New Rectory Steps
The stairs on the rectory’s back porch have been replaced. Thank you to all who assisted in this work.
The stairs on the rectory’s back porch have been replaced. Thank you to all who assisted in this work.
Thomas is often called “Doubting” Thomas because he refused to believe the other disciples when they told him they had seen the risen Lord. We cannot always accept without question what a group of people tell us about something they say has happened even if they are all in the same place at the same time. Thomas wanted to verify with his own eyes what they said had happened. His doubts were reasonable. He was not left in uncertainty. Jesus appears again to the disciples when Thomas was with them. Because he can see the risen Lord, Thomas believes and his response is the fullest expression of faith found anywhere in the Gospels: “My Lord and my God!” Jesus then declares blessed “those who have not seen and yet believe”. This gives us assurance that faith does not depend on what we ase but on what is in our hearts or, as we read in the letter to the Hebrews, “Only faith can…prove the existence of the realities that at present remain unseen.”
Low Sunday (“A”) – April 23, 2017 Read More »
In the ancient Jewish world, blindness was not just a physical ailment. In popular thought it carried a terrible stigma. This arose from a false interpretation of the Law of Moses, which stated that people who were blind or lame could not fight in the army of God’s people. There was good reason for this: soldiers who cannot move fast or see the enemy are not going to be much help to their comrades. However, an extreme interpretation of the rule concluded wrongly that anyone who could not fight in God’s army could never enter God’s kingdom. The next step was to class them as sinners, and that in turn led them being refused word and reduced to begging. Jesus denies that the man’s blindness was caused by anyone’s sin: on the contrary, this man will make God’s works visible. This passage is long and complicated, but we hear of a formerly blind man – notice how briefly the miracle itself is described: over and done with in a couple of sentences – who becomes increasingly full of life and who very soon teaches the Pharisees the ways of God. They become more obsessed about how a sinner could possibly open the eyes of a man born blind. They furiously insist that they are disciples of Moses.
There is another aspect to this light/darkness scenario, exemplified by the parents of the blind man. They’re asked if this is their son, if he was born blind and, if so, how he can now see. They reply “yes” to the first two questions, but refuse to comment on his new sight. “He is old enough: let him speak for himself,” they say, because they fear being expelled from the synagogue if they are perceived to be followers of Jesus. In the Gospels people either accept Jesus as the light, or they reject Him, remaining in darkness. There is no middle road. Later, Jesus will insist that there is only one sign for those who claim to be His disciples, who follow His light: they love one another in the same way that He loved us.
IV Sunday of Lent (“A”) – March 26, 2017 Read More »
On Sunday, March 12th we held the formal installation of the new Parish Committee with breakfast after Holy Mass. Congratulations to our new Committee and a special thank you to all who served last year.
Installation of Parish Committee Read More »
On October 20th and 21st a great group of parishioners gathered to prepare for our Polish “Happy Meal” Dinner held on Saturday, October 22nd. Thank you to: Mrs. Betty Brazausky, Mrs. Marjorie Dean, Mrs. Sandra Elsavage, Mrs. Elaine Antalosky, Mrs. Ann Marie Wycheck, Mrs. Janina Plichta, Mr. Lance Nelson and Mr. George Wycheck for your work.
Polish Happy Meal Prep Read More »
We will be holding a “Polish Happy Meal” dinner from 4 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, October 22nd. Dinners, at $9 each, will include kielbasa, pierogies, halushki, halupki, bigos, rye bread, butter, dessert and beverage. You may eat at the church or take meals out. All are welcome. For tickets or more information, call 570-874-3111 or 570-874-1960.
Thank you to all who attended, worked at, and otherwise supported our Chinese Auction held Sunday, September 25th.
Chinese Auction Thank You Read More »
Preparations were underway on Thursday, September 22nd for the Chinese auction to be held in our parish hall on Sunday, September 25th. All are welcome.
Preparations for Sunday’s Chinese Auction Read More »