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 on the parish website at www.shcpalmerton.org.

This weekend we celebrate the third Sunday of Lent. The readings remind us that the purpose of law is to liberate us and lead us to freedom. Jesus speaks of the ultimate freedom to be won is by being raised up. Jesus will be raised up on the Cross on Good Friday and then gloriously raised up on Easter morning!

Every weekend in Lent our second offering is for Operation Rice Bowl. Every registered family is asked to participate one day a week by eating a lesser meal than they would normally eat and with the savings from that one weekly meal share the savings to feed the world’s poor.

This Monday at 1 p.m. in the Parish Center, RCIA class will continue. This week’s focus will be the Creed presented by Mr. and Mrs. Larry Collier.

Stations of the Cross (weather permitting) are celebrated on Mondays at 1:15 p.m. with the students of St. John Neumann and on Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. in the church.

St. John Neumann Regional School is currently accepting applications for the 2021-22 school year. For information, call the school office at 610-826-2354.

The Men of Sacred Heart will meet March 13 at 9 a.m. in the Parish Center.

All men 18 and older are welcome. Weekly Bible study will resume on March 10 at 10 a.m. in the Parish Center. Please note all CDC and diocesan guidelines will be followed.

Confessions are available by appointment. The parish will have a Holy Hour on March 22 beginning at 7 p.m. in the church. Three priests will be available for Confession. We encourage our families to plan to attend and participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

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.