On behalf of the faithful of the Diocese of Scranton, we offer our prayers for all those affected by the terrible storms that recently struck our area. Several people were injured, and significant damage to properties and businesses is being reported. We are grateful for the dedication and hard work of so many emergency personnel, government officials and citizens who have been responding to this incident, and we commend the recovery efforts to God’s care.
“For more than 100 years, the Little Sisters of the Poor have provided compassionate, loving care to countless numbers of elderly and infirmed residents from throughout the Diocese of Scranton.
Although Holy Family Residence is not a Diocesan facility, the Little Sisters have tirelessly fulfilled the mission of the Church by providing for those in need of their care with a particular commitment to serving the poor in an atmosphere of respect, dignity, and love.
While there is sadness that the Sisters will no longer be able to continue their ministry in the Diocese of Scranton, we give thanks for their witness and dedicated service to the people of our region.”
Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L.
Bishop of Scranton
Press Release from Little Sisters of the Poor Little Sisters of the Poor to withdraw from Holy Family Residence, Scranton, PA
(05/30/2018) – Today the Little Sisters of the Poor announced with sadness, that they will be withdrawing from the Holy Family Residence in Scranton, PA. This morning the Sisters met with the Residents, their families, lay Associates, staff and volunteers sharing their decision.
The Little Sisters have served in the Diocese of Scranton continuously since 1908 when they began their ministry at the Maloney Home, the first Catholic Home dedicated to the care of the elderly poor of Scranton. In September 1976 Holy Family Residence, built on the same property, replaced the Maloney Home.
In making the announcement, Mother Alice Marie, the Little Sisters’ provincial superior, explained: “As part of a strategic plan aimed at strengthening our ministry and bolstering the quality of our religious and community life, we Little Sisters of the Poor have recognized the need to withdraw from a certain number of homes in the United States, while at the same time dedicating our resources to much needed upgrades and reconstruction projects in several others.”
The Little Sisters of the Poor are actively seeking a buyer for the Home with the hope of finding another mission-driven sponsor. They announced that they will provide periodic updates as the transition process proceeds.
In letters to the Residents and their family members, Mother Theresa Louisa, Superior of Holy Family Residence, also offered the Residents the possibility of moving to another Home sponsored by the Little Sister of the Poor. “Know that if you wish to go to any of our other Homes so that you can continue to be part of the Little Sisters’ family, you will be welcomed with open arms.”
Mother Alice Marie concluded the announcement by thanking all those who have supported Holy Family Residence and the Little Sisters of the Poor for so many years. In a special way she thanked the Diocese of Scranton for its leadership in promoting and supporting the mission of the Little Sisters of the Poor for the last 110 years. She assured everyone of the Sisters’ prayers and support throughout the transition period.
For further information, please contact Father Mark Cregan, C.S.C., Esq. at 917.767.2772.
Pope Francis has offered another hopeful message that should inspire each one of us to strive to be the person God created us to be. The Holy Father calls all of us to bear witness to God in our everyday lives and in all that we do, in particular by treating everyone we encounter with dignity and respect, especially the most vulnerable and those in need of our compassion and assistance – the unborn, the poor and destitute, migrants and refugees.
Our Holy Father states, “Let the grace of your baptism bear fruit in a path of holiness. Let everything be open to God; turn to him in every situation. Do not be dismayed, for the power of the Holy Spirit enables you to do this, and holiness, in the end, is the fruit of the Holy Spirit in your life.”
As we reflect with gratitude on this Apostolic Exhortation, Pope Francis reminds us that our identification with Christ and His will involves a commitment to build with Him a “kingdom of love, justice and universal peace.”
Read the Apostolic Exhortation here: Rejoice and Be Glad
On this date 50 years ago – April 4, 1968 – our nation and indeed the world were shocked by the assassination of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – a true apostle of peace, equality and non-violence. As we mark that tragic event, we also commemorate Dr. King’s great achievements to promote racial equality, dignity and justice for all people – ideals that are at the very core of our Christian faith. And we again commit ourselves to working, through prayer and action, for peaceful resolutions to the issues that still challenge us as a society. This is the mission that will truly honor Dr. King’s legacy.
On Friday, April 13th at 7:30 in the evening, the Cathedral will present a concert honoring the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Diocese of Scranton. Titled “How Firm a Foundation: A Musical Celebration of Our First 150 Years”, the concert will feature the Choral Society of Northeast Pennsylvania. At the concert, a free will offering will be collected to support the work of the Cathedral and the Choral Society. Please set aside the evening of April 13th and join us as we journey through our rich history in song.
