Divine Mercy Honors Veterans at Scranton Mass
Divine Mercy Parish held its fourth annual Veterans Mass and recognition program on Sunday.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Military
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Divine Mercy Parish held its fourth annual Veterans Mass and recognition program at Divine Mercy Church, 320 Davis St., in Scranton. Veterans received a blessing, and the congregation remembered parish veterans who died over the past year.
Why it matters
The program honors local veterans and recognizes the service and sacrifice of community members in Scranton and Lackawanna County. It also highlights the ongoing personal challenges some veterans face after returning home.
The Mass was the fourth annual such program at the parish, and guest speaker Jacob Norotsky flew nearly 1,000 hours during his 2007 second deployment to Iraq. The number of attending veterans and of parish veterans who died in the past year was not reported.
The players
Jacob Norotsky
Norotsky is a former Army Black Hawk helicopter crew chief who spoke about his experience with post-traumatic stress disorder after returning from Iraq and who is affiliated with the Wounded Warrior Project.
Father Paul McDonnel
McDonnel is the pastor of Divine Mercy Parish in Scranton, who celebrated the Veterans Mass.
The details
The Mass began at 5 p.m. and was celebrated by Father Paul McDonnel, pastor of the parish. The event was organized by the Men of Divine Mercy Church, and local businesses and organizations supported a reception and recognition program that followed.
Timeline
Sunday, November 8, 2026: Divine Mercy Parish holds the Veterans Mass and recognition program beginning at 5 p.m.
2007: Jacob Norotsky completes his second deployment to Iraq as a Black Hawk helicopter crew chief.
Military Context
Community-based events like this one complement national veteran support efforts, such as those run by the Wounded Warrior Project, which address post-traumatic stress among returning service members. Local recognition programs offer a parallel avenue for acknowledging veterans' service and their continuing needs.
Residents of Scranton and Lackawanna County can attend future parish veterans recognition events at Divine Mercy Church, 320 Davis St. The program also demonstrates how local congregations and businesses can support veterans and their families.
The takeaway
Recognizing veterans locally, whether through a parish Mass or a community reception, can help connect former service members with support networks. Readers who know a veteran can offer a simple invitation to such events.
Further reading
For more on military and veteran affairs, explore the Military section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WOLF.
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