Jubilee 2025: Pilgrims of Hope
The Holy Father has announced the 2025 will be a Jubilee Year. This is something that happens every 25 years. The theme for Jubilee 2025 is “Pilgrims of Hope.”
“We must fan the flame of hope that has been given us, and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and far-sighted vision. The forthcoming Jubilee can contribute greatly to restoring a climate of hope and trust as a prelude to the renewal and rebirth that we so urgently desire; that is why I have chosen as the motto of the Jubilee, Pilgrims of Hope. This will indeed be the case if we are capable of recovering a sense of universal fraternity and refuse to turn a blind eye to the tragedy of rampant poverty that prevents millions of men, women, young people and children from living in a manner worthy of our human dignity.”
– Pope Francis, Letter for the Promotion of the New Evangelization for the Jubilee 2025 https://www.iubilaeum2025.va/en.html
“Celebrating the Birth of Christ and the Promise of Hope:” Bishop Bambera’s Christmas Message 2025
Dear Friends in Christ,
The Nativity scene, as displayed in the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Scranton on Christmas Eve in 2023. In his 2024 Christmas message, Bishop Joseph C. Bambera focuses on a message of hope, which is also the theme of upcoming Jubilee Year in 2025. (Photo/Mike Melisky)
The very first spoken words recorded in Saint Luke’s gospel, as the evangelist chronicles the birth of Jesus, are words of hope shared with poor shepherds who represent the broken, suffering world Jesus was born to save. “Do not be afraid. … A savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord” (Luke 2:10,11).
This year, on Christmas Eve, that same message of hope will resound throughout our world. On that sacred night, Pope Francis will open the Holy Door in Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome to begin a Jubilee Year which the Church celebrates every twenty-five years in accordance with an ancient tradition. Rooted in Saint Paul’s words from his letter to the Romans, “Hope does not disappoint,” the Holy Father will invite the entire Church to begin a journey throughout the upcoming year during which we open our hearts to the life-giving message of Christmas and the presence of the living God in our midst.
Praying that “the light of Christian hope might illumine every man and woman, as a message of God’s love addressed to all,” and that “the Church might bear faithful witness to this message in every part of the world,” four days later, on the feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Pope Francis will open the Holy Door of the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, the Cathedral of Rome. On that day, by decree of the Holy Father, the Church of Scranton will join with bishops and faithful in every cathedral throughout the world to celebrate Mass and to mark the solemn opening of the great Jubilee Year.
Brothers and sisters, more than we realize, we need the hope promised through this Jubilee Year. We need to embrace like never before the life that has been won for us by Jesus and to allow its light to illumine our lives! And we need the assurance of knowing that we are forgiven and loved, that our lives matter, and that, like the shepherds of Bethlehem, we have nothing to fear.
Sadly, our world has become a frightening and disappointing place. Random acts of violence are all too common in our land. Wars are raging throughout our world in the Middle East, Ukraine, Africa and countless other places. Life is still sadly disregarded, especially in the unborn, the poor, disabled and elderly. And immigrants and refugees seeking a better life are forced to the margins of society by discrimination, bigotry and hatred.
Yet, for all of us who are humble enough to acknowledge the difficulties that we face and to look, to listen, and to open our hearts to the power and presence of God, the blessing of Christmas and the promise the great Jubilee Year are treasures steeped in hope for all believers. During the Jubilee Year, there will be countless opportunities both here in our Diocese, in Rome, and throughout our world, to grow in our faith and to celebrate our life as disciples of Jesus, reborn through Baptism and renewed in spirit through His redeeming grace.
In announcing the Jubilee Year some time ago, Pope Francis invited us all to “fan the flame of hope that has been given us and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and far-sighted vision.” He went on to share that “the forthcoming Jubilee can contribute greatly to restoring a climate of hope and trust as a prelude to the renewal and rebirth that we so urgently desire” in our lives, in our families and in our world.
May the power of hope fill our lives as we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus, and look forward with confidence and hope to the Jubilee Year of grace.
With gratitude for your presence within the Diocese of Scranton and with prayers for a blessed Christmas for you and your families, I am
Faithfully yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L.
