Hostility between them is a constant theme in St. Mark’s Gospel, although we know who ultimately triumphs. The people in the sotires are challanged to take sides: the disciples, the authorities, the people in the crowds, the listeners. So are we. When we hear the uncompromising position Jesus takes against evil, we are asked where we stand on that. Do we tolerate it, for an easy life? Do we give in, and behave in ways more in keeping with evil that with Christ? Do we face our own demons and, with God’s grace, expel them from our lives? Are we prepared to hear a new teaching, to be shaken by the radicalism of Jesus’ message, or do we prefer to go through the motions of habit and conformity? To speak, act and live with Chirst’s authority is a vocation that calls us constantly to grow closer to Him, day after day. We have the means to do that through prayer; through daily attention to scripture reading, study, and meditation; through the sacraments, and through the constant practice of the virtues. Challenging authority in this world is something that we all may be called to do from time to time. But we are also called to recognize the ultimate authority of God, and to reflect on how that challenges us in our everyday lives.

All this is in stark contrast to the story of Jonah. We hear about his arrival in Niniveh and his call to the people to repent; but remember that Jonah, like so many of his counterparts, was a reluctant prophet. He was trying to escape his commission from God when the ship was fleeing on was caught in a mighty storm, whereupon he confessed and was thrown overboard. Only when he had been spat out on the shore by the sea creature did he dry himself off and accept his mission. There is a touch of the Jonah in most of us: there are tasks that we know await our attention, yet we, find all kinds of excuse to avoid them, either because we can’t be bothered, or because we fear the consequences, or because we fear failure.

When it comes to searching, isn’t it interesting that while we think it is up to us to spend our lives searching for purpose, searching for God, the Gospel reminds us that actually it is the other way around? We have a God who is searching for us. Jesus says to us, as He said to His first disciples: “Follow Me.”

Finding Jesus is never a one-time event. It is a lifelong engagement. Each day we are invited to say to the Lord, “Where do you live?” And each day the Lord will reply, “Come and see.” Our lives would indicate that we know very little and we understand less. But every day is a fresh opportunity to seek the Lord and to say, “Speak, Lord, Your servant is listening.” We do not know all the answers to all the challenges of life. But at least we can live the questions in an open and honest way. Speak, Lord, Your servant is listening.

• 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

In Jesus’ baptism we have a clear image of the Holy Trinity acting together. Father, Son and Holy Spirit are united in an act of love and commitment. The baptism isn’t just a single event in isolation. The baptism of Jesus marks the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. From this point on, everything Jesus does will be under public scrutiny. His journey will lead to His death and His resurrection. And it is fitting that Jesus is sent out on this new part of His life affirmed by His heavenly Father and filled with the presence of the Holy Spirit. What better send-off can we ever give our children than reminding them that they are loved and that their parents are proud of them? This is what our heavenly Father does. Filled with the Spirit and with the knowledge of His Father’s love, Jesus sets out on His mission.

The Divine name “Yahweh” is fulfilled in Jesus’ circumcision and naming ceremony in today’s Gospel lesson. Following the instructions given in the Old Covenant, Mary and Joseph went to the local synagogue at Bethlehem on the eighth day of Jesus’ life. Why the eighth day? Some have claimed that it was primarily to make sure the boy was strong enough to handle the bloodshed of circumcision. The eighth day indicates a new creation. Recall the original seven days of creation in Genesis, when God made all that exists out of nothing and by the power of His Word. Later, God re-made His creation through the flood, where eight souls were saved by water.

And so on the eighth day, Jesus was circumcised. In the Old Testament, circumcision was the special mark given to God’s people, His “baptism” by which He claimed His people. On the Law side, the foreskin symbolized rebellion against God. But you still ask, Why was Jesus, as the sinless Son of God, circumcised? To keep the law for us. Recall that Jesus was born not to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. We have broken God’s law by our fault, by our own fault, by our own most grievous fault. If you think you can keep any law, well, just try to even remember your New Year’s resolutions from this past year. If your experience with these resolutions is anything like mine, they only serve to help bring you to repentance and remind you that no one, save Christ Himself, can keep the Law, which began with His circumcision.

