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 face mask and safe distancing is required. The Sacrament of Confession continues to be 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 is the Third Sunday of Easter when we hear Peter proclaiming the wonders of the Lord who has been raised from the dead and has been glorified and has opened the gates of Heaven for those who believe. Deacon Girard will be the homilist this weekend.

Parish Sweepstakes returns are due April 19. Call the rectory office to purchase your tickets.

On Wednesday the pastors and principal of St. John Neumann School will meet for their monthly meeting. Registrations for the 2021-22 school year are now being accepted. For details please call 610-826-2354.

On April 25, the universal church celebrates World Day of Prayer for Vocations. One of the biggest needs in the Catholic community is to increase the numbers of men and woman who will be prepared to serve the church as Priests, Brothers or Religious. Currently, the Diocese of Allentown has 14 Seminarians in Formation of which one will be ordained to the priesthood and one to the diaconate.

This past week Bishop Schlert kicked off the “Because We Are Catholic” campaign, which is the largest diocesan financial appeal of the year. This campaign is a wide umbrella helping to fund many ministries and works of the local diocesan church. Those wishing to contribute can call the rectory office for details.

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