About Our Lady of Perpetual Help · Wyalusing, Pennsylvania
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish is a small Catholic community in Wyalusing, Bradford County, Pennsylvania, situated along Route 6 in the Endless Mountains region. The parish is officially listed as founded in 2011 by the Diocese of Scranton, but its living history runs much deeper: the parish grew out of St. Mary of the Assumption Church, a Wyalusing mission begun in 1950 by Fr. McCabe at the commission of Bishop Hafey. Today Our Lady of Perpetual Help worships at St. Mary of the Assumption Church at 245 State Street and shares a common priest with SS. Peter & Paul in Towanda. With about 110 registered families, it is a close-knit rural parish centered on the Eucharist, faith formation for all ages, and outreach through the Ministry of Mercy, Pro-Life Committee, and other servant-leadership groups.
- Established
- 2011
- Patron
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help
- Rector
- Rev. Jose Joseph Kuriappilly
- Diocese
- Diocese of Scranton
Why belong here
Our Lady of Perpetual Help is a small but lively rural Catholic family of roughly 110 households in the Endless Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania, where the Eucharist and the sacraments are the center of parish life. The parish offers Religious Education from Pre-K through Grade 12 (with about 36 children in grades PreK–8 and 12 youth in grades 9–12), an Adult Formation program, and an RCIA process for those becoming Catholic. Parishioners put their faith into action through Liturgical Ministry, Greeters and Ushers, a Pro-Life Committee and Baby Bottle Campaign supporting the Endless Mountain Pregnancy Center, the Ministry of Mercy (which channels support to the Helping Hands Food Pantry in Wyalusing), the Giving Tree Ministry, and a Giving Tree. As pastor Fr. Jose (Jo) Kuriappilly puts it, the parish is meant to be a "safe haven" — gathered around the Eucharistic table to worship and serve the Lord together.
Mass times at Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 5:30 pm
- Sunday 10:30 am
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament — First Friday of each month at 11:30 a.m.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish — Overview
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish is a Catholic community in the Diocese of Scranton serving Wyalusing and the surrounding Endless Mountains of Bradford County, Pennsylvania. Its worship site is St. Mary of the Assumption Church at 245 State Street, Wyalusing. The parish is led by pastor Rev. Jose Joseph Kuriappilly and shares a common priest with SS. Peter & Paul Parish in Towanda. With about 110 registered families, the parish emphasizes Eucharistic worship, faith formation for every age, and active outreach through ministries such as Ministry of Mercy, the Pro-Life Committee, Liturgical Ministry, and Greeters and Ushers.
- Diocese of Scranton
- Worship site: St. Mary of the Assumption Church, 245 State Street, Wyalusing, PA 18853
- Pastor: Rev. Jose Joseph Kuriappilly
- Year founded (as Our Lady of Perpetual Help): 2011
- Approximately 110 registered families
Mission Statement
The parish mission is summarized on the parish website: "We bring together a new parish family to worship God, to evangelize the community, to encourage participation of youth and young adults in parish life, to pass on our faith to the next generation, to respect life, and be good stewards of God's gifts." It is this vision that animates the parish's sacramental life, faith formation programs, and service outreach.
- Worship God
- Evangelize the community
- Encourage participation of youth and young adults
- Pass on the faith to the next generation
- Respect life
- Be good stewards of God's gifts
History of the Parish
Our Lady of Perpetual Help's identity is rooted in St. Mary of the Assumption, a parish that traces its origin to 1950 when Fr. McCabe was appointed by Bishop Hafey to form a new mission parish in Wyalusing. Mass was first celebrated in the Wyalusing Theater, then in the parlor of the James Andrew home on Route 6 that also housed the pastor. In 1953, parishioners and local contractors dismantled St. Luke's Church in Warren Center, moved it to Wyalusing, and rebuilt it on the Route 6 site; the first Mass in the new St. Mary of the Assumption Church was the midnight Mass on Christmas Eve 1953. A 33-foot addition was added in 1981 to accommodate growing Catholic numbers.
A Difficult Decade: The 2000 Rectory Crisis
In March 2000, an oil delivery caused the rectory's fuel tank to rupture, spilling more than 300 gallons of heating oil into the unfinished basement and surrounding soil. Fumes made the rectory uninhabitable, and the pastor had to relocate to a rented apartment on Front Street. In 2005 the parish purchased the McCarty home to serve as a new rectory; renovations were completed in 2006 and the pastor moved in. The original rectory was eventually remodeled into the parish office.
- March 2000 — oil tank rupture; rectory vacated
- 2005 — McCarty home purchased as new rectory
- 2006 — pastor moves into renovated McCarty home
- Original rectory remodeled into parish office
Diocesan Restructuring: 2008 to Today
In 2008, in response to a priest shortage and declining Mass attendance across the Diocese of Scranton, the diocese began joining parishes together. On July 19, 2009, St. Mary of the Assumption (Wyalusing) was officially joined with St. Joachim's Parish in Meshoppen to form Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish; mission churches St. Anthony of Padua in Stowell and St. Bonaventure in Auburn were closed that July. In 2022, further restructuring transferred St. Joachim's to Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Tunkhannock and linked St. Mary's in Wyalusing to SS. Peter & Paul in Towanda. The two churches remain separate parishes but share a common priest.
