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SCRANTON — The Diocese of Scranton’s Sesquicentennial Celebration continues with a Pontifical Mass marking the actual Anniversary Sunday of the founding of the Diocese in 1868.
The liturgy will be celebrated on Sunday at 3 p.m. in the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Scranton.
The Mass will give thanks to God for the many blessings He has bestowed on the Diocese — from the first Catholics to settle here, to the formal establishment of the Diocese by Pope Pius IX in 1868, and throughout its growth in the ensuing years.
Philadelphia Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., will be the principal celebrant. The territory that now comprises the Diocese of Scranton was once part of the jurisdiction of Philadelphia. Archbishop Chaput, Metropolitan of the ecclesiastical province of Pennsylvania, will be making his visit to the Diocese of Scranton. Bishop Joseph C. Bambera will give the homily.
It is anticipated that the Cathedral will be filled to capacity for the Mass. Those attending will include clergy, religious, and lay representatives of various Diocesan institutions, agencies and councils; delegates from the 120 parishes, and representatives from Diocesan Catholic schools.
At all Masses this weekend, all parishes in the Diocese and all Catholics are encouraged to acknowledge the anniversary and offer their prayers of thanksgiving. Parishes have been provided with liturgical guides and a variety of resources to help them celebrate the Sesquicentennial.
The Mass will be available to all for viewing on the live broadcast by CTV: Catholic Television, live streaming on the internet (www.dioceseofscranton.org), and the video later on the website: www.dioceseofscranton.org.
This special liturgy is part of a year-long Sesquicentennial Celebration that began on the First Sunday of Advent, Dec. 3, with a Pontifical Mass in the Cathedral celebrated by Bishop Bambera. Justin Cardinal Rigali, Archbishop Emeritus of Philadelphia and former Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Scranton, presided.
Numerous annually occurring and specially focused events throughout the year are spotlighting the anniversary and the history of the Diocese.
In the coming days and weeks, people in the region will start to see colorful banners featuring the 150th Anniversary logo and theme, “The Journey Makes Us One,” displayed proudly at parishes, Catholic schools and the agencies of Catholic Social Services.
The Catholic Light continues its periodic series of special center sections focusing on various aspects of Diocesan history. Special segments are also airing on the CTV program “Our Faith, Our Diocese.” An Anniversary Year page has been posted on the Diocesan website at www.dioceseofscranton.org
WVIA-TV is producing a series of short video vignettes and a full documentary highlighting the history of the Diocese and the Catholic Church in the region. The video vignettes are airing on CTV and can be seen on the Diocesan website. The hour-long documentary will begin to air March 22 on WVIA and in April on CTV. It will also be available on the Diocesan website.