Welcome to the Office for Parish Life Newsletter!  

Communicating important events and available resources

from the Office for Parish Life

Month of May - Dedicated to Mary

 May unfolds as a season of springtime beauty, a time that speaks of new life, hope and renewal. It is also a moment to honor and give thanks for mothers and the profound role they play in our lives.  In this spirit, the Church fittingly dedicates the month of May to the Blessed Virgin Mary, honored as both Mother of God and Mother of the Church. This longstanding tradition carries deep spiritual significance, inviting the faithful to reflect on her example and intercession.

One of the most well-known Marian devotions are May Crownings, where a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary is ceremonially crowned with flowers, to honor her as queen and Mother of God. This devotion comes from traditional depictions of Mary in iconography. Some Eastern churches depicted Mary in iconography with a gold trim, signifying her significance as Queen of Heaven. Pope Clement VIII added two crowns of gold to the icon Salus Populi Romani in Saint Mary Major Basilica in Rome. Though these crowns were lost over time, Pope Gregory XVI became determined to replace them in 1837. The rite he used to do so would become the basis for May Crownings.

Simple yet meaningful, Mary Crownings honor Mary and celebrate the beauty of springtime.  Because of its simplicity, this devotion can be practiced both in parishes and at home. Families can gather around a statue of Mary, create a flower crown, offer prayers and sing a Marian hymn together. This helps foster faith in the home and keeps families connected to the Church’s liturgical life.

In 2018, Pope Francis established the day after Pentecost as the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, to honor Mary’s maternal role in the Church, recognizing her presence with the Apostles at the birth of the Church.  

This May, take time to thank God for the gift of his mother and the Church and be sure to ask Mary for her intercession in seeking holiness.

Our many thanks for May Crowning Photos belong to:

Saint Ann Parish, Williamsport, Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, Carbondale and Holy Rosary Elementary, Duryea

One of the first questions asked by Christians who are not Catholic is, "Do Catholics worship Mary?" 

When Catholics pray to Mary they are not worshiping her, rather they are honoring her and asking for her intercession on their behalf — in fact, more than praying “to” her, we pray “with” Mary, asking her to pray with and for us. St. Louis de Montfort uses an incredible analogy of a peasant requesting a favor from a king, to explain Mary’s role in our relationship with God:

"It is as if a peasant, wishing to gain the friendship and benevolence of the king, went to the queen and presented her with a fruit which was his whole revenue, in order that she might present it to the king. The queen, having accepted the poor little offering from the peasant, would place the fruit on a large and beautiful dish of gold, and so, on the peasant’s behalf, would present it to the king. Then the fruit, however unworthy in itself to be a king’s present, would become worthy of his majesty because of the dish of gold on which it rested and the person who presented it."

Come Holy Spirit 

Leading your Parish in a Season of Renewal

On Tuesday, May 5th at 2:30 PM, Dan Cellucci, CEO of Catholic Leadership Institute, and Jason Simon, President of The Evangelical Catholic, will lead a conversation titled Responding to Loneliness and Division: Fostering Renewal in Catholic Parishes.

They’ll explore ideas for breaking through division and loneliness to build more engaging parish communities—and may even touch on the role of AI in that work.

Then on Thursday, May 28th at 2:30 PM, Paul Goldsworthy, Principal Sales Engineer at ACST Catholic, will lead a webinar titled What’s New in MP eGiving: Simpler Giving, More Powerful Tools.

This session will highlight recent enhancements to MP eGiving and offer practical tips to help your parish make the most of these updated tools.

Mother's Day 

Adoption Mass 

The annual Mother’s Day Adoption Mass is a special liturgy that honors all mothers, with particular recognition of adoptive and foster mothers.  Held at the Cathedral of Saint Peter, the Mass invites the faithful to celebrate the gift of motherhood and the beauty of life.

It's a meaningful opportunity for families and the community to gather in prayer, giving thanks for the many ways motherhood reflects God’s love and care in the world.

Triumph of the Heart  

Parish Screening Licenses Available

at Deep Discount Until Pentecost

"If you were raised Catholic—especially with Polish blood in your veins or Polish traditions in your church—chances are you’re familiar with the story of Saint Maximilian Kolbe’s martyrdom in Auschwitz. When ten prisoners were selected to be starved to death—a collective punishment and warning after one prisoner had escaped—one of the men, a husband and father, broke down begging for his life. Kolbe, a Polish Franciscan priest, offered his own life in the man’s place. Fourteen days later, Kolbe and the few other men still alive were executed by lethal injection..." 

