The Sunday Good News

Transcription

1 The Sunday Good News The Church of Saint John Bosco June 26, 2016 HIS WORD TODAY BY Rev. William J. Reilly SUMMER PRAYER Creator of all, thank You for summer! Thank You for the warmth of the sun and the increased daylight. Thank You for the beauty I see all around me and for the opportunity to be outside and enjoy Your creation. Thank You for the increased time I have to be with my friends and family, and for the more casual pace of the summer season. Draw me closer to You this summer. Teach me how I can pray no matter where I am or what I am doing. Warm my soul with the awareness of Your presence, and light my path with Your Word and Counsel. As I enjoy your creation, create in me a pure heart and a hunger and thirst for You. Amen. Source unknown. Adapted by Bill Huebsch, 2011 As they were proceeding on their journey someone said to him, I will follow you wherever you go. And to another he said, Follow me. And someone said I will follow you Lord, but To him he said, No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God. How often we hear the expression of a Wake up call. Sometimes it is reflected in a health emergency, a financial crisis or family need. We are shaken from our routine and respond to an important need. During the summer months our pace often slows, a more relaxed way of living takes over vacation, diversion, rest. The scriptures today can call for a change. As Jesus turns and begins His journey to Jerusalem, well intentioned persons commit themselves to accompany Him. They do so with reservation. The little word but gets in the way. The sense of urgency of a disciple is weakened, as the challenge of discipleship is sounded. Pope Francis has designated all of us as missionary disciples. My journey today is based upon my encounter and relationship with Jesus. His call continues, the urgency of building the kingdom is real and repeated today. I ask myself, what does it mean to make the promise to follow Him? JUBILEE YEAR OF MERCY Suggestions for the Year of Mercy During this Jubilee Year of Mercy, try putting mercy into practice each week. Offer hospitality in your home to someone or a group of people you would normally never invite over. ATTENTION CALVARY CEMETERY LOT HOLDERS Summer clean-up will take place on Tuesday, July 5, Please remove any and all log planters, artificial and plastic flowers and desired holiday decorations from the graves prior to Tuesday, July 5. Only one live plant is permitted on the graves. All remaining items left on the graves on July 5 will be removed and discarded by cemetery personnel. Calvary Cemetery will not be responsible for items not claimed prior to clean up. Direct all questions to the Cemetery Office at (570) THIS WEEK & IN THE WEEKS AHEAD Quo Vadis, Misericordia University... June Vacation Bible School Mtg. for all Adult & Student Volunteers Monday, June 27, 2016, Multi-Purpose Room Light the Fire Youth Rally, Misericordia University... June 29 Spiritual Cinema, Sts. Peter & Paul-The Indispensable Men... June 29, 8:50 AM Parish Pastoral Council... July 7, 6:30-8:00 PM, Multi-purpose Room Spiritual Cinema, Celebrate What s Right with the World.. July 12, 1 & 6:30 PM Spiritual Reading, How Big is Your God, Part 1... Thurs., July 14, 1 & 6:30 PM Vacation Bible Camp... August 1 through August 5, 9:00 AM - Noon Parish Finance Council... Tentative Date, Tuesday, August 2, 6-7:30 PM Stop Hunger Now Meal Packaging Event... August 13 SJB Golf Tournament... August 20 First day of Faith Formation... September 11, 10:00-11:00 AM Confirmation Class... Sunday, September 18, 6:00-7:30 PM Little Sisters of the Poor Collection... September 17 & 18

