About Gate of Heaven · Dallas, Pennsylvania
Gate of Heaven is a Roman Catholic parish in Dallas, Pennsylvania, in the Diocese of Scranton, serving the Back Mountain region of Luzerne County. Founded in 1951, it grew from a mission congregation of 20 families into a community of more than 861 families over the decades. Since 2009, Gate of Heaven has been linked with Our Lady of Victory Church in nearby Harveys Lake, forming a single Roman Catholic community under one pastor, Rev. Andrew S. Hvozdovic. The parish offers daily and weekend Masses at both worship sites, a robust religious education program, vibrant music ministry with multiple choirs, youth ministry, RCIA, devotions such as Divine Mercy and Flame of Love, and outreach to the needy through groups like Changing Habits.
- Established
- 1951
- Patron
- Gate of Heaven (the Blessed Virgin Mary / dedication of the parish)
- Rector
- Rev. Andrew S. Hvozdovic, M.Div.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Scranton
Why belong here
Gate of Heaven offers a richly traditional Catholic life in the heart of the Back Mountain — multiple Sunday Masses at two linked worship sites (Gate of Heaven in Dallas and Our Lady of Victory in Harveys Lake), daily Mass, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, and regular confession every Saturday. Members can serve as lectors, Eucharistic ministers, greeters, altar servers, or in one of several choirs (Adult, Youth, Handbell, Resurrection, and the Changing Habits outreach group). The parish invests deeply in formation — religious education for children, OCIA/RCIA for adults, and a Tuesday-evening senior youth ministry — and nurtures devotion through the Cenacle for the Marian Movement of Priests, Flame of Love, Divine Mercy, and Our Lady of Fatima devotions.
Mass times at Gate of Heaven
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 12:00pm–1:00pm (alternating sites: Gate of Heaven in odd months — January, March, May, July, September, November; Our Lady of Victory in even months — February, April, June, August, October, December)
- Sunday 3:00–5:00pm at Gate of Heaven
- Monday 5:00–6:00pm at Gate of Heaven
- Tuesday 4:00–5:00pm at Gate of Heaven
- First Friday of the month 11:30am–Noon at Our Lady of Victory
- Every Friday 2:00–3:00pm at Gate of Heaven
Adoration times
- Monday 5:00pm at Gate of Heaven
- Tuesday 4:00–5:00pm at Gate of Heaven
- Wednesday 6:00pm at Gate of Heaven (with Flame of Love Devotions)
- Friday 11:30am at Our Lady of Victory
Parish History
Gate of Heaven Parish was founded in 1951 in Dallas, Pennsylvania, carved out of St. Therese's Parish in Shavertown to serve the growing Back Mountain Catholic community. The first Masses and school opened that year, and by 2009 the parish was formally linked with Our Lady of Victory in Harveys Lake under diocesan restructuring. The parish publishes a detailed timeline on its website tracing everything from the 1945 land purchase to a 2018 membership count of 861 families.
- 1945 — First property purchased on Machell Ave. and Spring St.
- November 12, 1950 — Ground broken for Gate of Heaven School
- September 1951 — Gate of Heaven School opens with 168 students, grades 1–6
- November 18, 1951 — Dedication of Gate of Heaven Church (20 founding families)
- January 27, 1952 — Rev. Francis A. Kane appointed first pastor
- 1953 — Membership up to 80 families; 8th grade added to school
- May 5, 1999 — Death of Msgr. Francis A. Kane, founding pastor, age 90
- July 15, 2009 — Gate of Heaven and Our Lady of Victory linked under one pastor (Fr. Toomey)
- 2018 — Membership reaches 861 families
Our Lady of Victory (Linked Worship Site)
Our Lady of Victory Church, located at 16 Second Street in Harveys Lake, PA 18618, is the sister worship site of the linked parish community. Its chapel was dedicated on Labor Day 1923 by Bishop Hoban as a mission of St. Therese's, and it later became a mission of Gate of Heaven in 1952. Since 2009 the two parishes have shared a pastor. Our Lady of Victory hosts its own Mass schedule (Tuesdays and Fridays at 9am, Saturdays at 4pm, Sundays at 7:00 and 10:30am) along with Fatima Devotions on the 13th of each month from May through October, Flame of Love Devotions on Tuesday evenings, and Divine Mercy Devotions on Fridays.
- Address: 16 Second Street, Harveys Lake, PA 18618
- Phone: 570-639-1535
- Email: [email protected]
- Masses: Tue & Fri 9am; Sat 4pm; Sun 7:00am and 10:30am
- Fatima Devotions: 13th of each month, May–October
Clergy and Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Andrew S. Hvozdovic, M.Div., and is served by two permanent deacons: Deacon Thomas M. Cesarini and Deacon John C. Jorda. Deacon Jorda also serves as the OCIA (formerly RCIA) Coordinator and Funeral Coordinator. The pastoral team across both sites includes a Business Manager, Administrative Assistant, Director of Music & Liturgy, Director of Religious Education, Sacristans, and a Missions Liaison.
- Pastor: Rev. Andrew S. Hvozdovic, M.Div.
