Saints Peter and Paul Church

Announcements

• Vigil Mass for June 13, 2021

  https://youtu.be/D9vWzdKcTGQ

• COVID UPDATE June 13

  Pandemic Pandemonium  -  Updated procedures

   

  1.   Reservations are no longer necessary, but be conscious of spacing.

  2. Individuals who are fully vaccinated from COVID-19 are not required to wear masks while

         attending Mass or receiving Holy Communion.   Fully vaccinated individuals are welcome to

         continue wearing masks at Mass if desired for personal protection and/or comfort.

  3. Individuals who have not been fully vaccinated must continue to wear masks while attending           Mass. Individuals who are not fully vaccinated must wear a mask while receiving Holy

  Communion but may briefly remove the mask in order to consume the Sacred Host.

  4.  Holy Communion will be distributed at its proper place in the Mass. We will return to using the center aisle in coming forward to receive Holy Communion.

  5. Priests, Deacons and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are still required to wear a face mask during the Distribution of Holy Communion at this time – even if they have been fully

        vaccinated.

   

  National, State and Diocesan Guidelines can change very often and quickly.  Thank you for your patience and flexibility as we continue to move forward in dealing with COVID-19 as a parish community

   

• 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.

• 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.

   

   

• Jun 19: Catholic Women's Conference : Contact Fr. Ed for possible parish participation

  Saturday, June 19, 2021

  Marywood University*

  $40 In person / $20 Virtual

  Join this year’s Catholic Women's Conference on June 19 at Marywood University and experience

  Divine Mercy and the restoration of your soul.

               The day will include inspirational talks by Theresa Bonopartis, Father Chris Alar, and Sister Virginia Joy,  as well as Eucharistic Adoration, the rosary, and a Mass celebrated by Bishop Joseph C. Bambera. Uplifting music will be performed by Christian music artist Taylor Tripodi and her band.

  Participants can also enjoy a continental breakfast, lunch and shopping at the Catholic Vendor

  Marketplace.

  Cost to attend the conference is $40 for in person under the outdoor tent at Marywood University and $20 for virtual. Student tickets are $20, and women religious are welcome free of charge.

  Volunteers are always needed and those who sign up for four hours at the conference will receive a free ticket.

  SIGN  UP  NOW!  Online at CWCNEPA.COM  OR  MAIL IN  THIS  FORM

   

  Name ——————————————————————————————————-

  Address____________________________________________________________________

  ___________________________________________________________________________

  Phone___________________________Email_______________________________________

  _____# Tickets x $40 Live          or           ______#Tickets Virtual x $20  = __________

  Make the check out to the Diocese of Scranton and mail to

   

  Stephanie Westington, Treasurer

  Refresh Your Faith Conference

  P.O. Box 202

  Dunmore  PA   18512

   

• 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
• 

  Jun 27-Jul 1: Vacation Bible School

  ROCKY  RAILWAY:   

             JESUS'  POWER  PULLS  US  THROUGH

  Come join us for a week of excitement and mountains of fun as we climb aboard along the Rocky Railway-- where we'll discover that trusting Jesus pulls us through the ups and downs of our life.

  All aboard:   All students  Pre-K through 6th Grade

  Schedule:  June 27-July 1, 2021  from 6:00-8:00 PM nightly, Sunday through Thursday

  Railway Station:   St. Agnes School, 102 Third Street,  Towanda, Pennsylvania

  Information:    570-265-2113

   

   

• July 12: Vocations Golf Classic

  The Diocese of Scranton annual Vocations Golf Classic will be held Monday July 12, 2021 at the Blue Ridge Trail Golf Club, Mountain Top.  Over the past several years SSPP parish has supported this Diocesan Fund-Raising effort.  Registration 10 am; Lunch 11 am; Shot Gun Start noon; Dinner & Awards following golf.  

  Anyone interested in representing the parish at this Gold Classic, should see Fr. Ed or call 570-265-2113.

   

• 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).

• Diocese of Scranton Notice Regarding 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 committed by a priest, deacon, religious or lay employee or volunteer of the Diocese of Scranton, 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.  It is also the policy of the Diocese to adhere to all civil and state regulations.  In accordance with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Child Protective Services Laws, reports of suspected child abuse should also be made immediately by phone to the 24-Hour Child Abuse hotline (ChildLine) at 1-800-932-0313 or electronically at www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis.  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 570-862-7551.

  Aviso al Respecto de Reportar el Abuso Sexual de Un Menor de Edad Ed la norma de la Doceses de Scranton reportar cualquier alegacion de abuso sexual de un menor de edad a las autoridades.  Si usted ed una victima de abuso sexual cometido por un sacerdote, diaconon, religioso o empleado laico, o voluntario de la Diocesis de Scranton, usted esta obligado a reportar el asunto immediateamente a las autoridades de la ley.  Si algun sacerdote, diacono, religioso, empleado laico o voluntario de la Diocesis de Scranton tiene sospecha de que un menor de edad ha sido sujeto a cualquier forma de abuso, inluyendo abuso sexual de menor de edad, el asunto sera reportado a las autoridades de la ley.  Es la norma de la Diocesis defender todas las regulaciones civiles y del estado.  De conformidad con la Comunidad de los Servicios de Proteccion Infantil de Pennsylvania Leyes, informes de sospecha de abuso de ninos tambien debe hacerse inmediateamente por teefono las 24 horas maltrato infantil hotline (ChildLine) al 1-800-932-0313 o electronicamente en www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis.  Al fi n de que la Diocesis este comprometida igualmente a defender las normas del Codigo de Derecho Canonico y defender los principios de la Carta Para la Proteccion de Ninos y Jovenes (Conferencia de los Obispos Catholicos de los Estados Unidow), lo cual incluye apoyar a las victimas de abuso sexual en pos del bienesar emocional y espiritual.  Por eso, informacion respecto a una alegacion del asunto sexual de un menor de edad, debe ser reportada a la Coordinadora Diocesana de Asistencia para Las Vctimas, Mary Beth Pacuska, a 570-862-7551.