February 22, 2015 First Sunday of Lent On this first Sunday of Lent, we recall the twofold nature of this season. For catechumens, designated

this week as the Elect, Lent is a time of final preparation for Baptism. For those of us already baptized, it is a time

of repentance and renewal through the practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. For all of us, baptized and

unbaptized alike, Lent is about our baptismal covenant with God—the promises that we have made and will make,

rejecting Satan and professing our belief in God.

The Most Blessed Sacrament is reserved in this Church.

We respectfully request that a reverent silence and appropriate attire be observed by ALL.

Epiphany Church Sanctuary Candle

February 15 - March 1, 2015

Special Intention

Epiphany Church Blessed Mother Candle February 15 - March 1, 2015

In Memory of Jean Hogan by husband, Bob

Epiphany Church St. Joseph Candle

February 15 - March 1, 2015

Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Chapel) Sanctuary Candle February 15 - March 1, 2015

Anniversary: James Leone by Wife, Joan; Edmund & Isabel; James & Michael

Candle donation for two weeks is $20.00. Please call the rectory to reserve a candle.

Bulletin Article Guidelines:

When submitting information for the bulletin it is preferred that you use email, single space, Times New

Roman 10 font as an attachment. Email to: epiphanyparishoffice304@gmail.com

Calendar Reminder Feb. 23: 6:00pm-7:00pm “The Light is on for you” Confessions

Feb. 25: Soup & Scriptures will follow the 6:00pm Mass

Feb. 27: Stations of the Cross will follow the 6:00pm Mass

Mar. 2: 8th Annual Chicken Parmesan Dinner at Tomasso’s for Epiphany School 4:00 - 8:00pm

Mar. 2: 6:00pm-7:00pm “The Light is on for you” Confessions

Mar. 6: Friday Fish Dinner 4:00 - 6:00pm Church Hall sponsored by Knights of Columbus

Mar. 6: Stations of the Cross will follow the 6:00pm Mass

Mar. 7/8: Second Collection for the Care and Education of Priests

Mar. 10: Free Community Meal 4:30 - 6:00pm Church Hall

Mar. 10: Knights of Columbus Meeting 6:30pm Church Hall

Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration 1992-2015 Reading Materials in Chapel: Storage for reading materials is very limited and for this reason, we will need to ro-

tate our reading materials if they become too extensive. Please refrain from dropping materials off in the chapel as there is

no one available to manage the materials. Please contact Dolores King if you are interested in making a recommendation for

reading materials. All materials must be approved prior to being placed in the chapel. Thank you for your kind considera-

tion.

Needed Quadrant Coordinators-2: Serving as a quadrant coordinator is indeed a blessing, honor and grace. It is a

position which inspires creativity, collaboration and teamwork. Being a quadrant coordinator requires belief, charity, convic-

tion, vision and trust. Serving as a quadrant coordinator calls us to serve one another as we serve Him. Please call if you can

make a 6month-1yr. commitment.

Holy Hours Available Every Week:

Monday-7:00 am (long-term sub needed), 11:00 am Saturday- 1:00 pm, 6:00 pm, 7:00 pm Sunday- Noon, 5:00 pm

Please call 570.247.1044 or e-mail valleyadoration@gmail.com to sign up for a regular Holy hour each week or to serve as a substitute

adorer.

2014 DIOCESAN ANNUAL APPEAL “ Transforming Lives Together”

Our Parish Annual appeal Goal is $95,000.00. I ask every family, every individual to join me in making a gift, no

matter the amount. All gifts are needed and appreciated. I am confident, if we join together, and thoughtfully consider a sac-

rificial gift, we can reach our parish goal. Remember, the parish receives a 75% rebate for all funds we raise above our goal.

The latest report:

46.04% (384 out of 834) gave/pledged: Total Raised, $84,399.00 Over (Under), ($10,601.00)

Wedding Anniversary Mass. His Excellency, the Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, D.D.,J.C.L. Bishop of Scran-

ton, and the Office for Parish Life wish to invite couples celebrating their 25th, 50th or more Wedding Anniversary in 2015

to a Diocesan Wedding Anniversary Mass on Sunday, June 7th. The event includes a 2:30pm Mass at Saint Peter’s Cathedral

in Scranton followed by a reception. To request an invitation, with a mailing address, please contact the Office for Parish

Life at (570) 207-2213, no later than March 16th.

Parish Pastoral Council Update As you may recall, the Parish Pastoral Council is developing a 3-5 year plan for

the parish and sought parishioners’ input this past year through Appreciative Inquiry interviews. The interview process took

place February through July of 2014. Have you wondered what happened to all those interviews? The Council is using your

input to review the mission and vision statements and to craft a list of core values that define the parish. It will also create

goals for the next several years based on your vision for Epiphany Parish. The Parish Pastoral Council continues to meet

monthly and hopes to have a draft of our work completed this spring. Once this draft is completed, the Council will seek

additional input from parishioners in order to create an action plan for our parish.

