The Roman Catholic Community of ST. BRIGID PARISH, (St. Francis Xavier Church, Friendsville, Pa.
St. Augustine Church, Silver Lake, Pa.)
(St. Brigid’s Cross)
-mail: sfxc@epix.net
Facebook: St Brigid Parish
Rev. Augustine Thomas Administrator
Father Augustine 1 (570) 909-7819
Deacon Paul J. Brojack
Sunday, Feb. 2—8:00AM—St. Francis: Lector Matt Oleniacz; Ministers Joyce Barnum & Karen Glowa; Servers Jacob & Carson Oleniacz; Rosary Joyce Barnum; Greeter volunteer Sunday, Feb. 2—10:30AM—St. Augustine: Lector Dave Rebello; Ministers Sr. Bette Brown & Travis Wise; Servers Travis Wise; Rosary volunteer; Greeter Cott DeMaree
Please pray for the deceased, especially William R. "Bill" Rackett, 46, of Little Meadows. May he rest in peace. Amen.
Lord, hear our prayers for the sick of our Parish & Community listed below and for those who are not listed and in need of our prayers, .
Kaitlyn Andre, Michael Haefner, Ruth King, Kyle Stoddard, Tom Wenman, Toni Colardino, Madigan Gow, Emily D., Amanda Branning, Daniel Gavin, Tommy Williams, Kathy Holt, Linda Hollenback, Don Zaleski, Elton Carr, Jim Raftis, Bub Davis, Tyler Fletcher, William Chaney, Joe Grindel, Chelsea Judson, Trisha, Mary Guido, “D”, Hallie Brooks, Mark Kovach, Brooke Arnold, Robyn Lawson, Ned Offner, Ethel Reid, Rusty Carmen, Shawn Burns, Quinn Seymour, Marie Donahue, Barbara Mahoney, Adam Price, Jay Gurn, Greg Lasgowka, Terry, Cameron & Levi White, Natalie Dawn Abell, Tom Ellison, the Reed Family, Don Higgins, Raub Family, Todd Legg, Ryan Hayes, Chad Grindel, Thomas McWilliams, Marty Mosher, Cathy Ballogg, Mary Ann Casterline, Janice Jacobs, Mary Joan, Patricia Charpinsky, Diane Holleran, Kineer Worgen, James Dughi, Peg Broadwater, Adrian Stephens, Millie, John, Reilly, Sophia ILichishin, Josh Zaleski, Caleb Scepaniak, Dana Marsh, Lori Rawlins, Brendan Merritt, Mark Pasteka, Jay C., Tim Fruehan, Linda, Gloria, Carl, Lori Hammerly Coleman, Pat Walsh, Brendan Kelly, Angelo Scarfalloto, Emily Graves, Cathy Albert, Robert Nemcek, Laura Nelson, Garrett Farr, R.C.M., Everly Hausmann, Diane, George Coleman, Sally Saunders, Marie Cavallaro, Sully & Patty Cavallaro, Evelyn Ferro, Alice, Briana Grisdale, Jay S., Gregory Diorio, Mike Coleman, Nicholas, Alex, Mike & Pat Stelacio, Fr. John Victoria, Joseph Santora, Carol Garcia, Cathy Edsell, Jessica Lawrence, Sue L., Nellie Manarchuck, Monica Gibson, Diane Coffee, Bill Noldy, Jr., Patricia Hutchinson, Mark, Chris Mortensen, Clyde & Mary Tims, Louise Darrow, Aaron Fredendall, Louise Eastman, Niki Rogers, Wade Leach, Shirley Conboy, Mike, Joseph Olszewski, Matthew Gatto, Madigan, Kris Kiesly, Kylie Keenan, Sara Kelly Price, Tucker White, Terri Grindel, Jerry Wells, Fred Brown, Rosa Prieto, Carl Whitehead, Ed Snee, Pete Strojny, Mary (Jones) Edsell, Eileen Maruschok, Leonard Howell, Val Mosier, Shirley Rockefeller, A.J. Pass, Nancy, Tony McHugh, Hunter Allen Sapp, Bryce Histand, Dcn. Tom Hartley, Ken Warner, George Thrasher, Norma Volk, Gerry, Kathy Conklin, Gary Fisher, Tom Walz, Joan Middendorf, Kevin Pierson, Megan Hale, Ben