About Holy Name of Mary · Montrose, Pennsylvania
Holy Name of Mary is a Roman Catholic parish in the small borough of Montrose, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, serving the rural Endless Mountains region of northeastern PA. A parish of the Diocese of Scranton, it is pastored by Reverend Philip S. Rayappan with Pastoral Associate Dennis Feece. The parish traces its roots to 1857, when Catholic families purchased a former Episcopal chapel that became Holy Name of Mary Chapel, and was constituted an independent parish in 1899. Today the parish celebrates daily noon Mass Monday through Friday, a Saturday Vigil and Sunday morning Mass, First Friday adoration, a Religious Education program for grades 1–12, and a tightly-knit parish life marked by potluck dinners, Bible studies, and pilgrimages.
- Established
- 1898
- Patron
- Holy Name of Mary (Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Father Kevin Miller
- Diocese
- Diocese of Scranton
Why belong here
Holy Name of Mary offers the rare gift of a small, walkable parish where the pastor, pastoral associate, and religious-education director know parishioners by name. With a daily noon Mass Monday through Friday, a Saturday Vigil and Sunday morning Mass, monthly First Friday adoration, a grades 1–12 faith formation program, RCIA for adults, Bible studies, and parish potluck dinners, it serves both the long-time Catholic families of Montrose and newcomers in the surrounding Endless Mountains. The parish's mission — to build on the Catholic faith of those who have gone before and to reach out with Christ's love, healing, and forgiveness — is lived out in a tight community that has worshipped on South Main Street since the cornerstone was laid in 1886.
Mass times at Holy Name of Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Adoration times
- First Friday 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM (followed by 12:00 PM Mass)
Welcome & Mission
Holy Name of Mary Parish states its mission on its homepage: 'to build on the Catholic faith of those who have gone before us, striving as a strong, active, and living Church community to reach out with compassion to all people, offering Christ's love, healing, and forgiveness.' The scriptural motto anchoring the mission is the scribe's reply in Luke 10:27–28 — 'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.' Newcomers are encouraged to register with the parish by printing and returning a Parish Registration Form to the Rectory.
- Parish Registration Form (PDF available on the parish website)
- Registration required for Religious Education, Catholic schools, Baptism, First Reconciliation, Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, and testimonial letters
Parish History
The parish's published history begins in 1857 when local Catholic families bought a former Episcopal church for $600 and named it Holy Name of Mary Chapel. After decades as a mission served by visiting priests from Susquehanna and St. Joseph's, the community built a new church on South Main Street — cornerstone laid August 26, 1886 — and was constituted an independent parish in 1899 under Father Anthony T. Broderick. The parish's Religious Education Center is a Victorian House at South Main and Drinker Streets, named for Father James R. Nash. The full chronological list of pastors, including Father Lafferty (who laid the cornerstone), Father Gibson (first Holy Name Society), Father Murray, Monsignor Deuel, Father Corcoran, Father Nash, and Father Safko, is preserved on the About Us page.
- 1857 — Catholic families purchase former Episcopal chapel for $600; deeded by Henry and Frances Drinker to Bishop John N. Neumann
- 1873 — Reverend Patrick J. Murphy appointed pastor of the Mission
- 1884 — Deed for South Main Street site transferred from Frances M. Drinker estate to Bishop William O'Hara for $758
- 1886 (August 26, 3:30 p.m.) — Cornerstone laid; receptacle opened 100 years later at Centennial
- 1892 — Cemetery land purchased outside the borough
- 1896 (August 15) — Cemetery consecrated by Bishop Michael J. Hoban
- 1899 — Holy Name of Mary becomes an independent parish under Father Anthony T. Broderick
Religious Education & Faith Formation
Holy Name of Mary provides faith formation classes for children in grades 1 through 12. Classes meet Sunday mornings, mid-September through May, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at the Parish Center. Children preparing for First Holy Communion or Confirmation must attend faith formation the year before they receive the sacrament. The program is directed by Fran Calafut, who can be reached at (570) 396-5879. The parish also runs the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), the five-stage process for bringing adults into the Catholic faith.
- Grades 1–12, Sundays 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM at the Parish Center
- Registration required; forms available at the Rectory or downloadable from the parish website
- First Communion & Confirmation preparation the year prior to reception
- RCIA — call the Rectory for information
Sacramental Life
The Sacramental Life page on the parish website details how each sacrament is prepared for and celebrated at Holy Name of Mary. Baptisms are scheduled with a preparation program for parents; the parish asks at least six months' notice. Couples contemplating marriage are asked to notify the parish at least six months before the date — before making any other arrangements — and to complete the Pre-Cana program. Anointing of the Sick is available at any hour for urgent calls. First Friday Eucharistic Adoration precedes the noon Mass.
