About Corpus Christi · Falls, Pennsylvania
Corpus Christi Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Scranton, serving the greater Pittston area of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Formed in 2010 through the consolidation of the former Immaculate Conception Parish of West Pittston and Holy Redeemer Parish of Falls (Harding), the parish today operates as a three-site community: Church of the Holy Redeemer in Falls, Immaculate Conception Church in West Pittston, and Saint Anthony of Padua Church in Exeter. Its name — Latin for 'Body of Christ' — reflects the parish's devotion to the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Under the pastoral leadership of Monsignor John J. Sempa, with assistant pastor Father Michael S. Drevitch and three permanent deacons, Corpus Christi offers daily and Sunday Masses, religious education, music ministry, social outreach, and a range of liturgical ministries across its worship sites.
- Established
- 2010
- Patron
- Corpus Christi (the Body of Christ)
- Rector
- Monsignor John J. Sempa
- Diocese
- Diocese of Scranton
Why belong here
Corpus Christi offers the uncommon richness of three active worship sites — Falls, West Pittston, and Exeter — that share a single pastor and a single parish life, so parishioners can worship near home while still belonging to one faith family. Daily Mass is celebrated at Immaculate Conception Monday through Friday, with additional Tuesday and Thursday Masses at the Church of the Holy Redeemer in Falls and a full Sunday schedule across all three sites. The parish runs an organized ministry team — lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion (including visits to the hospitalized, homebound, and local nursing homes), ushers, altar servers, a children's and adult choir, a Liturgy Committee, and a Social Concerns committee — alongside religious education for children and stewardship outreach such as the 'back-to-school calendar of giving.' For Catholics in the greater Pittston area, joining Corpus Christi means taking part in a close-knit, multi-community parish grounded in Eucharistic devotion and neighborly service.
Mass times at Corpus Christi
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–3:30 PM (Diocese of Scranton directory listing for Saint Anthony of Padua Church, Exeter)
Welcome & Identity
Corpus Christi Parish describes itself on its website as 'Three Worship Sites, One Parish Family.' The parish's name — Latin for 'Body of Christ' — honors the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, which celebrates the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. A parish YouTube channel posts video Masses, allowing homebound parishioners and those who cannot attend in person to remain connected to the liturgical life of the parish.
History of the Parish
Corpus Christi Parish was established in September 2010 by the Diocese of Scranton through the consolidation of Immaculate Conception Parish of West Pittston and Holy Redeemer Parish of Falls (Harding). Monsignor John J. Sempa was named the founding pastor. In May 2022 the parish entered into a 'linkage' with Saint Barbara Parish of Exeter; two years later, on July 1, 2024, Saint Barbara consolidated into Corpus Christi, making Saint Anthony of Padua Church the parish's third worship site.
- 2010: Immaculate Conception (West Pittston) + Holy Redeemer (Falls) merge to form Corpus Christi Parish.
- 2022: Corpus Christi and Saint Barbara Parish (Exeter) enter a pastoral linkage.
- July 1, 2024: Saint Barbara Parish officially consolidates into Corpus Christi Parish; Saint Anthony of Padua Church becomes the third active worship site.
- Parish Pastoral Council, led by Attorney Joe Burke, helped guide the consolidation together with the Finance committees of both former parishes.
Worship Sites
The parish serves the community through three churches that remain active and retain their own character. Mass times and devotions are distributed across them so that parishioners in Falls, West Pittston, and Exeter can all worship close to home.
- Church of the Holy Redeemer — 2435 State Route 92, Falls, PA 18615 (Sunday 9:00 AM; Tuesday & Thursday 8:30 AM).
- Immaculate Conception Church — 605 Luzerne Avenue, West Pittston, PA 18643 (Sunday 10:30 AM; Saturday Vigil 5:30 PM; daily Mass Mon–Fri 7:30 AM).
- Saint Anthony of Padua Church — 212 Memorial Avenue, Exeter, PA 18643 (Sunday 7:30 AM; Saturday Vigil 4:00 PM; Tuesday & Thursday 12:10 PM).
