The Sunday Good News PRAYERS FOR LENT

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1 The Sunday Good News The Church of Saint John Bosco March 5, 2017 HIS WORD TODAY BY Rev. William J. Reilly Jesus was led into the desert by the Spirit to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterward was hungry For if by the offense of one man all died, much more did the grace of God and the gracious gift of the one man Jesus Christ, abound for all. PRAYERS FOR LENT Jesus, teach me to see with Your eyes, to live life as You lived, to understand life as You understand it. Give me a new perception of others close and far, seen always as brothers and sisters in You to be respected and loved. Amen. ~ Pope Francis Eternal God, the refuge of all Your children, in our weakness, You are our strength, in our darkness, You are our light, in our sorrow, You are our comfort. May we always live in Your presence, and serve You in our daily lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ~Saint Boniface Will you do yourself a favor? Begin this holy time with special fervor and devotion, for your spiritual benefit, the good of the church and those around you. We have the tendency to commemorate events in traditional ways. The Fourth of July, we became free, raise flags and shoot fireworks. At Thanksgiving, we express gratitude and have some sort of feast. The page is turned on a new year and we party. The traditions are special. Lent is not just a period to remember, but to realize that it is a time for us to grow, deepen our relationship with the Lord, and become holy, yes, to work at being a saint. The ashes we received this week, the stations we recall on the road to Calvary and our customs should become more meaningful. Our Holy Father insists that we can and are to develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. If my game plan for lent is to achieve this goal, then I put aside the baggage which weighs me down through my prayer, sacrifice and good works. Thus the grace of God and His gracious gift will be ours. POPE FRANCIS QUOTES TO LIVE OUT 2017 This column features quotes from the 2016 Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy to help you to grow in holiness and live out love and mercy in 2017! In Jesus, God completely committed himself in order to restore hope to the poor, to those who were deprived of dignity, to strangers, to the sick, to captives, and to sinners, whom he welcomed with kindness. In all this, Jesus was the living expression of the Father s mercy. (2/20/16) ~ Pope Francis THIS WEEK & IN THE WEEKS AHEAD ARISE, Session 3... March 6 through March 10 Spring Fling meeting... Tuesday, March 7, 1:30 PM Resilient Heart... Tuesday, March 7, 6:30 PM Liturgy Meeting... Wednesday, March 8, 6:30 PM First Communion Retreat... Sat., March 11, 8 AM to Noon Youth Group... Sunday, March 12, 6:00 PM All-purpose Rm Salvation Army Luncheon... Wed., March 15, 10:30-Noon Parish Pastoral Council... Thurs., March 23, 6:30-8 PM,... Multi-purpose Room Parish Lenten Retreat... April 1-5 Parish Appreciation Party...Sun., April 23, 2 PM, Valley Country Club Mandatory Confirmation practice for candidates and sponsors Sunday, April 9, 2:30-4:00 PM Confirmation... Saturday, April 29, 11:00 AM, St. Joseph Church, Hazleton First Communion... Saturday, May 6 Diocesan Men s Conference... Saturday, May 6 Spring Fling... Saturday, May 20

2 PAGE 2 SUNDAY STEWARDS 1,289 families receive envelopes 447 white offertory envelopes were used on the weekend of Feb. 25/26 Total Mass Attendance: 1054 Total Sunday Offering: $8, Thank you for your generosity! CARE AND EDUCATION OF PRIESTS SECOND COLLECTION The Second Collection this weekend, March 4/5, 2017, is for the Care and Education of Priests. Thank you for your generosity to this monthly diocesan collection. SPRING FLING MEETING Anyone interested in helping out with the Spring Fling is invited to attend a meeting on Tuesday, March 7, at 1:30 PM. YOUTH GROUP meets Sunday, March 12 at 6:00 PM! The Sunday Good News Faith Formation Corner THANK YOU to all who baked, wrapped, and sold our goodies for the Family Bake Sale last weekend! $ was raised for Missionary Childhood Association and Paws 4 a Cause 4 Autism. A special thank you to Lisa Seiwell for coordinating the sale and Families in Faith meetings. Keep an eye on the bulletin for more upcoming Family activities and service projects. As per the Faith Formation handbook, all students are expected to attend Stations of the Cross at least one time with their family during Lent. Stations of the Cross is held here at St. John Bosco on Fridays during Lent at 7:00 PM. Attending Stations of the Cross at any parish meets this requirement. The March Confirmation evening class will be held on Sunday, March 19, from 6:00-7:30 