Ash Wednesday

As we begin the Lenten season, we are marked with ashes for two primary reasons:

First, they are a reminder of our mortality. The words often spoken to us as we receive ashes are, “Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Remembering the mortality of our earthly bodies and corporeal life reminds us of the immortality of our souls, the new life promised to us in the resurrection of Christ.

Second, ashes are a sign of unity. The Lenten discipline is carried out by individua...

Frank Peter Mrufchinski, 84, of Nanticoke, died Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019. He was a long-time member of St. Joseph's Fraternity and served several terms as Minister. 

Read his complete obituary here. 

Due to inclement weather our January meeting has been rescheduled. We will meet on Sunday, January 27 at 2 p.m. at St. Joseph Oblates. 

Be safe this weekend.

The following statement was issued by the Diocese of Scranton on August 30, 2018 

Dear Friends,

The Fortieth Statewide Grand Jury Report released earlier this month shared the tragic details of child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania over the past seventy years. The report focused not only on abusive priests, but also brought increased attention to the role of those who enabled such abuse to continue. Thus, I took the unprecedented step of asking the Independ...

Sisters and Brothers of the Secular Franciscan Order, United States: 

The release of the Grand Jury report in Pennsylvania is a cause of sorrow, pain and agonizing self-scrutiny for the Catholic Church in the United States. We are again face to face with the tragic reality of sinful abuse perpetrated on the most vulnerable of our faith family. How, we ask, can we trust those shepherds with our lives, our children and our faith? Can the victims find peace and healing in the Church that betrayed t...

John Baldino, OFS presented at the national youth convocation for the Polish National Catholic Church on August 26 at the University of Scranton. More than 200 young people from all over the United States enjoyed #Discipleship: Following Christ in the Digital Age presented by Baldino as a conference on best practices for using the awesome power of sociable and digital media to evangelize and build God's kingdom.

Baldino is scheduled for a follow-up Skype presentation with members of St. Fra...

On Saturday, July 15, four members of St. Joseph Fraternity spent the day at St. Vincent de Paul soup kitchen in Wilkes-Barre feeding the hungry of our community. John Baldino, OFS; Jim Gaffney, OFS; Theresa Lisiewski, OFS; and Ed Schirra, OFS lived the gospel and put the Franciscan charism into action as they servied meals to more 150 people. Organized by Lisiewski, the event was a successful and fulfilling experience for the group.
 

The following is a message the Secular Franciscan Order Minister General received on behalf of Pope Francis on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of our Rule.

Mr. Tibor Kauser, 

Minister General 

Secular Franciscan Order 

Via Vittorio Putti, 4 - int. 6 00152 Rome 

On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the approval of the Rule of this Secular Order, the Holy Father, turning to you with most auspicious thoughts, joins in giving thanks to the Lord. While trusting that this significant anniversary...

Saturday, January 20
Guest Speaker

Sister Jude Seaman, OSF, Spiritual Assistant of St. John Neumann Fraternity will address the Lay Spiritual Assistants' group at the Franciscan Spiritual Center in Ashton, PA. All Secular Franciscans are welcome to attend.

This event is free of charge, and will begin with coffee at 9:45 a.m. followed by prayer at 10:15 a.m. Sister Jude will speak from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

• RSVP: Justin Carisio, OSF / carisio@yahoo

• Map and Direc...

Father Jerome Wolbert, OFM, has been appointed Order of Friars Minor representative to the Secular Franciscan Order's Conference of National Spiritual Assistants (CNSA). Father Jerome is presently Spiritual Assistant to Holy Dormition/St. Clare Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order in Sybertsville, Pennsylvania.

He has always been a great friend and supporter of the Secular Franciscans, and has much to offer CNSA. Please keep Fr. Jerome in prayer as he takes on this new role.