The Anti-Christ Revealed

But some of us knew this all along.

Bishop Martino to Senator Casey: Oppose Kennedy Bill

In case you missed this as I did, here is the text of a letter sent to little Bobby Casey by Bishop Martino and Auxiliary Bishop Dougherty. Thanks to Barb for the heads up.

This is an issue of immense importance. If this bill passes, we will see an unprecedented increase of public monies for abortions. Thus, access to abortions will increase, and the numbers of abortions themselves will increase dramatically.

Fax your letter to Senator Casey by at (202) 228-0604 or call him by phone at (202) 224-6324. and tell him to oppose the Kennedy Bill today!

The Honorable Robert P. Casey, Jr.

United States Senator

383 Russell State Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Senator Casey,

The bill approved on July 15 by the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee sponsored by Senator Ted Kennedy is a matter of deep concern to us. According to National Right to Life Committee Legislative Director, Douglas Johnson, "The Kennedy bill [and the House Democratic leadership bill] would result in the greatest expansion of abortion since Roe v. Wade." Further, Johnson stated, "These bills, which President Obama is pushing hard, would result in federally mandated coverage of abortion by nearly all health plans, federally mandated recruitment of abortionists by local health networks, and nullification of many state abortion laws. They would also result in federal funding of abortion on a massive scale.”

Church teaching is clear regarding the responsibility of a civil society to uphold the sanctity of human life. In its instruction of 1987, entitled Respect for Human Life (Donum Vitae), the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith noted:

“The inalienable rights of the person must be recognized and respected by civil society and the political authority. These human rights depend neither on single individuals nor on parents; nor do they represent a concession made by society and the state; they belong to human nature and are inherent in the person by virtue of the creative act from which the person took his origin. Among such fundamental rights one should mention in this regard every human being’s right to life and physical integrity from the moment of conception until death.”

“The moment a positive law deprives a category of human beings of the protection which civil legislation ought to accord them, the state is denying the equality of all before the law. When the state does not place its power at the service of the rights of each citizen, and in particular of the more vulnerable, the very foundations of a state based on law are undermined …”

In the coming days, you will have the opportunity to vote on the Kennedy bill in its final version. We urge you to oppose this bill and any legislation that permits the destruction of innocent human life. Senator, consider the words of your late father as he addressed the

Democratic party telling them “…to move away from a lock-step litmus test which advocates abortion on demand in an effort to reach a broader national consensus.”

Finally, trusting in your willingness to uphold the right to life, we entreat you to make every possible effort to defeat any other so called health care legislation which allows the destruction of unborn human life.

With kind personal regards and every good wish, we are,

Sincerely yours in Our Lord,

Most Reverend Joseph F. Martino, D.D., Hist. E.D.
Bishop of Scranton

Most Reverend John M. Dougherty, D.D., V.G.
Auxiliary Bishop of Scranton

Scumbag of the Day

Well I haven't had one of these Scumbag of the Day thingies in quite awhile.

Here's why I decided to have one today.

Vice President Joey Biden to Wall Street Journal: "I can see Putin sitting in Moscow saying, 'Jesus Christ, Iran gets the nuclear weapon, who goes first?' Moscow, not Washington."

So there we have the freaking Vice President of the United States taking the Lord's name in vain.

Can you imagine if Bush or Cheney said this? People like that excellent Catholic Ted Kennedy or Nancy Pelosi would be all over them. That's all we'd hear about for three weeks.

If Joey had taken the name of Mohammed in vain, there would already be 5,ooo Muslims surrounding the Vice President's residence. And CAIR would be in the forefront denouncing the slur as an affront to Muslims the world over.

Where are our Catholic "leaders"?

Traddy? Would do yo mean?

The USCCB, of course. They had better come out and denounce this doofas and soon.

Where is the outrage from the other Christian Denominations? Where's the Reverend Action Jackson? Where's Al Sharpton?I had better see some outrage and quick from someone who claims to be a Christian.

Do you think Obama will come out and say "Joe Biden acted...stupidly." Probably not.

No one will care.

Well here's my two sense: Biden is my Scumbag of the Day!

Basically for being a scumbag. Way to make America proud, Joey!

I Now Pronounce Thee Laity!

As you all know we have been dealing with the laicization of Eddie Shoback, former priest in the Scranton Diocese.

