Sacred Heart Parish, Lafayette Avenue, Palmerton, celebrates weekend Mass at 5 p.m. on Saturday and 9:30 a.m. Sunday, following all CDC and Allentown Diocesan directives. All 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 at www.shcpalmerton.org.

This Sunday we celebrate the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time. The theme for this week’s readings is through Baptism we are joined to the Lord who calls us to be his disciples.

Beginning Jan. 18 in the U.S. we celebrate The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and we especially pray for persecuted Christians throughout the world. Also, Monday our nation remembers the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and we encourage prayers for peace and justice.

Our second collection this week is for the Parish Education Fund which is allocated to St. John Neumann Regional School subsidy, the Parish Religious Education Program and the Rite of Christian Initiation Program.

On Wednesday, the pastors and principal of St. John Neumann will meet in the Sacred Heart Rectory. The school’s recent Day of Giving was a success. These funds will be used to provide financial aid to needy families who have students enrolled or to be enrolled. The Day of Giving raised $11,440.

Parishioners who signed up for Club 31 are reminded of the importance of praying for an increase in Vocations. Anyone with questions regarding the promotion of Religious Vocations should contact Joyce Platz at 610-377-3250.

The parish staff will meet on Wednesday at 1 p.m. to review plans for the upcoming season of Lent.

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.