About Saints Peter and Paul · Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Saints Peter & Paul Byzantine Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic (Byzantine rite) parish located at 1140 Johnston Drive in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, that traces its origins to 1914 when it was organized as a mission of St. Michael's Byzantine Catholic Church in Allentown. Founded by Slavic and Carpatho-Rusyn immigrants from Slovakia, Hungary, and Western Ukraine who came to South Bethlehem for jobs at the Bethlehem Steel plant, the parish built its first church in 1917 on the steep hillside of South Side Bethlehem overlooking the steel yards. After outgrowing its original site, the parish relocated to its current Johnston Drive location in the early 1990s under the pastorate of the Rev. Robert Slesinski. Today it is a small but active Byzantine Catholic community belonging to the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic and served by Very Reverend Edward J. Higgins. The parish also shares pastoral ministry with Saints Peter & Paul Byzantine Catholic Church in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, where Divine Liturgy is celebrated on Sunday mornings at 8:00 a.m.
- Established
- 1914
- Patron
- Saints Peter and Paul (the Holy Apostles)
- Rector
- Very Reverend Edward J. Higgins
- Diocese
- Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic (the parish is also administratively linked to Saints Peter & Paul Byzantine Catholic Church in Phillipsburg, NJ)
Why belong here
Ss. Peter & Paul offers Byzantine Catholics in the Lehigh Valley an intimate, English-language Eastern Catholic liturgical home with the full cycle of Byzantine services — Saturday Vigil Divine Liturgy, Sunday Divine Liturgy, weekday Presanctified Liturgies during Great Lent, and the Great Blessing of Waters at Theophany — celebrated in a small, welcoming community that traces its roots to the immigrant Rusyn, Slovak, and Hungarian families of South Bethlehem. It also reaches across the Delaware River with a Sunday liturgy at its sister mission in Phillipsburg, NJ, and welcomes visitors to worship in person or via Facebook Live. It is a good fit for Byzantine Catholics who have moved away from the old South Side, for Eastern Christians returning to their rite, and for anyone curious about the Byzantine tradition who wants a parish family that emphasizes hospitality and tradition.
Mass times at Saints Peter and Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Prior to and following all Church Services (per the parish schedule page)
Parish History
The story of Ss. Peter & Paul is a story of Eastern European immigrants who came to South Bethlehem for work at the steel plant and built a parish from a basement up. Organized in 1914 as a mission of St. Michael's in Allentown, the community grew steadily through the twentieth century even as the South Side around it changed, eventually relocating in the early 1990s to its present home on Johnston Drive. Today it continues as a Byzantine Catholic (Eastern rite) parish under the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic.
- 1914 — organized as a mission of St. Michael's, Allentown
- 1917 — original basement church built on South Side
- 1942 — remainder of original church completed
- 1944 — stained glass windows installed
- 1948 — interior walls painted
- 1979 — Rev. Paul Firczak purchases 13 acres near Johnston Drive and Route 191
- 1990 — Rev. Robert Slesinski arrives and decides to build at the new site
- 1992 — Diamond Jubilee (75th anniversary) and relocation to Johnston Drive
Liturgy and Worship Schedule
The parish follows the Byzantine liturgical calendar in full, with regular Divine Liturgies on weekends and a rich cycle of Lenten, Holy Week, and festal services throughout the year. Weekday liturgies are announced in the bulletin and on the website calendar.
- Saturday 4:00 p.m. — Divine Liturgy at Bethlehem, PA (in church and live-streamed via Facebook)
- Sunday 8:00 a.m. — Divine Liturgy at Phillipsburg, NJ (in church only)
- Sunday 10:00 a.m. — Divine Liturgy at Bethlehem, PA (in church only)
- Confessions heard before and after every service
- Theophany (January) — Great Blessing of Waters
- Great Lent — Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts and Office of Holy Anointing
- Holy Week — Mystical Supper (Holy Thursday), Entombment (Good Friday), Paschal Matins and Divine Liturgy (Holy Saturday)
Administration and Clergy
The parish is served by Very Reverend Edward J. Higgins, Pastor, who also ministers to the sister Byzantine Catholic community at Saints Peter & Paul in Phillipsburg, New Jersey. The parish office can be reached at 610-867-2322 or [email protected].