Naylor, Kathleen, Tammy Volk Jennings, Rosemary Stewart, Joe, Margaret Zernone, Bucky Russell, Carolyn Doolittle, Jane Borelli, Chuck Bullock, Tom Krupinski, Eileen Drab, Susanne Wolf, Doug Packer, Gail Lutz, Ellen Bieleski, Joyce Danielewicz, Dorothy Angel, Jackie Foster, Mary Ann Severage, Jeanette Williams, Michael Stone, Grady White, John Mulrooney, Joan Golis, Margaret Connolly, Miriam Van Winkle, Elizabeth Fancher, Sally McGlynn, George Starzec, Nancy, Edward Silver, Dustin, Marie Violini, Sam Arnold, Jeff, Kelly Burridge, Jim Cullen, Caesar Siedlecki, Joe Leonard, Geri Mokris, Linda Henry, Gabi, Keith, Katie, Matt, Bill, Larry Wise, Ray Jones, Dan, Ty, Frank Johnson, George, Lisa, Leah Walters, Doug N., Michael Sacco, Denise Campbell, Todd, Liam & Maverick Dudock, Rudy Mattes, Linda Landis, Jane Murphy, Wally, Larry & Judy Black, and George Szparagowski. Please pray for all the needs in our Parish and Community. Our Lady of Good Health, pray for us. Amen.
Please pray for those in our Armed Forces, especially those from our Parish & Community, Ryan Gormley, Christopher Reichlen, Mike Griffith, Matthew Kramer, Ryan Neville, Shane Kalpokas, Dustin Ryder, Steven Shelp, Ricky Trowbridge, Jay Tewksbury, Lukas Crisman, Ryan Newberry, Mark W. Gregg, Lisa Phillips, Andrew Muscarelle, Adam Barziloski, Joseph Elliott, Wayne M. Bennett, Bradley J. Bryant, John Baltsley, Mara Redding, Michael Redding, James Hemmerly, Amberlynn Villanella, Jacob Balchikonis, Rip VanWinkle, Cameron, Jonathan Green, Garrett Kiehle, and all who serve with them. May they be protected & safe from harm & return home safely and soon. Amen.
January 26th, 2025
Look toward the Lord and be radiant!
MASS SCHEDULE
Sat. Jan. 25 4:30PM St. Francis Church - VIGIL: 3RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME HELENA FLAHERTY by Mike Griffin Sun. Jan. 26 8:00AM St. Francis Church - 3RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
10:30AM St. Augustine Church - INTENTIONS OF OUR PARISHIONERS
Mon. Jan. 27 NO MASS
Tue. Jan. 28 12:00NN St. Francis Church - Anniv. CHIP BARNUM by Joyce Barnum
Wed.Jan. 29 8:30AM St. Augustine Church - MARY LOUISE & JIM KEENAN by Bob & Maureen Allen
Thur.Jan. 30 8:30AM St. Augustine Church - CHARLOTTE SHAW by Ralph Walz
Fri. Jan. 21 12:00NN St. Francis Church - PEG REED by Mary Shaughnessy Sat. Feb. 1 10:00AM St. Augustine Church - FIRST SATURDAY ANDY POTOCEK by Rosalynd Perlick
Sun. Feb. 2 8:00AM St. Francis Church - 4TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME MARY CURLEY by Miriam Van Winkle 10:30AM St. Augustine Church - INTENTIONS OF OUR PARISHIONERS 4:30PM St. Francis Church - VIGIL: 4TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME SOPHIE PADULA by Marge Murphy
CONFESSION SCHEDULE—(BEFORE ALL WEEKEND MASSES)
Saturday—St. Francis Xavier—before 4:30PM Mass—3:30 to 4:15PM
Sunday St. Francis Xavier before 8:00AM Mass 7:30 to 7:50AM
Sunday St. Augustine before 10:30AM Mass 10:00 to 10:20AM
Our weekly collection total was $ 3,771.00. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.
