Saints Peter and Paul Church

Announcements

• Vigil Mass for Sunday, Nov. 29 - SORRY it will not be available due to technical difficulties.

  See article below:   "Online and televised Masses"  for other sources for Sunday Mass this week.

  It includes the diocesan Mass in Scranton available on their website:  dioceseofscranton.org

• Vigil Mass for Sunday Nov. 22 from SS Peter & Paul Church, Towanda

  https://youtu.be/XP4WItWn3qE

• 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.

• Christmas Masses by RESERVATION ONLY

  This year because of the Pandemic, we will attempt to handle the Christmas Mass schedule using St. Agnes JFK Hall, so that more people would be able to attend.  In an effort to accomplish this, we ask that you tell us which Mass you and your family will attend, and the number attending.

   

  Christmas Mass Schedule--only by Resevation:

   

               Christmas Eve:  4:00, 6:00 and 10:00 PM   and  Christmas Day:  10:00 AM

   

  Sign-up Sheets are on the tables at the entrance to the church, and you can also tell us by using the computer

  reservation system   https://tableagent.com/scranton/sts-peter-and-paul/

  Please note that it is essential for the parish organizers to know your intentions ahead of time, due to all the work that is needed to make things work in this COVID-19 Pandemic period., for the health and safety of all concerned. 

  If you can, please indicate your plans for Christmas Mass as soon as possible – you can change them later on, if needed, as long as you keep us informed.   Sign up at church, or make the online reservation now.

   

• 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

  Confessions are heard before daily morning Masses; Saturday at 4:15 PM.  Please call Fr. Ed for an appointment ahead of time so that proper social distancing and sanitizing may be in place for every individual.  Thank you for your cooperation and assistance.

  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.

   

   

• 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).

• Nov. 14: ANGEL TREE requests for Christmas

  Our annual Angel Tree will be set up in the church on Saturday, Nov. 14.  Your generosity in prior years has always been remarkable; and the joy of selecting a special gift for a special someone is part of your reward.  Unfortunately this year, wrapped gifts may not be used,  because of the Pandemic;                            but instead, only use gift cards:

  Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Burger King, Dollar

  General, Dandy Mini-Mart, Family Dollar, Hurley’s, Label Shopper, Lowe’s, McDonald’s,  Sheetz,

  Target, Tops, & Wal-Mart.   

  ALL CARDS MUST  BE IN   BY   DECEMBER  8.

  If unable to bring gift cards to the church, place in an envelope with the dollar amount noted, &

  mail to Kathleen DeWan, 111 Lundy Lane, or Sandra Kasenga, 331 York Ave., both in Towanda, 18848.

   

• Nov. 28: Deacons Ordination Mass

  Bishop Bambera will ordain 8 men to the Ordeer of Deacon in St. Peter's Cathedral on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2020 at 10 am.  These men will serve as permanent deacons in the Diocese of Scranton.  The Mass will be broadcast live over CTV, and will be available on YouTube and through the diocesa website.  Names and parishes along with individual biographies will be in the Nov. 19 edition of THE CATHOLIC LIGHT.

• Nov. 29: First Sunday of Advent

• Nov. 30: St. Andrew, Apostle

• Dec. 3: St. Francis Xavier

  St. Francis Xavier, co-patron of foreign missions along with St. Therese of Lisieux, was one of the seven founders of the Jesuit Order.  His travels led to the

  conversion of thousands throughout Africa, India, Japan and the Philippines.  May his continued intercession lead to vocations to missionary work, and more native

  vocations through the efforts of missionaries.

   

• Dec. 4: First Friday Mass 8:30 am and Eucharistic Adoration

  Eucahristic Adoration begins after 8:30 am Mass, until 9 pm in the church

  Sign-up sheets for a specific hour are in the rear of the church, or call Rosemary at 570-265-7126, email spicejar@epix.net.

  Walk-ins acceptable anytime observing all COVID precautions:  face mask, social distancing, restricted seating, and sanitizing anything you have touched before leaving are all required.  Thank you for helping us NOT spread the virus.

• Dec. 5: First Saturday Mass 8:30 am

• Dec. 6: Sunday Deadline for Angel Tree Gifts

  See mailing information posted on Nov. 14

• Dec. 7: St. Ambrose

  Monday 8:30 am Mass;

  Vigil Mass for the Immaculate Conception at 7:00 pm

• Dec. 8 The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

  Masses:  8:30 am and 12:10 pm

• Dec. 8: Final Deadline for ANGEL TREE gift cards

  Last day to be on time to distribute to families.

• Dec. 9: St. Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin

• Dec. 11: St. Damasus I, Pope

• Dec. 12: Our Lady of Guadalupe

  5:00 PM Saturday Mass as usual

  Rosary in her honor at 4:40 pm before Mass.

  Planned Fiesta has been CANCELLED.

• March 10, 2020: Continuing Restricted Visitation to Health Facilities

  Religious services and communion calls have been restricted effective immediately until further notice, by the relevant health care providers, including the Bradford County Manor, Towanda Personal Care Home, Towanda Skilled Nursing.  Emergency calls for the sacraments by the priest will be allowed.

• "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.

• 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

• VERY IMPORTANT VOTING ISSUES FOR CATHOLICS - VIDEO

  https://anticatholicticket.com/archives/1510?fbclid=IwAR0duNf2ftFqkCF4XCiRMP57FOMEnA1PTl_peYb9C6BdBUbRfvek30coLRA