Category: News

 

Members of Knights of Lithuania Council 143, Pittston, celebrated the feast of St. Casimir with a Mass held on Sunday, March 5 at St. John the Evangelist Church.

A luncheon and Amber District meeting in the Monsignor Bendik Center followed the service.

Pictured are Council 143 members, Amber District officers and clergy, front row, from left to right, Tom Wierbowski, Judy Stodolny, Mary Claire Voveris, Marilyn Fitzgerald, Dennis Palladino, Janet Palladino, Eileen Kelly, Jean Mihalick, Barbara Miller. Second row, from left to right, John Kovaleski, Irene Kovaleski, Mike Loncoski, Cathy Talarico, Rob Kiska, Mary Portelli, June Supey, Sylvia Waxmonsky, Don Waxmonsky, Reverend Joseph Elston, Deacon David Marx, Tom Miller. Third row, from left to right, Greg Wolovich, Jr., Bill Sodnik, Joe Francik. Absent from photo was Camille Stanis.

 

The annual Saint Patrick’s Parade Day Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 11, at the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Scranton. All are welcome to attend.

The liturgy is traditionally held in conjunction with the city of Scranton’s annual Saint Patrick’s Day Parade. Following the Mass, the Saint Patrick’s Parade is expected to take to the streets of the Electric City beginning at 11:45 a.m.

The Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, will serve as principal celebrant and homilist for the Mass. The Mass will be concelebrated by Rev. Jeffrey D. Tudgay, V.E., Episcopal Vicar for Canonical Affairs and Pastor of the Cathedral of Saint Peter; Rev. Daniel R. Sweeney, S.J.; and priests of the Diocese of Scranton.

The Mass will be broadcast live on CTV: Catholic Television of the Diocese of Scranton and will be rebroadcast on Tuesday, March 14, at 7:30 p.m., and Wednesday, March 15, at 10:30 a.m. It will also be available for viewing on the Diocese of Scranton’s YouTube Channel.

This year marks the 61st Anniversary of the Saint Patrick’s Parade in Scranton.

Saturday’s Mass is being offered in memory of the Most Rev. John M. Dougherty, D.D., Patty Bianche, Michael (Mikey) Castaldi Sr., James Connor, Tom Conway, Bob Foley, Anthony F. (Botch) Hughes, Marty Judge Sr., James “Kuch” Kuchwara, James “Red” McAndrew, Fergal O’Brien, Kathleen Kelly O’Hara, Mary Louise Ruane, Tom Scanlan, Bobby Timlin and Tony Walsh.

Michael J. Cummings, President, Saint Patrick’s Parade Association of Lackawanna County, will serve as lector for the Mass and Gina Pascolini will serve as cantor.

The Offertory gifts will be presented by Dorothea Crowley, President, Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians of Lackawanna County; Al O’Donnell, President, Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick of Lackawanna County; Conal McHugh, President, Ancient Order of Hibernians of Lackawanna County; Jack McIntyre, President, Irish Cultural Society; and Lori Wagner, President, Society of Irish Women.

 

The U.S. Senate is expected to vote soon on a resolution that could impose abortion-on-demand nationwide without any limits, require taxpayer funding of abortion, put women’s opportunities and spaces at risk of being opened to men (such as in sports, locker rooms, prisons, and shelters), and undermine the religious freedom of people and organizations of faith to carry out their important missions – potentially even requiring Catholic hospitals and health workers to perform abortions and gender procedures on children. On top of these harms, the Senate’s process for this proposal – which attempts to declare that the misnamed “Equal Rights Amendment” (ERA) is a ratified part of the U.S. Constitution – is unconstitutional. Catholic teaching speaks very clearly and strongly about the equality of men and women, but the far-reaching consequences of the ERA would cause serious harm to women, preborn life, and the common good. 

Please contact your U.S. Senators now and tell them to oppose the resolution to unconstitutionally revive the misnamed “Equal Rights Amendment.” More information from the USCCB on the ERA can be found here.
 
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Stop the Senate from eliminating Pro-Life protections and harming women and religious freedom!

 

The U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services (HHS) has proposed new changes to regulations meant to protect conscience rights in health care. Let HHS know that conscience matters to you! 

Numerous federal laws protect the right of organizations and people working in health care to object, as a matter of conscience, to abortion, sterilization, assisted suicide, gender transition surgery, and other procedures. The enforcement of these laws is governed by HHS regulations, so it is very important for HHS to issue strong regulations and keep them that way. 

HHS has proposed revisions to these regulations, known as the “Conscience Rule,” which implements over a dozen conscience statutes. Under the Trump administration, HHS issued a strong version of the Conscience Rule, but courts struck it down, leaving in place the previous, extremely weak version from the Obama administration. On January 5, 2023, HHS proposed a new version.  
The USCCB supports this new proposed rule as an improvement over the current situation in which the 2019 Rule is not in place, but also urges HHS to strengthen the proposed rule.  Join the USCCB in encouraging HHS to strengthen the Conscience Rule. 

