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Office: St. John’s Rectory 126 Nesbitt St., Larksville, PA 18651

Pastor: Rev. Gerald J. Gurka, M.Div.. M.Th., M.A. Parish Helper: Msgr. Donald A. McAndrews, D. Hum. Permanent Deacon: Deacon Frank H. Hine

St. John the Baptist Church

March 26, 2017

4th Sunday of Lent

Parish Mission Statement Our faith community of St. John the Baptist, founded on the word of God; welcomes all with charity and love….both the strong of Spirit and those who search. As part of the Universal Church, we acknowledge that God has uniquely blessed everyone with abundant gifts. We celebrate the differences that make all of us equal in the eyes of the Lord….using our blessings to provide all who join us in Eucharist with a heart-felt sense of family and communion. For the Lord has brought you to our door….you are a stranger here but once.

Rectory Office: 570-779-9620

Fax: 570-779-7652

Email: stjohn1899@aol.com

Website: www.stjohnslarksville.org

St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church

Current Office Business Hours:

No Office Hours on Mondays

Tues, Wed, Thurs, & Fri: 9:00AM-11:30AM/12:30PM-2PM

All Other Times by Appointment

~New Parishioners: WELCOME to our parish family!

Please call the rectory office at your earliest convenience.

~Established Parishioners:

Please let us know of any change of address or telephone

number so that we may keep our records current. Families

moving from the parish are asked to notify the rectory office.

Home and Hospital Visitations: Are done on a regular

basis as well as the 1st Friday of the month. If someone is

homebound or hospitalized, please call the rectory office.

Sacrament of Reconciliation: Saturdays--3:00 to 3:45 PM

Sacrament of Baptism: Parents must be registered in the

Parish. Please call the office at least 4 months before your child

is due. Instruction is required and normally held on the 1st

Monday of each month. It is best to attend this class before the

child’s birth. Baptism is normally celebrated in our Parish at the

9 AM Mass on the 1st Sunday of the month. Exceptions are

made for unusual circumstances, with the pastor’s approval.

Sacrament of Holy Orders: Is God calling you? Please see Fr.

Jerry or Deacon Frank.

Sacrament of Marriage: Diocesan regulations require those

couples planning marriage to contact the pastor at least twelve

months prior to the desired date of the marriage and other

wedding arrangements.

R.C.I.A. (The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults):

For those in need of baptism or completion of sacramental

preparation. Please contact rectory.

A Prayerful Welcome to All

Worshipping With Us.

Today is “Laetare Sunday” -

a joyful anticipation of Easter!

May we find joy in seeing

God present in all things.

Thanks for being here.

GOSPEL GLIMPSES

March 26, 2017

Jn 9:1-41

Clear as mud

What a perverse delight we get in paradoxes.

When the tiny man defeats the giant we roar with

laughter. A child confounds the decorated PhD, and

we applaud. Something deep in our spirit sparks to

life when the applecart is upset in such a surprising

way. We recognize that God has a sense of humor,

and it gives us hope. Hope that even our own dark

failures can be transformed to successes. Hope that

next time we will be the weak link He uses to over-

come the mighty.

Jesus was the master of paradox. We meet Him

today, smearing mud on a blind man’s eyes, plastering

closed with thick soil eyes already dark. He sealed

shut eyes to open them, used mud to make vision

clear. All it took was the blind man’s faith to stumble

just a few steps farther for the miracle to happen. It’s

the same for us today. If we trust Him and take those

last few steps, even when His purposes are “clear as

mud”, extraordinary things can happen. ©Copyright C L Enterprises

Sanctuary Candle burns this week

in honor of Dorothy & Jerome Stone.

Prayerful Birthday Wishes to Regina Moyer

who recently celebrated 90 years of Our Lord’s Blessings!

Prayerful Birthday Wishes to George Russett

as he celebrates 91 years of Our Lord’s Blessings!

Stations of the Cross/Benediction/Eucharist

Join us, Friday evenings of Lent, at 7PM.

Bring a friend!

Adult Religious Education Program continues on

Tuesdays with Deacon Frank at 7PM in the church hall.

Please Note: The Rectory Office will be closed on Friday,

March 31st. In case of emergency, please leave your name &

phone # with our Answering Service.

