In his letter for 2017 World Day of Prayer for Vocations, Pope Francis has a personal message: you are called to be a missionary, to share the Gospel of Jesus with the world!

“As disciples, we do not receive the gift of God’s love for our personal consolation, nor are we called to promote ourselves…We are simply men and women touched and transformed by the joy of God’s love, who cannot keep this experience to ourselves.”

What does that have to do with vocations? Pope Francis explains that to be a missionary disciple means sharing actively in the mission of Christ, including praying for vocations:

“I ask parish communities, associations, and the many prayer groups present in the Church, not to yield to discouragement but to continue praying that the Lord will send workers into his harvest.

May he give us priests enamoured of the Gospel, close to all their brothers and sister, living signs of God’s merciful love.”

HOW TO PRAY FOR VOCATIONS

Today on World Day of Prayer for Vocations consider praying a rosary for vocations, alone or with family and friends:

• Pray the first decade that you may grow in holiness in your own vocation.
• Pray the second decade for all those called to marriage.
• Pray the third decade for those called to the permanent diaconate.
• Pray the fourth decade for all those called to religious life.
• Pray the fifth decade for all those called to the priesthood.

At Every Sunday Mass when you take time for personal prayer at Mass, ask God that a young man from your parish will hear the call to the priesthood or religious life, and that a young woman will hear the call to become a sister.

At Home during mealtime, pray for vocations with your family, and encourage your children to be open to God’s call.

Year-Round pledge to pray for vocations at the international web site invisiblemonaster.com. It allows you to choose your diocese, then specify how and when you will pray.

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS ON MAY 7

Blessed Sacrament
Gabriella Baglivo	Spencer Kalinoski
Isabelle Baglivo	Aidan Shimkus
Lily Fagan	Emerson Shimkus
Holy Cross
Parker Bennett	Madelyn O’Malley
Addison Bilski	Lola Palazzari
Luke Borusiewicz	Owen Paone
Delaney Caines	Nicholas Petrochko
Corey Checefsky	Matthew Porto
Kate Coviello	Mackenzie Richards
Emily Fitzpatrick	Santino Roman
Brayden Gilgallon	Joseph Romanosky
Madison Healey	Connor Sawka
Dominic Klem	Alaina Scassellati
Allison Kohut	Trista Schroeder
Kristiania Krisler	Leah Tirado
Abigail Krott	Addison Tully
Gavin Lettieri	Jake Uhrin
Nicholas Martini	Gianna Wheeler
Catherine Mattioli	Baylee Yurkanin

Thank You to our second grade teachers: Mrs. Barbara Tracewski and Mrs. Karen Doyle; assistants: Mrs. Ellen Caines, Mrs. Linda Sablan, Miss Amanda Rimosites.

Thank you to LaSalle Academy, St. Clare/St. Paul Elementary School and St. Mary of Mt. Carmel Elementary School teachers.

Thank you to our directors of Religious Education: Mrs. Rosemarie Liesiefsky and Mr. John Musyt.

Thank you to our parents and grandparents and extended family for your dedication to your child’s religious education and his/her faith development.

A special “Thank You” for your contributions to our First Communion Class. Your help and support is greatly appreciated.

• Blessed Sacrament Altar & Rosary for the First Communion Retreat lunch and the gift packets for our First Communion children;
• Blessed Sacrament Holy Name for the First Communion retreat projects and the flowers for the children for the Blessed Mother;
• Confraternity of Christian Women of Holy Cross Parish for the lunch and refreshments for the Penance Service;
• Confraternity of Christian Women of Holy Cross Parish for the altar flowers, flowers for the children for the Blessed Mother and the crown for the Blessed Mother;
• Susanne Boyer-Baka for the crown for the Blessed Mother and Jim & Rosemarie Liesiefsky for the altar flowers at Blessed Sacrament.

All parishioners are reminded of their obligation to fulfill their “Easter Duty.” A person’s Easter duty consists of receiving Holy Communion at least once between Ash Wednesday and Pentecost Sunday as well as celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This year Pentecost Sunday is June 4.

The Charter calls for annual audits of dioceses and eparchies to ascertain compliance with USCCB guidelines. Annual Audits have been conducted since 2003. Results of the audits are published online in Mary for the Public.

CEMETERY CLEAN-UP will start shortly. All winter and Christmas decorations will be taken off the graves. If you want your decorations, please remove as soon as possible.

