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AVOCA

April 26

Living Stations at St. Mary’s a moving experience

Two weeks ago I had the pleasure of seeing The Living Stations portrayed by the parishioners of St. Mary’s Church. And the last few years, I have truly enjoyed SS. Peter and Paul’s parishioners’ portrayal of Jesus’ passion.

A big thank you is extended to the following individuals for spreading and living the Gospel: from SS. Peter and Paul’s Church: Nick Bennie as Jesus; Nick Pucilowski and Austin Quinn as the Roman soldiers; Beth Yuschovitz as Mary; Amy Mozelowski as Mary Magadelene; Kyle May as Judas; Matt Janiga as Pontius Pilate; Allie Quinn as Veronica; Matt Janiga as John; Laura Brady as the angel; Sierra Lieback, Dana Maurizi, Marissa Williams, Laura Brady, Jacqueline Bennie, and Rachel Serenchick, as the Women of Jerusalem; Jeff Romanecz on lights and sound; Veronica Seber as the vocalist; Tom Kaplavaka as the narrator; Debbie Brady and Lori Ostrowski, directors; and Deborah Yuschovitz, director of religious education. From St. Mary’s Church: Cody McAdarra as Jesus; Charles McAdarra as Simon; Peter Miles as Pontius Pilate; Brandon Shamnoski, Jonathan Kamor, Mary Hoover, Rachel Hoover, and Nicholas Solfanelli as the Roman soldiers; Robert Bamrick as Joseph of Arimethea; Denna Savoy as Veronica; Tiffany Smith, Mary Miles, Rachel Hoover, Mary McAdarra, Mariah Little, John McAdarra, and Nicholas McAdarra as the women and children of Jerusalem; Linda McAdarra as Mary; Kenny Hoover as John; Robert Janik on lights; Julia Aldrich and Lauren Aldrich as the narrators; Kay Price and Kim Lastauskas, directors; Kim Lastauskas and Debbie Callahan, costumes and technical assistants; and Ken Hoover, video.

Raffle Winners

Congratulations to this week’s winners of SS. Peter and Paul’s Church’s match the Daily Number raffle: Betty Lewis, Avoca; Carol Paddock, Moosic; and Sharon Bartowiewicz, Glendale. Please note tickets for the June Match the Daily Number are available now for $3 each. For more information please call the rectory office at 457-2483.

Razzle Dazzle Tix

The parishioners of SS. Peter and Paul’s Church are currently selling July Razzle Dazzle tickets. Tickets are $30 each and can be purchased by calling the rectory office at 457-2483 or from any ticket seller. The tickets offer a daily prize of $100; $1,000 on Saturdays; and $500 on Sundays during July. The winning number is based on the evening Daily Number.

Happy Birthday

Happy birthday to Bob Ryzner Sr., Duryea, who will celebrate his special day Tuesday, April 28.

Praying the Rosary

In honor of the Mary, the Blessed Mother of Jesus, the Altar and Rosary Society of SS. Peter and Paul’s Church as well as parishioners, neighbors, and friends will pray the rosary each weekday following the 8 a.m. Mass at the church, 1000 Main St., throughout May.

Ladies AOH

Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians Pennsylvania State Secretary Maureen Lavelle is interested in starting a division in the Pittston and Avoca areas. Membership is open to women who are at least 16 years old, practicing Roman Catholics, and are Irish by birth, decent, or legal adoption or are a wife or mother of a Hibernian or a member of a religious order. For more information please contact Maureen at 825-0102.

Sports Info

The Sunday Dispatch 2009-2010 Guide to Greater Pittston publication will be available soon. We’ve received a suggestion to include contacts, phone numbers and/or websites of Greater Pittston area sports organizations, such as Little League, soccer, football, hockey, bowling, etc. If your sports organization would like to be included in the new 2009-2010 Guide, please call the Sunday Dispatch at 602-0168 or e-mail the information to jminsavage@psdispatch.com.

Church Keepsakes

SS. Peter and Paul’s Church Centennial Committee is taking orders for custom made wooden keepsake replicas of the church which have a brief history of the parish printed on the back. The keepsakes are $18 each. To place an order, please call the rectory office at 457-2483; place an envelope containing a note with your name, phone number, order quantity, and payment in the collection basket; or provide your information to any member of the centennial committee. Please note checks should be made payable to SS. Peter and Paul Church Centennial.

Parish Honor Roll

SS. Peter and Paul’s Church is updating their parish honor roll of parishioners who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during World War I and/or II, or the Korean, Vietnam, Gulf, or Iraq wars for their memorial booklet. If you know of a past or present solider that is deserving of this honor, please submit his or her name, branch of the service, and the war he or she served in to the rectory office, 912 Vine St., Avoca PA 18641 ATTN: Centennial Committee.

Avoca VFW

The members of Avoca V.F.W. Post 8335 will meet today at 2 p.m. at the post home, 915 Main St. There will be a nomination and election of officers at this time. All members are urged to attend.

St. Mary’s A&R

St. Mary’s Church Altar and Rosary Society will meet today at 2 p.m. in St. Mary’s School auditorium, 742 Spring St.

Called to Holiness

The Called to Holiness and Mission Implementation teams from SS. Peter and Paul’s and St. Mary’s Churches will meet Monday, April 27 at 7 p.m. in St. Mary’s Rectory, 715 Hawthorne St.

