Saint Maria Goretti Church

Reverend James J. Walsh , J.C.L.- Pastor

42 Redwood Drive, Laflin, PA 18702

Telephone # 570-655-8956 Fax # 570-655-1746 email: 42redwood@comcast.net

website: www.stmariagoretti-laflin.org

MASS SCHEDULE

Saturday: 4:30PM Sunday: 8:30AM and 11:00AM Weekdays: 8:00AM

Holy Days of Obligation: 6:00PM VIGIL 8:00AM and Noon

December 6, 2015 - SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

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1. JUBILEE YEAR OF MERCY: Pope Francis’ “YEAR OF MERCY” will begin on Tuesday, December 8th. The Pittston Deanery of clergy have pledged to keep the prayerful observance of it in the fore front of our minds and prayers. That is why you will find, in this bulletin, an insert containing a pledge which each parishioner is invited to fill out and keep close to them, as a reminder. It further has Pope Francis’ prayer of Mercy for the year, to be prayed daily. This will be the theme of our Deanery Advent communal penance service on December 21st at St. John’s in Pittston. It will also be this year’s ROAD TO RESURRECTION theme during Lent. During the discussion at a recent Pittston Deanery meeting of its priests, it was recommended that each parish communicate ways for the “Year of Mercy” (which begins December 8th) to keep the “Pope Francis Effect” alive. For that reason, you will find a special insert in this week’s bulletin containing Pope Francis’ prayer for mercy during the Jubilee Year; a “year of mercy” pledge and the Corporal and Spiritual works of mercy -

- that you may try to put them into practice during the year.

2. SEASON OF ADVENT: What better season to immerse ourselves in the joy of meeting Jesus, our Messiah, than Advent. In this holy season, we stop and reflect upon, anticipate and prepare for the miraculous moment when God became human, entering into the history of the world in a way that brought transformation and new life. Our liturgical practices - reverent and hopeful, reflective and anticipatory - help our communities recognize the wonder of God coming among us as

a vulnerable, cherished baby, a member, like each of us, of the human family.

3. CHRISTMAS WAFERS (oplatek): For those who follow this century-old tradition, these wafers are available, beginning this weekend and up to the fourth Sunday of Advent (for an offering of $3.00). They will be in the vestibule; and a container will be there for your offering on the “honor system”.

4. POINSETTIA MEMORIALS: Two stands in the shape of Christmas trees will stand in the sanctuary on either side of the Presidential area for Christmas and the season. The poinsettias which will be placed upon them may be memorialized in memory or in honor of your loved ones. Special RED ENVELOPES containing a label to be filled out with your informa-tion are available beginning this weekend. They may be found on a special display on either side of the church INSIDE THE TWO SETS OF DOORS NEAR THE HOLY WATER FONTS. $15.00 is requested to be placed in these envelopes and returned by mail, in the collection, or directly to the Parish Office. These special envelopes are different than those “flower envelopes” in your mailed packets. These may also be placed in the collection with any contribution of your choice. But it will ONLY BE from the red envelopes that a list of the memorials will be printed and inserted in the December 27th bulletin. That means that the DEADLINE for the red envelope return is Friday, December 18th.

5. RITE OF ACCEPTANCE INTO THE ORDER OF CATHECHUMENS: This “Rite of Acceptance” will be celebrated Sunday, December 6th at the 11:00AM Liturgy on behalf of Duane Fisher, the husband of our parishioner and his wife, the former Corrin Stella. This begins his formal preparation in the R.C.I.A. (rite of Christian initiation of adults). His journey comes to its high point with his Baptism, Confirmation and reception of First Communion, ALL at the Easter Vigil.

6. ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT (July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015): This report is contained in the special bulletin insert. Since I was pastor for ONLY ONE DAY - June 29th to 30th, there is not very much I am able to say other than it seems, as a parish, we need to get a bit more conscientious over the “Financial well-being” of the parish. I have been in the process of trying to address this in ways that will hopefully be reflected in future reports. REGARDLESS of what cost-saving measures I might be able to institute, they will in NO WAY COME NEAR offsetting what has become an annual short-fall between income and expenditures. We will very likely have a reduced savings amount with the Diocesan Bank than what is presently there. You have heard me announce that St. Maria Goretti will be planning (Sept. 18, 2016) the be-ginning of a 50th Golden Anniversary as a parish. Unless we become serous about this, it will mean that on the 50th Anni-versary (Sept. 17, 2017) at a liturgy with the Bishop, we will have little or no savings with the diocese remaining.

7. SACRAMENT OF PENANCE: Following the Pittston Deanery past practice of celebrating this Sacrament (communally), all parishes are invited to a penance service on Monday, December 21st at 7:00PM in St. John the Evangelist Church, Pittston. There will be multiple confessors available on this occasion. Confessions continue to be heard on the Saturdays of December 12th & 19th from 3:00 to 4:00, here in the Church.

RED ENVELOPES

DECEMBER 6, 2015 - SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Week of November 28-29 2015

Sacrificial Offering $6,385.75

Shortage based on Budget of $13,755.00 (7,369.25)

Non-Parish Contributions $ 20.00

CASH CLUB

A CASH CLUB TICKET MAKES

A GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFT!!

We will be starting our Cash Club on January 1, 2016.

You have probably received a ticket in the mail which

we ask you to purchase. If you did not receive a ticket

or would like any additional ones, please

contact the Parish Office. The proceeds

of this fundraiser greatly benefit the

parish. The proceeds of this year’s Cash

Club is $14,000.00.

ANGEL CARE PROJECT

As usual, we are once again hosting our

Angel Care Project for Catholic Social Ser-

vices. We will be providing Christmas gifts

for 150 children. The name tags are avail-

able on a Christmas tree in the foyer of the Church.