I have been trying unsuccessfully to learn about the process of laicization. I understand that the indelible mark on their souls remain, and that they can still confect the Eucharist, although illicitly. And that they must offer confesson and absolution to a dying person in case of an emergency.

Here's my question if the above is true.

What makes you think that a former priest would even bother to follow the rules after being dismissed from the priesthood? I mean if they were busy diddling little boys in the sacristy or whatever illegality they were engaged in, what from their past behavior gives you reason to believe they would bother to offer confession and absolution?

I'm just askin'.

It also seems presumptious on the Church to be like "we're dismissing you from the priesthood, but if someone might be dying in front of you, you must hear their confession."

I just hope I dont fall down nearly dead in front of Shoback, who knows what part of my body he might want to give "absolution" to!

Have a nice weekend!

Commentary denied

You may recall this post about Shoback the pedophile who had his priestly faculties removed.

Well, over at the Citizen's Voice there has been some odd going's on.

This morning, there were 20 comments on the story, some of them actually admitting knowledge of abuse of minors, and some people remarked it was common knowledge.

Well, the Voice deleted all 20 of those comments, and never posted my comment, which asked for a criminal investigation, as well as prayers for the perv and his victims.

Over at the Times Leader, there are only three comments. Again my comment did not appear.

I see we cannot count on the local media to pass along our feelings on stories. If they don't really want to give their readers a forum for our thoughts, why bother to give the option? And worse, why censor the feelings once they have been recorded?

The Polls Are In

Just so you know, Facebook has a poll which asks "Are you in favor of a government run health care system?"

Here are the results so far:

YES 74,605 (21.3%)

NO 262,856 (75.2%)

MAYBE 12,060 (3.5%)

Local Priest Defrocked

This just in: Edward J. Shoback is no longer a priest.

In today's edition of the Catholic Light it was announced that the Vatican has removed the priestly faculties of accused child molester Shoback.

One thing not mentioned in the papers is whether there are any criminal charges against him.

I don't think I've heard of this guy before. Does anyone know this disgraced former priest? Is he still in the area? Hopefully we"ll have more details soon.

And in the meantime be sure to behave as proper Catholics and pray for this predator and his victims.

Below is the article from the Citizen's Voice

The Vatican has defrocked a priest who served in several Luzerne County churches and taught at Bishop O’Reilly High School in Kingston.

Edward J. Shoback was an active priest in the Scranton Diocese from 1967 through 2004, when he was relieved of his duties after the diocese learned he had engaged in sexual misconduct with a minor two decades before. An allegation concerning a second minor surfaced in 2006.

In a statement published in the most recent edition of the diocese’s Catholic Light newspaper, diocesan Chancellor James B. Earley announced that Shoback “has been dismissed from the clerical state. This action was taken in response to a finding of sexual misconduct involving minors.”

The decision means Shoback cannot function as a priest, hold office in the church or teach theology in a Catholic institution, the statement said.

Shoback, 69, served at St. Ann Parish in Shohola, St. Stephen Parish in Plymouth, Holy Rosary Parish in Ashley, St. Aloysius Parish in Wilkes-Barre, St. John Nepomucene Parish in Luzerne, Transfiguration Parish in West Hazleton and SS. Peter and Paul Parish in Scranton, according to The Catholic Light. He was also director of religious education at the former Bishop O’Reilly High School in Kingston while residing at St. Therese Parish in Wilkes-Barre.

Shoback could not immediately be reached for comment.

At least 25 priests from the Scranton Diocese have been accused of having sexual contact with minors since 1950, according to diocesan reports.

In 2007, the diocese agreed to a $3 million settlement with a Duryea man who was sexually abused by a diocesan priest from 1999 through 2002, beginning when he was 14. The settlement was largely paid by the diocese’s insurance carriers and its own insurance funds, the diocese said at the time.

Awesome Teddy!

Theodore Roosevelt's ideas on Immigrants and being an AMERICAN in 1907.

"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American....There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language.. and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."

Theodore Roosevelt 1907

Muslim Children LOVE them Christians!

I stole this from the Catholic Caveman.

Cuz he found it before I did.

And he used a cool Chesterton quote at the end.

Enjoy this tale of tolerance and acceptance from The Daily Mail (UK); (Emphasis mine) Christian teacher tells of race slurs by pupils aged 8

Nicholas Kafouris says he was forced out after highlighting the rise in racism among pupils at Bigland Green Primary school in East London

A teacher claims he has been sacked for reprimanding pupils who made racist remarks about his being a Christian. Nicholas Kafouris said he lost his £30,000-a-year post because he would not tolerate the 'openly racist' behaviour of pupils as young as eight.

