FOR OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE Promoting Hospitality as a Way of Life The Community Building Tool Box

Transcription

1 FOR OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE Promoting Hospitality as a Way of Life The Community Building Tool Box DEFINITION: THE NATURE AND SCOPE OF HOSPITALITY As we have seen through the above examples, hospitality is a compound idea one that incorporates a number of spiritual values, tightly woven together. Its overarching essence is Love a love for all of Life's manifestations, taking into consideration the artful details of ambience, service, cuisine, entertainment, and protection that warm and enchant the senses, satisfy the heart with attentive care and tenderness, promote festivity, provide a rhythm to life's expressions, and furnish a safe haven. As such, hospitality is a multi-faceted jewel with a treasure trove of virtues and spiritual values. Hospitality's roots are derived from the Latin hospes (masculine) and hospita (feminine), and also, according to the Oxford and Webster Dictionaries, from the Old French hospitalite, all pointing to the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers. Then, as modified by time, the business of entertaining clients, business delegates, or other official visitors. We also discover from its root that hospitality can refer to both host and guest, or to a traveling guest, or stranger. It is easy to recognize many of the derivative forms that it takes, such as hospice, hostel, hotel, hospital, host, and hostess. The innkeeper was considered as presiding over a house of God, providing a sacred place for shelter and sustenance for travelers, but more to receive strangers as guests. Hospes/hospita, as stated, is also the source of the word hospital, a word that in 14th-century English referred to an inn; took on in the 15th century the meaning of a refuge for the homeless, and was being used widely by the 16th century for an institution that cares for the sick. References at the end of this section will allow a more in-depth investigation. The French scholar and prolific contributor to the Encyclopedia, Chevalier Louis de Jaucourt ( ), describes hospitality as the virtue of a great soul that cares for the whole universe through the ties of humanity. He pointed out that historically a variety of cultures in Egypt, Ethiopia, Persia, Italy, Greece, and Rome expanded hospitality to include edifices built to receive and house foreigners beyond peoples' individual homes, whereas the Israelites narrowed their concept of hospitality when their commerce ended with neighboring communities. The Germans, Celts, Gauls, and Atlantic peoples considered it sacrilege to close one's door to any man, known or unknown. Asians spared nothing in hosting their visitors, including the washing of feet or full baths prior to their welcoming festivities; afterwards, they would invoke the protecting gods of hospitality to watch over and care for their honored guests. And Indians, the most hospitable of all, treated slaves as themselves and welcomed travelers through the establishment of hospices and specific magistracies for furnishing travelers with life's necessities, even to the extent of taking care of the funerals for those who died on their land. Since both giver and receiver were considered blessed through their coming together, it was an accepted form of gratitude for both to leave a gift that marked the hospitality given toward individuals, entire families, and even cities. A coin, piece of wood, or ivory would be cut in half and given to each party for posterity to mark the occasion as sacrosanct, much like the love heart half-necklaces and friendship bracelets of the 20th and 21st centuries. It was also generally August 19, 2018 Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time accepted across cultures that if hospitality was not granted to an individual or group, it was considered a crime against humanity Globally then, we discover that hospitality was considered a sacred art that united all nations, until commerce broke the ties of benevolence among individuals and shifted their focus from a love of people to a love of financial interest. Now, through a detached sense of humanity, the wealthy pay for the services of hospitality, further severing the ties that bind the hearts of men in fellowship. Do we now understand that being authentically hospitable is a matter of our whole orientation to ourselves and to each other, as it redefines all of our relationships? It might also help to consider how blending the elements of hospitality enables us to touch the sentiments, creating a definite feeling of hospitality. A hospitable person is likely to exhibit tangible generosity of spirit, confidently comfortable and cooperative charitableness, unsparing graciousness, ungrudging sincerity, and an all-inclusive welcome with openheartedness and festivity. So as we sit on the hearth of hospitality, in the warmth of its grand array, we may contemplate the infinite range of its expression. We can hear its call, inviting us in to partake of this consciousness so vital to our own needs and that of our communities. TO BE CONTINUED...

