Parish Information A great big thank you to all who participated and made Joining the Parish our Holy Week celebration at both parishes such a New Parishioners are always welcome. spiritual experience. Call your Parish Office for a Census Form. Thank You to all who gave of their time and talent to Planning a Baptism decorate both churches from Palm Sunday through The birth of a child brings joy to the family. Easter Sunday! The churches looked beautiful! Through Baptism, that child is joined to the family of God, which brings great joy to the Thank You to all who were involved in the Living church. Parents seeking Baptism are Stations of the Cross they were as moving as ever! asked to contact the Parish Office. Thank You to all who helped make our Liturgies Sacrament of Confirmation so moving (Lectors, Altar Servers and Eucharistic Confirmation is administered yearly to all Ministers). 8th Grade students in our Religious Education Program and students attending Thank You to our Music Ministries! The music was Catholic Schools. Children wishing to heavenly! receive Confirmation must be enrolled for at least two years before they are eligible Father Kevin and Ray to receive Confirmation.

Scheduling Weddings RCIA CLASSES FORMING

Couples contemplating marriage are asked Have you or a loved one been to contact the Parish Office and schedule Baptized Catholic but have not the date before making any other plans. received your other sacraments?

An appointment with the should be Do you know someone who is of made at least 6 months prior to the another faith and believes they wish Wedding Date. to explore becoming a Catholic?

Do you know someone who is not Anointing of the Sick baptized and wishes to become The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick Catholic? may take place at any time, especially if We are beginning to gather adults and THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK…. one is seriously ill. Please contact the teens for two separate classes to pre- “Jesus said to her, ‘Did I not tell you office to schedule a time for a priest to pare for completing their Christian that if you would believe you would visit. Initiation. If you are interested in see the glory of God?’” (John 11:40) what these classes are all about, The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults please contact your parish office for Many of us say that we believe in God. (RCIA) is the process the more information. We go to church on Sunday. uses to welcome adult members into the We volunteer for events at our parish. But when life gets hard, the pressure is faith. Anyone interested in becoming a part This coming week on, things aren’t going our way: do we of this process or in obtaining more infor- April 24th-28th all Active Priests really believe, do we really put our trust in mation about it, please call the Parish of the Diocese of Scranton will be the Lord? Office to speak with a priest. We live a life of gratitude, being thankful at Convocation with Bambera. for the gifts we have been given, we real- Funeral Preparations Father Andrew Sinnott graciously ly do see that God is providing all that we The loss of a loved one is a particularly said “Yes” to being on call for any need. difficult time for those who are bereaved. emergencies that may come up Our parish community collaborates with during this time. local funeral directors in assisting families during their time of grief. XLT (Exalt!) Bequests to the Parish Friday, April 28 from 7-9 p.m. at Divine Mercy Parish, Please remember your Parish with 312 Davis Street, Scranton, PA. Memorial gifts at the time of death or with a The event, co-sponsored by the Diocesan Vocation Office and Office for Parish bequest in your will. Make a return to the Life, will consist of Eucharistic Adoration, praise & worship music by Francis Lord for all the good He has given you. Zelinka (from Full Armor Band), a talk by seminarian Ryan Glenn, reconciliation, and a social. All are welcome to attend. For more information, please contact For the month of April Dominick Costantino at 570-780-2996. St. Vincent de Paul Kitchen is asking for Peanut Butter IMPORTANT DATES: MARK YOUR CALENDAR SPONSOR OF THE WEEK: April 30th Religious Education Classes in both Parishes We would like to thank LEHMAN FAMILY FUNERAL May 7th First Communion in both Parishes SERVICE, INC. May 7th Last day of Religious Education Classes in both Parishes for sponsoring an ad in our bulletin. June 19th-23rd Vacation Bible School St. Robert Bellarmine Parish www.stalschurchwb.com Phone Number: (570)823-3791 email address: [email protected] Weekend Masses in: St. Aloysius Church; Daily Masses in: Sacred Heart Chapel April 24-30, 2017

Mon. 8:00AM No Mass April 16,2017 Offertory $ 2,550.00 Tues. 8:00AM Liturgy of the Word Online Giving $ 224.00 Wed. 8:00AM Liturgy of the Word Loose $ 793.00 Thurs. 8:00AM Liturgy of the Word Dues $ 317.00 Fri. 8:00AM No Mass Know how grateful Charity $ 37.00 Sat. 4:00PM Peter Halesey George & Helen Sudo we are for your $ 270.00 Sunday Offerings Flowers Sun. 8:00AM Paul Haydt Wife, Maureen from last weekend. Miscellaneous $ 175.00 Sun. 11:00AM Thomas Brice Jerry & Jeanne Mulcahy Candles $ 48.00 Interest $ 62.73 Tabernacle Candle Holy Thursday $ 772.00 In Memory of Lillian Kovitch Good Friday $ 612.00 Requested by Helen & Mike Kowalick TOTAL $ 5,860.73