Stay tuned: your Parish Pastoral Council is working hard, will keep you up-to-date on our progress, and will be

Inviting your ideas again soon.

The Light Is On For You will once again be offered through-out the Catholic Parishes of the Diocese of Scranton

from 6:00-7:00pm on the following Monday’s during the Season of Lent.

February 23; March 2; March 9; March 16 and March 23.

This program is a effort on the part of the Diocese to highlight the importance of the Sacrament of Reconciliation in the life

of Catholics and make it as easy as possible for every Catholic to come or to return to this great source of God’s mercy and

healing love.

Catholic Community of the Epiphany

Stewardship, as a way of Life

It is NOT based on the need of the Church, but on OUR

need to give based on OUR relationship with God. It is

an internal part of OUR spiritual lives, and we give out

of OUR gratitude to God for what WE have received.

The difference is in the result of the giving:

COLLECTION Feb. 14/15

Envelopes: $ 7,243.00

Loose: $ 489.00

Building Fund: $ 60.00

TOTAL: $ 7,792.00

Envelopes issued: 710

Envelopes used: 368

Electronic Donations: (2) $100.00

Christmas: $16,535.00

Monthly Operating Statement

December 2014

Income:

Offertory Envelopes: $42,703.00

Loose: 4,514.00

Building Fund: 517.00

Misc.: 23,142.86

CCD: 1,185.00

Diocesan Collections: 4,257.00

Total: $76,318.86

Expenses:

Administration: $21,985.77

Rectory: 2,805.37

Liturgy: 4,889.06

Religious Education: 197.18

Oper. & Maint.: 9,847.38

Self Insurance Asst.: 1,851.08

Catholic School Asst.: 7,823.67

Non-Operating: 12,285.67

Diocesan Collections: 4,222.00

Total: $65,907.18

Balance: (loss) $10,411.68

Liturgical Ministers for February 28/March 1

Altar Servers

4:00pm Maggie & Patrick Cole; Delanie Sweeney

8:00am Thomas Cook; Olivia Corbin; Brady Smith

9:30am Lucas Aquilio; Declan & Aidan Sharma

10:00am Harrison & Brian Davis

11:00am Leah & Shayne Reid; Kaeli Sutryk

Extra Ordinary Ministers of the Eucharist

4:00pm George & Kathy Beach; Kris Eller

8:00am Dave Brawley; Mary Haner; Mary Ann Kelly

9:30am John Ciavardini; Gerard & Meg Spagnoli

10:00am Ralph Saggiomo; Kathryn Craig

11:00am Charlie Hammond; Irma Mazzarese; Jan Sheedy

Lectors

4:00pm Toni Ballenstedt; James Schmieg

8:00am Greg Friedman; Kate Gabb

9:30am Patrick Aquilio; Jane Carver

10:00am Maureen Wright; Shelly Reagan

11:00am Michael Nagar; Pat Reid

Leader of Song

4:00pm Karen Garman

8:00am Bob Landy

9:30am John Moliski

10:00am

11:00am Jackie Keiers

EPIPHANY SCHOOL NEWS

“A School to Believe In”

Pre-K (3 & 4 year olds) to Grade 8

www.epiphany-school.net

Register for the 2014-2015 school year .

Catholic Tuition will apply for all families regis-

tered in Epiphany Parish. Tuition Assistance will be

considered for ALL families that qualify. To see if you

are eligible please contact the school office. Call the

school (570-888-5802) and make arrangements to tour

our facility and learn about our programs.

February Support Our School

Monthly Envelope

totaled: $503.00 from 31 supporters

2015 year to date: $2,438.00

Because you asked—the Catholic tuition for 1 child

for the 2014-1015 school year is $4,325.00

The non-Catholic tuition for 1 child is $5,125.00

Catholic Relief Service Rice Bowl -- Hungering for a Better Life Our journey with CRS Rice Bowl be-

gins in Tanzania, where a simple soybean is changing lives! What actions can you take this Lent to change lives—

at home and around the world?.

Celebrate Our Catholic Schools, As families register their students for the upcoming school year, con-

sider becoming an Academic Angel!

Your contribution is an investment in a child’s future…the outcomes speak for themselves. Our schools

offer an instructional environment that challenges the mind, while inspiring and strengthening the spirit. Please

consider supporting our students for the 2015-16 school year; you can designate the gift as a memorial or honor of

someone special, select a particular school to receive it, or let us put it to where it is needed the most. Contribu-

tions can be sent to Epiphany School, 627 Stevenson Street, Sayre, PA 18840.

Diocese of Scranton: Shrines of France Pilgrimage 2015 Led by Bishop Bambera and assisted by Fr.

Andrew (Diocesan Coordinator of Pilgrimages). Aug. 23-Sept. 1, 2015. For brochure and further information con-

tact Travel World at 1-800-828-6029.

8th Annual Chicken Parmesan Dinner for Epiphany School will be held on Monday, March 2nd

from 4:00pm to 8:00pm. Eat in or take out. Cost is $10.00 adults (13 and over); 5-12 year olds $6.00; 4 and un-

der Free. There will be an order form/reservation form as an insert found in today’s bulletin. PLEASE complete

and either drop it off at the parish office or school office by THURSDAY—Feb. 19th.

