About Saint John the Baptist · Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church is a Ruthenian (Byzantine) Catholic parish in the Georgetown section of Wilkes-Barre Township, Pennsylvania, serving the faithful of the Byzantine Rite in the Wyoming Valley since 1929. The parish belongs to the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic — one of the Eastern Catholic eparchies in full communion with Rome — and is currently administered by Very Reverend Mykhaylo Prodanets. Members, descended primarily from Carpatho-Rusyn immigrants of Ugocsa county (in what is today western Ukraine's Zakarpatska Oblast), gather for the Divine Liturgy and the traditions of their Eastern Catholic spiritual heritage.
- Established
- 1929 (parish organized and construction begun; first Divine Liturgy celebrated March 30, 1930)
- Patron
- Saint John the Baptist
- Rector
- Very Reverend Mykhaylo (Mykhaylo/Myklaylo) Prodanets — Parochial Administrator
- Diocese
- Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic (Ruthenian Greek Catholic) — geographically within the territory of the Roman Diocese of Scranton
Why belong here
St. John the Baptist offers the full treasury of the Byzantine-Ruthenian Catholic tradition in the heart of the Wyoming Valley — the mystical, centuries-old Divine Liturgy, an iconostasis and domed sanctuary shaped for Eastern Catholic worship, and a community whose identity was forged by Carpatho-Rusyn immigrant founders and continues today in ministries such as the Eastern Catholic Foundation (Sunday religious education), Saint John's Crafters, the Ladies Guild, and lively outreach like the parish's Ukrainian refugee relief effort. It is a small parish with deep roots, a long-serving cantor, and a pastor whose family ties to western Ukraine keep the community connected to its ancestral homeland.
Mass times at Saint John the Baptist
Weekly Mass schedule
Parish History
St. John the Baptist traces its origins to the 1886 founding of the Spook–Greek Rite Catholic Rusin Society, a mutual-aid society of Carpathian immigrants in the Wyoming Valley. After decades as members of St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Wilkes-Barre, the growing community of Ugocsanians — Rusin families from villages such as Onok, Velikoje Komnaty and Cengava — finally organized their own parish in 1928–1929. The first Divine Liturgy in the new church on East Northampton Street was celebrated by Rev. Nicholas Chopey on March 30, 1930, just months after Bishop Basil Takach salvaged the project by borrowing personally when the stock-market crash closed local banks. The parish observed its Golden Jubilee in 1979 (with sanctuary renovations under Fr. Yastishock following in 1980) and its Diamond Jubilee in 2004, when it dedicated a 'Black Diamond' historical marker and completed extensive renovations under Fr. James Badeaux. In December 2001 members of the closed Saint Mary Parish were received into St. John's.
- 1886 — Spook–Greek Rite Catholic Rusin Society organized
- 1889–1890 — Greek Rite Catholic congregation large enough in Wilkes-Barre
- 1928 — Land at 756 East Northampton Street purchased for $8,033.31
- October 8, 1929 — Building contract awarded to Martin Bohinsky for $12,624
- November 27, 1929 — Bishop Basil Takach borrows $12,000 from Steve Biros after the crash
- March 30, 1930 — First Divine Liturgy celebrated by Rev. Nicholas Chopey
- 1951 — Fr. Joseph Fecak becomes first resident pastor
- 1961 — George M. Daru begins his service as cantor
- 1979 — Golden Jubilee (50th anniversary); Fr. Yastishock follows in 1980
- 2001 — Members of closed Saint Mary Parish welcomed
- 2004 — Diamond Jubilee; 'Black Diamond' historical marker dedicated
Our Byzantine-Ruthenian Catholic Identity
St. John's belongs to the Byzantine-Ruthenian Catholic Church sui iuris, self-governing and equal in dignity to the Roman Catholic Church and in full communion with the Bishop of Rome. Its theological traditions originated in Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire, and its parishes keep alive the mystical, universal, traditional and popular character of Eastern Catholic worship — the liturgy is not a duty but an experience to be lived, unfolding the meaning of the Church as the Body of Christ.
