges will arise, but as children of the light, we must always be prepared,” said Father El-Tabchi, noting St. Paul’s call for faithful to “put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation” (1 Thess 5:8).

“This is the armor we must wear as we face evil and hardship,” said Father El-Tabchi. “With faith and love as our protection and hope as our guide, we are strengthened to carry out our mission as faithful servants.”

At the same time, said the priest, “this doesn’t mean only standing firm in the face of evil but also showing mercy and compassion in response to wrongdoing.”

“Many have asked me: ‘You are a priest, how can you press charges on the man who broke into the house and assaulted you?'” said Father El-Tabchi. “My response is grounded in the truth that God is both merciful and just. His mercy extends to all, offering forgiveness and compassion to those who seek it, while His justice ensures that truth and righteousness prevail. These two qualities work in harmony, reminding us that through His love, we are called to repentance, reconciliation and trust in His perfect judgment.”

He noted that “mercy without justice is dead, and justice without mercy is ruthless.”

“In God, we see the perfect balance of both, teaching us to live with compassion while upholding what is right and just,” said Father El-Tabchi. “We are invited, as Jesus teaches us, to be like our Heavenly Father — merciful and just — reflecting His love in both our actions and decisions. Seeking justice doesn’t negate mercy; it allows us to act with integrity while trusting in God’s Divine Plan for both healing and accountability.”

Christians “are called to embody Christ’s love in the face of evil and adversity,” said Father El-Tabchi. “Although justice should be served, we are invited to show mercy and love.”

By remembering that “every person is created in the image and likeness of God and is worthy to be treated as such,” the faithful can acknowledge each individual’s “ability or inner conscience to make decisions — whether good or bad,” he said. “As children of God, we should strive to be tolerant of those individuals who make inappropriate choices that affect others negatively. They need God’s help. They need our help. Therefore, we are invited to pray for the one who committed this act and to reflect Christ’s love, even when faced with darkness.”

Father El-Tabchi also stressed St. Paul’s call to “bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal 6:2).

“Jesus calls us to be agents of love, mercy, compassion and forgiveness,” said Father El-Tabchi. “We cannot say one thing in church and live the opposite outside its walls. Our faith must be genuine, consistent and transformative in every aspect of our lives.”

He concluded his letter by asking his parishioners to “pray for the lost soul who committed this act and to forgive him.

“This is the heart of the Gospel message — to love and forgive, even in the face of injustice or harm,” said Father El-Tabchi. “Just as Christ forgives us, we must extend that same mercy to others. Through prayer and forgiveness, we show the true strength of our faith.”

ROME (CNS) – As fighting in the Middle East intensified and spread, Pope Francis turned to Mary, begging her to “intercede for our world in danger.”

With members of the Synod of Bishops, pilgrims, ambassadors accredited to the Vatican and Catholics from the Diocese of Rome, the pope led the recitation of the rosary for peace Oct. 6 at Rome’s Basilica of St. Mary Major.

The prayer service took place on the eve of the one-year anniversary of the deadly Hamas attack on Israel and Israel’s massive retaliation in Gaza.

Pope Francis reads a prayer he wrote to Mary, asking her to intercede to bring an end to war, after reciting the rosary for peace in Rome’s Basilica of St. Mary Major Oct. 6, 2024. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon have joined the fighting, firing rockets and artillery shells at northern Israel. Israel ramped up its response in late September, sending troops across the border and intensifying its targeting of what it said were Hezbollah hideouts. In April and again Oct. 1, Iran fired missiles on Israel in support of its Hezbollah allies. Many feared Israel would strike Iran.

Turning to Mary, Pope Francis prayed that she would intercede with God so that the world would “protect life and reject war, care for the suffering, the poor, the defenseless, the sick and the afflicted, and guard our common home.”

“We beg you to intercede for God’s mercy, O Queen of Peace,” the pope prayed. “Convert the souls of those who fuel hatred, silence the noise of weapons that give rise to death, extinguish the violence that broods in the heart of human beings and inspire projects of peace in the deeds of those who govern nations.”

Pope Francis read his prayer to Mary during the service, but did not give a homily.

The pope led a similar service in May 2022, asking Mary to intercede to end Russia’s war on Ukraine and to bring peace to the world.

As the Middle East conflict escalated, he began his prayer by saying, “O Mary, our mother, once again we stand before you. You know the sorrows and difficulties that burden our hearts in this hour. We lift our gaze to you, we focus on your eyes and entrust ourselves to your heart.”