2 August 19, 2018 Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Parish Prayer Intention That all parishioners may grow in a desire to know God more fully and enter into a deeper relationship with Him. EUCHARISTIC ADORATION Every Thursday from NOON 6 pm Please join in honoring our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. Sign up sheet in the Vestibule Our Lord is waiting for YOU! SAVE THE DATE! Our Fall Oldies Dinner Dance will be held on Friday, September 14 th from 6:00-10:00pm at St. Mary's Byzantine Social Hall. The evening will feature a homemade dinner and dessert buffet, as well as live music by MILLENNIUM for your listening and dancing pleasure! Tickets for this BYOB event are $20.00 each and can be purchased in the vestibule, or by contacting the parish office LOOKING AHEAD Faith formation Classes for our Young People begin on Sunday, September 16th at 9:30 am in Fr. Zolcinski Hall. Watch the Bulletin for Registration Details. The Parish Toy Bingo is scheduled for November 4th beginning at 1 pm in St. Mary s Hall. Toy Collection will begin mid- September. Watch out for bargains (especially on Electronics which are big with kids today!) BEST WISHES We extend best wishes to MICHAEL BORIS as he begins his studies at St. Mary s Seminary in Baltimore. With our support and our prayers, may he persevere on his journey toward the priesthood. If you would like to correspond with Michael, his address is: Mr. Michael Boris C/o St. Mary s Seminary 5400 Roland Ave. Baltimore, MD GIGUNDA BASKET RAFFLE! Check out the baskets on the back table! Something to suit everyone s Fancy! Buy a ticket (or 10, or 20) TODAY! The Ministry of Hospitality has already begun at St. Andre. If you are interested in learning more about this important ministry in our parish, contact Sr. Madonna at the parish office ( ). WANT TO SEE JESUS??? We are in the planning of stages of taking a trip to the Sight and Sound Theater in Lancaster, PA. The date will be May 15, 2019 (just around the corner!). More information will follow when we have it. Watch the bulletin. IN THE PARISH Helpful Information Join the Parish Anyone wishing to register for membership in the parish is asked to fill out a registration form and drop it in the collection basket. Request Prayers Our INTERCESSORY PRAYER MINISTRY provides prayer for anyone in need throughout the parish. Contact MARY ANN MAGDA at or make your intention known on our parish website at Remember your Parish Your parish serves you faithfully throughout your life. Please remember your parish with a memorial gift or a Bequest in your will. Make a return to the Lord for all the good He has done for you. SACRAMENTAL PREPARATIONS Anointing of the Sick The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick may take place at any time, but, sadly, too many families wait until the last minute to call the priest to anoint their loved ones. If someone in your family is seriously ill, preparing for surgery, or suffering a prolonged illness, please contact the parish office to arrange a time for Fr. Ken to visit. IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY or if Fr. Ken is unavailable to visit immediately, we will contact the first available priest to celebrate the Sacrament of Anointing with your loved one. Funeral Preparations We collaborate with the local funeral directors in arranging the times of the funerals. Please be aware that there is an additional fee for funerals on Saturdays imposed by most cemeteries in the area. Baptismal Preparations Parents of newly born infants may call the parish office to arrange a time for the Baptism of their child. Baptisms are celebrated, for the most part, on any Sunday, with the exception of the season of Lent. Wedding Preparations Couples contemplating Marriage are asked to contact the parish office at least one year prior to the contemplated date of marriage, before making other plans.

3 THE LITURGY Our Lady of Czestochowa Saint Luke the Evangelist, according to tradition, is believed to be the original artist of this painting in which Mary is depicted holding the Christ Child. This sacred picture, enshrined and venerated at the renowned Marian Shrine in Poland, was first brought from Jerusalem through Constantinople and was bestowed to the Princess of Ruthenia. It was brought to Poland in 1382 through the efforts of Ladislaus of Opole who had discovered it in a castle at Belz. To ensure its protection, he invited the Monks of Saint Paul the First Hermit from Hungary to be its guardians. From this time onward, the historic records of the painting are documented and authenticated by the miracles associated with the painting. In 1430, a devastating attack on the Polish Shrine resulted in tragic losses and the damaging of the holy picture. To this very day, despite the attempts to repair the damage, the slashes on the face of the Virgin Mary are still visible. The foundation of the Monastery and Shrine in Czestochowa began with a small wooden church. Subsequent development ( ) led to the construction of the present day basilica and defense wall which surrounds the sacred buildings. Under the heroic leadership of the Prior of the Monastery, Father Augustine Kordecki, the Shrine withstood the attacks of the Swedish Invasion of This great victory proved to be a tremendous boost to the morale of the entire Polish nation. As a result, King Jan Casimir, in 1656, made a solemn vow proclaiming the Mother of God to be the "Queen of the Polish Crown" and the Shrine of Jasna Gora to be the "Mount of Victory" and a spiritual capital for Poland. During the years of Poland's partition ( ) the Shrine of Jasna Gora became a vibrant link for the Polish people with their homeland. The holy painting enshrined at Czestochowa beamed as a lighthouse of hope during the painful years of national hardships and defeats. Following the restoration of national independence in 1918, pilgrimages to the Polish Shrine grew in number and size. As World War II ended, a nation devastated by the scourges of war drew new strength and courage from the Shrine to rebuild and recover from the war. Today the Shrine of Czestochowa in Poland attracts millions of worshipers and tourists who come to honor the miraculous image of Our Lady of Czestochowa. In 1966, in celebration of the 1000th Anniversary of Poland's Christianity, a National Shrine to Our Lady of Czestochowa was dedicated in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, and is under the direction of the Pauline Fathers and Brothers who also administer the Shrine in Poland. The Eucharist is the vital center of all that the Church is and does. At its heart is the real presence of the crucified, risen and glorified Lord, who continues his saving work among us. The Second Vatican