About Holy Rosary · Reading, Pennsylvania
Holy Rosary Church is a Roman Catholic parish in downtown Reading, Pennsylvania, founded in 1904 to serve the spiritual needs of Italian immigrants in the Reading area. Originally established as the national parish for Italian-speaking Catholics, it grew from a converted Protestant church into a brick church-and-school complex centered on Franklin Street, served over the decades by the Salesian Sisters and a succession of Italian-heritage pastors. Today, in the Diocese of Allentown, the parish is led by Rev. Msgr. Joseph A. DeSantis and continues to welcome the faithful of the city through daily and Sunday Mass, the sacraments, Eucharistic Adoration, and outreach to the local community.
- Established
- 1904
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Rosary (Madonna del Rosario)
- Rector
- Rev. Msgr. Joseph A. DeSantis
- Diocese
- Diocese of Allentown
Why belong here
Holy Rosary is a small, historic downtown parish with deep Italian-American Catholic roots, where parishioners are known personally and stewardship has remained strong even through difficult seasons like the COVID-19 pandemic. The parish offers daily and Sunday Mass, regular Confession, Eucharistic Adoration, the Sacraments, online giving, and a weekly bulletin that keeps the faithful connected and informed. For Catholics in Reading looking for a welcoming, sacrament-centered parish rooted in over a century of tradition and devotion to Our Lady of the Rosary, Holy Rosary is a faithful home.
Mass times at Holy Rosary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday: 6:30 AM – 6:45 AM
- Wednesday: 6:30 AM – 6:45 AM
- Thursday: 6:30 AM – 6:45 AM
- Friday: 6:30 AM – 6:45 AM
- First Saturday: 6:30 AM – 6:45 AM
- Saturday: 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM (at Sacred Heart) — or any other time by appointment
Adoration times
- Tuesday – Thursday: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM (at Sacred Heart)
Parish History
Holy Rosary Church was founded in 1904 to serve the spiritual needs of Italian immigrants in Reading, Pennsylvania. Monsignor George Borneman of St. Paul Parish in Reading purchased a former Reformed Congregational church and petitioned Archbishop Patrick Ryan of Philadelphia to send an Italian priest. The new parish was dedicated on October 2, 1904 by Archbishop Diomede Falconio, Apostolic Delegate to the United States, with Reverend Gusaldo Paonessa as its first pastor. Over the next century the parish built a school, welcomed the Salesian Sisters, dedicated a new brick church in 1953, and updated its sanctuary to Vatican II norms in 1975.
- 1904: Parish dedicated by Archbishop Diomede Falconio; first pastor Rev. Gusaldo Paonessa
- 1910: Rev. Dr. Eugene Marchetti becomes pastor; founds parish school with Sisters of Saint Dorothy
- 1938: Rev. Leonard T. Miconi appointed pastor
- 1942: Salesian Sisters arrive at Holy Rosary
- 1953: New Holy Rosary Church dedicated on Franklin Street (June 28, 1953)
- 1968: Rev. Felix A. Losito named administrator, later pastor
- 1975: Sanctuary renovated for Vatican II
- 2010–2011: Msgr. Joseph DeSantis becomes administrator, then pastor
Italian-American Heritage
Holy Rosary was established as the national parish for Italian-speaking Catholics in the Reading area, and that Italian heritage continues to shape the parish's identity. The parish's early buildings, schools, and religious orders — including the Salesian Sisters — were chosen and supported with Italian-American Catholic life in mind. Even as English has become the primary language of worship today, the parish remains a touchstone for the Italian-American Catholic community in Reading.
- Boundaries originally encompassed all Italian-speaking Catholics in the Reading area
- School and convent staffed in early decades by the Sisters of Saint Dorothy
- Salesian Sisters arrived in 1942
Mass & Worship
The parish celebrates a single weekend Mass on Sundays at 10:00 AM, with daily Mass at 7:00 AM Tuesday through Thursday. A 7:00 AM Mass is also offered on the First Saturday of each month. Holy Days of Obligation are marked with Masses at 7:00 AM and 12:10 PM. Worship takes place in the parish's mid-twentieth-century brick church on Franklin Street in downtown Reading.
