SAINT ROBERT BELLARMINE PARISH EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS PARISH JANUARY 12, 2020 Parish Information The Baptism of the Lord

Joining the Parish The origin and foundation of Christian Baptism is Jesus. New Parishioners are always welcome. Call your Parish Office for a Census Before starting his public ministry, Jesus submitted him- Form. self to the baptism given by John the Baptist. The waters

Planning a Baptism did not purify him; he cleansed the waters. The birth of a child brings joy to the family. Through Baptism, that child is “He comes to sanctify the Jordan for our sake . . . joined to the family of God, which brings to begin a new creation through the Spirit great joy to the church. Parents seeking and water” Baptism are asked to contact the Parish (St. Gregory Nazianzen, Liturgy of the Hours, I, 634). Office. Jesus’ immersion in the water is a sign for all human Sacrament of Confirmation beings of the need to die to themselves to do God’s will. Confirmation is administered yearly to all 8th Grade students in our Religious Jesus did not need to be baptized because he was total- Education Program and students ly faithful to the will of his Father and free from sin. How- attending Catholic Schools. Students ever, he wanted to show his solidarity with human be- wishing to receive Confirmation must be ings in order to reconcile them to the Father. By commanding his disciples to bap- enrolled for at least two years before tize all nations, he established the means by which people would die to sin— they are eligible to receive Confirma- Original and actual—and begin to live a new life with God. tion.

Scheduling Weddings The excerpt on the baptism is from the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults Couples contemplating marriage are (Washington, DC: USCCB, 2006) 184. Copyright © 2006, United States Confer- asked to contact the Parish Office and ence of Catholic Bishops, Washington DC. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2020, schedule the date before making any United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. other plans. An appointment with the Pastor should be made at least 6 months prior to the Wedding Date. Cou- 2019 Financial Statements ples must be registered parishioners and active practicing Catholics. will be mailed out to all parishioners by the end of January 2020 for both

Anointing of the Sick St. Robert and Exaltation of the Holy Cross Parishes. The Sacrament of the Anointing of the If you should have any questions please contact your Parish Office. Sick may take place at any time, espe- cially if one is seriously ill. Please con- tact the office to schedule a time for a ST. LEO’S/HOLY ROSARY The CULTURAL CENTRE OF priest to visit. CHURCH ALTAR & ROSARY/ ST. FAUSTINA IS SPONSORING A BUS The Rite of Christian ST. ANN’S SOCIETY PIGGIE TRIP TO THE PHILADELPHIA FLOWER Initiation of Adults DINNER: SHOW, SUNDAY, MARCH 1, 2020 (RCIA) is the process the Catholic Church uses to welcome adult mem- Sun., Jan. 19, Noon to 3:00 pm in The cost of the trip is $80 per Adult, $60 per bers into the faith. Anyone interested in the Church Hall, 33 Manhattan student and includes transportation and show becoming a part of this process or in St., Ashley. admission fee. A “bus only” rate of $40 per obtaining more information about it, Adult 3 piggie dinner $12, Adult 2 person is available to those who wish to enjoy please call the Parish Office to speak piggie dinner $10 and Child 1 Philadelphia on their own. The bus will leave with a priest. piggie dinner $5. Eat in or Take St Faustina Cultural Centre, 38 W Church St Funeral Preparations Out. Tickets will be sold before Nanticoke at 8:30 am and depart Philadelphia The loss of a loved one is a particularly and after all Masses on Jan. 4, 5, for home at 4:45 pm. Payment is due upon difficult time for those who are 11, 12, 18 and at the door if avail- registration no later than Feb.12th . Refunds bereaved. Our parish community col- able. Contact Bonnie (570) 474- laborates with local funeral directors in cannot be given after Feb. 10. For more infor- assisting families during their time of 1031 or the Rectory (570) 825- mation, please contact Denise at 570-574- grief. 6669 for tickets. 9447

Bequests to the Parish Please remember your Parish with Memorial gifts at the time of death or PLEASE REMEMBER: With PARISH MEMBERSHIP FORM with a bequest in your will. Make a the Cold Weather please be mindful of closing the doors return to the Lord for all the good He Name ______has given you. when you enter or leave the church. Thank You. Address ______For the month of January St. Vincent de Paul Kitchen Daily Mass at St. Robert Bellarmine Phone No. ______is asking for Hot Chocolate Mix. Parish or Exaltation of the Holy Cross Church if Hanover Area Please check one: or Wilkes-Barre Area SPONSOR OF THE WEEK: ____ I am new in the parish & wish to register School Districts have a ____ Change of Address We would like to thank you

delay or are closed there ____ Moving out of Parish

Daniel J. Hughes Funeral & will be no morning Mass. Please drop Membership Form into the Offertory Cremation Service Basket or mail to the Parish Office. for sponsoring an ad in our bulletin. St. Robert Bellarmine Parish www.stalschurchwb.com like us on facebook Phone Number: (570)823-3791 email address: [email protected] Weekend Masses in: St. Aloysius Church; Daily Masses in: Sacred Heart Chapel January 13-19, 2020