Council reminded us: the most holy Eucharist holds within itself the whole spiritual treasure of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Passover and our living bread. (cf. One Bread One Body 3) All who exercise a liturgical ministry need a proper preparation for their responsibilities. They are to have the competence to perform the particular ministry with which they have been entrusted. (cf. Celebrating the Mass 29) What the Church says about Our Gathering The liturgical assembly, where two or three come together in Christ s name, and where he is found in their midst (cf. Mt 18:20), is the first image that the Church gives of herself. Indeed the assembly itself is also the first instance of Christ s presence in the liturgy Celebrating the Mass (CTM) 139 Hospitality Saint Paul instructed the assembled community to welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, to the glory of God (Romans 15:7). It will often be appropriate for those commonly referred to as ushers to exercise this ministry of welcome by greeting people at the church door, making sure they are provided with all necessary books, music, and other items for the celebration, such as candles or palms, and helping them find their places. Especially in larger assemblies, special arrangements are likely to be necessary so that visitors and those unfamiliar with the community and its worship may be put at ease and drawn into the celebration. Ushers also help when, at any time during the celebration, members of the assembly become ill or otherwise need assistance. Ushers may assist with the collection and with processions. CTM 48 August 19, 2018 Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Hospitality and the Eucharist Quiet Atmosphere Even before the celebration itself, calm and opportunities for silent prayer and reflection have their proper place in the church, in the sacristy and in adjacent areas so that those gathering for the assembly of the Church may recollect themselves and begin to prepare for prayer together. Providing opportunities for such calm and quiet is one of the many ways in which a community is able to show hospitality to those gathering for worship. CTM 92 Community The celebration of the Eucharist must give expression to the common life of the gathered community. The idea of strangers gathering for Eucharist, and remaining strangers thereafter, does not sit easily with the Gospel message. God draws people together from every race and background, and each individual brings with them an amazing rich- ness of personal experience something which needs to be shared and expressed. While this can rarely take place in the Liturgy itself other opportunities should exist within the life of the local Church community... CTM 14, 15 Preparation In preparing yourself for Mass: Look at the readings and prayers of the Mass and use them for your personal prayer. Reflect on how they speak of the love of God for all, and the quality of life that they call us to make our own Spend time in prayer, praying for yourself, and the other parishioners that the service you will offer will truly help people to experience Christ s welcome as they come to the church for Mass. Ask for the grace to be attentive to the needs of others, not only as they come to the church, but throughout the time of celebration. Ensure that you will be at church in good time to carry out any necessary preparations prior to the beginning of the Mass.

4 August 19, 2018 Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Weekend of August st Sunday in Ordinary Time Monday, August 27 Tuesday, August 28 Wednesday, August 29 Thursday, August 30 Summer Ordinary Time 4 pm Vigil Mass 5:30 pm Vigil Mass 8:00 am Mass 11:00 am Mass 2:00 pm Companions on the Journey Basket/Dance Tickets on Sale No Morning Mass 8 am Morning Mass 5:30 pm Choir Weekend of September st Sunday in Ordinary Time Monday, September 3 Tuesday, September 4 8 am Mass Wednesday, September 5 8:00 am Mass Noon Exposition Thursday, September 6 4 pm Vigil Mass 5:30 pm Vigil Mass 8:00 am Mass 11:00 am Mass CLERGY COLLECTION Dues envelopes due Basket/Dance Tickets on Sale LABOR DAY 9am Mass PARISH OFFICE CLOSED 8 am Morning Mass 5:30 pm Choir 8 am Mass 8:00 am Mass Noon Exposition PARISH MINISTRIES FAITH SHARING St. Andre s Faith Seekers with Jackie Barkus will meet at 6 pm on Monday September 10th in the Fr. Murgas Meeting Room of the Parish Office. Disciples of the Spirit of Jesus with Sr. Madonna will meet on Saturday, September 15th at 10:30 am in the Fr. Murgas Meeting Room of the Parish office. There is still room in this group for anyone who might be interested. Sharers on the Journey with Christ with Rosemary Shedlock will meet on Sunday, September 16 at 2:00 pm in the home of Elaine Snyder. ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCILS Friday, August 31 Saturday, September 1 6:00 pm Vespers 8 am Mass Friday, September 7 No Morning Mass 3:00 pm Confessions VIGIL of 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time. Saturday, September 1 6:00 pm Vespers 6:00 pm Liturgical Council 8 am Mass 6:00 pm Confessions 6:30 pm Sacred Heart Devotions 7:00 pm Mass No Morning Mass 3:00 pm Confessions VIGIL of 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. SSCM Summer Raffle Winners All Administrative Council Meetings begin with Vespers in Church at 6:00 pm. Meetings follow immediately in the Fr. Murgas conference room of the parish office. AUGUST 30th Pastoral Council SEPTEMBER 6th Liturgical Council SEPTEMBER 13 - Social Justice Council SEPTEMBER 20th - Finance Council SEPTEMBER 27th Catechetical Council OCTOBER 18TH Pastoral Council OCTOBER 25th Parish Life Council First Prize $500 Second Prize $250 Third Prize $150 Fourth Prize $150 Fifth Prize $100 Sixth Prize $100 Seventh Prize $100 Eighth Prize $100 Ninth Prize $100 Tenth Prize $100 Helen Weiger Harrisburg, PA Jayne Griffin Las Vegas, NV Nancy Meier Philadelphia, PA Jayne Harrison Wilkes-Barre, PA Antonette Diles Endwell, NY Joe Humanik Wilkes-Barre, PA Dolores Hritz Plains, PA Sr. Carmen Flores RGS Danville, PA Melanie Novak Mechanicsburg, PA Jeffrey Snyder Danville, PA PARISH COMMITTEES The Development Committee will meet on Monday, September10th at 6:30 pm in the Lower Meeting Room of the Parish Office. The Young at Heart Committee will meet for their next monthly meeting on Tuesday, September 18 at 1 pm in the Fr. Murgas conference Room. Loaves & Fishes Food for AUGUST Hot Chocolate

