1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity
3. catholicism

May 3, 2015
FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
Masses for the Week
May 4—10, 2015
Reflecting on God’s Word
Hearing Jesus’ words, “I am the vine, you are the
branches,” sounds comforting at first. But then
comes “and my Father is
the vine grower” (John
15:1). The task of the
vine grower is to prune
and pruning can be
tricky. The danger is
cutting the main vine
and not the branches, or
cutting the branches that
carry this year’s fruit and not the old ones from
last year. But Jesus tells us that it is the Father
who is out there with the pruning shears, not
some careless hired hand. He is cutting away the
dead wood, and cutting back the good branches
so they bear even more fruit.
Nevertheless, you might think, who wants to be
pruned, even metaphorically? Who wants God
snipping away? It’s hard to be pruned. There is a
dying in that. But that is the ongoing story of
Easter: dying and rising, pruning and bearing
more fruit. God is there pruning us to bring out
life, to make us life bearers and life givers. The
Father continues snipping away, separating us
from our selfishness, our self-centeredness, and
all those things we hold on to that do not give us
life: resentments, old grievances, desires for
getting even.
God is about life, committed to an abundance of
life—not just life today but eternal life. That’s the
divine plan. Are we part of it?
Monday, May 4
8:00am
SPECIAL INTENTION—DEACON JOHN
(Walter & Shirley Flyte)
Tuesday, May 5
8:00am
JULIE BRUNO (The Carlson Family)
Wednesday, May 6
8:00am
JOHN JAKUBOWSKI (Barbara & Cappy Noto)
Thursday, May 7
NO SERVICE THIS DAY
Friday, May 8
8:00am
SPECIAL INTENTION—BRIAN TUNCAP
(His Mom & Family)
Saturday, May 9
MOTHER’S DAY INTENTIONS
5:00pm
Sunday, May 10
MOTHER’S DAY INTENTIONS
7:30am
Sunday, May 10
MOTHER’S DAY INTENTIONS
9:00am
Sunday, May 10
11:30am
MOTHER’S DAY INTENTIONS
—James A. Wallace, C.Ss.R.
Copyright © 2014, World Library Publications. All rights reserved.
Living God’s Word
Jesus tells us: “If you remain in me and my words
remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it
will be done for you” (John 15:7). Which words
of his are calling you to life? Ask him to help you
to trust in the Father and surrender to what the
Father wills for you.
Copyright © 2014, World Library Publications. All rights reserved.
SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES
Sunday:
Fifth Sunday of Easter
Tuesday: Cinco de Mayo
Thursday: National Day of Prayer
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Sunday:
Acts 9:26-31; Ps 22:26-28,30-32;
1 Jn 3:18-24; Jn 15:1-8
Monday: Acts 14:5-18; Ps 115:1-4, 15-16;
Jn 14:21-26
Tuesday: Acts 14:19-28; Ps 145:10-13ab, 21;
Jn 14:27-31a
Wednesday: Acts 15:1-6; Ps 122:1-5; Jn 15:1-8
Thursday: Acts 15:7-21; Ps 96:1-3, 10; Jn 15:9-11
Friday:
Acts 15:22-31; Ps 57:8-10, 12;
Jn 15:12-17
Saturday: Acts 16:1-10; Ps 100:1b-3, 5;
Jn 15:18-21
Flowers for the Blessed Mother Are Offered in Honor of the 6th Grade Religious Ed Class Req. by John & Michele Murazzi
5/10
Mother’s Day
5/11
Parish Council Meeting
5/13
Knights of Columbus Meeting
5/14
THE ASCENSION
Vigil Mass: 7:00pm
Holy Day Mass: 8am & 5:30pm
5/19
Finance Council Meeting
7pm
5/21
Eucharistic Anniversary Mass
& Reception
7pm
5/24
PENTECOST
5/25
MEMORIAL DAY
Mass at St. Catherine’s
Mass at Cemetery
7pm
7:30pm
Our Best Wishes and God’s Blessings to Monika Mojsa and Arthur William Richardson as they are united in marriage. God Bless
Paislee Houlihan
Emma Kathryn Jones
Selene Juliada Laureano
who have received the
Sacrament of Baptism.
5/31
YOUTH CHOIR PRACTICE
TODAY—May 3
6th Grade Class Mass @ 9am
May Crowning @ 10:15am
Sunday, June 7—11:30am Mass
We’ll join the Adult Choir for Corpus Christi
URN SPONSORS
Urn Offered in Loving Memory of
My Brother Joe
Requested by Maria Russoniello
Two Urns Offered in Memory of
Our Parents
Requested By Paul & Floren O’Hop
*****
WEEKLY COLLECTION
The weekly collection for April 25
and 26 is $6381.01. Thank you for
using your envelopes and supporting
our parish.
