About Saint John XXIII Parish · Tamaqua, Pennsylvania
Saint John XXIII Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Allentown that serves Tamaqua and the surrounding communities of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, from its church at 307 Pine Street. Formed in 2014 by the merger of St. Jerome Parish and SS. Peter and Paul Parish, the parish gathers under the patronage of Pope Saint John XXIII and is home to a first-class relic of the saint, enshrined in a reliquary on the altar since 2018. Since 2021 it has been twinned with St. Richard's Parish in Barnesville, sharing a pastor and coordinating sacramental life across both communities.
- Established
- 2014
- Patron
- Pope Saint John XXIII
- Rector
- Father Robert Finlan
- Diocese
- Diocese of Allentown
Why belong here
St. John XXIII Parish welcomes anyone searching for a parish home in the Tamaqua area, with daily and weekend Mass, regular confession, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, and an unusually wide range of ministries—from the Knights of Columbus, Holy Name Society, and St. Vincent de Paul to prayer teams (Rosary, Novena, Seven Sisters, Fasting Brothers), Cherish Life, and healing teams. The parish also runs faith formation for youth, fundraising, hospitality, and parish council opportunities, so newcomers can find a place to serve in ways large and small.
Mass times at Saint John XXIII Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 2:45pm–3:15pm
Adoration times
- Tuesday: 8:30am–9:30am (Eucharistic Adoration / Holy Hour)
Parish Identity and Mission
St. John XXIII Parish identifies itself as a Catholic community in the Diocese of Allentown dedicated to loving God with all our minds, hearts and souls, seeking to announce the Good News and unite the Lost, Unchurched, and Church Families as Jesus commands His disciples. Its stated mission is 'to make church matter by growing disciples among disconnected Catholics in Tamaqua and the surrounding areas.' The parish is guided by Sacred Scripture and the authentic Magisterium of the Catholic Church as interpreted by the Bishop of Rome in communion with the college of Bishops.
- Diocese: Allentown
- Service area: Tamaqua and surrounding communities in Schuylkill County
- Patron: Pope Saint John XXIII
Parish History
Tamaqua's two historic Catholic parishes—St. Jerome's (founded 1834) and SS. Peter and Paul's Lithuanian Catholic Church (founded 1913 on Pine Street)—merged on July 1, 2014, becoming St. John XXIII Parish under then-Bishop John Barres. Father John Frink, pastor of St. Jerome's since 2012, was named pastor of the new parish, which initially worshipped in both former church buildings. In 2018 the parish consolidated entirely into the remodeled SS. Peter and Paul building on Pine Street, which was renamed St. John XXIII Roman Catholic Church; the St. Jerome building was closed. Since 2021 the parish has been twinned with St. Richard's Parish in Barnesville under Father Robert Finlan.
- 1834 — original St. Jerome's Church founded near old St. Jerome's Cemetery, South Ward
- 1861 — current St. Jerome's Church on Broad Street completed under Father Baker
- 1913 — SS. Peter and Paul's Lithuanian Catholic Church founded on Pine Street
- 1927 — new church/school building begun for SS. Peter and Paul
- 2014 (March) — Bishop Barres announces merger; effective July 1, 2014
- 2018 (May) — St. Jerome's Church closed; Pine Street church becomes sole worship site
- 2018 (Aug 4) — Inaugural Mass as St. John XXIII; first-class relic of St. John XXIII enshrined on altar
- 2020 — Construction begins on Prayer Garden and Memorial for the Unborn at St. Jerome's New Cemetery
- 2021 — Parish twinned with St. Richard's in Barnesville; Father Robert Finlan becomes pastor
Worship Space and Relic of St. John XXIII
The 2018 remodel of the former SS. Peter and Paul Church (now St. John XXIII) included a new altar, repainting, conversion of old classrooms into a Parish Center and Hall, and incorporation of wood from the pews of the closed St. Jerome's Church. Father John Frink personally crafted several pieces from that wood, including candle stands, tables, the offertory collection box, and sanitizer dispensers. The altar's reliquary, obtained from Rome through Bishop Alfred A. Schlert, contains a first-class relic of St. John XXIII—a piece of the saint's skull—permanently available for public veneration.
