Welcome to the Office for Parish Life Newsletter!  

Communicating important events and available resources

from the Office for Parish Life

Priest Convocation October 26-29

Next week, our priests gather in Skytop for the annual Priest Convocation. Throughout the week they will spend time in prayer, celebrating Mass, listening to guest speakers, and spending time with their brother priests. Pray that this week is fruitful and restful for them!

St. John Vianney, patron saint of priests, pray for us!

All Saints and All Souls Day

Sunday, November 1 is the Solemnity of All Saints, when we honor the holy men and women who have gone before us and now share in the glory of heaven.  

On Monday, November 2, the Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed, or All Souls Day, we remember in prayer those who have died, asking God to grant them eternal rest and bring them into the fullness of His heavenly kingdom.

National Vocation Awareness Week will be celebrated

November 1-7, 2026

Please ask Our Lord for more dedicated, holy priests, deacons, and consecrated men and women. May they be inspired by Jesus Christ, supported by our faith community, and respond generously to God's gift of vocation.

A Night of Peace | Songs to Prepare the Heart

Join award winning Catholic singers and songwriters Sarah Hart and Francesca LaRosa as they share an evening of songs and stories bringing peace and hope.

It’s an opportunity to pause and refresh, connecting with our Lord and our Lady, as we prepare our hearts for Advent and the coming of Christ. All are invited to join us for fellowship after the concert in the parish hall.

Admission: $10 a person

Tickets will go on Sale Wednesday, October 21

OCIA Leaders and Team Members are invited to join us for a pre-event gathering at 5:30PM in the Saint Maria Goretti Parish Hall.  

Who Inspires You?

Every parish has someone who quietly lives their faith through service, kindness, and love for God and neighbor.  Our Everyday Disciples column celebrates these ordinary people whose actions make an extraordinary difference.  

Do you know someone whose compassion, generosity, leadership or simple acts of kindness inspire others? Someone who reflects Christ's love in daily life?  

Nominate an Everyday Disciple today and help us share the stories of faithful men and women throughout the Diocese of Scranton who are making a difference, one act of love at a time.  

What is Dia de Los Muertos?

In Mexico and various parts of Latin America, a vibrant tradition observed on November 1st and 2nd is Día de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead.  This observance blends traditions that honor and celebrate the lives of those who have passed away. Rather than mourning death, it is a joyful and reflective occasion that views it as a natural part of life’s cycle.

During this time, families gather to remember their deceased loved ones through prayer, music, and offerings. It is believed that the souls of the departed return to visit their families, and people welcome them with food, flowers—especially marigolds—candles, and photographs. Rooted in both pre-Hispanic beliefs about the afterlife and Christian teachings on remembrance and resurrection, the Day of the Dead stands as a vivid expression of Mexico’s cultural and spiritual heritage.

OCIA participants and team members are especially invited to join the Office for Parish Life and Saint Jude Parish in Mountain Top for “Behold the King,” a powerful evening of worship with Sarah Kroger during the Easter season.  

All are welcome!

Watch the Good News Notes for more details coming soon.

Catechetical Foundations of the OCIA Session

"Catechesis in OCIA is the apostolic work of passing on the truths of the faith.  Its purpose is to make disciples, bringing them to a profession of faith in everything Christ taught and the Church continues to teach, and initiating them into the fullness of Catholic life through an encounter with the communion of believers and with Christ the Teacher.  Christ now teaches through the catechist, who leads participants "to the love of the Father in the Spirit" and to a "share in the life of the Holy Trinity" (ccc 426) ..."

Join thousands of Catholics across the country praying for the protection of human life from conception to natural death. Each day of the novena features a different prayer intention, a short reflection, ideas for building a culture of life, and more.

Sign up to receive the daily prayers via email or text message or join the Novena for FREE on Hallow!

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are excited to welcome the Diocese of Scranton on Friday, October 23, 2026, for a special Faith and Family Night experience. Gather your friends, family, and fellow community members for an evening packed with high-energy sports entertainment and heartwarming camaraderie.

This is more than just a game; it's a chance to connect, celebrate, and cheer on your Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins together! From the moment the gates open at 6:00 PM, you'll feel the electric atmosphere building. The puck drops at 7:00 PM, so make sure you're in your seats and ready to witness incredible plays, jaw-dropping saves, and the pure excitement of live hockey.

To make your experience even more enjoyable, there is a special food voucher offer available for our group.  Add a $4.25 food voucher to your experience, which includes a hot dog, chips and a drink!  It's the perfect way to fuel your cheering squad without missing a minute of the action.

Mary, Mother of Life

"When the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary to tell her that she would conceive and bear a son, Mary responded with her fiat, 'May it be done to me according to your word' (Lk 1:38).  Mary conceives Christ in her womb, becoming the mother of God, the mother of Jesus.  Jesus himself tells us that he is 'the way and the truth and the life' (Jn 14:6).  In becoming the mother of Jesus, Mary becomes the mother of life.  Mary's acceptance in this unforeseen moment demonstrates ..." 

Every Parish in the Diocese of Scranton will be tracking attendance at all Masses throughout the month of October. These numbers are submitted to the Office for Parish Life and are included in the 5 Year Trend Reports in February. Mass attendance is one key data point that help guide the Vision 2030 Pastoral Planning Process.

For more information, contact:

Dominick Costantino, Director of Parish Renewal

570-207-2213

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

November 7 | 11:45 AM - 8 PM

17 parishes and 300 youth in grades 7-12 are registered for the 4th Annual Diocesan Youth Rally, "Do Whatever He Tells You."

Check-In opens at 11 AM.

40 Days for Life is a worldwide initiative of prayer and fasting, peaceful vigil at abortion facilities, and educational outreach – with the goal of protecting mothers and their children from abortion.

More than 25,000 unborn children have been saved from abortion during 40 Days for Life campaigns.

Contact Ada at amagni@earthlink.net to learn more.

Join Fr. Ryan Glenn

at University of Scranton

October 22 | 6 PM

Young Adult Adoration

Saint Matthew Church, Stroudsburg

Young Adult Adoration

Saint Thomas Aquinas Church, Archbald

Join Other Young Adults for Mass at Cathedral

Food Trucks and Reception to Follow! 

Saint Ann's Spiritual Support Group 

Next Meeting

November 1 | 5:30 PM

Join the Youth at Saint John Paul II Parish in Dunmore

November 15 | 6:30 PM