Today’s Readings: 1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a; Psalm 23:1-6; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41

Collisions In The Dark

At this point in Lent, Easter joy and hope are in sight for those who see with eyes or faith. John's Gospel story of the

blind man healed by Jesus invites us to reflect upon the many ways we see and the many ways that we can be blind as well.

The good news at the heart of the story shines a light on all our darkness. If we open ourselves to Jesus as our Good Shep-

herd and Light, that we can be healed of every blindness, physical and spiritual. Jesus’ healing gift empowers us to walk safely

in valleys of darkness, His light guiding us on the journey.

Yet too often we Christians rely only on our physical eyes or the eyes of our intellect. We forget that a brighter light

burns within us, enlightening our spiritual eyes with the gift of faith. If we continue to ignore this purer light we can become

blind intellectually and spiritually. Do not despair! If today’s lesson finds you stumbling in darkness, simply reach out in faith as

the blind man did. Jesus will touch again the eyes of your heart, washing away doubts and darkness, spilling His pure light on

your life from today forward.

Come Worship the Lord

March 26, 2017 4th Sunday of Lent

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

3/27

3/28

3/29

3/30

3/31

4/01

4/02

9:00 AM

9:00 AM

9:00 AM

9:00 AM

9:00 AM

7:00 PM

4:00 PM

7:00 AM

9:00 AM

11:00 AM

Carl Shymanski

Anna Kayrish

No Mass

Stanley Rychlewski, Jr.

Dr. Bernie Holleran

Stations of the Cross/Benediction/Eucharist

Rita Kettrick

Living & Deceased of our Parish Family

Joseph Koval

Angela Chorey

Margaret Yanoshak

Estate

Children

Mark Sullivan

Cindy, Ron & Family

Joe & Helen Niznik

Rita Husty & Ann Marie Ruskoski

Monday Evening Confessions

Across the Diocese of Scran-

ton this Lent – On Monday

March 27th from 5:30-7:00pm, and

on all Mondays in Lent, we will be offering confessions

here at St. John the Baptist, together with all the Catholic

parishes in the Diocese of Scranton. This outreach is

called “The Light Is On For You” and is an effort on the

part of the Diocese to highlight the importance of the

sacrament of Reconciliation in the life of Catholics and to

make it as easy as possible for every Catholic to come or

to return to this great source of God’s mercy and healing

love. The Diocesan website, www.dioceseofscranton.org/light

has great materials to help you prepare.

“Keep the Light On” Penance Services:

1) All Saints Parish, Plymouth: Wednesday, April 5th at

7PM.

2) St. Ignatius, Kingston: Palm Sunday, April 9th at 7PM

Several priests will be available to celebrate

God’s Forgiveness.

Lenten Reminders

The following fast and abstinence regulations are observed:

• Fridays during Lent are days of abstinence.

• Good Friday, April 14th, is a day of fast and abstinence.

• All Catholics who have reached their 14th birthday are to abstain from eating meat on all Fridays during Lent.

• All Catholics over 18 years of age to the beginning of their 60th year are bound to the obligation of fasting.

Those bound by this rule may take only one full meal and two smaller meals unless dispensed or excused.

Faith Formation Classes will be held as usual this week.

Baptismal Instruction

The next class will be held on Monday, April 3rd at 7PM in the

church hall. If you are expecting or recently had a baby, please

call the rectory office to register for this class.

Choir Practice

Wednesday, March 29th at 7PM.

New members are always welcome!

Practice for Passion Play 2017: after today’s 4PM &

11AM Masses. Last Call to join our Cast & Crew! If unable to

attend, please call the rectory (570-779-9620) and leave your

name & phone number. Thanks! Newspaper Photo Shoot in

Costume will be during the Saturday, April 1st Practice.

Join Us for Passion Play 2017: “Angels in Portraits of

the Passion” on Friday, April 7th at 7:30PM. Open to the Pub-

lic. Refreshments & Fellowship in Church Hall afterwards.

Goodie donations are most welcome & appreciated!

Ministry Schedules for April/May are available for

pick-up in the Sacristy and are on our parish website.

