About Our Lady of Perpetual Help · Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Our Lady of Perpetual Help is a Roman Catholic parish in Bethlehem Township, Pennsylvania, in the Diocese of Allentown. Self-described as 'a Stewardship Parish and a Eucharist Centered People,' the parish sits on a quiet 14-acre campus at 3219 Santee Road and operates alongside Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, a K-8 Catholic elementary school. The parish offers a robust sacramental life including multiple Sunday Masses, daily Mass in a Day Chapel, Eucharistic Adoration, Saturday confession, and a Knights of Columbus council. In recent years it has been noted for being the first parish in the Diocese of Allentown to launch a Mental Health Ministry (2025), under the pastoral leadership of Father Martin F. Kern.
- Patron
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help
- Rector
- Rev. Martin F. Kern
- Diocese
- Diocese of Allentown
Why belong here
OLPH is a stewardship and Eucharist-centered parish combining a full sacramental schedule — three Sunday Masses, daily Mass in a Day Chapel, weekly Wednesday Eucharistic Adoration, and regular Saturday confession — with active lay ministries including the Knights of Columbus, St. Vincent de Paul, and the only Mental Health Ministry in the Diocese of Allentown. Families with school-age children benefit from the on-campus K-8 Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, the live Christmas Nativity tradition, and youth-focused altar server and choir programs.
Mass times at Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00–4:45 PM
- Penance Services held during Advent and Lent
- By appointment (call 610-867-8409)
Adoration times
- Wednesday 8:30 AM – 7:00 PM (Blessed Sacrament exposed in the Day Chapel; may be moved to the Main Church if circumstances warrant)
Parish Identity & Stewardship
OLPH identifies itself on its official website as 'a Stewardship Parish and a Eucharist Centered People.' This stewardship focus shapes parish fundraising, volunteerism, and the Parish Giving program, and gives the parish its practical ethos of time, talent, and treasure shared among parishioners.
- Stewardship parish identity
- Parish Giving program (online giving)
- Eucharist-centered spirituality
Clergy & Pastoral Leadership
In June 2024, Bishop Alfred Schlert named Reverend Martin F. Kern the new Pastor, moving him from Saint Columbkill Parish in Boyertown. Monsignor Edward R. Sacks was honored with the title Pastor Emeritus. Father Alex Brown was assigned in residence at the parish. Reverend Abraham Ha, previously a parochial vicar at OLPH, was reassigned to Saint Ann Parish, Emmaus, and Father John A. Krivak — who had served as assistant pastor — was assigned Pastor of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, Hellertown.
- Rev. Martin F. Kern — Pastor (since 2024)
- Rev. Msgr. Edward R. Sacks — Pastor Emeritus
- Rev. Alex Brown — Priest in Residence
- Rev. Keith Mathur — Diocesan Chancellor (frequent concelebrant)
Mental Health Ministry
On May 20, 2025, Bishop Alfred Schlert celebrated an inaugural Mass launching the OLPH Mental Health Ministry — the first parish-based ministry of its kind in the Diocese of Allentown. The initiative follows the Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers (ACMHM) framework and is described by Maggie Riggins (Diocese of Allentown Executive Director of Evangelization and Formation) as 'the first but, hopefully, not the last of this type of ministry.' Its first public program, held May 26, 2025, featured psychiatrist Dr. Michael Kaufmann discussing the relationship between faith, mental health, and professional care. The Ministry plans future events for parishioners and community members seeking support.
- First parish-based Mental Health Ministry in the Diocese of Allentown
- Affiliated with the Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers (ACMHM)
- Inaugural Mass celebrated by Bishop Alfred Schlert (May 20, 2025)
- Website: my-olph.org/mental-health-ministry
St. Vincent de Paul & Outreach
OLPH maintains a St. Vincent de Paul Society conference that 'sees the face of Christ' through direct service to those in need. The Knights of Columbus support regular food drives (e.g., the April 18–19, 2026 Food Drive). Parishioners also partner with Catholic Charities, the New Bethany Meal Center, and other local agencies through the school and parish social outreach.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Knights of Columbus food drives
- Catholic Charities partnership for the homeless
- A Knight at the Races fundraiser (May 9, 2026)
Our Lady of Perpetual Help School
Our Lady of Perpetual Help School is a K-8 Catholic elementary school located on the parish campus at 3221 Santee Rd., Bethlehem, PA 18020. For nearly 60 years the faculty and staff have nurtured the spiritual, intellectual, social, physical, and psychological well-being of students on a quiet 14-acre campus with a beautiful church, modern gymnasium, cafeteria, and art/science lab. Principal Danielle Frio, a Bethlehem native, has led the school for six years.
