Saints Peter and Paul Church

Announcements

• Vigil Mass for April 18, 2021 from SS Peter & Paul Church Towanda

  https://youtu.be/IUUQvXse078

• COVID VACCINES - BISHOP BAMBERA SAYS, "GET ONE!"

  “The COVID-19 pandemic has caused tremendous grief and fear in our country and world over the last year, leaving more than 500,000 dead in the United States alone.

   

  “I want to be clear and concise in my pastoral guidance regarding COVID-19 vaccines. Given the grave danger this virus poses, it is morally acceptable to receive any of the current COVID-19 vaccines that have been determined to be clinically safe and effective. This position is supported by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

   

  “People should not delay getting a vaccine. Receiving a vaccine not only protects an individual’s health but also serves the common good by protecting the community – including the weak and vulnerable.

   

  “While fully recognizing the complex moral and ethical issues involved in vaccine development, at this time, most people are not being given a true choice of which vaccine they receive, and likely won’t be able to make such a choice without a lengthy delay.

   

  “Given that risk to public health, the faithful can in good conscience receive any of the current vaccines.”

   

  To view the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith’s December 2020 Note on the Morality of Using some anti-COVID vaccines, please (control+click) here or visit the Diocese of Scranton Website.

• The whole Bible in a year

  Ascension press is doing a series of free podcasts with Fr. Mike Schmitz: the Bible in a Year. Sign up to listen to a ~20 minute podcast every day, and by the end of the year, you'll have heard the entire Bible.

    Free !  and entertaining:        https://ascensionpress.com/pages/biy-registration

   

• "FORMED" on-Line Resources - easy access

  Registering for FORMED is easier than ever:

  1. Go to formed.org/signup
  2. Select your parish (search zipcode or parish name)
  3. Register with your name and email address
  4. Check that email account for a link to begin using FORMED

  Enjoy DVD's, CDs, Programs,  books and more, for a variety of ages and interests.

• Weekday Masses Schedule

  8:30 AM on Mon./Tues./Wed./ Fri ; no Mass on Thursday.

  Face masks, designated seating, social distancing, hand sanitizing are required. Reservations not needed.

• Sunday Masses by Reservation only

  
  Saturday Vigil 5 PM;  Sunday 8 & 11 AM  BY  RESERVATION  ONLY:

  Make a reservation at 

  http://tableagent.com/scranton/sts-peter-and-paul/

  and select day/time for your reservation and number in your group.

  ---

  OR  you may call Kathleen ONLY between 12-3 PM on Thursday or Saturday at 570-364-5996 with day,time, & number coming.

  Masks must be worn; assigned seating; social distancing shall be maintained at all times inside and around the church.

• Do You Miss Holy Communion?

  Spiritual Communion Prayer

  SPIRITUAL  COMMUNION  PRAYER

  My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.

  I love you above all things and I desire to receive you in my soul.

  Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart.

  I embrace you as if you were already there and unite myself wholly to you.

  Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen.

   

• CONFESSIONS - reservations not needed as of Feb. 17

  Beginning Feb. 17, 2021, Confessions before daily morning Masses, 8:00-8:20 am;

  Saturday at 4:00-4:45 PM.

  Mondays of Lent 5:30 to 7 pm.  "The Light is On for You"

  y appointment:   Fr. Ed phone:  570-265-2113.

• Difficult to Get to Confession? * * *

  Act of Perfect Contrition

  first is to pray an act of contrition "out of love for God," Father Pietrzyk said. Being sorry out of love for God has often been described as having a desire to be reunited to God because of who he is-- because of God's perfect love for us, and because of sorrow for having offended God by sin. It means wanting to live in unity with God, and to put aside the sins that stand in the way. There is no set formula for making an act of contrition, but a common one reads as follows: “My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against You, whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with Your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin.”

   

  Second, a Catholic must make a firm commitment to go to confession when that becomes possible.

