About Sacred Heart of Jesus · Dupont, Pennsylvania
Sacred Heart of Jesus Church is a Polish-heritage Roman Catholic parish in Dupont, Pennsylvania, founded in 1902 by immigrants who came to work the anthracite coal mines of the Lackawanna Valley. It is one of the older ethnic parishes of the Diocese of Scranton and currently serves the faithful as a linked parish with Queen of the Apostles in nearby Avoca. The parish is known for its annual Polish Picnic (held since 1947), its three historic steeple bells, a beautiful church interior restored in 2018, and a parish cemetery with a columbarium and Pope St. John Paul II Cemetery Chapel on Pine Street.
- Established
- 1902
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Father Thomas J. Petro, J.V., J.C.L., KCHS
- Diocese
- Diocese of Scranton
Why belong here
Sacred Heart of Jesus offers a faithful Catholic home in the small-town, blue-collar heart of the Lackawanna Valley, where Polish-American heritage is actively lived through its famous annual Polish Picnic (running since 1947), Our Lady's devotional societies, and the Bernardine Sisters' lasting legacy of Catholic education. The parish's three restored historic steeple bells, beautifully renovated sanctuary, newly built columbarium, and Pope St. John Paul II Cemetery Chapel speak to a community that invests in its material and spiritual life. Daily and weekly Mass, perpetual Miraculous Medal novena, monthly Eucharistic Adoration, Divine Mercy chaplet, Sacred Heart and Immaculate Heart devotions, CCD religious education, a Legion of Mary praesidium, the Holy Name Society, the Confraternity of Christian Mothers, and the local St. Vincent de Paul and Knights of Columbus outreach give every parishioner — child, adult, or senior — a real place to belong.
Mass times at Sacred Heart of Jesus
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:15 PM (Sacred Heart) — recent bulletin also notes 'Confessions will be heard at 3:00 PM'
Adoration times
- First Saturday of each month: 2:45 PM – 3:45 PM (Eucharistic Adoration)
Our Story: A Polish Parish in the Coal Country
Sacred Heart of Jesus was founded in 1902 by Polish anthracite miners and their families in the small Lackawanna Valley town of Smithville (later Dupont). With Bishop Michael Hoban's permission and the unexpected labor of miners idled by a coal strike, the original wooden church was raised in months and the first Mass was celebrated at Christmastime 1902 by Msgr. Stanislaus Szpotanski. A disastrous fire soon after completion of the 1919 school complex led the resilient congregation to build the present stucco-veneer church, consecrated by Bishop Hoban on June 9, 1920. The parish has remained a touchstone of Polish-American Catholic life in Northeast Pennsylvania ever since.
- Founded 1902 by Polish immigrants; first pastor Rev. John Gratza (1903)
- First Mass: Christmas 1902, celebrated by Msgr. Stanislaus Szpotanski
- Present church consecrated June 9, 1920; 170 parishioners confirmed the same day
- Now in its 124th year as a parish of the Diocese of Scranton
Heritage & Parish Feast
The parish's identity as a Polish national church — its language, foodways, music, and devotional culture — is most visibly celebrated at its annual Polish Picnic, which has been held every year since 1947. The picnic traditionally coincides with the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (parish feast day, 19 days after Pentecost), and on that evening the parish gathers for a special Mass in Polish before the celebration begins in the Picnic Grove with pierogi, golombki, halushki, kielbasi, potato pancakes, music, games of chance, a beer tent, and a basket raffle.
- Parish feast: Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (movable; late June)
- Annual Polish Picnic — 2025: Friday & Saturday, June 27 & 28, 5–9 PM
- 2018 'Picnic of the Bells' funded the steeple-bell restoration
The Building & Sacred Art
The Dupont church retains its traditional façade with three steeples and underwent a major restoration in 2018 that brought the interior into continuity with its original architectural style while adding new liturgical furnishings. A new altar of sacrifice was dedicated by Bishop Bumbera on July 14, 2018, with matching side altars to the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph, fresco-style murals of the Sacred Heart and Divine Mercy, and new pews and flooring. A marble statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, donated by the parish societies and dedicated in 1994, stands in the front churchyard.
- New altar of sacrifice dedicated by Bishop Bambera — July 14, 2018
- Side altars to the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph
- Murals of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Divine Mercy
- Marble Sacred Heart statue (churchyard) — dedicated 1994
The Three Steeple Bells
On October 28, 2018, at the start of the annual Cemetery Sunday devotions, Fr. Thomas Petro blessed the three restored steeple bells in a ceremony sometimes called a 'baptism of the bells,' naming each one. The large bronze bell in the north steeple was named Benedict (in honor of St. Benedict, intercessor against evil); the two smaller steel bells in the south steeple were named Francis and Thomas, honoring the patrons of the pastors who, arriving in Dupont 100 years apart, built and refurbished the church building. Automated ringing equipment was installed at the same time.
- Benedict — large bronze bell, north steeple (St. Benedict)
- Francis — south steeple (St. Francis)
- Thomas — south steeple (St. Thomas)
Devotions & Spiritual Life
The parish's devotional life is rich and traditional, with weekly gatherings for the chaplet and rosary, a perpetual Miraculous Medal novena, monthly Eucharistic Adoration, and First Saturday/First Friday observances. The Rosary is prayed in common before every Mass.
