About Holy Child · Mansfield, Pennsylvania
Holy Child Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Scranton serving the Mansfield, Pennsylvania community in northern Tioga County. Its mother church, Holy Child Church, stands at 240 South Main Street in Mansfield and ministers to over 360 registered families plus a steady stream of students from nearby Mansfield University. The parish also includes a second worship site, Saint Mary of Czestochowa Church in Blossburg — historically the first Polish-descent parish in the Diocese of Scranton (est. 1874) — which was placed under Holy Child's care as part of the diocese's pastoral realignment. The parish is pastored by Reverend Bryan B. Wright and is organized around the goals of word, worship, sacraments, and service, with a special emphasis on welcoming students and young adults from the university.
- Established
- 1953
- Patron
- Holy Child (the Christ Child / Child Jesus)
- Rector
- Reverend Bryan B. Wright
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Scranton
Why belong here
Holy Child Parish is a welcoming Catholic community in Mansfield that combines the warmth of a small-town parish with the energy of an active university ministry — currently serving over 360 families plus Mansfield University students. Whether you are a long-time resident, a new arrival, or a college student looking for a spiritual home, the parish offers Sunday and weekday Mass at two worship sites (Holy Child Church in Mansfield and Saint Mary of Czestochowa in Blossburg), regular reconciliation and adoration opportunities, a children's religious education program for grades pre-K through 8, an OCIA (formerly RCIA) process for adults becoming Catholic, ongoing Bible study with the pastor, a food-pantry outreach, and the convenience of the FORMED Catholic media platform. Registration is straightforward and is the gateway to faith-formation enrollment, sacramental preparation, and pastoral sponsorship for sacraments celebrated in or outside the parish.
Mass times at Holy Child
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 2:30 pm at Holy Child Church (diocese lists 2:15–3:00 pm)
- First Friday: 9:00 am at Holy Child Church (9:00–10:00 am)
- First Saturday: 10:00 am at St. Mary's Church
- By appointment — call the parish office at (570) 662-3568
Adoration times
- Saturday Vigil: 3:00 pm Adoration, followed by 4:00 pm Mass (Holy Child Church)
- Sunday: 10:45 am Adoration, followed by 11:15 am Mass (Holy Child Church)
- Sunday: 8:30 am Adoration, followed by 9:00 am Mass (St. Mary's Church, Blossburg)
- First Friday: 9:00 am Adoration at Holy Child Church
- First Saturday: 9:30 am Adoration at St. Mary's Church
Parish History & Heritage
Holy Child Parish traces its roots to 1906, when Catholic faithful in Mansfield were served as a mission of St. Andrew's Church in Blossburg. The community grew alongside what is now Mansfield University, and on September 17, 1953, the Diocese of Scranton formally established the Church of the Holy Child as an independent parish. A larger church was built and dedicated on September 25, 1963. In 2009 the diocese merged Saint Mary of Czestochowa Church in Blossburg — the diocese's first parish for Polish-descent faithful, dating to 1874 — into Holy Child Parish as a secondary worship site.
- 1906 — Catholic presence in Mansfield begins as a mission of St. Andrew's, Blossburg
- September 17, 1953 — Church of the Holy Child established as an independent parish
- Original mission church on east side of S. Main Street now an apartment building
- September 25, 1963 — Current Holy Child Church dedicated
- 2009 — Saint Mary of Czestochowa Church (Blossburg) merged into Holy Child Parish
- March 15, 1874 — Founding date of Saint Mary of Czestochowa, first Polish-descent parish in the Diocese of Scranton
- 1874-era wood church in Blossburg replaced by current brick edifice in 1960 (cost $190,190.90)
- June 23, 2024 — Saint Mary's 150th anniversary celebrated with Mass and dinner
Mass & Worship Schedule
Holy Child Parish offers the full Sunday obligation at two worship sites and daily Mass throughout the week. Holy Child Church in Mansfield hosts the Saturday Vigil, Sunday morning, Thursday evening, and Friday morning Masses, while Saint Mary of Czestochowa Church in Blossburg offers Sunday morning and Monday/Tuesday midday Masses. Adoration precedes most weekend Masses, and First Friday / First Saturday devotions are observed at both worship sites.