  59745678. Pietrzyk explained that an act of perfect contrition is not a replacement for the sacrament of penance— far from it. “Even perfect contrition is never separated from the sacrament, at least in intention...if one makes a perfect act of contrition, it's not 'Oh, I don't have to go to confession any more.' Quite the opposite," Pietrzyk said. "The person who says: 'I have perfect contrition, but I'm not going to the sacrament' does not in fact have perfect contrition," he said.

  The sacrament of penance remains the sole, ordinary means for the forgiveness of mortal sins after baptism, Father Pietrzyk said. Contrition is about conversion, he said, which means turning away from attachment to sin, and turning toward the sacraments.

  ~ Johan McKeown quoting Father Pius Pietrzyk, OP; Catholic News Agency.com, Mar. 27, 2020, © CNA.com

   

  ***A Private Confession may be arranged by calling Father Ed at

  570-265-2113.

   

   

• Wedding Anniversary 25th / 50th - Diocesan Mass

  His Excellency, the Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L., Bishop of Scranton, and the Office for Parish Life wish to invite couples celebrating their 25th or 50th wedding anniversary in 2021 to a diocesan Wedding Anniversary Mass on Sunday, June 6, at the Cathedral of St. Peter; it will begin at 2:30 pm and attendance will require advance reservation.

  To register for the celebration, follow this link:  https://www.dioceseofscranton.org/parish-life/community/marriage/enrichment/wedding-anniversary-mass-june-6-2021/ . For questions or concerns, or if there are issues to register online, please reach out to Jen Housel, Director for Community and Family Development at                                                 (jhousel@dioceseofscranton.org, 570-207-2213 x 1104).

• Apr 4- May 9: Baby Bottle Campaign

  For the Endless Mountains Pregnancy Care Center:  "Fill a baby bottle with donations" is being eplaced this year with pre-addressed envelopes for your donations between Easter and Mother's Day.  

  Please be generous this year, because this important Fundraiser didn't happen at all in 2020.   The Center's vital work saves lives, while assisting, educating, and building up healthy families.

  The pre-addressed enelopes are in the church; for more information or to request an envelope, call Rosemary Hoffmann 570-265-7126  or  Kath Joyce at 570-561-5687.

• May 6: Eucharistic Adoration 9 am to 7 pm

• May 7: First Friday Mass 8;30 am

  8 am to 3 pm Retreat for First Communion Students

• May 9: Mothers Day

  We celebrate all the special mothers in our lives.

• May 12: Vigil Mass for the Ascension 7:00 pm

• May 13: The Ascension of the Lord

  Masses 8:30 am, 12:10 pm

• May 14: First Communion Practice 6 pm

• May 15: First Holy Communion

  10:00 AM Mass

• May 16: Deadline to reserve place at Wedding Anniversary Mass

  This year’s celebration will allow for limited attendance at an in-person Mass at the Cathedral of St. Peter on Wyoming Avenue in Scranton. (Due to ongoing pandemic concerns, there will be no reception afterward.) The Mass will begin at 2:30, and attendance will require advance reservation. If your 25th or 50th Wedding Anniversary has occurred or will occur in 2021, please register for the celebration via this link. The registration deadline is Sunday, May 16, 2021. The registration process includes an option whereby you can include one or two photos, as well as a short reflection on wisdom you have gained through your married life together. (Please register for this celebration and recognition, even if you would prefer to not attend an in-person Mass. The form will allow you to note that preference.) For questions or concerns, or if there are issues registering online, please reach out to Jen Housel, Director for Community and Family Development, at jhousel@dioceseofscranton.org, 570-207-2213 x 1104

• May 23: Pentecost Sunday - Confirmation

• May 29 8th Annual Pound the Ground for Ultrasound

  Race to benefit Endless Mountains Pregnancy Care Center.

  Details on bulletin board at church or EMPCC

• May 31: Memorial Day

  Mass at 9 AM in James Street Cemetery, weather permitting; otherwise in church; refreshments afterward.

