Sacred Heart Parish, Lafayette Avenue, Palmerton, will celebrate our Saturday Vigil Mass, July 10 at 5 p.m. and Sunday Liturgy at 9:30 a.m. July 11. Please note: Most COVID-19 restrictions in the diocese have been lifted except for sharing the cup during the Eucharist and offering the sign of peace.

The mandate to attend Sunday worship will be discussed by the PA Bishops and all will be notified when Mass attendance is “required” of the faithful.

This week we celebrate the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The 12 hear the message of Jesus and are sent forth to preach the good news. By our Baptism, we have been chosen to be full of love and filled with a missionary heart in sharing God’s word with others.

Art Camp continues Monday through Wednesday at St. John Neumann auditorium. Also, registrations are still being accepted for the 2021-2022 school year.

The parish staff will meet on July 14 for our monthly staff meeting. We welcome Nancy Matsko as our new director of religious formation.

“Christmas In July” raffle tickets are available at the rectory office. Ticket can be returned by mail, placed in collection basked or dropped off at the rectory by July 23. This is our first fundraiser of the fiscal year. Drawing will be held July 25 after the 9:30 a.m. Mass. Need not be present to win.

Next weekend, a member of the safety, security and maintenance committee will spend a few minutes at Mass to familiarize our parishioners with areas of the church they should be aware of in case of an emergency.

The diocese continues its “Because We are Catholic” annual appeal. To date 18% of our parishioners have contributed $17,500 to this year’s campaign. Parishioners who have not yet responded are encouraged to make a donation, no matter the amount, to assist in this important effort.

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.