5 . If one member suffers, all suffer together with it (1 Cor 12:26). These words of Saint Paul forcefully echo in my heart as I acknowledge once more the suffering endured by many minors due to sexual abuse, the abuse of power and the abuse of conscience perpetrated by a significant number of clerics and consecrated persons. Crimes that inflict deep wounds of pain and powerlessness, primarily among the victims, but also in their family members and in the larger community of believers and nonbelievers alike. Looking back to the past, no effort to beg pardon and to seek to repair the harm done will ever be sufficient. Looking ahead to the future, no effort must be spared to create a culture able to prevent such situations from happening, but also to prevent the possibility of their being covered up and perpetuated. The pain of the victims and their families is also our pain, and so it is urgent that we once more reaffirm our commitment to ensure the protection of minors and of vulnerable adults. 1. If one member suffers In recent days, a report was made public which detailed the experiences of at least a thousand survivors, victims of sexual abuse, the abuse of power and of conscience at the hands of priests over a period of approximately seventy years. Even though it can be said that most of these cases belong to the past, nonetheless as time goes on we have come to know the pain of many of the victims. We have realized that these wounds never disappear and that they require us forcefully to condemn these atrocities and join forces in uprooting this culture of death; these wounds never go away. The heart-wrenching pain of these victims, which cries out to heaven, was long ignored, kept quiet or silenced. But their outcry was more powerful than all the measures meant to silence it, or sought even to resolve it by decisions that increased its gravity by falling into complicity. The Lord heard that cry and once again showed us on which side he stands. Mary s song is not mistaken and continues quietly to echo throughout history. For the Lord remembers the promise he made to our fathers: he has scattered the proud in their conceit; he has cast down the mighty from their thrones and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty (Lk 1:51-53). We feel shame when we realize that our style of life has denied, and continues to deny, the words we recite. With shame and repentance, we acknowledge as an ecclesial community that we were not where we should have been, that we did not act in a timely manner, realizing the magnitude and the gravity of the damage done to so many lives. We showed no care for the little ones; we abandoned them. I make my own the words of the then Cardinal Ratzinger when, during the Way of the Cross composed for Good Friday 2005, he identified with the cry of pain of so many victims and exclaimed: How much filth there is in the Church, and even among those who, in the priesthood, ought to belong entirely to [Christ]! How much pride, how much selfcomplacency! Christ s betrayal by his disciples, their unworthy reception of his body and blood, is certainly the greatest suffering endured by the Redeemer; it pierces his heart. We can only call to him from the depths of our hearts: Kyrie eleison Lord, save us! (cf. Mt 8:25) (Ninth Station). 2. all suffer together with it The extent and the gravity of all that has happened requires coming to grips with this reality in a comprehensive and communal way. While it is important and necessary on every journey of conversion to acknowledge the truth of what has happened, in itself this is not enough. Today we are challenged as the People of God to take on the pain of our brothers and sisters wounded in their flesh and in their spirit. If, in the past, the response was one of omission, today we want solidarity, in the deepest and most challenging sense, to become our way of forging present and future history. And this Letter of His Holiness, Pope Francis, to the People of God in an environment where conflicts, tensions and above all the victims of every type of abuse can encounter an outstretched hand to protect them and rescue them from their pain (cf. Evangelii Gaudium, 228). Such solidarity demands that we in turn condemn whatever endangers the integrity of any person. A solidarity that summons us to fight all forms of corruption, especially spiritual corruption. The latter is a comfortable and self-satisfied form of blindness. Everything then appears acceptable: deception, slander, egotism and other subtle forms of self-centeredness, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Cor 11:14) (Gaudete et Exsultate, 165). Saint Paul s exhortation to suffer with those who suffer is the best antidote against all our attempts to repeat the words of Cain: Am I my brother's keeper? (Gen 4:9). I am conscious of the effort and work being carried out in various parts of the world to come up with the necessary means to ensure the safety and protection of the integrity of children and of vulnerable adults, as well as implementing zero tolerance and ways of making all those who perpetrate or cover up these crimes accountable. We have delayed in applying these actions and sanctions that are so necessary, yet I am confident that they will help to guarantee a greater culture of care in the present and future. Together with those efforts, every one of the baptized should feel involved in the ecclesial and social change that we so greatly need. This change calls for a personal and communal conversion that makes us see things as the Lord does. For as Saint John Paul II liked to say: If we have truly started out anew from the contemplation of Christ, we must learn to see him especially in the faces of those with whom he wished to be identified (Novo Millennio Ineunte, 49). To see things as the Lord does, to be where the Lord wants us to be, to experience a conversion of heart in his presence. To do so, prayer and penance will help. I invite the entire holy faithful People of God to a penitential exercise of prayer and fasting, following the Lord s command. [1] This can awaken our conscience and arouse our solidarity and commitment to a culture of care that says never again to every form of abuse. It is impossible to think of a conversion of our activity as a Church that does not include the active participation of all the members of God s People. Indeed, whenever we have tried to replace, or silence, or ignore, or reduce the People of God to small elites, we end up creating communities, projects, theological approaches, spiritualities and structures without roots, without memory, without faces, without bodies and ultimately, without lives. [2] This is clearly seen in a peculiar way of understanding the Church s authority, one common in many communities where sexual abuse and the abuse of power and conscience have occurred. Such is the case with clericalism, an approach that not only nullifies the character of Christians, but also tends to diminish and undervalue the baptismal grace that the Holy Spirit has placed in the heart of our people.