News - Welcome!

Hop on Over to the Lake Winola Area Community Easter Egg Hunt sponsored by Saint Mary of the Lake Church! All children from pre-K to Grade 4 are welcome on Saturday, April 13, at 2:00 PM at the Overfield Township Municipal Park (next to the baseball field). Special note: The EASTER BUNNY will be making an appearance! (In case of inclement weather, the event will take place the next Saturday, April 20.)

Finally, after many delays the Nativity Pastoral Parish Council was able to meet to review the data from the recently completed Parish Survey. Although all of the data has not been reviewed and processed, that work has begun. Members were asked to process parts of the survey data as homework to be reviewed at our next monthly meeting. There is a lot to be looked at and we ask for your patience as we strive to complete this important task. We had successfully delivered 700 surveys to our parishioners and of that number we had a total of 63 survey responses. Thank You! Updates will continue as we progress. We would also like to say, Thank You to Mary Lou Chackan, Dick Schwoebel, Rosemary Lubinski, Marion Dombrowski, Bill Waters, Lynn Andres, Deacon Ray, Paul and Cindy Brown and Fr Pat Albert for their work in getting the survey prepared and sent out to our Parishiners. Please keep us in your prayers as we continue to complete this work. Thank you, The Nativity Pastoral Parish Council Survey Committee

Deacon Ray is conducting a Divine Mercy prayer service on the first Sunday of the month at 3:00PM in St. Mary of the Lake Church. The next service will be next Sunday, March 3rd. All are welcome

Ash Wednesday, March 6, 2019 marks the beginning of Lent. The following fast and abstinence regulations are observed: • Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, April 19, 2019, are days of fast and abstinence. • Fridays during Lent are days of abstinence. • All Catholics who have reached their 14th birthday are to abstain from eating meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and on all Fridays during Lent. • All Catholics over 18 years of age to the beginning of their 60th year are bound to the obligation of fasting. Those bound by this rule may take only one full meal and two smaller meals unless dispensed or excused.

Come and spend Monday afternoons during Lent reflecting on "The Mass", a study program from Bishop Robert Barron's "Word on Fire." Walk through the Liturgy with Bishop Barron and be transformed through insights on this most privileged and intimate encounter with our Lord Jesus Christ. The sessions will be held over seven weeks on Monday afternoons from 1:00 - 2:30 PM in the parish Rectory Meeting Room. Sessions will begin on March 4 and conclude on April 15. If you would like to attend, or for more information, please call Cindy Brown at 570-836-4744. Click above to view a short video introduction.

We extend our congratulations to the following parishioners who have completed their training to be Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: St. Mary of the Lake: Danny & Santina Williams, Patricia Zaleski, Diane Schwiezer Nativity BVM: John Parduski, Mary Jean Vikara, You will see them performing their ministry in the near future. We also congratulate our new lector at Nativity BVM -- Alyssa Vikara

"Come one - Come All" to the 2019 Nativity - Saint Mary Potluck Dinner on Saturday, March 2, 2019, at 6:00 PM in Father Nallin Hall. This year's dinner will have a Mardi Gras theme and entertainment will be provided! Everyone is welcome. Bring family and friends. All that is required is you bring some food to share with others. Examples would be: A pot of baked beans, soup, rolls, dessert, a plate of cookies, a casserole, fruit, etc., etc. R.S.V.P. by February 24 to Cindy Brown at 570-836-4744 or the Parish Office at 570-836-3275. Click above for more information. "Laissez les bons temps rouler!"

Join the Nativity Altar and Rosary Society on their annual trip to the Philadelphia Flower Show. The theme of this year's show is "Flower Power". The trip is scheduled for Friday, March 8. The bus leaves the Nativity parking lot at 7:15 AM, with a breakfast stop at Hickory Run. The bus will depart from Philadelphia at 4:15 PM. The cost is $85.00 per person which includes the bus, admission, and tip. Make checks payable to Nativity Altar and Rosary. Call Sue (570-836-1351) or Mary Lou (570-836-3275) for reservations or questions. Click above for a video.

