Welcome to the Office for Parish Life Newsletter!  

Communicating important events and available resources

from the Office for Parish Life

Jan Carlo Pérez

Ordination to the Priesthood

Saturday, June 27

Witness Rev. Mr. Jan Carlo Pérez’s Ordination to the Sacred Priesthood for the Diocese of Scranton on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at 10 a.m. in the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Scranton. 

For those unable to attend in person, CTV: Catholic Television of the Diocese of Scranton will broadcast the Mass live and livestream the liturgy on the Diocese of Scranton website, YouTube channel and across all Diocesan social media channels.

Join us in Novena Prayer

June 19 - June 27

In gratitude for his generous response to God's call.

Join Bishop Joseph Bambera at these special liturgical celebrations consecrating the U.S. to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Thursday June 11 | 7 PM 

Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Peckville

or 

Friday June 12 | 5:30 PM 

Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Dupont

AND

JOIN SACRED HEART PECKVILLE IN NOVENA PRAYER 

LEADING UP TO THE CONSECRATION

JUNE 3 - JUNE 11

Join Bishop Bambera

Celebrating Priest Jubilees

Thursday, June 4, 2026 | 12:10 PM

Cathedral of Saint Peter

Hit a Home Run with the Diocese of Scranton!

Gather your family and friends for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Scranton Night at the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders on Friday, July 17 at 7:05 PM.  Enjoy discounted tickets and an exciting matchup against the Worcester Red Sox.  

Fireworks follow the game! 

Whether you’re a lifelong baseball fan or just looking for a great summer outing, this is a perfect opportunity to celebrate community, fellowship and America’s favorite pastime.

Couples from 63 Parishes in the Scranton Diocese to be Celebrated at the 2026 Wedding Anniversary Mass 

Join Bishop Bambera and couples from 63 parishes throughout the Diocese of Scranton as they gather to celebrate the gift of marriage at the Diocesan Wedding Anniversary Mass on 

Sunday, June 28, 2026 at 2:30 PM. 

The Mass honors couples celebrating milestone wedding anniversaries and will be followed by a reception at the Diocesan Pastoral Center.

"The Sacred Heart of Jesus is the prime example of sacrificial love, and that is where we should all start."  ...

Limited Time Only -- Free Respect Life Materials

The USCCB Respect Life store is running their annual Summer Giveaway!  

Now through July 4, select items are FREE (plus shipping and handling). 

2026 Respect Life Month Materials Available Now!

Each October, the Catholic Church in the United States celebrates Respect Life Month, and the first Sunday of October is observed as Respect Life Sunday. This year's theme, “Mary, Mother of Life,” reflects on Our Lady’s distinguished role as mother of all the living.

Digital material are in the process of being posted online. 

Pre-Cana offers engaged couples a meaningful opportunity to deepen their relationship, grow together in faith, and prepare for a lifelong vocation of love and commitment alongside other couples preparing for marriage.

Use the link below to view the 2026 schedule and register for a Pre-Cana Marriage Preparation session. 

Parishes are called to be more than places people visit on Sunday, they're meant to be vibrant centers of faith, welcome, and community engagement.

Creating a Welcoming Parish in a Lonely World  offers practical and inspiring ideas for reaching beyond parish walls, building meaningful connections, and helping every person feel seen, valued, and invited into the life of the Church.  

From hospitality and outreach to relationship-building and evangelization, this guide provides creative ways parishes can strengthen their presence in the wider community and become a more visible sign of Christ’s love.

Would you like to bring

Triumph of the Heart  

to your Parish Community?

For a limited time, parishes are able to purchase a 50-person screening license for $244.50.  Each screening includes a retreat experience, making it easy to host a well structured event.

We are still accepting parishes for this offer!  But hurry, offer expires June 12th. 

Contact:

Regina Wright

(570) 207-2213 X 1135 or rwright@dioceseofscranton.org

The Good News is Meant to be Shared!

The Genesis Mission equips ordinary Catholics with the confidence and skills to share their faith by promoting simple, natural ways of talking about God with others.  Through seven short sessions, participants will deepen their relationship with Jesus, grow in faith, and discover how everyday encounters can become opportunities to bring others closer to Christ.  

Be part of a Small Group in the 

Pittston Deanery this Summer!

 Meeting Tuesdays Beginning June 16th:

2:30-4 PM and 7-8:30 PM

For More Information, Contact:

Regina Wright

(570) 207-2213 x1135

rwright@dioceseofscranton.org

Promote Your Event to Catholics throughout the Diocese!

