About Our Lady of Hope · Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Our Lady of Hope Parish is a Roman Catholic community in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, belonging to the Diocese of Scranton. Formed in 2010 through the consolidation of three historic northeastern Pennsylvania parishes — Holy Trinity (Lithuanian) Church, Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and St. Joseph in Wilkes-Barre Township — the parish is currently led day-to-day by Deacon Stephen B. Frye as Parish Life Coordinator, with Father Richard J. Cirba, V.F., serving as Priest Moderator and Father Mark J. DeCelles as Sacramental Minister. It worships in the former Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church at 40 Park Avenue, the fourth church building on or near that site in a line stretching back to a small wooden structure raised by Polish immigrants in 1885.
- Established
- 2010
- Patron
- Our Lady of Hope (predecessor parish: Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Reverend Richard J. Cirba, V.F. (Priest Moderator); Reverend Mark J. DeCelles (Sacramental Minister); Deacon Stephen B. Frye (Parish Life Coordinator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Scranton
Why belong here
Our Lady of Hope offers a small, family-sized Catholic community in the heart of Wilkes-Barre, where the worship of God is described as paramount and every visitor is asked to be received as they would Christ Himself. The parish runs a daily Eucharistic Adoration schedule (after weekday Masses and on Thursday evenings from 6:00–7:00 PM), First Friday Sacred Heart devotions with Benediction, and a thirteen-week St. Anthony Novena leading up to the saint's feast day — a devotional rhythm rooted in the immigrant Polish-American and Lithuanian Catholic heritage of its three predecessor parishes. With a working ministry schedule of lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, cantors, and altar servers published right on the parish website, parishioners can plug in quickly, and Deacon Steve and the parish office (570-852-5303) welcome anyone seeking a spiritual home to call and find their place.
Mass times at Our Lady of Hope
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Daily after Daily Mass
- Saturday 3:15 pm – 3:45 pm (also before daily Mass or by appointment)
Adoration times
- Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament after weekday Masses
- Thursday evenings 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Welcome & Parish Vision
Our Lady of Hope describes itself with a vision statement of 'Faith – Family – Friendship' and a mission 'to be a welcoming community that encourages and empowers our family of believers to use their gifts and talents to be active, intentional disciples of Jesus Christ.' A welcome letter from Parish Life Coordinator Deacon Steve Frye asks all visitors to leave animosity, prejudice, and ill-will at the door and enter 'as you would to encounter the presence of God,' noting that 'when we smile at anyone, we are smiling at God.' The parish sees itself as a family united by God's love for each person, including those who do not yet consider themselves Catholic.
- Vision Statement: Faith – Family – Friendship — 'Casting a wide net to gather as many people as possible for the Kingdom of God.'
- Mission Statement: To be a welcoming community empowering intentional disciples of Jesus Christ.
- Welcome message from Deacon Steve Frye, Parish Life Coordinator.
History of Our Lady of Hope Parish
Our Lady of Hope was canonical year founded in 2010 as the product of a sweeping Diocese of Scranton consolidation announced by Bishop Joseph F. Martino in February 2009. Three parishes — Holy Trinity (Lithuanian), Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and St. Joseph in Wilkes-Barre Township — merged, with the Maternity church on Park Avenue retained as the parish's worship site. Maternity parish itself was founded in 1885 by Polish immigrant families and grew rapidly: within about a year of forming, founding families raised $1,500 in pledges, bought land at Park Avenue and Hancock Street, raised a small wooden church, and saw Bishop-appointed Rev. Adalbert Pelczar celebrate the first Mass in the new building on March 25, 1886.
- 1884 — small group meets at Valentine Borys home, led by Mr. Gawlas and Mr. Bednarkiewicz, to request a Polish parish.
- 1885 — first parish Mass celebrated; 80 founding families raise $1,500.
- 1886 — Rev. Adalbert Pelczar appointed first pastor; parish has 300 families.
- 1961 — Diamond Jubilee; third (current) Maternity church building dedicated.
- 2009 — Bishop Martino announces 72-parish consolidation across northern Luzerne County.
- 2010 — Holy Trinity closed (May 30); Our Lady of Hope formed.
