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 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 week we celebrate the second Sunday of Lent. In our O.T. readings we hear Abraham is prepared to offer the ultimate sacrifice of his son. This prefigures the sacrifice of Jesus, who dies for all of us.

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults class will be held on Monday at 1 p.m. in the parish center.

Stations of the Cross will be held for St. John Neumann Students on Monday at 1:15 p.m. and Parish Stations will be celebrated on Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. All are welcome to join us in this devotion as we recall the final steps of Jesus on earth. People of all faiths are invited to participate in this Lenten devotion.

Friday, the parish celebrates its monthly Eucharistic First Friday devotion beginning with Mass at noon followed by Adoration until 3 p.m. when we conclude with Mid-Day Prayer and Benediction.

Saturday and Sunday our second offering is for Operation Rice Bowl as our parishioners participate in this global charitable effort to help many who are in need of food, good drinking water and shelter. Donations may be put in the weekly collection receptacles or mailed to the parish office.

All Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 are reminded that all Lenten Fridays are days of abstinence from meat. Those who are ill are excused from this obligation. The obligation ends at 60 years of age.

Father Bill asks that we continue to pray through the intercession of Father Walter Ciszek that God will bring spiritual, physical and emotional healing to all who continue to struggle with COVID-19.