- K-8 Catholic school on parish campus
- 14-acre campus with Church, gymnasium, cafeteria, art/science lab
- Phone: 610-868-6570; Fax: 610-868-7941
- Email: [email protected]
- Regular school hours: Mon–Fri 8:25 AM–3:00 PM
- Summer hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
Faith Formation & Sacramental Prep
Faith formation begins with weekly Masses in which different grade levels participate as readers and gift bearers. Sacramental preparation is integrated: First Reconciliation and First Communion are received in second grade, and Confirmation preparation is for eighth graders. Beginning in Grade 5, students may become altar servers or sacristans, and youth group is open to Grades 6–12.
- First Reconciliation & First Communion — Grade 2
- Confirmation preparation — Grade 8
- Altar Servers & Sacristans — Grade 5+
- Youth Group — Grades 6–12
- Weekly student-led Masses by grade
- Living Stations of the Cross — Grade 8
Music, Arts & Activities
OLPH School offers a vibrant music and activity program. Music options include the Youth Choir (singing at school and weekend Masses) and the Bell Choir (Grade 5, with Grade 4 openings). Academic and extracurricular programs include the National Junior Honor Society, LAUNCHPAD STEM Club, French Club, Morning Announcements Club, Chess Club, Spelling Bee, MathCounts, Declamation Competition, Academic Bowl, and Orchestra/Band through Northeastern Music Programs (Grades 3–8). Scouts and an Ambassador Program for selected 8th graders round out student life.
- Youth Choir & Bell Choir
- National Junior Honor Society
- LAUNCHPAD STEM Club
- French Club, Chess Club, Morning Announcements Club
- Orchestra & Band via Northeastern Music Programs
- Scouts Programs (parish and school families)
- Ambassador Program — Grade 8 leadership
Advent & Christmas Traditions
Because OLPH is located in Bethlehem — long known as 'Christmas City, USA' — Advent and Christmas are central to parish and school identity. Father Kern has spoken publicly about being 'in the Holy Land' during Christmas in Bethlehem. The school's signature tradition is a live Nativity staged each Advent by students. Classrooms partner across grades to support families in need: K and Grade 4 make ornaments for Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Pediatric Unit; Grades 5 and 8 make Christmas cards ahead of a parish senior citizen dinner; all support the Olsen Christmas Wish organization that serves families dealing with illness and loss.
- Live Christmas Nativity (school tradition)
- K & Grade 4 ornaments for Good Shepherd Rehab Pediatric Unit
- Grades 5 & 8 Christmas cards for parish senior citizen dinner
- Olsen Christmas Wish support
- Catholic Charities outreach (school grades buddy up)
Visit, Contact & Directions
Parish Office: 610-867-8409. Mailing address: 3219 Santee Road, Bethlehem, PA 18020-2833. GPS coordinates per the Diocese: 40.6603296, -75.3395255. The parish homepage offers a 'Get Directions' link. School tours are available by appointment (610-868-6570). The parish Facebook page is linked from the official site at https://www.facebook.com/OLPHBethlehem/.
- Parish Phone: 610-867-8409
- School Phone: 610-868-6570
- Parish Address: 3219 Santee Road, Bethlehem, PA 18020
- School Address: 3221 Santee Road, Bethlehem, PA 18020
- Facebook: facebook.com/OLPHBethlehem
- Diocese Directory Page: allentowndiocese.org/node/667
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Msgr. Edward R. Sacks
Long-serving Pastor; in 2024 was reassigned by Bishop Schlert to Pastor Emeritus of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Bethlehem.
- Rev. Martin F. Kern2024–present
Appointed Pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Bethlehem in June 2024, moving from St. Columbkill Parish, Boyertown. Launched the OLPH Mental Health Ministry in 2025.
- Rev. John A. Krivak
Served at Our Lady of Perpetual Help (LinkedIn lists Assistant Pastor, June 2015 – present); concurrently served as Chaplain at Muhlenberg College. Bishop Schlert's 2024 reassignment sent him to St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Parish, Hellertown.
- Rev. Alex Brown2024–present
Listed 'in residence' at the parish at the 2025 inaugural Mental Health Ministry Mass.
- Rev. Abraham Ha
Served as Parochial Vicar, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Bethlehem; reassigned in 2024 to Parochial Vicar, St. Ann Parish, Emmaus.