The Leprechaun says: "Top off your Parade Weekend with a delicious ham and cabbage dinner." That's right! This year's Saint Mary Annual Ham and Cabbage Dinner has been scheduled for the day after the Saint Patrick's Parade! Abstain from cooking on the day after the parade and join us on Sunday, March 10, from 4:00 PM until Sold Out at Saint Mary of the Lake Parish Hall, 1872 Dalton Road, Lake Winola. The traditional Irish menu will consist of Ham, Cabbage, Potatoes, Carrots, Salad, Dessert, and Drink. Eat in or Take Out. Tickets are only $10.00 and can be purchased at the door. See you there! Click above for more information.

Our annual cleanup of Christmas and Winter decorations has begun at Mount Carmel and Pieta Cemeteries. Any remaining items after March 5, 2018 will be removed and discarded. Questions/concerns can be clarified by contacting the Parish Office during normal business hours.

Join Barbara Fabiani Sick for Eat, Drink and Paint on Sunday February 24th at 2:00PM at St. Mary the Saint Mary of the Lake Parish Hall. This is an adults only event. For more information and to reserve a spot, click above to visit the Eat, Drink and Paint Facebook page or call Barb at 570-240-1048. Please make your reservation by February 20th. Proceeds to benefit St. Mary of the Lake Disciples of Mary.

The Diocese of Scranton has launched its Independent Survivors Compensation Program, an independent program designed to compensate survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Click above for more information.

The Nativity Parish Pastoral Council has developed a survey in order to learn what parishioners find life-giving about Nativity parish and where you think the parish should focus its energies. Your input is essential to help us plan for a vibrant, sustainable, and responsible parish. Click above to respond to the survey online. Please return your survey by Sunday, February 3, 2019. Thank you for taking the time to respond to this very important survey.

Save the Date! Saturday, February 9, is the Nativity Valentine's Day Dinner Dance in Father Nallin Hall. Music will be by "Pop Star Drive" (formerly "amRadio") Tickets are $35.00 per person and are on sale in the Parish Office. Click above for more information.

January 1, 2019, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, is a Holy Day of Obligation. Masses will be celebrated at Nativity on Monday, December 31, at 5:30 PM, and on Tuesday, January 1, at 11:00 AM. At Saint Mary, Masses will be celebrated on Monday, December 31, at 4:00 PM, and on Tuesday, January 1, at 9:00 AM.

The Parish Family of Saint Mary of the Lake cordially invites you to celebrate Christ’s Birth with us at a special Christmas Eve Mass. Join us for “Carols With the Choir”, beginning at 3:15 PM, by the Saint Mary of the Lake Adult Choir, under the direction of Dan Williams. Mass begins at 4:00 PM and will feature students in costume depicting the trip to Bethlehem, the Holy Family, and the gifts of The Three Kings. The Mass will also include a special Communion meditation by the choir, as well as a unique Christmas remembrance, courtesy of our parish family. We especially welcome anyone who is new or who is looking to connect with God. Click above if you’re new or want to know how we can help you on your journey of Faith. “Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful”, to Saint Mary of the Lake!

Do you enjoy decorating for Christmas? Would you like to help decorate God's house? We will be decorating, setting up the Christmas trees and the crèche in Nativity BVM church on Friday, December 21st at 8:00AM. Anyone interested in volunteering their time can call the Parish Office at (570) 836-3275 or simply come to the church at 8:00AM on that Friday. Thanks for your assistance!

A reminder to all Saint Mary of the Lake parishioners. The Saint Mary of the Lake Choir will be implementing the new Mass Setting on the weekend of December 8, 9.

Diane Stone from Nativity is conducting a fundraiser for St. Joseph’s Church at the Crow Creek Reservation in South Dakota (that’s the church that she described in her recent bulletin message about her mission experience there last summer). She’s selling Tiny Saints charms after the Masses at Nativity BVM Church this weekend (and next weekend if there are any still available). The charms are $5.00 each and are pictured on the enclosed flyer.

Paul Binner, a former Protestant and a convert to the Catholic faith, is conducting a forum that explores the differences between Protestantism and Catholicism and what those differences mean to us as Catholics. The session will be held in Fr. Nallin Hall (2nd floor) this Tuesday, December 4th, 6:30-8:30PM. Click above for more details. Paul is planning additional sessions on January 9th and January 17th – topics to be announced.