Called to Serve God's People as an Ordained Minister of the Church

Ultimately, service and ministry in the Church is rooted in God's call and invitation. Ministry in the Church is modeled after the example of Jesus Christ. To be like Jesus is to serve, to wash the feet of others. To be like Jesus is to lead others with our words and actions to experience the Good News of the Gospel. To be like Jesus is to pray always and to intercede on behalf of others.

While there are many ways to serve in the Body of Christ, some are summoned to a vocation of ordained ministry.

Priesthood 

Men who have prayed and discerned this calling, and believe God may be inviting them to serve the Church as a priest, can explore this possibility in several ways: Check out the Diocese of Scranton Vocations website: http://vocations.dioceseofscranton.org/. Contact the Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Scranton here. Or call the Parish Office (570)-344-6159 to talk with one of our priests about a vocation to priesthood.

Priests preside at the Eucharist, preach the Gospel, and pray with and for the People of God. Priests also anoint the sick, baptize new Christians, and absolve sins in Reconciliation. Priests can be involved in a variety of ministries, including teaching, campus ministry, hospital chaplaincy, spiritual direction, and social justice initiatives. 

Diaconate

If you believe God is calling you to serve as a permanent deacon, please visit the Diocese of Scranton Diaconate website and contact the Director of the Diaconate Formation Program (click here). Or call the Parish (570)-344-6159 to discuss this possibility with our priests.

Permanent deacons minister to the needs of the poor. At liturgy, deacons proclaim the Gospel, preach the Word, and serve at table. Deacons might also be called upon to serve in other capacities: funeral services, wedding preparation, baptismal instruction, or visitation of the sick and homebound.

Religious Life

Although religious life is not itself a sacrament, those who are called to serve the Church as members of religious communities nevertheless play a very significant role in preaching the Gospel, serving the needs of others, and praying on behalf of the Church and the world.

Religious sisters, brothers, and priests take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Their lives are signs that the Kingdom of God is among us and that we can also live our lives prophetically, pointing to the need for God's peace, justice, and love to still be fully realized.

To learn more about religious life and the various religious communities of women and men serving the Diocese of Scranton, click here.