Bishop of Scranton
OUR CALL TO SERVE - CATHOLIC MINISTRIES APPEAL 2024
By supporting the Catholic Ministries Appeal, you help provide funding for essential ministries throughout the eleven-county area of the Diocese of Scranton. Through our unity and stewardship, we are able to attend to the physical and spiritual needs of our friends and neighbors throughout Northeastern and North Central Pennsylvania.
Holy Year 2025 Pilgrimage Information
Pope Francis has announced ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ is the theme for the Holy Year 2025. A Holy Year, or Jubilee, is a time of pilgrimage, prayer, repentance, and acts of mercy, based on the Old Testament tradition of a Jubilee Year of rest, forgiveness, and renewal.
Bishop Joseph C. Bambera will lead a Pilgrimage to Italy and Rome from Aug. 31-Sept. 9, 2025, in celebration of the Holy Year. The trip will include a Papal Audience, Masses celebrated daily at various Basilicas and Cathedrals, a unique opportunity to visit the Scavi, a tour of the necropolis under St. Peter’s Basilica culminating at the tomb of St. Peter, and much more.
For more information, including a day-by-day itinerary, visit the Diocese of Scranton website at dioceseofscranton.org.
FROM THE OFFICE OF THE BISHOP
An important message from Bishop Bambera was shared at all Masses this weekend regarding upcoming changes for our parish and local Catholic community. As we move forward, we look forward to deepening our collaborative efforts with Saint Ann Parish. Together, we will more intentionally further the mission of Christ and His Church.
Please take a few moments to read the letter from Bishop Bambera to the parishioners of St. Boniface, St. Lawrence, and St. Ann's on the next steps of Vision 2030.
June 8 & 9, 2024
OFFICE OF THE BISHOP
Dear Parishioners of Saint Ann Parish,
Dear Parishioners of Saint Boniface Parish,
Dear Parishioners of Saint Lawrence Parish,
In our divided and polarized times, Jesus' message in today's Gospel for the Tenth Sunday in
Ordinary Time could not be more fitting. He says, "If a kingdom is divided against itself, that
kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to
stand" (Mk 3:24-25). Later in the same passage, Jesus reminds us that we are all His brothers and
sisters when He says, "For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother" (Mk
3:35).
As brothers and sisters of Jesus, each one of us is invited to go out into the world, proclaim the
Good News, and bring about His Kingdom with confidence and joy.
Over the last several years, I have been happy to see how closely the Catholic parishes in Lycoming
County have been working together. From your collaboration on shared ministry projects like last
weekend's Corpus Christi procession, to Vacation Bible School, to youth ministry trips and
conferences, and even sharing schedules for your churches on Holy Days of Obligation and holidays,
your partnerships are extremely important. Your hard work is already helping people to come
together as "one body," drawing strength from our shared faith and the knowledge that we are not
alone on this journey.
As I hope you are ,aware, four years ago, the Diocese of Scranton began its Vision 2030 Pastoral
Planning Process to look proactively at the realities of our local church in the present moment,
while striving to meet the opportunities and challenges of the coming decade. The goal is to create
vibrant parish communities rooted in the life of Jesus Christ.
Like the message we hear in this weekend's Gospel, as the Church of Scranton strives to be
"mission-driven," we must all work together in a way that we best live out our baptismal calling in
a world- and local environment - that continues to change. Our Church faces significant challenges, among
which are a fewer number of parishioners, financial sustainability questions, facility
infrastructure needs and a diminishing number of ordained priests.
With this in mind, and in recognition of all our Church faces, and after consultation with the
priests of the Williamsport Deanery, your Pastor/Parish Administrator, as well as an initial
conversation with your Parish Pastoral and Finance Council members, I am directing that the
parishes of Saint Ann, Saint Boniface and Saint Lawrence, begin working together in a more cohesive
and specific way over the next year. As we look toward the future, I am proposing a two-phase plan
to create a hope-filled future with more opportunities for enhanced ministry and outreach in the
Williamsport area.
Phase I: Consolidation of Saint Boniface & Saint Lawrence Parishes in Fall 2024
For more than a decade, Saint Boniface Parish, Williamsport, and Saint Lawrence Parish, South
Williamsport, have been successfully working together in a linkage with a single Pastor. Over that
time, the two parishes have created a joint staff, joint bulletin and website, launched a combined
religious education program, have worked together on many ministry projects, and have been
utilizing a Joint Pastoral Council for the last three years.