Wedding Anniversary Mass 2026

Every summer, the diocese holds a Wedding Anniversary Celebration for couples celebrating their Tenth, Twenty-Fifth, Fortieth and Fiftieth 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 Tenth, Twenty-Fifth, Fortieth or Fiftieth 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

Pre-Cana is a special opportunity for engaged couples to nurture their relationship, strengthen their faith, and prepare for a lifetime of love and commitment, together with other couples preparing for marriage. 

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

Mary - the Matchmaker

"... I have recently been reflecting on how instrumental our Blessed Mother has been in my life, especially in bringing my husband and me together.

My love for Mary began at the ripe age of 14, when my mom and I joined a tour group and went on a pilgrimage to Medjugorje, a Marian shrine in Europe. The trip transformed my life. It set me on a path that I continue to journey on to this day. I fell profoundly in love with God and developed a deep devotion to our Blessed Mother. Praying the rosary was woven into the fabric of my life.  Now, 30 years later, this powerful prayer remains a staple in my prayer life and a means by which Our Lady incessantly draws me into the heart of Her Son ..."

The International Catholic Stewardship Council offers inspiring Stewardship Ideas for May that invite us to view our lives as opportunities for sharing, caring and nurturing the gifts we've been entrusted with.  These ideas encourage us to see beyond ourselves and recognize the interconnectedness of our community.  

Each suggestion serves as a reminder that stewardship isn't just about managing resources, but about cultivating a heart of generosity, compassion and love. 

Genesis Mission

The Genesis Mission focuses on helping people grow in their faith and share it with others. Throughout the seven-week training, participants are encouraged to deepen their relationship with God and feel more comfortable connecting with others and talking about their faith in everyday life. Genesis emphasizes building genuine relationships and meeting people where they are.

This course is hands-on and practical, offering simple skills like listening well and learning to trust the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

New groups forming now! 

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. 

Theology on Tap

Join us for the last Theology on Tap of the season on May 14^th featuring Sr. Draru and Sr. Nancy of the African Sisters Education Collaborative. We will be returning to Sabatini’s Bottle Shop in Exeter, PA, starting at 7pm with a $5 Cash Cover at the door. 

Save the Date

HISPANIC HERITAGE EVENT 

September 19, 2026

May 15th Deadline to Apply for

Parish Faith Formation Grants

"The Parish Faith Formation Grant, funded through the Catholic Ministries Appeal, 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.  To be considered for this grant, a parish must submit an initiative that demonstrates an effort to form disciples who:

- Live our faith fully

- Share our faith freely with others 

-Transform the world in Christ

Parishes should also endeavor to call forth the baptized to assume position of servant leadership and foster the spirit of co-responsibility – supporting each parish in its unique journey to becoming a full participative community of living faith

The funds received through Parish Faith Formation Grant can be used for initiatives in the areas of:

- Family Faith Formation

- Adult Faith Formation

- Young Adult Formation

- Youth Ministry Formation

- Child Faith Formation

- Continued Formation for Catechist, Coordinator of Youth Ministry and Parish Catechetical Leaders continued Formation

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.

May Gatherings for Parish Catechetical Leaders

For Meeting Link and More Information Contact:

 Marianne Guarnieri at

(570) 207-2213 x 1100 or

mguarnieri@dioceseofscranton.org

We ask for your prayers for Bishop Jeffrey Walsh, who was appointed to serve the Diocese of Gaylord, Michigan in 2022 from our own diocesan community.  This week, he shared that a recent routine PET scan has revealed a recurrence of cancer following his earlier battle with melanoma. 

While this news is serious, Bishop Walsh has expressed that he is feeling well and remains hopeful as he begins the next recommended course of treatment.

We invite you to keep Bishop Walsh in your prayers – asking for strength, healing, wisdom for his medical team and peace in the days ahead.  May he be sustained by God’s grace and the support of all who care for him.

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Support the 3^rd Annual Pennsylvanians for Human Life 

Run4Life - 5k and 1.5 mile Fun Walk!

May 30,2026

T-Shirts for the first 150 paid participants

Free for kids under 12

Children's Activities

Awards & Prizes

June 5-6, 2026

Catholic Women's Conference

Marywood University

Saturday, June 13

Walking Pilgrimage through Pinchot State Forest

Sign-In Begins at 7:30 AM