SCRANTON (April 11, 2025) – The Diocese of Scranton is proud to announce the results of its fourth annual Rectory, Set, Cook! competition – and this year’s event was one for the record books.

Between March 4 and April 10, the popular fundraising competition brought together 32 priests from across the Diocese of Scranton in a spirited battle for culinary glory – all in support of anti- hunger and anti-homelessness initiatives through Catholic Social Services.

In a thrilling finale that came down to the wire, with last-minute donations tipping the scales, this year’s event raised $227,162, setting a record amount raised in the competition’s history.

“This year’s Rectory, Set, Cook! was the most exciting yet,” event director Sandra Snyder said. “I love this project because it really unites people and priests in such a special – and fun – way. It’s so inspiring to see so many pastor chefs willing to put themselves out there like this for the greater good.”

This year’s competition came down to the very last minute and a single time-stamped donation at 4:59 p.m. that made the difference between first and second place.

“While the competition is all in good fun, the real winners are the people whose lives will benefit from the outpouring of generosity that we see from the community,” Snyder added.

At the close of the competition at 5 p.m. on April 10, 2025, the following six teams had raised the most money and have been named the “2025 Top Chefs.”

1.      Father Shawn Simchock, Administrator Pro Tem, Saint Ann Parish, Williamsport

Total Raised: $35,301.75 Recipe: Easter Pizza

2.      Father Jim Paisley, Pastor, Saint Ann Basilica Parish, Scranton

Total Raised: $35,218.31

Recipe: Potat De Denad (Potatoes and Pork)

3.      Monsignor Jack Bendik & Father Ken Seegar, from Villa Saint Joseph, Dunmore

Total Raised: $21,169.89

Recipe: Seafood Pierogies, Apple Pierogies & Mama Bendik’s Homemade Applesauce

4.      Father Michael Drevitch & Monsignor John Sempa, Corpus Christi, West Pittston (also featuring Cheryl Sempa Radkiewicz, Julia Carsia, Connor Giambra and Christopher Giambra)

Total Raised: $13,000.85

Recipe: “Can’t Leave Alone Bars” & Msgr. Sempa’s world-famous Pineapple Jell-O

5.      Father Jack Lambert, Pastor, Saints Peter and Paul Parish, Plains (also featuring Gary Lambert Jr., Nora Lambert and Anna Lambert) Total Raised: $12,124.44

Recipe: Chicken Parmigiana with angel-hair pasta

6.      Father Michael Boris, Assistant Pastor, Our Lady of the Snows Parish, Clarks Summit, and Saint Gregory Parish, Clarks Green (also featuring Father John Lapera and a team of teaching parishioners/colleagues)

Total Raised: $11,076.44

Recipe: Pasta with pesto sauce, pizza, and ice cream

“I believe Rectory, Set, Cook! embodies the true meaning of the Lenten season. Our faith calls us to prayer, fasting, and almsgiving and what better way to do our almsgiving during Lent than through this event,” Father Simchock said. “Not only are we feeding the hungry and sheltering the homeless, but we are also helping out our parishes that need money to get projects done around the parish.”

“In spite of all that is going on with our economy these days, there was not a single person approached who did not gladly and generously make a donation to this year’s Rectory, Set, Cook! campaign,” Father Paisley added. “I could not be more grateful to the 255 donors who helped me reach and surpass a personal goal of $100,000 raised since the inception of Rectory, Set, Cook! May God bless all who contributed to this fight against hunger and homelessness.”

In its inaugural year, 2022, Rectory, Set, Cook! brought in $171,747. In 2023, the online culinary competition raised a total of $197,412 and in 2024 it raised $218,001.

A number of community businesses help to sponsor Rectory, Set, Cook!, including the program’s presenting sponsor, Hawk Family Foundation. All sponsorship dollars raised stay directly with 

Catholic Social Services to benefit area kitchens, food and clothing pantries, and emergency shelters.

Catholic Social Services will use the money raised to respond to an increasing need for services in the community.