2 PAGE 2 The Sunday Good News Faith Formation Corner SUNDAY STEWARDS 1,289 families receive envelopes 392 white offertory envelopes were used on the weekend of June 18/19 Total Mass Attendance: 967 Total Sunday Offering: $8, Parents of students entering Level 2 Faith Formation must sign your child up for a prayer review interview prior to registering for Faith Formation. Prayers and the Act of Contrition were distributed at the parent meetings held in May. Please contact the Faith Formation Office to sign up. Interviews will be held on August 7, 14, and 21, or by appointment. REGISTRATION for Faith Formation is now open. Please stop by the Faith Formation office to pick up a calendar, handbook, and registration form. Registration forms and payment must be turned in by August 28 to ensure that we have time to order enough books and supplies. NO WALK-IN REGISTRATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED on the first day of classes. Please note the time change for all levels this year. All levels will meet from 10:00-11:00 AM. PARENTS OF 2ND AND 8TH LEVEL STUDENTS: If you have not stopped in to pick up your child s First Communion or Confirmation photos, please stop by the Faith Formation Office. Thank you for your generosity! COLLECTION FOR THE CHARITIES OF OUR HOLY FATHER This weekend, June 25-26, Our Diocese will take up the Peter s Pence Collection, which provides Pope Francis with the funds he needs to carry out his charitable works around the world. The proceeds benefit our brothers and sisters on the margins of society, including victims of war, oppression, and disasters. Use the envelope that was in the bulletin or just place a loose offering in the second collection to join our Holy Father as a witness of charity to those who are suffering. STUDENTS ATTENDING ISLI Based on a program formulated at Notre Dame University by Rev. Thomas Chambers, the Student Leadership Institute is designed to identify and respond to the current needs of young people. It is open to all high school students who wish to learn about leadership and improve their already existing decision making and problem solving skills through the teachings of the Catholic faith. The following students from St. John Bosco Parish attended ISLI from June 20 through June 23 at Kings College: Gina Blase (Facilitator); Julia Ruggiero; Macy Zenier; Katie Balay; Luke Billig; and Corrin Dagostin. ISLI is supported by the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, who has offered his vision of servant leadership in his pastoral letter, Wounded and Loved, Regathering the Scattered. The intent of our ISLI program is to gather young people from around the 11 counties of the Diocese of Scranton for a faith-filled experience that enhances leadership skills and promotes learning, sharing and prayer. Through ISLI, the Diocese desires to foster servant leadership and to nurture the continued development of value-based Christian decision making. Adult Faith Development ~ A Journey of the Heart Cultivating a Culture of Life-long Learning ~ Growing in Understanding and Wisdom It is an error to think that FAITH is so entirely a gift of God that it is not in our power to increase and strengthen it. ~ St. Claude de la Colombiere, SJ Growing Our Faith Together ~ Study, Reflection, Prayer, and Conversation Come on a GOD QUEST via a spiritual reading group. Spiritual reading groups are designed to support and enrich each participant s experience of meditative reading. Participants are encouraged to share with one another how some aspect of the content has provided a doorway into a deeper encounter with their own life story and God s presence and work in that story. Upcoming book title: How Big Is Your God? by Fr. Paul Coutinho, SJ. Cost $10. Gathering schedule: Thursdays July 14, 28; August 11, 25; September 8, 22 at 1:00-2:30 PM and 6:30-8:00 PM. Register now ASAP to purchase book. Call Sr. Marilyn, (570) ext. 5. Summer Spiritual Cinema Wednesday, June 29, Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, at 8:50-10:00 AM Register ASAP to view Saints Peter and Paul-The Indispensable Men Episode #5: Catholicism - Word of Fire Faith Series by Fr. Robert E. Barron Tuesday, July 12, Celebrate What s Right with the World inspiring 30 minute film by acclaimed National Geographic photographer Dewitt Jones. Followed by thought provoking personal reflection and conversation. 1:00-2:00 PM and 6:30-7:30 PM showing. Reserve seats, ext. 5, Sister Marilyn.