Mon. No Mass Tues. 8:00am Harvey Snook III Mother, Sandra January 5, 2020 Offertory $ 3,550.75 Wed. 8:00am Nellie Slusser Husband, Bob Online Giving $ 151.00 Thurs. 8:00am Liturgy of The Word Loose $ 217.00 Fri. No Mass Dues $ 2,029.00 Sat. 4:00pm Joseph Kosar Wife & Daughters Know how Maintenance/Heat $ 20.00 Sun. 7:00am Charnosky & Volukonis Families Estate grateful Initial $ 508.00 we are for Sun. 8:30am Living & Deceased Members of our Parish your Perquisites $ 300.00 Sun. 11:00am Barbara Kunec Husband, Bill Sunday Candles $ 87.00 Offerings. Holy Day $ 797.00 Tabernacle Candles this week Christmas $ 683.00

are in Loving Memory of Joseph Kosar Manger $ 10.00 requested by wife and daughters and TOTAL $ 8,372.75 in Loving Memory of Harvey Snook III Care & Ed for Priests $ 246.00 requested by Centak Family

For Weekend of January 19, 2020 Thank You to everyone who contributed to our Time Altar Server Eucharistic Minister Lector Christmas Collection this year. 4:00PM Ian Edler Von Lerch Jennifer Thomas Matt Choman As of 1/5/2020 we collected $16,589.00. Mary Ann Zaledonis Ron Zaledonis 7:00AM Robert Worlinsky Rachel Holko 2019 Diocesan Annual Appeal Report Jane Thomas Our Parish Goal: 36,000.00 8:30AM Masin Seriani Maureen Wright Nichaolas James Total Raised: 31,580.00 Gianna Capone Sandra James Amount UNDER Goal: ( 4,420.00)

11:00AM Conrad Middleton Debbie Evanoski Courtney Smith Please consider a donation to this year's appeal. Gary Stec Ellie McGlynn Peter Stec Jim Noyalis The Altar & Rosary Society A Thank You Note Annual Spaghetti Dinner from St Vincent DePaul Kitchen was recently received from the Jan. 26th from noon to 4pm in Padden Thanksgiving Collection. Hall (cafeteria). Adults $8.00, It says: “Thank You for your generous gift to St. Vincent DePaul. Children 6-12 $4.00 & Under 6 is Free.

As we enter our 37th year of serving all guests who enter our Volunteers are needed to help with serving in all areas. doors, we are blessed to provide a hot meal every day. Our guests Please call if you would like to volunteer. are grateful and sometimes pleasantly surprised that they receive much more than a bowl of soup when they are with us.” St. Robert’s Mardi Gras Party The Pastoral Planning Committee on Sat., Feb. 15th 6-10pm. Doors open at 5:30pm invites all Parishioners to our next planning meeting for in St. Aloysius Church Hall.

our “Community” activities. These activities were brought to light from our recent Dinner, Dancing, Games, Prizes survey in which many parishioners have shown an & more all for $20/person. Beer & Soda provided & BYOB. interest. The meeting is on Wednesday, January 29th at 6:30pm in our Cafeteria. Must be 21 or older to attend. Upon request you can reserve a table of 8 or 10 with your payment. Even if you were not at the first one please plan on attending this second meeting so you can share your Tickets are on sale after all weekend Masses and in the ideas on the future of “Community” in our parish! Parish Office, call 570-823-3791 ext 2 or email us at [email protected] for information/tickets. Cut off for ticket sales is February 10th. Altar & Rosary Society Holy Name Meeting There will be not tickets sold at the door. Meeting Sunday, Jan. 12th at 1:00PM Sunday, Jan. 12th at Organizational meeting for Mardi Gras is Sat., Jan. 18th at 7:30PM in Padden Hall in Padden Hall 5pm in the Cafeteria. All are welcome to this Meeting! New members are welcome! New members are welcome! Exaltation of the Holy Cross Church New Website: www.exhc.org Phone: 570 823-6242 e-mail: [email protected] www.facebook.com/holycross420 Daily Mass 8:00AM—Mon. Fri., Adoration -Thursday - 8:30 to Noon January 12, 2020 to January 19, 2020

