About Divine Redeemer · Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania
Divine Redeemer Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania, in the Diocese of Harrisburg. It was formed in 1995 from the merger of five historic immigrant parishes — Holy Cross, Saint John the Baptist, Our Mother of Consolation, Saint Peter, and Saint Paul's Chapel in Atlas — and is now the consolidated Catholic community for the west side of Mount Carmel. The parish is best known for the large, architecturally distinguished former Our Mother of Consolation church (1906), a three-aisle basilica with two towers designed by the Philadelphia firm of Milligan and Webber, and for the Mother Maria Kaupas Center, a 2015 parish ministry that partners with Bucknell University on service learning in the Coal Region.
- Established
- 1995
- Patron
- The Most Holy Redeemer (Christ the Divine Redeemer)
- Rector
- Rev. Bernard Wamayose, AJ (Apostles of Jesus)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg
Why belong here
Divine Redeemer is the consolidated Catholic home for the west side of Mount Carmel, bringing together five historic immigrant parishes under one roof. Parishioners can worship in a striking 1906 Romanesque-Gothic basilica, receive the sacraments daily, pray three weekly novenas (Miraculous Medal, Saint Jude, Saint Francis), and send their children to the parish's religious education program coordinated by Betty Ann Corrigan. Beyond the church walls, the parish runs the Mother Maria Kaupas Center — a service-learning hub that partners with Bucknell University on a monthly diaper program, a winter service program for local college students, a food pantry, and homebound visits — so belonging here is also a way of belonging to and reinvesting in the wider Coal Region community.
Mass times at Divine Redeemer
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday — after the Saint Jude Novena following morning Mass
- Saturday — 2:30 to 3:30 PM
- Any time by appointment
Adoration times
- Monthly Holy Hour sponsored by the Maria Kaupas Prayer Group in the Mother Maria Kaupas Center chapel (schedule varies; contact the parish office)
About Divine Redeemer Parish
Divine Redeemer Parish is the consolidated Roman Catholic parish serving the west side of Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania, in the Diocese of Harrisburg. It was created in 1995 by merging five historic immigrant parishes into one community, and it worships in the striking 1906 former Our Mother of Consolation church, a Romanesque-Gothic basilica with a two-tower façade and a 16-petal rose window. The parish is pastored by Rev. Bernard Wamayose, AJ (Apostles of Jesus), with Rev. John A. Szada Jr in residence and Deacon Walter J. Kozlowski assisting. The parish office is at 438 West Avenue; the church itself is at 300 West Avenue.
History
The parish's roots lie in the Polish, Slovak, Lithuanian, Italian, and Tyrolean Catholic communities that built Mount Carmel in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Between 1892 and 1928 five separate parishes were founded — Holy Cross, Saint John the Baptist, Our Mother of Consolation, Saint Peter, and Saint Paul's Chapel in Atlas — each with its own school and congregation of teaching sisters. In 1995 they were merged into a single parish under the new name Divine Redeemer, and the old Our Mother of Consolation church was renovated and rededicated in honor of Christ the Divine Redeemer on July 2, 1995.
Founding of Our Mother of Consolation (1895–1906)
Roughly 150 Polish families broke away from Saint Joseph's Parish in the 1890s and purchased property on West Avenue. A two-story frame building opened in 1897 with a school below and a church above; the Holy Ghost Fathers took over administration in 1903. The cornerstone of the present large church was laid on August 15, 1905, and Bishop John W. Shanahan dedicated it on May 30, 1906. The first pastor was Rev. Benedict Tom.
- First pastor: Rev. Benedict Tom
- Last pastor of Our Mother of Consolation: Rev. Raymond Kul
The Five Merged Parishes (1892–1995)
When Divine Redeemer was created in 1995, it brought together the people and patrimony of five former parishes. Altar stones, statuary, and liturgical objects from the four closing churches were brought to Divine Redeemer, and the former Saint Peter church building was converted into the current parish office (with its basement becoming Divine Mercy Hall).
- Holy Cross (Slovak) — 1892–1995
- Saint John the Baptist (Lithuanian) — 1892–1995
- Our Mother of Consolation (Polish) — 1895–1995
- Saint Peter (Italian and Tyrolean) — 1904–1995; first pastor Rev. Adamo Bini; last pastor Rev. C. Anthony Miller; survived fires in 1909 and 1949; observed its Diamond Jubilee in October 1980 with Bishop Joseph T. Daley
- Saint Paul's Chapel in Atlas — 1928–1995; begun by Fr. Paul Weaver, who also introduced Christmas Midnight Mass and the parish Passion Players' Guild (Calvary, 1928) at Saint Peter's
The 1995 Merger and Renaming
A Mass of Dedication sanctifying the new name of the church and parish was celebrated on July 2, 1995. A three-year renovation followed to harmonize the building's decoration with its new dedication, including new paintings by local artist Mark Sassani — images of the Four Evangelists in the crossing vault and a monumental image of Christ the Divine Redeemer enthroned upon a cloud and flanked by angels (later partially painted over when a new altar arrangement was put in place).