He said the predominantly Muslim youngsters openly praised Islamic extremists in class, and hailed the September 11 terrorists as 'heroes and martyrs'.

Greek-born Mr Kafouris, 40, taught for more than ten years at Bigland Green Primary in Tower Hamlets, East London, where according to the most recent Ofsted report 'almost all' the 465 pupils are from ethnic minorities and a vast proportion do not speak English as a first language.

He is taking the school, its headmistress and assistant head to an employment tribunal where he will claim he was forced out after highlighting the rise in racism among pupils. In 2006, said Mr Kafouris, he brushed against a boy while giving him a book. 'He said rather brusquely to me, "Don't touch me, you're a Christian". I found this very offensive.'

Later that year, he said children aged eight and nine in his class praised the suicide bombers in the 9/11 attacks. 'In late November and December 2006, many various unacceptable and openly racist, anti-Semitic and anti-Christian remarks were being made by many and various children in Year 4,' he said.

'These included, "We want to be Islamic bombers when we grow up", "the Twin Towers bombers are heroes and martyrs", "we hate the Jews" and "we hate the Christians".'
And in January 2007, he claims some pupils 'expressed delight' that a child had died when a wall collapsed on him in London. When asked why, he said one of the children replied: 'Because he's English.' The following month, during a religious education lesson about Jonah and the whale, he claims one of the pupils asked if Jonah was a Jew, before shouting: 'I hate the Jews, they're our enemies.'

Mr Kafouris says he completed 'Racist Incident Reporting Sheets' and notified headmistress Jill Hankey in writing about each incident. But he claims his concerns were ignored because she wanted to maintain the school's 'good' Ofsted rating.

"These are the days when the Christian is expected to praise every creed except his own." ~ G.K. Chesterton

Return God to the Center

So our Diocese is moving into a new era. We are in the process of closing almost 1/2 of our churches down, most of our schools are shuttered up, our Wilkes-Barre Hispanic population has moved into their new "parish community" at St. Nick's where I hear there is still grumbling, and priests are constantly being moved about like chess pieces. I know of one priest in particular that has been moved three times in one year.

So what's next?

I certainly hope that our Bishop will become a real leader and begin a more pastoral era in our Diocese, one that is not so focused on the physical plant, but one primarily concerned with the salvation of souls, and the return of a God-centered Catholicism.

What do I mean by a God-centered Catholicism?

One where we return to the Catholicism our grandparents knew, where worship of God Almighty supersedes worship of man and man's needs. Remember that being a Catholic is not just believing as the Church has always believed, but it is also about worshiping God in the way the Church has always passed down to us.

Until recently the Blessed Sacrament was reserved in a tabernacle in the center of the Church, usually situated on the main altar or reredos. Today the odds you will find the Lord in the center of the Church is probably around 40/60.

Why is that? Because in 1967 the "Instruction on the Worship of the Eucharistic Mystery" stated that "It is therefore recommended that, as far as possible, the tabernacle be placed in a chapel distinct from the middle or central part of the church, above all in those churches where marriages and funerals take place frequently, and in places which are much visited for their artistic or historical treasures". Contrary to popular belief, this was not an invitation to rip out high altars, reredos, communion rails, and to destroy sacred art and other traditional items.

Unfortunately thanks to liturgical committees and priests eager for "change" many of our Churches have been thus "renovated" in an effort to bring liturgical "renewal" into their parishes.

Enough is enough.

Bishop John D'Arcy of Fort Wayne, Indiana released a letter July 19 to bring God back to the center of our Churches. To return the Tabernacle where it belongs, bringing Jesus Christ front and center. You can read about it here.

My wish is that Bishop Martino would incorporate such a change in our Diocese and soon. Over the years we have been taught that the presence of God is no big deal. Well it's only a matter of time until 'no big deal' turns into 'who cares'?

And in many instances, it already has.

Islamic Supremacist Group Holds First U. S. Conference

Now that we have a Muslim apologist as President, it is no wonder that extremists like this can now meet in the open in America. Way to go, Homeland Security!

From Fox News

Why have American Citizens been targeted by law enforcement if they fly a Gadsden flag, but this group committed to establishing an international Islamic empire and reportedly linked to Al Qaeda is able to recruit members unmolested?