Blessed Mother Candle Upkeep of our Buildings $ 356.23 In Memory of John & Anna Bankos Requested by Ann Revitt THANK YOU to all who gave so generously to our Easter Collection For Weekend of April 30, 2017 Time Altar Server Eucharistic Min. Lector $12,500.00 was budgeted for the Easter Collection $ 9,494.00 has been collected to date 4:00PM Lukas Kachinko Brian McDermott Al Schlosser Daniel Hughes Patricia Keating Debbie Schlosser 2017 Easter Mass Attendance 8:00AM Jared Fulginiti Melanie Ricci Nicholas James Conrad Middleton Sandra James 8PM 8AM 11AM Jane Thomas 11:00AM Christopher Peterson Peg Warmouth Pat Lenahan 283 339 592 Michael Zarola Maureen Wright Jim Noyalis Total Attendance 1214

St. Casimir Cemetery ONLINE GIVING will be having their groundskeeper starting We all pay bills online. We order gifts online. Why not before you know it. For 8 months out of the tithe online! Never forget to make out a check or bring an year there is a cost of $900/month to main- envelope. For more information call the Parish Office. tain our Cemetery.

If you would like to make a donation to St. Casimir Cemetery you can do so with a check made payable to the Altar & Rosary Society Year End Dinner cemetery. At R & D’s on May 15th, 5:30PM Put it in an envelope marked with the cemeteries name on cost is $15.00/person. the envelope and drop it in the collection basket. For reservations please call Dolores Wallace at 570-824-3932.

Altar & Rosary Society Bingo The Jelly Bean Prayer

April 30th, 1-4 PM doors open at noon RED is for the blood He gave. $10 per person in Padden Hall (cafeteria) GREEN is for the grass He made. food and beverages for purchase. YELLOW is for the sun so bright. ORANGE is for the edge of night. BLUE is for the sins we made.

WHITE is for the grace He gave. St. Robert Bellarmine Bazaar PURPLE is for His hour of sorrow. PINK is for our new tomorrow. August 3,4, & 5, 2017 A bag full of jelly beans Colorful and sweet, Next Bazaar Meeting will be held on Sun., Is a prayer, is a promise, April 23rd after the 11:00am Mass, Church Hall. is a special treat. Exaltation of the Holy Cross Church Phone: 570 823-6242 e-mail: [email protected] www.facebook.com/holycross420

Daily Mass 8:00AM—Mon. & Fri., Adoration & Benediction-Thursday April 23, 2017 to April 30, 2017

Mon. 8:00 am Mas.Sgt. James R Strange, Captain & Mrs Martin Basar, April 16, 2017 USMC Retired USMC Retired Dues: $ 455.00 Loose: $ 514.00 Sunday: $2440.00 Children: $ 18.00 Tues. 8:00 am No Mass @ EXHC Candles: $ 101.00 Donation: $ 70.00 Wed. 8:00 am No Mass @ EXHC Maintenance: $819.05 Snow Removal $ 25.00 Interest: $ 297.54 Easter: $5168.00 Thurs 8:30 am To Noon - Adoration & Benediction Initial: $ 5.00 White Book: $ 14.00 Fri. 8:00 am No Mass TOTAL: $9926.59 Rice Bowl: $407.56 Holy Land: $591.00 Sat. 5:15 pm Louise Cuprzynski Frank Heylek Misc Income: $531.00

Sun. 10:00 am Jerry Krasa EXHC Adult Choir Thank you and God Bless You for Your Contributions! Attendance: Easter Vigil - 164 Sanctuary Candle: Health & Blessings Walt & Barbara Easter Sunday - 409

