About Resurrection · Muncy, Pennsylvania
Church of the Resurrection is a Roman Catholic parish in Muncy, Pennsylvania, within the Diocese of Scranton. Founded in 1941, the parish community gathers for Mass, reconciliation, and adoration at its worship site on Musser Lane, and shares pastoral services with Our Lady of Lourdes in Montoursville. Beyond its own congregation of roughly 600 households, the parish ministers to about 300 women at the State Correctional Institution (SCI) at Muncy, a chaplaincy its pastors have held since the 1940s. The parish operates a Catholic elementary program through St. John Neumann Academy, a long-running early childhood center (founded 1996), a vibrant array of lay ministries, and a parish cemetery.
- Established
- 1941
- Patron
- The Resurrection of the Lord (titled 'Church of the Resurrection')
- Rector
- Rev. Sean G. Carpenter
- Diocese
- Diocese of Scranton
Why belong here
Resurrection is a welcoming, broad parish community with active lay involvement — over a dozen lay ministries from choir and lectors to bereavement support, Knights of Columbus, and a Women's Organization that meets monthly. The parish is notable for its enduring chaplaincy at SCI Muncy (since the 1940s), a strong religious education and youth program, an in-house early childhood ministry that has grown into St. John Neumann Academy, and a beautiful new church dedicated in 2008. For Catholics in the Muncy Valley seeking a parish with deep roots, faithful liturgy, and many ways to serve, Resurrection offers a vibrant, family-style community in communion with Our Lady of Lourdes in Montoursville.
Mass times at Resurrection
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday: 10:00 – 11:00 AM (Resurrection, after 9:00 AM Mass)
- Saturday: 3:00 – 3:30 PM (Lourdes, Montoursville)
Adoration times
- Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM after Mass (Resurrection)
- Monday: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Lourdes)
About Resurrection Parish
Church of the Resurrection is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Scranton, founded in 1941 in Muncy, Pennsylvania. The parish community celebrates the Eucharist, welcomes all, and serves its neighbors through a broad network of lay ministries, Catholic education, and chaplaincy at SCI Muncy. Resurrection shares worship-site scheduling with Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Montoursville.
- Year founded: 1941
- Worship site: 75 Musser Lane, Muncy, PA 17756
- Pastor: Rev. Sean G. Carpenter
- Diocese: Scranton
- Joint partner parish: Our Lady of Lourdes, Montoursville
History of the Parish
Resurrection traces its origins to the early twentieth century, when Catholics in the Muncy area traveled by train to Annunciation Church in Williamsport for Mass. Bishop Hafey of Scranton approved the purchase of property at 526 South Main Street and assigned Fr. Hubert McGranaghan as founding pastor. The first Mass was celebrated on December 7, 1941 — Pearl Harbor Day — with 35 families. The original Army-chapel church was dedicated in 1949, and a new church was dedicated in 2008.
- 1941 — Parish established; first Mass Dec. 7 (Pearl Harbor Day); 35 families
- 1942 — First baptism, First Holy Communion, and marriage
- 1948–1959 — St. Hugh's mission in Hughesville with Sisters of the IHM
- 1949 — First church (surplus Army chapel) dedicated
- 1958 — Convent / kindergarten property purchased on S. Main Street
- 1966 — Sisters of the IHM depart
- 1996 — Resurrection Early Childhood Center opens
- 2008 — New church dedicated
Worship Schedule
Resurrection shares its Mass schedule with neighboring Our Lady of Lourdes in Montoursville. Saturday Vigil is at 5:30 PM at Resurrection; Sunday Mass is at 8:30 AM. Weekday Masses at Resurrection are Tuesday and Thursday at 9:00 AM, with additional weekday Masses at Lourdes.
- Saturday Vigil — 5:30 PM (Resurrection)
- Sunday — 8:30 AM (Resurrection)
- Tuesday — 9:00 AM (Resurrection)
- Thursday — 9:00 AM (Resurrection)
- Weekday Mass at Lourdes: Mon 6:00 PM, Wed 9:00 AM, Fri none
Ministries & Organizations
Resurrection is a lay-led parish with more than fifteen active ministries spanning liturgy, faith formation, music, charity, and parish life. The parish explicitly invites volunteers to share their time, talent, and treasure.
- Altar Servers
- Bereavement Ministry
- Cantors / Leader of Song
- Care for Creation
- Collection Counters
- Decoration Committee
- Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist (incl. Homebound)
- Knights of Columbus
- Lectors / Ministers of the Word
- Life and Justice Committee
- Maintenance of Parish Property
- Religious Education Instructors & Aides
- Resurrection Singers (contemporary ensemble)
- Social Concerns Committee
- Welcoming Committee
- Women's Organization
- Youth Group (grades 8–12)
Liturgical & Music Ministries
Resurrection has two music ensembles. Cantors lead Saturday 5:00 PM and Sunday 8:30 AM liturgies alongside the parish organist, while Resurrection Singers provide contemporary music at the 11:00 AM Sunday liturgy at Lourdes, using guitars, drums, flute, and keyboard. Lectors proclaim the Word of God with training offered for new ministers.