7/16
TRINITY SUNDAY
Parish Town Hall Meeting
Parish Blood Drive
9am
10am
2pm
1-6pm
7/20-24 VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
9am—Noon each Day
All Mother’s Day Intentions are
due at the Parish Office no
later than TOMORROW-Monday,
MOTHER’S DAY CARNATION SALE
The Scranton Chapter of Pennsylvanians for Human
Life will conduct its annual Mother’s Day
Carnation Sale after all Masses next
weekend—May 9 & 10. This fundraiser is
intended to honor Mothers and to promote
the value and dignity of human life. The
funds will be used to continue the
chapter’s pro-life work and to operate its
Pro-Life Center.
BEARING FRUIT
“Children, let us love not in word or speech but
in deed and truth.” John’s words come to us on this
day when the Gospel
passage presents us with
the great image of the vine
and the branches. Jesus
uses the image as a warning
to those who have begun to
distance themselves from
the way of the Lord. One of
the ways this happens is
when we love God and others “in word or speech”
instead of “in deed and truth.” What does it mean
for us to “remain in Christ”? In an extension of the
metaphor, the Lord gives us an example. If we
remain in him, we will bear much fruit. As the
branches, we draw strength from Christ who is the
vine. This strength enables us to bear fruit—to do
the work of true discipleship.
Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.
*****
TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION
Over time, the crisis of last illness and the way the
faithful met death changed. In earliest times, a
sickbed vigil was an occasion for the community to
gather and strengthen the dying person with
assurances of love. A thousand years ago, in part
because of massive upheavals in society, a new
emphasis on individual repentance captured the
imagination of millions. Death was to be feared,
because it was about judgment. The delights of
heaven’s banquet dimmed, since most people saw
God’s just judgment and inevitable punishment
intervening. If a community gathered at all, it was
not to express faith in the Resurrection, but to seek
forgiveness for those who were powerless to help
themselves. The dead couldn’t improve their
situation, but their loved ones, by expressing
sorrow for sin, could. Better yet, the clergy could,
if they intervened in a timely fashion, provide the
absolution needed for everyone to relax. Ministry
to the sick shifted away from a ministry of
consolation toward a challenge to repent before it
was too late.
As the sense grew that most people died with
their work of repentance incomplete, the color
black was reintroduced to funerals. It was the old
pagan way of expressing despair. No wonder they
call this time in history the “Dark Ages.” Many
layers have had to be peeled away to reveal the
deepest, most positive expressions of our tradition
of care for the dying.
—Rev. James Field, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.
Religious Ed Classes & Information
TODAY
Sunday, May 3
6th Grade Class Mass @ 9:00am
May Crowning @ 10:15
Last Day of Religious Ed
The Catholic Choral Society
The annual spring concert of the Catholic Choral
Society will be presented on Friday evening , May
15 at 7:30pm at Saint Peter’s Cathedral, 315
Wyoming Avenue, Scranton. The guest performers
for this concert will be the Forest City Regional
High School Choir. Tickets are available from
society members or by calling 570.587.2753;
Tickets are also available at the door; Adults $10,
under 12 free, Seniors and Students $8.
Eucharistic
Adorers
are
Needed for the following
hours but it’s always good to
have more than one Adorer
for each hour of each day. If
you are interested, contact the
appropriate coordinator.
Sunday
Monday:
Friday:
Contact the
Franceschelli
7:00—8:00am
10:00—11:00am
10:00—11:00am
6am—Noon Coordinator: Mary
at 570.842.4381
Sunday
Noon—1:00pm (Sub)
Sunday
1:00—2:00pm (Sub)
Saturday
3:00—4:00pm
Contact the Noon—6pm Coordinator: Rose
Bulford at 570.842.7185
Sunday
10:00—11:00pm
Saturday
6:00—7:00pm (2nd & 3rd weeks)
Contact the 6pm—Midnight Coordinator:
Barbara Noto at 570.842.8975
We are always in need of subs, especially with
vacation time coming. If you are willing to give
an occasional hour, please contact one of the
coordinators or the parish office.
ST. JOHN’S AUXILIARY, 310 Broadway St.,
Scranton is having a potato/cheese Pirohi Sale on
Monday, May 18, 2015. The price is $8.00 per
dozen. Please pre-order by calling 570-343-8820 by
Friday May 8th. Pick up is at the Church Hall on
Monday between the hours of 12 to 4pm.
*****
St. Mary's Byzantine Catholic Church Center
International Dinner Club will be visiting
"France" on Thursday May 14th, 2015. Seatings
are at 5:30 and 6:30pm. Reservations can be made
at 570-343-5151 and the deadline will be on May
11th. The menu will start with a classic Bistro Salad
including Bitter Frisee, crispy bacon, poached egg
and topped w/ a sherry Dijon vinagrette followed
by Coq Au Vin (Frenched Airline Chicken, braised
w/wine and mushroom sauce) with Tartiffette
(French Bacon Potato and Reblochon cheese
casserole) and Green beans w/spring onions and
carrots. The dessert will be Cherry Clafoutis (Pitted
black cherries in a thick flan-like batter, dusted w/
powdered sugar and served w/mint whipped cream.
