Sacred Heart Parish, Lafayette Avenue, Palmerton will celebrate our Saturday Vigil Mass on July 24 at 5 p.m. and Sunday Liturgy at 9:30 a.m. July 25. 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.

Please note: The Bishops of Pennsylvania have removed the dispensation for nonattendance at Mass effective Aug. 15. All Catholics, without a significant reason, are obliged to Sunday worship. We look forward to having all our parish families return.

Today’s Gospel refers to the feeding of the five thousand. It reminds us that God provides for all our needs, especially in the Eucharist where he gives us our spiritual nourishment.

Pope Francis has designated this weekend as: “World Day of Prayer for Grandparents and the Elderly.” We need to honor our older family members and parishioners with gratitude, prayer and deeds of kindness.

Art camp continues this week at St. John Neumann Regional School. Registration for the 2021-2022 school year are now being accepted.

The “Safety, Security and Maintenance Committee” will host a “Stop the Bleed” workshop on July 26 at 6:30 p.m. in the parish center. Please call the rectory if you will be attending.

The second collection this weekend is to assist in the educational efforts of the parish which includes: SJNRS, PREP (Parish Religious Education Program), RCIA and RCIC (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and Children).

The Christmas in July raffle winners will be drawn on July 25 immediately following 9:30 a.m. Mass. We are most grateful to all who supported the first fundraiser of the fiscal year! Good luck to all!

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.