Entries for March 2025

Last week I entertained the question “Father, how often should I go to confession?” This week, let’s think about the next question I usually get: “And, Father, what do I say when I get there?” Confession begins when we examine our conscience. And that begins with prayer. You don’t know what you’re supposed to say? Ask the Holy Spirit. After all, Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would lead us to all truth. I imagine that includes the truth about ourselves. The Holy Spirit will reveal the truth to us. We might tend to beat up on...

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Join us for the Stations of the Cross on one or more of these upcoming dates: April 4 – St. Boniface April 11 – St. Lawrence April 18 – St. Lawrence (Good Friday) We look forward to praying together!

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Starting in April, volunteers will serve as greeters at weekend Masses, extending a warm welcome to parishioners and visitors. This vital ministry fosters a sense of Christian community, emphasizing the importance of coming together in prayer. Thank you to all who have generously offered their time to serve.

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Father, how often should I come to confession? I get that question a lot. Sometimes from nonbelievers who want to understand this strange religious system of ours. Sometimes from people interested in becoming Catholic—they want to know just what they’re getting into. Sometimes from Catholics who are confused about the messages they’ve received— everything from “God doesn’t really care about sin anymore” to “Why aren’t you like Mother Teresa or John Paul II, who when to confession every single week?” The answe...

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Congratulations to four of our students who were honored for their leadership in Christian service and dedication to our parish community at a Mass celebrated by Bishop Bambera at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Scranton on Sunday afternoon (3/23/2025). We are proud of seniors Ben Cappel, Anna Pritchard, and Sophia Reid, as well as 8th grader Evan Steele. We thank them for their service and pray for them as they continue to share their gifts with others.

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We are seeking parents who have raised or are raising children in the Catholic faith to partner with parents of newly baptized children, helping them feel welcomed into the life of the Church. This ministry requires a minimal time commitment. Join us for a brief, 30-minute informational meeting to learn more. We are offering two sessions: Sunday, March 30, 11:30 a.m.–Noon Monday, March 31, 6:30–7 p.m. Both sessions will be held in the St. Boniface Rectory (first floor). Please enter through the parish office entrance. For more informa...

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Sacrament of Reconciliation is available every Monday from 5:30–7 p.m. at St. Boniface. Why Go To Confession? God loves each of us. God created us and placed us in this world to know, love, and serve Him. Unfortunately, we do not always show our love for God in our words and actions. There are times when we turn away from God. These moments when we choose to do wrong and avoid what is good are sins. The good news is that God has given us a way to turn back to Him with our whole hearts. He has given us the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In this sacrament, we meet C...

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Last Sunday afternoon I was sitting in St. Peter’s Cathedral in Scranton. I had traveled over there for the Rite of Election—an important part of the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) which used to be called Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA). As I sat there waiting for the liturgy to begin, I realized just how long it had been since I last participated in that particular ceremony. For many years of my priesthood, I had to skip that rite because I had evening Mass responsibilities. Since coming here, my Sunday afternoons and evenings ha...

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Join us on Sunday, March 30, at 2 p.m. for a Tenebrae service with the St. Boniface Choir. This is a powerful, reflective experience for the faithful ahead of Holy Week.

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Lent

All faithful in the Diocese of Scranton are warmly invited to a Lenten Holy Hour with the Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L., Bishop of Scranton, in honor of the diocesan phase of the 2025 Holy Year of Hope. These gatherings will be held across each of the twelve deaneries within the Diocese of Scranton. For our Williamsport Deanery, the Lenten Holy Hour will take place on Tuesday, March 25, at 7:00 p.m. at Saint Boniface Church. The theme for the 2025 Jubilee Year is "Pilgrims of Hope." As Pope Francis so beautifully expressed, "We must fan ...

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Lent

Check out the March 11th edition of Our Faith…Our Diocese (news on diocesan and parish events): Highlights from the Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion at the Cathedral of Saint Peter, marking a step closer for candidates and catechumens entering the Catholic Church. Bishop Bambera celebrated the first Lenten Holy Hour at Saint John the Evangelist Parish in Pittston. Saint Nicholas Church in Wilkes-Barre is a Jubilee Year pilgrimage site. Saint Leo the Great Parish in Ashley is among parishes holding Lenten food sales. Rev. Ryan Glenn of Christ th...

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Join us for a festive St. Patrick’s Day dinner at St. Lawrence Church Hall on Monday, March 17, from 4-7 PM! Enjoy a delicious menu featuring corned beef, ham, cabbage with potatoes, carrots, soda bread, and more. Dine in or take out – it’s up to you! BYOB. Tickets are $15 for adults and $7 for kids 12 and under. Don't miss our exciting basket raffles! Tickets are available at the door.

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I know I’ve driving home this pilgrimage aspect of the Holy Year pretty often. But, it’s a treasured part of our Catholic faith. I’d hate to have the next several months to pass by and have us think: “I could have participated, I could have done something…”  Now we are fortunate to have a pilgrimage site in one of our churches. But, that doesn’t stop us from finding other sites as well. Think of it this way: As we travel, for work or for vacation, we’re passing pilgrimage sites all along the way. After the Broadway sh...

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Calling all parishioners! Do you want to get involved in your parish community as a member of the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC)?  Do you have someone in mind who might be a good fit for the PPC? You can nominate yourself or someone else for this year's election by returning the council nomination form available in the bulletin or as a PDF below. The deadline for nominations is Monday, March 17. PPC Nomination form PPC information flyer PPC website

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Join Father McCreary, Pastor, for a behind-the-scenes tour of St. Boniface Church on Tuesday, March 11, at either 2 or 7 p.m., where you'll explore the art and architecture of this building, which was completed in 1975.

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During the Jubilee Year 2025, the Holy Father invites all Christians to become “pilgrims of hope.” For this journey to be meaningful, each person must be grounded in God's grace and His mercy's fullness. Even those unable to make a pilgrimage to Rome are encouraged to participate in the spiritual movement of receiving an Indulgence during this special year. To obtain the Indulgence, the faithful within our Diocese are invited to take the following steps: 1. Visit a Designated Pilgrimage Site: Cathedral of Saint Peter, 315 Wyoming Ave, Scranto...

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From time to time, I hear people assert that the Church had done away with something. Friday penance or Sunday Mass obligation, confession, or indulgences. Usually, it’s accompanied by an appeal to an event (like Vatican II) or a person (like the Pope). “Didn’t Vatican II  get rid of that?” “Didn’t Pope Francis change that?” Truth: none of the aforementioned items have been changed. Not by a Council, not by the pope, not even by the synodal process. Check out how often Pope Francis has invited u...

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Parishioners and friends of St. Boniface Parish reflect on the daily readings during Lent in our "Pilgrim of Hope on our Lenten Journey" booklet. You are invited to read the Daily Mass readings that are cited before each reflection and let the message for each day soak into your heart and fill you with God's hope, God's peace, and God's love.Download the booklet or read it here online (PDF, 758KB).

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Lent