Diocesan Convention 2025

The 154th Diocesan Convention will be held Friday, October 1 & Saturday, October 18, 2025.

The convention will be held at:

Hilton Scranton & Conference Center
100 Adams Ave.
Scranton, PA 18503

Room blocks are now open and can be reserved at the following locations:

  • Hilton Scranton – 100 Adams Ave. Scranton, $165/night click here to book.
  • Courtyard Scranton Montage Mtn – 16 Glenmaura National Blvd. Scranton, $125/night click here to book.
  • TownePlace Suites Scranton Wilkes-Barre – 19 Radcliffe Dr. Moosic, $129/night click here to book.
  • Springhill Suites Scranton Montage Mtn – 19 Radcliffe Dr. Moosic, $129/night click here to book.

    All room blocks will close on September 16, or when reservations are full.

    Online Presentation of the Updated Constitution and Canons

    As we work towards reunification, the Constitution and Canons working group has created three draft documents to help govern our work as a diocese: the Transitional Canons and the Constitution and Canons of the Diocese of the Susquehanna. The Transitional Canons will be in effect from Annual Convention in October through Reunification on January 1, 2026. The Constitution and Canons will become the official set of governing rules for the Diocese of the Susquehanna beginning January 1, 2026. The committee has also prepared a summary document with some key pieces of information for added clarity. Additional information about these documents are available on the reunification website.

    Members of the Dioceses of Central Pennsylvania and Bethlehem are invited to review these draft documents and provide feedback at two Zoom listening sessions. Each session will include an overview of the proposed documents with time for attendees to ask questions. Members of our dioceses are encouraged to attend a listening session before submitting comments.

    To attend one of the Constitution and Canons Listening Sessions, Tuesday, July 8 or Wednesday, July 9, 7:00 p.m. on Zoom, click here to register.

    Nominations

    Nominations are now being accepted to serve the Diocese of the Susquehanna in 2026

    As the Diocese of Bethlehem and the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania prepare for reunification, the Transitional Canons will direct how each of our elected bodies will merge with the corresponding committee in the other diocese. The Transitional Canons indicate elections are needed in two of our bodies for the year 2026: Diocesan Council and General Convention Deputies.

    For more information about positions to be elected and the nomination form download the form here.

    All applications are due by July 18th.

    Elections will be held for the following:

    The Diocesan Council

      • Three (3) Clergy
      • Three (3) Laypersons

    Deputies to General Convention

      • Four (4) Clergy
      • Four (4) Laypersons​

    Lay Delegates to Diocesan Convention

    Based on Title I Canon 1 Section 2 of the Canons of the Diocese of Bethlehem. Each Parish and each Mission shall elect one or more Lay Delegates based on the number of lay members as reported on the annual Parochial Report for the year ending December 31 preceding to represent said Parish and Mission in the Convention; and may also elect Alternates, equal in number to the Delegates to which the Parish or Mission is entitled, to take the place of the regular Delegates in case of absence.

    Lay Members on                Number of Lay
    Parochial Report                Delegates

    Less than 100        1 (one) Lay Delegate
    100 – 299               2 (two) Lay Delegates
    300 – 499               3 (three) Lay Delegates
    500 – 699               4 (four) Lay Delegates

    Parishes or Missions reporting 700 or more lay members in the Parochial Report shall have an additional delegate for each additional 199 lay members reported above 700. Download the Certificate of Election of Lay Delegates as a Word document or PDF.

      Convention Journals

      2022 Convention Journal (PDF)
      2021 Convention Journal (PDF)
      2020 Convention Journal (PDF)
      2019 Convention Journal (PDF)
      2018 Convention Journal (PDF)
      2017 Convention Journal (PDF)
      2016 Convention Journal (PDF) and 2016 Journal Addendum Canonical and Constitutional Resolutions (PDF)
      2015 Convention Journal (PDF)
      2014 Convention Journal (PDF)