“In January, we officially opened our new, permanent home for Mother Teresa’s Haven in the city of Wilkes-Barre. After years of planning and months of construction, we are now serving our brothers in need every night in a new, modern facility, and better coordinating services with Saint Vincent de Paul Kitchen, which is now directly below the shelter,” Joe Mahoney,

Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Social Services, explained. “We are so thankful for the tremendous support of everyone who donated to this year’s competition because the funding allows us to continue serving our local communities in many different and varied ways.”

We invite you to check out videos of all three years of Rectory, Set, Cook! by clicking on one of the links listed below. Once again, we’d like to thank all our generous donors who helped us fight hunger and homelessness in 2024. Stay tuned for news on our 2025 campaign!

Rectory, Set, Cook! 2024

Rectory, Set, Cook! 2023

Rectory, Set, Cook! 2022

 

 

Parishioners from SS. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Towanda processed on Palm Sunday, April 13, carrying palms from the Grotto of Our Blessed Mother to the Church. 

They were led by Altar Servers and the Pastor of the Church, Fr. Jose Joseph Kuriappilly.  This event was to commemorate the triumphant entrance of Jesus into the city of Jerusalem before His Passion and Death.

 

Photos by Laurie Barcia

Students in the Children’s Faith Formation Program at the Church of Saint Patrick in Milford recently enacted the Passion and Death of Jesus in a presentation featuring narration, song and prayers led by Father Joseph Manarchuck, Pastor. The presentation, entitled “Living Stations”, was directed by catechist Laurie Barcia, assisted by Christine Sell, also a catechist in the Children’s Faith Formation Program.

Participants included: Tessa Marotta, Sofia Rizzo, Roger Lake, Kaitlin Murphy, PJ Barcia, Adele Kahmar, Emersyn Delrio, Angelina Giovane, Cassidy Lentoni and Jeremy Gesualdo. Narrators were: Angelica Barcia and Clare Barcia.

Mrs. Michele Baron designed the costumes for the presentation, with lighting provided by Kevin Riker of Riker Services, assisted by catechist Charles Kratochwill. Micah Sweeney, known for his  popular radio dramas, was production consultant. Accompanying  music was provided by the Music Ministry under the direction of   Rich Gherardi.

 

On the evening of St. Joseph’s Day, the Knights of Columbus John Paul II Council 13935 participated in a moving celebration at the 7:00 PM Mass at St. Joseph’s Church in Matamoras, Pennsylvania. In a powerful display of faith and fraternity, the Council processed into the church carrying their newly acquired statue of St. Joseph, elevated on a handcrafted litter.

The statue, which made its public debut that evening, is a traditional depiction of St. Joseph the Worker, holding a carpenter’s square and lilies—symbols of his vocation, his purity, and his role as a humble, steadfast guardian of the Holy Family. The litter, which had been used just three days earlier in the local St. Patrick’s Day Parade, was designed and built by members of the Council to support processions throughout the liturgical year. Its elegant, sturdy frame added a solemn beauty to the moment as the Knights brought St. Joseph into his namesake parish.

“This was a beautiful way to honor St. Joseph,” said Ed Gutierrez, who helped lead the effort to organize the procession. “We’ve talked for years about doing something like this, and to see it finally come together on his feast day — at St. Joseph’s Church no less — it just felt right. The statue and the litter aren’t just for display. They’re tools of devotion, meant to inspire and bring our parish family closer to the saints and to Christ.”

The Mass, celebrated by Fr. Joseph Manarchuck, included a homily reflecting on the silent strength of St. Joseph, his obedience to God, and the vital role he plays as patron of the Church. Father also expressed gratitude to the Knights for enhancing the celebration with their visible witness of devotion.

The Council plans to incorporate the statue and litter into future parish events and feast days, including Corpus Christi and the Assumption, helping to foster a renewed sense of beauty, reverence, and tradition in the liturgical life of the parish.