- Saturday Vigil: 3:00 pm Adoration, 4:00 pm Mass — Holy Child Church
- Sunday: 10:45 am Adoration, 11:15 am Mass — Holy Child Church, Mansfield
- Sunday: 8:30 am Adoration, 9:00 am Mass — St. Mary's Church, Blossburg
- Thursday: 6:00 pm — Holy Child Church
- Friday: 8:30 am — Holy Child Church
- Monday & Tuesday: 12:10 pm — St. Mary's Church
- First Saturday: 10:45 am Adoration / 11:15 am Mass at Holy Child; 9:30 am Adoration / 10:00 am Mass at St. Mary's
- Daily schedule subject to change — see bulletin for updates
Clergy, Staff & Parish Office
Holy Child Parish is pastored by Reverend Bryan B. Wright, who was ordained in 2000 and also serves as a featured speaker at regional Catholic gatherings such as the Diocese of Scranton's Catholic Women's Conference. A small lay staff supports parish operations, faith formation, finances, and facilities.
- Rev. Bryan B. Wright — Pastor (ordained 2000)
- Darlene Buck — Parish staff
- Denise Grishka — Parish staff
- Cara Clementi — Financial Secretary & Director of Religious Education
- Tressa Wells — Parish staff
- Charlie Roupp — Parish staff
- Jim Parnick — Maintenance
- Office hours: Monday, Tuesday & Friday, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
- Phone: (570) 662-3568
- Email: [email protected]
- Fax: (570) 662-2113
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish's faith-formation program serves children and adults. Children's Religious Education (Pre-K through Grade 8) prepares young parishioners for the Sacraments of Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation. Adults seeking to join the Catholic Church participate in the OCIA process (formerly RCIA), which begins each September and culminates at the Easter Vigil.
- Children's Religious Education — Pre-K through Grade 8
- Sacramental preparation for Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — weekly meetings September through Lent
- Easter Vigil reception of Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation
- Contact parish office at (570) 662-3568 to enroll
Adult Faith Enrichment
Beyond formal faith formation, Holy Child offers adults ongoing opportunities to grow in Scripture and prayer. Father Bryan Wright leads a Lectio Bible Study series in Holy Child Hall following the 11:15 am Sunday Mass. The parish also provides free access to FORMED, a Catholic digital platform offering videos, audio talks, and Bible studies, using ZIP code 16933 to register.
- Lectio Bible Study — Father Bryan Wright, Holy Child Hall, following 11:15 am Sunday Mass
- FORMED Catholic media platform — free for parishioners (use ZIP 16933)
- Father Bryan Wright — guest speaker at the 2025 Catholic Women's Conference 'Heart to Heart Prayer'
Parish Ministries & Outreach
The parish organizes its ministry life into Liturgical, Service, Education, and Funeral ministries, with additional outreach through its food pantry. Parishioners are invited to volunteer in whatever area fits their gifts.
- Liturgical ministries
- Service ministries
- Education ministries
- Funeral ministries
- Food Pantry / Food Drive — non-perishable donations collected at both worship sites
- Volunteer opportunities — speak with the parish office to get involved
Sacraments
Holy Child Parish celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments. First Communion preparation is offered through the Religious Education and OCIA programs. Couples wishing to marry in the parish, families preparing for Baptism, and those seeking the Anointing of the Sick are asked to contact the parish office directly.
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- Eucharist (First Holy Communion)
- Reconciliation (Confession)
- Anointing of the Sick
- Marriage (Matrimony)
- Holy Orders
- Registration required for sacramental enrollment and testimonial/sponsorship letters
About Holy Child Parish
Holy Child Parish's stated mission is to be a welcoming church that fosters spiritual development and expresses charity by living in word and deed the life of Christ. United with the Pope and under the leadership of the Bishop of Scranton, the parish seeks to implement effective ministries through word, worship, and the sacraments; to enhance the spiritual growth of its parish family; and to encourage, through works of love and faith, the unity of the Church.
- Mission: welcoming church fostering spiritual development and charity
- Goals: effective ministries through word, worship, and the sacraments
- Pastoral care to 360+ families plus Mansfield University students
- New members invited to register via the Parish Office