About Immaculate Conception /St. Luke · Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania
Immaculate Conception / Saint Luke is a linked Roman Catholic parish community in western Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, within the Diocese of Scranton. The parish is built from two worship sites that share a pastor: Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M. Church at 5973 Jacks Hollow Road in Williamsport (the oldest parish in Lycoming County and the oldest German parish in the Scranton Diocese, with roots going back to 1838) and Saint Luke Church at 118 Kendall Avenue in Jersey Shore (founded 1902). Together they serve roughly 350+ families from the Jersey Shore area and the Nippenose Valley, offering daily Mass, a live-streamed weekly liturgy, sacraments, faith formation, and an active mix of lay ministries. The current pastor is Reverend Michael S. McCormick, assisted by Deacon Matthew Eisley.
- Established
- 1838 (Immaculate Conception); 1902 (Saint Luke)
- Patron
- Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (IC site); Saint Luke the Evangelist (St. Luke site)
- Rector
- Reverend Michael S. McCormick
- Diocese
- Diocese of Scranton
Why belong here
Immaculate Conception / Saint Luke offers a rooted, century-deep Catholic community stretching across the Nippenose Valley and Jersey Shore. With daily and Sunday Mass at two historic worship sites, livestreamed liturgy for the homebound, regular Confession before Mass, monthly Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and active men's and women's organizations, the parish gives families multiple ways to worship, serve, and grow together. Faith formation is supported through catechists, lectors, altar servers, hospitality ministers, and Communion ministers — all welcome new volunteers — making it a parish where parishioners can know one another and put their gifts to work.
Mass times at Immaculate Conception /St. Luke
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:15 PM – 3:50 PM (Immaculate Conception)
- Monday before Mass (Saint Luke)
- Friday before Mass (Saint Luke)
- Saturday before Mass (Saint Luke)
Adoration times
- Monthly Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (Saint Luke; ongoing tradition noted at 100th anniversary)
About Immaculate Conception / Saint Luke Parish
Immaculate Conception / Saint Luke is a single linked Catholic parish in the Diocese of Scranton that worships at two historic churches: Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M. in the Nippenose Valley (Williamsport mailing address) and Saint Luke in Jersey Shore. According to the parish website, the community has been 'serving western Lycoming County, PA since 1838.' The parish publishes a weekly bulletin and livestreams Mass for those unable to attend in person, and its office is staffed Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM.
- Diocese of Scranton
- Linked parish with two worship sites
- Weekly bulletin and livestreamed Mass
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
History of Immaculate Conception
The Catholic presence in the Nippenose Valley began around 1836–1837, when Jesuit missionary Father Nicholas Steinbacher, S.J. ministered to three German Catholic families. On April 14, 1838, Fr. Steinbacher purchased 414½ acres of land known as 'Stanhope' from Clement S. Miller for $250, and on August 9, 1853 he deeded 20 acres to Bishop Neuman for parish use. The first and second churches and the cemetery sit on that original parcel. Many founding families came from Fr. Steinbacher's home parish of St. Paul's in Churchville (now Blessed Sacrament, Bally) and directly from Germany's Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate regions. By its 150th anniversary in 1988 the parish had grown to 265 families; it numbers 356 families today.
- Founded 1838 by Fr. Nicholas Steinbacher, S.J.
- Original land purchase: 414½ acres on April 14, 1838 for $250
- Oldest parish in Lycoming County
- Oldest German parish in the Diocese of Scranton
- 180th anniversary celebrated June 2018 with Bishop Joseph C. Bambera
History of Saint Luke Church, Jersey Shore
Saint Luke's roots go back to 1882, when Father Eugene A. Garvey of Williamsport celebrated Mass in the home of John Wright in Antes Fort. Mass was subsequently offered in private homes across Antes Fort, Cogan Valley, and English Center, and around 1897 Father James Gilleogly began saying Mass in a Main Street lodge room in Jersey Shore. In 1902 Saint Luke's was separated from its status as a mission of the Annunciation Church of Williamsport and made its own parish under Father Dennis J. Bustin. The first church was built in 1904, the first Mass was celebrated November 21, 1902, and the first Confirmation was administered by Bishop Michael J. Hoban on November 26, 1905.