- Byzantine-Ruthenian Catholic Church sui iuris in full communion with Rome
- Belongs to the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic
- Geographically located within the Roman Diocese of Scranton's territory
- Celebrates the Liturgy of the Byzantine Rite
Hierarchs and Saints Honored
The parish honors the saints of the Byzantine liturgical calendar and especially the blessed and venerable bishops and martyrs who sustained the Ruthenian people through persecution — Ss. Cyril and Methodius, Apostles to the Slavs; Bishop Theodore Romzha and Bishop Pavel Gojdi; and Bishop Vasil' (Basil) Hopko, prisoner for the Lord. The parish also displays icons of St. Mary and St. Nicholas, who along with St. John the Baptist himself are among the most commonly encountered intercessors in Byzantine Catholic devotion.
- Ss. Cyril and Methodius, Apostles to the Slavs (Teachers of the Ruthenian People)
- Bishop Theodore Romzha
- Bishop Pavel Gojdi
- Blessed Bishop Vasil' (Basil) Hopko (1904–1976)
- St. Nicholas
- St. Mary (patroness image featured on the parish website)
Clergy, Cantor and Staff
The parish is administered by Very Rev. Mykhaylo Prodanets, a priest native to western Ukraine. The long-tenured cantor George M. Daru (in role since 1961) is also the leader of parish liturgical music. The Diocese of Passaic directory lists Rev. Mykhaylo Prodanets as the current Parochial Administrator and lists the parish rectory phone (570) 825-4338 and email [email protected].
- Very Rev. Mykhaylo Prodanets — Parochial Administrator
- George M. Daru — Cantor (since 1961)
Worship and Liturgical Life
The Sunday Divine Liturgy is the heart of parish life, celebrated in the Byzantine-Ruthenian tradition, drawn from the great liturgical treasury of Constantinople. The parish website regularly offers explanations of liturgical objects (such as the dikirion and trikirion — the dual and triple candlesticks a bishop uses to bless the people) and posts the commemorations of bishops-martyrs like Basil Hopko and reflections on saints like Archbishop Fulton Sheen, whose bi-ritual celebration of the Byzantine Divine Liturgy is remembered on the parish's Facebook page.
- Sunday Divine Liturgy at 11:00 AM
- 8:30 AM summer Sunday schedule (per Discover Mass)
- Byzantine-Ruthenian chant led by Cantor George M. Daru
Sanctuary, Architecture and Renovations
Originally designed by architect George Schroder as a one-story church and built by Martin Bohinsky in 1929–1930, the building was transformed in the early 1980s by Fr. Charles M. Yastishock into a fully Byzantine Catholic sanctuary with a domed ceiling, an iconostasis and accompanying icons, and a chandelier in the nave. The Diamond Jubilee era (Fr. Badeaux) brought a new roof over the church, rectory and bazaar shed, new sidewalks, a handicapped ramp, a new baptismal font, ripidia, a processional cross, a new tabernacle, icons in the narthex, new carpeting and fresh interior paint.
- Architect: George Schroder
- Builder: Martin Bohinsky (1929–1930)
- Domed ceiling, iconostasis and icons installed under Fr. Yastishock (c. 1980)
- Diamond Jubilee renovations under Fr. Badeaux (c. 2000–2004)
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Religious education takes place through the Eastern Catholic Foundation (ECF) Sunday classes, which Fr. James Hayer initiated in the parish hall during his brief stint as temporary administrator. Parishioners and lay catechists such as Stephen Kozich have served as CCD teachers for many years, helping to pass the Byzantine-Ruthenian faith to new generations.
- Eastern Catholic Foundation (ECF) Sunday classes
- CCD taught by parish volunteers
- Children's preparation for Byzantine sacraments
Parish Organizations and Community Life
St. John's has long been sustained by its lay societies. The Altar and Rosary Society was reactivated in 1979 for the Golden Jubilee and continues today; St. John's Ladies Guild and the Bazaar Committee raise funds; and Saint John's Crafters began during Fr. Badeaux's pastorate. The parish center has also served the wider Georgetown community, including hosting the 1974 Wilkes-Barre Township Bicentennial breakfast and the public hearings of the government study commission that changed the township's form of government.
