|
|
Entries for December 2021
Second Sunday High School ministry will meet on most 2nd & 4th Sundays from 5-6:30 p.m. at St. Ann's Youth Center (the old convent near the adoration chapel). If you have any questions or would like to have your child join please email Jesse and Alisan Martin at JesseandAlisan@gmail.com. Any student in the area is invited to join us. We hope to see you there!
Second Sunday 2022 Schedule:
Jan. 9 & 23, Feb. 13 & 27; March 13 & 27; April 10 & 24; May 15
Read More
Youth Ministry
Friday, December 31: The parish office is closed; Regular 8 a.m. Mass will be held.
Saturday, January 1: This is not a Holy Day of Obligation. Regular Masses will be held at 4 & 5:30 p.m. No confessions heard at St. Lawrence.
Sunday, January 2: No PREP classes.
Happy New Year!
Read More
The St. Boniface Activities Association is selling homemade broccoli cheese soup as the January feature fundraiser soup. The soup is available for purchase at $8 per quart and will be ready for pick up the weekend of January 8 & 9 at both St. Boniface and St. Lawrence. Orders may be placed by emailing Deb Wheeler at dwheeler2211@comcast.net or by calling her at 570-220-2303. You may also fill out the order form found in the latest bulletin. Order forms can be placed in the basket labeled soup orders in the rear of the church. Ple...
Read More
Saint Stephen (died 36 CE, Jerusalem; feast day December 26) is the first martyr of the Church, and is the patron of stonemasons, masons, bricklayers, deacons, headaches, and horses. He is usually pictured in deacon's vestments, holding the symbol of martyrdom, a palm branch. Sometimes he has a stone in his left hand, to indicate his death by stoning. He is depicted in many images wearing a wreath, which refers to the origin of his name, the Greek word Stephanos meaning "wreath."
In the Acts of the Apostles, St. Luke praises St. Stephen ...
Read More
And yet again, you have been incredibly generous to me & Fr. Bob but also to the families who are struggling this winter. That's exactly what we are striving to become...the sheep rather than the goats. The "givers" rather than the "takers". The ones who understood Jesus in MT 25:31 are those who create the peace-able kingdom. In the process, we feel much better about ourselves. And we show society... there is another way of living.
Read More
We are closing our campaign for this crucial Diocesan fundraiser and are tying it up nicely before Christmas. While we will gladly accept any additional gifts, what we have collected so far has been outstanding. St. Boniface has reached 94% of its goal and St. Lawrence has reached 86% of its goal. THANK YOU. These numbers are substantial especially as we are missing our usual attendance numbers from regular Masses. Particular thanks goes out to our appeal team: Sue Dinsmore, Noah Bauer, Carol Sides, and Jeff Kemmler. We couldn't be more grateful. ...
Read More
Annual Appeal
The St. Boniface and St. Lawrence Christmas Giving Trees continue to raise funds for three vital local charities throughout the month of December: Family Promise, Shepherd of the Streets, and Sojourner Truth Ministry. Please place your monetary donations in the small white envelopes found hanging on the trees and return the envelopes to the collection boxes located in both churches by the end of December. Your generosity is greatly appreciated!
Read More
Some people cringe when they see the word "Xmas". But there is really no reason. The early Christians were mainly Greek speaking. When they were persecuted, they would abbreviate some correspondence. So, they used their letter P to represent Jesus and X to represent Christ. Even now you see some vestments or religious art that superimposes the X over the P to stand for Jesus Christ. Some non-Catholic preachers with little sense of Christian history have distorted our background. Whichever way you spell it, give glory to God.
Read More
Especially at this time of the year, stress and anxiety may run high for you or someone you love, and St. Dymphna can be a source of inspiration and devotion. People invoke her name and intercession for friends and family in need of healing from mental illness, as well as the stresses and anxieties of day-to-day living.
Born in Ireland in the 7th century of a pagan king and devout Christian, Dymphna’s mother died when she was a young girl. Her father became insane at the loss of his wife and was consumed with finding another woman like her. Dymphna fled to Bel...
Read More
It's almost here! The Parishes of St. Boniface and St. Lawrence invite you to our Christmas Celebration on Sunday, December 19 at St. Boniface. There will be music, fellowship, refreshments, a visit from St. Nick, and more! Music begins at 2:45 p.m. provided by our youth musicians, followed by a concert at 3 p.m. by our contemporary choir. The music will be streamed live and available to enjoy from our website beginning at 2:45 p.m. All are welcome to attend the celebration! Hope to see you there.
