As of the first weekend of the New Year, the 4:00 Saturday Mass at Blessed Sacrament, Throop will become a 5:30 p.m. Mass. The schedule for December is unchanged. The new Mass time at Blessed Sacrament will begin Saturday, January 5, 2012.

The Candy Cane is just one of the many symbols of the Christmas season; it is a symbol of Jesus our Savior. It is in the shape of a shepherd’s crook, reminding us that Jesus is the Good Shepherd. Upside down, it forms a “J” to symbolize His name. The white is for His life, holy, perfect, and without blame. And the stripe of red is for His blood so pure and freely given on the cross for our salvation. Next time you enjoy a sweet tasting Candy Cane, take the opportunity to say a short prayer, thanking God for the great gift of his Son, Jesus

We are grateful to Father James Price, C.P, Rector of the Passionist Community at St. Ann’s Basilica, Scranton for agreeing to assist us with our weekend masses at Holy Cross/Blessed Sacrament. It’s a great blessing to Have Father Price and his Passionist Brothers on board. Welcome!

Congratulations to Jerry Dempsey and Chris Pasquale who recently graduated from the Pennsylvania Police Academy.

Let us put our hope in Jesus, the name of salvation given to men and women of every language and race. Confessing his name, let us walk trustfully toward the future, certain that we will not be disappointed if we trust in the most holy name of Jesus. Lord, I offer you my life. All my dreams, plans, hopes and fears are yours. Give me the Faith to follow you today, knowing that you will work all things together for my good.

In keeping with the sacredness of the liturgy, please make every effort to turn off or silence your cell phone during the Celebration of the Eucharist. Children should also be reminded that Mass is a special time to listen and pray to God; it is not a time to be texting others.

With the beginning of the flu season, just a few reminders about some common-sense practices that will help curtail the spread of the flu. Remember, if you are sick or not feeling well, there is no obligation to attend Mass on Sunday.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention lists a number of helpful practices. Frequently wash your hands with warm water and soap. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or handkerchief when you are coughing or sneezing. If you don’t have a tissue or handkerchief, cough into your elbow rather than into your hand. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth; germs spread this way.

If you do not feel well or have a cough, please avoid receiving the Precious Blood from the cup when it is offered. Be conscious that those around you may not shake your hand at the Sign of Peace because they may not be feeling well.

If we all practice these common, everyday precautions, hopefully we can prevent a significant outbreak of the flu in our community.

On Monday, January 14th the Church begins Ordinary Time. It does not mean “usual” or “average”but refers to that time of the Church’s calendar that is outside the seasons of Lent, Easter, Advent, or Christmas. Ordinary Time begins on the Monday after the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord and is interrupted by the seasons of Lent and Easter, beginning with Ash Wednesday (February 13th this year), and continues on the Monday after Pentecost Sunday. Ordinary Time is symbolized by the green vestments worn by the priest and deacon during the Celebration of the Eucharist. The readings are taken from “Cycle C” of the Church’s lectionary.

The children of the parishes of Holy Cross and Blessed Sacrament will be receiving their First Penance on Saturday, February 2. 2013 at Holy Cross Parish at 10:00 a.m. Please continue to keep the children, their parents and our teachers in your prayers as they complete the requirements for this important sacrament

High School students currently in their Junior year, and interested in an opportunity to grow in their faith and learn what it means to be missionary in today’s world, are invited by the Pontifical Mission Societies, Diocese of Scranton Office Parish Life, to apply for the 2013 U.S. Summer Mission Experience.

Criteria for applicants and “How to Apply” instructions are included in the flyer announcement which must be read and understood by the applicant and his or her parents. Parental permission is necessary to apply. A copy of the announcement may be obtained from the Parish office, or by logging onto the Mission Societies link at: www.dioceseofscranton.org

Letters of interest with a request for an interview must be sent no later than February 15, 2013, to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

It's not too early to be thinking about making jam for the Family Festival. We are collecting canning jars, ONLY 8 oz. CANNING JAM JARS. A box will be at the front entrance of Blessed Sacrament Parish or call Debbie-489-1208. Thank you!

Please join our Lenten Stations and Soup gathering every Friday after Stations of the Cross. We would love you to become a part of our fellowship. Donations of homemade soups, pizza, bread and monetary gifts are most welcome. Contact Jackie Musyt at 489-8143 or Carol Avaschieri at 489-1915.

The Youth Group would like to give a special thank you to Hudak-O’Shea Funeral Home for the girl’s and boy’s bikes and to Chocolate Creations for the Chocolate Bunny and to those that donated, and helped in any way to make our Easter Egg Hunt a success: Winners: Girl’s Bike, Emma Kostage, Boy’s Bike, Ryan Strony; Chocolate Bunny, Joey Black

Just a reminder that Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence. All Catholics 18 years of age and over are bound by Church law to fast; only one large meal and two smaller meals. At the age of 60 (or if one is sick), a person is no longer required to fast.