Clergy, Deacons & Staff
The pastoral team is led by Monsignor John J. Sempa as pastor, with Reverend Michael S. Drevitch serving as assistant pastor. Three permanent deacons — Deacon Walter Janoski, Deacon Jim Meizanis, and Deacon Jim Rose — assist with liturgy, preaching, and pastoral care. Lay staff support faith formation, music, finances, and parish administration.
- Monsignor John J. Sempa — Pastor.
- Reverend Michael S. Drevitch — Assistant Pastor.
- Deacon Walter G. Janoski.
- Deacon James R. Meizanis.
- Deacon James Rose.
- Joyce Cecconi — Pastoral Associate & Co-Religious Education Coordinator.
- Loretta Semenza — Co-Religious Education Coordinator.
- Christine Forte — Choir Director.
- Lori Kasisky — Finance Manager.
- Linda Drevitch — Parish Secretary (Tue, Wed, Thu).
- Pat Messina — Maintenance (West Pittston site).
Parish Ministries & Committees
The parish website lists a range of liturgical and pastoral ministries, inviting parishioners to participate. Training is provided for liturgical roles, and the Social Concerns Committee meets monthly to coordinate works of mercy.
- Lectors — proclaim God's Word; training provided.
- Extraordinary Ministers of Communion — assist the Presider and bring Communion to the hospitalized, homebound, and local nursing homes.
- Ushers — assist with seating, collections, and communion flow.
- Altar Servers — boys and girls who have received First Eucharist.
- Liturgy Committee — plans the calendar of liturgical seasons, feasts, and special liturgies.
- Music Ministry — adult and children's choirs, plus cantors; directed by Christine Forte.
- Social Concerns Committee — works of mercy and outreach; meets monthly.
- Parish Pastoral Council and Finance Committee — support parish governance.
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious education for the parish's children is co-coordinated by Joyce Cecconi (also the parish's Pastoral Associate) and Loretta Semenza. A new Religious Education form is posted on the parish website for parents to register children in the program.
- Pastoral Associate & Co-Religious Education Coordinator: Joyce Cecconi.
- Co-Religious Education Coordinator: Loretta Semenza.
- New Religious Education Form available on the parish website for enrollment.
Music & Liturgy
Music ministry supports the sung prayer of the assembly at weekend and weekday liturgies. The parish welcomes new cantors and choir members, with separate adult and children's choirs under the direction of Choir Director Christine Forte.
- Adult Choir and Children's Choir.
- Cantor ministry open to interested parishioners.
- Choir Director: Christine Forte.
Outreach & Social Concerns
The parish's Social Concerns Committee organizes works of mercy throughout the year, with meetings listed in the bulletin and calendar. After the July 2024 merger with Saint Barbara Parish, the combined community quickly launched a 'back-to-school calendar of giving' in July, collecting school supplies, hygiene products, and snacks for local children from Pre-K through high school.
- Monthly Social Concerns Committee meetings — all welcome.
- 'Back-to-school calendar of giving' — supplies, hygiene products, and snacks for Pre-K through high school students.
- Visits by Extraordinary Ministers of Communion to the hospitalized, homebound, and local nursing homes.
Visit, Contact & Office Information
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish through the central rectory office in West Pittston. The office is closed on Fridays. Inquiries about sacraments, religious education, or volunteering in any of the parish ministries should be directed to the rectory.
- Rectory Office: 605 Luzerne Avenue, West Pittston, PA 18643 (Immaculate Conception Rectory).
- Office Hours: Monday – Thursday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (closed Friday).
- Phone: (570) 654-2753.
- Fax: (570) 654-9244.
- Email: [email protected].
- Website: http://www.corpuschristinepa.com/index.htm.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Monsignor John J. Sempa2010–present
First pastor of the consolidated Corpus Christi Parish (2010), appointed from Sacred Heart of Jesus/St. John and St. Stanislaus Kostka parishes, Wilkes-Barre. Led the 2024 consolidation with Saint Barbara Parish.
- Reverend Michael J. PiccolaPre-2010
Former pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish, West Pittston, and Holy Redeemer Parish, Falls, before the 2010 merger; reassigned to SS. Cyril and Methodius and St. Stanislaus Parishes, Hazleton, in 2010.