[3] Clericalism, whether fostered by priests themselves or by lay persons, leads to an excision in the ecclesial body that supports and helps to perpetuate many of the evils that we are condemning today. To say no to abuse is to say an emphatic no to all forms of clericalism. It is always helpful to remember that in salvation history, the Lord saved one people. We are never completely ourselves unless we belong to a people. That is why no one is saved alone, as an isolated individual. Rather, God draws us to himself, taking into account the complex fabric of interpersonal relationships present in the human community. God wanted to enter into the life and history of a people (Gaudete et Exsultate, 6). Consequently, the only way that we have to respond to this evil that has darkened so many lives is to experience it as a task regarding all of us as the People of God. This awareness of being part of a people and a shared history will enable us to acknowledge our past sins and mistakes with a penitential openness that can allow us to be renewed from within. Without the active participation of all the Church s members, everything being done to uproot the culture of abuse in our communities will not be successful in generating the necessary dynamics for sound and realistic change. The penitential dimension of fasting and prayer will help us as God s People to come before the Lord and our wounded brothers and sisters as sinners imploring forgiveness and the grace of shame and conversion. In this way, we will come up with actions that can generate resources attuned to the Gospel. For whenever we make the effort to return to the source and to recover the original freshness of the Gospel, new avenues arise, new paths of creativity open up, with different forms of expression, more eloquent signs and words with new meaning for today s world (Evangelii Gaudium, 11). It is essential that we, as a Church, be able to acknowledge and condemn, with sorrow and shame, the atrocities perpetrated by consecrated persons, clerics, and all those entrusted with the mission of watching over and caring for those most vulnerable. Let us beg forgiveness for our own sins and the sins of others. An awareness of sin helps us to acknowledge the errors, the crimes and the wounds caused in the past and allows us, in the present, to be more open and committed along a journey of renewed conversion. Likewise, penance and prayer will help us to open our eyes and our hearts to other people s sufferings and to overcome the thirst for power and possessions that are so often the root of those evils. May fasting and prayer open our ears to the hushed pain felt by children, young people and the disabled. A fasting that can make us hunger and thirst for justice and impel us to walk in the truth, supporting all the judicial measures that may be necessary. A fasting that shakes us up and leads us to be committed in truth and charity with all men and women of good will, and with society in general, to combatting all forms of the abuse of power, sexual abuse and the abuse of conscience. In this way, we can show clearly our calling to be a sign and instrument of communion with God and of the unity of the entire human race (Lumen Gentium, 1). If one member suffers, all suffer together with it, said Saint Paul. By an attitude of prayer and penance, we will become attuned as individuals and as a community to this exhortation, so that we may grow in the gift of compassion, in justice, prevention and reparation. Mary chose to stand at the foot of her Son s cross. She did so unhesitatingly, standing firmly by Jesus side. In this way, she reveals the way she lived her entire life. When we experience the desolation caused by these ecclesial wounds, we will do well, with Mary, to insist more upon prayer, seeking to grow all the more in love and fidelity to the Church (SAINT IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA, Spiritual Exercises, 319). She, the first of the disciples, teaches all of us as disciples how we are to halt before the sufferings of the innocent, without excuses or cowardice. To look to Mary is to discover the model of a true follower of Christ. May the Holy Spirit grant us the grace of conversion and the interior anointing needed to express before these crimes of abuse our compunction and our resolve courageously to combat them. Vatican City, 20 August 2018 FRANCIS [1] But this kind [of demon] does not come out except by prayer and fasting (Mt 17:21). [2] Cf. Letter to the Pilgrim People of God in Chile (31 May 2018). [3] Letter to Cardinal Marc Ouellet, President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America (19 March 2016).

6 IN THE DIOCESE August 19, 2018 Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Save the Date! CONVOCATION for CATECHISTS Saturday, October 20, 2018 Diocesan Pastoral Center 330 Wyoming Avenue, Scranton The Office for Parish Life invites DREs, catechists, RCIA teams, Youth Ministers, those on parish WORD Commissions and anyone engaged in Ministry of the Word to share in the WORD Convocation. The Keynote Speaker will be Joan Weber offering a presentation entitled, Calling Families to Be Living Gospels. Joan Weber is the Coordinator of the National Work-shop Series and Lifelong Faith Formation at the Cen-ter for Ministry Development. Joan is the former president of the National Catholic Young Adult Min-istry Association and content editor and author for the USCCB s book Connecting Young Adults to Catholic Parishes. The day will begin at 9:00 with Mass in the Cathedral of St. Peter, followed by the keynote presentation, lunch and a choice of workshops. Please save the date. Registration will be open later in August. For more information, please contact Mary Anne Malone: Mary-Anne- Malone@dioceseofscranton.org or (570) , ext Notice Regarding the Sexual Abuse of A Minor It is the policy of the Diocese of Scranton to report any allegation of sexual abuse of a minor to law enforcement. If you are a victim of sexual abuse, you are encouraged to immediately report the matter to law enforcement. If any priest, deacon, religious, lay employee or volunteer of the Diocese of Scranton has cause or reason to suspect that a minor has been subjected to any form of abuse, including child sexual abuse, the matter will be reported to law enforcement. In accordance with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania s Child Protective Services Law, reports of suspected child abuse should also be made immediately by phone to the 24 hour Child Abuse Hotline (ChildLine) at or electronically at It is also the policy of the Diocese to adhere to all civil and state regulations. To this end, the Diocese is equally committed to adhering to the norms of the Code