SAINT PETER AND SAINT PAUL, PRAY FOR US! Parish Office Hours Closed: Please call or email

The Parish in the heart of the Endless Mountains Serving Bradford County since 1841

Third Sunday of Easter † April 26, 2020

Saints Peter and Paul Church 106 Third Street - Towanda, Pennsylvania 18848-1798

Phone: 570-265-2113 FAX: 570-265-2114

E-mail: stppp@yahoo.com Website: sspeterandpaulchurch.net

Pastor: Rev. Edward L. Michelini

All public Masses, services

and meetings continue to be

temporarily suspended.

Parishioners are urged to

follow CDC and State

guidelines to limit exposure

to the coronavirus.

Updates will be posted on

the parish website:

sspeterandpaulchurch.net

No Reason to Miss Mass

MASS TIMES - TV and Online

8:15 Daily (including Sunday) with Bishop Robert Barron at wordonfire.org Daily 8 AM, Noon, and 7 PM on EWTN television station

Sunday 8 AM and Noon on EWTN television station

Weekdays 12:10, 3:30 and 7 PM on CTW television; on website www.dioceseofscranton.org; and streaming on Diocesan Facebook, twitter, instagram, and youtube. Saturday Vigil 4 pm on CTW television and Diocesan website www.dioceseofscranton.org; and streaming on Diocesan facefook, twitter, Instagram and youtube

Sunday 10 am on CTW and Diocesan website www.dioceseofscranton.org; and streaming on Diocesan Facebook, twitter, Instagram and youtube

Weekdays 9 AM livestream at TheDivineMercy.org Facebook page

Weekdays 7 pm in Spanish livestream at LaDivinaMisericordia (Official) facebook page

Do you Walk with

Unbelief - Confusion

- Fear - Anxiety ?

Let Jesus be your

Companion:

Open your Heart to

His Truth -

Trust in Him -

Find Peace & Joy !

The Last Sunday in April, 2020

As we continue to venture into unexpected times, I continue to offer you my prayers and best wishes.

The Easter scriptures relate Jesus coming to the disciples and saying, “Peace be with you!” and “Be not afraid!” How relevant this message is for us today! In the midst of all this turmoil and confusion, we are called to be calm, to be at peace, and to not be afraid. While they are sometimes difficult words to hear and embrace, but they also offer us an opportunity to strengthen our faith and relationship in God and to express the love and concern that we have for and share with family and others.

Let us continue to celebrate the Easter season as we journey toward Pentecost and our life as Church.

At present, I am not aware of a local parishioner having the virus; however, Sharon Sweeney— a for-mer resident of Bradford County Manor, who has been residing at a nursing home in Scranton, died in the hos-pital this past week from the virus. Please keep her, and all those who have died, along with their families, in your prayers.

It seems that Pennsylvania’s “Stay Safe, Stay Strong, Stay at Home” policy to combat COVID-19 has been extended at present until May 8, 2020, with a phased program to lift restrictions by activity and location. There are many, many factors that are being evaluated and discussed – everyone has their opinions. Obvious-ly, when the restrictions are lifted, what we considered “normal” before will not be the “new normal” and it may never be again.

At a recent phone conference with Bishop Bambera and many priests of the Diocese, one discussion centered on how a parish will be able to come together to worship, while remaining within the State and Na-tional guidelines – limitation of the number of people, social distancing, health and sanitizing concerns, etc. The “new normal” is definitely not what we have been accustomed to and may not be that easy to accomplish here. Please read and respond to the questionnaire section in this bulletin to help us plan going forward. Mail it back, drop it off on the back porch of the rectory, email responses, or call the office.

Confirmation, First Communion, Baptisms, Weddings, Reception fo those Entering the Church, are all dependent upon the State lifting restrictions and the guidelines for social gatherings that are offered to church-es. Unfortunately, in the foreseeable future, Bishop Bambera will not be presiding at Confirmation as had been planned, so the State guidelines will be the key factor. The State guidelines will also be the key factor for First Communion. Baptisms and the entry of new members to the Church may not be as restrictive, and we ask families to be patient in the establishment of a date – we will do this in conjunction with you and as soon as possible.