Monday, January 23, 2017; 6:30 PM; Holy Cross Parish.

All are invited to join in Prayer-Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Adoration and Benediction, as we lift up, honor and validate the dignity and sanctity of life from conception until natural death. We place ourselves in the Lord’s Eucharistic Presence praying for the conversion of hearts and the protection of unborn children.

Proud of Being Catholic (Excerpts of an article written by Sam Miller, prominent Cleveland Jewish businessman – (Not Catholic)

Why would newspapers carry on a vendetta on one of the most important institutions that we have today in the United States, namely the Catholic Church? Do you know – the Catholic Church educates 2.6 million students everyday at the cost to your Church of 10 billion dollars, and a savings on the other hand to the American taxpayer of 18 billion dollars. Your graduates go on to graduate studies at the rate of 92%, all at a cost to you. To the rest of Americans it’s free.

The Church has 230 colleges and universities in the U.S. with an enrollment of 700,000 students. The Catholic Church has a non-profit hospital system of 637 hospitals, which account for hospital treatment of 1 out of every 5 people - not just Catholics – in the United States today. But the press is vindictive and trying to totally denigrate in every way the Catholic Church in this country. They have blamed the disease of pedophilia on the Catholic Church, which is as irresponsible as blaming adultery on the institution of marriage.

Let me give you some figures that you as Catholics should know and remember. For example, 12% of the 300 Protestant clergy surveyed admitted to sexual intercourse with a parishioner; 38% acknowledged other inappropriate sexual contact in a study by the United Methodist Church, 41.8% of clergy women reported unwanted sexual behavior; 17% of laywomen have been sexually harassed. Meanwhile, 1.7% of the Catholic clergy has been found guilty of pedophilia; 10% of the Protestant ministers have been found guilty of pedophilia. This is not a Catholic problem.

A study of American priests showed that most are happy in the priesthood and find it even better than they had expected, and that most, if given the choice, would choose to be priests again in face of all this obnoxious PR the church has been receiving. The Catholic Church is bleeding from self-inflicted wounds. The agony that Catholics have felt and suffered is not necessarily the fault of the Church. You have been hurt by a small number of wayward priests that have probably been totally weeded out by now.

Walk with your shoulders high and your head higher. Be a proud member of the most important non-governmental agency in the United States. Then remember what was written in Jeremiah:

‘Thus says the Lord: Stand by the earliest roads, ask the pathways of old. Which is the way to good, and walk it; thus you will find rest for our souls.’

Be proud to speak up for your faith with pride and reverence and learn what your Church does for all other religions.

With the beginning of the flu season, just a few reminders about some common-sense practices that will help curtail the spread of the flu. Remember, if you are sick or not feeling well, there is no obligation to attend Mass on Sunday.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention lists a number of helpful practices. Frequently wash your hands with warm water and soap. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or handkerchief when you are coughing or sneezing. If you don’t have a tissue or handkerchief, cough into your elbow rather than into your hand. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth; germs spread this way.

If you do not feel well or have a cough, please avoid receiving the Precious Blood from the cup when it is offered. Be conscious that those around you may not shake your hand at the Sign of Peace because they may not be feeling well.

If we all practice these common, everyday precautions, hopefully we can prevent a significant outbreak of the flu in our community.

If your marriage is tearing the two of you apart, if there is little or no meaningful communication, if you are considering separation or divorce, then the  Retrouvaille  Program can help you,  Retrouvaille is helping couples put the pieces back together and to rediscover a more loving relationship. 

The next local program will be Feb. 24-26, 2017 at The Ramada Inn, Clarks Summit, PA .  Registration Required.  All calls confidential.  Cost is by donation.  For more information or to register call 1-800-470-2230 or visit www.helpourmarriage.org. Why run it for so long?  Because it often takes troubled couples awhile to accept that they may need some help.

The Christmas shopping season will officially be underway this Friday! When purchasing items from Amazon.com, please consider logging into your account via the Amazon Smile Program. A portion of your sale will be donated to our home at no additional cost to you!

To help, log in to your account at smile.amazon.com/ch/24-0832764.

There is St Mary’s Cilla Assisted Living. If you are interested in living here for just the winter months or a shorter period of time to stay active and keep busy during the long winter, call 570-795-2810.