of Canon Law and to upholding the tenets of the USCCB Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, which includes supporting victims of sexual abuse in their pursuit of emotional and spiritual well-being. As such, information regarding an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor should also be reported to the Victim Assistance Coordinator, Mary Beth Pacuska at or to Diocesan Officials, including the Vicar General, Msgr. Thomas M. Muldowney, V.G. at LTP Virtual Workshops Liturgy Training Publications is offering several different series of online workshops for cantors, lectors, extraordinary ministers of Communion, liturgists, teachers and catechists throughout the year. Here are just some of the upcoming virtual workshops: Sing to the Lord, Part 1: A Theology of Parish Music Ministry August 20, 2018 at 7:30PM Diocesan Pilgrimage to the National Shrine Basilica of the Immaculate Conception Washington DC Saturday, September 22, 2018 Deadline for reservation and PAYMENT of $55 per person is August 26, 2018 If you are planning on going, contact Mary at Pray and Proclaim! Saturday, September 15, 2018 from 9:00AM-2:30PM St. Monica Parish, West Wyoming Presented by Dr. Maria Poggi Johnson and Kitty Scanlan Dr. Maria Poggi Johnson will give introduction to basic public speaking techniques, and provide opportunity for participants to try out these methods. Kitty Scanlan will discuss topics such as: Why do we pray? How do we pray? What are some ideas and re-sources for planning prayer with groups, or in the class-room? The ways in which ministers cultivate spirituality outside of the Mass not only enriches Sunday worship but can bring the reality of God into our everyday lived experience. Dr. Poggi Johnson is a professor of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Scranton. Kitty Scanlan is the Coordinator for Lay Ministry Formation for the Diocese of Scranton in the Office for Parish Life. For more information contact Kitty Scanlan at To register, visit dioceseofscranton.org. Sing to the Lord, Part 2: Practical Approaches for Implementation August 27, 2018 at 7:30PM Children s Liturgy of the Word in your Parish Community: Training Leaders in Theory and Pracice August 28, 2018 at 7:30PM and September 5, 2018 at 1:00PM The cost for each session is $10-$15. For more information or to register for any of these sessions or to see what other sessions are available throughout the year, please visit Workshop for Music Ministers The Office for Parish Life and the Scranton Chapter of NPM is sponsoring a workshop for all music ministers on Saturday, September 29 from 9:00AM to 12:30PM at the Diocesan Pastoral Center in Scranton. This event will feature keynote speaker, Dr. Elaine Rendler, a nationally recognized musician, teacher, composer, pastoral liturgist, speaker, and author of In the Midst of the Assembly and This Is the Day, as well as the writer of weekly columns and music suggestions in Today s Liturgy for more than 30 years, offering practical wisdom to generations of pastoral musicians. All cantors, choir members, choir directors, organists, pianists, and instrumentalists are encouraged to mark their calendars and join us! Formation for Servant Leadership Information Session Wednesday, August 29th 7:00 8:30 pm ST. LEO S Ashley For More Information or to Register Contact The Office for Parish Life We anticipate welcoming a new cohort of lay ministers into the program this September prospective candidates are encouraged to attend. CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES COMPASSIONATE COUNSELING SERVICES Catholic Social Services of the Diocese of Scranton offers compassionate counseling in a safe, comfortable environment where your privacy is always respected. Anyone who struggles with anxiety, grief and loss, depression, life transitions or a variety of emotional or psychological conditions is welcome. CSS accepts Medicare and some other insurance plans. CALL for more information or to make an appointment

7 August 19, 2018 Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time It s getting harder and harder to watch the news. It seems that almost every day, a new story emerges about priest sex abuse or cover-up in the Catholic Church. It s unconscionable. Words can t describe the disgust, frustration, pain, betrayal, and anger many Catholics feel. It s enough to make a person give in to feelings of despair or even to wonder whether it s worth remaining Catholic. It s natural to experience these feelings, and the outrage they spark can lead to important changes that will hopefully cure the infection in the Body of Christ and prevent similar wounds from happening in the future. But along the way, it is possible for people to be so frustrated that their faith doesn t survive to appreciate the cure. Here are some suggestions to make sure this doesn t happen to you. Ask yourself: What do I believe in? Researchers who study the psychology of faith know that people belong to a church for different reasons. Some people go to church because they like the people they find there. Others go because they feel comforted. These are fine reasons to go to church, but they tend to result in weak ties to a faith community. What happens to my faith when the people I believe in let me down? What do I draw comfort from when my faith community is the source of so many uncomfortable feelings? In these times, it s important to remember that Scripture cautions us against putting our faith in princes, in mortal men in whom there is no salvation (Psalm 146:3). People are always imperfect. They will always let us down. We cannot belong to the Church because its people are always good, because, unfortunately, they are not. If we belong to the Church, it must be because it is where we most intimately encounter Christ in the sacraments. Those who take this opportunity to refocus on their connection with Christ in the sacraments will experience the scandal as painful, but not as faith-shattering. They, like the early Apostles, will look at the face of Christ in the midst of the crisis. When He asks, Will you also leave? they will say, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of everlasting life! (John 6:68). Pray. Prayer is critical to maintaining our faith through crisis. By all means, be honest with God about the frustration you feel that his Body has been broken in so many horrible ways. Tell God about your frustrations with Church leadership, about your anguish for the abuse victims, and about your own sadness that your faith is being challenged in these ways. But ask God to help you grow in love for Him and for his Church. Ask Him to strengthen you for the journey ahead, that you might be able to be an encouragement to the many faithful priests who