PARISH LENTEN FOOD DRIVE for CHOW FOR CHILDREN begins next week. This has been a

very successful social outreach project for many years, benefitting the children in the Valley. Your overwhelming

generosity is deeply appreciated each year. Having one particular food item assigned each week helps with the

packing and we are grateful to those who help transport and pack. No clothes please.

Week of February 22-Peanut Butter and Jelly

Epiphany School 6 month Lotto results Feb. 9 $35.00 Gina Horn #207 Sayre, PA

Feb. 10 $35.00 Unsold #970

Feb. 11 $35.00 Anne Hursh #306 Waverly, NY

Feb. 12 $35.00 Lou Michaels #524 Swoyersville, PA

Feb. 14 $100.00 Joe Burkhart #470 Sayre, PA

Feb. 15 $50.00 Unsold #607

*883 tickets have been sold so far. It still is not too late to pur-

chase a ticket. Please contact the school 570-888-5802 or stop by

Mastracchio’s Bakery .

ADULT EDUCATION/ RCIA SESSION

Meets Tuesday evenings from 6:30-8:00pm. All

sessions are OPEN TO THE PUBLIC and held in the

Epiphany School Library. Access is through the door at

the rear of the School. Find out at the RCIA meeting at

Epiphany School Library (back entrance of the school)

Tuesday, February 24 at 6:30pm at Epiphany School

Library. We continue the journey of adult education.

All are welcome. This weeks topic: Reconciliation

How can we grow closer to God through the Sacrament

of Reconciliation? Why do some people avoid it due to

fear or other reasons? Presenter: Toni Ballenstedt.

Lenten Baked Fish Dinner Nights sponsored

by our Knights of Columbus Council #1807 will be held

on the following Friday’s, March 6th and March 20th

from 4:00pm to 6:00pm. Eat in or take out. Please note this year during Lent, we will begin our Masses with a silent procession. In this way we will emphasize the simplicity and penitential aspect of the season.

Rite of Election This Sunday afternoon, Brandy

Smith, Kim Mapes, Jennifer Kunkler-Clark, Andrew

Clark and Cathy Seck from the Catholic Community of

Epiphany will participate with candidates and catechu-

mens from throughout the Diocese of Scranton in the

Rite of Election in Scranton. Bishop Bambera will pre-

side at the Rite of Election, which begins the final pe-

riod of these individuals preparation for entering the

Catholic Faith and our parish community at the Easter

Vigil. We ask you to keep them in your prayers this

afternoon and throughout the Lenten Season.

Soup & Scripture will be held on the Wednes-

day’s of Lent following the 6pm Mass.

Stations of the Cross will be prayed on the Fri-

day’s of Lent following the 6pm Mass

Good Friday is a day of abstinence (no eating

of any meat products) and fasting (eating only one com-

plete meal). The Friday’s of Lent are days of absti-

nence. All requirements are for those 14 to 65 years of

age it is optional for those younger than 14 and older

than 65.

MASS ATTENDANCE

February 7/8 14/15 21/22 28/Mar 1

4:00pm 192 229

8:00am 120 76

9:30am 215 135

10:00am 55 41

11:00am 180 139

TOTAL: 762 620

MASS SCHEDULE February 23 - March 1, 2015

MONDAY (February 23) St. Polycarp

7:00am: John Angelo (Ralph & Judy Yanuzzi)

12:10pm: Anniversary: Concettina Rossillo

(Son, Anthony & Family)

TUESDAY (February 24)

7:00am: Mattia Rossi (Louisa Spencer & Ashley)

12:10pm: Anniversary: Andrew Cheresnowsky

(Daughter, Rose Marie)

WEDNESDAY (February 25)

7:00am: Louis P. Sisto, Jr. (John G. Dugan)

12:10pm: Anniversary: Mr. & Mrs. Oscar Salpino

(Salpino Family)

6:00pm: Dorothy Esposito (Mary C. & Family)

(followed by soup & scriptures)

THURSDAY (February 26)

7:00am: Karen Burkhart (Hendershot Family)

12:10pm: Mary Ellen Nagle (Jeffrey & Rozanne McKay)

FRIDAY (February 27)

7:00am: Anna-Lou Friedman (Family)

12:10pm: John Wysocki (JoAnne Kelly)

6:00pm: Adele Ciavardini (Albert Proton)

(followed by Stations of the Cross)

SATURDAY (February 28)

(Vigil) Second Sunday of Lent

4:00pm: Anniversary: William Schmieg (Family)

SUNDAY (March 1) Second Sunday of Lent

8:00am: Philomena Pica (Joe & Linda Scopelliti)

9:30am: Charles Ingram (Drs. John A. & Mary Ann Kelly)

10:00am:(OLPH) For Our Parishioners

11:00am: Month’s Mind: Jeff Cochi (Gloria & Emma)