Dear Brothers and Sister in Christ,

      Much is going on in the Church these days and I believe it is most important to keep you informed of developments that will very  seriously affect your Faith and spiritual life.  First we consider the local Church or also understood as the diocese.  This past week all the priests of the diocese that are presently active, i.e., not retired, were gathered together to review the projections of the diocese from now until the year 2030 (certainly not that far off).  Today’s active priests for 110 parishes number 87 diocesan priests.  Within the next 7 years there will be only 60 priests to serve the entire 11 counties of Northeast PA., that is if none become sick or incapacitated.  Our Bishop is being very proactive in addressing this issue since it means fewer priests will be responsible for more parishes.  It obviously is not a matter solely for  the clergy but for the lay faithful as well.

     The week of the 16th October to the 19th, all priests will be with Bishop Bambera on the annual convocation to deliberate the consequences of the future lack of priests to serve our parishes. Please accompany us with your prayers.   Because of the convocation there will be no Masses celebrated on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  

    Regarding the Universal Church, you surely are aware of the Synod on Synodality presently taking place in Rome.  Four hundred fifty delegates from all over the world are meeting with the Pope to address numerous Vocations to the priesthood being one of them.  Because this is such an important time in the life of the Church many voices pro and con are swarming around and the information that is being disseminated is not always accurate and in fact some is quite spurious.  Be not easily swayed.  This is only part one of the two part Synod which will conclude next October, after which the information will be released to the public.  Let us always be careful and not too quick to reach any conclusions about what emerges from these meetings.  

     As Catholics, we believe that the Holy Spirit will always guide the Church in Truth and we pray that those who are gathered in Rome will be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.  Opinions and feelings are of no consequence but the search for Truth and conforming our lives to it advances the growth in holiness because we surrender ourselves to the Divine Will of God.  In it we find true happiness and peace.

With Blessings,

Father Langan