Many people are unaware that someone they know personally is silently suffering from participation in abortion. If a friend confided in you tomorrow that she had an abortion, would you be able to respond in a way that brings her closer to healing? Learn how in “How to Talk to a Friend Who’s Had an Abortion”: http://bit.ly/friend-had-abortion
Dear Friends!
As we celebrate the Sunday of the Word of God, let us realize that the Word of God is as significant as the Bread of God. Jesus who said that he is the Bread of life was declared by Peter as the one who has words of eternal life (John 6:68). At least three times we read in the First Reading of the day that Ezra the Priest opened the Book of the Law and read it aloud in the hearing of all who could understand. The gathering turned out to be a community at worship. Unlike Ezra, Jesus in the Synagogue of Nazareth reads the Holy Scripture and finds it being fulfilled in his own very life. Jesus is the Logos, the Word and naturally the word of God finds its fulfilment in him. Through the teachings of St. Paul, the Church today calls for unity of her children divided into many denominations and numerous races. How can we who believe in originating from One and Only God discriminate one another?
~ Father Augustine
Our second collection THIS weekend is for the Church in Latin America. Your generosity helps our brothers and sisters to share in the life of the Church and grow closer to Christ. Please be generous in the special collection! To learn more, please visit www.usccb.org/latin-america.
The Pastoral Council meeting has been rescheduled for THIS Wednesday, January 29th, at 6:00PM in the Rectory. All members are encouraged to attend.
Your annual contribution statements for 2024 will be mailed out this coming week.
The second collection next weekend is for the Care & Education of Priests.
Next Saturday, February 1st is the Feast of Saint Brigid, our Patron Saint. We will be celebrating at Neumann Hall after the 4:30PM Mass with dinner. Ham, cabbage, and potatoes will be provided. You are asked to bring a dish or dessert to pass. Please sign up on the sheet in the back of the Church with number of people and the dish you are bringing. All Parishioners are welcome to come out and enjoy an evening of good food and fellowship.
Parish Lottery Calendars are available in the back of our Churches. Calendars are $ 20.00 each and run from April 1st thru December 31st, 2025. Each family is asked to take at least (5) calendars to sell. There are both packages of (5) calendars and loose (single) calendars. (Please do not break up the packages.) You are asked to sign the calendars out on the sheet provided.
There are many areas of our churches, rectory and hall that need renovations and repairs. Many of these repairs will require a substantial outlay of funds which the parish does not have. In order to fund these repairs we have established a Capital Renovation Fund. This fund will be used for needed repairs and renovations and also be available for emergency repairs. It is our intention to develop and maintain a fund balance of $ 50,000.00 funded initially by this parish appeal. Once that goal is reached we hope to maintain a baseline $ 50,000.00 with ongoing collections under the title of Capital Renovation Fund Collection. We are open to suggestions as to how we can meet our goal and how we can keep up the bottom-line balance of the Capital Renovation Fund. In these times, we know that expenses for everyone are going up. We can put it all in God’s hands but God doesn’t sign the checks. We ask therefore for your prayers as well as your ideas regarding this endeavor. Thank you for your help making this Fund a reality. A big thank you to those who have already donated to this fund! Please note: blue “Building Maintenance” envelopes are for day to day maintenance expenses.
the Immaculate Heart of Mary as our Lord & Lady asked of Sister Lucia, shepherd visionary of Fatima. Please consider participating as we seek to fulfill our Savior's and Blessed Mother's request for prayer and penance in reparation to her most Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart. All are welcome.