PM. Completed Service Hour logs are due at this time. All 2nd Level students will participate in a day of retreat on Saturday, March 11 from 8:00-12:00. All students and at least one parent must attend. During the retreat, Father Ric will conduct the First Communion parent class. PAMPHLET RACK REPORT Saint John Bosco has two very large religious pamphlet racks: one at the main entrance, and the other near the Faith Formation Office. Each one has different Catholic books, CD s, booklets and pamphlets. New items are added on a regular basis. I am happy to report that 727 resources at a value of $991 were distributed to our parishioners. Our parishioners generously contributed $683 toward the cost of the items. The deficit of $308 was absorbed by Stewardship: A Mission of Faith. I encourage you to use this valuable resource to learn more about our Catholic Faith. If you can donate toward the items that you use, that is deeply appreciated and allows this Resource Partnership Ministry to continue to reach out to others to heal hearts, alleviate anxieties and replace sorrow with hope and joy. Adult Faith Development ~ A Journey of the Heart Blessed Are You Who Bear the Light Even now, says the Lord, Return to me with your whole heart. Rend your hearts, not your garments. Agere Contra for Lent is a popular Ignatian (Jesuit) term that means to act against. It means we can deliberately choose to go against what our tendency might be. It is useful in avoiding temptation or bad habits, but can also stretch us spiritually. How might choosing to go against a tendency be a helpful way for you to think about your Lenten practices especially if you are working on admitting and fasting from an acknowledged personal addiction? The common list of culprits being: playing video games, internet, shopping, alcohol, food, work, smoking, TV, gambling, meetings, etc. Addictions have the power to destroy relationships with God, self and others. Am I addicted to my work? Am I unable to slow down and enjoy life, my family, and my friends? Am I willing to act against this tendency taking an honest look at this addiction? Why do I work all the time? Is there anything from which I am fleeing? Who am I trying to impress? Instead you could act against this tendency and make time for family, friends, and those in need. Call someone, paying attention to them instead of TV. Perhaps my addiction is food. Do I have an eating disorder? Am I in need of discipline in the area of eating? Do I ever fast? Is junk food my stress relief? Could I act against this tendency and give up eating between meals and only eat nourishing foods? Give over 10 minutes daily to Refresh and Renew Your Life meditation booklet. Open your heart. Try to sense what God might be saying to you.

3 The Sunday Good News PAGE 3 DIOCESAN ANNUAL APPEAL Update as of February 21, 2017 WE REMEMBER 2016 GOAL...$59, PLEDGES...$64, OVER GOAL... $5, PAID...$60, DUE... $3, PARTICIPANTS out of 1,321, or 32% THANK YOU to all who participated in the 2016 Diocesan Annual Appeal. STATIONS OF THE CROSS: Every Friday of Lent at 8:30 AM STATIONS OF THE CROSS & BENEDICTION: Every Friday of Lent at 7 PM LIVING STATIONS OF THE CROSS: Friday, April 7, 7 PM LENTEN CONFESSION SCHEDULE Mondays of Lent 6-7 PM (March 6, 13, 20, 27, April 3 and 10) Saturdays of Lent 3-3:45 PM (March 11, 18, 25, April 1 and 8) Parish Lenten Communal Penance Service - Tuesday, April 4, 7 PM. Spy Wednesday - April 12, Noon until 1 PM and 6-7 PM. Good Friday - April 14, immediately after 1 PM Service for one hour. Local Communal Penance Services to be announced. NO CONFESSIONS on Holy Thursday or Holy Saturday. ROAD TO RESURRECTION The Parishes of the Greater Hazleton Deanery will present a Lenten Series of Masses during the week of March 13-16, Monday through Thursday, at 7 PM. Very Reverend Paul McDonnell, OSJ, Provincial of the Oblates of St. Joseph, will offer the Lenten Meditation each evening. You are encouraged to attend: MONDAY, March St. Gabriel s Church (Annunciation Parish), Hazleton TUESDAY, March Transfiguration Church (Holy Name of Jesus Parish), West Hazleton WEDNESDAY, March Good Shepherd Church, Drums THURSDAY, March St. Joseph s Church, (SS. Cyril & Methodius Parish), Hazleton COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS... Hazleton Ministerium Lenten Services: ALL ARE WELCOME! Wednesday, March 8 at 7 PM at Queen of Heaven Parish at Our Lady of Grace Church, 750 N. Vine St., Hazleton. Rev. Anthony Generose is host pastor. Conyngham Ecumenical Lenten Prayer Luncheon Series - Conyngham United Methodist Church, 411 Main St., Conyngham. Nourish Your Body & Soul Fellowship Lunch followed by Hymn, Guest Speaker and Blessing. Wednesdays at Noon: March 8, 15, 22, 29, April 5 & 12. Donation $3. Soup, bread, beverage