Scranton ◆ Pennsylvania
Parish founded in 2023 Church founded in 33 AD
Sacraments and Other Liturgical Celebrations
Baptism
Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit (vitae spiritualis ianua), and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission: "Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water in the word." The Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1213.
The Sacrament of Baptism, the first of the three Sacraments of Initiation, we receive our new life in Christ and are welcomed into the community of His disciples. Through the pouring of water and the use of the Trinitarian formula ("I baptize you in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit") we enter into a covenantal relationship with Christ and begin our journey of faith with Him.
If you would like your child baptized, or if you would like to be baptized into the Church, we would be happy to begin the process with you! Just call the office for more information regarding infant baptism or our adult initiation program, the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults!
Reconciliation
Those who approach the sacrament of Penance obtain pardon from God's mercy for the offense committed against him, and are, at the same time, reconciled with the Church which they have wounded by their sins and which by charity, by example, and by prayer labors for their conversion. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1422.
Our young people normally receive the grace of God's mercy in the sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time in a special celebration during their second year of preparation for First Communion.
Please contact our Faith Formation Director, Brenda Bonilla, at 570-579-5541 or by email at bghislane1@aol.com for more information and to enroll your child in our program. You can also learn more about our Faith Formation program by clicking here.
After the first reception of Reconciliation, the sacrament is available to all who need it. Frequent reception of the sacrament is encouraged by the Church, but at minimum all Catholics are required to confess their serious sins at least once a year as a part of their Easter duty. (What is the Easter duty? Find out by clicking here!) The weekly schedule of time when priests are made available to hear confessions is found on the Mass Times page which you can find by clicking here.
First Communion
At the Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Savior instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice of his Body and Blood. This he did in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until he should come again, and so to entrust to his beloved Spouse, the Church, a memorial of his death and resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a Paschal banquet 'in which Christ is consumed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us.' The Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1323.
Our young people celebrate their first reception of the Eucharist after two years of instruction in our Faith Formation program, which normally occurs in the second grade.
Please contact our Faith Formation Director, Brenda Bonilla, at 570-579-5541 or by email at bghislane1@aol.com for more information and to enroll your child in our program. You can also learn more about our Faith Formation program by clicking here.
If you are an adult in need of your First Communion, you will likely need to participate in our adult initiation program, the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults. Please review the section below, and then call the office to talk with us more about it.
Confirmation
For "by Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed." The Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1285.
Our young adults receive the Sacrament of Confirmation after two years of preparation in our Faith Formation program, which normally occurs in eight grade. The celebration of Confirmation takes place during the Easter season.
Please contact our Faith Formation Director, Brenda Bonilla, at 570-579-5541 or by email at bghislane1@aol.com for more information and to enroll your child in our program. You can also learn more about our Faith Formation program by clicking here.
If you are an adult in need of your First Communion, you will likely need to participate in our adult initiation program, the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults. Please review the section below, and then call the office to talk with us more about it.
Matrimony
The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1601.
Getting married in the Church is a moment of grace and beauty in which we invite the Lord to walk with us through the journey of life, inviting Him into our marriage and into our homes. If you would like to learn more about the Catholic understanding of marriage, you can check out the fine resources at the Diocese of Scranton website by clicking here!
When planning your marriage with us, please do not finalize your date before your first meeting with us. We need to ensure that the church is available and that there are no other issues to resolve prior to your wedding. Please call us at 570-343-6420 to schedule an appointment. You can also review our parish Wedding Planning Guide by clicking the icon below!
Adult Initiation - OCIA
Christian initiation is accomplished by three sacraments together: Baptism which is the beginning of new life; Confirmation which is its strengthening; and the Eucharist which nourishes the disciple with Christ's Body and Blood for his transformation in Christ. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1275.