“Hear our cry,” the pope prayed. “We need your loving gaze which invites us to trust in your son Jesus.”

Knowing that Mary is “ready to embrace our sorrows,” he prayed that she would “come to our aid in these times oppressed by injustice and devastated by wars (and) wipe away the tears from the suffering faces of those who mourn the death of their loved ones.”

But Pope Francis also prayed that Mary would rouse all people of goodwill “from indifference which has darkened our way and disarm our hearts from weapons of violence, so that the prophecy of Isaiah may be fulfilled immediately: ‘They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.'”

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Pope Francis announced he would create 21 new cardinals Dec. 8, including a 99-year-old former nuncio and the 44-year-old Ukrainian bishop who heads his church’s eparchy in Melbourne, Australia.

The 21 cardinals-designate named by the pope Oct. 6 hail from 18 nations. Eight of the cardinals come from Europe, five from Latin America, five from Asia, two from Africa and just one from North America — Archbishop Francis Leo of Toronto.

Pope Francis leads the recitation of the Angelus prayer with visitors gathered in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Oct. 6, 2024. At the end of the Angelus, the pope announced he would create 21 new cardinals Dec. 8. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

“Their origin expresses the universality of the church, which continues to proclaim God’s merciful love to all people on earth,” the pope said after reciting the Angelus prayer at midday with visitors in St. Peter’s Square.

Creating them cardinals and formally making them part of the Diocese of Rome, he said, “manifests the inseparable bond between the See of Peter and the particular churches spread throughout the world.”

Within his announcement of the new cardinals, Pope Francis also announced that as of Oct. 6 his new vicar for the Diocese of Rome would be Cardinal-designate Baldassare Reina, a Rome auxiliary bishop who had been serving as vice regent of the diocese, which the pope heads.

Pope Francis included on the list of new cardinals Dominican Father Timothy Radcliffe, a theologian and former master of the Dominican order, who has been serving as spiritual adviser to the Synod of Bishops on synodality.

Indian Msgr. George Jacob Koovakad, an official of the Vatican Secretariat of State who is responsible for organizing papal trips, was also among those named.

The oldest on the list is Italian Archbishop Angelo Acerbi, 99, a career Vatican diplomat who served in New Zealand, Colombia, Hungary, Moldova and the Netherlands before retiring in 2001.

The youngest is 44-year-old Ukraine-born Bishop Mykola Bychok, who was named head of the Ukrainian Eparchy of Sts. Peter and Paul of Melbourne, Australia, in 2020.

Here is the complete list in the order named by the pope:

— Italian Archbishop Angelo Acerbi, former nuncio, 99.

— Archbishop Carlos Gustavo Castillo Mattasoglio of Lima, Peru, 74.

— Archbishop Vicente Bokalic Iglic of Santiago del Estero, Argentina, 72.

— Archbishop Luis Gerardo Cabrera Herrera of Guayaquil, Ecuador, who will be 69 Oct. 11.

— Archbishop Fernando Natalio Chomalí Garib of Santiago, Chile, 67.

— Archbishop Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi of Tokyo, who will be 66 Nov. 1.

— Bishop Pablo Virgilio Siongco David of Kalookan, Philippines, 65.

— Archbishop Ladislav Nemet of Belgrade of Belgrade, Serbia, 68.

— Archbishop Jaime Spengler of Porto Alegre, Brazil, 64.

— Archbishop Ignace Bessi Dogbo of Abidjan, Ivory Coast, 63.

— Archbishop Jean-Paul Vesco of Algiers, Algeria, 62.

— Bishop Paskalis Bruno Syukur of Bogor, Indonesia, 62.

— Archbishop Dominique Joseph Mathieu of Tehran and Isfahan, Iran, 61.

— Archbishop Roberto Repole of Turin, Italy, 57.

— Auxiliary Bishop Baldassare Reina of Rome, who will turn 54 Nov. 26 and whom the pope named Oct. 6 as his vicar for the Diocese of Rome.

— Archbishop Francis Leo of Toronto, 53.

— Lithuanian Archbishop Rolandas Makrickas, coadjutor archpriest of Rome’s Basilica of St. Mary Major, 52.

— Bishop Mykola Bychok of the Ukrainian Eparchy of Sts. Peter and Paul of Melbourne, Australia, 44.

— English Dominican Father Timothy Radcliffe, theologian, 79.

— Italian Scalabrinian Father Fabio Baggio, undersecretary and head of the section for migrants and refugees at the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, 59.