Because of technical issues at the broadcaster, the premiere of the documentary on the history of the Diocese produced by WVIA Public Media could not be shown last night. The premiere has been rescheduled for tonight, Friday, March 23 at 9:00pm on WVIA. WVIA regrets the delay and has expanded the broadcast schedule as follows:
WVIA:
Friday, March 23, 9:00pm
Monday, March 26, 9:00pm
Tuesday, March 27, 8:00pm
Wednesday, March 28, 9:00pm
Thursday, March 29, 10:00pm
Friday, March 30, 9:00pm
Saturday, March 31, 6:00pm & 8:00pm
Sunday, April 1, 3:00pm
CTV: Catholic Television:
Tuesday, April 3, 8:00pm
Wednesday, April 4, 10:00am
Monday, April 9, 9:00am
Thursday, April 12, 2:00pm
Friday, April 13, 8:00pm
The documentary will also be available for viewing on the Diocesan website (www.dioceseofscranton.org) beginning March 26.
The Most Reverend Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., D.D., Archbishop of Philadelphia and Metropolitan of the ecclesiastical province of Pennsylvania, will make his first visit to the Diocese of Scranton when he serves as principal celebrant of the Pontifical Mass marking the actual 150th Anniversary Sunday of the founding of the Diocese. The liturgy will be celebrated on Sunday, March 4, 2018, at 3 p.m. in the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Scranton.
“It fills me with great joy to be the principal celebrant for this Mass as part of the commemoration of the 150th Anniversary of the Diocese of Scranton,” Archbishop Chaput said. “Philadelphia and Scranton have shared a special bond beginning with the early days of the Church in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Since the time of missionary parishes served by traveling Philadelphia bishops and priests, to the establishment of Scranton as its own diocese in 1868, to the present day, we are inextricably linked as part of God’s family.
“I send my prayerful best wishes to the bishop, priests, deacons and lay faithful of the Diocese of Scranton on the occasion of your sesquicentennial. May God bless you abundantly for many years to come.”
Archbishop Chaput, a Kansas native, joined the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, Saint Augustine Province, in 1965. He was ordained to the priesthood on August 29, 1970.
Archbishop Chaput received a Master of Arts in Theology from the University of San Francisco in 1971. He served as a seminary instructor, pastor, and in administrative positions for the Capuchin Province of Saint Augustine in Pittsburgh and the Capuchin Province of Mid-America, including chief executive and provincial minister.
Archbishop Chaput was ordained Bishop of Rapid City, South Dakota, on July 26, 1988. Pope John Paul II appointed him Archbishop of Denver on February 18, 1997, and he was installed on April 7 the same year. As a member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Tribe, Archbishop Chaput was the second Native American to be ordained a bishop in the United States, and the first Native American archbishop.
Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Archbishop of Philadelphia on July 19, 2011. He was installed as the 13th bishop and ninth archbishop of Philadelphia on September 8, 2011.
In 1999, building on the efforts of his predecessor in Denver, Archbishop Chaput founded St. John Vianney Theological Seminary, an affiliate of the Pontifical Lateran University.
In 2002, assisted by his Auxiliary Bishop José Gomez, Archbishop Chaput founded Centro San Juan Diego in response to the pastoral and educational needs of the growing Hispanic community in Colorado. He later co-founded the national Catholic Association of Latino Leaders (CALL) and helped in the founding of ENDOW, a leadership initiative of Catholic women to “Educate on the Nature and Dignity of Women.” He was also instrumental in creating the Denver-based Augustine Institute, an independent, lay-run graduate school for the formation of lay Catholic leaders, catechists and evangelizers.
Archbishop Chaput served on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, 2003-2006. In 2005, he was named a member of the official U.S. delegation to Cordoba, Spain, for the “Conference on Anti-Semitism and Other Forms of Intolerance,” sponsored by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The national Becket Fund for Religious Liberty awarded him the 2009 Canterbury Medal for his work in advancing religious freedom.
Archbishop Chaput served on the Board of Directors for The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. (1994 – 2009) and the National Catholic Bioethics Center (1993 – 2006). He serves on the board of directors for Eternal Word Television Network, Birmingham, Alabama (1996 – present); The Catholic Foundation of Northern Colorado (1998 – 2011); St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Northern Colorado (1999 – 2011); Redemptorists Mater Seminary in Northern Colorado (1998 – 2011); The Fellowship of Catholic University Students (2001 – present); Catholic Association of Latino Leaders (2007 – present); World Youth Alliance International (2010 – present). As Archbishop of Philadelphia, he serves as the ex-officio Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary.