We'd love to help you get the word out about your event in the Office for Parish Life's Good News Notes Newsletter!

To submit your event for inclusion in the Good News Notes, click the link below and complete the form at least 2 weeks in advance of your event.  Specific events can be promoted up to two months in advance of the event date or registration deadline.  We do our best to include all submissions but can't guarantee inclusion and may edit for length.  

Questions? 

Contact Regina Wright at

(570) 207-2213 x 1135

or rwright@dioceseofscranton.org

Join Us in Seoul, South Korea

World Youth Day 2027

World Youth Day is a life-changing gathering uniting more than a million young Catholics from around the globe on pilgrimage with  Pope Leo XIV.  

Start planning your trip today!

Priority registration deadline is June 30, 2026

Introducing Scranton Young Adult GroupMe

Join our GroupMe to stay up to date on different events in the diocese and make connections with other Young Adult Catholics in the area!  For ages 18-40. 

Save the Date

HISPANIC HERITAGE EVENT 

September 19, 2026

Plan Ahead for 2027 with Essential

Faith Formation Resources

Prepare now for a successful faith formation year with trusted resources from Creative Communications. 

Liturgical calendars are available in multiple formats, including bi-lingual editions and a comprehensive Catechist Handbook and Planning Guide package. 

Give your catechists the tools they need to lead engaging catechetical sessions throughout the year.  

Order now -- these calendars sell out quickly! For a limited time, enjoy free shipping.  Orders ship in July. 

Setting and Maintaining Boundaries in Ministry

“The process of recognizing, setting, and maintaining
boundaries is not always seamless, and, in my own life,
sometimes the Lord has used the breaking point to show me
the need for a boundary I wouldn't have seen otherwise. But the
more we spend time with God’s “light silent sound,” the more
aware we become of our own capacities.”

Click the link below to read more from Lauren Wright.

Parish Faith Formation Grants

Continue to Have a Meaningful Impact

Now in it's fourth year, the parish based faith formation grants continue to be a sought after source of funding which has a meaningful impact in our parishes.  

The highly competitive Parish Based Faith Formation Grant is funded by the generosity of parishioners through the Catholic Ministries Appeal and is designed to support innovative faith formation initiatives in parishes throughout the Diocese of Scranton.

The grant provides financial resources to parishes who form missionary disciples through new and innovative evangelization & catechesis efforts.

Now under review, the grants will be awarded in June, for distribution by July 1, 2026. 

Looking for New Ways to Share the Faith?

Learn from National Leaders

The Steubenville John Bosco Conference offers over 9 tracks and 70 workshops plus 4 keynotes and amazing worship to help us grow as catechists. 

See flyer for full details.

This Friday and Saturday! 

Catholic Women's Conference 

Marywood University

A small number of seats are still available.  Click the link below to register.  

Saturday, June 13

Walking Pilgrimage through Pinchot State Forest

A tradition began four years ago at Holy Spirit Parish will continue this year under a new name. The Footsteps of Our Ancestors Walking Pilgrimage is set for Saturday, June 13, beginning at Saint Mary's Church (Saint Faustina Kowalska Parish), 130 Rectory Road, Mocanaqua, and concluding at Saint Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, 153 East Main Street, Glen Lyon. Originally known as the Holy Spirit Parish Walking Pilgrimage, the walk has been renamed Footsteps of Our Ancestors following the closure of Saint Adalbert Church and the suppression of Holy Spirit Parish in January.

The pilgrimage will begin with sign-in and an opportunity for Confession from 7:30 to 8:45 a.m. at Saint Mary’s Church. A blessing of pilgrims will take place at 8:45 a.m., after which participants will depart for an approximately seven-mile journey through the Mocanaqua Tract of Pinchot State Forest. Brief stops will be made at Saint Adalbert Cemetery and at the sites of the former Saint Michael and Saint Adalbert churches in Glen Lyon.

Divine Liturgy will be offered at Saint Nicholas Church at 12:30 p.m. or upon arrival of the pilgrims. Those who are unable to walk the pilgrimage route are welcome to attend the Liturgy. Lunch will be served, and bus transportation back to Mocanaqua will be available at 3:00 p.m.

Saturday, June 20

Bus Trip to Auriesville, New York

St. Kateri Tekakwitha Shrine and 

Shrine of the North American Martyrs