I’ve gotten into a pretty bad habit accidentally over the past few years of pretty flagrantly forgetting to mention Mother’s Day in my articles. But I’m not going to forget this year. The older I get the more I learn to appreciate all that my mother — and really mothers in general, while we’re at it, do.
Certain people you encounter in your life are special. They sparkle differently than everybody else. You’re lucky if you meet two or three of this particular kind of person in your lifetime. My mother is one of those people. She is truly one of the kindest, funniest, most empathetic people I know. Everyone who she encounters is a better person for knowing her.
Of all of the mothers in the world I’m lucky to have among one of the best ones and I say that without even an ounce of hyperbole. It’s a fact. I can back it up with evidence point by point but if I were to list every single reason that my mother is a ray of light in this world, this issue of Pittston Progress would be about as heavy as a phone book. So to save the trees by saving paper, and also saving my mother the embarrassment, I’ll just leave it with the sentiment that a world without mothers, and a world without my mother in particular, is a horribly sad thing to think about.
I hope that mothers, god mothers, grandmothers, step mothers, and mothers-to-be everywhere have a truly spectacular Mother’s Day.
Thank you moms for all that you do.
Here’s what else is happening around town:
Confirmation at Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi Parish will celebrate the sacrament of confirmation at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 21, in St. Anthony’s Church. Monsignor John Sempa, pastor, will be the celebrant.
Eighth grade students and older who are registered in the religious education program in Corpus Christi Parish or St. Barbara Parish are eligible to receive this sacrament. Students attending Catholic schools do not have to attend religious education classes, but please contact Joyce at 570-654-2753 or email jcecconi50@gmail.com to register to receive the sacrament of confirmation.
There is a practice for the confirmation students and sponsors at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 17, in St. Anthony’s Church.
St. Barbara’s flea market
Corpus Christi/St. Barbara’s Parish is now accepting donations for St. Barbara’s flea market, which will be held July 21-23. Items can be left at St. Anthony’s Parish Center by the door next to Pride.
Please do not leave donations on a rainy day and do not block the door.
The church will gladly accept any and all of your gently used household and yard items. Please note, they will not accept encyclopedias, exercise equipment, computers, clothing, shoes or live plants.
First UMC news
West Pittston First United Methodist Church services are held at 10:30 a.m. each Sunday. All are welcome.
The church operates a food pantry from 9 a.m. to noon the first and third Wednesday of each month and from 9 a.m. to noon on the third Saturday.
Valley Alliance news
Valley Alliance Church conducts Sunday worship from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Junior church occurs concurrently with the Sunday service. Nursery is available.
Prayer and Bible study are held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays.
Council meetings
West Pittston Council meets the first Wednesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. in council chambers at 555 Exeter Ave.
Any person with a disability requiring special accommodations to attend should notify the borough secretary at 570-655-7782 as early as possible prior to the meeting.
Paper recycling
The Department of Public Works building, 505 Delaware Ave., will be open from 8 a.m. to noon the first and third Saturday of each month to drop off cardboard, newspaper and junk mail only.
Library news
West Pittston Library announces the following activities:
Craft Kit Clean-Out — 6:15 p.m. Wednesday, May 17. Miss Summer is spring cleaning and clearing out all the craft kits left over from past programs and offering them all together in one mashed up event. Who knows what project you’ll go home with. Registration required.
Crystal Wrapping — 6:15 p.m. Wednesday, May 24. Learn all about the healing powers of crystals while wire-wrapping your own pendant.
Spring Tea Tasting — 6 p.m. Thursday, May 25. Use simple tools to stamp a design on a tea towel while talking tea trivia and taste testing a variety of spring inspired tea flavors. Cost is $10, which covers all materials and instruction. Registration is required and the fee is nonrefundable and required for registration. This program is for adults only. Donations are always welcome and will be used for future programs and events.
Strawsome 2 — 6:15 p.m. Wednesday, May 31. The library is getting creative with straws, again. Participants will revisit the whistles and noisemakers and learn how to sew using straws as beads. Then with the help of pipe cleaners, use more straw beads to form the letters of your name. For ages 7 and up. Registration is required.
John Bubul writes about West Pittston every week for Greater Pittston Progress. To list an item, email jbubul@pittstonprogress.com or call 570-301-2187 by Monday.