- Very Rev. Edward J. Higgins — Pastor
Sister Parish: Saints Peter & Paul, Phillipsburg, NJ
The pastor and parish family also serve Saints Peter & Paul Byzantine Catholic Church in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, located at 723 South Main Street, where Divine Liturgy is celebrated on Sunday mornings at 8:00 a.m. Saturday and Bethlehem Sunday liturgies remain the principal worship events of the combined pastoral assignment.
- Address: 723 South Main Street, Phillipsburg, NJ 08865
- Sunday Divine Liturgy: 8:00 a.m. (in church only)
Sacraments
The parish prepares the faithful for and celebrates the full range of Byzantine Catholic sacraments, with Holy Confession available before and after every service and other sacraments arranged through the parish office.
- Holy Confession — before and after every service
- Baptism — with guidance for Baptismal Sponsors (Godparents)
- Holy Eucharist / Communion
- Marriage — Pre-Cana preparation
- Holy Anointing — Office of Holy Anointing during Great Lent
- Funerals and Memorial Panachidas
Parish Life and Pastoral Care
The parish identifies itself as a 'unique and dynamic Byzantine Catholic faith community' that is child-friendly and welcomes visitors. Pastoral care extends to homebound and hospitalized parishioners, and the Saturday Vigil Divine Liturgy is broadcast live on Facebook for those unable to attend in person.
- Live-streaming of Saturday Vigil Divine Liturgy via Facebook
- Visits to Hospitalized Parishioners
- Baptismal Sponsor (Godparent) guidance
- Pre-Cana Marriage Preparation
- Parish Registration
- Scheduling of Divine Liturgy intentions
Calendar and Bulletins
The parish maintains a detailed monthly liturgical calendar on its website covering all services at Bethlehem and Phillipsburg, including the full Great Lent, Holy Week, and Pascha cycle. Weekly bulletins are posted to the website and are the principal channel for announcing weekday liturgies, feast days, and parish news.
- Monthly liturgical calendar with services for Bethlehem, PA and Phillipsburg, NJ
- Weekly bulletins posted online
- iCalendar and Google Calendar export available from the schedule page
Contact and Location
The parish is located on Johnston Drive in Bethlehem Township, near Route 191, on the land purchased in 1979 by then-pastor Rev. Paul Firczak. Visitors and parishioners can reach the parish office by phone or email during parish hours.
- Address: 1140 Johnston Drive, Bethlehem, PA 18017
- Parish Office: 610-867-2322
- Email: [email protected]
- Webmaster: [email protected]
- Website: https://saintspeterpaulbethlehempa.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Elias Gojdioscirca 1917 (founder; mission organized 1914)
Founded the congregation as a mission of St. Michael's, Allentown; original charter in 1917.
- Father Desiderius Zubriczkyfirst resident pastor (after 1917)
First resident pastor of Ss. Peter & Paul, Bethlehem. (Note: a pastor of the same name also served Ss. Peter & Paul, Portage, PA until 1928.)
- Rev. Paul Firczakthrough the 1970s–late 1980s
In 1979 purchased 13 acres near Johnston Drive and Route 191 for $180,000, planting the seed for the eventual relocation of the parish.
- Rev. Robert SlesinskiNovember 1990 – circa early 1990s
Made the final decision to build the new church and led the parish through its relocation from South Side Bethlehem to Johnston Drive; served during the 1992 Diamond Jubilee.
- Very Rev. Edward J. Higginspresent pastor
Current pastor of Saints Peter & Paul Byzantine Catholic Church, Bethlehem, PA; also serves Saints Peter & Paul, Phillipsburg, NJ; previously administered the now-closed Palmerton parish (last liturgy May 26, 2019).