are so deeply hurt by the failings of their brothers, and a source of healing and compassion for the victims of the abuse. Aid in the healing. In response to the crisis, the pope and many faithful bishops and priests have called for everyone to be more faithful and even to do penance. This often results in the laity getting more than a little irritated. Why should I do penance? I didn t do anything wrong! The reaction is understandable but, I think, misguided. Doing penance for your personal sins and strengthening your commitment to living out the truth of the Church in your everyday life is not the same as participating in some false claim of personal complicity in the scandal. Think of it this way: When your body gets sick, sometimes that sickness can spread to other parts of the body that were previously unaffected. Or sometimes, your body might get a secondary infection that preys on your weakened state. Get your facts straight. The secular press does a great service by exposing the sins of the Church. Even so, sometimes reporters simply do not have enough understanding of either theology or Church governance to get the story straight. Before you make any judgments about what is or isn t happening in the Church because of something you read in the paper or on the internet, check multiple sources (conservative and liberal, Catholic and secular) to get a better bead on what s really going on. TALKING TO KIDS ABOUT THE SCANDAL Dad, Mom, why did priests hurt kids? That s not a question any parent wants to face. Here are some suggestions for talking with children about sex abuse in the Church: Ask questions. When your child asks a question about the scandal, before you answer, make sure to ask questions like, What do you think about that? And, Can you tell me what you heard/ where you heard that? Taking a moment to ask where kids are getting their information and assessing the conclusions they are coming to on their own is critical to formulating an effective response to their honest questions. Let them lead. When you answer a child s question, ask if he or she has any other questions. Let the child lead the discussion so you know how much or how little you STEWARDSHIP How to Cope with the Clergy Sex Abuse Crisis How do we keep the Faith amid such Betrayal? How do we talk to our children about this? Here s what you need to know. by Gregory Popcak need to say to satisfy their concerns or curiosity. Remind them that you will keep them safe. Remind your child that he or she doesn t have to worry. You will take care of them and keep them safe from any possible harm. Remind them what we believe in. Just like grown-ups, kids need to remember that we don t believe in Father So-and-So or this particular congregation. Rather, we believe in Jesus Christ and his sacraments, especially the Eucharist that makes us one with Christ and maintains our life in Him. We are Catholic not because of people, but because of the Eucharist. HOW CAN YOU STAY IN SUCH A CHURCH? How to respond to friends, family, and others In the wake of the sex abuse scandal, many people especially the media are asking, How can you stay Catholic? A recent CBS poll revealed that 88 percent of Catholics report that the scandal has had no effect on their dealings with priests. 82 percent say it will not affect their Mass attendance, 79 percent say it will have no effect on donations, and 87 percent say that it will have no effect on their children s involvement in Church activities. These statistics may come as a shock to the secular media or the general public, but they aren t a huge surprise to the faithful who know that they are not Catholic because of the perfection of the people they meet at church or the priests they know. Far from it. Catholics aren t surprised by sin. We are often saddened by it, appalled by it, and disgusted by it, but we re really not that surprised. What we are surprised by is that, despite the sin that is undoubtedly present in our hearts and in the Church itself, Jesus Christ continues to find ways to powerfully change lives and challenge the world through the Church He founded. We are surprised by the breathtaking way Christ touches our hearts through his sacraments, nourishes us through the Eucharist, and, through his grace, empowers us despite our individual and collective weakness to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable with the Gospel of Life. It is this surprising encounter with Christ that keeps the faithful faithful. Despite our brokenness and the brokenness within the Church, we believe that we are founded upon the rock, and the gates of hell will not prevail against us (Matthew 16:18).

8 August 19, 2018 Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time FINANCES INCOME EXPENSES August 18-19, 2018 August 16-22, 2018 PARISH COLLECTION Administration 2, In Church Mailed In Clergy Residence -0- Loose Liturgy Offering 3, Religious Education Holy Days Social Justice -0- Initial Maintenance 5, Dues Parish Assessment 11, Debt Reduction Insurance -0- Holiday Flowers Taxes -0- TOTAL PARISH COLLECTION Diocesan Collection TOTAL DIOCESAN $4, $ Transfer -0- DIOCESAN COLLECTIONS Diocesan Collections $4, $ Debt Service (Principal + Interest) 2, School Subsidy OTHER INCOME TOTAL EXPENSES $22, Candles Holy Day 1, Perquisites Previous Balance 5, Transfers 11, Income this week +18, Miscellaneous -0- -Expenses this week -22, DIOCESAN ASSESSMENTS (July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019) Diocesan Assessment School Assessment BALANCE Prior Balance , , Current Assessment 71, , , Amount Paid BALANCE DUE 11, , , , , The Monthly Assessment Installment for the Diocese is $5, (that is a little over 1 Weekend s collection) The Monthly School Assessment Installment is $4, (another weekend s collection) To pay off the total current and past Schools Assessment, the monthly installment would be $12, (3 weekend collections.) PARISH DEBT SERVICE Parish Loan Amount Paid BALANCE Due BALANCE 412, , , TOTAL OTHER INCOME $13, Balance Forward $1, Please Note: The Parish Debt service has been paid to date. This Account is current. TOTAL INCOME $18, Your Gift to God Mass Attendance August 18-19, 2018 People In-Church Collection Average Offering per person 4:00 p.m , :30 p.m :00 a.m :00a.m. 63 1, Total 339 4, REMINDER: In order for our parish to remain solvent, the average weekly offering per person MUST equal or be greater than $15.00 consistently. Intention Offered by Votive Offerings Bread and Wine Sanctuary Candle Intention Barbara Marino Offered by David Alusick August 18 19, 2018 Over $ $20 43 $ $ $ $15 20 $75 2 $ $ $10 61 $50 6 $6-9 9 $ $5 32 $25 13 under $5 23 $ Total Envelopes used 241 Is your gift to the parish each week an honest reflection of God s goodness to you?

