All PoconosB2B, News, Classified and all about life in Poconos
  

Read News

Pocono News Section

Bishop-Elect Celebrates Final Easter Mass at Home Parish

Bishop-Elect Celebrates Final Easter Mass at Home Parish - Sunday, April 4, 2010 at 04:07AM EST

Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Sunday April 04 2010
ARCHBALD, LACKAWANNA COUNTY - Worshipers filled churches across the world Easter Sunday.

One of the services in northeastern Pennsylvania had extra special meaning. It was Bishop Elect Joseph Bambera's last Easter Mass at his home parish in Archbald. Eyewitness News attended the service at Valley View High School.

Bambera said, "It's a great day and a joyful day but it's a little bittersweet for me."

This time next year Bambera will be the Bishop of the Scranton Diocese. He'll oversee churches in 11 counties.

Church member Donna Redmon said, "We're gonna miss him tremendously. It has been such an honor and privilege to have him as the leader of our church."

Bambera has been very busy preparing for his transition. After the service he laughed, "I've learned what it's like to be a Bishop. They just point you around and say do this and do that."

While he joked about the change with parishioners, he knows the adjustment might be emotionally difficult. He said, "Whenever we experience change I think there's always a bit of emotion - a pit in your stomach or maybe a lump in your throat."

Some parishioners said their loss is the diocese gain. Mary Matchko smiled, "He's very good with the people and he listens and he counsels you and he's just phenomenal."

Matchko said Bambera helped with the church merger between Saint Mary's and Saint Thomas. She believes as Bishop, Bambera could bring that unity to the entire diocese. "He was very influential in joining the two parishes together and making it one unity."

Bambera said with so much focus on his transition he hopes people also remember to focus on the true meaning of the Easter service. He said, "It's the heart and soul and substance of our faith - that Jesus has died but he has been raised up and that gives us all hope."
 


Discuss this news

Your Name (nickname):
Your Email: (will remain private)
Your Comments:
  


Home | News | Businesses | PA places | Classified | Cars for Sale | Account | Products | Home Recipes | Manuals | Stock Images | Earn Commissions | Advertise | Contact Us | Search
Raw Hack

© 2024 AllPoconos.Com All rights reserved.