Because both parishes remain independent in a linkage, they must each have their own Finance
Council and the administrative and financial work can often be redundant.
By entering into a consolidation later this year, Saint Boniface and Saint Lawrence will be poised
to combine the resources of their two parishes and actively create a new entity for the betterment
of all parishioners.
Phase II: Linkage of the Newly Consolidated Parish of Saint Boniface & Saint Lawrence with Saint
Ann Parish beginning July 1, 2025
The Diocese of Scranton is currently blessed to have 87 active Diocesan priests - but within just
six years - is facing the known retirement of 24 men - not factoring in the possibility of someone
else getting sick or leaving ministry. While we currently have ten young men discerning the
priesthood, including one who will be ordained at the end of this month, and numerous international
priests to minister locally, one of the most pressing challenges we face in ensuring the Church is
vibrant and present for future generations is a diminishing number of ordained priests to serve all
of our 11 counties.
Knowing the significant challenges we face with clergy, when Father Shawn Simchock became
Administrator Pro Tern of Saint Ann Parish in September 2023, his assignment was not meant to be
long term or permanent. As such, I have asked Father McCreary, Pastor of Saint Boniface & Saint
Lawrence Parishes, and Father Simchock to begin partnering together in a more intentional way with
the goal of establishing a new linkage by July 1, 2025. Announcing this plan well ahead of time
will allow plenty of time for collaboration and consultation with all the faithful, and will
proactively work to address future pastoral needs of each parish community. There will certainly be
questions and choices that will need prayerful discernment as this linkage takes shape, but please
know Diocesan professionals in pastoral formation, financial planning, communication and
engineering are ready to assist in any way necessary.
It is critical to stress that neither a linkage, nor a consolidation, means the immediate closure
of any church building, but discussions may lead to that at some point in the future after serious
study and prayer centered around the reality of finances, Mass attendance, community demographics
and infrastructure needs. At this point, what is most important is that all parishioners (of all
three parishes) have the opportunity to voice their thoughts, dreams and hopes for the future with
your parish leadership teams.
While I know change is never easy, be assured of my deep gratitude for all that you and your
families have shared, and continue to share, in furthering the mission of the Church. Let us
embrace the opportunity to forge new connections and deepen existing relationships. As you know,
our mission is to take Christ into the world. I am confident that by working together we can "Go
into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature" (Mk 16:15).
Be assured that you are in my prayers as this process towards a new hope-filled future begins.
Faithfully yours fo Christ,
Most Reverend.Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L. Bishop of Scranton •
DIOCESE OF SCRANTON
300 WYOMING AVENUE
SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA 18503-1279
Bishop Joseph C. Bambera issues statement on COVID-19 vaccines
“The COVID-19 pandemic has caused tremendous grief and fear in our country and world over the last year, leaving more than 500,000 dead in the United States alone.
“I want to be clear and concise in my pastoral guidance regarding COVID-19 vaccines. Given the grave danger this virus poses, it is morally acceptable to receive any of the current COVID-19 vaccines that have been determined to be clinically safe and effective. This position is supported by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
“People should not delay getting a vaccine. Receiving a vaccine not only protects an individual’s health but also serves the common good by protecting the community – including the weak and vulnerable.
“While fully recognizing the complex moral and ethical issues involved in vaccine development, at this time, most people are not being given a true choice of which vaccine they receive, and likely won’t be able to make such a choice without a lengthy delay.
“Given that risk to public health, the faithful can in good conscience receive any of the current vaccines.”
To view the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith’s December 2020 Note on the Morality of Using some anti-COVID vaccines, please click here.
Faithfully yours in Christ,
†Joseph C. Bambera
Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L.
Bishop of Scranton
To be vaccinated or not: Answering common questions for Catholics
Private Masses will be celebrated daily in the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Scranton, and made available on CTV: Catholic Television of the Diocese of Scranton.
On weekdays, the Mass will be broadcast at 12:10 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
On weekends, the Saturday Vigil Mass will be broadcast at 4:00 p.m. and rebroadcast on Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m.
The Masses will also be streamed on the Diocese of Scranton’s website, made available on the Diocese of Scranton’s social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) and will be accessible on the Diocese of Scranton’s YouTube channel.
COVID-19 Resources
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