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 guidelines. All worshippers for weekend Mass are asked to call the rectory office at 610-826-2335 indicating the Mass time and number 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.

Seating capacity at all Masses is limited to 160 worshippers. Wearing a facial mask and safe distancing is required. The sacrament of Confession is 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 weekend we celebrate the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The readings remind us that Jesus spoke with authority, taught with authority and we must listen to his voice.

This Tuesday is the Feast of the Presentation. Candles are traditionally blessed on this day. It is also World Day for Consecrated Life. This day is to help recognize the great witness of those who have chosen to follow the evangelical counsels and to renew their commitment.

Wednesday is the Feast of St. Blaise when we offer a special blessing for those who suffer from disease of the throat or any other disease. This year, due to COVID-19, only one blessing will be offered at the noon Mass, and no individual blessing will be conferred.

Deacon Girard has announced he will retire as parish Director of Religious Education on July 1. We wish him the very best. He will continue to assist as parish deacon.

If you have an education background, including religious education, and would be interested in this part-time position, please call Father Bill at the rectory office at 610-826-2335.

The parish welcomed three new members who were recently baptized: Aylexia Sky Gulla, Adalyn Jane Gulla and Chase Nelson and the Tod Cook family, newly registered. May all of you find a warm welcome in our parish and may you be spiritually enriched.

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