Letter from Bishop Gainer regarding the Yellow Phase

Please click here to read the letter from Bishop Gainer regarding the opening of parishes during the yellow phase or see the full text below.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Undoubtedly, during these days you have heard someone reference the opening lines of Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way.” Not only one of literature’s oft-quoted passages, these words speak something of the human experience in every age when struck by “the joy and hope, the grief and anguish of the men and women of our time, especially of those who are poor or afflicted in any way (Gaudium et spes, 1).”

These are days which test us in many ways. Such tests often bring out the best and worst in us. They stretch us to our limits, not to break but to expand our capacity to love, hope, and believe. And, there is much good to acknowledge and celebrate. We can see in ourselves and in those around us the best of human care and concern, a flourishing of prayer and deepening of the spiritual life, as well as many other signs of wisdom and light to brighten our day. Together, we struggle to fight against the despair and darkness that come with a sense of helplessness and frustration. Here, the fight itself manifests the “best in us” as we claim our call to live as “children of the light and of the day (1 Thess 5:5).”

As the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania begins the slow and arduous transitioning toward the next phase of this crisis, we, too, as the Church in southcentral Pennsylvania begin to chart our path forward. Directives have been given to our parishes for the possibilities available to them in this next step. Some may judge these to be overly cautious. However, they are prudent and careful steps toward the restoration of public worship. In compliance with the directives of the Governor and the Department of Health, each parish will begin to move forward. This transition will require time and patience.

We must all consider the demands of charity and justice. The commandment of charity, to love, is at the heart of Christian life. The virtue of charity creates within us a selfless and other-focused love that begins with God and extends to our neighbors. The closing of the churches and their slow reopening is not an expression of fear but charity and concern for the well-being of the many who gather in our sacred spaces. We are responsible for one another, our “brother’s keeper,” as Genesis (4:9) reminds us. Our rights and desires are never to be exercised at the price of another’s safety. The law of charity must prevail and the current crisis provides a rich opportunity to demonstrate this.

To that end, out of charity and justice to our neighbors, I ask that as our parish churches reopen and transition to public worship in this Yellow Phase, parishioners attend their own parish churches and respect the stay-at-home order for those who remain in the Red Phase according to the designation by the State Government. Not only does this prevent the comingling of persons outside each county, it allows fair access to their parish churches. As this restoration spreads throughout the Diocese of Harrisburg, each parishioner will have his or her opportunity to return.

I am aware of the sacrifices you have made throughout this quarantine, not only in the practice of your faith life, but also in your families and communities. This instruction is not intended to add to your burdens. Please know that, along with all the clergy, I am eager to return to some normalcy in our liturgical and sacramental lives. As grateful as I have been to celebrate each Sunday with so many of you from our Cathedral broadcast, it is heartbreaking to process to the altar through an empty church. This was especially so during Holy Week. Yet, these sacrifices are offered in charity because our respect for the dignity of every human life needs to be grounded in our practical actions.

Each parish will be formulating a plan for the gradual restoration of public worship. Your pastor has been asked to work with pastoral staff and parish lay leadership to develop a plan that is prudent and fitting for each circumstance. If you have any expertise that could help in this task, please contact your pastor and offer your wisdom and experience.

As we have entrusted ourselves once more to the Blessed Mother on the first day of this month, I invoke once more her protection and intercession upon all of God’s People here in the Diocese of Harrisburg. May she keep us from danger, teach us the path of virtue, and lead us closer to her Son.

Sincerely in Christ,

Most Reverend Ronald W. Gainer

Ascension Thursday is May 21st

The Ascension of the Lord is celebrated on Thursday, May 21, 2020.   Please see below for Mass and liturgy details.

Mass Video 7:30 a.m.
SCL Website Facebook

Morning Prayer 9:00 a.m.
Facebook Live ▪ Posted later on SCL Website

Evening Prayer 5:00 p.m.
Facebook Live ▪ Posted later on SCL Website

*Please note that Wednesday daily Mass will not be posted on May 20th.

 

 

 

 

Staying Connected: Sign Up Today!

Although we are not together, we can stay connected.  In late April, all parishioners were sent an invitation to “stay connected” during this time of distancing.

