Saints Peter and Paul Church

Announcements

• Vigil Mass for May 9, 2021 from SS Peter & Paul Church Towanda

  https://youtu.be/n6_kUgGvzSU

• 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).

• May 12: Widows' Support Group Luncheon

  The Widows’ Support Group will resume their monthly luncheons on Wednesday, May 12, 2021, at noon on the outdoor deck of the Villa Sena  restaurant.  All widows are welcome, and invited to attend.

               For information and reservations, call

  Lucille Christini at 570-265-2625.

   

• 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
• 

  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

   

   

• 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 a re 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 toadhere 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 YToung People, which includes supporting victims of sexual abuse in their pursuit of emotional and spiritual well-being.  As such, information regarding an ellegation of sexual abuse of a minor shoulc 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.