About Our Lady of Mt. Carmel · Hunlock Creek, Pennsylvania
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Scranton serving the rural communities around Hunlock Creek, Pennsylvania, near Lake Silkworth. Founded in 1923, it is a two-church parish comprising Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church on State Route 29 in Hunlock Creek and Saint Martha's Church on Bonnieville Road in Stillwater, near Fairmount Springs. Under the pastoral care of Father Philbert Takyi-Nketiah, with Deacon Eugene Blockus assisting, the parish offers daily and Sunday Masses, a robust schedule of devotions (including First Friday and First Saturday devotions, a weekly novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and Eucharistic Adoration), and the full range of Catholic sacraments.
- Established
- 1923
- Patron
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel
- Rector
- Rev. Philbert Takyi-Nketiah
- Diocese
- Diocese of Scranton
Why belong here
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish is a small, family-sized Catholic community in the hills of northeastern Pennsylvania that takes seriously its identity as a two-church family — Our Lady of Mount Carmel at Lake Silkworth and Saint Martha's at Stillwater/Fairmount Springs. Weekday Mass, Eucharistic Adoration on Tuesdays, a weekly Wednesday novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, First Friday and First Saturday devotions, and a full sacramental ministry (including OCIA for those entering the Church and marriage preparation) make it easy to grow in faith here. Whether you're a lifelong Catholic in the back country or a new arrival looking for a welcoming country parish in the Diocese of Scranton, the parish invites you to call the office at (570) 477-5040 or email [email protected] and register.
Mass times at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–3:45 p.m. at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church
- Second Sunday of the month after the 10:30 a.m. Mass at Saint Martha's Church
- First Saturday after the 8:30 a.m. Mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church
- Mondays during Lent, 5:30–7:00 p.m., at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Every Tuesday after the 8:00 a.m. Mass until 9:00 p.m. at Saint Martha's Church
Parish Identity & Worship Sites
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish is a single Catholic parish in the Diocese of Scranton that is blessed with two churches. Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church stands at 2011 State Route 29 in Hunlock Creek, near Lake Silkworth; Saint Martha's Church is at 260 Bonnieville Road in Stillwater, near Fairmount Springs. Together they form one faith family under the pastoral care of Father Philbert Takyi-Nketiah, with Deacon Eugene Blockus assisting and Father James R. Nash listed as Pastor Emeritus.
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church — 2011 State Route 29, Hunlock Creek, PA 18621
- Saint Martha's Church — 260 Bonnieville Road, Stillwater, PA 17878
- Founded in 1923; canonically re-established as Saint Martha's in 1929
- Diocese of Scranton
Devotions
The parish maintains a rich devotional life rooted in both the Carmelite and Saint Martha traditions. Devotions are scheduled right after related Masses so parishioners can pray together as a community.
- First Friday Devotion — after the 8:00 a.m. Mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel
- First Saturday Devotion — after the 8:30 a.m. Mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel
- Novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel — Wednesday after the 8:00 a.m. Mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel
- Novena to Saint Martha — Tuesday after the 8:00 a.m. Mass at Saint Martha's
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for each of the seven Catholic sacraments. For Baptism and Matrimony, families and couples are asked to contact the parish office well in advance — six months for weddings — so formation can be completed. Those discerning Holy Orders or coming into the Church through OCIA are warmly welcomed.
- Baptism — pre-Baptismal course required; contact the parish office
- Confirmation — through the parish religious education program
- Matrimony — at least six months' notice; preparation through the Diocese of Scranton or with Mrs. Maggie Fishel
- Penance — see Confession schedule above
- Eucharist — see Mass schedule and Adoration above
- Holy Orders — contact Father Philbert for priesthood or diaconate discernment
- OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults for those joining the Church
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Children's religious education is provided through the parish program, and parents are invited to enroll their children by contacting the parish office. The parish also publishes a live-stream of Sunday Mass for those who cannot attend in person.
- Children's religious education — contact 570-477-5040 or [email protected]
- Pre-Baptismal course for parents
- Live Sunday Mass stream at olmcsilkworth.com/live-sunday-mass
Becoming a Parishioner
Catholics are warmly invited to register as parishioners by calling the parish office or emailing [email protected]. Those who are not yet Catholic but wish to join the Church are pointed toward OCIA (the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), with parish staff ready to help sign them up.
- Catholic parishioners — call 570-477-5040 or email [email protected] to register
- Non-Catholics wishing to enter the Church — OCIA sign-up through the parish office
Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by its pastor with the assistance of a deacon and supported by lay faithful. A pastor emeritus is also listed in the directory, honoring longstanding pastoral service to the community.
- Rev. Philbert Takyi-Nketiah — Pastor
- Rev. James R. Nash — Pastor Emeritus
- Deacon Eugene Blockus
- Mrs. Maggie Fishel — Marriage preparation
Parish Office & Contact
Parish office hours, telephone, and email are published for the convenience of parishioners and visitors. The rectory and parish office are at the Lake Silkworth address; Saint Martha's Church has its own phone line for parish business in Stillwater.
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel — 2011 State Route 29, Hunlock Creek, PA 18621 — (570) 477-5040 — [email protected]
- Saint Martha's — 260 Bonnieville Road, Stillwater, PA 17878 — (570) 864-8588
- Office hours — Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
- Website — http://www.olmcsilkworth.com/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Anthony A. Ginzel1923–1926
First pastor; celebrated the first Christmas Eve Mass in the Matusheski home and led the founding of the Stillwater mission.
- Rev. Louis Bobek1926–1928
- Rev. Stanislaus J. Sl[!] Warunek
- Rev. James R. Nash
Pastor Emeritus, still listed in the parish directory.
- Rev. Philbert Takyi-Nketiahpresent
Current pastor.