St. Andre Bessette Parish

During these days after the Ascension, the whole Church is admonished to "PRAY WITHOUT CEASING" for the ADVOCATE, the Spirit of truth promised by Jesus. This Advocate, or Paraclete, will lead us to all truth.
Please Join us in this universal prayer as we invoke God's Spirit on our lives and on our parish. The Novena Prayers can be found at the top of this page under the NOVENA to the HOLY SPIRIT tab.
 

Even though many schools have cancelled or modified their plans for graduation in the midst of the Covid 19 pandemic, our parish Social Justice Committee would still like to honor our parish graduates.

If you, or someone you know, is graduating from high school this year, please contact Anna Hudock at 570-822-1926 or amh540@verizon.net.

Please provide your name, address, and a brief biography by Monday June 1st.

We do not want to inadvertently miss anyone.

According to Diocesan Directives, we have assembled a task force to assist us in creating a viable plan to reopen our church when our county is placed in the YELLOW PHASE. Members of the committee are:
Fr. Ken, Pastor
David Alusick, Financial Secretary
Pat Baran, Pastoral Council President
Dan Amerise, Finance Council
Anna Bozinski, Sacristan
Dr. Jason Woloski
Linda Novak Malta
Paran Woloski
 
This committee will review the information sent from the diocese and establish protocols for use in our parish once we receive permission to proceed into the YELLOW PHASE (which currently will not be before June 4th.)

Until then, we ask all parishioners to continue to remain united in prayer, follow social distancing and shelter in place protocols, and wait patiently until this plague passes.

Check out our brand new blog which was created by Matt Kurtz.
You can view the blog at www.standrebessettewb.com/news    

Looking for recipes from our Parish chefs!!

If anyone has any delicious recipes I would love to show them off on our 
website for everyone to enjoy, please email Matty at mattystandre1979@yahoo.com  
Or you could also write them down and put them in with the collection envelopes also. 
Looking forward to see what wonderful recipes we have!

The Parish office will be open as long as we are able. We ask all parishioners, however, to conduct all parish business over the phone as much as possible.

· Sr. Madonna will be monitoring the needs of our elderly and homebound parishioners.

Thank You to all who have continued to contribute so generously to our parish during this pandemic. Because of your consistent generosity, we are able to continue our ministries. May God reward your faithfulness.

· There will be no public services, confessions, devotions or meetings, other than what is necessary, until the ban is lifted by the CDC, state and diocese. Any return to public worship will be cautious and slow. New protocols will be put into place as we move forward.

· Father Ken will say a private Mass daily at his convenience for the intentions provided as well as the health and well-being of all our parish family.

· Funeral Masses are prohibited as of March 30, 2020. Only graveside services can be held. Funeral Masses may be scheduled once our county enters the yellow phase, but these, too, will have limited participation, as dictated by the protocols set forth by the State and Diocese.

· Please keep in your prayers the following parishioners who have died during this time, as well as their grieving families: Robert Smith, Eleanor Pauly, Robert Hritz, Theresa Partika, Regina Ann Molitoris, Margaret Sterbinsky,  Eleanor Blazejewski, Justine Fosko, H Merrit Hughes, Nancy Balent, Leonard Dzurovcin, Stephen Kloton, Septa Harowicz, Cyril Baloga

· Since no public services are permitted, our First Communion, scheduled for 4/26 and Confirmation, scheduled for 5/31, have both been postponed until a later date, hopefully in the autumn.

· Both Geisinger Wyoming Valley and Wilkes Barre General Hospital have limited visitors to only the most essential. At this time, they are not allowing priests to administer the Sacrament of the Anointing (or Last Rites) at these facilities.

· The Church will be open on Thursdays from noon until 4 pm for private prayer. Please practice Social Distancing Protocols.

· An Abbreviated bulletin is provided to each parish family as a means of keeping in touch during this difficult time. For a full copy of this week’s bulletin, please refer to our parish web page at
www.standrebessettewb.com
 

By Kerry Weber 

Jesus Christ, you traveled through towns and villages "curing every disease and illness." At your command, the sick were made well. Come to our aid now, in the midst of the global spread of the coronavirus, that we may experience your healing love. 

Heal those who are sick with the virus. May they regain their strength and health through quality medical care. 

Heal us from our fear, which prevents nations from working together and neighbors from helping one another. 

Heal us from our pride, which can make us claim invulnerability to a disease that knows no borders. 

Jesus Christ, healer of all, stay by our side in this time of uncertainty and sorrow. Be with those who have died from the virus. May they be at rest with you in your eternal peace. 

Be with the families of those who are sick or have died. As they worry and grieve, defend them from illness and despair. May they know your peace. 

Be witht he doctors, nurses, researchers and all medical professionals who seek to heal and help those affected and who put themselves at risk in the process. May they know your protection and peace. 

Be with the leaders of all nations. Give them the foresight to act with charity and true concern for the well-being of the people they are meant to serve. Give them the widsom to invest in long-term solutions that will help prepare for or prevent future outbreaks. May they know your peace, as they work together to achieve it on earth. 

Whether we are home or abroad, surrounded by many people suffering from this illness or only a few, Jesus Christ, stay with us as we endure and mourn, persist and prepare. In place of our anxiety, give us your peace. 

Jesus Hear Us.      Amen.  

O Mary, you shine continuously on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope. We entrust ourselves to you,
Health of the Sick. 
At the foot of the Cross you participated in Jesus' pain with steadfast faith. 
You know what we need. 
We are certain that you will provide, so that, as you did at Cana of Galilee, joy and feasting might return after this moment of trial. 
Help us, Mother of Divine Love, to conform ourselves to the Father's will and to do what Jesus tells us: 
He who took our sufferings upon Himself, and bore our sorrows 
to bring us, through the Cross, 
To the joy of the Resurrection. Amen. 

            -Pope Francis 


A Prayer to Combat the Coronavirus Pandemic

Most merciful and Triune God,
We come to you in our weakness.
We come to you in our fear.
We come to you with trust.
For you alone are our hope.

We place before you the disease present in our world.
We turn to you in our time of need.

Bring wisdom to doctors.
Give understanding to scientists.
Endow caregivers with compassion and generosity.
Bring healing to those who are ill.
Protect those who are most at risk.
Give comfort to those who have lost a loved one.
Welcome those who have died into your eternal home.

Stabilize our communities.
Unite us in our compassion.
Remove all fear from our hearts.
Fill us with confidence in your care.

Jesus, I trust in you.
Jesus, I trust in you.
Jesus, I trust in you.
Amen.