• I started visiting our Parishioners while blessing their homes after the Epiphany of the Lord (January 6, 2011). I visited 11 (eleven) families. Thank you very much for your kindness and generous offerings.
• Baptism (2) in the year 2011 – Calli Renee Whitecavage – a daughter of Tammie Whitecavage was baptized on February 27. Joelle Amaira Karvois – a daughter of Stephen and Joelle Karvois was baptized on August 7.
• No First Holy Communion and Confirmation class.
• Funerals: unfortunately, our Parish lost one (1) member in 2011: Ida Socker (Age 94) passed away on March 17th and was buried at our cemetery on March 22nd. I celebrated the funeral service for Joseph Vernitsky on March 4th in the funeral home only. Two people were buried at our cemetery: Joseph Kaszycki and Joann Mikutsky.
• Holy Mass was celebrated every Sunday at 11:00 AM.
• The Sick Parishioners were visited mostly on the first Thursday or Sunday of each month. There were 48 (forty eighth) shut-ins from our Parish visited. They received Sacraments of Penance and Holy Communion at their homes, hospital or at nursing homes.

Lent and Easter:

• The Lenten season began on Ash Wednesday, March 9th. Holy Mass with distribution of ashes took place in our church at 6:00 PM and 14 people attended the service. Last year – 9.
• During the Season of Lent we celebrated our Lenten Devotions: Stations of the Cross and Litany of the Passion, on Sunday’s after the Holy Mass.
• The liturgy of the Holy Week: Palm Sunday – 11:00 AM (24 people attended – [2010 – 24]); Holy Thursday – 6:00 PM (9 people attended – [2010 – 12]); Good Friday – 2:00 PM (6 people attended) – [2010 – 14]); Holy Saturday – 11:00 AM (12 people attended – [2010 – 16]).
• Solemnity – Resurrection of our Lord – we celebrated the Holy Mass and Easter procession at 9:00 AM on April 24th (33 people attended [2010 – 34]).

Other events:

• The Plymouth Seniorate Council meeting took place in Frackville, PA (St. John the Baptist PNCC) on Saturday, May 21st at 1:00PM. Three delegates attended from the Holy Ghost Parish: Mrs. Theresa Petrusky, Ms. Mary Ann Hoppes and Mr. Joseph Petrusky.
• Corpus Christi service for our Plymouth Seniorate was held in our church on Thursday, June 23rd, at 7:00 PM.
• All Souls service we celebrated on Sunday, October 30th, after 11:00 AM Holy Mass in the church.
• Thanksgiving Day – Holy Mass was on Wednesday, November 23rd at 6:00 PM (5 people attended – [2010 – 4]).

Advent and Christmas 2011:

• Every Wednesday during the season of Advent, I celebrated Rorate Mass in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary at 9:30 AM in our church. Advent Penitential Service took place in our church on Sunday, December 11th.
• Holy Mass of the Shepherds I celebrated on December 24, at 8:00 PM. (31) – thiurty-one people attended the Mass, and (23) twenty-three received the Holy Communion; 2010 – 27.
• Christmas Day Mass (This year it was a Sunday) we celebrated at 11:0 AM, and (13) thirteen people attended the service; 2010 – 5.

The principal feast days and PNCC feast days, and holy days of obligation were observed, as required.

In the year 2011 we celebrated 75 services – 843 attended the services and 638 received the Holy Communion. [2010: 75 services; 968 – 844].

Joe Karvois and Dylan Whitecavage, served at the altar. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

Priest’s schedule – 2011

• March 14th – The Plymouth Seniorate Pastors Meeting in the Good Shepherd PNCC, Plymouth, PA – 1:00 PM.
• April 9th – Diocesan Council meeting, Scranton, PA
• April 19th – Clergy Conference of the Central Diocese (Holy Tuesday) – Scranton, PA
• May 21st – Plymouth Seniorate Council Meeting in Frackville, PA at 1:00 PM.
• June 5th – Installation service of the Diocesan Bishop John E. Mack at 4:00PM – St. Stanislaus Cathedral in Scranton, PA
• June 24th – Plymouth Seniorate Corpus Christi Service – Shenandoah, PA
• July 31st – Automobile’s blessing after the Holy Mass at our parking.
• August 16th – August 18th – The Clergy retreat and conference of the Central Diocese in Mt. Pocono, PA.
• October 1st – Animals blessing in Frackville, PA.
• October 10th – Plymouth Seniorate Pastors Meeting in St. John the Baptist PNCC at Hazleton, PA (1:00PM).
• October 15th – Diocesan Council meeting – Scranton, PA.

Beginning March 2009 the parishes – Holy Ghost and St. John the Baptist – have the High-Speed Internet service which help a lot and I can use same time the telephone and Internet. The cost is divided by three.

Started on April 19, 2009 our parish has the new website created by the Rev. Deacon James Konicki.

I am a member of the Diocesan Council, Liturgy and Matrimonial Commissions of the Central Diocese.

I would like to thank all members of the Parish Committee, Ladies of the Blessed Sacrament Society, Cemetery Trustees Committee, Choir Members for your assistance in the effective service for the spiritual and material benefit of our Holy Ghost Parish. Thank you so much for all your donations and any kind of help to our Parish. Because of your work and service our Parish is active continues the mission of Jesus and is considered an extend family for all of us. On behalf my family and myself, I’d like to say, “Thank you very much” to our Parishioners for your help, good hearts and all your gifts and donations! May God bless you All!

