Welcome to the Office for Parish Life Newsletter!  

Communicating important events and available resources

from the Office for Parish Life

Novena to Saint Joseph

Tuesday March 10 - Wednesday March 18

Join the USCCB in invoking the intercession of St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus, and pray for all whose life stories include adoption. Each day includes short Scriptural passages and prayers and focuses on a different group of people who are involved in the adoption process.

Participants can download the novena or sign up to receive the daily prayers via email or text message.

Resources are available to promote and share the novena in your parish, school, or ministry.

Solemnity of the Annunciation of Our Lord

March 25, 2026

Action Guide

Your parish, school or ministry can celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation with adaptable resources from the USCCB.  The link below provides resources such as sample timelines, homily helps, bulletin/pulpit announcements, and a sample prayer activity for expectant parents and unborn children.  The ideas offered in these simple steps can be adapted to suit your needs. 

March Gatherings for Parish Catechetical Leaders

For Meeting Link and More Information Contact:

 Marianne Guarnieri at

(570) 207-2213 x 1100

or mguarnieri@dioceseofscranton.org

Bishop's Youth Awards

The first of three celebrations of the Bishop's Youth Awards was held on March 1 at the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Scranton, with Bishop Bambera presiding. This Mass honored young people from the Southern Region of the Diocese of Scranton.  

Youth from the Diocese's other regions will be recognized at the remaining celebrations:

March 15 - Northern Region 

March 22 - Eastern and Western Regions

Each Mass begins at 2:30 pm and is televised on CTV and livestreamed on the Diocese of Scranton Facebook page.

Watch for a full wrap-up of the Bishop's Youth Awards in our next issue!

Called to Serve:
Teaching Children About
the Priesthood of the Baptized

“The pedagogy of God is incarnational—
God’s Word became flesh and lived among us. Reflecting
the divine pedagogy, our teaching about baptismal priesthood
must likewise be practical and concrete, helping children
see how this identity shapes their daily lives.”

Click below to read the full article by Joseph White for the Catechetical Review

Join us for an unforgettable evening of thrilling hockey action and PA rivalry at the Diocese of Scranton Group Night with the WBS Penguins!  

Friday, March 13^th, 2026, come out with the Diocese of Scranton to cheer on the Penguins as they take on the Hershey Bears! This night is open to people of all ages, so bring your family, friends and neighbors as we come together as a diocesan family. Gates Open at 6:00pm, Puck drops at 7:05pm. Discounted food vouchers are available for purchase until 3/6/26.

Register today ... @150 registrants we will be invited to go out on the ice for a chance to hit the puck! 

To purchase discounted tickets visit www.dioceseofscranton.org or visit the link below or call Tyler Rothman at (570) 208-5407 to purchase tickets over the phone

Pre-Cana is a meaningful opportunity to strengthen your relationship, deepen your faith, and prepare for a lifelong commitment in the company of other couples preparing for marriage.

 Click the link below to view the 2026 schedule and register you and your fiancé for a Pre-Cana Marriage Preparation session.

Stations of the Cross for Marriages and Families

"The particular needs of marriages and families prompted and largely influenced this reflection on the Stations of the Cross. Its purpose is to encourage all to reflect on Jesus’ passion in the context of family life, whether those families are immediate or extended, near or far, known or unknown. As St. John Paul II told us, the family is the building block of society, and so in this meditation, we pray for all families in light of the Way of the Cross ... "

Wedding Anniversary Mass 2026

Every summer, the diocese holds a Wedding Anniversary Celebration for couples celebrating their 10^th, 25^th, 40^th, and 50^th years of marriage at Saint Peter’s Cathedral, where couples renew their wedding commitment.  This year’s Mass will be held on June 28, 2026, at 2:30 PM. Mark your calendar if you are celebrating your 10^th, 25^th, 40^th or 50^th Anniversary in 2026, or share this news with others who may be doing so

For more information, contact:

Bridget Maille, Program Coordinator, Family Life

570-207-2213 x 1133 or familylife@dioceseofscranton.org

Scranton Diocese Partners with Hallow

Thanks to the many parishes that joined the March 4^th informational webinar to learn more about our diocesan partnership with Hallow. 16 parishes are currently working through the offering as they discern participation for the coming year.