For the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops, Archbishop Chaput has served as Chair of the Subcommittee on Native American Catholics; a member of the Committee for Cultural Diversity in the Church and the Task Force for Health Care; a member of the Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty; and a consultant to the Committee for Pro-Life Activities. He also served on the Committee for Divine Worship, the Committee for Migration, the Committee for Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth, the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, and the Task Force on Strengthening Marriage.
Archbishop Chaput served the Holy See as an Apostolic Visitor to U.S. seminaries, (2005 – 2006); the Diocese of Toowoomba, Australia, (2007); and the Legion of Christ for Canada and the United States, (2009 – 2010). In February 2014 he was appointed to the Pontifical Council for the Laity by Pope Francis. In 2015, he hosted the World Meeting of Families and visit of Pope Francis to Philadelphia. He participated in the 2015 Synod of Bishops on the Family in Rome and was named a permanent member of the council for that synod.
He is author of three books: Living the Catholic Faith: Rediscovering the Basics (Servant, 2001), Render Unto Caesar: Serving the Nation by Living Our Catholic Beliefs in Political Life (Doubleday, 2008); Strangers in a Strange Land: Living the Catholic Faith in a Post-Christian World (Henry Holt and Co., 2017) and numerous talks, articles and pastoral letters.
The Mass on March 4 celebrates the formal establishment of the Diocese of Scranton by Pope Pius IX on March 3, 1868.
The Cathedral will be filled to capacity for the Mass. Those attending will include clergy, religious, and lay representatives of various Diocesan institutions, agencies and councils; delegates from the 120 parishes, and representatives from Diocesan Catholic schools.
At all Masses on this weekend, all parishes in the Diocese and every Catholic are encouraged to acknowledge the anniversary and offer their prayers of thanksgiving. Liturgical guides and other resources have been provided to parishes by the Office for Parish Life.
The Mass will be available to all for viewing on the live broadcast by CTV: Catholic Television, live streaming on the internet, and later on the website: www.dioceseofscranton.org.
This special liturgy is part of a year-long Sesquicentennial Celebration that began on the First Sunday of Advent, December 3, 2017, with a Pontifical Mass in the Cathedral celebrated by Bishop Bambera. Justin Cardinal Rigali, Archbishop Emeritus of Philadelphia and former Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Scranton, presided.
Numerous annually occurring and specially focused events throughout the year are spotlighting our Anniversary and the history of our Diocese. Among them is a Diocesan Day of Service being planned for March 3, and a Jubilee Year Pilgrimage to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., on September 22.
The Catholic Light continues its periodic series of special center sections focusing on various aspects of Diocesan history. This issue focuses on Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations. Special segments are also airing on the CTV program “Our Faith, Our Diocese.” An Anniversary Year page has been posted on the Diocesan website at www.dioceseofscranton.org, and WVIA-TV is producing a documentary that will air in March.
The celebration will close with the Anniversary Year Concluding Mass on November 25, 2018, the feast of Christ the King, at the Cathedral. The Most Reverend Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, will be the principal celebrant.
[/toggle]How to Watch the Anniversary Mass
Watch live on CTV: Catholic Television. The Mass will be rebroadcast on CTV on Tuesday, March 6, at 8:00 p.m., and Wednesday, March 7, at 10:00 a.m.
Watch live stream on the Internet:
Go to www.dioceseofscranton.org
Under the News-Videos-Photos menu tab, choose Catholic Television.
Scroll down that page and click on View Daily Mass.
Click on Daily Mass from the Cathedral.
Click on the Play button.
The live broadcast of the Mass will appear on the screen. The video can be expanded to full screen for viewing. During the Mass it is possible to scroll backwards on the timeline to review parts of the Mass one may have missed or wants to hear again.
The video will also be available to view on the Diocesan website later that evening. Under the News-Videos-Photos menu tab, choose Watch Videos and click on the link for the Mass.
February 21, 2018
WASHINGTON—His Excellency, Bishop Joseph C. Bambera, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Office for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, has issued the following statement on receiving the news of the Rev. Billy Graham’s death:
“Headlines today will describe Billy Graham as the preacher to millions and the advisor of presidents but first and foremost, he was a man of deep Christian faith. Committed to the Gospel, his personal witness and preaching of Jesus Christ touched the hearts of Americans spanning many generations.
In a particular way, Catholics feel the loss of one of the greatest pastors of our time. His ecumenical approach in ministry helped to forge bonds of friendship and understanding between Catholics and Protestants. He reminded us that what we had in common in Christ was greater than what divided us.
We pray for God to comfort his family and we join Christians throughout the nation and the world who pray today with blessed assurance, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant…enter into the joy of your master!’” (Matt 25:23)