The schedule for these Devotions at Saint Augustine Church is:
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament followed by confessions: 8:30AM-9:00AM
Recitation of Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary: 9:00AM-9:30AM
Adoration and Meditation on Mysteries of the Rosary: 9:30AM-9:45AM
Benediction and Reposition of the Blessed Sacrament: 9:45AM-9:55AM
Mass: 10:00AM-10:45AM
~ A Devotional Candle at St. Francis burns for a Special Intention offered by Joe Purr.
~ A Devotional Candle at St. Francis burns for peace in Ukraine, Israel, and the Middle East.
Please continue to pray for vocations to the Priesthood in our Diocese.
If you have a prayer request, please call Rosalynd Perlick (570-663-2212), Maureen Allen (570-6632256) or the Rectory (570-553-2288) sfxc@epix.net. Many prayers will be offered for your intentions. Please call when the person you put on this Prayer List can be removed, either because of their return to health or because they have passed away.
St. Augustine: January 27 to February 2 Matt & Diane Holleran; February 3 to 9 Anne & Sally Hawley; February 10 to 16 Anne & Sally Hawley; February 17 to 23 Sr. Bette Brown; February 24 to March 2 Sr. Bette Brown & Barb Pichette; March 3 to 9 Barbara Gow & Jen Henry; March 10 to 16 Barb & Bill Pichette; March 17 to 23 Barb & Bill Pichette; March 24 to 30 volunteer needed; March 31 to April 6 Cathy O’Reilly
St. Francis cleaner for the month of January Kathy Gage; for February Ann Marie Volz NEW VOLUNTEERS are always welcome and needed to help clean our Churches. There are several openings at St. Augustine. To volunteer, please call or email Kay (570)553-2288 or sfxc@epix.net
As more and more “Snow Birds” are leaving for warmer climates, we are looking for more substitutes. Can you help out once a month? Can you help every once in a while? Please let Rosalynd know. This way you aren’t scheduled every week you are only scheduled when you are available.
Please consider spending an hour with Our Lord. Call Rosalynd Perlick (570-663-2212) to volunteer.
The Food Pantry would like to thank Amanda Reeves & the CCD classes for the wonderful baskets & bags of snacks for Christmas. Our clients were pleased to see so many “extras”. It brought a lot of smiles. For Christmas we served 22 families totaling 146 people. For Thanksgiving we served 20 families totaling 135 people. Thanks to all who gave gifts for the “giving tree” and all who made this possible. May God reward you
The Julie Bush Capwell & Tad Capwell annual food drive will be held on Saturday, February 1st from 12Noon to 4:00PM at the Silver Lake Field-Day Grounds. Look for the vehicle across the road from the fire hall for drop-offs. Stop in the fire hall for some yummy snack foods and drinks!!! All donations go to the Food Pantry. Can’t make it that day? Please donate to your nearest food pantry! Thank you for helping our communities!!
Sunday, February 9th at 10:00AM, Bishop Bambera will celebrate a Mass for Persons with Disabilities at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Scranton. All are welcome to join us for this Mass as we celebrate the many gifts those with physical, developmental, or intellectual disabilities bring to the Church and the community.
Beginning Experience of the Hudson Valley is a Catholic ministry serving dioceses throughout the country. We serve those who have lost a spousal relationship due to death, divorce, or separation. When people go from being a part of a couple to being alone, the pain and the difficulties they face in navigating this new reality are common to the widowed, divorced and separated. Our programs shepherd people through the emotional devastation that remains after a special relationship ends. Our programs are faith-filled, offering solace to those who grieve, and are open to people of all faiths.
In the Beginning ...Coping with Life Alone is a one day Zoom program which will be held on Saturday, February 22nd, from 9MA to 4PM. Registration is required contact Jim (845-220-7883) or Denise (845-325-3147).
Healing Weekend is a 48 hour in person retreat held at Mount Alvernia Retreat Center, Wappingers Falls, NY from March 28 to 30. Contact Gloria (646-281-4790) or Phyllis (914-261-5812) for more information.
