Reverend and dear Father:

At his General Audience in Saint Peter’s Square last week, Pope Francis called for this Friday, October 27, 2023, to be a Day of Fasting, Penance and Prayer for the intention of peace in the world, especially in Israel and Palestine.

In making his announcement, the Holy Father said that “war does not solve any problems, it only sows death and destruction. It increases hatred, multiples revenge. War erases the future.”

I encourage all clergy and lay faithful throughout the Diocese of Scranton to observe this Day of Fasting, Penance and Prayer for Peace. All parishes are encouraged to spread the word of this day on their websites and social media channels (using the attached graphic) and are welcome to highlight any local plans for observance, especially with the praying of the Holy Rosary and the celebration of Holy Mass.

Parishioners in the Diocese are especially encouraged to join in person, or via our televised and livestream Daily Mass celebration from the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Scranton on Friday at 12:10 p.m.

Let us ask Our Lady, Queen of Peace, to intercede for us as we pray for peace in our world.

Faithfully yours in Christ,

†Joseph C. Bambera

Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L.

Bishop of Scranton

…

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

Duplicity seems to be a perfected art form in our day and time. What is it? Simply saying one thing  and meaning another. There is a certain amount of  cunning associated with it and it is quite obvious in  today’s Gospel as our Lord once again is confronting those who seek to trap Him in His speech. Of course, it is all about speaking the truth. Jesus, of course, is the Truth and until we all start imitating  Him in word and deed there will continue to be tampering with reality and what is absolutely necessary  for honest and respectful dialog. 

Speaking the truth always involves humility. But we  know that pride and the desire for attention may  cause us to twist and finagle what the truth can so  clearly convey. Again, as we see in the Gospel our  Lord is always straightforward and uncompromising  when He says what has to be said whether it is  accepted by others or not. So not only is humility  a necessary virtue when speaking the truth but also  courage.

As we examine our own lives may we always pray for the humility and courage necessary to speak the  truth even when we know it may not be received  well by others. People just need to hear the truth  and then it is up to them to accept and embrace the  Truth that will set them free.

In 2024 we will be celebrating the  100th anniversary of St. Bernard Church in Beach  Lake.  Bishop Bambera has graciously accepted the  invitation to be the celebrant of the Mass which will  take place there at 10:30AM. We shall begin our  planning for the day’s festivities on Thursday, October  26th. We will meet in the Church at 6:30PM. All are  welcome to come and assist in our preparations. 

  With Blessings, 

  Father Langan

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

Due to the inclement weather being predicted for Saturday, the Rosary Rally will be held in St. Mary Magdalen Church.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

    Has this ever happened to you?  Not too long ago when dining out at a famous Italian restaurant I ordered a glass of wine with my pasta.  Taking a sip I gagged. It had turned to vinegar and when the owner, who had suggested the vintage, saw my reaction he zoomed to my table and wanted to know what was the matter.  He thought it went down the wrong way.  Have a sip, said I, which he didn’t have to do because he could smell the pungency of elixir gone rogue.   It begs the question how could something so good become so bad?  Such is the query made by prophets, psalmists and our Lord in today’s Scriptures. And again we are faced with the conundrum of God’s  fairness.  What’s God to do?

       Sadly, those who are “in the know” and profess to know the right answer cannot see beyond the length of their nose… everything is about them except when it comes to understanding the truth Jesus lies before them. In their mind His words refer to somebody else.  They are the branches that on the Vine have gone rogue.   They are the ones who have soured the sweetness of the Lord.  But still they cannot see.

      Whenever we hear the Word of the Lord proclaimed we must not think it was for just a later time and a particular crowd.  His Words are for us and though we may not have really soured on the Lord there is always the danger that we might miss the point of God’s  call to conversion and regeneration in His grace. We are the branches grafted on the Vine and sometimes we need that health-giving pruning that revitalizes our faith and the desire to do good.

      One of the ways to put into practice our faith is to let it shine.  We have the opportunity to do that at our Rosary Rally this coming Saturday, October 14th in Central Park.  Following Mass at 11 A.M. we will make our way down to the Park and joyfully offer our prayers to God through the intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  If the weather turns bad we will continue in St. Mary Magdalen’s but hopefully it will be a radiant Fall day.   Please join us.