Prayer Shawl Meeting and Work Session

will be held this Wednesday, March 29th at 6PM

in the church hall. All are invited and welcome to

join our ministry. If someone you know, needs a

prayer shawl please contact the rectory. If you aren’t able to

attend a meeting, but want to donate a lap robe, shawl or af-

ghan, please contact the rectory office. Thanks!

If you aren’t able to make an afghan, monetary donations are

most welcome and appreciated. They can be made via collec-

tion basket (place in an envelope marked “Yarn/Afghans”) or

sent to the rectory office. Thank You for helping us to help oth-

ers.

Easter Season Adopt-A-Flowers are $8.00 per Lily and

they may be “adopted” in memory of a loved one or your own

special intention. Your flower will help beautify our church, in

addition to the Easter Flower envelope in your offertory set. At

the end of the Easter Season, you may take your Lily home to

plant in your garden if you wish. Their re-growth can be a living

reminder of your loved one or intention. Adopt-A-Flower cards

are available in our church vestibule and may be decorated if

you wish. When making your returns via collection basket,

please mark envelope “Adopt-A-Flower.” Please have all re-

turns in by April 11th.

Capital Campaign Payments are due. Please place payment

in an envelope marked “Capital Campaign” and drop in the col-

lection basket or send to the rectory. Thank you!

Thank you for silencing your cell phones & pagers and refraining from texting while in church.

March 26, 2017 4th Sunday of Lent

Commitment of Treasure March 19, 2017

Adult Envelopes Issued 753 Adult Envelopes Used 263 Budget Collection Weekly $5,650 $4,985.07 Fiscal Year-to-Date $214,700 $195,197.80

Lenten Pierogie Sale

Our Pierogie Pinching Parties continue Mondays thru

April 3rd. Everyone is Invited & Welcome! No Experi-

ence Necessary! Any amount of time you can volunteer is

greatly appreciated. Help with Pierogie Prep at

7:30AM on the Sunday before each Pierogie Monday.

Pierogie orders are filled; orders already placed may be

picked up on Mondays from 1-2:30PM & 4-5:30PM.

CRS Rice Bowl: Encounter Community

We encounter Maria in Mexico, where a community of

hardworking women share joys, sorrows and fellowship

while growing economic opportunity at a greenhouse.

How have your communities helped you encounter

Christ anew this Lent? Visit crsricebowl.org for more.

Holiday Food Baskets

During Lent we reach out to those in our

parish family who may have a difficult time

providing an Easter dinner. Anyone wishing

to make a monetary donation to this much

needed & greatly appreciated Outreach Ministry may

place their donation in an envelope marked “Food Bas-

ket” and drop in the basket or send to the rectory.

If you, or someone you know in our parish family, is in need of

a Holiday Food Basket, please call the rectory at 570-779-

9620. All calls are held in complete confidence.

Flowers to the Homebound

Easter Flowers will be delivered to our home-

bound parish family members on Saturday,

April 8th. Volunteers are needed to help

spread some Easter joy. Please come to the

church hall at 9AM on April 8th to help with

the delivery of flowers.

You will have a wonderful experience!

Lenten advice

Fast from emphasis on differences; feast on the unity of all

life.

Fast from discontent; feast on gratitude.

Fast from anger; feast on patience.

Fast from pessimism; feast on optimism.

Fast from complaining; feast on appreciation.

Fast from self concern; feast on compassion for others.

Fast from unrelenting pressures; feast on unceasing pray-

er.

LifeLine — “When God created each of us, He did so with precision and purpose, and He looks on each of us with love that

cannot be outdone in intensity or tenderness.”

~ USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities

Respect Life Program Flyer: Masterpieces of God’s Creation

Let us Pray …For all Christians:

Through the eyes of faith, may we see and treat each other as masterpieces of God’s creation...

Diocesan and Community News

Knights of Columbus, 59 Parry St., Luzerne will sponsor a Fish Dinner from 5 to 8PM, every Friday during Lent. Cost: $10

Adults, $6 Children 4 to 9. Take-outs available during the same hours for $10. Call 570-287-2826 for more information.

Spaghetti Supper: Sunday, March 26th from 12Noon to 4PM at Holy Family Parish, 574 Bennett St., Luzerne. Tickets: $10

Adults; $4 Children under 10. Take-outs will be available. Everyone is welcome!

