Mary Mother of God

History of Our Parish

For over 150 years, the Catholic churches of North Scranton have been centers of worship, of community life, of education, and of service to God’s people. Their members have been called to serve as models of the Christian life to each other as well as to those in the neighborhood who do not know Christ. The first stirrings of the Catholic faith in North Scranton began in 1857 when Mass was celebrated in the Providence home of Michael Burke. By 1859, the number of Catholic families had grown to warrant a house of worship. In response to the needs of the time, Father Moses Whitty, the pioneer pastor of this region, authorized the construction of St. Thaddeus Chapel located at the corner of Oak Street and Bloom Avenue. The latter part of the 19th century and early part of the 20th century heralded the arrival of immigrants from many European countries. During these years, North Scranton became the home for communities of Irish, Lithuanians, Hungarians, Italians and Poles who each brought with them a strong Catholic faith and culture. Lured by abundant opportunities for work in the mines, railroads, and silk mills, they made a new home and life for themselves in Northeastern Pennsylvania. For our forebears, the church was not only the site for worship but also the center of their family and community lives. The Catholic community grew strong at this time and saw the construction of Holy Rosary Church in 1871; St. Joseph Church, 1894; St. Stephen of Hungary Church, 1907; St. Anthony of Padua Church, 1913; and St. Stanislaus Church, 1916. In each case, the new immigrants were nurtured by devotions and religious practices celebrated in their own language and in a familiar style which anchored them in this new and strange country. As each of these parish communities developed and flourished, families turned their attention to the religious education of their children. In some instances, this resulted in the opening of parish schools: Holy Rosary School, 1882, and St. Joseph’s School, 1916. The schools served as a bridge leading the children of the parishes into full participation in American society. In all the parishes, however, religious education programs not only instilled the basics of the faith but also preserved native languages and customs. This was a time of growth and expansion. The Catholic population in Scranton had grown to a point that by 1925 it was necessary to establish another parish, St. Vincent de Paul. This new parish was carved from sections of Park Place, Bull’s Head, Green Ridge, and Tripp’s Park. The six North Scranton parishes sponsored activities and events that soon became traditions in the lives of both parishioners and neighbors. The Fall Festival at St. Stanislaus, the homemade pasta dinners at St. Anthony’s, Tuesday night bingos at Holy Rosary, the Women’s Society events at St. Joseph’s,

Pastoral Staff

The pastoral staff includes Rev. Cyril D. Edwards, Pastor; Rev. Martin Gaiardo, Assisting Priest; Deacon Joseph Marcellus; Sister Therese Mary Dougherty, IHM; Marie Purcell, Director of Religious Education; and Jillian Rojek, Director of Parish Music.

Ministries and Programs

The parish offers a wide range of ministries including OCIA for adult catechumenate, CCD for children, youth ministry, parish music, and the Marian Society. Events like 'Rosary on the Lawn' and 'Night at the Railriders' foster community engagement.

• Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA)
• Religious Education (CCD)
• Youth Ministry
• Marian Society
• Parish Music
• Women’s Society
• Sacramental Programs

Sacraments and Services

The parish offers all seven sacraments, including Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Matrimony, and Holy Orders. Mass is celebrated daily and on Sundays at multiple times. Confession and Adoration times are not listed on the website.

• Baptism
• Eucharist
• Confirmation
• Reconciliation
• Anointing of the Sick
• Matrimony
• Holy Orders