If you have yet to complete and mail-in your postcard, there’s still time to let us know how you would like to be contacted.  Please take a few minutes to complete the form below!

Thank you!

How do you like to be contacted?

As the COVID-19 restrictions continue, we would like to know how best to communicate with you during this time. Please fill out the form below.

Help Support the 14th Annual Royal Run on May 14th!

Join our team by supporting the SCLS 14th Annual Royal Run on May 14th !

All proceeds benefit the school. Now more than ever we are counting on our families, friends, parishioners, and community members to help us raise needed funds.

Please consider donating $14.00 in honor of the 14th Annual Royal Run.

Click here to donate!  

All gifts are appreciated. May God bless you for your goodness to SCLS!

14th Annual Royal Run in 2020

Our students have been working hard to keep up the learning. On May 14th, they will have a chance to show off their school pride by participating in the 14th Annual Royal Run – at home!

They’ll be walking, jumping, and yes, running and then sharing their photos on our SCL School Facebook page.

We look forward to sharing this special day together. Enjoy a short video from years past!

Chrism Mass on Tuesday, May 12

Chrism Mass
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
10:00 a.m.
Diocese of Harrisburg YouTube

The Bishop will be celebrating the Annual Chrism Mass on May 12 at 10:00 a.m. at the Cathedral of Saint Patrick.  The Chrism Mass offers the faithful a solemn occasion to witness the blessing of the oils and the consecration of the Sacred Chrism that will be used in the celebration of the sacraments throughout the coming year.  Also during this Mass, the priests of the Diocese will remotely renew their commitment to priestly service that they made on the day of their ordination.

The liturgy will be live-streamed on the Diocese of Harrisburg YouTube channel.  Chrism takes its name from Christ, the anointed one of the Lord.  The Sacred Chrism is used in the Sacrament of Confirmation, the anointing of priests in the Rite of  Ordination, and in the dedication of new altars.

 

Scripture Readings – 4th Sunday of Easter

Scripture Readings for the Week of May 3, 2020

Sunday: Acts 2:14a, 36-41; Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6; 1 Pt 2:20b-25; Jn 10:1-10 

Monday: Acts 11:1-18; Ps 42:2-3; Ps 43:3-4; Jn 10:11-18

Tuesday: Acts 11:19-26; Ps 87:1b-3, 4-5, 6-7; Jn 10:22-30

Wednesday: Acts 12:24—13:5a; Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6 and 8; Jn 12:44-50

                                                               Thursday: Acts 13:13-25; Ps 89:2-3, 21-22, 25 and 27; Jn 13:16-20

                                                               Friday: Acts 13:26-33; Ps 2:6-7, 8-9, 10-11ab; Jn 14:1-6

                                                               Saturday: Acts 13:44-52; Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4; Jn 14:7-14

 

Reconsecration of US to Mary on May 1st

Reconsecration of the United States to Mary, Mother of the Church
Friday, May 1, 2020
3 p.m.

Viewing options: 
 USCCB Facebook
LA Diocese Website
EWTN TV broadcast

Click to view the worship guide

As we continue to face the ongoing effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles and president of the USCCB has invited all United States bishops to join him and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops on May 1 (this Friday) in renewing the consecrations of the two nations to the care of our Blessed Mother.

This act of consecration or entrustment is meant to be a reminder to the faithful of the Blessed Mother’s witness to the Gospel and to ask for her intercession before her Son on behalf of those in need.

The reconsecration will be at 3 p.m. (EDT) on Friday, May 1. Bishop Ronald Gainer invites all clergy and the faithful to join him by sharing in this experience. Liturgical guides are attached in both English and Spanish to assist those who wish to participate.

The reconsecration will be live streamed on the USCCB Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/usccb) and social media channels, and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles’ website (lacatholics.org/consecration).

Boy Scout Troop 23 Letters of Support

During this very unusual time in our history, the Boy Scouts of Troop 23 have found themselves in the same situation that all of you are facing.  We are unable to go to school, meet in fellowship, and enjoy our usual activities outdoors.  With the extra time that we have, we wanted to reach out and share our thoughts, our day to day activities, and what we are doing as a Troop.  We know that what we have to offer may not be much, but we wanted to share a little bit of normalcy in the surreal world that in which we are now involved.  Click to read all our Letters of Support