The St. Thomas More Society

The Rev. Eric L. Bergman, Chaplain
August 10, 2007

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

 A week ago today my family and I returned to Scranton from vacation in northern Vermont and southern Canada.  We made a trip to Montreal, the city of my paternal grandfather’s birth and baptism, another to Burlington, and otherwise thoroughly enjoyed ourselves on and about the shores of Lake Champlain.  We even saw the spot at the St. Ann’s Shrine on Isle La Motte where St. Isaac Jogues celebrated the first Mass in Vermont.  Kristina, the children, and I had not been on vacation since 2005, so we truly appreciated the time away together as a family.  Thank you for your patience as I work to get back to those of you who contacted me during our week in the Great White North (where it was very hot, by the way).

Pledge Update

Thanks also for the pledges that so many of you have sent in.  Last month I wrote that we needed additional pledges totaling $43,000 to cover the deficit from this year and provide 60 percent of the money required to hire an administrator to help me with the work of the Society.  Your generous and quick response to my plea has reduced that figure to just under $16,000.  I owe a great debt of gratitude to those who have already responded, even as I look forward to getting the help we need to advance our ministry.  I appeal especially to our members that if you have not yet turned in your pledge card, please do so.  We would like to have our new employee on staff by the first of the year. 

New Classes for Catechism

January 1, 2008 is more than four months away, but September 1, the unofficial beginning of the school year, will be upon us in no time.  The first Sunday for our new First Holy Communion class and Adult Confirmation Catechesis will be September 2^nd.  Both classes will be held that Sunday, the First Holy Communion Class at 8:30AM in the basement of St. Anthony Church, and the Adult Confirmation at 11:30AM in the choir loft of the church.  This arrangement will allow for the choir to practice before Mass, and it will allow coffee hour to be held after Mass, with neither class suffering the distraction of nearby competing conversations.  I do realize that this is Labor Day weekend, but this first Sunday is scheduled with an eye toward September 23^rd, when I will be in Rome on pilgrimage and thus unable to teach each class.  If you desire to register for either of these classes please contact me at my office at 570.343.0634 as soon as possible.

Office Hours

Yes, I am now in my office at 949 Scranton Street in West Scranton.  To get here from St. Anthony Church, simply go south on North Main Avenue.  This thoroughfare becomes South Main Avenue at Jackson Street, and Scranton Street is one block south of Jackson on the left.  I give you directions because I expect that at least some of you will on occasion be visiting the Society Office, and I do not want anyone getting lost.  But I would also like to be accessible at regular and predictable intervals.  Until we have the administrator we need, I will hold Office Hours from 9:30AM to 11:30AM Monday, Thursday, and Friday.  When you call during these times the phone will be answered, thereby ending the frustration that attends phone tag.  And, unless an emergency calls me away, you will know where to find me outside of church for at least six hours each week.  Of course, I will be available to meet and talk with you at other times during the week, but these new Office Hours will offer a sure-fire way to contact me.

Speaking Engagements

On Monday, August 20^th, at 6PM EST, I will be interviewed on the Catholic Answers Live radio program, hosted by Jerry Usher.  Catholic Answers Live can be heard on channel 160 of Sirius Satellite Radio, as well as locally here in Scranton on AM 1550.  If neither of these is available to you, and you have access to the internet, you can hear the interview on www.catholic.com.  Go to Radio, and click on ‘listen live’.  Remember, also, that I will appear on ‘The Journey Home’ with Marcus Grodi on the Eternal Word Television Network (channel 12 in Scranton) on Monday, October 22^nd at 8PM EST.  Finally, I will be speaking in Charleston, West Virginia on September 14^th and 15^th.  Please keep me in your prayers as the publicity surrounding my ordination continues to place the Anglican Use and the Pastoral Provision before those who need to know about the Church’s generosity to our separated brethren.  Pray that I might be an articulate advocate in our shared mission to reconcile Anglicans to Mother Church.

Pilgrimage Mass

More important than any of the above engagements is the Anglican Use pilgrimage to Rome from September 22^nd to the 29^th.  Several of the Anglican Use pastors will be in Rome together, along with about 100 laymen from the Anglican Use parishes, and also the Ecclesiastical Delegate, Archbishop John Myers, and his Secretary, Fr. William Stetson.  We hope that our prayers in the Eternal City will be efficacious in leading more and more people to take advantage of the Pastoral Provision, and we will pray also that the Anglican Usage of the Roman Rite might be made available to people beyond the borders of the United States.  Our prayers for the success of this pilgrimage, however, will begin here.  At 10 AM on Saturday, September 22^nd at St. Anthony of Padua Church, I will celebrate an Anglican Usage Mass for those going on the pilgrimage.  Anyone else who shares our hope for the success of the pilgrimage is welcome and encouraged to assist at this Mass.  Please come to wish us well as we depart to offer our shared intentions in the land of St. Peter’s and St. Paul’s final witness to the Faith. 

A Few More Important Matters

The intentions I offer at Mass each day are determined by you.  Increasingly the Catholics of the North Scranton parishes are making the Anglican Usage Mass their own, which means they have begun to request of me in ever greater numbers Mass intentions for their deceased loved ones and special intentions for the living.  I am happy to fulfill their requests, as our Mass is one of only three daily Masses in this part of the city now.  Therefore, if you have a Mass intention that you have been putting off getting to me, don’t delay any further.  Based on the number of requests I have been receiving, we may well find that the date you desire will not be available for long.  Also, do not forget to pray the Rosary.  Our Wednesday night Rosary at 5PM still meets every week, and I would be very happy to have you join us.  But even if you can’t, please remember the lives of the unborn in your intentions as you pray this powerful devotion.  You can give to help the unborn, too.  The Birthright display at the back of the church includes envelopes to make monetary contributions, if you are not able to bring one of the needed items.  Try to help in some small way this ministry each month.  Confessions are heard before each Mass, also, don’t forget.  Moreover, we just received name plates for the confessionals, so you can see whether Fr. Skitzki, Fr. Edwards, or I am hearing confessions on any given day.  Please take advantage of the graces offered through this Sacrament.  Finally, the parish picnic was a great time, once again.  Many thanks go out to all who participated in its organization and benefited from its many blessings to our Society.

 With a grateful heart for your prayers and generosity in support of our mission to the people we love, I am,

                                                                                                 Ever Yours in Christ,