With Blessings,

Father Langan

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

October is the month dedicated to Our Lady of  the Rosary and as devoted children of our heavenly  Mother it would do us well to heed her guidance  and pray the Rosary every day. St. Padre Pio, whose  feast we celebrated this past week, often referred to  the Rosary as our weapon against the prevailing evils  of our day. The skeptic may ask, “how can the multi plication of words and seemingly monotony of recitations bring about any good?” That’s because they  cannot see beyond their nose. They are ignorant of  the power of prayer to change hearts and minds and  reset our moral compass to follow the teachings of  our Savior. 

The Sacred Scriptures, today’s Readings, speak about  the changing of minds and it begs the question of  who has that influence to change our minds for the  better. There is a strange new phenomena of this  present age that singles out persons of influence –  “influencers”- that have as peculiar “power” over  decision-making. Who are they and who gave them  such prestige? The only One necessary to influence  is the Son of God, Jesus our Lord. Who can question  the real power and authority that His Words convey?  Sadly, many turn a deaf ear to the saving message He  brings, and would rather heed the nonsense spewed  from self-appointed egalitarians. And what do they  have to offer? Christ the Lord offers us eternal  happiness that begins right now when we surrender  our whole being to Him just as our Mother Mary did.  That’s why praying and meditating on the mysteries of  the Rosary dispose us to the happiness found therein.  Even the Sorrowful Mysteries are laden with hope in  the midst of great suffering, reminding us that this too  will pass. 

Some years ago, a study was conducted on the  physical effects of prayer. Volunteers were instructed to pray and even to pray the Rosary. In doing so  researchers discovered that people’s blood pressure  decreased and a feeling of euphoria came upon them,  i.e. its healthy to pray the Rosary though that is not  its primary purpose. And we do not in prayer try to  change the mind of God, but rather change ours to  conform with the plan God has for us. Hence, Peace!  

 Mary, Mother of the Rosary, pray for us.

 With Blessings, 

Father Langan

O God, who founded all the commands of your
sacred Law
upon love of you and of our neighbour,
grant that, by keeping your precepts,
we may merit to attain eternal life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity
of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

Here’s a tricky question for you: “How do I think like  God?” As we explore the Scriptures of the day that  query comes immediately to mind. Not too many  years ago there was a popular phrase not dissimilar:  “What would Jesus do?” As we attempt to answer  either one, we may find ourselves in a quandary  trying to discern what is charity and what is fairness.  Our sense of fairness is based on the work ethic  equal pay for equal work, but the parable in the Gospel seems to upset that equilibrium. So again: “How  do I think like God?” The answer is not to be found  in our rationalizing, but rather in our surrender to  the power and inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  

The best example of that is to be found in the response of St. John the Baptist: “He must increase  and I must decrease. The “He”, of course being Jesus.  Therein lies the almost constant struggle and interior  tension of discerning what the Lord wants, not me.  How then to arrive at the balance and serenity that  comes with surrendering to God? Prayer! And there  is no better place than to seek the Will and know  how to respond to it than in being in the Presence of  the Lord Himself. If you have not ever or been too  preoccupied with the things of this world to know  and appreciate the Holy Presence of Christ in the Eucharist now is the time to do so. We as a parish have  been so very blessed to have Eucharistic Adoration for  nearly four decades. The Lord is going nowhere, but  He is ever waiting for you to be somewhere, namely  in His Presence. Come to be with the Lord. Listen  to Him in the quiet (as it should always be in the  Chapel) and solitude and allow the: “still, small voice”  speak to your heart. That is the beginning of learn ing how to think as God thinks and you will begin to  transcend the limits of this world’s notion of fairness  and appreciate and act upon the way of the Lord. 

 With Blessings,

 Father Langan

Look upon us, O God,

Creator and ruler of all things,

and, that we may feel the working of your mercy,

grant that we may serve you with all our heart.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity

of the Holy Spirit

God, for ever and ever.