About Our Lady of the Eucharist · Pittston, Pennsylvania
Our Lady of the Eucharist Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the City of Pittston, Pennsylvania, part of the Diocese of Scranton. Established on November 21, 2010, it was created by the consolidation of three historic faith communities: St. Mary, Help of Christians (1851, the first Catholic parish in Pittston), St. Mary's Assumption (1863, founded for German immigrants during the Civil War), and Blessed Sacrament in Hughestown (1945). Today the parish family worships in the former St. Mary, Help of Christians Church at 535 North Main Street and is served by a priest moderator, sacramental ministers, a deacon, and a Sister of IHM serving as parish life coordinator. The parish is grouped with St. John the Evangelist and St. Joseph Marello parishes in a collaborative Roman Catholic Parishes of Pittston pastoral team.
- Established
- 2010
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Eucharist (Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of the Eucharist)
- Rector
- Rev. Joseph P. Elston, V.F.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Scranton
Why belong here
Our Lady of the Eucharist is a small, multi-generational parish in the heart of Pittston with deep roots stretching back to 1851, when St. Mary, Help of Christians became the first Catholic parish in the city. The community gathers around weekday and weekend Masses, the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Saturdays, the longstanding annual Saint Jude Novena, and a robust slate of lay liturgical ministries — lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, hospitality, altar servers, ushers, cantors, choir, and a card-writing ministry for the homebound. Faith formation for children, the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation) process for adults, First Holy Communion preparation, and a youth and family ministry give every member of the family a place to belong, and a deacon, a Sister of IHM, and three Oblate/Jesuit/ diocesan priests provide steady pastoral care.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Eucharist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 5:00 PM (other times by appointment)
Adoration times
- Adoration Chapel: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (shared Adoration Chapel within the Roman Catholic Parishes of Pittston collaborative)
Welcome & Mission
Our Lady of the Eucharist Parish describes itself on its website as a community of Catholic Christians 'inspired by the Word of God and nourished by the Body and Blood of Christ,' striving to be disciples of Jesus Christ through love, Liturgy, prayer, on-going faith formation, and charitable works for all God's people. The parish website (eucharist-pittston.org) is updated weekly and is the primary channel for parish news, the weekly bulletin, stewardship information, the Diocesan Annual Appeal, and links to online giving and the Flocknote communication platform.
- Mission Statement: proclaim the Gospel and serve as disciples of Jesus Christ through love, Liturgy, prayer, faith formation, and charitable works
- Weekly updated parish website
- Online giving via 'Support Your Parish Online'
- Flocknote email / text communication
- Diocesan Annual Appeal (2023/24 campaign featured)
History of the Parish
Our Lady of the Eucharist Parish was canonically established on November 21, 2010, from the consolidation of three predecessor parishes. It is rooted in the Catholic history of the City of Pittston and the Borough of Hughestown and worships in the former St. Mary, Help of Christians Church on North Main Street, which had been built in 1905 as the third church on that site. The parish was led as founding pastor by the Rev. Thomas J. Maloney, who had been appointed in 2000 to Blessed Sacrament, Hughestown, and in June 2007 to lead all three linked parishes.
- St. Mary, Help of Christians — established 1851, first Roman Catholic parish in Pittston (first Catholic church in the North Wyoming Valley)
- St. Mary's Assumption — founded 1863, during the Civil War, for German immigrant families
- Blessed Sacrament (Hughestown) — originally a mission of St. John the Evangelist, established as a parish in 1945
- Three parishes linked under one pastor in June 2007
- Three parishes closed November 2010; Our Lady of the Eucharist Parish established November 21, 2010; opened First Sunday of Advent, November 28, 2010
Saint Jude Novena
The annual Saint Jude Novena is one of the best-known devotions of the parish and a continuation of a tradition that began in the predecessor St. Mary, Help of Christians community, revitalized in 1990 by the Rev. Richard J. Polmounter. Held at the North Main Street church over nine days leading up to the Feast of Saint Jude (October 28), it brings in homilists from across the region and includes veneration of the relic of Saint Jude.
- Annual Novena to Saint Jude, patron saint of hopeless cases
- 64th annual Novena hosted in 2021, 68th annual in 2025
- Services: Monday–Friday at 12:00 noon and 7:00 PM; Saturdays at 12:00 noon and 4:00 PM; Sundays at 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM
- Rosary and Confessions precede every Novena service except Sunday
- Closing liturgy on the Feast of Saint Jude, October 28
Clergy & Staff
The parish is served by a collaborative pastoral team shared with the other Roman Catholic Parishes of Pittston. The current pastor is the Rev. Joseph P. Elston, V.F., assisted by the Rev. Jackson Pinhero, O.S.J. (Saint Joseph Oblate, Assistant Pastor), Deacon David E. Marx, and Sister Mary Ann Cody, I.H.M., a Sister of the Immaculate Heart of Mary who has long served the parish as Parish Life Coordinator (Pastoral Associate). Former sacramental ministers include the Rev. Kenneth M. Seegar, the Rev. Joseph J. Evanko, V.E. (Priest Moderator), and the Rev. Jeffrey J. Walsh, who went on to be named Bishop of the Diocese of Gaylord, Michigan. The founding pastor, the Rev. Thomas J. Maloney (1939–2024), remains remembered as Pastor Emeritus.