— Indian Msgr. George Jacob Koovakad, 51, an official of the Vatican Secretariat of State who is responsible for organizing papal trips.

SCRANTON – Martin M. Boylan, formerly a priest of the Diocese of Scranton, has been dismissed from the clerical state at the conclusion of a disciplinary process authorized by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith at the Holy See.

Boylan’s involuntarily dismissal from the clerical state was imposed after having been found guilty under canon law of the sexual assault of two minors. As a result, Boylan will never again exercise priestly ministry in any capacity. He may no longer celebrate Mass, hear confessions, or administer any of the Church’s sacraments. His relationship with the Diocese of Scranton in any official capacity is now permanently ended.

This penalty concludes a canonical process that began eight years ago.

On April 1, 2016, then-Father Boylan was removed from priestly ministry following an accusation of the sexual assault of a minor. Using the procedures in canon law and its Policy for Response to Sexual Abuse of Minors, the Diocese of Scranton determined the initial accusation to be credible.

Between April 2016 and October 2023, four additional accusations of sexual assault of minors were received by the Diocese of Scranton, all of which were brought to the attention of law enforcement.

Each of the five accusations was individually investigated by the Diocese of Scranton and the findings were submitted to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith at the Vatican, as required by specific norms in canon law. Finding the accusations credible, the Disciplinary Section of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith at the Vatican authorized the Diocese of Scranton to adjudicate the accusations made against Boylan.

Throughout the canonical proceedings, Boylan was represented by a canon lawyer of his choosing and was given the opportunity to present his defense.

At the conclusion of the adjudication, Boylan was found guilty under canon law of the sexual assault of two minors. The Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith reviewed the findings and authorized the Diocese of Scranton to impose the permanent penalty of dismissal from the clerical state on Boylan, the most severe penalty that the Catholic Church can impose on a cleric.

Having been served with the decision, Boylan exercised his right to appeal to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. In two consecutive appeals by Boylan, the Vatican upheld the original decision of the Diocese of Scranton in its entirety, exhausting any further appeals.

Boylan, 76, is among the priests listed on the Diocese of Scranton’s “Credibly Accused Individuals” listing. A listing of prior ministry assignments is available on the Diocese of Scranton website.

Throughout the process, victims have been offered assistance for healing.

“I ask all people to join me in praying for the victims and their families. No one should ever have to endure such trauma, and it is our responsibility to ensure that all survivors are heard, supported, and empowered to heal,” Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, said. “Let me be clear: there is no place in our Church for such heinous acts. We must ensure that our Church is a safe haven for all, and it is our collective duty to protect, to listen, and to stand against any form of abuse.”

Boylan now lives privately and may not represent the Diocese of Scranton in any capacity.

 

Shown, from left: Mary Carroll Donahoe, chief program officer AllOne Charities, Rob Williams, executive director, St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen, Atty. PJ LaBelle, SFK advisory board member and sponsorship co-chair; Matthew Byrne, race director and co-founder, Scranton Running Company.

Arrangements are well underway for the 12th annual “Run Against Hunger,” which benefits the St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen. This will take place on November 9, 2024. The Scranton Running Company and AllOne Charities are hosting the weekend’s events.

For information about sponsorships, participating and to pre-register for the event, visit: https://runsignup.com/Race/PA/Scranton/RunAgainstHunger5K10KRun2miwalk

For online sponsorship payments, visit:
https://formstack.io/BD418

SCRANTON — Now in its 45th year, the well-known Annual Candlelight Rosary Novena that has been offered in Lackawanna County to faithful celebrating the Marian month of October will be hosted this fall at Divine Mercy Parish in the Minooka section of Scranton.

The 2024 edition of the inspirational and moving devotion, which celebrates the month of the Holy Rosary and the annual Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary in October, will open on Saturday, Oct. 5, at the parish’s Saint Joseph Church, 312 Davis Street.

An image from the annual Candlelight Rosary Novena in 2021 when it took place at Saint Lucy Church in Scranton. (Photo/Mike Melisky)

Serving as host pastor for the popular Rosary Novena will be Saint Joseph Oblate Father Paul McDonnell, who also serves as rector of the Oblates of Saint Joseph community and chapel on Highway 315 in Laflin. He is assisted by the permanent deacon of Divine Mercy Parish, Deacon Martin Castaldi.

According to the Novena’s longtime director, Deacon Carmine Mendicino, evening services for the nine-day Candlelight Rosary devotion begin at 7 p.m. from Oct. 5 through Saturday, Oct. 12, with the Novena closing scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 13, at 6:30 p.m. in Saint Joseph Church.

