Remembering. Worship. We believe Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith and the center of our parish life and mission!

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2 Remembering MONDAY TUESDAY Frank Milani Al Catracchia Dr. Frank Milani Sally Ware & Family Musheno Family Arthur McPhillips,III The Family The Family Eric Johnson Katie Pfister The Grambo Family The Pfister Family Florence Cruciani Harriett Carroll The Family Jim & Jeanne Carroll Peter G. Loftus, Jr. George Tinsley Peter G. Loftus, Sr. The Family Dorothy Capozzi Husband, Dick WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY (CSG) 5:00 PM We believe Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith and the center of our parish life and mission! Worship Living Liturgy The disciples are examples for us in so many ways, but today their example might not be what we expect. Here not only do they misunderstand Jesus (again) but they are afraid to ask him any questions. They are arguing among themselves. So Jesus turns the table and questions them. He wants them to tell him what they were arguing about. This almost sounds like a family squabble among the children where the parent has to step in and put a foot down. Perhaps like petulant children called on the carpet, the disciples remain silent. They do not have an answer for Jesus. For Reflection: Do I know of individuals whose humility has led them to accomplish great things for others? The gifts of bread and wine are donated this week in memory of Eric Johnson 2 Is this the way the disciples really acted? Are these the saints we revere? Are their actions worthy of emulation? The disciples serve as an example for us in that despite their misunderstandings, their arguments, even their petty jealousies about who would be the greatest, they continued to follow Jesus. Jesus does not expect perfection. The disciples clearly show that! Jesus accepts people for who they are and where they are. He asks that they follow him. Jesus then teaches the Twelve about leadership and being counted as the first. The leader is to be the servant. This upends ancient ideas and certainly modern thinking about being number one. Power, riches, and authority, both in antiquity and now, are often used to amass more. But for the Christian it is to be different. For those who desire to be first, the greatest, the best, they are to be the last, the least, the servant of all. This is the true marker of Christian love and service.

3 THE PARISH COMMUNITY OF ST. GREGORY, GUIDED BY CHRIST S GOSPEL MESSAGE OF LOVE AND NOURISHED FOR MISSION AT EUCHARIST WELCOMES THE WORLD WITH OPEN ARMS, FAITHFUL HEARTS AND HANDS READY TO SERVE. Service We recognize God s call to serve our parish family and neighbors near and far! This will be the final weekend for parishioners and guests to use the two main church doors. On Monday, September 24, the doors will be permanently closed and covered up. Access to the church will be at the top of the driveway and the side door nearest Our Lady of Peace School. We kindly ask that you heed the new patterns for entering and exiting the church. Please remember this is temporary! WE RE GLAD YOU RE HERE! The Church of St. Gregory is a diverse and vibrant community of faith that offers many opportunities to enrich your spiritual life, serve those in need, educate your family, and most importantly, to belong. Whoever you are, no matter where you find yourself on the journey of faith, you are welcome and wanted here. Take time to discover for yourself an authentic and welcoming community that you can call home. Here are some ways to get started: You may fill out an online registration form at CHURCHOFSTGREG@GMAIL.COM or download form and return to our office at your convenience. 3

4 Stewardship Love and generosity start here at home. We are grateful for your faithful stewardship which sustains the life of the parish, supports our outreach and ministries, as well as maintains the level of staffing needed to put our mission into action: welcoming the world with open arms, faithful hearts and hands ready to serve. Thank you for your gift of treasure and commitment to do God s work here at the Church of Saint Gregory offered on the weekend of September 15 & 16, Sunday Offering $11, Building Fund Payments $ 3, Weekly Pantry Collection Coffee Tea Instant Drinks I was thinking that the crucifixion scene is the image of church. Jesus dies between two criminals. Anyone at this time, witnessing Christ's crucifixion, would not have made a distinction between who was guilty and who was innocent. There was just one landscape God on a cross between two thieves. That is the perennial image of church. Grace and sin, sanctity and pettiness and fidelity and betrayal, all part of a single horizon. And there we find the glory of the cross; we behold the God of love in the midst of our hurts and failures and despair; we see and hear and touch the compassion and justice and peace of God in the crosses we take up and shoulder for the good of our families and communities. As the walls of our Ministry Center rise from the ground, we will raise up the Church of Saint Gregory renewing a community Built of Living Stones. Carl Caretto gives voice to something which I feel might be described as our Ode to the Church. It reads this way: How much I must criticize you, my church and yet how much I love you! How you have made me suffer much and yet owe much to you. I should like to see you destroyed and yet I need your presence. You have given me much scandal and yet you alone have made me understand holiness. Never in this world have I seen anything more obscurantist, more compromised, more false, and yet never in this world have I touched anything more pure, more generous, and more beautiful. Many times I have felt like slamming the door of my soul in your face and yet how often I have prayed that I might die in your sure arms! No, I cannot be free of you, for I am one with you, even though not completely you. Then, too where would I go? To build another church? But I cannot build another without the same defects, for they are my own defeats I bear within me. And again, if I build one, it will be my Church, and no longer Christ s. No, I am old enough to know that I am no better than others. I shall not leave this Church, founded on so frail a stone, because I should be founding another one on an even frailer stone: myself. And then, what do stones matter? Surely, each and every one of you do matter greatly. Upon all of you God will build His church anew! Father John 4 Donations this week will be offered to Saint Patrick s. Donations of pet food will always be received. Our Lady of Peace School is in immediate need of two people to work in the kitchen helping to prepare school lunches Monday thru Friday, 8:30 AM until 2:00 PM. Please call the school office if you are interested at They are also in need of playground monitors 11:00 AM to 1:30 PM.