- Baptism — 6 months' advance notice + preparation program
- Marriage — 6 months' advance notice + Pre-Cana
- Anointing of the Sick — urgent calls attended to day or night
- RCIA — call the Rectory
- First Friday Adoration — 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM followed by 12:00 PM Mass
Parish Events & Community Life
Parish life at Holy Name of Mary includes Bible studies, social gatherings, and participation in diocesan events. A current 'Follow Me: Meeting Jesus in the Gospel of John' Bible study hosted by the Host family meets Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 PM at the Parish Center using Ascension Press video and discussion. The annual parish Potluck Dinner takes place after the Saturday Vigil Mass at the Parish Center and adjacent parking lot. The parish also joined Bishop Joseph C. Bambera's invitation to a Diocesan Pilgrimage to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., on October 1, 2025.
- Bible Study — 'Follow Me: Meeting Jesus in the Gospel of John' (Ascension Press), Tuesdays 6:30–8:00 PM, Parish Center
- Parish Potluck Dinner — annually after the Saturday 4:00 PM Mass
- Diocesan Pilgrimage to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (Oct 1, 2025)
- Diocesan Annual Appeal participation
Facilities & Cemetery
The parish campus centers on the church at 278 South Main Street and the adjoining Parish Center, which hosts religious-education classes, Bible studies, and social events. The Fr. James Nash Religious Education Center is the Victorian House at the corner of South Main and Drinker Streets, acquired during Father Nash's pastorate to house the parish's faith-formation program. The Holy Name of Mary Cemetery, located outside the Montrose borough, was purchased by Father Lafferty in 1892 and consecrated on August 15, 1896 by Bishop Michael J. Hoban.
- Holy Name of Mary Church — 278 South Main Street
- Parish Center — host site for faith formation, Bible studies, and parish dinners
- Fr. James Nash Religious Education Center — Victorian House, South Main & Drinker Streets
- Holy Name of Mary Cemetery — consecrated August 15, 1896
Contact, Registration & Getting Involved
Parishioners and visitors can reach the Rectory by phone at (570) 278-1504, by fax at (570) 278-4751, or by email at [email protected]. Office hours are posted on the parish and diocese pages. New parishioners are asked to register by printing and returning the Parish Registration Form available on the website; registration is required for participation in Religious Education, Catholic schools, sacramental preparation, and testimonial letters. The parish also invites volunteers to sign up for its ministries.
- Phone: (570) 278-1504
- Fax: (570) 278-4751
- Email: [email protected]
- Rectory Hours: Mon/Tue/Thu 9 AM–3 PM; Wed 9 AM–12 PM; Closed Friday
- Parish Registration Form (PDF, available on site)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Reverend Patrick J. Murphy1873–1875
First pastor of Holy Name of Mary Mission; gifted writer and orator; transferred to St. Francis Xavier, Friendsville.
- Reverend Felix McGuckin1875–(before 1879)
Succeeded Father Murphy.
- Reverend Anthony Shields
Served before 1879.
- Reverend Thomas J. Reauntil 1879
Last of the pre-Lafferty pastors.
- Reverend Edward J. Lafferty1879–1899
Led the campaign for a new church on South Main Street; cornerstone laid 1886; acquired cemetery land consecrated 1896.
- Reverend Anthony T. Broderick1899–~1921 (22 years)
First pastor of the independent parish; built the $3,500 parish residence; mentored youth through a temperance society.
- Reverend William J. Gibson
Organized the first Holy Name Society in the parish.
- Reverend Charles Murrayuntil ~1938
Served eight years; took pride in the appearance of the church property.
- Reverend Martin J. Maherfrom 1938
Formed the Blessed Virgin sodality.
- Monsignor Donald A. Deuel
Montrose High School Class of 1936; became Dean of the Susquehanna–Wyoming Counties.
- Reverend Corcoran
Continued parish picnics; established catechetical classes with the Sisters; transferred to St. Joseph's, Minooka; died April 15, 1975.
- Monsignor (unnamed in published history)17 years, ending 1989
Led structural changes — library, conference rooms, confessional for the hearing impaired, Lenten Bible classes, summer religious instruction.
- Reverend James R. Nash1995–July 2005
Ten years; deep connection with youth; oversaw purchase of the Victorian House later named the Fr. James Nash Religious Education Center.
- Reverend Gerard SafkoJuly 2005–2013
Liturgist; beloved for sung prayer services and joyful spirit.
- Reverend Philip S. Rayappan2013–present
Current pastor.