This year’s Rosary Novena theme is “In God We Trust.”

Nightly devotions include: Rosary recitation by candlelight; crowning of the statue of the Blessed Mother; Gospel reading followed by the homily; praying of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy; and solemn closing with benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

Music ministry for the Novena will be under the direction of Nicholas Katchur and Christopher Mendicino.

The Rosary Novena is open to the public, with the parish church completely handicap accessible.

For more information, contact the Divine Mercy parish office at (570) 344-1724.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – “Rushing” to open the diaconate to women in the Catholic Church would short-circuit a necessary reflection on the relationship between ordained ministry and charismatic leadership, particularly as it impacts the participation of women in the church, said the head of the Vatican’s doctrinal office.

On the question of women deacons, “we know the public position of the pope, who does not consider the question mature,” Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, told members of the Synod of Bishops Oct. 2.

Pope Francis, leaders of the assembly of the Synod of Bishops and participants attend the synod’s opening session in the Vatican’s Paul VI Audience Hall Oct. 2, 2023. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)

“The opportunity for a deepening remains open, but in the mind of the Holy Father, there are other issues still to be deepened and resolved before rushing to speak of a possible diaconate for some women,” he said. “Otherwise, the diaconate becomes a kind of consolation for some women, and the most decisive question of the participation of women in the church remains unanswered.”

After the first assembly of the synod on synodality in 2023, Pope Francis set up 10 study groups to reflect more deeply on some of the most controversial or complicated questions raised during the synod process. Opening the diaconate to women and ensuring they have decision-making roles in the church was one of those questions, as was ministry to LGBTQ people, how bishops are chosen, and improving seminary education.

Brief videos about each group’s work were shown to the assembly; except for Cardinal Fernández’ group on women’s ministry, each video included the names and photos of the group’s members. The Vatican published written reports from each group, but leaders also spoke to the assembly about their progress.

Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, relator general of the synod, introduced the group leaders to the assembly and told synod members that the groups were “companions on the journey” toward helping all Catholics listen to the Holy Spirit and each other, value each other’s experiences and talents and collaborate in sharing the Gospel.

In his written report, Cardinal Fernández said that at this point, his dicastery “judges that there is still no room for a positive decision by the magisterium regarding the access of women to the diaconate, understood as a degree of the sacrament of holy orders.”

But, he wrote, the dicastery thinks a “particularly interesting” way forward would be “to analyze in-depth the lives of some women who — in both the early and recent history of the church — have exercised genuine authority and power in support of the church’s mission.”

Their “authority or power was not tied to sacramental consecration, as would be in the case, at least today, with diaconal ordination,” the report said. “Yet, in some cases, one can perceive that it was an ‘exercise’ of power and authority that was of great value and was fruitful for the vitality of the people of God.”

As examples, the report listed Sts. Hildegard of Bingen, Catherine of Siena, Joan of Arc, Teresa of Ávila and Elizabeth Ann Seton, as well as Dorothy Day “with her prophetic drive for social issues.”

Another study group was focused on elaborating “theological and methodological criteria for shared discernment of controversial doctrinal, pastoral and ethical issues.” Its report said that it aims to help the church and its ministers respond to questions regarding peace and justice, care of creation, sexuality and life issues. It apparently is the group looking into ministry to and with Catholics who identify as LGBTQ.

The report said, “The Gospel invites us to respond to the God of love who saves us, to see God in others and to go forth from ourselves to seek the good of others. We are therefore called to a complete and challenging conversion; a conversion that takes concrete shape in the way we present and translate the truth of the Gospel as manifested and practiced in the agápe of God in Christ.”
.
The group looking at how seminary formation could prepare priests to be more collaborative repeated the synod assembly’s call for finding alternatives to the “seminary model as a prolonged experience disconnected from the people of God,” particularly by ensuring lay men and women are on seminary staffs and that candidates for the priesthood study with and have pastoral experiences with laypeople.

Another group is examining the process for naming bishops and helping bishops learn to be more collaborative as they fulfill their leadership responsibilities.

Like the global listening sessions that began in 2021 and the synod assembly of 2023, working group members said, “The call emerges for greater transparency and accountability in the processes of selecting candidates for the episcopate, the confidentiality of which sometimes gives rise among the faithful to doubts regarding the honesty of the procedures implemented and, more generally, unease regarding methods deemed inconsistent with a synodal church model.”