Saint Joseph Parish: $1,644.00 from the Sunday envelopes; $130.00 from the second collection (plate); $115.00 from the loose. Thank you.

Saint Vincent DePaul Parish: $909.00 from the Sunday envelopes; $109.00 from the second collection (plate); $57.00 from the loose. Thank you.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE AND HEAR BISHOP-ELECT BARRES’S remarks at the press conference held in Allentown on 27 May, you can find them on youtube.
Here is the link.

If you don’t have the foggiest idea what youtube is or how to access it, you probably call your refrigerator an “icebox” and your record player a “phonograph machine” --- in which case, go ask a teenager to help you find youtube.

Appointing Bishops
Introduction
The ultimate decision in appointing bishops rests with the Pope, and he is free to select anyone he chooses. But how does he know whom to select?
The process for selecting candidates for the episcopacy normally begins at the diocesan level and works its way through a series of consultations until it reaches Rome. It is a process bound by strict confidentiality and involves a number of important players – the most influential being the apostolic nuncio, the Congregation for Bishops, and the pope. It can be a time-consuming process, often taking eight months or more to complete. While there are distinctions between the first appointment of a priest as a bishop and a bishop's later transfer to another diocese or his promotion to archbishop, the basic outlines of the process remain the same.

Key Terms
Apostolic nuncio
The pope's representative to both the government and to the hierarchy of a given nation; a key person in deciding what names are recommended to the Congregation for Bishops for possible episcopal appointment.

Auxiliary Bishop
A bishop appointed to assist a diocesan bishop.

Congregation for Bishops
A department of the Roman Curia, headed by a Cardinal. The head of the Congregation, called the "prefect," is presently Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re of Italy. Among the congregation's responsibilities are moderating all aspects of episcopal appointments; assisting bishops in the correct exercise of their pastoral functions; handling ad limina visits (regular visits to Rome by bishops every five years); and establishing episcopal conferences and reviewing their decrees as required by canon law. Its membership consists of approximately 35 cardinals and archbishops from around the world. U.S. Cardinals on the Congregation are Justin Rigali, William Levada, Bernard Law and Francis Stafford.

Diocesan Bishop
Pastoral and legal head and representative of a diocese.

Province
A territory comprising one archdiocese, called the metropolitan see, and one or more dioceses, called suffragan sees. The Code of Canon Law spells out certain limited obligations and authority that the metropolitan archbishop has with respect to the dioceses within his province.
The United States is divided into 33 ecclesiastical provinces.

Terna
A list of three candidates for a vacant office, including the office of bishop.

Stage 1: Bishops' Recommendations
Every bishop may submit to the archbishop of his province the names of priests he thinks would make good bishops. Prior to the regular province meeting (usually annually), the archbishop distributes to all the bishops of the province the names and curricula vitae of priests which have been submitted to him. Following a discussion among the bishops at the province meeting, a vote is taken on which names to recommend. The number of names on this provincial list may vary.
The vote tally, together with the minutes of the meeting, is then forwarded by the archbishop to the apostolic nuncio in Washington. The list is also submitted to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

Stage 2: The Apostolic Nuncio
By overseeing the final list of names forwarded to Rome, the apostolic nuncio plays a decisive role in the selection process. He not only gathers facts and information about potential candidates, but also interprets that information for the congregation. Great weight is given to the nuncio's recommendations, but it is important to remember that his "gatekeeper" role, however,
does not mean that his recommendations are always followed.

For Diocesan Bishops
• After receiving the list of candidates forwarded by a province, the apostolic nuncio conducts his own investigation into the suitability of the candidates.
• A report is requested from the current bishop or the administrator of a diocese on the conditions and needs of the diocese. If the appointment is a replacement for a diocesan bishop or archbishop about to retire, consideration will be given to the incumbent's recommendations. Broad consultation within the diocese is encouraged with regard to the needs of the diocese, but not the names of candidates.
o The report is to include the names of individuals in the diocese with whom the Nuncio might consult and how to contact them.
o Previous bishops of the diocese are consulted.
o Bishops of the province are consulted
o The president and vice president of the USCCB are consulted.
o If the vacancy to be filled is an archdiocese, other archbishops in the United States may be consulted.
• At this point, the nuncio narrows his list and a questionnaire is sent to 20 or 30 people who know each of the candidates for their input.
• All material is collected and reviewed by the nuncio, and a report (approximately 20 pages) is prepared. Three candidates are listed alphabetically – the terna – with the nuncio's preference noted. All materials are then forwarded to the Congregation for Bishops in Rome.

For Auxiliary Bishops
• A diocesan bishop must justify to the apostolic nuncio his need for an auxiliary bishop. This is easier if he is requesting a replacement for a retired or deceased auxiliary.
• The diocesan bishop prepares the terna, or list of three candidates, for his requested auxiliary and forwards it to the apostolic nuncio.
• The nuncio then conducts his own investigation of the priests on the diocesan bishop's terna, sending the names to Rome with a report and his own recommendations. On average, this part of the process may take two to six months.