Thank you for your continued support for the parish, and for the inquiries and prayers for myself and others in the parish. Many parishioners have kindly mailed or dropped off parish contribution envelopes. Some parishes have extended or started for those interested in “On-line giving.” I am not certain to what de-gree these other options to parish support would appeal to SSPP parishioners. Please read and respond to the questionnaire section of this bulletin to help us consider this possibility as well. I continue to encourage you to call and to remain in contact with people in the parish and with family and friends. Especially at this time, it is not only nice, it may be vital, to try “to be our brother’s keeper.” Consider those infirm, elderly, alone, ill, among us.

The parish has available a parish Community Assistance Fund that has recently been supplemented by several parishioners who wish to assist people in our local community during this pandemic. If you know of persons or struggling businesses that we could assist at this time, please contact the parish office ASAP 570-265-2113—or fill out the questionnaire in this bulletin with details and get it to us ASAP.

In addition, the Diocese of Scranton has announced the establishment of Coronavirus Emergency Fund – see the informational article in this bulletin or see Bishop Bambera’s Video Message Announc-ing Coronavirus Emergency Fund https://youtu.be/1LXaLrDWgmc

Many parishioners have expressed appreciation for receiving the bulletin by email or on the webwsite, and for the Online Spiritual resources that are available. These resources are encouraging to all as we try to learn and to practice our faith at this time; although it has also been expressed that it is not the same as being in our church with our fellow parishioners. May we continue to remember that we are always in God’s presence and that God will be present with us. Peace Be With You! ~ Fr. Ed.

PS: We cannot logistically mail the paper bulletin every week. If you have an email and have not been receiving it every week, PLEASE email yours to stppp@yahoo.com ASAP to stay up to date with us.

Mass Intentions Apr. 25 - May 3 (Private Masses) S

Saturday: Jim Nalisnick (Family) Sunday: Joe Warenzak (Bill & Kate Bride) Monday: Mary Theresa DeWan (Family) Tuesday: Bob Zettlemoyer (Atty. Robert & Ann Murphy) Wednesday: Rita Bustin (Helen Finlan & Family) Thursday: Debra McGovern (Thomas E. Hollenback) Friday: Bob & Hilda Brenner (Bob & Bev) Saturday: Joe Ritsko (Aggie Ritsko) Sunday: Mary Homan (Francis & Lucille Watkins)

Offertory Apr. 12, 2020 Sunday Offering $ 1,308 Holy Land $ 70 Easter $ 2,455 Special Envelopes $ 165

Thank you for your generosity.

Mailed, Delivered & Automatic Payments Appreciated

A Sanctuary Lamp burns this week for:

3

The Season of Easter

As Christians we share in the Easter experience be-

cause we have in one way or another met the risen

Christ and so become connected to the community

that witnesses to the Good News of his Resurrec-

tion. We are Easter People !

One way to make Easter into a season of

celebrations and keep its spirit alive is to adopt the

daily practice of using the Collect for Sunday Mass

as the gathering prayer for a household meal (or a

psalm or other scripture from the seasonal Mass

readings). Adapted from Sunday Missal 2019-20 p. 344

The Witnesses

By means of touch and the sharing of a meal, the risen Jesus establishes direct contact with his dis-ciples. He invites them in this way to recognize that he is not a ghost and above all to verify that the risen body in which he appears to them is the same body that had been tortured and crucified, for it still bears the traces of his passion. Yet at the same time this authentic, real body possesses the new properties of a glorious body: not limited by space and time but able to be present how and when he wills; for Christ’s humanity can no longer be confined to earth and belongs henceforth only to the Father’s divine realm. For this reason too the risen Jesus enjoys the sovereign freedom of appearing as he wishes: in the guise of a gardener or in other forms familiar to his disciples, precise-ly to awaken their faith. Christ’s Resurrection was not a return to earthly life, as was the case with the raisings from the dead that he had performed before Easter: Jairus’ daughter, the young man of Naim, Lazarus. These actions were miraculous events, but the per-sons miraculously raised returned by Jesus’ power to ordinary earthly life. At some particular mo-ment they would die again. Christ’s Resurrection is essentially different. In his risen body he passes from the state of death to another life beyond time and space. At Jesus’ Resurrection his body is filled with the power of the Holy Spirit: he shares the divine life in his glorious state, so that St. Paul can say that Christ is “the man of heaven.”.