and dessert. Saints Peter and Paul Parish, 13 Hudson Rd., Plains - Annual Lenten Buffet, Friday, March 10. Includes baked fish, pierogi, haluski, potato pancakes, pizza, French fries, coleslaw, dessert and beverage. Dinner and take-out, 4-7 PM. $12 Adults/$6 Children 12 and under. Age 3 and under free. Ample free parking. Taize Prayers, Sunday, March 19, 4 PM. Music provided by King s College students under direction of Rob Yenkowski. No admission fee. Ample free parking. Sugarloaf Valley Church Women United - Bake Sale, March 18, 9 AM, Laurel Mall. To volunteer or for more information, call Arlene, (570) Holy Family Academy - Fish Fry, March 31; Night at the Races, April 29; Eagle Cards available, $10 each. For information on all events, call (570) Hunting Heritage Banquet - The Honey Hole Longbeards Chapter of the NWTF will hold its annual banquet on Saturday, April 8, at Capriotti s Catering Hall in McAdoo. Doors open at 4 PM with dinner at 5:30 PM. Enjoy a night with food, auctions and raffles. Call Mark Ferdinand, (570) , for more information. Saturday, 4:00 PM March 4 James Stagg By Bob Shanno Sunday, 7:30 AM March 5 Anna Watkins By Lorraine & Tony Cusatis Sunday, 9:00 AM March 5 Living & Deceased Parishioners of St. John Bosco Church Sunday, 11:30 AM March 5 Mary Therese Wydock By Dave & Carolyn Eckrote Monday, 8:00 AM March 6 Millie Lipinski By Carolyn Luchi Tuesday, 8:00 AM March 7 Mary Woods By Jim & Mary Mellon Wednesday, 8:00 AM March 8 John Molitoris By Madelyn Lawson Thursday, 8:00 AM March 9 Clara Kroszkewicz By Diane Klouser Friday, 8:00 AM March 10 Michael S. Pecora By Jeri Montesserrato Saturday, 4:00 PM March 11 Luke Sukal By Amelia, Michelle & Gerard Bergeron Sunday, 7:30 AM March 12 Living & Deceased Parishioners of St. John Bosco Church Sunday, 9:00 AM March 12 Antoni Jozef Goralczyk By Family Sunday, 11:30 AM March 12 Helen Ann Kinsey By Marie & Hugh Colihan TABERNACLE CANDLE The Tabernacle Candle burns this week in memory of Florie Lesko by husband, Bob.

4 PAGE 4 The Sunday Good News The PASTOR S PAGE From the Pastor s Laptop... March 4-5, 2017 process and have generously shared our Catholic Faith with our Candidates. Our three candidates and their sponsors are: Dear Parishioners and Friends, SHELBY NICOLE BARZILAY Sponsor: Annie T. Walters Every year on the, the Diocese of DANIELLE RENEE NELSON Scranton holds the Rite of Election of Sponsor: Robert J. Nelson Catechumens (unbaptized adults) and the Call to Continuing Conversion of Candidates (baptized adults ELIZABETH (Betsy) F. WOLK who desire to become full members of the Catholic Sponsor: Dr. Stephen Wolk Church). This begins the third stage of the RCIA Process, The Period of Purification and Enlightenment. The members of our Parish RCIA Team are: This year, three adults have been faithfully participating in our Parish RCIA process and will begin this third stage. They will be sent forth from our Parish this Sunday during the 9 AM Mass along with their sponsors and our RCIA Team. The Ceremony will take place at St. Peter s Cathedral in Scranton with Bishop Bambera at 3 PM. As they begin this part of their faith formation, we ask our congregation to pray for them, in a special way, during the Lenten Season as they prepare to be received into the Catholic Church on Saturday, April 15, at 8 PM during the Easter Vigil. At that time they will make a Profession of Faith and receive Confirmation and Holy Communion. Deacon Maurice Cerasaro Jason Seiwell Thomas Pandolfi Sandy Honis Frank Polidora Scott Green May the Lord who began the good work in each of you now bring it to fulfillment. God Bless You, Father Ric Polmounter, Pastor Next to the celebration of the Holy Mass, the RCIA Process is one of the most important rites of the Church. I am extremely grateful to have six adult parishioners on our Parish RCIA Team. They have been very dedicated to this Saint John Bosco Parish Prayer Exchange Reminder 2017 ~ Year of Hope and Creative Mercy Blessed Are You Who Bear the Light Remember your Prayer Partner as a companion on your Lenten Journey. We can offer comfort to each other as we daily bless another s cares and worries, placing their highest good before God s mercy. God has hope in us. Hope encourages us to trust that what we do is meaningful because God is supporting it. God is actively trying to create good from whatever difficult or even evil situation in which we find ourselves. We are invited into a mutual cooperation with God. God s co-creators as it were. Also we promised to pray for the 65 million people worldwide who are refugees You are the light of the World. lacking adequate food, shelter, and clothing. We recall Pope Francis words to us Matt. 5:14 Let our hearts be touched by the suffering of others and let our response give them hope.