3 The Sunday Good News JUBILEE YEAR OF MERCY Our Parish Family Fully Alive WE REMEMBER Working Together to End World Hunger. SJB TO HOST A MEAL PACKAGING EVENT Saturday, August 13, 2016, 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM Check it out: Join our parish in participating in our Stop Hunger Now Meal Packaging Event on August 13. Please consider donating your time (2 to 3 hours) to package the meals and/or a monetary donation to cover the meal cost ($0.29 per meal). Call Sister Marilyn at (570) if interested in helping. Teens needed, Grade 7 and up. See how we can truly make a difference! REMEMBRANCE OF THE DEAD Your prayers are requested for Lucille Shiner, a faithful parishioner of St. John Bosco parish, who recently died. Please keep her and all the faithful departed in your daily prayer remembrance. May she rest in peace. TABERNACLE CANDLE The Tabernacle Candle this week burns in memory of Eugene J. Acri, Sr., by Anita Acri Family. KEEP UP WITH NEWS AT ST. JOHN BOSCO PARISH Even on your summer vacation, St. John Bosco parishioners can still access the latest bulletins on-line by going to our parish website: stjohnboscochurch.org/about/bulletins.html. The bulletin is published on Mondays, following the prior weekend. Please check out the site and begin utilizing it today! SUNDAY MASS OBLIGATION While on vacation this summer you are reminded of the need to be refreshed spiritually as well as physically. If you are away from home and need to locate a Catholic church and Mass times, simply Google MASSTIMES.ORG and your location. Remember, there is NO VACATION FROM YOUR CHRISTIAN VOCATION! COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS... HAZLE TOWNSHIP YOUTH FOOTBALL LEAGUE PURSE BINGO: St. John Bosco Gym, Sunday, June 26. Doors open at 1:00 PM, Bingo starts at 2:00 PM. Minimum 10 games, 3 specials. Door prizes, food and tricky trays. Limited Tickets, $20 in advance; $25 at door. Call for advance tickets: Colleen Martonick, (570) ; Marianne Darrough (570) DIOCESE OF SCRANTON VOCATIONS GOLF CLASSIC 2016: Monday, July 11, Blue Ridge Trail Golf Club, Mountain Top, 11:00 AM lunch; 12:00 PM Shotgun Start. Captain & Crew format. To register for golf, become a sponsor or make a donation, call (570) or Enjoy a game of golf and a delicious meal while supporting our Diocesan seminarians. MARIAN COLTS BIG BLUE FOOTBALL CAMP: Monday through Wednesday, July 11 13, 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM for players entering Grades 3 through 9. Cost: $55, includes Marian Football Camp t-shirt. For more information, Carrie at rcfalls@ptd.net. SJB GOLF TOURNAMENT: August 20. Sugarloaf Golf Club. Registration is at 7:30 AM with a 9:00 AM Shotgun Start. Call Pat Raico, (570) , for more information. PAGE 3 Saturday, 4:00 PM June 25 Nancy Kotzer By Marty Gallagher Sunday, 7:30 AM June 26 Joseph & Geraldine Zielinski By Cecilia, James & Joann Zielinski Sunday, 9:00 AM June 26 Angelo Iozzo By Tony & Marge Pizzi Sunday, 11:00 AM June 26 Father s Day Remembrances Monday, 8:00 AM June 27 Joe Bogash By Wife, Sally Tuesday, 8:00 AM June 28 Joseph & Anna Hanna By Cecilia, James & Joann Zielinski Wednesday, 8:00 AM June 29 Robert Wallace By Mary Nora Wallace Thursday, 8:00 AM June 30 Dotty Pallante By Jean & Melissa Greco Friday, 8:00 AM July 1 James Stagg By Gene & Mary Ann Miller Saturday, 4:00 PM July 2 Ron & Pat Shenyo - 50th Anniversary Sunday, 7:30 AM July 3 Ed Bednarz By Rose Lee & Ed Bednarz Sunday, 9:00 AM July 3 Louise Boder By Children Sunday, 11:00 AM July 3 Living & Deceased Members of St. John Bosco Parish FATHER S DAY REMEMBRANCES All intentions listed on the Father s Day Remembrances placed on our Altar are being remembered in all of our Masses throughout the month of June. May our physical fathers, living and deceased, our spiritual fathers, Godfathers, Grandfathers, Uncles and all who give a positive male role model to our youth be blessed. May they reflect the love, acceptance, forgiveness and compassion of God, our Heavenly Father.

