St. Paul Church is now open for masses with limited
social distancing seating.
Mass Schedule
8 am Mass Monday-Saturday
4:30 pm Saturday
Sunday 8 am; 10 am; 12 noon
Confessions By Apointment
Click her to view our Live Streamed Sunday Mass
The Rectory office is open for business, for Phone Calls Only.
Mon-Thurs. 8:30 am to 2:30 pm
Friday 8:30 am to 12 noon
2021 MASS BOOK INTENTIONS
Praying the Mass and offering Masses for our loved ones ~ living or deceased, is a great gift especially for the souls of the faithful departed.
Although it is our usual practice to open the mass book in July, we will not be opening the 2021 mass book at this time. We are in the process of reviewing the weekend mass schedule for 2021.
We will announce the new date through the bulletin, Facebook and our stpaulscranton.org website. Please call the rectory at 570-961-1549 if you have any questions or concerns.
Pastoral Plan Launched:
My friends, you may recall that in the Fall of 2019 we began a program of pastoral planning in the parish as directed by the Diocese of Scranton. You may recall that the plan was to reflect Bishop Bambera’s Pastoral Letter: “Wounded and Loved, Regathering the Scattered.” We made inquiry among you at mass concerning the four pillars of the letter: Word, Worship, Community and Service. Under the direction of the Diocesan Office of Parish Life our Parish Pastoral Council reviewed your input and developed the plan that appears below. The plan will be archived on the Parish Web Page along with the Bishop’s Pastoral Letter for your reference. Once we emerge from under the strictures of the Covid Pandemic, our Pastoral Council will look toward addressing the plan.
St. Paul’s Parish Report:
Survey Results and Vision/Goals
Parish Mission Statement:
Saint Paul Parish is a welcoming faith community sharing Word, Worship, Service and Community with an open heart in the Roman Catholic tradition.
Word
From the survey, we heard that:
The parish is doing a great job.
But we could improve by:
Offering bible studies, study groups, speakers, retreats, and structured learning experiences.
Better relating sermons to personal lives and modern times.
For you said:
“Hold bibles studies, monthly reflection groups, and something for our youth.”
“Homilies should be more relevant to today’s problems.”
Our goal, as a parish, is to:
Create faith formation opportunities for all ages and walks of life.
Use our website and social media to complement sermons and faith formation programs.
We acknowledge parishioners’ comments about the homilies, which comport with the homily directory from the Vatican. ‘It is very appropriate for homilies to relate among other things events of the day to scripture readings. But it is no substitute for the true purpose of homilies. The homily is 1 of 3 integral parts of the dynamic in Mass. That is, the readings and homily proclaim Christ; Christ becomes present at the Consecration; members of our community receive Christ and transform their lives to His Gospel.’
Worship
From the survey, we heard that:
Parishioners feel engaged, content, and satisfied.
But we could improve by:
Upgrading the sound system.
Choosing music that is more familiar and livelier.
For you said:
“The microphone and sound system drop some words.”
“(I wish) the sound system was better.”
“(I wish the) music was more familiar and easier to sing, but not too old.”
Our goal, as a parish, is to:
Upgrade the sound system using the money collected from the Wish List Collection on the 3rd Sunday of every month.
Every endeavor will be made to encourage singing by the congregation during the Mass. Familiar songs had and will continue to be chosen, especially for traditional liturgies. Other songs will be selected based on the readings. Newer songs will be chosen for variety and appropriateness, recognizing that some parishioners desire and have suggested rehearsing them before Mass.
Community
From the survey, we heard that:
Our parish is friendly and welcoming.
But we could improve by:
Enhancing our hospitality
Creating a Welcome Committee for New Members
Scheduling social events and get-togethers.
For you said:
“Greet parishioners before Mass.”
“Create a welcoming committee for new parishioners.”
“Parish needs more social events.”
Our goal, as a parish, is to:
Foster a welcoming atmosphere for parishioners in church and during parish activities.
Discover ways for parishioners to become more involved.
Service
From the survey, we heard that:
The Food Pantry is beneficial, and volunteers are ample.
But we could improve by:
Tapping into the many parishioners, who indicated that they would like to be of service, if asked.
Reaching out to homebound and the poor.
Creating more service opportunities.
Exploring organizations to partner with.
For you said:
“(I will help in) any way I can.”
“(I will) help at the Food Pantry.”
“Visit the homebound.”
“Help the homeless and hungry.”
“(Provide) Drug Counseling for the young.”
“(Hold a) diaper Collection for St. Joseph Center’s Baby Pantry.”
“Adopt a Center like Green Ridge Manor and provide clothing, religious articles, bible readings.”
Our goal, as a parish, is to:
Identify new faith formation and social justice services that our parish could provide and request parishioners to help fill those needs.
Mass in Remembrance of Victims of Violent or Tragic Death
The Diocese of Scranton is offering the annual Mass in remembrance
of victims of violent or tragic death. This Mass is offered for the
families and friends of those who have died in tragedy, especially through
murder, suicide, and accident. This year we keep in our hearts
those who lost their struggle with COVID-19.
The Mass is scheduled for Thursday, July 16, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. in Saint Peter’s Cathedral, 315 Wyoming, Scranton. All persons who have lost a loved one through tragic and traumatic death are invited to this liturgy. Seating is limited to 70 people. Please call the Office for Parish Life 570-207-2213 ext 1102 to reserve a seat.
The mass will be televised on CTV.
We ask that the names of deceased loved ones are registered on registration forms which are available in the parish office or on the Diocese of Scranton’s website,
www.dioceseofscranton.org. All forms must be received
by July 13, 2020.
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