Mon. 8:00 am Health & Blessings, Walt Jean & Michele Kotchick Sunday $ 2,959.00 Pencak January 5, 2020 Thank You and Dues $ 1,865.00 Tues. No Mass God bless you Children $ 12.00 Wed. No Mass for your Candles $ 89.00 Contributions!!! Thurs 8:30 to 12 ADORATION Loose $ 268.00 Fri. 8:00 am Nicole Korba Wallace Family Initial $ 549.00 Sat. 5:15 pm Jack & Jean Baran Pat & Nick Baran Donation $ 5.00 $ 100.00 Sun. 10:00 am John Pilch Wife, Joan Diocesan In Honor of Donation Collections: Crib $ 22.00 Bread & Wine for this weekend are offered for $537.00 Holy Day $ 544.00 Health & Blessings for Ann Marie Turner $ By brother, Paul Cunard. TOTAL $ 6,413.00

Sanctuary Candle: In memory of Joanne Basar Our total Christmas Collection thru Glushefski by parents, John & Toni. Blessed Mother Candle: Birthday Blessings for Tony January 5 is: Gawat by wife, Rosemary. $10,284.50. Infant of Prague Candle 1: Health & Blessings for We thank you for your generosity. Norman Williams by John & Toni Basar. Infant of Prague Candle 2: Health & Blessings for Financial Statements for 2019 Norman & Ann Williams by John & Diane Bogarowski. Will be mailed to those on the envelope listing who have contributed for 2019. They will be mailed after mid Janu- *WORSHIP* ary, as soon as they are posted & the Pastor reviews them. Epiphany Sunday Celebration We thank everyone for their help and support for When paying for Masses, Candles or Bread & Wine, please include the 10 am Mass. Our Three Kings for Saturday dates you booked them. We request separate checks for each were: Tony Gawat, John Moyle and John Skiro, Jr. since monies are deposited in separate accounts. Thank you. Our Three Kings for Sunday were: John Jendrzejewski, David Maceiko and Joe Manoski. Beer for a Year tickets available from any Men’s Club Member for $5.00. *WORD* Mass Book & Candles for 2020 EXHC Men’s Club AFL/NFLTailgate Party Are open. Masses & Candles are booked on a first Sunday, January 19, 2020 come, first served basis. Church Hall/limited tickets available. All you can eat menu—Tickets $35.00 Contact any Men’s Club member *COMMUNITY* For tickets. Christmas Decorations will be taken down after the 10 am Mass Gift Card Bingo on January 12. Our Men’s Club spearheads the un-decorating, Sponsored by Youth Ministry on Sunday, February but all are welcome to participate. 9 in EXHC Church Hall. Doors open at 12 noon; games begin at 1 pm. Admission is $10.00. Event includes door prizes, 50-50 raffle, lunch Ladies of Mary Society will meet Monday, Jan- menu and bake sale. Prizes to area restaurants uary 13 at 7 pm in the church hall. Installation of and businesses will be awarded. Tickets will be officers will take place. sold before and after masses beginning in Febru- ary, or call Christine @ 570-328-4004.

EXHC Men’s Club will meet Wednesday, January 15 for UPCOMING EVENTS their monthly meeting at 7:30 and playoff party set up. Jan 12—Un-decorating Church after Mass Jan 13—Ladies of Mary Meeting—7:00 pm Jan 15—Men’s Club Meeting—7:30 Student Envelopes Jan 19—Men’s Club Playoff Party Are in the vestibule. Envelopes are given to students from Kinder- Feb 1—Man of the Year, Installation Dinner garten thru High School Seniors. If you do not get them, and wish to Feb 19—Men’s Club Meeting—7:30 receive them, please call the office. Feb 22—Night at the Races THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD  JANUARY 12, 2020

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

“You know the word that he sent to the Israelites, as he proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ, who is the Lord of all, what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, how God anoint- ed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.”

The sights and sounds at the Jordan river are so familiar. The conversation of Jesus with His cousin, His desire to show full unity with humankind, the dripping water, the peace dove, the voice from the cloud. But the baptism did not end there. Je- sus climbed up the bank and began His ministry.

One day when we were baptized, we began our missionary journey. Baptism for us is not an event, but our own first en- counter with Jesus Christ. We were anointed with holy chrism, Christened, with power became dwelling places of the Holy Spirit and we move from the baptismal font to do the same work as Jesus ‘to go about doing good.’ Unfortunately, like a battery that is not used, it loses it power if not used, but like Jesus, God is with us to restore and enable that latent power.

May we renew our lives and our baptismal call.

THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD His Excellency, the Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L., First Reading: Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 Bishop of Scranton, and the Office for This reading is a brief passage from the Songs of the Suf- Parish Life wish to invite couples celebrat- fering Servant. The Servant will establish justice on the ing their earth and open the eyes of those who live in darkness. 25th or 50th

wedding anniversary in 2020 Second Reading: Acts 10:34-38 In this reading, Peter gives his first sermon to pagans. to a diocesan

Asked by a Roman centurian to preach the Gospel to his Wedding Anniversary Mass on Sunday, June 14. household, Peter is initially astounded by the request, but The event includes a 2:30 mass at St. Peter’s Cathedral after a dream, Peter preaches and baptizes the entire followed by a reception. Requests for an invitation, with an household. April mailing address, should be made through your parish Gospel: Matthew 3:13-17 office before March 16. After initially protesting his unworthiness, John baptizes Je- sus. After the baptism, the Spirit of God descended upon 9 Days for Life Jesus and a voice said, “This is my beloved Son. My favor JANUARY 21-29, 2020 rests on him.” 9 Days for Life is a novena for the protection ©1998 Bon Venture Services, Inc. of human life.

Each day’s intention is accompanied by a short reflection ISLI Leadership Retreat – and suggested actions to help build a culture of life. Join in February 14-16, 2020 with thousands of Catholics nationwide who want to build a culture of life. The International Student Leadership Institute (ISLI) is a peer-facilitated You can sign up to receive daily prayer intentions for the faith-based leadership retreat devel- novena at https://www.respectlife.org/9-days-for-life. oped at the University of Notre Dame. The ISLI retreat is designed to Notice Regarding Reporting Sexual Abuse of a Minor provide the knowledge and skills nec- essary to excel in both the leadership and membership It is the policy of the Diocese of Scranton to report any allegation of sexual roles of task oriented groups. During the retreat, partici- abuse of a minor to law enforcement. If you are a victim of sexual abuse pants take part in small group tasks that allow the student committed by a priest, deacon, religious or lay employee or volunteer of to make good decisions, examine leadership styles, prac- the Diocese of Scranton, you are encouraged to immediately report the tice leadership behavior, learn about positive communica- matter to law enforcement. If any priest, deacon, religious, lay employee or tion, and develop self-motivational skills and learn problem volunteer of the Diocese of Scranton has cause or reason to suspect that a solving and action planning techniques. The entirety of the minor has been subjected to any form of abuse, including child sexual abuse, the matter will be reported to law enforcement. It is also the policy retreat helps students to explore and express faith values of the Diocese to adhere to all civil and state regulations. To this end, the in the Catholic Tradition. Diocese is equally committed to adhering to the norms of the Code of Can- on Law and to upholding the tenets of the USCCB Charter for the Protec- Complete applications are required by Sunday, February 2 tion of Children and Young People, which includes supporting victims of 2020 and can be found at dioceseofscranton.org. Apply sexual abuse in their pursuit of emotional and spiritual well-being. As such, early as there are a limited number of spaces available for information regarding an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor should also I.S.L.I. For further information, please call Shannon Kow- be reported to the Victim Assistance Coordinator, Mary Beth Pacuska at alski at 570-207-2213, ext. 1155. (570-862-7551). Frank Grontkowski MONUMENT INC LEHMAN FAMILY PATRICK J. AREGOOD, ESQUIRE All Types of Monuments Helping Families With Elder Law Issues Since 1977 and Mausoleums FUNERAL SERVICE, INC. Barre Gray & Imported Colored Granite Cemetery Lettering • Power Cleaning 689 Hazle Avenue, Wilkes-Barre PATRICK M. Your Attorney For All Of Your LEHMAN “One of the Largest Displays in the Area” 570-822-4634 PRESIDENT Estate Planning Needs 570-822-5574 JAMES CASEY 78 West End Road • Wilkes-Barre, PA www.lehmanfuneralhome.com SUPERVISOR Wills • Trusts • Powers of Attorney Open Every Day Deeds and Real Estate • Declarations of Last Intent & Living Wills H Pray The 11:00 A.M. Medicaid Applications For Nursing Home Care & Planning Strategies DANIEL J. HUGHES Rosary Daily! Private ** To Protect Family Assets ** Room FUNERAL Funeral & CREMATION Luncheons SERVICE 570-825-6720 Wedding 1218 South Main Street · Hanover Township, PA 18706 570.826.0600 570-823-5606 Rehearsal 617 Carey Ave • Wilkes-Barre 1190 Sans Souci Parkway Dinners THREE TIME WINNER!

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