Whose homeland are we looking to secure?

Another Eagle has Flown Home

I received this today via email.

One of the "Band of Brothers" soldiers died on June 17, 2009.

We're hearing a lot today about big splashy memorial services.
I want a nationwide memorial service for Darrell "Shifty" Powers.
Shifty volunteered for the airborne in WWII and served with Easy
Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, part of the 101st Airborne Infantry.

If you've seen "Band of Brothers" on HBO or the History Channel, you
know Shifty. His character appears in all 10 episodes, and Shifty himself is interviewed in several of them.

I met Shifty in the Philadelphia airport several years ago. I didn't know
who he was at the time. I just saw an elderly gentleman having trouble
reading his ticket. I offered to help, assured him that he was at the
right gate, and noticed the "Screaming Eagle", the symbol of the 101st
Airborne, on his hat. Making conversation, I asked him if he'd been in the 101st Airborne or if his son was serving. He said quietly that he had been in the 101st. I
thanked him for his service, then asked him when he served, and how many
jumps he made.

Quietly and humbly, he said "Well, I guess I signed up in 1941 or so, and was in until sometime in 1945 . . . " at which point my heart skipped. At that point, again, very humbly, he said "I made the 5 training jumps at Toccoa, and then jumped into Normandy . . . Do you know where Normandy is?" At this point my heart stopped.

I told him yes, I know exactly where Normandy was, and I know what D-Day was. At that point he said "I also made a second jump into Holland, into Arnhem." I was standing with a genuine war hero . . . . and then I realized that it was June, just after the anniversary of D-Day. I asked Shifty if he was on his way back from France, and he said "Yes. And it's real sad because these days so few of the guys are left, and those that are, lots of them can't make the trip." My heart was in my throat and I didn't know what to say.

I helped Shifty get onto the plane and then realized he was back in
Coach, while I was in First Class. I sent the flight attendant back to get
him and said that I wanted to switch seats. When Shifty came forward, I got up
out of the seat and told him I wanted him to have it, that I'd take his in
coach.

He said "No, son, you enjoy that seat. Just knowing that there are still
some who remember what we did and still care is enough to make an old
man very happy." His eyes were filling up as he said it. And mine are
brimming up now as I write this.

Shifty died on June 17 after fighting cancer.

There was no parade.

No big event in Staples Center.

No wall to wall back to back 24x7 news coverage.

No weeping fans on television.

And that's not right.

Let's give Shifty his own Memorial Service, right here, on this blog. Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments.

Thank you for what you’ve done. Some of us won’t forget.

Rest in peace, Shifty.

Obama driving the debt car

Awesome video illustration on the federal budget deficit and the shrieks about Bush and the shrugs over Obama. Who says math can’t be fun?

Hellbound seek to block motto

Have you seen folks this? These people toast my muffin....

Father Shelton

Father Shelton has a nice new blog you all should check out. If this is the kind of priest that's coming up through the system these days, thank God! Go check him out, tell him I sent you.

A Miraculous Medal?

My friend Fr. Bechtel got me all fired up writing to me about Communion in the hand just now. So I was going to post something on that, (one of my favorite topics!) when I remembered I was going to write something about another fine Catholic devotion: The Miraculous Medal!

So I'm gonna stick with the Miraculous Medal.


In Paris, on the night of July 18, 1830, a 24 year-old novice of the Daughters of Charity was awakened by her guardian angel, in the form of a beautiful child about 5 years old. The novice, who would later be known as Saint Catherine Laboure, heard the tiny angel softly say, "Come to the chapel; the Blessed Virgin is waiting for you."

As they entered the chapel, Catherine saw that it was brilliantly lit with candles, as if for Midnight Mass. She was led into the santuary and knelt by a chair. Soon after, Our Lady entered and sat down in the chair. The angel told Catherine, "This is the Blessed Virgin."

Our Lady spoke to Catherine, "My child, the good God wishes to entrust you with a mission." She pointed to the altar and said, "Come to the foot of the altar. Here favors will be shed on all who ask for them. Favors will be shed especially on those who ask for them." She then told Catherine that her mission would be made known to her in the future.

Catherine's mission was revaled to her on November 27, 1830. While attending afternoon prayers, she was visited by the Virgin Mary again. Catherine learned that she was to introduce the medal of the Immaculate Conception to the world.