Liturgical Ministries & Ministry Schedule
Lay ministry is woven into the parish's weekly life. The parish publishes a detailed, week-by-week Ministry Schedule listing Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC), Cantors, and Altar Servers assigned to each Mass. EMHCs are asked to avoid strong perfume, cologne, and aftershave out of care for those with allergies and out of reverence for the Eucharist. Cantors named include Noah, Wanda, Elise, S. Scinto, and a Contemporary Group for occasional Sundays. If ministers cannot make their scheduled date and time, they are asked to text or call Barbara Jacobs at 570-954-7508 to arrange a substitute.
- Lectors (rotating roster published on the Ministry Schedule page)
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Cantors: Noah, Wanda, Elise, S. Scinto, and a Contemporary Group
- Altar Servers (named: families including B. Sedon, C. Stilp, A. B. & M. Kijek, C. C. & L. Morgan, N. Bensavage, L & V Lakkis, E. & K. Brozowski)
- Substitute coordination: Barbara Jacobs, 570-954-7508
Prayer & Pastoral Care
Beyond the Mass and devotions, Our Lady of Hope runs an active Prayer Intentions ministry. Parishioners and visitors can submit petitions online (using '[email protected]' to remain anonymous); each request is included in the petitions of the parish Masses and in the parish's Daily Morning Prayer Group. The parish also asks everyone to pray for the needs of others praying alongside them on the internet.
- Online Prayer Intentions form (anonymous submission supported)
- Daily Morning Prayer Group prays each submitted intention
- Petitions offered at every Mass
Parish Bulletin & Announcements
The parish maintains an archive of weekly bulletins available as PDF downloads from the parish website, including recent issues from spring 2026 (March, April, May). The Announcements page invites parishioners to 'get involved and make a difference' by calling Deacon Steve at 570-852-5303 to learn about the various ministries and programs, 'from outreach to education.' Concrete Community Events are listed on the homepage.
- Weekly bulletin downloads in PDF
- Three ways listed to engage: Contact Us, Get Involved, Community Events
Clergy, Staff & Office
Our Lady of Hope is unusual in being pastored through a collaborative model. The Priest Moderator is Rev. Richard J. Cirba, V.F.; Sacramental Minister is Rev. Mark J. DeCelles; Pastor Emeritus is Rev. John S. Terry. Day-to-day pastoral leadership is in the hands of Deacon Stephen B. Frye as Parish Life Coordinator, supported by Deacon William F. Behm. The rectory office is open weekdays from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm and can be reached at (570) 852-5303 (rectory) or by fax at (570) 852-5310; the general email is [email protected].
- Reverend Richard J. Cirba, V.F. — Priest Moderator
- Reverend Mark J. DeCelles — Sacramental Minister
- Reverend John S. Terry — Pastor Emeritus
- Deacon Stephen B. Frye — Parish Life Coordinator
- Deacon William F. Behm
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 am – 12:30 pm
Getting Involved
The parish asks people to step into parish life by calling the rectory. The Announcements page reads: 'There are many ways to get involved and make a difference at Our Lady of Hope Parish. Call Deacon Steve at 570-852-5303 to learn about our various ministries and programs, from outreach to education, and find the one that resonates with you.' The home page also points visitors to three key doors: Contact Us, Get Involved, and Community Events.
- Call Deacon Steve at 570-852-5303 to learn about ministries
- Contact Us / Get Involved / Community Events links on the homepage
Visit, Contact & Visit Information
The parish is located at 40 Park Avenue in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, in the Diocese of Scranton. Office hours are 9:00 am to 12:30 pm Monday through Friday. Visitors are warmly welcomed — in the words of the welcome letter, 'when we smile at anyone, we are smiling at God.'
- Address: 40 Park Avenue, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702
- Rectory: (570) 852-5303
- Fax: (570) 852-5310
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: ourladyofhope.us
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Adalbert Pelczar1886–
First pastor of Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary; celebrated the first Mass in the new church on March 25, 1886.
- Rev. Raphael Tomaszewski
Pastor of Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
- Rev. Theophilus (Teofil) Klonowski
Earlier assistant to Father Nagle for the Polish-speaking community; later pastor of Maternity.
- Rt. Rev. Msgr. Jacob J. Kowalewski
Pastor of Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
- Rt. Rev. Msgr. Wenceslas A. Losieniecki
Pastor of Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
- Msgr. Edward S. Manikowski
Pastor of Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
- Rt. Rev. Msgr. Alexander T. Kulik
Pastor of Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
- Very Rev. John S. Terry, V.F.
Last pastor of Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary; founding Pastor of Our Lady of Hope Parish (2010); now Pastor Emeritus.