About Our Lady Queen of Peace · Gilbert, Pennsylvania
Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish located in the unincorporated village of Gilbert (Brodheadsville mailing address) in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, within the Diocese of Scranton. Founded in 1968, the parish serves the West End of Monroe County and is celebrated for its bilingual worship life — including a weekly Spanish-language Mass — and for its active social outreach ministries such as Community Sunday Suppers, Community Luncheons, and the West End Missions take-out meal program. The parish gathers for daily and Sunday Mass on its campus along Route 209 and livestreams its Saturday vigil Mass on Facebook and YouTube.
- Established
- 1968
- Patron
- Our Lady Queen of Peace (Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. Gregory Reichlen
- Diocese
- Diocese of Scranton
Why belong here
Our Lady Queen of Peace welcomes Catholics from across the West End of Monroe County with a deeply Eucharistic identity — 'Gathered for Eucharist, we strive to be united in our mission to love God and our neighbor, sharing our diverse gifts as missionary disciples.' Bilingual Sunday worship (with a 1:00 PM Spanish Mass), daily Mass Monday through Friday, Friday Eucharistic Adoration from 8:30 AM to 7:00 PM, and livestreamed weekend Masses make the sacraments highly accessible. The parish is also known for hands-on outreach: Community Sunday Suppers, Community Luncheons, and West End Missions feed neighbors in need right from the church campus, and active ministries for youth, adults, young adults, the homebound, and the bereaved make it easy for newcomers to plug in.
Mass times at Our Lady Queen of Peace
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday 6:30 PM - 7:00 PM
- Saturday 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM (Winter hours 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM)
Adoration times
- Friday 8:30 AM - 7:00 PM (Eucharistic Adoration)
Parish Identity and Mission
Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church, located on Route 209 in Gilbert (Chestnuthill Township), Monroe County, PA, is a parish of the Diocese of Scranton founded in 1968. The parish's stated mission, posted on its homepage, is 'Gathered for Eucharist, we strive to be united in our mission to love God and our neighbor, sharing our diverse gifts as missionary disciples.' The parish is bilingual in its regular worship, offering Sunday Mass in both English and Spanish, and seeks to be a spiritual home for Catholics across the West End of the Poconos.
- Founded: 1968
- Diocese: Scranton
- Parish patron: Our Lady Queen of Peace
- Parish feast day: July 12
- Mailing: 1402 Route 209, Gilbert (Brodheadsville) PA 18322
Worship and Sacraments
The parish offers daily and Sunday Mass with both English and Spanish celebrations. Saturday vigil Mass at 5:00 PM (4:00 PM in winter) is livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube. Sunday Masses are at 8:00 AM and 11:00 AM in English and 1:00 PM in Spanish. Weekday Masses are at 12:10 PM on Monday and 8:00 AM Tuesday through Friday, with a Saturday 8:00 AM Communion Service. Confessions are heard Monday evenings 6:30-7:00 PM and Saturday afternoons 3:30-4:30 PM (2:30-3:30 PM in winter). Eucharistic Adoration is held every Friday from 8:30 AM to 7:00 PM.
- Saturday vigil: 5:00 PM (4:00 PM winter), livestreamed
- Sunday: 8:00 AM, 11:00 AM (English); 1:00 PM (Spanish)
- Weekday: Mon 12:10 PM; Tue-Fri 8:00 AM; Sat 8:00 AM Communion Service
- Confession: Mon 6:30-7:00 PM; Sat 3:30-4:30 PM (winter 2:30-3:30 PM)
- Adoration: Fri 8:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Clergy and Staff
Simon as pastor, with two deacons assisting in ministry: Deacon Joseph P. Rodgers and Deacon Robert O'Connor. The parish staff (as listed on qopchurch.org) supports liturgy, religious education, youth ministry, music, communications, and parish operations. The office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
- Pastor: Rev. Robert J. Simon
- Deacon: Joseph P. Rodgers
- Deacon: Robert O'Connor
- Office hours: Mon-Fri 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
- Phone: (610) 681-6137; Fax: (610) 681-6139
- Email: [email protected]
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith formation at Our Lady Queen of Peace is described on the parish website as 'a lifelong journey that nurtures our relationship with God and deepens our understanding of the Catholic Faith,' with programming for children, teens, and adults living out their baptismal call.
- Faith Formation / Religious Education (CCD) for parish children
- First Reconciliation / First Communion preparation
- Confirmation preparation for teens
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults) for those becoming Catholic
- Sacramental preparation coordinated through the parish office
Youth Ministry
The parish divides its youth ministry into two age groups. 'Living 4:12' is the Middle School youth group for 7th and 8th graders, meeting Wednesdays from 5:30 PM to 6:45 PM, late September through May. 'Teens of Peace' is the High School youth group for 9th through 12th graders, meeting Tuesdays from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM, late September through May. Both groups also gather once a month for a combined fun night with food, music, and games. Summer months feature 'pop-up' events rather than scheduled meetings. Youth do not need to be registered in the parish to attend, but must register with the Youth Minister.