- New altar built during the 2018 renovation
- Reliquary with first-class relic of Pope St. John XXIII on the altar
- Repurposed pew wood from St. Jerome's used in furniture and furnishings
Clergy and Parish Staff
The parish is currently led by Father Robert Finlan as pastor, with a small team of lay staff supporting parish operations, finances, music, and the front office. The parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00am to 3:00pm and closed on Fridays and national holidays.
- Pastor: Father Robert Finlan
- Business Manager: Lisa Frederick
- Director of Music: Dale Bonenberger
- Office Administrator: Patricia Radocha
- Office phone: (570) 225-7410
- Business Manager line: (570) 225-7411
Ministries, Committees, and Groups
St. John XXIII lists more than a dozen ministries and committees, grouped roughly into spiritual/prayer, liturgical, charitable, operational, and outreach functions, reflecting the parish's stated goal of growing disciples. The parish encourages newcomers to consider their time availability, interests, and comfort with interacting or working behind the scenes when choosing a ministry.
- Prayer Teams — Rosary, Novena, Intercessor, Seven Sisters, Fasting Brothers
- Mass Teams — Lector, Eucharistic Minister, Altar Server, Choir, Sacristan, Offertory Guide
- Healing Teams — Comfort Angels, Spiritual Bouquets, Bereavement
- SJ23 Cherish Life — pro-life and social-justice awareness and prayer
- St. Vincent de Paul — personal service to those in need
- Knights of Columbus — Catholic fraternity for men; unity, charity, and culture of life
- Holy Name Society — honor the Holy Name of Jesus through prayer and mercy
- Hospitality Teams — welcoming, parking, usher, café
- Environment Teams — cleaning, decorating, landscaping
- Parish Operations — front desk, linens, collection counters, adult small group
- Technology Teams — A/V equipment, kiosk, software
- Youth Mentoring
- Fund Raising
- Finance Committee
- Parish Council
- Cemetery Committee — care of parish cemeteries, including St. Jerome's New Cemetery
Sister / Twinned Parish: St. Richard's, Barnesville
Since 2021, St. John XXIII has been twinned with St. Richard's Parish in Barnesville, with Father Robert Finlan serving as pastor of both communities. Daily Mass (Monday–Thursday at 7:00am) is celebrated at St. Richard's, and the parish bulletins are produced jointly for the two communities.
- St. Richard's Parish, Barnesville
- Shared pastor: Father Robert Finlan
- Joint bulletin covers both parishes
Cemeteries and Prayer Garden
The parish maintains historic Catholic burial grounds connected with its predecessor communities. A Cemetery Committee oversees the care of St. Jerome's Cemetery (founded in the 19th century in the South Ward of Tamaqua) and St. Jerome's New Cemetery, where a Prayer Garden and Memorial for the Unborn has been under construction since 2020.
- St. Jerome's Cemetery (historic, South Ward, Tamaqua)
- St. Jerome's New Cemetery
- Prayer Garden and Memorial for the Unborn (under construction since 2020)
Getting Involved and Contact
The parish welcomes new members and visitors. Those interested in serving can review the ministries list on the parish website and contact the ministry coordinators directly. Office staff can be reached Monday through Thursday, 9:00am to 3:00pm.
- Parish Office: (570) 225-7410
- Email: [email protected]
- Pastor email: [email protected]
- Business email: [email protected]
- Music email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 9:00am–3:00pm
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father John A. Frink2014–2021
First pastor of the merged parish; oversaw the 2018 consolidation into the Pine Street church and the remodeling that incorporated relics and woodwork from St. Jerome's; obtained a first-class relic of St. John XXIII from Rome.
- Father Robert Finlan2021–present
Assumed pastorate when the parish was twinned with St. Richard's in Barnesville; continues to structure and add parish programs.