• June 12: FISH -A -RAMA

  (Rain date June 19)  The fish in the pond are “flipping out!”  because Fish-a-Rama  is back this year!    Fish Friends News indicates that the fish want to be front and center THAT Saturday;  and there will be plenty more surprises for the fishers themselves.

  If your family wish to fish, please call the rectory 570-265-2113 or sign-up in the church with your phone number or email, and tell how many adults and how many kids will come.  We will leave the church parking lot at 9 am; after fishing and (of course) eating, plan to leave about noon.

   

• jun 20: Father's Day

  We will celebrate all the special fathers in our lives.

• Jun 23: 27th Annual Golf Tournament

  to benefit the Endless Mountains Pregnancy Care Center.

  Towanda Country Club

  details on church bulletin board, or at EMPCC

• Jul 25: Mass at French Azilum

  time to be announced

  Historical location of first Catholic settlement here.

• Masses online or televised

  Saturday Vigil Mass at SS Peter & Paul Church, Towanda, is now on youtube to view on Sunday: new link each week posted above.

  Daily 8 AM, Noon, and 7 PM on EWTN television station

  Sunday 8 AM and Noon on EWTN television station

  Weekdays 12:10, 3:30 and 7 PM on CTW; also streamed on website www.dioceseofscranton.org; and on Diocesan facebook, twitter, instagram and youtube

  Saturday Vigil 4 pm on CTW and streamed on Diocesan website www.dioceseofscranton.org and Diocesan facebook, twitter, instagram and youtube

  Sunday 10 am on CTW and streamed onDiocesan websiter www.dioceseofscranton.org and Diocesan facebook, twitter, instagram and youtube

  Weekdays 9 AM livestream at TheDivineMercy.org facebook page

  Weekdays 7 pm in Spanish at LaDivinaMisericordia (Official) facebook page

   

   

   

• Diocesan Mass Televised Schedule and online access

  A pivate Mass will be celebrated daily in the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Scranton, and made available on CTV: Catholic Television of the Diocese of Scranton.

  On weekdays, the Mass will be broadcast at 12:10 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

  On weekends, the Saturday Vigil Mass will be broadcast at 4:00 p.m. and rebroadcast on Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m.

  The Masses will also be streamed on the Diocese of Scranton’s website (www.dioceseofscranton.org), made available on the Diocese of Scranton’s social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) and will be accessible on the Diocese of Scranton’s YouTube channel.  

• EWTN Mass Schedule

  Daily Mass is available on EWTN (Comcast channel 63). 

  The schedule is 12:00 a.m. (midnight), 8:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. (noon), and 7:00 p.m.

  Sunday Mass is on EWTN at 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. (noon).

• 2019 Jan. 22: Diocese Launches Independent Survivors Compensation Program

  Dear Friends,

  As you may be aware, today the Diocese of Scranton launched its Independent Survivors Compensation Program to compensate survivors of child sexual abuse.

  This Program comes on the heels of the Grand Jury report, and is the latest step the Diocese has taken as we work to support survivors of abuse and eradicate abuse from the Church altogether. As you likely know, our Victim Assistance Coordinator helps to provide emotional, psychological and pastoral care to survivors of abuse, and survivors will now have the option to file a claim for compensation. We adhere to a strict zero tolerance policy on abuse, and have a number of prevention initiatives including extensive training and background checks. As we continue to improve our policies, launching this Program was a natural next step.

  Today Bishop Bambera shares a video address with the faithful of our church. I encourage you to view this video via the link noted below and also on our website. I hope this video answers your questions about the Program launch. However, I welcome you to reach out to me should you have any further questions. I would be happy to speak with you.

  Thank you for your continued support of the Diocese of Scranton.

  https://www.dropbox.com/s/d31hibyaxpzw0ne/Compensation%20Program.mp4?dl=0