To learn more, read USCCB’s published comments on the rule, Cardinal Dolan’s December 30 statement, and visit the USCCB’s “Do No Harm” webpage on these regulations at the links below.

www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/about/general-counsel/rulemaking/upload/23-0301_Conscience_Rule_NPRM_Comments.pdf

www.usccb.org/news/2022/us-bishops-religious-liberty-chairman-expresses-concern-over-proposed-revision-conscience

www.usccb.org/Do-No-Harm 

Take Action Now

 

OBITUARY
REVEREND MICHAEL EDWARD FINN

Reverend Michael Edward Finn, died on the 18th day of February, 2023 at Commonwealth Regional Hospital, Scranton.

Reverend Michael Edward Finn, son of the late Patrick Joseph Finn and Sally A. McLane Finn, was born in Pittston on March 1, 1950.   He was a graduate of Pittston High School, attended St. Mary’s College, Kentucky, and was a graduate of the University of Scranton.  Father received his seminary education from Pope Saint Pius X Seminary, Dalton, Pennsylvania and Christ the King Seminary, Olean, New York.  He was ordained to the priesthood in the Cathedral of St. Peter, Scranton, on May 7, 1977 by Bishop J. Carroll McCormick, late Bishop of Scranton.   

Father Finn received a summer appointment as assistant pastor pro tem at St. Ann Church, Shohola in May 1977 and in September of that year, was appointed assistant pastor at St. Matthew Church, East Stroudsburg.  In September 1983, Father was appointed Assistant Pastor, Our Lady of the Snows, Clarks Summit.

Father received his first pastorate at Holy Child Church, Mansfield in July 1990.  He was next appointed Pastor, St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Moscow in July 1994 and served for thirteen years until his appointment as Pastor, St. Thomas More, Lake Ariel in July 2007.  In July 2013, Father was appointed Pastor, St. Barbara Church, Exeter where he remained until his retirement and appointment as Pastor Emeritus in May 2022.

Father also served the Diocese as Regional Coordinator of Religious Education (Monroe and Pike Counties); Deanery Coordinator for Pope Saint John Paul’s Visit in 1979; Dean of Tioga County and Dean of Dunmore deanery.  Having a great love for the scriptures, Father was able to take a sabbatical and studied in the Holy Land, Father would often lead tours to the Holy Land which were well appreciated for their in-depth insights into both the Bible and the pilgrimage sites.

Father Finn is survived by siblings, Ann Teresa Engleman, Pittston; Edward Finn (Peg), Brigantine, NJ; W. Gordon Finn, Pittston; Kathleen Masulis, Pittston; and Patricia Medico (Charles), Laflin; sister-in-law of the heart, Cheryl Finn, Plains; nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and cousins. 

In addition to his parents, Father was preceded in death by brothers-in-law, Edward Masulis and George Engleman; and a nephew, Brian Engleman.

Viewing will take place Wednesday, February 22, 2023 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at St. John the Evangelist Church, 35 William Street, Pittston.  A Vesper Service will be celebrated at 8:00 p.m.

A Pontifical Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by the Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L., Bishop of Scranton, on Thursday, February 23 at 10:30 a.m. preceded by a viewing from 9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.   Interment will be in St. John the Evangelist Cemetery, Pittston.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Joseph’s Center, 2010 Adams Avenue, Scranton, PA  18510. Arrangements are entrusted to Adonizio Funeral Home, LLC, Pittston, Pa.   On-line condolences may be made by visiting Father Finn’s obituary at adoniziofuneralhome.com 

 

The women of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians of Lackawanna County celebrated Mass on Feb. 1 at Saint Patrick Parish in West Scranton for the Feast of Saint Brigid.

Father Richard E. Fox, pastor, celebrated Mass for the order, whose motto is, “Friendship, Unity and Christian Charity.”

Dorothea Crowley currently serves as the Lackawanna County Board president of the LAOH.

Pictured, front row, left to right: Nancy Earyes, Kristin Krowiak, Mary Kate Warner, Chris Lavelle, Elaine Bruno, Fran Kingsley, Nori Connor, Alice McDermott, Dorothea Crowley, Father Richard Fox, Maureen Wallace, Nancy McAndrew Yavoroski, Kate Schneider, Teresa Pelligrino, Karen Savage, and Doreen Gilbride.

Back row, left to right: Mary Kay Sears, Patty Jones, Mary Ann Abdo, Kathleen Connor, Mary Fran Smith, Tammy Jackson, Carolynn Wahl, Michele McDade, Mary Anne McAndrew, and Lori Wagner.