St. Thomas More Society
              Scranton, Pennsylvania

Pastoral Letter
 

May 25, 2005

Dear Friends and Members of the St. Thomas More Society,

Enclosed you will find a calendar of Society events scheduled for June.  Please refer to it carefully, as the calendar reflects changes implemented since our last Catechism class this past Sunday.  Through this letter I shall explain what the changes are and why they have been made.

 First, you will note that we have four Catechism classes on Wednesday evenings.  This change was made for two reasons.  For one, we have much material to cover and in order for us to fit in the requisite instruction we have had to expand upon the dates already set forth at the beginning of the year.  After all, we do want to be confirmed in the late summer, keeping on schedule, and Fr. Connor has been very flexible in ensuring that that will happen.  But also, confining our classes to Sunday meant that conflicts often meant the schedule was changed on short notice.  You’ll note that the classes previously on the calendar for June have been erased, and a Sunday we had no class, the 12^th, now has class scheduled.  All together we will meet in June five times, once on a Sunday at 3PM and four times on Wednesday evening beginning at 6:30PM.

 Second, this schedule, particularly the Wednesday evening classes, means that some of you will be unable to attend because of previous commitments.  I know one person has a college course each Wednesday and another works at night.  I will offer instruction at another time to those who miss class as a result of these extraordinary circumstances.  So if you fall into this category and I don’t know about your conflict, please get in touch with me as soon as possible so we can schedule the make-ups sooner rather than later.  I don’t anticipate this will involve very many people, as the Wednesday option was brought before all present on Sunday, but we will do all we must to be accommodating, so that one’s Confirmation will not unnecessarily be delayed because he or she has missed classes.

 Third, I have also been made aware that some of you have questions that cannot adequately be covered in the format that obtains while Fr. Connor is teaching, as answers would require protracted discussion.  Thus, to address this need there will be two opportunities in June for members to come before worship to ask whatever you might.  These sessions are not required, but I encourage you to avail yourself of them if certain matters are as yet unclear to you.  The occasion for these sessions will be the first and fourth Sundays at 3PM at St. Clare.   

Fourth, you can see that the time for our weekly Rosary prayer has been made an hour later.  That is, Catechism class will be immediately preceded by the Rosary and Evening Prayer, so that those who wish to may join in prayer before class.  This six o’clock time slot will remain in place forthwith, even on those days that we do not have Catechism.  If we need more food present than simple refreshments we will make the adjustment.

 Finally, the Boston trip, postponed since earlier this month, will take place in July or August.  June’s weekends are full, and on Sunday, June 19^th, all the members of the Society are welcome to travel to Bethlehem with my family and me to participate in the baptism of the Society’s newest member, Alayna Sue Bergman, Dave and Jane’s youngest daughter.  The baptism will take place at 1PM at Our Lady of Pompeii Catholic Church, and I will give directions to anyone who wants to come along.  Call me if you want to be a part of this field trip.  We’ll plan to have lunch down there, and we will have plenty of time to return to Scranton for worship at St. Clare at 5PM.  Come offer your support and see where the Bergman’s grew up. 

 Hoping this answers your questions (call me if you have more), grateful for your patience, and offering up prayers for your health, I am,

Yours in Christ,
Eric L. Bergman