- First Mass as a parish: November 21, 1902
- First baptism: August 31, 1902
- First marriage: May 4, 1903
- First church building constructed 1904; rectory 1908 ($20,000 combined)
- First Confirmation by Bishop Hoban, November 26, 1905 — 63 confirmed
- Present church dedicated June 8, 1969 by Bishop J. Carroll McCormick ($450,000)
- 100th anniversary celebrated April 21, 2002 with Bishop James Timlin
Saint Luke Pastor Succession
Saint Luke has been served by at least 17 pastors in its first century. The published history highlights Father Dennis J. Bustin (first pastor and builder of church and rectory), Father Charles J. Manley (paid down debt, founded the Altar and Rosary Society in 1911), Father William Ward (seventh pastor, 1943 renovations), Father Gerald M. Hughes (ninth pastor, built the present church), Father Andrew S. Hvozdovic (seventeenth pastor, 1997 anniversary preparations), Father Thomas James Petro, J.C.L. (first joint pastor of the linked parishes, 2006–2008), and current pastor Reverend Michael S. McCormick.
- Fr. Dennis J. Bustin — 1902–1910 (1st pastor)
- Fr. Charles J. Manley — from 1910 (2nd pastor)
- Fr. William Ward — 1943–c.1948 (7th pastor)
- Fr. Gerald M. Hughes — from 1956 (9th pastor)
- Fr. George Jeffrey & Fr. Charles Fantaskey — 1986–1989
- Fr. Joseph Manarchuck — from 1989
- Fr. Andrew S. Hvozdovic — from July 1, 1997 (17th pastor)
- Fr. Thomas James Petro, J.C.L. — 2006–2008 (first joint pastor)
- Rev. Michael S. McCormick — current pastor
Clergy & Staff
The Diocese of Scranton parish directory lists Reverend Michael S. McCormick as pastor and Deacon Matthew Eisley as deacon for both Saint Luke and Immaculate Conception. The parish office is staffed Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM, and can be reached at (570) 745-3301 or [email protected].
- Rev. Michael S. McCormick — Pastor
- Deacon Matthew Eisley
- Parish office: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Phone: (570) 745-3301; Fax: (570) 745-3361
Parish Ministries & Lay Involvement
The parish website invites parishioners to 'Get Involved' through a range of liturgical and parish-life ministries. Opportunities include Music, Catechist (Teacher), Communion Minister, Hospitality (Usher), Altar Server, Lector, a Men's Organization, and Women's Organizations. The parish also maintains a Finance Committee, Liturgy Committee, Parish Council, Youth Group, Folk Group Choir, Church Choir, and a Travel Club — many of which were established during the post-1969 rebuilding era under Father Hughes.
- Music Ministry
- Catechist (Teacher)
- Communion Minister
- Hospitality (Usher)
- Altar Server
- Lector
- Men's Organization
- Women's Organizations
- Parish Council, Finance & Liturgy Committees
- Youth Group, Folk Group Choir, Church Choir
- Altar and Rosary Society (founded 1911)
- Travel Club
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the linked parish by phone at (570) 745-3301, by fax at (570) 745-3361, or by email at [email protected]. The parish website at icslchurch.net hosts the weekly bulletin, livestream link, and pages for Welcome, History, Get Involved, and a 'Map & Directions' section. Saint Luke Church is at 118 Kendall Avenue, Jersey Shore, PA 17740, and Immaculate Conception Church is at 5973 Jacks Hollow Road, Williamsport, PA 17702.
- Phone: (570) 745-3301
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: icslchurch.net
- Saint Luke address: 118 Kendall Avenue, Jersey Shore, PA 17740
- Immaculate Conception address: 5973 Jacks Hollow Road, Williamsport, PA 17702
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Dennis J. Bustin1902–1910
First pastor; built the first church (1904) and rectory (1908).
- Father Charles J. Manley1910–
Second pastor; paid down parish debt and founded the Altar and Rosary Society in 1911.
- Father William Ward1943–c.1948
Seventh pastor; oversaw $17,000 in exterior and interior renovations; Bishop William Hafey rededicated the church on September 7, 1947.
- Father Gerald M. Hughes1956–
Ninth pastor; led construction of the present church building, dedicated June 8, 1969.
- Father George Jeffrey and Father Charles Fantaskey1986–1989
Served the parish jointly.
- Father Joseph Manarchuck1989–
Led a parish Self-Study and continued modernization of the church building and rectory.
- Father Andrew S. Hvozdovic1997–
Seventeenth pastor; oversaw 95th/100th anniversary celebrations and improvements including a new organ and rectory roof.
- Father Thomas James Petro, J.C.L.2006–2008
First joint pastor of the linked Immaculate Conception / Saint Luke parishes (July 6, 2006 – July 8, 2008); later earned a J.C.L. from the Gregorian University in Rome.
- Reverend Michael S. McCormickcurrent
Current pastor of the linked parishes; listed by the Diocese of Scranton as of the parish profile.