Catholic Social Services Adoption and Foster Care Programs would like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation towards Resource Families.  The dedication and commitment you provide on a daily basis to our children in care never goes unnoticed.

Catholic Social Services Adoption and Foster Care programs will be honoring National Foster Care month with the following events:

Thursday, May 10^th

Who:  Neil Oberto/Mary Angela Schell

What:  Emotionally Intelligent Parenting:  Surviving the Challenges

When:  Thursday, May 10^th, 2012 – 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Where:           Catholic Social Services, 214 W. Walnut Street, Hazleton, PA  18201

For further information or to register, please contact Sheila Maslo at 570-455-1521 or smaslo@csshazleton.org  Childcare will be provided. 

Sunday, May 13^th

Mother’s Day Adoption Mass

Bishop Emeritus James C. Timlin will be the main celebrant for the annual Mother’s Day Adoption Mass being held on Sunday, May 13, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Scranton.

This liturgy honors all mothers, especially those who are involved with adoption in some capacity.  Everyone is invited to attend.

Sunday, May 20^th

Looking for a Son, Daughter, Sister, Brother – Questions?

Join us for our Summer Matching Event

Where:  St. Paul of the Cross Parish Center, 1215 Prospect Avenue, Scranton

When:  Sunday, May 20^th, 2012 – 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Contact:  Rich Pais 570-814-0346, Tracey Mulrain 570-455-1521, Sheila Maslo 1-800-465-0578

Bring Your Family and Friends

Monday, May 21^st

Informational Open House

Catholic Social Services’ Foster Care and Adoption programs are hosting this event in an effort to inform and recruit those families that may be interested in providing a loving and stable home to children in need within the community.  Informational material and our knowledgeable staff will be available to answer any questions you may have regarding our various programs.

When:             Monday, May 21, 2012 - 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Where:           Catholic Social Services, 214 W. Walnut Street, Hazleton, PA  18201

**Light refreshments and beverages will be served.

**Registration is required for all attendees by Wednesday, May 16, 2012.  To register, please contact anyone in the Foster Care/Adoption programs by calling 570-455-1521.

Catholic Social Services Adoption and Foster Care Programs would like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation towards Resource Families. The dedication and commitment you provide on a daily basis to our children in care never goes unnoticed.

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Elmhurst Country Club

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Call 570.455.1521 for more information

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Please contribute today.

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A benefit for Catholic Social Services

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St. Vincent de Paul Kitchen received $5,000.00 gift from Wells Fargo Bank to feed those in need in the Wyoming Valley. Left to right are: Mr. Greg Collins, Community Bank President for Wells Fargo; Anne Marie McCawley, Project Director St. Vincent de Paul Kitchen; Msgr. Joseph Kelly, Diocesan Executive Director Catholic Social Services and Mr. Kevin Engleman, District Manager Wilkes-Barre Market of Wells Fargo Bank.

Taking part in Thursday's groundbreaking were, from left, Andy Reilly, Carol Lee Wajda, Stephen Nocilla, David Warke, Monsignor Joseph Kelly, Ron Evans, Tim Keene and Vincent Martino.

KINGSTON – The decals of apples and books on the frosted glass offered a reminder of the building’s last purpose. Outside, snow was falling on the former grounds of St. Hedwig’s parish. Inside a building that used to be a Catholic school, Vincent C. Martino, president and CEO of Palumbo Construction Management, was showing visitors a room that should be a one-bedroom apartment in five months.

The now-gutted building will soon contain housing for veterans, said Monsignor Joseph P. Kelly, executive director of Catholic Social Services, the group organizing the project.

The school closed in 2002, said Diocese of Scranton spokesman Bill Genello. The church celebrated its final Mass in 2007.

Toward the end of its history, the parish was hanging on by fundraisers, Kelly said.

“There simply weren’t enough people. The school population was down so far that there was no way to pay for it all. That doesn’t mean the closing wasn’t hard for the people who went to school there, and their parents, and sometimes their grandparents,” he said.

Former church buildings can only be used for “non-profane uses,” such as the two two-bedroom apartments and 10 one-bedroom apartments planned for the old building.

Veteran’s housing is a way to bring something back to the community and help people who sacrificed for the country, Kelly said.

The apartments were designed with future occupants, who might be disabled, in mind, said Martino. All the showers will be handicap-accessible and handicap railings will run the length of the hallways. The apartments will also have safety grab bars for balance. An elevator will connect the building’s three floors.

A garden will replace the rectory and parking will take the place of the convent. Both buildings have already been demolished. The church will remain closed for now, Kelly said.

The cost of rent will depend on each veteran’s income, and that money should pay for the mortgage and upkeep for the building, Kelly said.

Catholic Social Services originally planned a 30-apartment development on the Zerby Avenue property. Part of the lot is in Kingston and part is in Edwardsville. The 30-unit project would have placed apartments in Edwardsville, but the borough did not grant the required zoning variance.

The renovations are a $2.2 million project. The Luzerne County Office of Community Development is paying for about $400,000 of the project, said Andrew Reilly, executive director of the community development office. Catholic Social Service is paying for the remainder.

Please go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/veteransneedssurvey and consider filling out the information sheet.

Five minutes of your time would help us in serving veterans.