Along with His circumcision, the Christ Child was officially given the name Jesus, Savior. The name “Jesus” is richest and purest Gospel. And so Jesus, as the new Joshua, would lead His people out of the wilderness of sin, through the Jordan of Holy Baptism, and into the Promised Land of heaven. And it’s a good thing! Left to ourselves, we only rebel against God. On our own, we have gone our own way, been our own gods, and worshiped the various golden calves in our lives. The Divine name, Jesus, proclaims that through this Boy, there is salvation for you and me. By His perfect obedience (including His circumcision), His baptism in the Jordan, His temptation in the wilderness; by His suffering, death, and burial; by His glorious resurrection, ascension, and second coming–yes, through Him who has the name that is above every name, there is salvation for us.

And He gives you His name in Holy Baptism, He puts His name on you. The name He chose for Himself is the name He chooses to give to you. Do not doubt it, you are a named people. There is shame in being a no-name, shame for those who have no heritage. That’s who you were. You were a non-people with no name, but now you are the blessed ones of God. Not on account of your name: your heritage or your good successes, but rather, on account of this, your adopted name; as sons of God and heirs of heaven with Christ Jesus. God bless you, The Lord save you, you are His, each of you. There is not one here or anyone anywhere that has not been given this new status by God. Some may reject that, sure, but the Good News, the cold, hard, historical fact, is that God has made you His in Christ; Jesus has fulfilled His Office, His purpose. All are equal in Him, one individual is no better than any other, for you are all one, holy, saintly in Christ Jesus. In Christ Jesus, that is, being baptized into His name, all are one, together, the same status. You are Church, His Body, His Bride. As a bride receives the name of her bridegroom, so we who are yoked to God through Baptism into Christ, we have received His name, made to be part of His family in the most intimate way, given a heritage and success and prestige. We share in His eternal home and inheritance. Whatever is His is ours. We are truly heirs of heaven. See what He has done. He is circumcised and He is named. All for you. Do not continue doubting. Repent. Believe. In Jesus’ name.

If God asks Mary’s permission to enter our world in the person of her son Jesus, this humble request is a sign of how the new creation will work. The Lord will continue to make humble requests to His followers, and Mary will be for ever the model of how to respond. Jesus offers himself as gift to us in so many ways: in His word, which we ponder through the scriptures; through the sacraments, which continue His living presence among us; and thorough the loving fellowship we share as we gather in His name. Each age has its particular challenges. In our day we are asked to come up with creative answers that link our belief to the world that surrounds us, whether it be in the realm of science, the arts, politics or thought. Sometimes our knee-jerk response will be to say “no”. Like other human beings we are comfortable with what we know and like. We are asked to be like Mary and find a way to say “yes” and so continue to give birth to the new creation brought to us through her Son. It will always challenge us, spiritually, morally, even physically at times. Let us pray for the courage to be inspired by Mary to say “yes” to the world we are asked to share in transforming.

Does this mean we should go about our daily lives with a constant smile on our face? Well, we could smile more often that we do. We could be more willing to focus on our blessings rather than our problems. As Advent progresses and Christmas draws near, we can have a heightened awareness of God’s presence among us and openness to being changed and blessed by it. Advent is a time to prepare not only materially but also spiritually for the coming of the Lord. It is a time to step outside our busy lives, our tasks and appointments, and simply recognize God’s loving presence in all humanity and in the natural world. Let’s take time today to look up into the sky and be aware of breathing, taking in the fresh God-given air that keeps us alive. Let’s pay special attention to the gift of family and friends. As Christmas draws near, let us join St. Paul in glorifying God for sending Christ to walk alongside us on this earth. Let’s resolve that this year’s Christmas celebration will be a heartfelt and generous community celebration of divine grace.