~ Catechism of the Catholic Church 645-6

St. Agnes School

Our annual Super Raffle ticket sale is ongoing, with the prize drawing to be held on August 1st (previously June 1st). Three prizes will be given this year: 1st-$7,500 2nd- $3750 3rd- $1250. Tickets are $50 each, and only 500 will be sold. Tickets may be pur-chased by mailing a check to the school at 102 Third Street, Towanda, PA 18848. Checks should be made payable to "St Agnes School."

Saint Mother Teresa of Kalkata

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.

Life is beauty, admire it.

Life is a dream, realize it.

Life is a challenge, meet it.

Life is a duty, complete it.

Life is a game, play it.

Life is a promise, fulfill it.

Life is sorrow, overcome it.

Life is a song, sing it.

Life is a struggle, accept it.

Life is a tragedy, confront it.

Life is an adventure, dare it.

Life is luck, make it.

Life is too precious, do not destroy it.

Life is life, fight for it.

. . . from Touching Stories

“Today I kissed my dad on the forehead as he

passed away in a small hospital bed. About 5 seconds

after he passed, I realized it was the first time I had

given him a kiss since I was a little boy.”

Reach out to those you love: call, write, even if only

by technology . . .

RICHARD M. FARLEY CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT

———————————

521 MAIN STREET 570-265-4993

TOWANDA, PA 18848 FAX: 570-265-5996

E-mail: rmfarley@epix.net

Knights of Columbus TOWANDA COUNCIL, No. 3915

7 Poplar St., Towanda PA 18848

Meetings 2nd Wednesdays at 7 pm

Contact: 570-265-2113

ST. AGNES SCHOOL A Roman Catholic School of the Diocese of Scranton

Pre-K (3 & 4 Years of Age) to Grade 6 Middle States Accredited

570-265-6803

102 Third Street Towanda PA 18848

www.edline.net/pages/StAgnes

570-268-7653 570-888-2202

Please Remember in Your prayers_

Art Badger; Nancy Barrett; Josie Beale; Gus Branish; Donna Brown; Carol Brubaker; Tom Burger; Angela Burke; Rosie Burlington; Chris Cole; Beth Coleman; Patricia Coleman; Jon Curtis; Monica Curtis; Margaret DeMarco; Patricia Dibble; Mary Theresa Dorsey; Rachel Dugan; Stephanie Duggan; George Emery; Helen Finlan; Christina Fleury; Sally Groff; Linda Hilscher; Eric Hodgdon; Evelyn Hoff; John Hoffman, Sr.; Billy Hollenback; Polly Karschner; Annette McClure; Deany McGarrigle; Mickey McGarrigle; Sharon Mahaffey; Nate Miller; Paul Moran; Ethan Neuber; Irma O’Keeefe; Jean Per-ry; Cindy Robinson; Mary Ann Schram; Eugenia Serpe; Pastor Rachel Stahle; Charmaine Stempel; Mackenzie Kempner Taylor; Ed and Barbara Ulatowski; Prairie Rose Upton; Barbara Westfall; Sharon Wilson; Joe Zak; and 5 Special Intentions.

OTTAVIANI OPTOMETRY

1932 GOLDEN MILE RD 55

MAIN ST

P.O. BOX 599 P.O.

