About Saint Michael [Ukrainian] · Hazleton, Pennsylvania
St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic (Byzantine Ruthenian) parish in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, belonging to the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia. The parish was established in 1910 by Lemko-region immigrants from western Galicia (around Sinok, Sambir, and Zalischyny) who came to the Hazleton coal region for work in the mines. Today the parish celebrates the Byzantine Divine Liturgy in both English and Ukrainian, offers catechetical classes for children and adult Bible study, and is served by Rev. Nicholas Kostyk. The church sits at 74 N. Laurel Street in downtown Hazleton and remains a center of Ukrainian Greek Catholic life in the region.
- Established
- 1910
- Patron
- St. Michael the Archangel
- Rector
- Rev. Nicholas Kostyk
- Diocese
- Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia
Why belong here
St. Michael's offers the Byzantine-Ukrainian Catholic liturgical tradition in the heart of downtown Hazleton, with the Divine Liturgy celebrated in both English and Ukrainian so that both heritage faithful and newer English-speaking families can worship together. The parish keeps alive a more-than-century-old Lemko-Rusyn Catholic community through regular Liturgies, the sacrament of Confession before each Divine Liturgy, weekly catechetical classes for children, and an adult Bible study held on Zoom. Visitors are warmly welcomed, and the parish is small enough that newcomers are quickly known by name.
Mass times at Saint Michael [Ukrainian]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Before Divine Liturgy
Parish History
St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church in Hazleton was established in 1910. Its founders were Eastern-rite Catholic immigrants from the Lemko region of Galicia — most of them from villages around Sinok and from the districts of Sambir and Zalischyny — who had come to the Hazleton area to work in the coal mines. The laymen who took the lead in buying a church and organizing the community were John Radynsky, Theodore Polivka, Wassil Slecton, Josaphat Kasian, Andrew Pelehach, and Semen Slecton. They petitioned Bishop Soter Ortynsky, OSBM, the first Ukrainian Catholic bishop in the United States, to receive the parish into the Ukrainian Catholic Diocese of Philadelphia (now the Archeparchy of Philadelphia).
- Founded 1910
- Founding families: Lemko Rusyns from Sinok, Sambir, and Zalischyny districts
- Petitioned Bishop Soter Ortynsky, OSBM, first Ukrainian bishop in the U.S.
Founding Community
The first parishioners were largely miners and their families. They were Eastern-rite (Byzantine) Catholics, a distinction that set them apart from the Latin-rite Catholic and Orthodox communities already established in the Hazleton coal region, and they brought with them the liturgical traditions of the Lemko region of Galicia.
- Lemko-region origin (Sinok area, Sambir and Zalischyny districts)
- Employed primarily in the local mining industry
Pastoral Succession
The Archeparchy of Philadelphia website preserves a near-complete list of pastors who have served the parish since 1910. The current pastor is Rev. Nicholas Kostyk, and the long sequence of priests who preceded him — from Julian Levinsky through Roman Oliinyk — reflects both the multi-generational continuity of the parish and the priestly ministry of many Basilian, diocesan, and monastic clergy of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in America.
- 27+ named pastors across more than a century
- Rev. Nicholas Kostyk, current pastor
Clergy & Staff
The parish is served today by Rev. Nicholas Kostyk as pastor. He is the spiritual shepherd of the community and celebrates the Byzantine Divine Liturgy and other services according to the Ruthenian (Ukrainian) liturgical calendar.
- Rev. Nicholas Kostyk — Pastor
Liturgical Schedule
St. Michael's celebrates the Byzantine Divine Liturgy on Sundays, with services in both English and Ukrainian so that the parish's heritage faithful and newer English-speaking families can worship together. Weekday Liturgies are also offered, and the sacrament of Confession is heard before each Divine Liturgy. The parish also lists a Saturday evening service and a Holy Day schedule through outside parish directories; parishioners are encouraged to confirm times by phone.
- Sunday 8:00 AM — Divine Liturgy in English
- Sunday 10:00 AM — Divine Liturgy (Ukrainian, per Discover Mass listing)
- Saturday 5:00 PM (per Discover Mass listing)
- Holy Day 5:15 PM (per Catholic Mass Time listing)
- Confession: before each Divine Liturgy
Faith Formation & Bible Study
The parish offers religious education for its youngest members and continuing formation for adults. Children gather for catechetical classes on Thursday afternoons, and the adults of the parish meet for Bible study online via Zoom — a format that allows parishioners and friends from outside the immediate Hazleton area to participate.
- Children's catechetical classes — Thursday 4:30 PM
- Adult Bible Study — via Zoom
Languages & Liturgical Tradition
St. Michael's is a parish of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, which uses the Byzantine (Ruthenian) liturgical rite in communion with Rome. Services are offered in both English and Ukrainian, reflecting both the heritage of the original Lemko immigrants and the present-day make-up of the parish.
- Byzantine (Ruthenian/Ukrainian) rite
- English and Ukrainian used in the Liturgy
Sacraments
The central sacramental life of the parish is the regular celebration of the Divine Liturgy and the hearing of Confession before each Liturgy. The parish belongs to the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, and sacramental practice follows the Byzantine tradition of that Church.
- Divine Liturgy (Sunday and weekday)
- Confession before each Divine Liturgy
Contact
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. Michael's by phone or email, and the parish maintains an active presence on Facebook where Liturgy schedules, announcements, and parish news are posted.
- Phone: 570-455-5554
- Email: [email protected]
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stmichaelshazleton/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Julian Levinsky
- John OStap
- Joseph Boyarchuk
- Cyril Pyrozok
- Volodymyr Lotovich
- Theodore Dwulil
- Basil Maniovsky
served the parish twice
- John Rubanovich
- Michael Guriansky
- John Fekula
- Joseph Dzendzera
- Nikon Romaniuk
- John Dorohovich
- Joseph Bernacky
- Lawrence Zarkevsky
- Volodymyr Obushkevich
- Jaroslav Skrotsky
- Joseph Batza
- Orneljan Ananevich
- Andrew Ulicky
- Josaphat Ananevich
- Stephen Shymansky
- John Ciurpita
- Gregory Maslak
- James Melnic
- George Worschak
- Roman Oliinyk
preceded the current pastor
- Nicholas Kostyk
current pastor