About Our Lady of Victory · Harveys Lake, Pennsylvania
Our Lady of Victory is a Roman Catholic parish in Harveys Lake, Pennsylvania, part of the Diocese of Scranton. Since 2009 it has been linked with Gate of Heaven Parish in nearby Dallas under a shared pastor, forming the 'Roman Catholic Community of Gate of Heaven & Our Lady of Victory' (goholv.org). The parish traces its origins to a chapel built in 1923 as a memorial to the soldiers and sailors of Wyoming Valley who served in World War I, became a separate parish in 1969, and celebrated its centennial on September 3, 2023 with Bishop Joseph C. Bambera as principal celebrant. Today it serves the Back Mountain area of Luzerne County with weekend and weekday Masses, ongoing faith formation for children and adults, an active music ministry, and a full calendar of Marian and Eucharistic devotions.
- Established
- 1923
- Patron
- Our Lady of Victory (named in honor of the soldiers and sailors of Wyoming Valley who served in World War I)
- Rector
- Rev. Andrew S. Hvozdovic, M.Div.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Scranton
Why belong here
Our Lady of Victory offers a small, family-sized Catholic community at the heart of the Back Mountain, with weekend Masses on Saturday evening and twice on Sunday morning, plus weekday Masses and a strong devotional life. Parishioners of all ages are involved — about 60–70 children in the K–8 CCD program, a parish adult choir that sings every Sunday at the 10:30 Mass, a joint Parish Pastoral Council with Gate of Heaven in Dallas, and warm faith-formation and OCIA (formerly RCIA) opportunities for adults led by Deacon John Jorda. The parish keeps its own identity and finances while sharing a pastor with Gate of Heaven, giving newcomers both personal attention and the resources of two linked parishes.
Mass times at Our Lady of Victory
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm at Our Lady of Victory during EVEN-numbered months (February, April, June, August, October, December)
- Saturday 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm at Gate of Heaven during ODD-numbered months (January, March, May, July, September, November)
Adoration times
- Friday (First Friday) 11:30 am – 12:00 pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
- Monday 5:00 pm Eucharistic Adoration at Gate of Heaven
- Tuesday 4:00 – 5:00 pm Eucharistic Adoration at Gate of Heaven
- Wednesday 6:00 pm Eucharistic Adoration at Gate of Heaven
History of Our Lady of Victory
Our Lady of Victory was built in 1923 at Warden Place on Harveys Lake as a memorial chapel to the soldiers and sailors of Wyoming Valley who served in World War I. Bishop Michael J. Hoban, the second Bishop of Scranton, dedicated the completed church on Labor Day, September 3, 1923, choosing the name Our Lady of Victory and a Spanish mission style to honor the local recruits who had served in Spain. Father M. E. Lynott of St. Ignatius Church, Kingston had organized the building campaign and broke ground on March 27, 1922. After operating as a summer mission for nearly two decades, a heating plant was installed in 1940 that finally made year-round worship possible. Father John J. O'Leary, a celebrated WWI chaplain from St. Mary's, Wilkes-Barre, was installed as the first resident pastor on August 1, 1926, and the mission was elevated to a separate parish on September 3, 1969, with Father Patrick D. Healey as its first pastor. On July 15, 2009, diocesan restructuring linked Our Lady of Victory with Gate of Heaven Parish in Dallas under a shared pastor, beginning a partnership that continues today. Most recently, on September 3, 2023 — exactly 100 years after the original dedication — Bishop Joseph C. Bambera returned as principal celebrant of the parish's centennial Mass.
- 1922 – Ground broken at Warden Place by Father M. E. Lynott for a 500-seat chapel
- September 3, 1923 – Church dedicated by Bishop Michael J. Hoban as Our Lady of Victory
- 1940 – Heating plant installed, allowing year-round services
- August 1, 1926 – Rev. John J. O'Leary installed as first resident pastor
- September 3, 1969 – Established as a separate parish; Father Patrick D. Healey first pastor
- July 15, 2009 – Linked with Gate of Heaven Parish under Fr. Toomey
- September 3, 2023 – Centennial Mass celebrated by Bishop Joseph C. Bambera
Parish Staff & Clergy
Our Lady of Victory shares its pastor with Gate of Heaven Parish in Dallas and is also served by two deacons. The parish keeps its own Director of Music & Liturgy, Director of Religious Education, sacristans, business manager, and administrative staff at the Harveys Lake campus, and its own Finance Council, while collaborating with Gate of Heaven on liturgy, faith formation, and pastoral planning.
- Pastor: Rev. Andrew S. Hvozdovic, M.Div.
- Deacon Thomas M. Cesarini
- Deacon John C. Jorda — OCIA Coordinator & Funeral Coordinator
- Director of Music & Liturgy: Helen Neylon
- Director of Religious Education: Renee Boland
- Sacristans: Ed Bilder & John Wilson
- Business Manager: Helen Neylon
- Administrative Assistant: Teresa Ruotolo
- Missions Liaison: Carol Carroll
- Webmaster: Dan Gallagher
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Our Lady of Victory runs a parish CCD program that typically enrolls 60–70 children in grades K–8, meeting on Sunday mornings before the 10:30 am Mass. First Communion and Confirmation are prepared each year under the direction of the Director of Religious Education, and the parish collaborates with Gate of Heaven on sacramental preparation. Adult faith formation and the OCIA (formerly RCIA) process for adults seeking Baptism, Eucharist, or Confirmation in the Catholic Church is led by Deacon John C. Jorda.