Blessing of Throats will be held next weekend February 1st and 2nd at all Masses. Saint Blaise was the bishop of Sebastea and a doctor. The first known record of his life comes from the medical writings of Aëtius Amidenus, where he is recorded as helping with patients suffering from objects stuck in their throat. Many of the miraculous aspects of St. Blaise's life are written of 400 years after his martyrdom in the "Acts of St. Blaise." Saint Blaise is believed to begin as a healer then, eventually, became a "physician of souls." He then retired to a cave, where he remained in prayer. People turned to Saint Blaise for healing miracles.
In 1997, Pope Saint John Paul II instituted a day of prayer for women and men in consecrated life. This celebration is attached to the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord on February 2nd, Candlemas Day, the day when candles are blessed symbolizing Christ who is the light of the world. So too, those in consecrated life are called to reflect the light of Jesus Christ to all peoples. The celebration of World Day for Consecrated Life is transferred to the following Sunday in order to highlight the gift of consecrated persons for the whole Church.
World Day for Consecrated Life is celebrated in the Church on Sunday, February 2nd, Candlemas Day. Please pray for all those who have made commitments in the consecrated life, and be sure to thank them on their special day. May they continue to be inspired by Jesus Christ and respond generously to God's gift of their vocation. The theme for 2025 in the United States is the witnessing of religious life as “signs of reconciliation among the people”. There will be a worldwide Jubilee in Rome from October 8–12, 2025. All consecrated people are invited to participate.
No special collection was held due to the fact that the USCCB has a fund that they utilize to help victims of disasters. They do not ask for a second collection every time a disaster occurs. It is dependent on the size and scope of the disaster. The USCCB utilized funds they had on hand to support victims of hurricanes Milton and Helene. If anyone feels that they would like to make a donation now to help these victims, you can do so using the information below. CCUSA, the official domestic disaster relief agency of the Catholic Church in the United States, launched dedicated disaster relief campaigns for the survivors of hurricanes Milton and Helene. All donations received for disaster aid will be allocated to the Catholic Charities agencies providing critical relief including shelter, food and other humanitarian aid to those most in need. Donations to the CCUSA relief fund to help Hurricane Milton and Helene victims, can be made on the agency’s website at ccusa.online/milton; by texting MILTON to 20406; or by mailing checks to CCUSA at 2050 Ballenger Ave, Suite 400, Alexandria, Virginia, 22314, (with a note in the memo which hurricane). Information about additional ways to give can be obtained by contacting CCUSA at (800) 919-9338 or donations@catholiccharitiesusa.org. Go to https://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/ . Under “what we do”...choose “disaster relief” then scroll down until you see “how are we helping after hurricanes Helene and Milton?” Click on “learn more”. You will see “hurricane response” “support disaster relief and recovery”. There you can choose to support either hurricane Milton or Helene relief funds.
The Soup’er Bowl Cook off will be held Monday January 27th, (snow day make up will be January 30th) from 5:00pm –7:30pm at Our Lady of Sorrows Café, 801 Main St., Vestal, NY. Cost: Adult- $15.00; ages 5-12 – $10.00; Under age of 5 is free. Tickets available at Mom’s House website www.momshouseny.org – click “EVENTS” or purchase at the door.
The Capuchin Sisters of Nazareth invite all young women (grades 9 – 12) to join us on Saturday, February 1st, from 11:00AM – 4:30PM. Come and learn more about the Faith, make wholesome friendships, and grow more in love with Jesus through prayer and hearing inspirational talks. To RSVP by January 30, or for more information, please call Sister Angela in Tunkhannock at 570-836-2737 or Sister Clare in Williamsport at 570-745-3334. Please join us!
It is the policy of the Diocese of Scranton to report any allegation of sexual abuse of a minor to law enforcement. If you are a victim of sexual abuse committed by a priest, deacon, religious or lay employee or volunteer of the Diocese of Scranton, you are encouraged to immediately report the matter to law enforcement. If any priest, deacon, religious, lay employee or volunteer of the Diocese of Scranton has cause or reason to suspect that a minor has been subjected to any form of abuse, including child sexual abuse, the matter will be reported to law enforcement.