- Chaplet of the Divine Mercy — Sundays, 8:00 AM
- Perpetual Novena of the Miraculous Medal — Mondays after 7:30 AM Mass
- Eucharistic Adoration — first Saturday of each month, 2:45–3:45 PM
- Sacred Heart Devotions — after First Friday Masses
- Immaculate Heart of Mary Devotions — during First Saturday Adoration
- Rosary before Masses
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments according to the usual parish protocols, with extra Catechumenal preparation for adult newcomers.
- Baptism — Sundays after Mass; parents' welcoming session required; sponsor card from godparents
- Marriage — six months' notice; required preparation program
- Anointing of the Sick — call the parish office for home, hospital, or facility visits
- RCIA — official adult-initiation process into the Catholic faith
Parish Organizations & Ministries
A full complement of traditional parish societies is active at Sacred Heart, alongside newer initiatives such as the Legion of Mary praesidium established by Fr. Petro in 2016. Catholic men and women of the parish and wider community are warmly invited to join.
- Holy Name Society — men's organization
- Confraternity of Christian Mothers — women's organization
- Knights of Columbus, Pittston Council #372
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — parish charity
- Legion of Mary — established by Fr. Petro, c. 2016
- Parish Choir — under Organist/Choir Master Anthony George
Faith Formation & Catholic Education
With the closure of the on-site parochial school in 2007, parish children now receive Catholic education either through the Holy Redeemer Catholic School System (pre-K through grade 12, regionalized) or through the parish's own CCD program. CCD classes for children in kindergarten through 8th grade are held Sundays during the academic year from 9:15 to 10:15 AM, with both Sacred Heart and Queen of the Apostles programs using the same calendar.
- Holy Redeemer System — regionalized Catholic pre-K–12 school
- CCD / Confraternity of Christian Doctrine — Sundays 9:15–10:15 AM, K–8
- Director of Religious Education: Nancy Beccaloni
Sacred Heart Cemetery
Established in 1904 and laid out in four sections (Gethsemani, Holy Cross, Calvary, and Holy Sepulchre), the parish cemetery remains an active burial ground for many descendants of the original Polish immigrants to the area. Recent additions include a 120-niche octagonal marble columbarium, designated in-ground urn burial space, private mausoleum plots in the Gethsemani section (Wyoming Ave. & Oak St.), and a green-burial area in the Calvary section. The Pope St. John Paul II Cemetery Chapel graces the cemetery on Pine Street. Pricing and availability are handled through the parish office.
- Columbarium — 120-niche octagonal marble structure (Holy Sepulchre section)
- Mausoleum plots — single and double, Gethsemani section
- Green burials — Calvary section
- Pope St. John Paul II Cemetery Chapel — Pine Street entrance
Our Pastor & Staff
Sacred Heart is staffed by its ninth pastor, a hand-picked leadership team, and a supply priest with bi-ritual faculty. From July 1, 2025 Fr. Petro also pastors Queen of the Apostles Parish in Avoca while remaining resident in Dupont; on October 1, 2025 he was additionally named Judicial Vicar of the Diocese of Scranton.
- Rev. Thomas J. Petro, J.V., J.C.L., KCHS — Pastor (since July 6, 2016)
- Rev. Michael B. Wurtz, CSC, S.L.D. — Supply Priest
- Gregory Zawacki — Administrative Assistant
- Kathy Vojta, DHS — Finance Secretary
- Anthony George — Organist / Choir Master
- Nancy Beccaloni — Director of Religious Education
- Jerry Stefanowicz — Sexton
Visitor Information
Parishioners and visitors may consult the parish office during posted hours for sacramental scheduling, cemetery arrangements, Mass-intention requests ($10 stipend), picnic ticket sales, and general inquiries. Mass Intentions may be submitted in person, by mail using intention envelopes from the narthex, or in person at the office.
- Parish Office hours (per bulletin): Mon–Thu 8:30 AM–12:30 PM and 1:00–3:00 PM; Fri 8:30 AM–12:00 PM
- Phone: (570) 654-3713 • Fax: (570) 654-7952
- Email: [email protected] • Website: sacredheartdupont.com
- Facebook: SacredHeartofJesusDupont
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John (Jan) Gratza1903–1905
First pastor, appointed by Bishop Hoban.
- Rev. Henry Cichocki1905–1916
Began regular grade-school instruction in the church basement.
- Rev. Francis X. Kurkowski1916–1938
Newly ordained when appointed; brought the Bernardine Sisters of St. Francis in to replace lay teachers at the school.
- Rev. Chester H. Kolakowski1938–1971
Died in office; oversaw the post-Vatican II interior renovation of the church; established the Mother's Guild and reinvigorated the Holy Name Society.
- Rev. John J. Kowalkiewicz1971–1977
Left parish in excellent financial condition.
- Rev. Leo J. Kozlowski1977–1984
Built and dedicated the cemetery chapel in 1981.
- Rev. Daniel D. Olszewski1984/85–1999
Purchased additional cemetery land; presided at dedication of the marble Sacred Heart statue (1994); later bequeathed his ordination chalice to the parish.
- Rev. Joseph D. Verespy1999–2016
Shepherded the parish through the school's closure (2007), the sisters' departure, the demolition of the old school (2010), a lightning strike on the steeple (2002), and the 2013 façade/capital campaign.
- Rev. Thomas J. Petro2016–present
Ninth pastor; led 2018 interior and steeple-bell restorations; established the Legion of Mary; from July 1, 2025 also pastor of Queen of the Apostles Parish, Avoca; named Judicial Vicar of the Diocese of Scranton on October 1, 2025.