Sacred Heart Parish, Lafayette Avenue, Palmerton will celebrate weekend Masses on Saturday at 5 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. Sunday’s Mass will be livestreamed on the Parish Facebook page. Our celebrant and homilist this weekend will be Father Augustine Temu who visits our Parish on behalf of Cross Catholic Outreach.

Please Note: The Bishops of PA 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. Most COVID-19 restrictions in the diocese have been lifted except for sharing the cup during the Eucharist and offering the sign of peace.

This weekend we celebrate the Solemnity of our Lady’s Assumption, also a Holy Day. The church celebrates Mary’s being assumed into Heaven without the strain of death. On this day in many locations the water of oceans, seas and rivers are blessed as Mary under the title of “Assumpta” is often prayed for her intercession of those who use the water as a means of livelihood and recreation.

A minimum of six months notice is needed by the church (preferably a year) for all newly engaged looking to celebrate their marriage in the church. Those engaged should call the rectory office for more information at: 610-826-2335.

St. John Neumann Regional School is accepting registrations for the 2021-22 school year. For more information please call the school office at: 610-826-2354.

This Wednesday and Thursday, beginning at 9 a.m. in the parish social hall, parishioners will begin the haluski preparation for the Palmerton Festival.

Youth of the parish who have made their First Communion and have not yet graduated from high school and are interested in the Altar Server Ministry should call the rectory office. Training will begin in the next few weeks.

An Automatic External Defibrillator, through the outreach of our parishioner, Mayor Gallagher and the generosity of St. Luke’s Hospital, will be the newest addition if needed to provide a safe and secure environment for our worship environment. Our deepest gratitude to the mayor and St. Luke’s.

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.