Saint Joseph Parish: $1,461.00 from the Sunday envelopes; $95.00 from the second collection (plate); $84.00 from the Dues envelopes; $111.00 from the loose. Thank you.

Saint Vincent DePaul Parish: $1,045.00 from the Sunday envelopes; $114.00 from the second collection (plate); $10.00 from the Building Maintenance envelopes; $130.00 from the loose. Thank you.

It happens with considerable frequency “in these days of turmoil and uncertainty” that people will ask me whether a particular rumor is true.
These rumors usually have to do with parish consolidations and priest assignments.
Obviously, before answering, I ask them to specify which rumor in particular they are referring to. Then I answer appropriately.
However, I have decided to change my approach.
From now on, I want everyone to know that: ALL RUMORS ARE TRUE. In fact, the more outrageous the rumor, the truer it is.
This general declaration is retroactive, by which I mean that every rumor you have ever heard in your entire life, from the time you were first aware of rumors, is TRUE. Not only that, but this general declaration is future oriented. Every rumor you ever will hear is TRUE.
What about the rumor that Fr. Connolly will be the next Bishop of Allentown? TRUE! What about the rumor that Fr. Brennan will be his Coadjutor Bishop? Also TRUE! What about the rumor that Fr. Connolly and Fr. Brennan are both about to be excommunicated, publicly whipped and then hanged from the highest tree in Girardville? Strangely, this is also TRUE!

FIRST CONFESSIONS: All of the children making their First Holy Communions today have, of course, made their First Confessions. Church law requires that they do so and common sense affirms the wisdom of the law of the Church in this matter. In regard to this, please note that I made it a point to give the children their choice of “face to face” or “behind the screen”. Some chose one and some chose the other. I had “rehearsed” them both ways. So, I think they had a clear idea of what I meant when I told them they could choose.
This is quite an important and sensitive issue. I believe that little children are entitled to the same level of respect as adults when it comes to such a delicate matter as confessing their sins. FACE-TO-FACE CONFESSION MUST NOT BE IMPOSED ON ANYONE, WHETHER CHILD OR ADULT. Everyone must have the option of confessing anonymously. We do not have to reveal our identities to the priest when we go to Confession, although I think (and some others think) that, in certain circumstances, there could be some advantage in doing so. It is a judgment call. Sometimes we might want to reveal our identities and sometimes not. Sometimes we are almost certain that the priest knows who we are but, nevertheless, we feel more comfortable not looking at him. Freedom of the children of God prevails in this matter.

I told the kids in one of our Sunday evening classes that, if they thought my face was too horrible to look at, they should confess behind the screen. The sighs of relief were downright palpable.

READY! AIM! FIRE! Among the citizens of our fair county, there are a few who are: (a) apoplectic much of the time, (b) misinformed all of the time, (c) earnest in their efforts to make everyone as miserable as they are. One such called into Thunder / Enlightning (cf. 20 May edition of Republican Herald) in order to encourage folks to write to the Papal Nuncio and to the Congregation for the Clergy in order to register their complaints about the priest in Girardville. The caller neglected to give the addresses. Since few persons could be expected to have these addresses at their fingertips, we, as a courtesy, are providing same, together with the name of the Nuncio and the name of the Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy. Please note that the secretaries who handle the mail at these offices will discard any mail that comes from “Anonymous” or “Concerned Catholic”. So, when writing, please provide your correct name, a verifiable address and a list of your current meds.

The Most Reverend Pietro Sambi, S.T.D., J.C.D.
Titular Archbishop of Belcastro
Apostolic Nuncio
The Apostolic Nunciature
3339 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Washington DC 20008-3610

His Eminence
Claudio Cardinal Hummes, O.F.M.
Prefect
The Congregation for the Clergy
Piazza Pio XII 3
00193
Rome ITALY

ADMITTTEDLY, BAPTISM BY IMMERSION is not always and everywhere a good idea, but it usually is. As a long-time proponent and practitioner of baptism by immersion, I was immensely amused by this cartoon (and thought you might be too).
Remember — our motto the next time you have a child to be baptized at St. Vincent dePaul Church or at St. Joseph Church!
What is our motto?
It is this: When it comes to Baptism, the wetter the better!
And then, of course, there is our secondary motto: Forty-three years of baptizing by immersion and we haven’t drowned one yet! And we don’t plan to start with yours!

   BELL PEALS!        BANANA PEELS!      BISHOP APPEALS!