- Deacon Thomas M. Cesarini
- Deacon John C. Jorda (OCIA Coordinator, Funeral Coordinator)
- Business Manager: Helen Neylon
- Administrative Assistant: Teresa Ruotolo
- Director of Music & Liturgy: Anthony Kubasek
- Director of Religious Education: Jim Casey
- Sacristan: Sue Manjone
- Missions Liaison: Carol Carroll
- Webmaster: Dan Gallagher
Music Ministry
Gate of Heaven maintains one of the more robust parish music programs in the Diocese of Scranton, with five distinct ensembles serving different liturgies and outreach. Rehearsals are held throughout the week from September through May, and the parish also operates what it describes as the only summer music camp in the United States attached exclusively to a Catholic church.
- Adult Choir — Wed 7:00–8:30pm rehearsals; sings at 11:30am Mass and special liturgies
- Youth Choir — Thu 7:00–8:00pm rehearsals; ages 8–18; sings at 9:00am Sunday Mass and Christmas Eve
- Handbell Choir — Sun 10:00–11:00am rehearsals; must read basic rhythms
- Resurrection Choir — sings exclusively at funerals
- Changing Habits (formerly 'Sister Act') — outreach singing group; performs locally and donates proceeds to the parish needy
- Psalmists and Song Leaders — needed at all weekend Masses
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith formation at Gate of Heaven spans children, youth, and adults. The parish Religious Education program, directed by Jim Casey, prepares children for First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation. Adult inquirers are welcomed into the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), formerly called RCIA, led by Deacon John Jorda. The parish also runs a Senior Youth Ministry for grades 9 through 12 that meets Tuesday evenings at the Parish Center with Eucharistic Adoration and music at 6pm.
- Religious Education (CCD) for children
- Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation
- OCIA / RCIA — directed by Deacon John Jorda
- Senior Youth Ministry — grades 9–12, Tuesdays at 7pm in Parish Center
- Contact: 570-675-2121
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven sacraments. Parents must be registered parishioners to have a child baptized, with pre-Baptism instruction required. Engaged couples should contact the parish office a full 12 months before the proposed wedding date. Anointing of the Sick is arranged through the office or visitation ministry. RCIA/OCIA is available year-round for anyone considering full communion with the Catholic Church.
- Baptism — pre-Baptism instruction; register 4 months before due date
- First Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation — via Religious Education
- Matrimony — 12 months preparation; meet with priest before booking a venue
- Anointing of the Sick — call the parish office
- RCIA / OCIA — contact Deacon John Jorda
Parish Ministries and Outreach
Worship at Gate of Heaven extends well beyond the sanctuary through a wide network of liturgical, devotional, service, and fellowship ministries. Liturgical roles include Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Gift Bearers, Greeters, and Altar Servers. Parish societies include the Altar and Rosary Society and the Knights of Columbus. Children's Liturgy of the Word brings the readings to younger parishioners. The Hospitality Committee, co-chaired by MerryAnn Edwards (OLV) and Susan Sheridan (GOH), focuses on welcoming newcomers and reaching out in times of grief.
- Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Gift Bearers, Altar Servers
- Greeters and Hospitality Committee
- Altar and Rosary Society
- Knights of Columbus
- Children's Liturgy of the Word
- Changing Habits outreach group
- FlockNotes communication network
- Missions Liaison (Carol Carroll)
Devotions
The parish nurtures a strong devotional life in addition to regular Mass and the sacraments. Marian and Eucharistic devotions are woven throughout the weekly schedule, with Rosary and Novena prayed before Monday evening Mass, Cenacle meetings for the Marian Movement of Priests, Flame of Love of the Immaculate Heart of Mary devotions, Divine Mercy Cenacles on Fridays, and Fatima Devotions on the 13th of each month from May through October.
- Monday 5:30pm — Rosary & Novena at Gate of Heaven
- Tuesday 7:00pm — Flame of Love Devotions at Our Lady of Victory
- Wednesday 11:00am — Cenacle for the Marian Movement of Priests at Gate of Heaven
- Wednesday 6:00pm — Eucharistic Adoration with Flame of Love Devotions at GOH
- Friday 11:00am — Divine Mercy Cenacle at Our Lady of Victory
- 13th of each month (May–October) — Fatima Devotions
Contact and Visiting
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone during business hours. Gate of Heaven Church is at 40 Machell Avenue, Dallas, PA 18612, and the linked Our Lady of Victory Church is at 16 Second Street, Harveys Lake, PA 18618. The parish uses FlockNotes for email and text updates; sign-up information is on the parish website.
- Gate of Heaven Church — 40 Machell Avenue, Dallas, PA 18612 — 570-675-2121 — [email protected]
- Our Lady of Victory Church — 16 Second Street, Harveys Lake, PA 18618 — 570-639-1535 — [email protected]
- Parish Office Hours: Monday–Friday (varies by site)
- Sign up for FlockNotes via the parish website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Francis A. Kane1952–(retired, died 1999)
Founding pastor; administered the parish from dedication Nov. 18, 1951; appointed first pastor Jan. 27, 1952; later Monsignor; died May 5, 1999 at age 90.
- Rev. Jack (last name not retrieved)
Listed in the parish timeline as a pastor at some point; no further detail verified online.
- Fr. Toomey2009–
Appointed pastor of both Gate of Heaven and Our Lady of Victory on July 15, 2009 when the two parishes were linked through diocesan restructuring.
- Rev. Andrew S. Hvozdovic, M.Div.present
Current pastor of the linked parishes of Gate of Heaven and Our Lady of Victory.