5 After all masses this weekend, OLP 8th grade student Clare Devine will be hosting a lemonade sale with all proceeds going to the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation which is dedicated to funding pediatric cancer research. Please stop by the stand and help her raise money to kick childhood cancer!!! As always, thank you for your generosity. #StGregsGoGold #Weareblessed We cherish our relationship with Jesus and strive to make the gospel relevant to our daily lives! Word 5

6 Leadership Teams Michele Musheno, Theresa Robinson, Scott Pettinato, Marjorie Barlow, Joe Hogan, Donald Broderick, Ted Tomaszewski, Mary Ann Morgan, Logan Lombardo, Deacon Bob, Gemma Chuff, Mary Chuff, Matthew Walsh, Theresa Acla, John Zaums, Marian Farrell, Barbara Bratz, Chris Behan, Perry Rose, Fr. John Bill Burkavage, John Devine, Paul Gerega, Deacon Bob, Yvonne Cronkey, Ken Paulino, Jim Fleming, Fresh brewed coffee in St. Joe s Café every Sunday from 8:00 am to Noon and mornings after Mass. Two weeks ago at all Masses, I spoke about the sexual abuse of children by priests in light of the Grand July report from Pennsylvania. While it is a painful and difficult subject to address, I hope that you feel welcome to voice your anger, sadness, fear, and distress to me. We are beginning to plan for the Sixth Grade Family Mass on Sunday, September 30 at 10:00 AM. All parents of sixth grade students at OLP and regional Public schools are encouraged to participate in the liturgy and attend a family faith sharing event immediately following the mass. Our Universal church belongs to everyone let no priest, bishop, deacon or leader in that institution take it away from you. The apostles of Jesus began this church with an incredible force in the Holy Spirit, and they had fire. They brought the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world at great cost. As it grew, that struggle called for structure and organization. Unfortunately, the institution has overshadowed the message. The horrific acts of some of our pastoral leaders against the most vulnerable is shameful, harmful, and wrong. We must return to the original message of Jesus: love. These crimes and the accompanying neglect are a stark reminder of that sacred message and that it is ours to keep. Let us all be a part of the purification of our Church and ourselves. That can only happen if we stand together, weather the storm, provide comfort and consolation, ask forgiveness and remain vigilant. God s mercy is limitless and unconditional. Let me know how I can respond and provide care for those who have suffered in any way. Father John To volunteer to do a reading at the mass with your child, to be greeters, or to bring up gifts as a family, please contact Cristen Klamp at cklamp@alum.lehigh.edu We look forward to sharing this special time with you! 6 The celebration of Confirmation will take place on Tuesday, October 16 at 5:00 PM by Bishop Dougherty. On Sunday, October 7 at 6:00 PM there will be a family liturgy for all Candidates and their parents followed by a pizza party.