Read More
The holiday season can be an especially difficult time to cope with isolation, grief, addictions, and mental health struggles. Please think about ways you can reach out to those who may be struggling this year. Many resources can be accessed on the Diocesan website relating to grief and other struggles. Resources available that are more specific to alcoholism and other substance use issues include: Catholic in Recovery (website) and The Twelve Steps and the Sacraments: A Catholic Journey through Recovery (book). The Association for Catholic Mental Health Ministers...
Read More
The early Church was very ready to recognize the inspirational people among them, especially women. Lucy (Lucia) of Sicily was one who stood out for her uncomplicated faith in Jesus and his way of life. When a jilted suitor sought revenge for being rejected, he revealed that she was a Christian, a criminal offense at that time. If you were accused of being a follower of Jesus...would they find enough evidence to convict you?
Read More
PREP classes will be held as usual on December 12 & 19. There will be NO PREP on December 26 and January 2.
Students in the Confirmation class should be working on service hours. Some ideas include raking leaves, shoveling snow or preparing a meal for someone in need. Service forms can be found in the Confirmation packet you were provided. Form #1 is due by Janaury 9 and can be returned to PREP class, emailed to Karen Balestino (sbslprep@comcast.net) or turned in to the parish office.
Read More
This month's food pantry collection is focusing on microwavable items such as: oatmeal packets, mashed potatoes, rice, pasta, mac 'n cheese bowls, soup and ramen noodles. The most appropriate foods are ones that don't require more than water to prepare. Items can be placed in the food collection boxes in the back of both churches. Thank you for your continued generosity!
Read More
Padre Neftalí from Hazelton is coming to St. Boniface to celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Sunday, December 12 at 4:30. Mass will be in Spanish and will include a choir from Hazelton. Refreshments will be served after Mass and free Spanish bibles will be available. Questions can be directed to the parish office at 570-326-1544 or to Padre Neftalí directly by email at neftfeliz@gmail.com. Spread the word!
Read More
Lighting a candle for loved ones or the personal intentions we hold within our hearts, is a longstanding tradition in the Catholic Church. We invite you to join us in this faithful tradition by lighting a candle at the Holy Family Shrine at St. Boniface. A $5 donation is requested and can be placed in any one of the collection boxes. You are welcome to light your own candle.
Read More
One of the most positive ways to protect life is to support pregnant women who for lack of support might have had an abortion. What the Social Concerns Committee has done, collecting diapers, lotions, and baby food for our "Baby Shower" helps us serve others and honor the arrival of the Christ child in concrete ways. Jesus, Mary and Joseph had nothing...but hope that others would come forward.
Read More
Mark your calendars with these upcoming Advent Masses and events:
December 5:
Second Sunday of Advent (Love/Faith)
Advent Baby Shower donations: diapers
~
December 8:
Immaculate Conception (Holy Day of Obligation) at St. Boniface 8 a.m. & 5:30 p.m.
~
December 12:
Third Sunday of Advent (Joy)
Advent Baby Shower donations: bath items, ointments, bottles, cups
Coffee & doughnuts at St. Lawrence after 8 a.m. Mass
~
December 12:
Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Spanish Mass)
St. Boniface 4:30 p.m. with Padre Neftali
~
December 14:
...
Read More
From the ninth century in the East and the eleventh century in the West, Nicholas has been one of the most popular saints in Christendom and in Christian art and is the patron of many countries, dioceses, churches, and cities. He was a Greek bishop of Myra in Lycia (now Turkey).
According to folklore, he may have saved three girls from prostitution, restored to life three children who had been killed, and saved three unjustly condemned men from death. While some sources say that he may have been imprisoned during the Diocletian persecution, there is no historical certain...
Read More
The Christmas Giving Trees at St. Boniface and St. Lawrence will raise funds for Family Promise, Shepherd of the Streets, and Sojourner Truth Ministry. There are also tags on the trees for the Salvation Army Gift Drive. Salvation Army gifts should be left at the trees unwrapped or in a gift bag and returned no later than December 11 to the Christmas Giving Tree at either St. Boniface or St. Lawrence. Thank you for your generousity during this Advent season.
Read More
Advent
On December 8, we honor Mary, the mother of Jesus. The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception celebrates Mary's conception without sin. Even though this feast day occurs during Advent, which prepares us for the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Immaculate Conception refers to the conception of Mary in the womb of her mother, St. Anne.
Read More