Water, Soda, Coffee and Tea included. Cash Bar is
available.
*****
Alumni Mixer
On Saturday, June 6th , the Lackawanna County
Catholic Schools Alumni Association will be
hosting an event for all alumni and friends 21 and
over. The event will be held at the Backyard Ale
House in Scranton from 8-10pm. The cost is $12
per person. For more information or to RSVP
by May 23rd contact us at (570) 346-7541 or by
email ( alumni@hchspa.org ). Alumni and friends
of Catholic High Schools in Lackawanna County past and present - are welcome to attend.
*****
COUNSELING SERVICES
ANGER MANAGEMENT COUNSELING
GENERAL COUNSELING
MARITAL COUNSELING
FOR INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL
570-207-2283 EXT. 120
St. Joseph’s Center Auxiliary is
Looking for Your Help
The Annual Summer Festival to benefit St.
Joseph’s Center will be held on the grounds of
Marywood University on July 24, 25 and 26, 2015.
The Auxiliary is asking for your help to stock our
General Store, Holiday Hut and Bookworm
Booth with items for sale. Bestsellers are new or
“gently used” hardcover books, paperback books,
dvd’s, audiobooks, any holiday decorations, frames,
candles, figurines, dishes, kitchen ware, serving
items, toys, and home décor. No clothing please.
Drop off days will start on Wednesday May 20 and
continue until the end of June. Donations will be
accepted on Wednesday’s 6:00 -8:00 pm and
Saturday’s 9:00-11:00 a.m. at our warehouse
located at 320 Blakely Street, Dunmore, PA please use the entrance on the W. Pine Street side
of the building.
*****
3rd Annual Wine & Cheese Gathering Friday, June 5 — 6:00‐8:00pm North Pocono Public Library 1315 Church Street, Moscow 570.842.4700 Evening will feature Local Wine, Light Fare, Music & Art Wood Winery, Calkins Creamery, Local Chocolate Ar sans, Music by Tony Vergne & Robby Walsh, Art Exhibits by NPHS Students Tickets available at the Library or from Commi ee Members! Must be at least 21 years of age to a end. Advance cket price: $20; At the door: $25. *****
GOD’S WORD TODAY
The familiar passage proclaimed in today’s Gospel
reminds us that we are branches on the vine and the
vine is Jesus Christ. At the moment of our baptism
we were grafted onto that vine, and from that
moment on much has been expected of us. The
closer we are to Christ the vine the more others will
learn to recognize Christ through our own actions.
To find out what those actions need to be, look no
further than today’s second reading. There Saint
John tells us to love one another just as Christ
commanded us. As you sit in church today, look
around and see the other grafts on the vine—those
sitting around you. Pray that the vine and its
branches will be strengthened so that Christ’s love
will be shown to others all the more.
From Saint Margaret Sunday Missal, copyright © J. S. Paluch Company
May Events:
5/5 Tuesday-’Everything You Need to Know…” 7pm
5/6 Wednesday-Jr High CORE Team 6:30pm
5/8 Friday-Middle School Madness @ St. Eulalia’s 6-11pm
5/12, 5/19, 5/26 Tuesday-High School Youth Group 7pm
5/13 Wednesday-HS CORE Team 7pm
5/14 Thursday-NCYC Meeting 7pm
5/16 Scavenger Hunt @ Noon
5/20 Jr High Gathering 6:30pm
5/30 Paintball @ Skirmish
High School Youth Group News
*We meet every Tuesday night this month! 7pm in the Carriage House!
'Everything You Need to Know for the Real World' Night High School students, need to write a
resume or learn some interview skills? How about balancing a check book? Tuesday,
May 5th at 7pm (Carriage House) the Youth Group will sponsor a work shop to help you
learn 'everything you need to know for the real world, but didn't learn in high school'.
Students from Marywood University's Business and Finance Department will be on hand
to help your with these skills. Any high school student is welcome, but upperclassmen
are encouraged to come!
NPYM Scavenger Hunt - Saturday, May 16th starting at 12noon. Teams of 4 and 1 parent
driver will form to compete in our first annual scavenger hunt!! The clues will take you
to various locations throughout the Moscow area and into Scranton!! A prize will be
given to the top two teams! Get your team together and register with Shannon (362-0370)
or Kelley by May 13th!!
Jr High School Youth Group News
Jr High CORE Team - We've been making great progress, but we've got the whole summer
ahead of us to fill with awesome stuff!!! Our next meeting is May 6th at 6:30!
Jr High Youth Group Meeting: Open to ANYBODY currently in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade! May's
meeting is on Wednesday the 20th at 6:30pm!
Middle School Madness: Friday, May 8th from 6-11pm at St. Eulalia's! St. Catherine's and St.
Eulalia's Jr High youth groups are teaming up to host a night of non-stop fun - It's like a
lock-in without being stuck overnight! Food, games, and more! All middle school students
are welcome!