Each name tag will have the child’s first name, age and

size and a suggestion for a toy and clothing which the

child has requested. The wrapped gift, with the name

tag affixed to the package, will be due back at the

church NO LATER THAN next weekend

(DECEMBER 12-13). If you take a name, please

make sure the gift is returned so that no child is

disappointed at Christmas. The families really

count on our support.

2nd Collection - next weekend

Retirement Fund for Religious

Support Elderly Religious: A parishioner writes

“ As a Catholic school student from grades K -12, I was

formed to be the person I am by many religious brothers

and sisters, and I am forever grateful.” Show your ap-

preciation for the senior Catholic sisters, brothers, and

religious order of priest who made a positive difference

in so many lives. Please give generously to next week’s

collection for Retirement Fund for Religious.

Holy Redeemer High School

PLACEMENT / SCHOLARSHIP TEST

for interested public and private school

8th graders

Saturday – December 12 8:30 a.m.

Holy Redeemer High School Seasonal Concert

Sunday, December 13 at 3:00 p.m.

ALL ARE WELCOME!!!

Call the Guidance Office to register for the test at 570-829-2424

OUR HOLIDAY GIFT AND CRAFT FAIR

Once again we are happy to report a very successful

fair. Our profit from the fair was $5,161.67. Rose-

mary Grebeck wishes to thank all who helped out in

any way to help make this such a great success.

The efforts of everyone make it work.

THANK YOU!

WYOMING AREA CATHOLIC SCHOOL

LIVING NATIVITY & CHRISTMAS CONCERT

On December 13th, a Christmas Concert, under the

direction of Mr. Jackson Fiore, music teacher, will begin at

1:00PM in the school auditorium. The students in grades

PK to 5th will entertain with traditional Christmas Carols.

Also on December 13th, an evening display of the Living

Nativity, presented by the 8th grade students, will take

place in front of Wyoming Area Catholic School between

the hours of 6:30 and 7:30PM. Throughout the

presentation, students in grades 6 & 7 with render religious

Christmas Carols.

All performances are free to the public. A free will offering

will be requested to donate to the

Holy Childhood Association.

SAINT MARIA GORETTI SCOUTING: Our scouts are accepting enrollment for the New Year. If you

are interested, please contact Ed Daveski at 570-466-6025. The scouts will be available in the foyer of the

church after the 8:30AM and 11:00AM Masses this weekend and next weekend to answer any questions

you might have about scouting.

LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR

Saturday, December 12

4:30pm Altar Servers

Supinski, Jacob

Supinski, Sarah

Chalker, Sean

Cantor

Coassolo, Rachael

Sacristan

Augustine Darlene

Lector 1

Liskokowicz, Susan

Lector 2

Morris, Thomas

Ministers of Communion

Fisher, Elaine

Stella, Joanne

Capriotti, Celine

Sunday, December 13

8:30am Altar Servers

Fox, Niamh

Fox, Peter

Poray, Mary

Cantor

Mullen, Joseph

Sacristan

Smith, Mark

Lector 1

Mullen, Mary Beth

Lector 2

Kopcho, Chris

Ministers of Communion

O’Meara, James

Fisher, Carol

11:00am Altar Servers

Getz, Hanna

Getz, Katherine

Patterson, Jacob

Cantor

Pinto, Denise

Sacristan

DeCinti, Patrick

Lector 1

Mack, Cathy

Lector 2

Pinto, Nelson

Ministers of Communion

DeCinti, Patrick

Sr. Daria

Dougherty, Mary Ann

In Loving

Memory

John Baran

Eileen Hoban Clancy

Anthony N. Colonna

Elizabeth Colonna

James L. Conlon, Jr.

Irene Dillon

James A. Dougherty

Robert Faber

Mary & Martin Gallagher Family

Walter & Celestine Gottlieb

James J. Giamas

Stanley Harenza

John J. Lunney, III

Leonard & Gen McHale

Chester & Mary Pietras

Mr. & Mrs. William Shea

Michael P. Yazurlo

ST. MARIA GORETTI

&

ST. MARK

CHRISTMAS CONCERT

St. Maria Goretti’s Christmas Concert will

be held on December 15th at 3:00pm in the

Church. Admission is free. There will be

light refreshments served immediately

following the concert.

Please join us during this beautiful and

inspiring Christmas presentation.

Monday, December 7

Vigil for the Immaculate Conception

of the Blessed Virgin Mary

6:00PM Dorothy Thomas by Phillips Family

Tuesday, December 8

The Immaculate Conception

of the Blessed Virgin Mary

8:00am Paul Niezgoda by Anonymous

Noon Gloria Paffel by Gen Roarty

Wednesday, December 9 St. Juan Diego Cuauhtiatoatzin

8:00am Joseph Noronka by Victor & Zelia D’Souza

Thursday, December 10

8:00am Cathrine Falchek by Clara Lucas

Friday, December 11

8:00am Anthony Patte by Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Merli

Saturday, December 12

4:30pm Sgt. Christopher Daniel

by Don & Beth Ann Williams and

The People of the Parish

Sunday, December 13

8:30am Chester & Regina Obieleski

by Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Sellitto

11:00am Francis & Ben Barzeloski

by Mary & Jack Flannery

Please remember in your prayers the soul

of Beverly Goretski who passed into

eternal life this past week. May her soul

and all the souls of the Faithful Departed rest in peace.

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Phone: 570-822-7070

Fax: 570-822-9468

3 Oak Center

P.O. Box 1736

Wilkes-Barre, PA 18703-1736

St. Maria Goretti, La"in, PA 04-1093

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570-655-8956La"in Rd. , La"in , Pa. 18702

1843 Highway 315 • Pittston, PA

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