To further support parishes exploring this opportunity, the Office for Parish Life is pleased to share that Faith Formation Grants are available to help offset the cost of participation. These grants may cover up to 50% of the first year’s cost and 25% of the second year’s cost for approved parish applicants. 

Parishes that were unable to attend the webinar but would like to learn more about the diocesan partnership are encouraged to contact Regina Wright at the Office for Parish Life

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

We look forward to continuing to support our parish communities through this initiative.

Call for Nominations - Everyday Disciples

An Everyday Disciple is someone who does ordinary things with extraordinary love for God and neighbor.  These faithful individuals may not seek recognition, yet their quiet witness strengthens our parishes, ministries and communities in meaningful ways.  

 Do you know someone who makes an impact in the life and ministry of the local Church?  Someone whose generosity, service, compassion. or steadfast faith inspires others? 

We invite you to nominate them to be featured in our Everyday Disciples column.  Help us celebrate the people who embody Christ's love in simple, powerful, and faithful ways each day.  

Submit your nomination today and share the story of an Everyday Disciple in our midst.

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!

The Good News Notes is published bi-weekly on Tuesdays. Included events have a broad appeal, promoting fellowship and community.  

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

Update: Steubenville Summer Youth Conference

The Diocese of Scranton is sponsoring a trip to the Steubenville Summer Youth Conference, located at Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio. 

We currently have over 150 people attending! Due to heavy interest we now have an active waitlist.  If you would like to get on the waitlist please contact Scranton Youth Ministry:

youthmin@dioceseofscranton.org

or 570-207-2213 x 1155

Theology on Tap

The Young Adult Community will gather on Thursday, March 12th  for the next Theology on Tap.  Our guest speaker will be Fr. Paul McDonnell, OSJ, an Oblate of Saint Joseph and Pastor of Divine Mercy Parish in Scranton.  Fr. Paul will present "Saint Joseph: The Saint of Silent Strength," exploring the quiet courage and faithful witness of St. Joseph. 

Theology on Tap meets at Sabatini’s Bottleshop in Exeter, PA at 7pm,  A $5 cash cover will be collected at the door. RSVPs are encouraged but not required.

World Youth Day Sneak Peek!

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.  

The Diocese of Scranton is holding a "Sneak Peek" Zoom info. session to learn more about sending your young adults to World Youth Day with Bishop Bambera. 

Taize Prayer Offered during the Lenten Season 

This ecumenical prayer service is a meditative style of communal prayer.  Simple refrains are sung with time for silent meditation.  

During the March 31st prayer there will also be time to venerate 

the cross.  In the event there is inclement weather and the college

is closed, the prayer service will be cancelled for that evening.

Join Saint Carlo Acutis Parish, Olyphant 

for a 3-Day Lenten Parish Mission

"Paschal Supper" at Saint Martha's Church

260 Bonnieville Road, Fairmount Springs

Roast lamb, rice, vegetables and unleavened bread served. 

Scripture readings, prayers and songs explaining 

the Christian significance of the Passover.

A donation of $10 is suggested. 

Reservations must be made in advance and by March 22nd deadline.

Call Janet (570) 864-2494 or Michael/Rebecca (570) 256-7329

Wednesdays in April

The Gospel of Mark

See flyer for more details.

Join Providence Pregnancy Center for their Annual Spring Dinner

Friday, April 10, 2026 | 5:30 – 8:30 PM

St. Mary’s Center, 320 Mifflin Avenue, Scranton

The event is complimentary

Save the Date!

Catholic Women's Conference

June 5 & 6, 2026

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