Catholic Choral Society Lenten Concert: Sunday, March 26th at 3PM at the First Presbyterian Church, 97 S. Franklin St.,

W-B. Rev. Dr. Robert M. Zanicky is Minister of the Church; John M. Vaida is the Music Minister and Organist. The concert is

open to the public free of charge. There will be a good will offering available. Dr. Thomas Rittenhouse and Brenda Grunza are

co-presidents of the Catholic Choral Society. Ann Manganiello is music director of this group while Jean Shields is accompanist.

The group, marking its 68th season, is composed of 60 members from Luzerne, Lackawanna, Wayne, Susquehanna and Wyo-

ming counties who will perform inspirational music in the Lenten tradition. Further information may be obtained by calling 570

-575-1040 and also at www.catholicchoralsociety.org.

Gorzkie Zale, a traditional Polish Bitter Lamentations will be held Sunday, March 26th at 3PM at Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Church, 420 Main Rd., Buttonwood, Hanover Twp. Everyone is invited to this Lenten Service conducted by Fr. John Albosta,

Fr. James McGahagan and Fr. Richard Zavacki. A light reception will follow in the church hall. Anyone wishing to join the choir

to sing at the service, should call 570-706-6951. For more information or directions, please call 570-823-6242.

Ham Bingo: Sunday, April 2nd at St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church Hall, 140 Church St., Old Forge. Kitchen opens at

11AM; games start at 1PM. Many door prizes will be awarded. Donation: $3. All proceeds benefit the Church.

Lenten Slovak Hymn-Sing & Traditional Stations of the Cross in Slovak presented by the Slovak Heritage Society of

NEPA on Sunday, April 2nd at 2PM at Our Lady of Fatima Parish at St. Mary’s Church of the Immaculate Conception, 134 S.

Washington St., W-B. Come join us in singing the beautiful Slovak Lenten hymns. The words and a translation of this rich hym-

nology will be provided. Station booklets will be provided or you may bring your own copy. For information, please contact

Magdalen Benish at 570-823-1222.

St. Mary’s Dinner Club, 310 Mifflin Ave., Scranton presents “Dinner on the Orient Express” on Thursday, April 6th.

Seatings will be at 5:30 or 6:30pm and the cost is only $20.00 per person. You may make your reservation by Monday, April 3rd

by calling 570-343-5151. The menu will start with an Asian Salad of tender spinach, cabbage and carrots, Mandarin oranges w/

rice vinaigrette dressing. The Appetizer will be Chinese Orange Glazed Meatballs and the Entrée will be Sweet & Sour Roast

Pork Tenderloin w/fresh, stir-fry vegetables served over oriental noodles. The Dessert will be Mr. Foo’s Homemade Rice Pud-

ding. Coffee, Tea, Soda and Water are included and a Cash Bar is available.

Soup Sale: Thursday, April 6th from 8AM to 6PM at Exaltation of the Holy Cross Church, Buttonwood, Hanover Township.

Soup of the month is Piggie Soup. Cost: $8. Take-outs only. Your pre-order is appreciated. To place an order, please call 570-

825-6370 or 570-899-5080.

All Saints Parish Fish Dinner: Friday, April 7th from 3:30 to 6:30PM at Holy Child Faith Formation Center, 119 Willow St.,

Plymouth. Dinner includes: Breaded Haddock Filet, Mac & Cheese, Stewed Tomatoes, Cole Slaw, Dessert, Coffee & Soda.

Tickets: $10 Adults; $5 Children under 12. Take outs with curb service will be offered.

All the faithful of the Diocese are invited to attend the Chrism Mass at the Cathedral of St. Peter, Scranton on Tuesday, April

11th at 4PM. At this Mass, priests from throughout the Diocese will renew their priestly promises before the Bishop, and the

oils to be used for the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick and Holy Orders will be blessed. Participa-

tion in the Chrism Mass is a beautiful way to pray for and support the priests of the Diocese. For reserved seating, please call

Diane Franklin in the Office for Parish Life at 570-207-2213 ext. 1103 or email: Diane-Franklin@dioceseofscranton.org.