Pencak by Jean & Michele Kotchick. Will you remember your parish in your Obituary Blessed Mother Candle: In memory of Vernie Zincavage as a way to pass on your legacy? by Helen Ziomek. Infant of Prague Candle: Health & Blessings for Sylvia Mangan by Jean & Michele Kotchick. THANK YOU…….. Infant of Prague Candle 2: Health & Blessings for Joan Four windows in the Sacristy and two upper windows on Bohinski by Jean & Michele Kotchick. the church's back wall have been replaced. Our Men's Club purchased the materials. Thank You to anyone who helped make our celebration Thank you to Tony Pointek for installing the windows. He of the Triduum a success. Together we made a Blessed donated his time of several days to get the job done. Easter for our Parish Family. To those who participated in the Footwashing and bringing up the Oils, for all our Liturgical Ministries: Altar Servers, Youth & Adult Choirs, May Crowning - Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Ushers, Decorating 100th Anniversary Celebration Committee, and those who helped coordinate the Wednesday, May 10 at 7 pm Celebrations - THANK YOU!!!!!!! This will be the only event to honor our Blessed Mother in May. We ask our parish, friends and church organizations to Soup for Souls Sale -April 6, 2017 participate in making it special. Our Youth Income: $1,430.50 Ministry & CCD Program will lead this devotion. A social will follow in the hall. Expenses: $ 324.80 Profit: $1,105.70 Please contact Mickey Maday at 570 287-5896 for tickets or info for Father McGahagan's Celebration on May 21. A Mass Easter Egg Hunt will be held at 2:00 at St Andrew's, followed by dinner at 4:30 at A Touch of Class Catering. Tickets are $25.00 per adult or Sunday, April 23 at 1 pm $12.00 age 12 and under. All youth invited 12 years Tickets are only available for sale through April 30. and younger Calendar of Events Final Book Sale - Soup for Souls Committee All meetings/events must be booked thru office. Thursday, April 27 - 10 am - 6 pm 4/2317 - Easter Egg Hunt - 1 pm Friday, April 28 - 10 am - 6pm 4/24/17 - Adoration 6-7 pm Saturday, April 29 - 10 am - 3 pm 4/26/17 - Men's Club Meeting 4/27/17 - Book Sale 10-6 4/28/17 - Book Sale 10-6 The deadline for Anniversary Booklet Ads is 4/29/27 - Book Sale 10-3 extended to April 30. 4/30/17 - 100th Anniversary Booklet Ads DUE 5/1/17 - Bazaar Meeting 7 pm Bazaar Dates: 5/6/17 - Wedding - Phillips/Lehnowski @ 1:30 pm July 14, 15 & 16, 2017 5/7/17 - First Communion Next meeting: May 1 @ 7 pm 5/10/17 - May Crowning Bulletin Info must be received by Friday for publication the following week. Second Sunday of Easter or Sunday of Divine Mercy April 23, 2017

“They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers… All who believed were together and had all things in common… Every day they devoted them- selves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes… and every day the Lord added to their numbers.”

Such a description seems ‘too good to be true’ but this is the description of the first disciples of the Lord. The teaching of the apostles, the kerygma, telling of the resurrection of Jesus and His victory gave their discipleship new meaning. Like a family, they formed a support group, sharing joy, as well as fears, anxieties and triumphs because Christ was alive. The Eucharist became the common bond, uniting them with Christ and one another. Prayer became a binding force.

Can I not see that my life in my parish, my small group, is a mirror of those described by St. Luke or of those gathered in the upper room? Can the presence of Christ in my life, lead me to recognize His presence in others? Can I truly believe that I am not alone in my faith and move from ‘God and me’ to ‘God and we?’ On Divine Mercy Sunday, it can happen.

A FRESH PERSPECTIVE ON THE SUNDAY READINGS HIS WORD TODAY by Rev. William J. Reilly

SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER OR SUNDAY OF DIVINE MERCY

First Reading: Acts 2:42‑47 In the early days of the Church in Jerusalem, the faithful listened intently to the teachings of the apostles. They lived a communal life, sharing all property in common and praying and taking their meals together.

Second Reading: 1 Peter 1:3‑9 In this first letter from Peter, he speaks to the Christians with great joy and confidence, reminding them that through Christ’s resurrection, they have been given a new birth and are heirs to the kingdom of heaven. Exaltation of the Holy Cross Men’s Club Gospel: John 20:19‑31 After his resurrection, Jesus appears to his disciples and Big Tent Dance gives them the power to forgive sins. Thomas, who is Saturday, May 27, 2017 7pm to 12 am – Gates open at 6 pm absent, sees Christ later and believes in His resurrection after feeling His wounds. Christ admonishes Thomas by Tickets in advance: $ 20. At Gate: $25. saying, “You became a believer because you saw Me. Ticket includes pizza, chips, pretzels, beer, soda & water Cash Tiki Bar Blessed are they who have not seen and believed.” Featuring Oz & Jeanne Zano Band ©1999 Bon Venture Services, Inc. Also: Men’s Club 50/50 Raffle – only 300 tickets sold at $100 each Third Annual st nd rd 1 prize - $10,000 2 prize - $3,000 3 prize - $2,000 Catholic Men’s Conference Drawing May 27, 2017 at Big Tent Dance The Conference will be held on Saturday, May 6th at King’s College in Wilkes-Barre. Tickets available from Men’s Club Members or at Rectory

This year, Father Apostoli, Steve Ray and Matt Frado will be the speakers. Bishop Joseph Bambera will cele- brate the closing Mass for the day.

Vacation Bible School Sunday, May 7, 2017

Monday-Friday June 19th-23rd Exaltation of the Holy Cross Church Grounds. 9:30AM in Exaltation of the Holy Cross Church

More information in next 11:00AM in St. Aloysius Church weeks Bulletin.