- 2008 — Diocese of Scranton begins joining parishes
- July 19, 2009 — St. Mary's and St. Joachim's joined as Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish
- July 2009 — St. Anthony of Padua (Stowell) and St. Bonaventure (Auburn) closed
- 2022 — St. Joachim's transferred to Nativity of BVM, Tunkhannock; St. Mary's linked to SS. Peter & Paul, Towanda
- Two parishes share a common priest
Becoming Catholic — RCIA
Our Lady of Perpetual Help offers the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) for those interested in learning about the Catholic faith, completing their sacraments, or being received into full communion with the Church. The parish website has a dedicated 'Becoming Catholic' section inviting inquirers to come forward.
- RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
- Open to unbaptized adults, baptized Catholics seeking full initiation, and Christians from other traditions
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Religious Education at Our Lady of Perpetual Help serves children and youth from Pre-K through Grade 12. According to the parish's stewardship brochure, 36 children are enrolled in the Pre-K through Grade 8 program and 12 youth participate in the Grades 9–12 youth ministry; 15 adults are also involved in Adult Formation / Religious Education.
- Religious Ed Pre-K through Grade 8 (36 children)
- Youth Ministry Grades 9–12 (12 youth)
- Adult Formation / Religious Ed (15 adults)
- First Reconciliation & First Communion preparation
- Sacrament of Confirmation preparation
Sacraments at the Parish
The parish celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments and welcomes families to prepare for each. Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation is offered alongside the regular Religious Education program. Marriage preparation is arranged through the parish office, and the Anointing of the Sick is available to those who are ill or preparing for surgery.
- Baptism
- First Reconciliation & First Communion
- Confirmation
- Marriage
- Anointing of the Sick
- Funeral liturgies
- RCIA for adults
Servant Leadership — Parish Ministries
The parish website groups its ministries under 'Servant Leadership,' including Pastoral Council, Finance Council, Religious Education, the Ministry of Mercy, the Pro-Life Committee, Liturgical Ministry, and Greeters/Ushers (Ministers of Hospitality). These groups carry out both the liturgical and charitable mission of the parish.
- Pastoral Council
- Finance Council
- Religious Education
- Ministry of Mercy
- Pro-Life Committee
- Liturgical Ministry
- Greeters and Ushers (Ministers of Hospitality)
Outreach and Charity
Our Lady of Perpetual Help is known for its active outreach to the surrounding community. The Ministry of Mercy supports the Helping Hands Food Pantry in Wyalusing, and in 2024 received a Social Justice Grant from the Catholic Ministries Appeal to help that food pantry continue its work. The Pro-Life Committee supports the Endless Mountain Pregnancy Center, including through the Giving Tree Ministry and the Baby Bottle Campaign.
- Ministry of Mercy — supports Helping Hands Food Pantry, Wyalusing
- Pro-Life Committee — supports Endless Mountain Pregnancy Center
- Giving Tree Ministry
- Baby Bottle Campaign
- 2024 Catholic Ministries Appeal Social Justice Grant
Stewardship — 'Moving Forward Together in Faith'
The parish has launched a stewardship program called "Moving Forward Together in Faith," inviting parishioners to make a commitment of time, talent, and treasure. As part of this effort, Fr. Jose has written a pastoral letter reminding parishioners that "stewardship isn't a code word for financial support. Stewardship is about doing the work of Christ and engaging our many resources to further the ministry and mission of Our Lord."
- Moving Forward Together in Faith
- Pastoral letter from Fr. Jose
- Commitment cards and offering envelopes
- Tax-advantaged giving (IRA distributions, gifts of stock, wills)
Clergy and Staff
The parish is currently served by pastor Rev. Jose Joseph Kuriappilly (often called Fr. Jose or Fr. Jo), who also serves as common priest with SS. Peter & Paul in Towanda. The parish office is supported by a Faith Financial Secretary and a Parish Pastoral Secretary; the office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
- Rev. Jose Joseph Kuriappilly — Pastor
- Faith Financial Secretary
- Parish Pastoral Secretary
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Bulletin, Events, and Parish Life
The parish publishes a regular weekly bulletin (the website carries bulletins from mid-2024 through 2025) and maintains a parish calendar listing coming events. Recent highlights include the Parish Picnic and a Parish Mission scheduled for May 17, 2025, as well as the joint Lenten schedule with neighboring parishes.
- Weekly parish bulletins posted online
- Parish Picnic
- Parish Mission — May 17, 2025
- Joint Lenten & Holy Week schedule with SS Peter & Paul, St Basil's, and Epiphany parishes
Visiting and Contact
Parishioners and visitors can reach Our Lady of Perpetual Help at the parish office at 245 State Street, Wyalusing, PA 18853, by phone at (570) 746-1006 (fax 570-746-1852), or by email at [email protected]. The parish is part of the Diocese of Scranton's pastoral region covering Bradford County in the Endless Mountains.
- 245 State Street, Wyalusing, PA 18853
- Phone: (570) 746-1006
- Fax: (570) 746-1852
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. McCabe1950–
Appointed by Bishop Hafey to form the original mission parish in Wyalusing; first pastor/administrator of St. Mary of the Assumption; oversaw construction of the new church (moved from St. Luke's, Warren Center) completed Christmas Eve 1953.