5 ALTAR FLOWERS If you would like to donate a floral bouquet for our Church Sanctuary in memory of a loved one, for a special intention or in thanksgiving for blessings received, please contact the parish office at (570) , ext. 3. You may have the bouquet placed in front of the Main Altar, in front of the Ambo, in front of the statue of the Blessed Mother, St. Joseph or Saint John Bosco. The following weekends are available. Donation, $50 OR you can order and pay the florist directly. In either case you must inform the parish office. The intention and donor will be listed in the bulletin on the weekend you request unless otherwise requested. May 6-7 First Holy Communion and May Crowning (Altar and Statue of Blessed Virgin Mary) June Trinity Sunday June Corpus Christi (yellow and white plus wheat and grapes) June No flowers during Lent (March 1 to April 14) except on the following days: Solemnity of Annunciation, March 25 (at BVM Statue) Laetare Sunday, Weekend of March Altar, purple/pink Palm Sunday Weekend, April 8-9 (at Altar & Ambo) red with palms. Holy Thursday, April 13, Yellow Roses ($75) for Eucharistic Chapel in Gym. Easter, April (lilies and other Easter flowers donated through the Annual Easter Flower Envelope and listed in the Easter Bulletin.) BLESSED CANDLES Blessed Candle Sets for home use are available at the parish office Monday through Friday during regular business hours. Suggested offering: $3. BIBLE STUDY AT HOLY DORMITION FRIARY The following Bible Study will be offered at Holy Dormition Friary, Sybertsville, Thursday evenings during the Great Fast/Lent: Beginning to Read the Bible: A 6-week Introduction. Most Americans profess a belief in the truth of the Bible, but few are comfortable picking up the Bible and reading it. This course will provide an overview of the contents of the Bible while providing the opportunity to actually read the Book of Genesis and the Gospel of Mark. It will meet from 7 PM to 8:30 PM on Thursdays in Lent, beginning March 2 and concluding April 6. You are encouraged to bring you own Bible, but they will be provided if you do not have one. There is no cost for the program, which will be led by Phil Yevics, Ph.D. Dr. Yevics worked for 20 years for the Office of Religious Education of the Eparchy of Passaic, and has taught the Bible at the Undergraduate and Graduate levels. If you have questions or concerns feel free to contact him at Philyevics@gmail.com or by phone at (570) HOMELESS SHELTER This past week we issued a check to Catholic Social Services in Hazleton for $1, that represents your donations given on Super Bowl Sunday as well as additional donations that were sent to the Parish Office. This was designated for use by CSS for the Hazleton Homeless Shelter on Laurel Street. Your generosity in supporting this corporal work of mercy, sheltering the homeless, is deeply appreciated. THIRD ANNUAL DIOCESAN MEN S CONFERENCE CALLING ALL MEN: JUNIOR HIGH, HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE AGE AND ALL ADULT MEN, SINGLE, MARRIED, WIDOWED: The Third Annual Diocesan Catholic Men s Conference entitled: Be A Man: Mary s Call to BATTLE is scheduled for Saturday, May 6, 2017, and will once again be held on the campus of King s College, Scandlon Physical Education Center, 149 North Main Street, Wilkes-Barre. Experience a prayerful, spirit-filled, life-changing day featuring keynote presentations by Father Andrew Apostoli, CFR, of the Franciscan friars of the Renewal, EWTN host and Fatima Expert Steven Ray, a Catholic speaker, film producer and pilgrimage leader, frequently featured on EWTN Matt Fradd, Catholic apologist and author, as well as executive director of The Porn Effect Eucharistic Adoration, 6:00 AM; Registration/Continental Breakfast, 7:00 AM. Main Conference and Mass from 8:00 AM to 2:45 PM. Bishop Bambera will celebrate the closing Mass. For more information and registration, call the Diocesan Pastoral Center at (570) , or register online at VALLEY FOOD PANTRY The Valley Food Pantry will soon assemble Easter boxes for needy families in our area. We have been asked to collect canned pineapple, cake mix and frosting. Donations can be placed in the back of the church by the coat rack. Once again, thank you for your continued support and generosity! CHURCH WOMEN UNITED BAKE SALE Sugarloaf Valley Church Women United will hold a bake sale at the Laurel Mall Saturday, March 18, beginning at 9:00 AM. Volunteers may bring baked goods to St. John Bosco on March 17 by 7:00 PM, or they can be brought to our table at the Laurel Mall from 10:00 to noon on March 18. Proceeds go to Hazleton Salvation Army, Valley Food Pantry, United Charities, and Meals on Wheels. Please call Arlene, (570) , if you can participate, or sign the sheet in the narthex.

