Sacred Heart Parish, Lafayette Avenue, Palmerton, will celebrate our Saturday Vigil Mass, June 26 at 5 p.m. and Sunday Liturgy at 9:30 a.m. June 27. Please note: Seating restrictions have been lifted.

Masks are only required of those who are not fully vaccinated. “Fully vaccinated” is defined as being two weeks after receiving the final dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Confessions continue to be available by appointment only. Please call Father Bill to schedule a time.

This week we celebrate the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The readings remind us that sickness and death have entered the world but are overcome through the Resurrection of Jesus. He hears the cry of those in need, heals the sick and opens for us the gates of eternal life.

Our second offering this weekend is for “Helping Hands” (formerly St. Vincent de Paul). Your generous support will be greatly appreciated in their efforts to support the local needy of our parish and community.

Join us for First Friday Devotions July 2 as we celebrate Mass at noon followed by Adoration until 1:30 p.m. when we will conclude with Benediction.

Deacon Girard will have a par-liturgical service and Communion on First Friday for the Catholic residents of the Village.

Next Sunday, July 4, we will celebrate Independence Day. We give thanks for God’s many blessings on our nation as we celebrate our 245th anniversary as a new nation, under God with liberty and justice for all.

The Parish welcomes Nancy Matsko to our staff as Director of Religious Education effective July 5. Nancy comes to us with much experience. We remind all parish parents that all grade-school students up to and including eighth grade should receive religious instruction either through St. John Neumann Regional School or being enrolled in the Parish Religious Ed Program.

July 18-21, the diocese is sponsoring Quo Vadis (for young men) and Fiat (for young girls) age 14 to 18 retreats to help discern vocations. The retreats will be at DeSales University.

Registration fee is $150. For more information please call the Vocations Office at: 610-437-0755.

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.