On that glorious day, the Blessed Virgin appeared standing on a globe and holding another globe in her hands. Her fingers were covered with rings, some of which sparkled brilliantly and showered down rays of light on the globe beneath her feet. Catherine heard a voice say, "The ball you see represents the world...and each person in it. These rays symbolize the favors I shed upon those who ask for them. The Jewels that give no rays symbolize the favors that are not given because they are not asked for."

After a moment, the apparition changed. The Virgin Mary was now standing on a globe with a serpent beneath her feet. Her arms were outstretched. An oval shape framed the Blessed Virgin, and on it were written the words in gold: "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee." This was to be the front of the medal to be made.

Then, the vision revolved to reveal the reverse side of the medal. Catherine saw a cross with a bar at its feet that was intertwined with the letter "M." Beneath the letter were the hearts of Jesus and Mary, both surmounted by flames of love, one having a crown of thorns and the other pierced with a sword. Encircling all of this were 12 stars around the oval frame.

Catherine heard the voice tell her, "Have a medal struck after this model. All who carry this medal will recieve great favors...Favors will abound if this medal is worn with devotion." Saint Catherine Laboure now knew that her mission was to ensure that this "Miraculous Medal" was made, and to spread our Blessed Mother's message of love and compassion for all God's people.

Death throes?

It must be sad to see yourself become obsolete.

So it is with SDACT and Michael Milz, it's president.

Pope Benedict has released a new encyclical titled “Caritas in Veritate”, translated means “Charity in truth”. His Holiness spends much time writing about things such as marriage and abortion, and touches briefly on, for whatever reason, labor unions.

Ever the straw grasper, Milz released a statement “It seems that no matter what the Holy Father or his brother bishops (who only last week gave a ringing endorsement of the rights of church employees) have to say about workers rights, Bishop Joseph Martino will not relent in his harsh opposition to grant these very same basic human rights to those who work for him,”

Ok, Milz. Life is a basic human right. Not a labor union. You guys have obviously lost the fight, move on. Choose something new you can oppose, like abortion maybe. Work with the Church instead of against it, and maybe you can have relevance again.

Legos Explain Obamacare

Going through old emails...

and found I misssed letting you in on this:

Peter Singer is a Princeton professor who believes it is okay for parents to kill their kids until their offspring are 28 days old. He also believes in bestiality: dogs, he says, can convey to their master whether they consent to intercourse. Now he is pushing clam rights.

In today’s New York Times, Nicholas Kristof writes that because Singer is uncertain about the capacity of shellfish to suffer, he tends to avoid eating them. Which means that Singer apparently believes that newborn kids who are knifed to death don’t suffer, but clams on the half shell might. Whether clams can consent to sex, Singer does not say.

The Rumor Mill And Assorted Stuff

Heard today that Bishop Martino may very well be exiting our Diocese stage left.

Keep your ears to the ground and let me know what you are hearing, or what you may already know.....

Spent 1 1/2 hours today helping the economy by purchasing a new HDTV and stand. I won't go into the painful details, but needless to say WalMart should begin the distribution of IQ tests before they hire these dolts...

I am happy to hear Father Wilfredo Comellas is coming to Saint Aloysius in Wilkes-Barre. He said the Extraordinary Form in his Hazleton Church. I am looking forward to meeting him.

Whats with all this stupid rain? My garden is inundated with sogginess. I'm never gonna get my corn in at this rate. I may have already missed my window of opportunity as Fall will most likely begin the day after Labor Day...

That's all I have for now, I think. God Bless!

Some good news here.

Bishop Joseph Martino announced extensive appointments of clergy throughout the diocese, with substantial shuffling in Luzerne County. Here is how the changes affect area churches.

Rev. Mark Balczeniuk will leave his post as pastor of Transfiguration in West Hazleton and become Eastern Pastoral Region Vicar, living at the Villa of Our Lady Retreat House, Mount Pocono. Rev. David Betts will leave his residence status at Sacred Heart of Jesus/St.John in Wilkes-Barre to become administrator at Transfiguration and St. Francis of Assisi, West Hazleton. Current St. Francis Pastor Rev. John Ruth will become administrator of two Scranton churches.