- Mass of Dedication: July 2, 1995
- Renovation duration: 3 years
- Interior painter: Mark Sassani (local artist)
- Main altar relocated from Saints Cyril and Methodius Church, Coaldale
Architecture of Divine Redeemer Church
Divine Redeemer is a large-scale, three-aisle basilica plan with salient transepts and a two-tower façade, designed in 1905–06 by the Philadelphia architects Milligan and Webber. Its design combines Romanesque and Gothic elements typical of early-20th-century Polish-American parish churches, and it remains the most visible landmark on Mount Carmel's skyline, with an illuminated clock tower that greets visitors crossing the viaduct into town.
- Style: Romanesque-Gothic basilica
- Architects: Milligan and Webber of Philadelphia
- Façade: two square towers with semicircular arches, rusticated stone, 16-petal Gothic rose window
- Rose window center: Saint Cecilia, patron of musicians
- Nave: three aisles divided by arcades of semicircular arches; barrel vault; stained glass windows donated in memory of family members
- Transept windows: the Crucifixion and Our Lady of Consolation
- Crossing vault: painted with the Four Evangelists by Mark Sassani
- Sanctuary: three apses with side altars to Saint Joseph and the Virgin Mary; main altar formerly at Saints Cyril and Methodius, Coaldale
Mass, Sacraments, and Devotions
Divine Redeemer offers a full weekly Mass schedule with a Saturday Vigil Mass, two Sunday Masses, four weekday Masses, and a Saturday morning Mass, plus Holy Day Vigil and Holy Day Masses. Confessions are heard after the Wednesday novena and on Saturday afternoons, and three weekly novenas give parishioners regular devotion to Our Lady and the saints. The 10:30 AM Sunday Mass is also live-streamed as the parish's 'Internet Mass.'
- Weekend: Saturday Vigil 4:00 PM; Sunday 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM
- Weekday: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 7:30 AM; Saturday 8:00 AM
- Holy Day: Vigil 6:00 PM; Day 7:00 AM and 6:00 PM
- Confession: Wednesday after the Saint Jude Novena; Saturday 2:30–3:30 PM; or by appointment
- Novena: Monday after Mass — Miraculous Medal; Wednesday after Mass — Saint Jude Thaddeus; Saturday after Mass — Saint Francis
Mother Maria Kaupas Center for Service Learning
Founded in 2015 by then-pastor Rev. Martin Moran, the Mother Maria Kaupas Center is a parish ministry of Divine Redeemer that partners with Bucknell University's Coal Region Field Station to revitalize the local Church and community. Named for Venerable Maria Kaupas (founder of the Sisters of Saint Casimir, whose early work in Mount Carmel was supported by Bishop John W. Shanahan in 1907), the Center marked its 10th anniversary on May 18, 2025 with a Mass celebrated by Bishop Timothy Senior. Current director is Jake Betz, with project manager Suzanne Domzalski; Fr. Bernard Wamayose, AJ serves as supervisor.
- Director: Jake Betz ([email protected], 570-339-3450 ext. 7)
- Project Manager: Suzanne Domzalski
- Pastor/Supervisor: Rev. Bernard Wamayose, AJ ([email protected])
- Maria Kaupas Prayer Group — sponsors a monthly Holy Hour in the Center chapel and prays for Mother Maria's Beatification after daily Mass and Rosary
- Monthly diaper program for low-income families in the Mount Carmel area
- Annual winter service program for local Catholic college students (10 days of service, $300 stipend)
- Community service: food pantry, homebound meal delivery, nursing-home visits, public library support
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is led by a pastor from the Apostles of Jesus religious order and is assisted by a retired priest in residence, a permanent deacon, and a lay religious-education coordinator. The pastor also serves as supervisor of the Mother Maria Kaupas Center.
- Pastor: Rev. Bernard Wamayose, AJ (Apostles of Jesus)
- In Residence: Rev. John A. Szada Jr
- Deacon: Deacon Walter J. Kozlowski
- Religious Education Coordinator: Betty Ann Corrigan (570-339-3450, option 5)
Religious Education and Faith Formation
The parish runs a Religious Education program for the formation of children and youth, coordinated by Betty Ann Corrigan. Families may reach the program through the parish office at 570-339-3450, option 5. Holy Spirit School, the consolidated regional Catholic school that once drew students from the predecessor parishes, closed in 2017; parish sacramental preparation is now offered through the parish's own religious education office.
- Religious Education Coordinator: Betty Ann Corrigan
- Phone: 570-339-3450, option 5
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Martin Moranfounded the Mother Maria Kaupas Center in 2015
Pastored Divine Redeemer; envisioned and established the Kaupas Center in 2015 as a parish ministry and Bucknell University partner.
- Rev. Ryan M. Fischerthrough June 2022
Departed June 20, 2022 for Saint James Parish, Lititz.
- Rev. Bernard Wamayose, AJJune 2022 – present
Member of the Apostles of Jesus; transferred from Pastor of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish, Harrisburg. Also serves as supervisor of the Mother Maria Kaupas Center.