Our parish family welcomes all who joined us for the celebration of the Eucharist this weekend. If you are not a registered member of the parish and would like to join the parish, please contact the parish office or see Monsignor Delaney for more information.

The 2017 calendars are available this weekend in Holy Cross and Blessed Sacrament Parishes. A special thanks is extended to the Michael P. Glinsky Funeral Home in Olyphant and to the John F. Glinsky Funeral Home in Throop for their donation to Holy Cross Parish and Blessed Sacrament for sponsoring the calendars.

The Social Concerns Committee of Blessed Sacrament and Holy Cross Parishes are once again providing a hot dinner at Christmas for the residents of St. Anthony’s Haven (a homeless shelter). The women of the Social Concerns have been working diligently throughout the year and have accomplished many worthy projects. Thank you for your generosity to all of the parish projects that help to raise money. Thank you.

On the Care of our Common Home

Our Social Concerns Committee is hosting a presentation on Pope Francis recent teaching “Laudato Si” on the Care of our Common Home” Monsignor Vincent Grimalia will present information and lead conversation on the important topics which surface from Pope Francis ‘ historic encyclical.

When: Monday, December 5 @ 6:30M Where Blessed Sacrament Parish Hall

All are invited and welcome. Refreshments will be served.

St Francis of Assisi Soup Drive: Monsignor Joseph P Kelly, Director of St Francis Kitchen has asked that local parishes collect cans of soup to help fill a specific need at the kitchen. We ask that you drop off soup cans next weekend October 22-23 in the vestibules of our parish churches. Thank you for your generosity.

Our Catholic life begins and ends in the Parish because a Parish is the gathering of God’s faithful people. Today, more than ever, we must connect with our fellow parishioners, reinforcing our faith and keeping it vital for the next generation of Catholics. It is crucial that we foster a rich parish life, where families and friends come together in the spirit of Catholic fellowship. The Office for Parish Life assists in all aspects of Liturgy and Worship, Service & Social Concerns, Community and Family Development. Your gifts fund such programs as networking and training for Youth .Ministry Leaders, Directors of Religious Education, Music and Liturgical Ministry, Bereavement Support, Social Concerns and Parish Councils.

Care & Education to Priests:

“Answering God’s call to a life of service to His People” Our priests and deacons unconditionally answer the call to serve God’s people meeting increasing needs throughout our Diocese. Contributions to the Annual Appeal fund ongoing formation of our priests, permanent deacons, seminarians and deacon candidates. These funds also help us to care for and support our 96 retired or ill priests, many of whom continue to generously assist with the celebration of Masses, the visitation of the sick and by offering spiritual guidance to all in need. Appeal gifts also assist the Vocation Office, which has been blessed with encouraging growth, in guiding those who are considering priesthood through a comprehensive discernment process. We are grateful to currently have 11 seminarians pursuing the priesthood in the Diocese of Scranton. Your gift to the Annual Appeal directly supports the celebration of the Eucharist, men in clergy formation, proclamation of the Gospel and administration of the Sacraments within our parish communities.

Educating the future generations of the faithful

Shaping the next generation of the faithful through a Catholic education in our schools and parishes is an essential mission of the Diocese of Scranton. Last year, more than 5,100 elementary, middle and high school students benefitted from the academic programs and spiritual guidance offered by our Catholic Schools. More than 15,000 children received religious education in parish based-programs, instilling in them an intimate knowledge of the faith and the love of God and fostering a desire to serve one another.

If you didn’t bring your phone to Mass today, it’s not too late to make a gift or pledge using your cell phone. Gifts are appreciated in any amount and are fully tax-deductible. Will you help by sharing your gifts?

To text a gift using your cell phone to support the ministries and services supported by the Diocesan Appeal, just…Text the word “Appeal” to number 91999, and follow the prompts. We appreciate your generosity. May God bless you.

Living Faith, Serving with Mercy “The great gift of mercy lies at the heart of all that we do as a church, and it also lies at the heart of the support we receive from the Diocesan Annual Appeal.”

Where we stand:

Holy Cross Parish: HOLY CROSS:We are at 99.66% of our $50,000 goal; $49,830.00 ($170.00)

Blessed Sacrament: Congratulations!! We are at 107% of our $17,000 goal;$18,515.00, $1,515.00 over. Remember that 75% of collected appeal donations above goal will be returned our parishes.