BOX 505

WYSOX PA 18854 WY-

SS. PETER & PAUL CEMETERY JAMES STREET - N. TOWANDA

2 AND 4 Grave Lots Available

Business Office: 106 Third St., Towanda PA 18848 570-265-2113

BARRETT LAW OFFICES Patrick J. Barrett, III

Attorney and Counselor at Law

507 West Pine Street 21 Troy St. - PO Box 157 Athens, PA 18810 Canton, PA 17724 570-888-0297 570-673-5180 Fax: 570-888-4142 or 570-364-5799 patrick@barrettlawofficepa.com Fax: 570-673-5780 patbar.law@frontiernet.net

A Community Funeral, Cremation, and Memorial Resource Service Owned & Operated by the Bowen Family

Providing Professional Services that Respond to Personal Needs

Complete Pre-Arranged Funeral Planning — Burial And Cremation Services.

Out-Of-Town Receiving and Transfer Service, Monument Service

www.bowenfuneralhomes.com

Bowen-Farr Funeral Home

570-258-3456

6 Gordon Farr St.—Ulster, Pa. 18850

Brandon B. Allis

Funeral Director—Supervisor

Maryott-Bowen Funeral Home Inc.

570-265-2272

217 York Ave., Towanda PA 18848

James A. Bowen

Funeral Director, Owner / Supervisor

1841– 2016

SS Peter

and Paul

Church

Bob Hugo 570-265-6615 106 River St., Towanda, PA

Auto * Home * Life * Fin. Services

bob.hugo.bt7s@statefarm.com

~~Green’s Auto Mart, Inc.~~ Quality Used Cars at a Fair Price

1503 Golden Mile Rd. Towanda PA

Greensautomart.com 570-265-AUTO(2886)

FAX 570-265-8149

Before You Pay ~ See Rick or Ray

XXXXXXXXXX5

376 Leisure Drive

Towanda, PA

Phone 570-265-7302

Fax 570-265-5065

If you would like to join our parish, contact: SS. Peter & Paul Church—106 Third St.—Towanda PA 18848

Call 570-265-2113 or email stppp@epix.net

REQUEST FOR PARISH REGISTRATION FORM

Name ____________________________Date__________

Address____________________________________________

City,Zip _________________________Phone _____________

CHRISTINA FLEURY

Attorney Elder Law & More

517 Main St. ~ Towanda

570.265.6000

www.ChristinaFleury.com

I set the Lord

ever before me;

therefore my heart is glad

and my soul rejoices.

Psalm 16: 8

Questionnaire – Please complete and return to the parish by drop off, mail or e-mail. Thank You Name ______________________ # in Family Adults ______ Children ______ Phone # ______________________ E-mail ________________________________ Mass Attendance

We attend the 5 pm ____ 8 am ____ 11 am ____ Always _____ Most of the time _____ otherwise the ______ _____ We move around

On-line Giving _____ I do not have a clue what you are talking about _____ Seems interesting for those interested _____ Worth the effort _____ I would use it _______ I would consider using it. ______ I would not use it People or Business in Need Person ______________________ Person ______________________ Business _____________________ Business ______________________ --------------------------- Detach here --------------------------- Detach here --------------------------- Bishop Joseph C. Bambera announces the establishment of the Coronavirus Emergency Fund Bishop Joseph C. Bambera announces the establishment of the Coronavirus Emergency Fund in the Diocese of Scranton to help support public ministries, parishes and school families amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Coronavirus Emergency Fund will allow individuals to financially support any parish in the Diocese, assist public ministries that operate food pantries, kitchens and shelters, or provide emergency assistance for Dioce-san Catholic Schools. People interested in supporting the fund can make a gift to a specific parish, school, pan-try, kitchen, shelter or relief assistance program. “While this is a time of great challenge, I am encouraged to see so many people wanting to reach out in support of our families, our neighbors and our parishes,” Bishop Bambera said. “Due to the suspension of Masses, which was necessary to protect the health and safety of our community, our parishes and the Diocese now face the increased risk of financial shortfalls.” Interested donors are encouraged to make gifts to the Coronavirus Emergency Fund online at www.dioceseofscranton.org/emergencyfund. If donors prefer, they can mail gifts to Coronavirus Emergency Fund, Diocese of Scranton, 300 Wyoming Ave., Scranton, PA 18503. Checks should be made to the Diocese of Scranton and list the gift designation – either the parish name, Catholic Human and Social Service program or specific Catholic School they wish to support.