4 PAGE 4 The Sunday Good News Beginning with the end in mind... June your desire to come to know the Lord more distinctly, to serve Him more resolutely and above all to praise and worship Him Dear Sisters and Brothers, more fervently, have inspired me to deepen my own relationship with the Lord Jesus and with his Bride and mine the holy The life of any priest, and I believe in particular a diocesan Catholic Church. priest, is generally one marked by transition and change. When I As I prepare to begin my new ministry to the people of St. Rose, arrived here in April, we all knew that my stay would be brief, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and St. Michael, please pray for me. though none of us really knew just how brief. Hard as it is to Heaven knows I need them! Be also assured of mine every day, believe, I am entering into my last full week as Assistant Pastor in my quiet conversations with our heavenly Father and most at St. John Bosco parish! definitely at the Altar. I will be lifting you and your intentions I just wanted to take an opportunity to thank you, along with up daily that the Lord God will continue to bless and guide you Deacon Maurice, the parish staff and certainly Fr. Ric, for through every moment of this life until we are gathered finally welcoming me here so warmly and genuinely. This is an easy together around the Table of his heavenly Kingdom. place to feel at home and I am so blessed by that. It was a St. John Bosco pray for us! privilege to pray with all of you over these last few months. I hope that in some way my contribution to the liturgical and In the hearts of Jesus and Mary, spiritual life of SJB has helped you and your families to grow in faith, hope and love. I know for certain that your example to me: Fr. Paul TRANSITIONS Father Paul C. Fontanella who has faithfully served as Assistant Pastor at Saint John Bosco Church since April 17, 2016, has been appointed by Bishop Bambera to Assistant Pastor of two parishes (three Churches), St. Rose of Lima and Our Lady of Mount Carmel, both in Carbondale, and Saint Michael s in Simpson, Lackawanna County. This is one of the largest linked parishes in our Diocese (5,932 total registered parishioners) and I am sure that his energy, talents and priestly zeal will be appreciated and well utilized there. He has been a joy to live with and minister alongside during the brief assignment here. His prayerful spirit and pastoral outreach to all age groups will be sorely missed by us all. Our loss is certainly Carbondale s blessing. This weekend, June 25-26, Father Paul is serving as a fill-in priest for two parishes in Pike County who are without a Pastor at this time, St. Joseph s in Matamoras and St. Patrick s in Milford. He will return to celebrate Masses at St. John Bosco Parish this week (June 27 July 1) and next weekend, July 2-3. He will offer the homily at all weekend Masses and after Mass it will be your opportunity to thank him, offer your prayerful support and wish him well on his new assignment. His new address, effective Wednesday, July 6, 2016, will be: 6 N. Church Street, Carbondale, PA D A I L Y R EA D I N G S Sunday 1 Kgs 19:16b, 19-21; Gal 5:1, 13-18; Lk 9:51-62 Monday Am 2:6-10, 13-16; Mt 8:18-22 Tuesday Am 3:1-8, 4:11-12; Mt 8:23-27 Wednesday Vigil: Acts 3:1-10; Gal 1:11-20; Jn 21:15-19 Day: Acts 12:1-11; 2 Tm 4:6-8, 17-18; Mt 16:13-19 Thursday Am 7:10-17; Mt 9:1-8 First Friday Am 8:4-6, 9-12; Mt 9:9-13 First Saturday Am 9:11-15; Mt 9:14-17 ANNUAL SUMMER FUND DRIVE A letter along with a pledge or contribution card was sent to every registered parishioner in mid-june. We are grateful to all who have already responded. All contributions will be placed in our renovation fund and used for repairs and any improvements to our properties. If you did not receive a letter or misplaced your card and return envelope, please contact the parish office at (570) and one will be mailed to you. Prayerfully consider what special summer offering you can give to St. John Bosco parish this year. Returns may be taken or mailed to the Parish Office or deposited in the weekly collection basket. Thank you for your spirit of generosity. REFLECTIONS: 1 CORINTHIANS 9:6-7 Consider this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

5 DIOCESAN CONGRESS Mark Your Calendar! The Diocese of Scranton will host the Diocesan Congress again this year on Saturday, October 8. The theme is Revolution of Tenderness! The Congress will take place at the University of Scranton, starting at 8:00 AM and closing with the Celebration of the Eucharist with Bishop Bambera at 4:00 PM. A full day of workshop sessions will be held. CALLING OUR YOUTH Youth Rally: The rally will be held on June 29, beginning at 9:00 AM and concluding with Mass at 7:00 PM at Misericordia University, Dallas, PA. Guest speaker: Chris Padgett. Music by Full Armor Band. A high energy day filled with music, workshops, adoration, new friends and awesome closing Mass. Cost is $30. To register, please call Carla Bednar, our Faith Formation Director, at (570) , ext. 6, by Monday, June 27. MASS OF REMEMBRANCE The Diocese of Scranton is offering the annual Mass of Remembrance of victims of violent or tragic death. This Mass is offered for the families and friends of those who have died in tragedy, especially through murder, suicide and accident. The Mass is scheduled for Thursday, July 14, at 7:00 PM in Saint Peter s Cathedral. All persons who have lost a loved one through tragic and traumatic death are invited to this liturgy. Please call the Parish office if you would like to have the name of a loved one registered, or you may use the Diocesan website