Are you thinking of becoming Catholic? Or are you an adult who was baptized into the Catholic Church but did not complete your initiation by receiving the Sacraments of Holy Communion and Confirmation? Then we would love to help you as you walk this journey of faith! It begins with a conversation about faith and God, and we encourage you to call at 570-343-6420 or email us at info@stcparish.com to set up a time to meet.
From there the next step will likely be participation in the church's initiation process, call the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults or the OCIA (formerly called the RCIA). To learn more about the process of Christian Initiation you can check out this page from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Holy Orders
Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time: thus it is the sacrament of apostolic ministry. It includes three degrees: episcopate, presbyterate, and diaconate. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1536.
In the sacrament of Holy Orders, a man is ordained a deacon, priest, or bishop to assist the Lord in doing His work in this world in a particular way. If you feel called to consider life as an ordained minster in the Church please call us to talk about what that means. You can also take a look at the resources on the Diocese of Scranton's Vocation page by clicking here.
Anointing of the Sick
By the sacred anointing of the sick and the prayer of the priests the whole Church commends those who are ill to the suffering and glorified Lord, that he may raise them up and save them. and indeed she exhorts them to contribute to the good of the People of God by freely uniting themselves to the Passion and death of Christ. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1499.
The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick represents union with the passion of Christ in the midst of a person’s illness. This sacrament is for all who are sick, not only those who are dying. All are encouraged to seek the sacrament when they are suffering from a serious illness, which includes mental and physical illnesses, before a serious surgery, and even the elderly in good health but nonetheless are impacted with the weakness that comes naturally from the aging process.
If you would like to receive the Sacrament of Anointing, please let one of the priests know by talking with one of the priests after Mass, by calling the office at 570-343-6420, by emailing us at info@stcparish.com, or filling out the form on the bottom of this page.
If it is an emergency please contact us right away. After office hours please follow the menu to select the emergency option to leave a message. A priest will contact you as soon as possible.
Funerals
We firmly believe, and hence we hope that, just as Christ is truly risen from the dead and lives for ever, so after death the righteous will live for ever with the risen Christ and he will raise them up on the last day. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, 989.
The celebration of a funeral for a loved one is one of the most difficult moments of life, but when we engage in this moment of grief with a spirit of faith, and a firm belief in the Resurrection, it can be a moment of great comfort. It is always our goal to help you and your family experience this moment as one of healthy mourning, one of solemnity, and as a joyful celebration of the life of your beloved.
Funeral are most frequently scheduled by your funeral director. We are blessed in Scranton to have many caring and professional Funeral Directors so any director you choose can schedule a funeral or blessing service with us.
After you make contact with your Funeral Director, he or she will contact us to discuss scheduling. Afterwards, we will call you to schedule funeral planning. During our planning meeting we will discuss readings, music, and who will be involved in the liturgy. You do not need to prepare anything before your meeting with us, but it is helpful if you have an idea of who will read at Mass and who will bring up the gifts of bread and wine.
In some rare circumstances, you might not choose to work with a Funeral Director to assist in making funeral arrangements. If this is the case, please contact us directly at the parish office at 570-343-6420.
Quinceañeras
The quinceañera is a traditional celebration of life and gratitude to God on the occasion of the fifteenth birthday of a young Hispanic woman. The ritual emphasizes her passage from childhood to adulthood. The family usually requests a Mass or a blessing to be held in the Church. The rite is frequently celebrated in several countries in the Americas, including Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean. USCCB Guidelines for Quinceañeas.
A quinceañera is a beautiful opportunity for a young woman to renew her commitment to Christ and to deepen her faith as she enters a new stage of life. This celebration is not a sacrament, but it is a special blessing that acknowledges the importance of family, faith, and community.
If you are interested in celebrating a quinceañera at our parish, we ask that the young woman preparing for this milestone has received the Sacraments of Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation or is actively preparing for Confirmation.
To schedule a quinceañera Mass or blessing, please contact our parish office at 570-343-6420 to discuss available dates and preparation requirements.