- Sunday Mass: 10:00 AM
- Weekday Mass (Tue–Thu): 7:00 AM
- First Saturday Mass: 7:00 AM
- Holy Day Masses: 7:00 AM and 12:10 PM
Devotions
In keeping with its patroness, Our Lady of the Rosary, the parish holds a special devotion to the Holy Rosary before weekday and First Saturday Masses. The First Saturday Mass is a particular feature of the parish's devotional life.
- Holy Rosary recited Tue–Fri and First Saturday (6:30–6:45 AM)
- First Saturday Mass at 7:00 AM
- Marian devotion invoked by pastor in parish communications
Clergy & Staff
Holy Rosary is led by Rev. Msgr. Joseph A. DeSantis as pastor, assisted by a parochial vicar, a weekend assistant, a deacon, and retired MSC priest Father Michael Camilli who helps with weekend liturgy. Father Pham has also assisted with weekday Masses. Together they keep the parish's daily and Sunday worship and sacramental life running in a season of priest shortages.
- Rev. Msgr. Joseph A. DeSantis — Pastor
- Rev. Keith Mathur — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Gregory Karpyn — Weekend Assistant
- Deacon Christopher May
- Rev. Michael Camilli, MSC — weekend assistance
- Rev. Father Pham — weekday Mass assistance
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the central Sacraments of the Catholic Church — Eucharist, Reconciliation, and Anointing — and prepares parishioners for the other Sacraments as needed. Those seeking Baptism, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, or sacramental preparation are encouraged to call the parish office at (610) 373-5579.
- Holy Mass (daily, Sunday, Holy Days)
- Confession (scheduled times and by appointment)
- Eucharistic Adoration
- Sacramental preparation available by contacting the parish office
Parish Life & Stewardship
Parish life centers on faithful stewardship, the sacraments, and staying connected through the weekly bulletin and online giving. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, parishioners remained committed to Holy Rosary through their financial and prayerful support, allowing the parish to maintain its worship schedule as priest availability permitted.
- Weekly parish bulletin (online and via email)
- Online Giving program
- Pastoral letters from Msgr. DeSantis on the parish website
- Discover Mass parish app and email bulletin sign-up
Visit & Contact
Holy Rosary Church is located at 237 Franklin Street in downtown Reading, Pennsylvania, on the corner of Third and Franklin streets. The parish office can be reached by phone at (610) 373-5579. From US Route 422, visitors take the Penn Street exit, turn right onto 2nd Street, then left onto Franklin Street — the church is one block ahead on the left.
- Address: 237 Franklin St., Reading, PA 19602
- Phone: (610) 373-5579
- Website: http://holyrosaryreading.org/
- Driving directions: Route 422 → Penn Street exit → right on 2nd St → left on Franklin St
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Gusaldo Paonessa1904–
First pastor of Holy Rosary, appointed by Archbishop Patrick Ryan of Philadelphia and present at the church's dedication by Archbishop Diomede Falconio on October 2, 1904.
- Rev. Dr. Eugene Marchetti1910–
Succeeded Fr. Paonessa on August 3, 1910; promoted the founding of the parish school under the Sisters of Saint Dorothy.
- Rev. Leonard T. Miconi1938–
Appointed pastor in April 1938; oversaw the relocation of the school and the planning that led to the new church built after World War II.
- Rev. Felix A. Losito1968–2011
Named administrator on May 14, 1968, and later pastor following Msgr. Miconi's death; oversaw the 1969 Green Street chapel renovation and the 1975 sanctuary renovation for Vatican II.
- Rev. Msgr. Joseph A. DeSantis2010–present
Became administrator in the summer of 2010 and pastor on November 3, 2011, after the death of Msgr. Losito.