- Living 4:12 (Middle School): Wed 5:30-6:45 PM
- Teens of Peace (High School): Tue 7:00-8:30 PM
- Combined fun nights once a month
- Summer pop-up events
- Contact: Youth Minister Jill Salvi — [email protected], 610-681-6137 x117
- Theme verse: 1 Timothy 4:12
Adult Faith Formation
In addition to OCIA, the parish offers a Young Adult Theology Group and a program called 'Teaching Little Children to Love Christ' (TLC) supporting parents in forming young children in the faith. Adult enrichment programming is coordinated through the parish office.
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults)
- Young Adult Theology Group
- Teaching Little Children to Love Christ (TLC)
Outreach and Social Mission
Outreach is central to parish identity. The parish is the home base for West End Missions, a 501(c)(3) take-out meal program founded in 2005 by parishioners to serve those in need in the West End of Monroe County. Free take-out meals are served on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of every month from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM at the church, with no income requirements. Two additional feeding ministries — Community Sunday Suppers (2nd and 4th Sundays at 2:30 PM) and Community Luncheons (1st and 3rd Mondays at 1:00 PM) — are also regular parish programs.
- West End Missions: 2nd & 4th Thursdays, 4:30 PM (founded 2005, 501(c)(3))
- Community Sunday Suppers: 2nd & 4th Sundays, 2:30 PM
- Community Luncheons: 1st & 3rd Mondays, 1:00 PM
- Homebound Ministry: visits the elderly, those living alone, and those in care facilities with fellowship, prayer, and the Eucharist
- St. Vincent de Paul (referenced in parish history)
- West End Fair Kitchen Team (annual fundraiser, August)
Homebound and Pastoral Care
The Homebound Ministry is composed of caring parishioners (including nurses) who visit fellow parishioners who are homebound, live alone, have no family nearby, or are confined to health facilities. They bring comfort, fellowship, and the Eucharist when appropriate, offering prayer, support, and connections to community resources while fostering dignity and self-reliance.
- Visits to the homebound and those in care facilities
- Brings Holy Communion when appropriate
- Coordinates with Michele Cohen — [email protected] or 570-856-8143
Annual Parish Events and Traditions
The parish maintains a calendar of community events that combine worship, fellowship, and fundraising. These include the Parish Feast Day in mid-July, the annual Flea Market in late June, Vacation Bible School in late July, the West End Fair kitchen stand in August, and periodic Red Cross blood drives on the parish campus.
- Parish Feast Day: Sunday closest to July 12 (with 11:00 AM Mass)
- Annual Flea Market: late June
- Vacation Bible School: late July
- West End Fair kitchen stand: August (potato pancakes, pulled pork, proceeds to capital improvement fund)
- Red Cross Blood Drive on campus
Communications and Online Giving
The parish maintains a website (qopchurch.org), an active Facebook presence (facebook.com/QOPChurch), and a YouTube channel where the Saturday vigil Mass is livestreamed. Online giving is available through the parish website, along with a parish family registration form and weekly bulletins. The parish's stated mission is to share the Gospel and serve the West End of Monroe County with the gifts of its diverse community.
- Website: qopchurch.org
- Facebook: facebook.com/QOPChurch
- YouTube: livestreamed Saturday vigil Mass
- Online Giving via parish website
- Parish family registration form available online
- Weekly bulletin available via parish website
Diocesan Affiliation
Our Lady Queen of Peace is one of the parishes of the Diocese of Scranton, which serves the Catholic faithful of northeastern Pennsylvania. The diocese provides clergy assignment, sacramental records, Catholic school oversight, and various ministries that support the parish. The parish is listed in the diocese's 'Find a Parish' directory, which records its 1968 founding and current clerical assignments.
- Diocese: Scranton
- Diocese website: dioceseofscranton.org
- Founded: 1968
- Listed in diocese 'Find a Parish' directory
- Worship site: 1402 Route 209 (Gilbert), Brodheadsville, PA 18322
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Reverend Daniel (early priest assigned to the mission community before formal parish establishment)
Referenced in parish history as one of the first priests who served the West End Catholic community prior to and during the parish's founding.
- Reverend Henry (early pastor during the formative years after 1968)
Referenced in parish history among the early priests assigned to build up the new parish in the late 1960s-1970s.
- Reverend Robert J. Simonpresent
Current pastor; listed on Diocese of Scranton parish page and parish website staff listings.