- Parish CCD (K–8) — Sunday mornings before 10:30 am Mass
- First Reconciliation / First Holy Communion preparation
- Confirmation preparation
- OCIA / RCIA — coordinated by Deacon John C. Jorda (570-675-2121)
- Pre-Baptism instruction for first-time expectant parents
Music & Liturgy
Music at Our Lady of Victory is led by Director of Music & Liturgy Helen Neylon, who also directs the parish's adult choir. The choir sings for the Sunday 10:30 am Mass and provides music for all the Sacraments and Holy Days of Obligation. The parish also shares a weekly Choir Rehearsal with Gate of Heaven on Wednesday evenings. A Liturgical and Spiritual Life Committee works with the current staff to support the worship life of the parish.
- Director of Music & Liturgy: Helen Neylon
- Adult Choir — sings at 10:30 am Sunday Mass and all Sacraments/Holy Days
- Joint Choir Rehearsal — Wednesday 7:00–8:00 pm at Gate of Heaven
- Liturgical and Spiritual Life Committee (active with current staff)
Marian & Eucharistic Devotions
Devotional life is a distinctive part of the parish's rhythm. Our Lady of Fatima Devotions are held every 13th of the month from May through October at 7:00 pm, with Fatima prayers, the Rosary, Marian hymns, and light refreshments. Flame of Love Devotions are prayed on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 pm, and Divine Mercy Devotions follow the 9:00 am Mass on Fridays. The parish also gathers for a Divine Mercy Cenacle on Fridays at 11:00 am and a Cenacle for the Marian Movement of Priests on Wednesdays at 11:00 am at Gate of Heaven, along with weekly Rosary & Novena before Monday evening Mass.
- Our Lady of Fatima Devotions — 13th of each month, May–October, 7:00 pm
- Flame of Love Devotions — Tuesdays at 7:00 pm
- Divine Mercy Devotions — Fridays after 9:00 am Mass
- Divine Mercy Cenacle — Friday 11:00 am
- Cenacle for the Marian Movement of Priests — Wednesday 11:00 am at Gate of Heaven
- Rosary & Novena — Monday 5:30 pm at Gate of Heaven
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven Catholic Sacraments. Parents are required to be registered members, and first-time expectant parents are asked to call the office about four months before the baby's due date to schedule pre-Baptism instruction. Engaged couples should contact the office to arrange an appointment with the priest and allow 6 to 12 months for marriage preparation before committing to a reception venue or other plans. The Anointing of the Sick is available on request for the homebound, hospitalized, or those facing serious health issues.
- Baptism — registered parishioners; pre-Baptism class for first-time parents
- First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, Confirmation — through Religious Education
- Marriage — 6–12 months preparation; appointment with the priest
- Anointing of the Sick — call the office for home/hospital/healthcare-facility visits
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 12:00–1:00 pm (alternating sites)
- OCIA — contact Deacon John Jorda
Parish Leadership & Councils
Our Lady of Victory maintains its own parish identity and finances, while sharing pastoral leadership with Gate of Heaven Parish in Dallas. A joint Parish Pastoral Council with members from both OLV and GOH meets quarterly or as needed, with joint chairs — one from each parish. OLV also has its own Finance Council that meets biannually or as needed to discuss the parish's financial needs. A Liturgical and Spiritual Life Committee works with the current staff on the worship life of the parish.
- Joint Parish Pastoral Council (OLV + GOH) — meets quarterly or as needed
- OLV Parish Finance Council — meets biannually or as needed
- Liturgical and Spiritual Life Committee
- Linked-parish governance under shared pastor Rev. Andrew S. Hvozdovic, M.Div.
Visiting, Getting Involved & Contact
Newcomers and visitors are warmly welcomed at Our Lady of Victory. The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and the church is located at 16 Second Street in the lakeside borough of Harveys Lake in the Back Mountain area of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Those wishing to join the parish, register a child for CCD, arrange a Baptism or wedding, request a home or hospital visit for Anointing of the Sick, or inquire about OCIA may call (570) 639-1535 or email [email protected]. The parish shares many activities with its linked partner Gate of Heaven Parish, 40 Machell Avenue, Dallas, PA 18612 (570-675-2121).
- Parish Office: 16 Second Street, Harveys Lake, PA 18618
- Phone: (570) 639-1535
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Linked parish office: Gate of Heaven, 40 Machell Avenue, Dallas, PA 18612 — (570) 675-2121
- Website: www.goholv.org
- Facebook: Gate of Heaven and Our Lady of Victory
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. M. E. Lynott1920–1926
Pastor of St. Ignatius, Kingston; supervised the lake mission and broke ground for the chapel on March 27, 1922, dedicating it 'to the memory of the soldiers and sailors of Wyoming Valley.'
- Rev. John J. O'Leary1926–
Famous WWI chaplain from St. Mary's, Wilkes-Barre; installed August 1, 1926 as the first resident pastor of Our Lady of Victory.
- Rev. Patrick D. Healey1969–
Appointed first pastor when Our Lady of Victory Mission was established as a separate parish on September 3, 1969.
- Rev. Toomey2009–
Appointed pastor of both Gate of Heaven and Our Lady of Victory on July 15, 2009 when the two parishes became linked due to diocesan restructuring.
- Rev. Andrew S. Hvozdovic
Current pastor; presided with Bishop Bambera at the parish's 100th anniversary Mass on September 3, 2023.