My Dear Parishioners, we begin New Year 2012. May the message of Jesus become a policy of our lives. May we be instruments of God’s peace and love in this world. May our Parish grow in the faith of our Lord.

Rev. Robert P. Plichta

7:30AM – Holy Mass in Frackville.

HOLY TUESDAY, April 19th

10:00AM – Central Diocese Clergy Conference in Scranton.

4:00PM – Holy Mass of Chrism in St. Stanislaus Cathedral, Scranton, PA. — At the Holy Mass, which the bishop concelebrates with his presbyterium, and at which the oils are blessed, manifests the communion of the priests with their bishop. To show the unity of the presbyterium, the priests who concelebrate with the bishop come from different parts of the diocese.

HOLY THURSDAY, April 21st – Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper

The Mass of the Last Supper begins our three days of enacting the Easter mystery. In this rich celebration, we recall tonight the Passover meal that commemorates the liberation of Israel from Egypt, the institution of the Eucharist, and Jesus washing of the disciples’ feet.

6:00PM – Holy Mass in Shenandoah.

GOOD FRIDAY, April 22nd – The Lord’s Passion

According to the Church’s ancient tradition, the sacraments are not celebrated today or tomorrow. The celebration of the Lord’s passion takes place in the afternoon. The celebration consists of three parts: liturgy of the word, veneration of the cross, and Holy Communion. Fasting: all those of post-confirmation age are to fast TODAY limiting themselves to one full meal and two smaller meals, with no snacking between meals. These regulations are recommended for healthy adults. Children under First Holy Communion age, the infirm, those on restrictive medication and the elderly are exempt from the obligation of fasting.

2:00PM – The Liturgy of the Good Friday with adoration of the Cross and Holy Communion in Shenandoah. Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament will be held until 6:00PM.

HOLY SATURDAY, April 23rd

On this day the Church waits at the Lord’s tomb, meditating on his suffering and death. The altar is left bare, and the Holy Mass is not celebrated. Today’s service is arranged in: a) a brief service of light; b) the liturgy of the word; c) blessing of water.

11:00AM – The Liturgy of the Blessing of Fire, Water and Paschal Candle in Shenandoah. After the Liturgy – blessing of Easter food (baskets)

RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD — EASTER SUNDAY, April 24th

9:00AM – Easter procession. After Procession – Holy Mass – intention: for All Parishioners.

Our Lenten regulations are recommended for healthy adults. Children under First Holy Communion age, the infirm, those on restrictive medication and the elderly are exempt from the obligation of fasting.

During this holy and grace-filled season of Lent, all of you are encouraged to share in our Lenten Journey in preparation for Christ’s Resurrection by faithfully attending not only Sunday’s Mass but also our Lenten services that will be include:

Stations of the Cross and Bitter Lamentations (Friday’s at 7:00PM in Frackville or Sunday’s after the Holy Mass in Shenandoah).

Your prayers and participation will be appreciated.

The period of Great Lent historically has been a period of 40 days penance imposed on public sinners. As a time of public penance and self-reflection, the 40 days are reminiscent of the Old Testament Exodus from Egypt, Moses’ period of ascent on Mt. Sinai, the story of Elias and the period spent by Our Lord in the desert following His Baptism in the Jordan river. This period was also one of preparation for catechumens in the early Church. Throughout Lent daily instruction in the tenets of the Christian faith took place wit a regular study of scripture and a fasting of forty days. Great Lent not only presents a special opportunity for abstinence and a penitential spirit, but for prayer and the study of Christ’s teachings as well. Originally these 40 days (in Latin – Quadragesima) were counted from the eve of Quadragesima Sunday to the hour of the Last Supper on Holy Thursday. Around the 7th century this changed and religious sought a period of not only penance, but fasting.

The liturgical vestments change to a violet color to accentuate the penitential feeling of the season.

Beginning with Ash Wednesday, the altar is covered with a violet frontal. In some parishes candlesticks are also covered in violet. Following the example of the Ninivites who did penance in sackcloth and ashes, the Church puts ashes on our heads to humble our pride and to remind us of the sentence of death which we must suffer as the result of sin, accompanying the gesture with the inspiring words: Remember’…you are dust, and to dust you shall return, but your soul returns to God.” Ashes that are used are made from palms, branches of olive or other trees blessed the year before. Parts of discarded liturgical vestments may also be added to the ash materials. Ashes are blessed after the Mass of Ash Wednesday. The symbol of the crucifixion is covered on Passion Sunday (a week before Palm Sunday). – From: “Rites and Ritual” – a liturgical handbook for the PNCC.

8:00PM – Mass of the Shepherds at Holy Ghost Parish, Shenandoah, and Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament; intention: for all Parishioners.
10:00PM – Mass of the Shepherds at St. John the Baptist, Frackville, and Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament; intention: for all Parishioners.

Solemnity – Nativity of our Lord, Saturday, December 25th:

9:30AM – Holy Mass in Shenandoah.
11:00AM – Holy Mass in Frackville.

Solemnity of the Humble Shepherds, Sunday, December 26th:

11:00AM – Holy Mass in Shenandoah, intention: for sp. Geraldine Andrews, of. by Richard & Helen Wienches.

The clergy of the Central Diocese with Prime Bishop Elect Mikovsky