Stage 3: Congregation for Bishops
Once all the documentation from the nuncio is complete and in order, and the prefect approves, the process moves forward. If the appointment involves a bishop who is being promoted or transferred, the matter may be handled by the prefect and the staff. If, however, the appointment is of a priest to the episcopacy, the full congregation is ordinarily involved.
A cardinal relator is chosen to summarize the documentation and make a report to the full congregation, which generally meets twice a month on Thursdays. After hearing the cardinal relator's report, the congregation discusses the appointment and then votes. The Congregation may follow the recommendation of the nuncio, chose another of the candidates on the terna, or even ask that another terna be prepared.

Stage 4: The Pope Decides
At a private audience with the pope, usually on a Saturday, the prefect of the Congregation for Bishops presents the recommendations of the Congregation to the Holy Father. A few days later, the pope informs the Congregation of his decision. The Congregation then notifies the nuncio, who in turn contacts the candidate and asks if he will accept. If the answer is "yes," the Vatican is notified and a date is set for the announcement.
It often takes six to eight months—and sometimes longer—from the time a diocese becomes vacant until a new bishop is appointed.

Marriage is one of the few institutions that allow a man to do as his wife pleases.

Milton Berle

No man is truly married until he understands every word his wife is NOT saying.

Anonymous

I love being married. It's so great to find one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life.

Rita Rudner

The husband who does what his wife tells him to do is a wise man. The wife who does not let her husband know that she is telling him what to do is a wise woman.

E.B. Connolly

Place: St. Matthew the Evangelist Parish Center, 120 Oak Street, Minersville
Date: Sunday, 14 June
Time: 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm
Price: $8.00 for adults and children age 10 and over / $4.00 for children under 10
Menu: two pork patties; kugelis, sauerkraut or green beans, coffee or tea
Eat in or Take out
Info: Call 570.544.2211

THE WORD OF THE LORD
Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, “Amen”.

Deuteronomy 27:15

A COMMENTARY ON THIS VERSE BY A DISTINGUISHED SCHOLAR
Those are here cursed, not only that worship images, but that make them or keep them, if they be such (or like such) as idolaters used in the service of their gods. Whether it be a graven image or a molten image, it comes all to one, it is an abomination to the Lord, even though it be not set up in public, but in a secret place,-though it be not actually worshipped, nor is it said to be designed for worship, but reserved there with respect and a constant temptation. He that does this may perhaps escape punishment from men, but he cannot escape the curse of God.

Excerpt from: Exposition of the Old and New Testaments
by Matthew Henry

Note #1: Matthew Henry (1662 – 1710) was a distinguished English Protestant clergyman. He served for a while as pastor to a Presbyterian (non-conformist) congregation. He is best known for his devotional commentaries on the Bible. I have respect for this godly man. Although unable to be in agreement with him in all instances, I find his commentaries useful and helpful.
Note #2: Do not be confused by the phrase “putteth it in a secret place”. As Matthew Henry indicates, it goes without saying that the man who puts such a statue in a public place is cursed by God. The verse indicates that the same curse applies even to the person who puts such a statue in a secret place or, as we would say, “on his private property”.

MY APPLICATION OF THE ABOVE AND COMMENT THEREON
There is no particular advantage to be gained by me personally from keeping before my parishioners this matter of the PUBLIC DISPLAY OF THE INDECENT STATUE ON MAIN STREET IN GIRARDVILLE. I have nothing whatsoever to gain from it. I take no particular satisfaction in coming back to the subject, either in the bulletin or from the pulpit. This being so, then why don’t I just drop it? Why don’t I just let it go?
The answer, plain and simple, is this: As shepherd of the Catholic people of Girardville, I am responsible to them for their salvation. I am responsible not just to the devout members of the flock, but to the lukewarm members — and even to the totally non-practicing members. I am responsible not only to the Catholics but also to those Christians who are not Catholics. In a broader sense, I am responsible to every person, whether Christian or non-Christian, who lives in Girardville --- to the extent that their minds might possibly be open to what the local Catholic priest has to say.
And what I say is abundantly clear and I’ll say it again: The owners of the Discount Appliance and Furniture Store on Main Street in Girardville are doing a wicked deed by keeping the pornographic statue on public view. They can make fun of me and tape insults about me in their store window until the cows come home or until they run out of paper and scotch tape, whichever comes first. It makes no difference whatsoever to me.
I want them to know that I have nothing personal against them. I wish them well. I wish, more than anything else, that they would do what is necessary in order to go to Heaven. Nothing else matters! There is not a whole lot of time left for them (or for me) before God calls us before His judgment throne.
It is a dreadful prospect to go before God unrepentant for having blatantly offended Him by displaying this obscene statue.
They would do well to humble themselves and say, “You know what? Maybe this Connolly guy is not our enemy after all. Maybe we are our own worst enemy. Maybe Connolly is right and maybe we’re wrong!”
I ask all my parishioners to pray for them --- at least one Hail Mary.