- Rev. Joseph P. Elston, V.F. — Pastor
- Rev. Jackson Pinhero, O.S.J. — Assistant Pastor
- Deacon David E. Marx
- Sister Mary Ann Cody, I.H.M. — Parish Life Coordinator / Pastoral Associate
- Rev. Kenneth M. Seegar — Sacramental Minister
- Rev. Joseph J. Evanko, V.E. — Priest Moderator
- Rev. Thomas J. Maloney (1939–2024) — Founding Pastor; Pastor Emeritus
- Rev. Jeffrey J. Walsh — former Sacramental Minister; now Bishop of Gaylord, MI
Liturgical Ministries
Liturgical life is sustained by a wide range of lay volunteers. The parish's liturgical ministries are coordinated jointly across the Roman Catholic Parishes of Pittston, and prospective ministers receive the training and materials they need. Sister Mary Ann Cody, IHM, is the contact for Our Lady of the Eucharist's liturgical ministries.
- Lectors — proclaim the Word of God at weekend and daily Mass; workbook and instruction provided
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion — assist with distribution of Holy Communion at every weekend Mass
- Hospitality Ministers — welcome families and friends as they enter the celebration of the Eucharist
- Altar Servers — children of the parish who have received First Communion; training provided
- Ushers — greet and welcome those who come to Mass and assist with the offertory collection
- Cantors — lead congregational singing at all weekend Masses
- Choir — beautiful choirs add to special liturgies throughout the year
- Church Environment — decorate the worship space for the major liturgical seasons
- Adult Funeral Servers — serve at the funeral Masses of parishioners
- Prayer Ministry — pray for the special intentions of parishioners and those who request prayers
- Card Writing Ministry — volunteers send greeting cards to homebound and nursing-home parishioners several times a year (cards and stamps provided)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation is a central pillar of the parish's mission. Children prepare for the sacraments through a multi-year Religious Education / CCD program that includes a two-year preparation for First Holy Communion. The parish also has a Sunday School program. Adults seeking to become Catholic are welcomed through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA, formerly RCIA); the 2024 Easter Vigil saw ten catechumens and candidates from the Pittston parishes initiated into full communion with the Church.
- Religious Education / CCD for children
- Two-year First Holy Communion preparation program
- Sunday School (students presented a Children of the World Stole to Father Jeff Walsh on the last day of Sunday School)
- OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (formerly RCIA)
- Director of Religious Education: Alicia Hintze (Roman Catholic Parishes of Pittston)
Youth & Family Ministry
Youth and family ministry is shared across the Roman Catholic Parishes of Pittston collaborative. Ed Sankus serves as Director of Youth and Family Ministry, coordinating programs and outreach for the young people and families of Our Lady of the Eucharist as well as the partner parishes.
- Director of Youth and Family Ministry: Ed Sankus
- Programs serve the children, youth, and families of the parish
Music & Liturgy
Music at Our Lady of the Eucharist is led within the Roman Catholic Parishes of Pittston collaborative by Brandon Jopling, Director of Music & Liturgy, who also serves as the music director for the wider group of parishes. Cantors, choir, and a Children of the World stole presentation by Sunday School students are part of the parish's musical life.
- Director of Music & Liturgy: Brandon Jopling
- Cantors lead congregational singing at every weekend Mass
- Parish choir supports special liturgies throughout the year
Office & Contact
The parish office is located at the church address, 535 North Main Street, Pittston, PA 18640. Office hours are limited in person because Wednesday is set aside for home, hospital, and nursing-home visitation, and all other times the office is available by appointment. The parish can be reached by phone at (570) 654-0263, by fax at (570) 654-0195, and by email at [email protected].
- Address: 535 North Main Street, Pittston, PA 18640
- Phone: (570) 654-0263
- Fax: (570) 654-0195
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday and Tuesday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Wednesday: Home, Hospital & Nursing Home Visitation
- All other times by appointment
Outreach, Giving & Stewardship
Parishioners support the mission of Our Lady of the Eucharist through the annual Diocesan Appeal, a stewardship commitment program, online giving, and Flocknote communications. The parish's mission statement highlights 'charitable works for all God's people' alongside Liturgy and prayer, and the pastor and pastoral team encourage parishioners to share their time, talent, and treasure.
- Diocesan Annual Appeal
- Stewardship Commitment (renewed in February 2023)
- Online giving: 'Support Your Parish Online'
- Flocknote sign-up for parish communications
- Charitable works emphasized in parish mission statement
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Thomas J. Maloney2010–2015
Founding pastor of Our Lady of the Eucharist; had previously been appointed linked pastor of the three predecessor parishes in June 2007. Retired 2015 and named Pastor Emeritus. Died June 19, 2024.
- Rev. Joseph J. Evanko, V.E.
Listed as Priest Moderator on the parish website.
- Rev. Jeffrey J. Walsh
Sacramental Minister; later named Bishop of the Diocese of Gaylord, Michigan.
- Rev. Kenneth M. Seegar
Sacramental Minister, listed on the parish website.
- Rev. Joseph P. Elston, V.F.present
Current pastor; also pastor of St. John the Evangelist and St. Joseph Marello parishes in the Roman Catholic Parishes of Pittston collaborative grouping.