6 Resilient Heart ~ Spiritual & Emotional Self-help and Support in Coping with: Mid-life/Long-life Transitions, Loss, and Grief In the midst of winter I finally learned that within me was an invincible summer. Join us in SJB s Multi-purpose Room from 6:30 to 8:00 PM to explore the topics: Tuesday, March 7 Tuesday, April 11 Tuesday, May 9 How Faith Helps When Bad Things Happen Where is God in my suffering? What does Acceptance mean? Where does it fit in? Difference between letting go and giving in What Recovery Will and Will Not Mean Holding onto Hope These themes offer a larger meaning to our often unspoken life questions. Why is this happening to me? Why now? Please reserve your space by calling Sister Marilyn at (570) ext. 5. SJB LENTEN PARISH RETREAT St. John Bosco Parish will have a Lenten Retreat April 1 to April 5. Father Pio Mandato, F.M.H.J., and Sister Theresa May, C.N., will provide the presentations, and the Capuchin Sisters of Nazareth will provide the music. Father Mandato, a noted Parish Retreat Master, will preach the weekend Masses, April 1 and 2. To introduce the retreat on Sunday, April 2, there will be Eucharistic Adoration following the 11:30 AM Mass. Adoration will conclude at 6:00 PM with a brief service of the Word and Solemn Benediction. Each day, April 3 through 5, there will be a Mass and Homily at 8:00 AM and the Retreat presentations will be at 7:00 PM. On Tuesday, April 4, there will be a Lenten Penance Service that evening with a number of priests available for confessions. The Retreat will conclude with an evening Mass on Wednesday, April 5. Please mark your calendar and plan to participate in our Lenten Retreat GREY DOG RAFFLE The Annual Car/Cash Raffle was held on Super Bowl Sunday, February 5, We are grateful to all who patronized this important parish fundraiser that supports our parish ministries. We also deeply appreciate the 2017 Grey Dog Committee who prepared the mailing and sold the tickets each weekend. Raffle results are listed below for your information. Income 465 Tickets sold $46, Expenses Prizes $25, Postage Small Games of Chance License Total Expenses $25, Tickets and Posters were donated. Notary Fee Waived. No expense for envelopes this year Grey Dog Profit: $21, DA I L Y REA DI N GS Sunday Gn 2:7-9, 3:1-7; Rom 5:12-19 or 5:12, 17-19; Mt 4:1-11 Monday Lv 19:1-2, 11-18; Mt 25:31-46 Tuesday Is 55:10-11; Mt 6:7-15 Wednesday Jon 3:1-10; Lk 11:29-32 Thursday Est C:12, 14-16, 23-25; Mt 7:7-12 Friday Ez 18:21-28; Mt 5:20-26 Saturday Dt 26:16-19; Mt 5:43-48 Members of the RCIA Team: Fr. Ric Polmounter Deacon Maurice Cerasaro Jason Seiwell Thomas Pandolfi Sandy Honis Frank Polidora Scott Green RCIA CALENDAR March 5, 9 AM Mass Rite of Sending Date: Sunday, March 5 Place & Time of Session: Office Conference Room, AM Attendees: Team Only Date: Sunday, March 12 Place & Time of Session: Office Conference Room, AM Presenter: Fr. Ric Topic: The Eucharist ADVERTISER SPOTLIGHT Thank you to MODERN THERAPEUTICS Bulletin Advertiser Please support all our advertisers. Tell them you saw their ad here!