All Fridays during Lent are days of abstinence where all Catholics 14 years of age and older are required to abstain from meat.

• 3/13 SS. James & George Episcopal, 398 Washington Ave.,
  Jermyn Preaching – Rev. Al Wagman
• 3/20 First United Presbyterian Church, 1557 Main St.,
  Peckville Preaching – Msgr. Michael J. Delaney

Preparation: Before going to confession, take some time to examine your conscience. This might be done by reviewing your life in comparison to the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes, the example of Christ’s life. Pray to God for forgiveness.

Going to Confession:

1. The priest will welcome you, and you both make the sign of the cross:
   In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
2. You continue with these traditional words:
   Bless me Father, for I have sinned. It has been (how long) since my last confession. You might also add any other background that will allow the priest to be most helpful to you in the circumstances of your everyday life.
3. The priest will encourage you to have trust in God, and invite you to confess your sins.
   Speak freely and honestly – nothing you say in confession will ever be repeated by the priest. The priest may talk with you about how to make up for the sins you confess. He will then assign an act of penance corresponding to the nature of the sins – this may take the form of prayer, self-denial, and especially service to one’s neighbor.
4. Act of Contrition – you offer a prayer expressing sorrow for your sins and resolving not to sin again. You may say this in your own words, or use this traditional prayer:
   My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Saviour Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In his name, my God, have mercy.
5. Following this prayer, the priest extends his hands over your head and says the words of absolution:
   
6. God the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son, has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins. Through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. As the priest concludes this prayer, he will make the sign of the cross over your head – you bless yourself and respond, Amen.
7. The priest will invite you to go in peace.

After Confession: When you leave the confession room, take a few minutes of private prayer and thanksgiving. Plan how you will complete the assigned act of penance. Make a firm resolve to continue your conversion by a life renewed according to the Gospel and the love of God.

Almighty and Everlasting God, You have given the human race Jesus Christ our Savior as a model of humility. He fulfilled Your will by becoming Man and giving His life on the Cross. Help us to bear witness to You by following by His example of suffering and make us worthy to share in His Resurrection. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son. Amen.

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! To all who joined us for Stations of the Cross, soup and fellowship each Friday during the Lenten Season. Thank you to all who donated, soup, food, their time. We would like to wish all of you who participated a Blessed Easter Season.

The Light Is On For You – all Mondays of Lent from 5:30-7:00pm, Our Parish, and all the parishes in the Diocese of Scranton will be open for individual confessions. In keeping with the spirit of the Pastoral Letter, Wounded and Loved, Regathering the Scattered, inviting Catholics to experience Christ’s healing love through the Sacrament of Reconciliation is a major initiative in the Diocese this year. The website, www.dioceseofscranton.org has materials to assist you in preparing to make a good confession, prayers you may find helpful, and answers to frequently asked questions. Please make plans to come on a Lenten Monday, and spread the word of this special outreach of mercy to those you know.

Monday Evening Confessions Across the Diocese of Scranton this Lent

This Monday from 5:30-7:00pm, and on all Mondays in Lent, we will be offering confessions in our Parish, together with all the Catholic parishes in the Diocese of Scranton. This outreach is called “The Light Is On For You” and is an effort on the part of the Diocese to highlight the importance of the sacrament of Reconciliation in the life of Catholics and to make it as easy as possible for every Catholic to come or to return to this great source of God’s mercy and healing love. You are welcome to come here or to go to any other Catholic parish. The Diocesan website, www.dioceseofscranton.org has great materials to help you prepare. Please make plans to come yourself, and please invite others to take advantage of this opportunity to be reconciled and to renew your journey of faith this Lent.

Please Come to the Sacrament of Reconciliation this Lent

The Year of Faith is a special time of grace, inviting and enabling all of us to deepen our relationship with Jesus and to embrace a life of meaning and purpose. To assist us, in addition to our normal Saturday afternoon confession time, our Parish and all Catholic parishes in the Diocese of Scranton will be open on Lenten Mondays from 5:30-7:00pm. Please participate in this opportunity to make a good Lenten confession, and please also reach out to the Catholics you know who have been away from the regular practice of the faith and invite them to participate in this chance to begin again. See the Diocesan website for helpful materials: www.dioceseofscranton.org

In the early days of the church, the pope was chosen by clergy and laity. In 1059, Nicholas II gave Cardinals the leading role in electing popes, in part to fight off feuding and lobbying by families and civil officials that was making the position more political than spiritual.

In 1170, the Third Lateran Council restricted the election to Cardinals and decided it would take a vote of two thirds of the Cardinals to elect the Pope (a rule that holds true today).