- Altar and Rosary Society
- St. John's Ladies Guild
- Bazaar Committee / annual parish bazaar
- Saint John's Crafters
- Parish cantorial ministry
Outreach: Ukrainian Refugee Relief
During the 2022 war in Ukraine, the parish organized a fundraiser led by trustee Stephen Kozich and Wilkes-Barre City Councilman Tony Brooks to support refugee families being sheltered by Fr. Mykhaylo Prodanets's mother, sister, brother and nephew in western Ukraine. The parish website's 'Give' portal lets donors direct their gift specifically to 'Refugees in Ukraine'.
- Fundraiser organized by trustee Stephen Kozich and Councilman Tony Brooks
- Donations via SaintJohnByzantine.com → 'Give' → 'Refugees in Ukraine'
- Checks payable to St. John the Baptist, 526 Church St., Wilkes-Barre Twp., PA 18702
- Beneficiaries: families being sheltered by Fr. Prodanets's relatives in western Ukraine
Civic Life in Georgetown
From its earliest decades the parish has been woven into the civic life of Wilkes-Barre Township. The first mayor and three councilmen elected under the township's new government were members of St. John's. George Daru (parish cantor) went on to become the township's second mayor, and parishioners Daniel Citsay, George Sisko, Michael Butchko, Ann Butchko, Thomas Herstek, Robert Komnath and Karl Alber have served in township office over the decades. The parish hall hosted the 1974 Bicentennial breakfast and the public hearings of the government study commission.
- Mayor George Sisko (first mayor under new form of government)
- Mayor George M. Daru (second mayor; also parish cantor since 1961)
- Councilmen Michael Butchko, Joseph Antellocy, George M. Daru
- School-board member George Sisko
- 1974 Wilkes-Barre Township Bicentennial breakfast held at the parish center
Visiting and Joining the Parish
St. John the Baptist welcomes new faces and visitors seeking to experience the Byzantine-Ruthenian Catholic tradition in northeastern Pennsylvania. Visitors can attend the Sunday Divine Liturgy, participate in ECF Sunday classes, support outreach causes, or simply come and meet the pastor and cantor after Liturgy. The parish maintains an active Facebook page (facebook.com/StJohnWB) where the weekly schedule, liturgical catechesis, commemorations of saints and current announcements are posted.
- Sunday Divine Liturgy at 11:00 AM
- ECF Sunday classes for children
- Annual parish bazaar and fundraisers
- Facebook: facebook.com/StJohnWB for schedule and announcements
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Nicholas Chopey1930–1950
Administrator of St. John's for 20 years; blessed and celebrated the first Divine Liturgy on March 30, 1930.
- Father Constantine Roskovics1930–1931
Also Administrator of St. Nicholas Orphanage, Elmhurst.
- Father Arnold Shuba
- Father Paul Chubarof
- Father George Bonchonsky
- Monsignor George Durisin
- Monsignor Joseph Bodnar
- Fr. Joseph Fecakfrom 1951
First resident pastor of St. John's.
- Fr. Skintathrough 1979 Golden Jubilee
Reactivated the Altar and Rosary Society and prepared Golden Jubilee celebrations.
- Fr. Charles M. Yastishock1980 onward
Renovated the sanctuary with domed ceiling, iconostasis and icons; renovated the parish hall kitchen.
- Fr. James Hayer
Temporary administrator; started the Sunday Eastern Catholic Foundation (ECF) classes in the parish hall and remodeled the church business office.
- Fr. James Badeauxfrom November 2000
Led Diamond Jubilee (2004) renovations and welcomed the members of closed Saint Mary Parish in December 2001; St. John's Crafters began under his pastorate.
- Very Rev. Mykhaylo Prodanetscurrent
Current Parochial Administrator; native of western Ukraine.