Approximately 225 people attended Mass at the Oblates of St. Joseph in this 2018 file photo. The Diocese of Scranton is now allowing churches to be filed to capacity with restrictions to those not fully vaccinated.
Tony Callaio file photo | For Sunday Dispatch
The Very Rev. Paul A. McDonnell, OSJ, left, welcomed the congregation at the Oblates of St. Joseph, Laflin, in celebrating the Feast of St. Joseph along with Bishop of Scranton, Joseph Bambara, right, in the 2017 ceremony.
Tony Callaio file photo | For Sunday Dispatch
St. Joseph Marello, the founder of the Oblates of St. Joseph with locations around the globe, including Laflin.
Submitted photo
LAFLIN — The Congregation of the Oblates of St. Joseph will celebrate the feast day of their founder, St. Joseph Marello, with two special Masses on Saturday, May 29.
Father Paul McDonnell will serve as celebrant for the Masses at 8 a.m. and noon in the chapel located at 1880 Route 315, Laflin.
Preceding the feast day celebration will be a three-day spiritual preparation from May 26 to May 28 with Masses and devotions each day at noon and 7 p.m. All noon Masses will be broadcast live on Catholic radio (www.jmj750.com) and streamed live on the Oblates of St. Joseph Seminary’s Facebook.
Even though St. Joseph Marello never stepped foot in Pittston, having never left his home country of Italy, he still managed to have an influence all over the world.
Fr. McDonnell quipped how the notion that St. Joseph Marello was either from Pittston or visited Pittston.
“It’s funny, a woman asked me if St. Joseph was from Pittston,” Fr. McDonnell said. “He’s kind of our saint. He’s not St. Francis, or one of the Apostles, or St. Jude, but when he was first canonized, people were wonder, ‘Who is this guy.’ He’s kind of our own little Pittston saint. He’s the founder of the Oblates of St. Joseph and we are in Pittston for 92 years.”
St. Joseph Marello (1844-1895) lived in the Asti region of Italy and founded the Oblate Order in 1878. He died on May 30, 1895, and was canonized a saint in 2001.
Fr. McDonnell himself was heavily influenced by living next door to St. Anthony of Padua Church, Exeter, where the priests were all from the oblates.
The presence of St. Joseph Marello is felt throughout NEPA, the country and the world, according to Fr. McDonnell.
“The Oblates of St. Joseph are in 15 different countries throughout the world for the most part, he’s a guy that never left his country,” Fr. McDonnell added. “So I really do look at him as our own little saint because his spirit has been embodied by the Oblates of St. Joseph for 92 years.”
Joseph Marello lived just 50 years, but while serving as bishop, he attended to the people and their needs.
Oblate priests minister locally in the Pittston and Hazleton areas. For more information, contact the office at 570-654-7542 or by email at osjseminary@comcast.net.
Fr. McDonnell said the Diocese of Scranton has lifted most COVID restrictions and the entire church is now free to fill all of the pews, however, masks must be worn by those not fully vaccinated while maintaining safe distances.
