Sacred Heart Parish, Lafayette Avenue, Palmerton, celebrates weekend Mass at 5 p.m. on Saturday and 9:30 a.m. Sunday, following all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Allentown Diocesan directives. All returning worshippers for weekend Mass are asked to call the rectory office at 610-826-2335 indicating the Mass time and how many will be attending. Daily Mass, Monday through Friday, is celebrated at noon. The church remains open after daily Mass until 3 p.m. for private prayer. Sunday 9:30 a.m. Mass is livestreamed on Facebook for all who are unable to join us in person.

Seating capacity continues to be limited to 160 worshippers at each Mass. Wearing a facial mask and safe distancing is required. The sacrament of Confession is offered by appointment only. Please call the Rectory Office to schedule. All other parish and diocesan news can be found on the parish webpage at: www.shcpalmerton.org.

This Sunday we celebrate the first Sunday of Advent when our readings invite the Lord to come and save us from our sins so we can be found blameless when you return in glory. We will light our first candle on our Parish Advent Wreath this weekend and in a special way we ask God to watch over the senior members of our parish for their faithful witness to our community. At our 9:30 a.m. liturgy we will celebrate our Rite of Acceptance for Gail Connell, who is preparing for full initiation into the Catholic faith.

The parish finance committee will meet on Monday following all CDC regulations.

Students from St. John Neumann will celebrate Advent Confessions on Dec. 1. The Parish Bible Study group will meet at 10 a.m. on Wednesday in the Parish Center and on Dec. 4 the parish will celebrate our monthly First Friday Devotions beginning with Mass at noon followed by Adoration until 3 p.m. when we will conclude with midday prayer and benediction.

Our Giving Tree will be our Advent Charity which will directly benefit Catholic Charities and Victims of Domestic Violence. Your gifts will bring joy to many in need.

Father Bill continues to ask for prayers through the intercession of Father Walter Ciszek that God will bless us with a cure for COVID-19 and restore the physical, spiritual, emotional and financial health to our global family.