- Cantors (5 PM Sat, 8:30 AM Sun)
- Resurrection Singers (11:00 AM Sun, contemporary)
- Lectors / Ministers of the Word
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish operates religious education classes for children and youth staffed by volunteer instructors and aides, and partners with neighboring parishes for youth ministry. The Youth Group (grades 8–12) hosts Coffee Houses, overnight retreats, and social justice efforts.
- Religious Education Instructors & Aides
- Youth Group (grades 8–12)
- Adult Youth Group Leaders
- RCIA and sacramental prep available via the parish office
Outreach & Social Concerns
Two parish committees focus on charity and justice. The Life and Justice Committee engages parishioners on issues including the dignity of life, poverty, and prison ministry. The Social Concerns Committee organizes a monthly collection benefiting local organizations such as Son Light House (food pantry), Shepherd of the Streets (homeless), Habitat for Humanity, and prison ministry programs.
- Monthly Social Concerns Collection
- Beneficiaries: Son Light House, Shepherd of the Streets, Habitat for Humanity, prison ministry
- Pro-life advocacy and education
- Prison ministry (incl. chaplaincy at SCI Muncy)
Women's Organization
All women of the parish are members of the Women's Organization. They meet the first Wednesday of the month in the Ven. Dorothy Day Room (and on First Friday at 9:30 AM, September–May) to plan social activities and fundraisers benefiting the parish community. June features an end-of-year dinner.
- President: Melinda Bender
- Vice President: Lynn Pryor
- Treasurer: Cathy Buck
- Secretary: Mary Todor
- Sunshine: Liz Getgen, Susan Turner
Knights of Columbus
Resurrection has a Knights of Columbus council, continuing the Order's founding principles of charity, unity, and fraternity. The Knights support sick, disabled, and needy members and their families, and sponsor educational, charitable, religious, social welfare, war relief, and public relief works.
- Charity, unity, fraternity
- Aid to sick, disabled, and needy
- Educational, charitable, religious, and social welfare works
Parish Pastoral Council
The Parish Pastoral Council is an advisory committee to the pastor, meeting monthly September through June. Members develop policies to support spiritual, intellectual, moral, and temporal well-being of the parish and contribute to Diocesan goals.
- Chairman: Regina Bobak
- David Moyer (member)
- Additional members listed on the parish website
Pastoral Plan
Developed by the Parish Pastoral Council in consultation with the Diocese of Scranton's Office of Parish Life, the parish's pastoral plan centers on four goals: Word, Worship, Community, and Service. Parishioners are invited to share their time, talent, and treasure to bring these goals to life.
- Word: dynamic, accessible faith formation
- Worship: vibrant, engaged Eucharistic celebration
- Community: compassionate, informed communication
- Service: expanded outreach for spiritual growth, social justice, and service
Catholic Education: St. John Neumann Academy & Early Childhood Center
Resurrection continues the early-childhood ministry begun in 1996 as part of St. John Neumann Academy. The Early Childhood Center was originally housed in the parish's original rectory and serves parish families and the broader Muncy Valley community.
- Resurrection Early Childhood Center founded 1996
- Now part of St. John Neumann Academy
- Day-care ministry for parish and local families
Parish Cemetery
The parish maintains an on-site cemetery at the Musser Lane location. Several pastors of Resurrection are buried there, making it a place of historical as well as spiritual significance to the parish.
- On-site parish cemetery
- Burial site of former pastors
Chaplaincy at SCI Muncy
Since the 1940s, pastors of Church of the Resurrection have served as Catholic chaplain at the State Correctional Institution at Muncy. Approximately 300 women at SCI Muncy are parishioners of Resurrection and attend services at the institution's chapel.
- Chaplaincy since the 1940s
- Roughly 300 women at SCI Muncy are parishioners
- Pastoral care, liturgy, and parish membership extended to incarcerated women
Visiting & Contact
Parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Visitors and new parishioners are welcomed by the parish's Welcoming Committee at Mass.
- Address: 75 Musser Lane, Muncy, PA 17756
- Phone: (570) 546-3900
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Hubert McGranaghan1941–1945
Founding pastor; assigned by Bishop Hafey; first Mass celebrated Dec. 7, 1941
- Fr. John Cunningham1945–1948
- Fr. Gerald Bishof1948–1961
Era of first church dedication (1949) and St. Hugh's mission in Hughesville
- Fr. Jacob Wideman1961–1972
- Fr. Joseph Bonner1972–1981
- Fr. William Blake1981–1982
- Fr. Peter Madus1982–1983
- Fr. Francis Kulik1983–1988
- Fr. Philip Sladicaka1988–1997
- Fr. David Cappelloni1997–2001
- Fr. Glenn McCreary2001–2022
Longest-tenured recent pastor; oversaw planning and dedication of the new church in 2008
- Fr. Sean Carpenter2022–present
Current pastor