In 1268 following the death of Clement IV, it took three years to choose the next pope, Gregory X. That happened only after local officials in Vierbo, Italy where the election was) locked the cardinals in a building with no roof and threatened they would only get bread and water. Gregory X was elected almost immediately. Gregory X then stipulated the Cardinals should gather in the town where the Pope died and be locked in without a key to avoid outside influence. The Cardinals couldn’t receive any funds during the conclave from the papal treasury and after eight days would be fed bread and water.

In 1274 conclave rules were spelled out at the Council of Lyons. Many of these rules remain. In 1996 Pope John Paul II issued an apostolic constitution, Universi Dominic Gregis: on the vacancy of the Apostolic See and Election of the Roman Pontiff,outlining the guidelines to follow when the papacy is vacant.

In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI issued an apostolic constitution, De Aliquibus Mutationibus in Mormis De Electione Romani Pontificis, amending Universi Dominici Gregis and requiring a two-thirds vote for the election of a new pope, regardless of how many ballots are needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do we call the Pope the Vicar of Christ?

Jesus gave an office uniquely to St. Peter, the first of the Apostles, to be transmitted to the Successors of St. Peter. A vicar is someone who stands in the place of another. Peter was chosen by the Lord himself to be his vicar. He was not elected by the other Apostles to preside over the Church. Jesus Christ specifically prayed for Peter. Now, the cardinals, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, seek to choose the man whom the Lord has destined to be the next Pope.

What do we mean by the term "the power of the keys"?

The Lord gave an office uniquely to St. Peter. The"power of the keys" entrusted to him (cf. Matthew16:19) represents this authority. By virtue of his office the Pope possesses supreme, full, immediate, and universal ordinary power in the Church, which he is always able to exercise freely.

Why do we call the Pope the Servant of the Servants of God?

The Pope is the head of the College of Bishops. He serves those who serve. When Christ bestowed special gifts on Peter, these were not to be considered or used as special privileges for his own benefit; rather, these special gifts were to be a means of serving others. The Pope's life is spent in imitation of Jesus who came to serve and not to be served.

Why do we call the Pope the Holy Father?

Catholics (and even non-Catholics) refer to the Pope as "Holy Father" or "His Holiness" because these terms reminds us that the Pope is the universal pastor of the Church, into which Christ wants to gather all the children of God into one (cf. John 11:52). The Pope's office has an objective sanctity about it, flowing from its divine institution.

What does conclave mean?

Conclave comes from the Latin words for "with a key," cum clave. The Cardinals are locked "with a key" in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope.

Christ redeemed us all and gave perfect glory to God principally through his Paschal Mystery: dying he destroyed our death and rising he restored our life. Therefore the Easter Triduum of the Passion and Resurrection of Christ is the culmination of the entire liturgical year. The Easter Triduum begins with the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday and closes with Evening Prayer on Easter Sunday.

These days recall the central mystery of our faith: the Passion, death, and Resurrection of Christ.

From the General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar, paragraphs #18-19.

Holy Thursday

The season of Lent concludes with the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. The only Mass celebrated is in the evening when we remember Jesus’ celebration of the Passover meal. We recall that Jesus took the form of a slave and washed the feet of his disciples – giving us an example of what it means to follow Christ. Furthermore, we celebrate the institution of the Eucharist, when Jesus gave us his Body and Blood to feed us on our journey of faith. After communion, a ciborium with consecrated hosts for Good Friday is left on the altar. The Holy Eucharist then leads the procession to the Lower Chapel where the Eucharist will be reposed, reminding us of Christ’s prayer in the Garden. After the procession, the altar in the Upper Church is stripped, all candles are extinguished, and the holy water is removed from the fonts.

Good Friday

Good Friday is a celebration of Jesus’ Passion – recalling His suffering and death on the cross that He suffered for each of us. Because it is through His death that we have salvation we call the day ‘Good.’ Traditionally the Lord’s Passion is celebrated between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Based on the Gospel accounts, it is presumed that Jesus died around 3:00 p.m. Note, there is no Mass celebrated on Good Friday, rather it is a celebration of the Word which includes the veneration of the cross and distribution of Holy Eucharist which was consecrated on Holy Thursday.

Holy Saturday

The Easter Vigil is the highest celebration of the Church’s liturgical year. This is the celebration that our Lenten preparations have pointed to – both the Resurrection of Jesus and the welcoming of new members into the Church through Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist. The Easter Vigil begins in darkness, symbolizing the darkness of the tomb. The Paschal Candle enters the church symbolizing Christ, who is the light of the world and Christ who is now risen from the dead. The light of Christ shatters the darkness and illuminates the entire Church as the Gloria is sung. The elect are baptized and confirmed after the homily.

Thank you to M/M Frank Scozarro for their Memorial Donation in memory of Joseph Hall.

A special Food Drive will be taken up on Holy Thursday of Non-Perishable Food. This will be the only day we will be accepting food. The food will be used to replenish the food pantries in our area. Please be as generous as you can.