at If you would like further information, please telephone the Office for Parish Life at (570) DAY OF REFLECTION The Scranton Diocesan Council of Catholic Women will conduct a Day of Reflection on Wednesday, August 3, at The Villa of Our Lady Retreat House, 245 Meadowside Road, Mount Pocono, PA. Monsignor Vincent Grimalia, Chaplain of St. Luke s Villa, will conduct the retreat. The topic is Jubilee Year of Mercy. The retreat will begin at 8:30 AM and will end by 2:00 PM. A continental breakfast and luncheon will be served. The cost is $35. All Catholic women are invited to attend. Please send your reservation with payment to Helen Oravec, 814 Theresa Street, Peckville, PA The reservation deadline is July 25. Contact Mary Lloyd at (570) or Nancy Addley at (570) if additional information is required. PARISH TRIP: Fall 2017 Remote plans are being formulated for a trip to Branson for the early fall of Branson is an Ozark town in southwest Missouri known as a family entertainment and vacation destination. Its 76 Country Boulevard is famously lined with theaters, which once hosted mostly country music performers but today present diverse entertainment. The trip would include: coach transportation, all overnight accommodations, breakfast and dinner daily while in Branson, reserved seating for at least 8 shows. The trip will also include optional visits to Stone Hill Winery, Ride the Ducks and a stop on the return at St. Louis, Mo, for Riverboat Casino and/or St. Louis Arch & Museum. Details will be announced after the New Year holiday (January 2017). Overnight stop with accommodations included will be in Indianapolis. If you might be interested and would like advance notification when plans are finalized, please contact the Parish Office at (570) and give your name and contact information. This is not a commitment at this time but just a show of interest. You will be notified of the dates for the week long trip, cost and other details when they are made available. A SUMMER BLESSING May you walk with God this summer in whatever you do wherever you go. Walking with God means... walking with honesty and with courage. Walking with love and respect and concern for the feelings of others. May you talk to God this summer on every day and in every situation. Talking with God means... praying words of praise for the beauty of creation. Saying prayers of thanks for friends and good times. Asking God s help in all your decisions. Expressing sorrow when you have failed. May you talk with God every day. Amen.

6 STATEMENT BY BISHOP BAMBERA REGARDING TRAGIC SHOOTINGS IN ORLANDO The senseless violence that has invaded our world all too often in recent years yet again confronted us in the early hours of Sunday morning, June 12th, with the slaughter of scores of innocent people in Orlando, Florida. I first heard of the tragic news shortly after my airplane landed in southern California, where I was about to begin a week of meetings of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Needless to say, as with so many of you, I have been consumed with this tragedy. It is beyond imagining and well beyond what should be expected in a civilized nation like our own. As an act of terrorism, the Orlando shootings have created for us as Americans an uneasy solidarity with suffering souls in our own land and in far too many places around the world. This act, like so many others, defies logic, generates fear and causes us to question if there can ever be a place of true security and peace for ourselves and the entire global community. As an act of hatred, the massacre in Orlando sadly reminds us of the worst consequences of discrimination and prejudice, even while the precise motives of the perpetrator of these shootings are still being analyzed and may never be fully known. Every human life unequivocally deserves to be treated with respect and dignity, including those members of the LGBT community who were so barbarically killed. Our faith demands that we denounce hatred and never single out an individual or group as in any way less deserving than others of human respect, regardless of whom they are, what they believe or how they choose to live their lives. This tragedy has brought us to a new moment of awareness in our lives. Most immediately, it calls every person to combat more vigorously than ever the anti-gay prejudice that exists within our country and even, sadly, among some people of faith and members of our own Church. And in this era fraught with division and anger, the sad events that unfolded in Orlando challenge us as a nation to resolve to treat every woman and man regardless of sexual orientation or identity, religion, race or country of origin with equal dignity and respect. In his remarks on the tragedy, Pope Francis said, We all hope that ways may be found, as soon as possible, to effectively identify and contrast the causes of such terrible and absurd violence which so deeply upsets the desire for peace of the American people and of the whole of humanity. There is no doubt in my mind that this hope of Pope Francis reflects the prayers that flow from my heart and yours. As a nation, may we finally begin to set aside our differences and work together to eradicate violence, doing all that we can to create a culture of peace.... As a people of good will, may we tear down walls that divide us and truly recognize one another as brothers and sisters.... And as Christians, may we join our prayers with those of countless numbers of faith-filled people from around our world for the sake of the victims, their families and friends, first responders and all those affected by this senseless tragedy.