About Divine Mercy Church · Shenandoah, Pennsylvania
Divine Mercy Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Shenandoah, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, within the Diocese of Allentown. It was formed on July 28, 2014 by merging seven historic ethnic parishes of the borough — Annunciation BVM (1870), St. Casimir (1872), St. Mary Magdalene (1881), St. George (1891), St. Stanislaus (1898), St. Stephen (1899), and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (1914) — to preserve Catholic life in a once heavily immigrant coal-region town. The parish gathers at 108 West Cherry Street under the patronage of the Divine Mercy, the devotion revealed to St. Faustina Kowalska, and serves a bilingual community with Mass celebrated in English and Spanish. Its pastor, Rev. Msgr. Ronald C. Bocian — president of the Father Walter Ciszek Prayer League — also oversees the Father Walter J. Ciszek Center, dedicated to a Shenandoah-born Jesuit candidate for sainthood.
- Established
- 2014
- Patron
- Divine Mercy (the Mercy of Jesus Christ, as revealed to St. Faustina Kowalska)
- Rector
- Rev. Msgr. Ronald C. Bocian
- Diocese
- Diocese of Allentown
Why belong here
Divine Mercy Parish welcomes registered parishioners because formal registration keeps Sacramental records straight and makes it easier to receive the Sacraments of Marriage and Baptism, Catholic Funeral rites, and to serve as a godparent or sponsor in the future. The parish offers daily and weekend Mass in both English and Spanish, a Pre-K program at the Fr. Walter Ciszek Education Center, and a strong devotional life centered on the Divine Mercy devotion, weekly Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesdays, and ministry to the bilingual community of Shenandoah. Joining also connects a family to the prayer and outreach life of a parish that carries on the heritage of seven immigrant churches and the cause of the hometown Servant of God Father Walter Ciszek.
Mass times at Divine Mercy Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:15 – 3:45 PM (Divine Mercy)
- Sunday 6:45 – 7:15 AM (Divine Mercy)
- Sunday 9:15 – 9:45 AM (Divine Mercy)
Adoration times
- Wednesday 1:00 – 4:00 PM (Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the Father Walter J. Ciszek Chapel)
Parish History
Divine Mercy Parish, Shenandoah was formally founded July 28, 2014, when Bishop John O. Barres of the Diocese of Allentown merged seven historic ethnic parishes of the borough. The predecessor parishes — Annunciation BVM (1870), St. Casimir (1872), St. Mary Magdalene (1881), St. George (1891), St. Stanislaus (1898), St. Stephen (1899), and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (1914) — together represented the Polish, Lithuanian, Slovak, Italian, Irish, and German Catholic communities drawn to the anthracite coal region. After consolidation, all parish cemeteries retained their original parish names, and the former Annunciation BVM church at 108 W. Cherry St. became the church of the new parish. Rev. Msgr. Ronald C. Bocian has served as the founding and only pastor from 2014 to the present.
- Annunciation BVM Parish — founded 1870
- St. Casimir Parish — founded 1872
- St. Mary Magdalene Parish — founded 1881
- St. George Parish — founded 1891
- St. Stanislaus Parish — founded 1898
- St. Stephen Parish — founded 1899
- Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish — founded 1914
- Rev. Msgr. Ronald C. Bocian — Pastor, 2014–present
Parish Staff
The parish is led by a small, dedicated staff reflecting both its bilingual ministry and its special charism around the cause of Father Walter Ciszek.
- Rev. Msgr. Ronald C. Bocian — Pastor
- Sr. Helene Theresa McGroarty, IHM — Spanish Ministry Coordinator (610-787-9618)
Religious Education
The parish maintains a Religious Education program (CCD) to form children and youth in the Catholic faith. Families seeking registration or sacramental preparation are encouraged to contact the parish office at 570-462-1968.
- Religious Education (CCD) for parish children and youth
- Contact: Divine Mercy Parish office, 570-462-1968
Divine Mercy Pre-School Program
Open registration is announced each year for the parish's Pre-School Program serving children ages 3, 4 and 5. Classes meet at the Fr. Walter Ciszek Education Center (Trinity Academy), 233 W. Cherry St., Shenandoah, and follow a modified Montessori method. The program is directed by Mrs. Sharon Tobin, B.A. Exceptional Child Study, and inquiries are handled through Sr. Patricia Mount at 462-3927.
- Location: Fr. Walter Ciszek Education Center (Trinity Academy), 233 W. Cherry St., Shenandoah, PA 17976
- Phone: 462-3927
- Director: Mrs. Sharon Tobin, B.A. Exceptional Child Study
- Ages: 3, 4, and 5; half-day and full-day options
- Method: modified Montessori, five-day attendance recommended
- Registration fee for 2026–2027: $75.00
Father Walter J. Ciszek Center & Chapel
Housed in the former Annunciation BVM rectory at 218 W. Cherry St., the Father Walter J. Ciszek Center is the spiritual and informational heart of the parish's work promoting the cause for canonization of Father Walter J. Ciszek, S.J. (1904–1984), a Shenandoah native and son of St. Casimir Church. The chapel at the center hosts the parish's weekly Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and serves as a gathering point for the Father Walter Ciszek Prayer League, whose board is presided over by Msgr. Bocian. The annual Father Walter J. Ciszek Day Mass is celebrated each October at the former St. Casimir Church (229 N. Jardin St.).
- Center address: 218 W. Cherry St., Shenandoah, PA 17976 (former Annunciation BVM rectory)
- Weekly Adoration: Wednesday 1:00–4:00 PM
- Father Walter Ciszek Prayer League board president: Msgr. Ronald C. Bocian
- Annual Father Walter J. Ciszek Day — 2:00 PM Mass in October at former St. Casimir Church, 229 N. Jardin St.
- Ciszek's books, prayer cards and brochures available for purchase at the Center
- Cause for canonization is currently at the Vatican
Spanish Ministry
Recognizing the growing Hispanic presence in Shenandoah, the parish celebrates a weekly Spanish Mass and maintains a dedicated Spanish Ministry led by a sister of the IHM community. The Sunday 12:30 PM Mass and Sacramental preparation support Spanish-speaking families to participate fully in parish life.
- Spanish Mass — Sunday 12:30 PM at Divine Mercy
- Spanish Ministry Coordinator: Sr. Helene Theresa McGroarty, IHM (610-787-9618)
Cemeteries
After the 2014 merger, Divine Mercy Parish inherited 14 cemeteries from its seven predecessor parishes. All cemeteries retain their original parish names — honoring the identity of each founding immigrant community. The parish has asked families to help identify lot owners and contact persons so that records can be kept up to date.
- 14 historic parish cemeteries retained under their original parish names
- Cemetery contact: Divine Mercy Parish office, 570-462-1968
Parish Office & Practical Information
The parish office handles registration, Sacramental records, and inquiries about weddings, baptisms, funerals, and faith formation. Office hours run Monday through Thursday; the office is closed on Fridays. The parish encourages new residents and regular Mass-goers to register formally so that Sacramental records are kept current.
- Parish Office: 108 West Cherry St., Shenandoah, PA 17976
- Phone: 570-462-1968
- Fax: 570-462-1388
- Office Hours: Monday 9:30 AM–3:00 PM; Tuesday–Thursday 8:30 AM–4:00 PM; Friday closed
- Parish registration form available as a fillable PDF on the website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Msgr. Ronald C. Bocian2014 – present
Founding pastor of Divine Mercy Parish; also president of the Father Walter Ciszek Prayer League board.