| February 10, 2005
Dear Friends and Members of the St.
Thomas More Society,
Yesterday we entered into the season of Lent. Kristina, the children,
and I received the imposition of ashes during the noon Mass at St.
Clare’s. Our Lenten devotions, however, do not end there. Msgr.
Feldcamp has informed me of several opportunities to aid our devotion
during this time of increased penitence and fasting. The first occurs
each Friday in Lent at 7PM at St. Clare Church when we will have
occasion to pray the Stations of the Cross. Society members are invited
and encouraged to observe this custom with the parishioners of St.
Clare. The second is the Holy Week schedule, of which I will make you
aware as we draw closer to Palm Sunday. Remember, also, that Mass is
celebrated at 8AM daily at St. Clare and at 4PM on Saturdays and 9AM and
11AM on Sundays.
Third, I asked whether we as a Society Scranton, Pennsylvania might
schedule a devotional practice unique to those coming from the Anglican
tradition. I suggested we pray together the Litany, found beginning on
page 187 of The Book of Divine Worship. The Litany is especially
appropriate for penitential seasons, and you will remember it as the
devotion that in the Episcopal Church we observed before the beginning
of each Lenten service. Msgr. Feldcamp agreed that we may meet each
Wednesday at 7PM in the church, beginning February 16th, to
say Evening Prayer, followed by the Litany. I hope as many as are able
will come to pray communally for the welfare of our Church, our
community, and our nation, as well as to offer up supplications for the
increase of our particular mission.
Fourth, Ed Facciani has agreed, beginning March 1st, to lead
the Society’s Bible Study each Tuesday from 7:30PM to 9PM in the
basement of St. Clare. Ed insists that he will be strictly punctual in
beginning and ending the study on time, and he invites anyone interested
in a fuller understanding of God’s Word to pray over the Scriptures with
him. Call him at 563-2399 to sign up or to learn more details about
this ministry.
On a different note, next week I will travel to Arlington, Texas to meet
with Catholics involved in the establishment of other Anglican Use
Parishes. This promises to allow me to make some helpful connections as
we move forward towards our goal of founding an Anglican Use Parish here
in Scranton. I will depart February 16th and will return
late in the evening of February 18th. Please keep me in your
prayers, that I may be granted safe passage to and from Texas, and that
the Society may greatly benefit by my presence with those who can help
us as we undertake our conversion, if only because they have already
been down this road.
It has also been brought to my attention that Bishop Martino will visit
St. Clare Church on March 13th in observance of the parish’s
50th anniversary celebrations. Several people have suggested
that we be present then as a Society of the parish, first to demonstrate
our gratitude to the people of St. Clare, and second, to tell Bishop
Martino how much we appreciate his generosity to us. If you are
interested in representing the Society that day, please call me at the
number listed above that we may plan a small presentation. Finally, our
next scheduled catechism class will be on February 20th.
Please take note that we will not have class on March 6th.
With heartfelt joy for your friendship and offering up prayers for your
health, I am,
Yours in Christ,
Eric L. Bergman,Director
St. Thomas More Society of St. Clare |