As the Knights of Columbus continue their mission of service, prayer, and brotherhood, their participation in the St. Joseph’s Day Mass stands as a testament to their devotion to the saints and their deep commitment to the spiritual life of the Church.

St. Joseph the Worker, pray for us.

 

The Knights of Columbus of St. Michael’s Parish, Canton, Pa., JFK Council #5517 conducted a Food for Families Thanksgiving Food Drive and were able to give the Canton Area Food Pantry a monetary donation of $780.00 which qualified us for a $100.00 rebate from the Supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus. Presenting the rebate check to the Canton Area Food Pantry is Grand Knight Ralph Lepper.

Accepting the check is The CAFP Treasurer Charlotte Moses, along with the CAFP Director, Cathy Cole. The food pantry appreciates all the Knights do for them throughout the year and the Knights are grateful to serve.

 

Front row, from left to right Mike Loncoski, Judy Stodolny, Eileen Kelly, Barbara Miller – Amber District President, June Supey- 3 rd Degree recipient, Tom Wierbowski – Amber District Vice President and 3 rd Degree recipient, Marilyn Fitzgerald, Dennis Palladino, Janet Palladino, Elaine Elko, and Mary Claire Voveris. Second row, from left to right, Yvonne Branas, Reverend Joseph Elston, Ruth Wnuk – 3 rd Degree recipient, Sylvia Waxmonsky, Don Waxmonsky, Irene Kovaleski, and John Kovaleski. Third row, from left to right, Les Distin, Anne Marie Distin, Steve Tichy – Amber District Trustee, Tom Miller – Amber District Secretary, Bill Sodnik, Tom Vaxmonsky, Donna Albright and Joe Francik. Absent from photo was Camille Stanis.

Knights of Lithuania Council 143, Pittston, celebrated the feast of St. Casimir with a Mass held on Sunday, March 2nd at St. John the Evangelist Church in Pittston. Third degrees were also conferred at the Mass. A luncheon and Amber District meeting in the Monsignor Bendik Center followed the service. Pictured are Council members, Amber District members and guests. 

 

Participants included: Emersyn Delrio, Orlando Huerta, Isabella Johnson, Adele Kahmar, Roger Lake, Tessa Marotta, Kaitlin Murphy, Sofia Rizzo and also, Chelsey Samson of the Church of St. Joseph’s in Matamoras, PA.

Eighth-grade students in the Children’s Faith Formation Program at the Church of St. Patrick’s in Milford recently participated in a Retreat as part of their preparation for the receipt of the sacrament of Confirmation, to be held on Pentecost Sunday.

Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments in the Catholic Church.  It is also one of the three sacraments of initiation, the other two being Baptism and First Holy Communion. In Confirmation, the individual is “sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit”, deepening the commitment as missionary witnesses to Jesus Christ in daily life.

The Retreat, which featured prayer, group activities, videos, discussion, role playing, art and receipt of the sacrament of Reconciliation, was led by Kristin Travis of Saint John Vianney Parish in Scott Township. 


His Excellency, Bishop Joseph C. Bambera, announces the following appointments, effective July 1, 2025: 

Reverend John V. Polednak, V.E., from Episcopal Vicar for Clergy to retirement.

Reverend Seth D. Wasnock, V.F., to Episcopal Vicar for Clergy.  Father Wasnock will remain Pastor, Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, Carbondale.

 

We hope you’ll join us in praying for vocations before the Blessed Sacrament at XLT this Wednesday, February 26th, at Christ the King Parish in Archbald at 6:30pm!

  • Speaker: Sr. Kieran Williams, Vocation Director for the IHM Congregation
  • Musician: Michael Corsini
  • Sacrament of Reconciliation, refreshments, and fellowship!

There will be no XLT in March at Christ the King, St. Maria Goretti, or St. Matthew’s. We invite you to instead join Bishop Bambera for his Lenten Holy Hours throughout the Diocese of Scranton’s 12 deaneries. Each of these Lenten Holy Hours will take place at 7pm. 

Please remember to pray for vocations throughout Lent!

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.