Monsignor Francis Beeda will change from pastor to pastor emeritus at St. Joseph and St. Stanislaus, Hazleton. Rev. Richard Cirba will leave his post as pastor at Holy Trinity, Swoyersville, to replace Beeda as pastor in the Hazleton parishes, and will be joined by Rev. Balireddy Ponnapati as assistant Pastor, who will leave St. Nicholas, Wilkes-Barre. The current assistant at the to Halzeton churches, Rev. Bryan Wright, will leave for a Mount Pocono parish. Rev. William Karle will leave his post as pastor at Holy Saviour, Wilkes-Barre, to become pastor at Holy Trinity and Holy name/St. Mary in Swoyersville. Current Holy Name pastor Rev. Louis Grippe will become pastor at Most Precious Blood, Hazleton. Current Most Precious Blood administrator Rev. Wilfredo Comellas will become assistant Pastor at St. Aloysius and St. Casimir, Wilkes-Barre, and Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Hanover Township. Rev. Kenneth Seegar will come from a church in Susquehanna County to be administrator at Holy Saviour.

Rev. Vincent Dang will move from pastor of Holy Family, Sugar Notch, to Pastor, Saint Frances X. Cabrini, Carverton, replacing Rev. James Shimsky who has been administrator. Shimsky is being assigned to two parishes north of Scranton. Rev. Joseph Kakareka will leave his post as administrator of Ss. Peter and Paul, Avoca, to take over as pastor at Holy Family. St. Mary, Avoca, Pastor Rev. Phillip Sladicka will also be pastor of Ss. Peter and Paul.

Rev. Joseph Evanko will leave his post as pastor at St. John Bosco, Conyngham, and Good Shepherd, Butler Township, to be pastor at St. Jude, Mountaintop. Current St. John, Stroudsburg Pastor Rev. John Lambert will be pastor at St. John Bosco and Good Shepherd. Current St. Jude administrator Rev. Michael Quinnan will be pastor in a Monroe County church.

Rev. Gregory Finn will leave his post as pastor at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Pittston, to be pastor, Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Harleigh, St. Gabriel, Hazleton, St. Nazarius, Pardeesville, and St. Mary, Lattimer The pastor at those parishes, Rev. Peter O’Rourke, will become pastor at St. Patrick, Scranton. Current St. Rocco, Pittston, Pastor Rev. Daniel Schwebs will be administrator at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. The four Hazleton area churches will also get two assistant pastors, Rev. Johnson Kochuparambil from Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Pittston, and Rev. Victor Leon, from Nativity of Our Lord, Scranton, and lose current assistant pastor Rev. Gregory Villaescusa to parishes near Towanda. The two Pittston churches will get Rev. Jackson Pinhiero as assistant pastor, from the St. Joseph’s Oblates Seminary.

Rev. Richard Fox, pastor at Holy Family in Luzerne, will move to St. Eulalia, Elmhurst. Rev. Michael Zipay will take over in Luzerne, arriving from a South Williamsport parish.

Rev. Duane Gavitt will leave his post as pastor at St. Aloysius and St. Casimir, Wilkes-Barre, to be pastor at Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Freeland, where current pastor Re. John Melnick is leaving for the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas. Eastern Pastoral Region Episcopal Vicar Rev. Andrew R. Sinnott will replace Gavitt at the two Wilkes-Barre churches and at Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Hanover Twp., where the current administrator, Rev. Paul Pudhota, will leave to become administrator at Holy Trinity, Wilkes-Barre and Holy Cross, Hanover Township. The current pastor there, Rev. Theodore Obaza, will become pastor emeritus.

Rev. Joseph Kearney, current pastor at Blessed Sacrament, St. Francis and St. John the Baptist in Wilkes-Barre will also be pastor at S. Dominic in Wilkes-Barre, where current pastor Rev. William Culnane will be pastor emeritus.

Rev. William Langan will leave his post as pastor at St. Francis of Assisi and St. Joseph, Nanticoke, to be pastor at St. John the Evangelist and St. Mary Magdalen, Honesdale. Rev. James Nash, current pastor of four other Nanticoke Parishes, will add St. Francis and St. Joseph to his list.

Rev. Michael Marchetti will leave a Montoursville parish to be pastor at Our Lady of Sorrows, West Wyoming, and St. Joseph, Wyoming, where the current pastor, Rev. James Walsh, will leave to be administrator of St. Francise of Assisi in Scranton.
Gate of Heaven, Dallas, pastor Rev. Kevin Mulhern will leave to be pastor at Our Lady of the Abingtons, Dalton. Rev. Daniel Toomey will leave a post in Montdale, to be pastor at Gate of Heaven and Our Lady of Victory, Harveys Lake.

The diocesan list of changes is here