7 You re Catholic. You know you ought to know the Bible better than you do, and you feel vaguely guilty that you don t. Come on, admit it. You know it s true! ~Dr. John Bergsma Award-winning Professor Bergsma (Franciscan University, Steubenville) will guide you through a high energy and entertaining walk through the Bible. Our Lady of the Snows Parish will have an Altus Group meeting for 5 sessions from October 11, 18, 25 and November 1 and 8th, led by Lisa Shovlin and Carol Conway. For more information please contact carol@altusforwomen.com. Registration fee is $20.00 (plus the cost of the book which may be purchased at Community We believe that our Baptism forms us into a family joined together to love God and one another! Get Involved Whether you re interested in serving, connecting with others, worshipping, giving, or growing spiritually, we offer many opportunities for adults of all ages and youth to choose from. This bulletin along with our website is the best source of information for those wanting to engage. New Parishioners September 30 at 1:00 PM with Fr. John and our Community Team RSVP at

8 Baptisms are normally celebrated on the Third Sunday of every month during or following the 12 noon liturgy. Baptisms may be arranged at other times when necessary. Parent and Godparent preparation occurs two Sunday evenings each month at 5:00 PM at St. Gregory and Our Lady of the Snows rectories. Please call for an appointment. Please contact the rectory at anytime for the celebration of this sacrament. Arrangements should be made six months prior to the desired wedding date. Please contact Father Lapera. David Hemmler, Marion Eagen, Nina Magnani, Cindy Dick, Debbie Colarossi, Ron Grambo, Donna Nasser, Judy Grambo, Danny Marx. Julie Nastasi, Carol Strauch, John Devine, Kate Sebring, Chrissy Jacoby Deacon Bob, Meg & John Hambrose, Jane Farr, Judy Burkavage, Susan Scanland. The Service Team has a complete list of service connected opportunities. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Julie Nastasi at julie.nastasi@gmail. com. Tracy Bannon, Saul & Lisa Rigau, Yvonne Cronkey, Bridget Walsh, Bill Durdach, Danelle Hogan, Molly Johnson, Pam Jones, Mary Griffin, Joe Hogan. Parish activities and sign-up sheets may be found on the Welcome Cart. For more information, please contact Tracy Bannon at tracybannon@stjosephscenter. Org Ruth Fried, Bob Barry, Jack Rubano, Connie Sheils, Patti Staples, Fred Mercandante, Deacon Bob, Dr. Ted Tomaszewski. To learn more about the Word Coordinating Team, please contact Patti Staples at thstapes@comcast.net.. The prayer shawl ministry meets the second Thursday of every month at 7:00 PM in the rectory. A team of volunteers who provide comfort, a meal or assis- tance with parishioners and neighbors suffering loss or illness of any kind. This ministry seeks to raise awareness of the growing problem of homelessness of veterans within our local community and serve residents at St. Francis Commons. For more information please bburkavage@gmail.com (Both) Spirit Song Ensemble and Voices of Faith Choir: Wed. 7:00 p.m. Genesis Children s Choir: Wed. 4:00 p.m. This team will encourage parish support for refugees arriving in our community from all over the world in cooperation with CSS of the Diocese of Scranton. A team of volunteers who provide appropriate ideas and design for the decoration of our worship space. Family, friends and visitors are welcome for coffee after Mass in St. Joe s Café on Wednesday and Sunday mornings. Ministers of Hospitality are the welcoming ambassadors of our parish family at liturgy. Please contact our office for more information. Guild meetings take place the first Thursday of every month from September through May, with the exception of January. Meetings begin at 7:00 PM and are held in the rectory. saintgregoryswomensguild@gmail. com A team of Extraordinary Communion Ministers visit our homebound with Communion every month. For more Information please contact Deacon Robert Sheils at rsheils1@comcast.net Every Tuesday morning at 10:00 AM and every Tuesday afternoon at 5:15 PM. If anyone has a family member, relative or friend in any of the area hospitals and would like them to have a visit, please call the rectory. Our parish partners with St. Joseph s School in Uganda. Donations are always welcome in support of student tuition. A pet group that collects food and supplies for the Griffin Pond Animal Shelter. For more information please contact Lisa Thomas at lmt01@comcast.net Weekly donations may be left in the closet to your left as you come in the new entrance on the OLP side. There is a wagon inside the door for all donations. See page 4 for a list of items we are collecting each week. There are also four large annual collections. A social gathering to foster fellowship, friendship and parish family for all parish adults. The community table meets at a different venue monthly. Information will be published in the Green Dialog or you may judywalsh730@gmail.com. Our Religious Education program takes place every Sunday Morning at 11:05 AM at Our Lady of Peace School for grades 1-8. Kindergarten Class is held at Our Lady of Peace School. Our Lady of Peace School 410 N. Abington Road, Clarks Green, PA Mrs. M. Colleen Jumper, Principal Holy Cross High School 501 E. Drinker Street, Dunmore, PA Mr. Benjamin D. Tolerico, Principal There currently is an R.C.I.A. team ready to welcome anyone interested in becoming a Catholic or to learn more about their Catholic faith. Please Connie at rsheils@epix.net. Seasonal Faith Formation opportunities for all ages are offered throughout the year.