Tax Reminder

Residents are reminded the rebate period for the 2009 Avoca Borough and Luzerne County will end Tuesday, April 28. Avoca Tax Collector Therese Wrubel will be available at the Avoca Municipal Building, 752 Main St., on April 28 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. and 1:30-3:30 p.m. If you would prefer to mail your tax payment, please submit both copies of the bill to Avoca Borough c/o Therese Wrubel, 129 Factory St., Avoca, PA 18641.

If you need a receipt, please include a self-addressed stamped envelope with your payment. If you do not need a receipt please include the bar coded tax bill with your payment. If you have any questions please call Therese at 457-4891. Please note Mrs. Wrubel’s office hours will change to Tuesdays from 9-11 a.m. beginning May 5.

First Communion

The First Communion class of St. Mary’s Church will have practice Wednesday, April 29 and Thursday, April 30 at 6 p.m. at the church, 715 Hawthorne St., for their upcoming First Communion.

St. Mary’s Church will have its First Communion Sunday, May 3 at the 11 a.m. Mass at the church, 715 Hawthorne St.

Avoca AOH

The Avoca A.O.H. will meet Thursday, April 30 at 8 p.m. at the West Side Social Club, 700 McAlpine St. The agenda includes a discussion about the night at the races, a scholarship, and the golf tournament. All members are asked to attend.

First Friday Mass

The parishioners of SS. Peter and Paul’s Church will have their First Friday Mass May 1 at 8 a.m. at the church, 1000 Main St. Following the Mass, there will be Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and a variety of prayers recited including the Litany to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Divine Mercy Chaplet.

The parishioners of St. Mary’s Church will have their First Friday healing Mass May 1 at 7 p.m. at the church, 715 Hawthorne St. Come and receive the healing that only Christ can give. Please note there will not be an 8 a.m. Mass that morning.

Reconciliation

SS. Peter and Paul’s Church First Communion class will receive the sacrament of reconciliation Saturday, May 2 at 10 a.m. followed by practice for their First Communion and the May Crowing.

SS. Peter and Paul’s Church will have its First Communion Sunday, May 3 at the 10:30 a.m. Mass at the church, 1000 Main St. Following the Mass, the May Crowning will take place in the rectory garden.

Golf Tournament

St. Mary’s Church invites the community to participate in the St. Mary’s Classic Golf Tournament and Dinner Saturday, May 2 at the Pine Hills Country Club, Taylor.

Registration is at noon and the shotgun start begins at 1 p.m. It is a captain and crew format. Singles will be placed on a team.

The cost is $80 per player. There are also several tournament sponsorship opportunities available at various donation levels which are great vehicles for promoting your business or organization.

For more information please contact John Soy at 947-5163 or Jimbo McMahon at 457-5004.

VFW Auxiliary

The Ladies Auxiliary to V.F.W. Post 8335 will meet Monday, May 4 at 7 p.m. in the post home, 915 Main St. Mary Ann Ruane will preside over the meeting. The installation of officers for 2010 will be held following the meeting.

All members are urged to attend. Refreshments will be served following the installation ceremony.

Centennial Committee

SS. Peter and Paul’s Church Centennial Committee will meet Tuesday, May 5 at 6:30 p.m. in the church hall, which is located in the lower level of the church, 1000 Main St. All interested parishioners are welcome to attend.

The committee is currently seeking photos of parishioners who were miners and are pictured in full mining gear to add to the parish memorial book.

They are also making a request for information about the Boy Scout troop the parish sponsored in the 1930s and 1940s.

If you can help, please call the rectory office at 457-2483.

Altar & Rosary

The members of SS. Peter and Paul’s Church Altar and Rosary Society will meet Wednesday, May 6 at the church, 1000 Main St. The rosary will be recited at 6:30 p.m. followed by the meeting at 7 p.m.

Plans will be finalized for the annual May Communion Mass and breakfast.

Confirmation Retreat

The confirmation students of St. Mary’s Church will have a retreat Saturday, May 9 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in St. Mary’s School, 742 Spring St. Candidates and their sponsors are asked to attend.

Communion Mass

The members of SS. Peter and Paul’s Church Altar and Rosary Society will have their annual Communion Mass Sunday, May 17 at 9 a.m. at the church, 1000 Main St., followed by their annual Communion breakfast at Sidel’s (formerly Family Affair). The Rev. Edward Buchheit, C.P., Passionist priest from the Basilica of the National Shrine of St. Ann, Scranton, will be the guest speaker, and Betty Shimko will serve as toastmistress.

The cost is $9 per person.

To make a reservation, please call Society President Arline Sable at 457-5793.

Communion Brunch

The Altar and Rosary Society of St. Mary’s Church will have a Communion brunch Sunday, May 17 in St. Mary’s School auditorium, 742 Spring St., following the 11 a.m. Mass.

The buffet style brunch will include ham, vegetables, scalloped potatoes, rolls, desserts, and beverages. Winners of the parish’s 2009 Marion Awards and their parents will be the honored guests.

The cost is $10 for adults and $6 for children 12 and under. To make a reservation please call the rectory at 457-3412 by Monday, May 11.

Youth Group

SS. Peter and Paul’s Church Youth Group is selling raffle tickets for an Olympus 8 mega pixel digital camera and 1 GB camera card. The camera features a 3x optical zoom, image stabilization, and a 2.6” view screen.

Tickets are $2 each and can be purchased before and after all weekend Masses through May 30.

Until Next Time

That’s about it for this week! Drop me a line or e-mail me your latest news by Thursday at noon. You can call me at 457-3351 or e-mail me at avocahappenings@verizon.net.

Please be sure to include your name and phone number with any correspondence in case I need to reach you.