Sacred Heart Church, Lafayette Avenue, 243 Lafayette Ave., Palmerton, will celebrate its regular weekend Mass schedule: 5 p.m. Saturday and 9:30 a.m. Sunday. This weekend we will celebrate the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Our Scripture readings invite us to take up our cross and follow Jesus. One way of following Jesus is by doing works of charity as done by the Old Testament woman who extended hospitality to the prophet Eliska.

This Saturday a special 10:30 a.m. Mass will be celebrated for our parish children who will make their First Holy Communion: Colin Becker, Samantha Corporan, Samantha Gordon, Shane Moyer, Isabella Proscia, Chase Sebelin, Isabella Stroup and Carter Tubbs.

At last Sunday’s Mass, Madison Beahm, graduating senior of Palmerton Area High School, was awarded the annual CACPAC Good Samaritan Award for service to church, community and school. Madison is planning to attend college to pursue a career in pediatric medicine.

Daily Mass (Monday through Friday) is celebrated at noon in the church. The church remains open for private prayer to 3 p.m. Confessions are heard by appointment only. Please call the parish office at: 610-826-2335 to schedule with Father Bill.

Beginning Monday the parishes of the diocese will increase seating capacity. Sacred Heart will increase to 160 attendees. Worshippers are required to continue safe distancing and wear protective mask when attending church. To reserve your seat for worship, please continue to call the rectory office.

Father Bill continues to ask for us to pray to God through the intercession of Father Walter Ciszek for a cure to COVID-19 and the restoration of spiritual, physical emotional and financial health to our global family.