About Saint John the Baptist · Lansford, Pennsylvania
St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church is a Byzantine (Ruthenian) Catholic parish serving the Panther Valley community of Lansford, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1892 by Slavic immigrants from the Carpathian Mountains of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire who came to work the anthracite mines, the parish remains a vibrant expression of Eastern Catholic spiritual, liturgical, and cultural heritage. Today it is part of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic, New Jersey, one of twenty-two self-governing (sui juris) Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with Rome and Pope Francis. St. John's shares pastoral care with its mission parish, St. Mary's Byzantine Catholic Church in Nesquehoning.
- Established
- 1892
- Patron
- Saint John the Baptist
- Rector
- Father Gregory Hossler
- Diocese
- Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic (Ruthenian); geographically located within the territory of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Allentown
Why belong here
St. John the Baptist offers a warm, traditional Byzantine Catholic experience in the heart of Pennsylvania's coal country, where the Slavonic-rooted Ruthenian liturgy is celebrated in a setting that has welcomed Eastern Catholic families for more than 130 years. The parish pairs this deep liturgical heritage with active parish life — a children's Eastern Christian Formation (ECF) program, opportunities for altar service and reading, sick calls and homebound ministry, and collaboration with the Diocese of Allentown on marriage preparation and Natural Family Planning. Because it is in full communion with Rome, any Roman Catholic in a state of grace may receive Holy Communion here, and visitors frequently comment that this small parish is, in the parish's own words, 'the best kept secret in the Catholic Church.'
Mass times at Saint John the Baptist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 8:15 AM – 8:30 AM (15 minutes before any weekend or Feast Day Liturgy)
History of the Parish
Saint John the Baptist was founded in 1892 by Slavic immigrants from the Carpathian Mountain region of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire. They had come to the Panther Valley to labor in the anthracite mines and other industries, and they established the church to preserve their spiritual, liturgical, and cultural heritage. In 1910 Saint Mary Church in Nesquehoning was formed as a mission of Saint John's, and the two parishes have been closely linked ever since. The parish marked its 125th anniversary in 2017 with a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy celebrated by Bishop Kurt R. Burnette of the Eparchy of Passaic, and the Carbon County Board of Commissioners issued a formal resolution honoring the occasion.
- Founded 1892 by Carpathian Slavic immigrants
- St. Mary's (Nesquehoning) established in 1910 as a mission of St. John's
- 125th anniversary celebrated in 2017 with a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy by Bishop Kurt R. Burnette
Byzantine Catholic Identity
St. John the Baptist is a parish of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy (Diocese) of Passaic, New Jersey. The Byzantine Catholic Church in America is a sui juris (self-governing) Eastern Catholic Church in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church and the Bishop of Rome — one of twenty-two such self-governing churches that together make up the worldwide Catholic Church.
- Sui juris Byzantine (Ruthenian) Catholic Church
- Eparchy of Passaic
- In full communion with the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church
Pastor's Page — Father Gregory Hossler
The current pastor of St. John the Baptist is Father Gregory Hossler. Parishioners and visitors are encouraged to speak with Father Gregory after the Divine Liturgy about becoming members of the parish, registering as parishioners, or volunteering in parish life. Those wishing to request a Divine Liturgy intention may drop their intention in the collection basket or send it to the parish office by mail.
- Father Gregory Hossler — current pastor
- Speak with Father after Liturgy to register or volunteer
Visitor Information & FAQ
The parish maintains a Visitor Information and FAQ page aimed especially at Roman Catholics and others unfamiliar with Byzantine worship. It explains that Mass/Divine Liturgy here fulfills the Roman Catholic Sunday obligation and that any Catholic in a state of grace may receive Holy Communion. Communion in the Byzantine Rite is given under both species via a small spoon directly into the mouth of the communicant. The FAQ also describes the Sign of the Cross, when to stand or sit, why the priest faces East (together with the people toward God), the practice of 'mirovanije' (anointing with oil on the forehead and blessed bread after feast-day liturgies), and the use of small dark-green pew booklets with prayers and chants in English and Church Slavonic.
- Fulfills the Roman Catholic Sunday obligation
- Communion received under both kinds on a spoon
- Mirovanije: anointing with oil and blessed bread after feast-day liturgies
- Worship primarily in English with portions in Church Slavonic
- Dark-green pew booklets guide visitors through the Divine Liturgy
Children's Eastern Christian Formation (ECF) Program
The parish operates a Children's ECF (Eastern Christian Formation) program that draws on Byzantine catechetical resources, including 'God With Us' (GWUP) publications and the catechism 'Christ Our Pascha.' The parish encourages children to participate actively in the Divine Liturgy — for example by kissing the Gospel during the Small Entrance and Gospel reading, by taking turns reading the Epistle, and by serving at the altar. The parish notes that boys who are interested should speak with Fr. Gregory about becoming altar servers.
- Eastern Christian Formation (ECF) for children
- Uses GWUP and 'Christ Our Pascha' catechetical resources
- Children encouraged to read the Epistle, kiss the Gospel, and serve at the altar
Parish Activities, Announcements & Sacraments
The Announcements page on the parish website is the hub for ongoing parish news. It includes detailed instructions on reverent reception of Holy Communion in the Byzantine Rite, how to request a Divine Liturgy intention, ongoing prayer intentions (for peace, the diocese, vocations, the sick, and families), and a 'Prayer for the Sick' with a parish sick-list that the office maintains. Parishioners and visitors are encouraged to volunteer in any area of parish life by speaking directly with Fr. Gregory.
- How to request a Divine Liturgy intention
- Ongoing prayer intentions: peace, diocese, vocations, sick, families
- Prayer for the Sick and parish sick-list maintained by the office
Sick Calls & Pastoral Care
The parish visits the sick, homebound, and hospitalized monthly, and the pastor can be called anytime in case of need. Anyone who is sick, homebound, or hospitalized — or who knows someone in that situation — is encouraged to notify the parish office so that the sick call list can be kept up to date.
- Sick calls monthly or anytime in case of need
- Contact the parish office to add yourself or a loved one to the sick list
Marriage & Natural Family Planning
The parish collaborates with the Marriage and Life Formation Office of the Diocese of Allentown on marriage preparation and the Church's teaching on Natural Family Planning (NFP). The parish promotes NFP as a moral way of life in accordance with Church teaching and offers referrals to local instructors of the Creighton Model FertilityCare System (e.g., Kristin Osenbach in Tamaqua, 570-952-1063) for couples trying to achieve or avoid pregnancy, or for the evaluation of various women's health issues.
- Marriage preparation in conjunction with the Diocese of Allentown
- Referrals for Creighton Model FertilityCare System NFP instruction
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. John the Baptist by phone at (570) 645-2640, by fax at (570) 645-8718, and by email at [email protected]. The parish is located at 104 E. Bertsch St., Lansford, PA 18232, with street parking available at the church. The parish is also active on Facebook and Instagram (@st.johnsandst.marys), where updates about its linked parishes in Lansford and Nesquehoning are shared.
- Phone: 570-645-2640
- Fax: 570-645-8718
- Email: [email protected]
- Street parking available at the church
- Facebook and Instagram (@st.johnsandst.marys)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Dr. Vasyl Chepelskyy2017
Served as parish administrator around the time of the 125th anniversary in 2017.
- Rev. Gregory Hossler (Father Gregory Hossler)current
Current pastor; named on the parish website's Pastor's Page.