Pastoral Letter
 

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

Late last week I received notice that my oral examinations have been postponed for
one month, and the reason for this change is very encouraging. So many men in the
past two years have entered into the Pastoral Provision process that all the
interviews could not be conducted in one day. For the first twenty-six years of
this provision those being evaluated and those being examined met in Boston on the
same day, once every year. Now, candidates meet the faculty in the Diocese of
Newark, and the two groups must meet separately. Currently there are five dossiers
under the Holy Father's consideration in Rome, mine included. Five more will be
sent to Rome soon. Praise God that so many men are using this avenue to answer
God's call to the priesthood in the Catholic Church. The implication for our
community is that my exams will be undertaken on October 20th at Immaculate
Conception Seminary in South Orange, New Jersey. Some of you will immediately note
that that date is quite close to Kristina's due date of October 28th. Please keep
my family and me in your prayers as the arrival of our baby and the culmination of
my studies draw nearer - and if you feel so called, throw in a supplication that
these two events don't take place on the same day.

Before the exams take place Jerry McGreevy and I will be traveling to Texas to share
with some of the Anglican Use congregations down there the great news about how well
the work of the Pastoral Provision Office and our Society has recently blossomed.
We will visit Our Lady of Walsingham in Houston on September 10th, St. Anselm's in
Corpus Christi for a mid-week visit, and Our Lady of the Atonement in San Antonio on
September 17th. Please keep us in your prayers as we bring to our Texas brethren
greetings from Scranton. Fr. Stetson and Taylor will be unable to accompany us, as
had previously been planned, because the other day for interviews of Pastoral
Provision candidates for ordination is September 22nd, and they must spend the time
preparing to host visitors from all over the country. Thus, we will all be
advancing the work of the Pastoral Provision, but in different ways (I'll even be
using my spare time - and time in the car - preparing for my exams).

Several events will be taking place before the travels begin. On August 13th Msgr.
Rupert will be with us to celebrate the Anglican Use Mass. I have asked him and he
has agreed to bless the bibles that we used during our catechism classes, and which
we still use every Wednesday at Evening Prayer. Many of you donated these bibles in
memory of loved ones. Joanne Shuemaker arranged to have a very attractive
dedication plate printed, upon which the name of the deceased will be written. If
you gave one of these bibles to the Society you are more than welcome, even
encouraged, to come to Mass that day for the blessing. If you would like to donate
another, some are still available. We purchased 40, because of the size of our
Confirmation Class, and 23 have so far been given as memorials. If you would like
to submit a new memorial before the blessing takes place on August 13th contact
Joanne at 570-655-5489, and she will reserve a memorial for you. We ask for a
donation of $30 for each bible, which you may send to the address on this
stationary, checks made payable to the St. Thomas More Society. August 13th is also
the day of St. Clare's Annual Ice Cream Social, which many of you will remember from
last year. The day will be a fine opportunity for fellowship with the rest of our
fellow parishioners, and it will begin at 2:30PM, immediately upon the conclusion of
the Anglican Use Mass, so please come share in the fun.

Our Society picnic is the following Saturday, August 19th. I have printed on the
back of the calendar the notice, providing details about the day's opportunities for
recreation and refreshments. Directions are also included. If you receive these
pastoral letters via email, you have already received notice about the picnic, but
the same document is available on our website: www.stthomasmoresociety.org .
Everyone is invited. We ask only that you let us know you're coming, so we can
purchase the correct amount of food.

A few final notes - We'll soon undertake an effort to aid Birthright of Scranton,
and you'll receive information about this work as it is organized. Also, keep
giving me your suggestions for who you believe our Patron Saint ought to be. August
15th is a Holy Day of Obligation. An Anglican Use Mass will be celebrated at 7PM
that day at St. Clare Church. And lastly, thank you, for you prayers, your support,
and your constant witness to the Faith: Our success thus far is due to how seriously
you have embraced these disciplines. With sincere compliments, I am,

Yours in Christ,

Eric Bergman,

Director, St. Thomas More Society Scranton, Pennsylvania