9 LOCAL EVENTS Sts. Peter and Paul Designer Bag Bingo September 16, 2018 Bernadine Hall Doors open 11:30. First Game 1 pm Advance Tickets - $20 At the Door $25 For more information call Nina at (ext. 3, then 1) Sts. Peter and Paul Quilt Bingo October 7, 2018 Bernadine Hall Pilgrimage to The National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa Sunday, October 7th, 2018 Cost of Bus is $45.00 includes the bus, hot buffet Polish lunch at the Shrine, and driver gratuity. Mass is at 11 am. For more information, or to make your reservation, Contact Theresa Lisiewski at Doors open 11:30. First Game 1 pm Advance Tickets - $20 At the Door $25 For more information call the Parish Office at St. Andre Bessette Parish FABULOUS TOY BINGO Sunday, November 4, 2018 St. Mary s Byzantine Parish Social Hall Doors open at Noon, First Game 1 pm Tickets $10 advance or at the door For More Information, Call Pat Baran at Join us as we celebrate WILKES BARRE Saturday, September 15, 2018 For more information, contact DAVID at August 19, 2018 Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Celebrate LABOR DAY with the Oblates of St. Joseph TRIDUUM in honor of ST JOSEPH the WORKER August 31 September 2, 2018 Oblates of St. Joseph Chapel Route 315, Laflin, PA 7:00 pm Confessions and Rosary will precede the 7 pm Mass which will be followed by Prayers to St. Joseph. ON LABOR DAY, September 3, 2018 Solemn Mass with Bishop John Dougherty will be celebrated at 11 am. Contact for more information. Slovak Heritage Society of NEPA FALL PICNIC Sunday, September 9, :00 pm Plains Township Municipal Pavilion Clarke Lane, Plains, PA Cost: $20.00 per person RSVP by September 1st To Elaine Palischak SOUP FOR THE SOUL at Exaltation of the Holy Cross Parish Buttonwood, PA Thursday, September 6, 2018 Pick up: 8 am to 6 pm SOUP of the MONTH: Polish Wedding Cost: $8.00 qt To Order call: CHOMAN S MOBILE CARE Cemetery Care Automobile Detailing Power Washing You can contact Chris at (570) , or Book your appointment online at ChomanCares.com or by at ChomanCares@gmail.com. Bus Pilgrimage to the NATIONAL SHRINE OF DIVINE MERCY Stockbridge, MA for the FEAST OF ST. FAUSTINA Friday, October 5, 2018 Bus leaves at 7:00 am from the back section of St. Maria Goretti Parking Lot (42 Redwood Dr. Laflin, PA) Estimated arrival at the Shrine is 11 am All events will take place at the Mother of Mercy Outdoor Shrine. Cost is $67 per person Includes complimentary snack items and water, bus trip, shrine fee, bus driver s tip, and a full course meal at Bogies Restaurant in Great Barrington, MA. For More information or to Register, Contact Cathy Mack

10 WEEKLY CALENDAR August 19, 2018 Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Waterson Twenty First Week in Ordinar August 27 September 2, 2018 Day and Date Time Intention Offered by Events Monday, August 27 St. Monica NO Morning Mass Scheduled Tuesday, August 28 St. Augustine 8 am John Vernoski s Special Intentions Family 5:30 pm CHOIR Wednesday, August 29 The Passion of John the Baptist 8 am Josephine Alexy Maureen & Mike Garbush Thursday, August 30 Weekday 8 am George Fristic Paul S Makuch Friday, August 31 Weekday Saturday, September 1 Weekday 8 am Marge Teresavage Ron & Sherrie Tompko NO Morning Mass Scheduled Noon Exposition 6 pm Vespers 6 pm Pastoral COUNCIL 3 pm Confessions Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time VIGIL 4 pm Tom Martin Family VIGIL 5:30 pm Joseph Buczynski Dan, Mary & Jim Evans SUNDAY 8 am Parishioners Pastor CLERGY COLLECTION Dues Envelopes due Dance/Basket Tickets on Sale SUNDAY 11 am Thomas Murphy Michael Murphy Jr & Family LITURGICAL MINISTRY SCHEDULE September 1-2, 2018 Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time SERVER LECTOR EMOC HOSPITALITY 4:00 pm Maggie Benish Anne Bergold John Bergold Mary Ann Amesbury 5:30 pm Manuel Baez Pat Baran William Klukoske Marge Dreier Pat Baran 8:00 am AJ Kondracki MA Slavinski AJ Kondracki Dolores Yesuvida 11:00 am Patrice Rembish Sandy Snyder Elane Snyder Joe Stone Monday, September 3, :00 am John Benz David Alusick John Benz Labor Day Pat Baran & Dolores Yesuvida