About Saints Simon and Jude · Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Saints Simon and Jude Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, within the Diocese of Allentown, located at 730 West Broad Street. The parish is named after Saints Simon the Zealot and Jude Thaddeus, two of the twelve Apostles, and is notable for celebrating Mass in both English and Vietnamese. Led by Rev. Msgr. William F. Baver with two permanent deacons (Deacon Reuben H. Hartzell and Deacon Jeffrey R. Trexler), the parish offers 11 weekly Masses, Saturday confessions, an active RCIA program, religious education, a Bible study, a contemporary choir, a cantors' group, a funeral choir, a food bank and outreach ministry (SSJ Serve), a Giving Tree program, a Pro-Life group, and a seniors' group (Saint Simon Seniors). Parish children attend Notre Dame Catholic School.
- Established
- 1912
- Patron
- Saints Simon the Zealot and Jude Thaddeus (Apostles)
- Rector
- Rev. Msgr. William F. Baver, Th.M., M.Div., CCCE, KCHS
- Diocese
- Diocese of Allentown
Why belong here
Saints Simon and Jude is a tight-knit Roman Catholic parish that combines traditional devotions with a notably multicultural liturgical life — including a Vietnamese-language Sunday Mass — making it a warm spiritual home for English-speaking and Vietnamese families alike. Members can deepen their faith through RCIA, weekday and Scripture-based Bible studies, a contemporary choir, cantors, a funeral choir, and active lay ministries such as lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, altar servers, ushers, and greeters. The parish also has a strong outreach identity, running the SSJ Serve food bank, a Giving Tree, a Pro-Life committee, the Saint Simon Seniors group, and a long-running Lenten Fish Fry tradition that builds community across generations.
Mass times at Saints Simon and Jude
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
- Also by appointment
History of Saints Simon and Jude Parish
Saints Simon and Jude Parish was established to serve the Catholic families of Bethlehem's South Side, with the original parish church built in 1923 at 10th and Orange Streets, seating 300. The parish suffered flood damage in 1938, and by the early 1950s had outgrown its South Side home. Pastor Fr. Austin Green initiated expansion discussions in 1953; in 1955 the parish purchased land off Newland Street for a future church site, and the Diocese purchased a 10-acre parcel across from it in 1961. The Franciscan community contracted with the Diocese in 1964 to assume responsibility for the parish. Ground was broken for the new church on West Broad Street in 1972, the first Mass was celebrated on December 24, 1973, and the church was dedicated in 1974. The parish celebrated its 75th anniversary and the school's 20th anniversary in 1987.
- 1923 — New church building (300-seat) constructed at 10th and Orange Streets
- 1938 — Devastating flood damages the SSJ church
- 1953 — Pastor Fr. Austin Green opens expansion discussions
- 1955 — Parish purchases land off Newland Street as future church site
- 1961 — Diocese purchases adjacent 10-acre parcel
- 1964 — Franciscan community assumes responsibility for the parish
- 1972 — Groundbreaking for new church on West Broad Street
- 1973 — First Mass in new church celebrated December 24
- 1974 — New church dedicated
- 1987 — 75th anniversary of parish / 20th anniversary of school
- 1997 — Parish Lenten Fish Fry tradition begins, led by Men's Club
Clergy and Leadership
The parish is led by its pastor with the assistance of two permanent deacons.
- Rev. Msgr. William F. Baver, Th.M., M.Div., CCCE, KCHS — Pastor
- Deacon Reuben H. Hartzell — Permanent Deacon
- Deacon Jeffrey R. Trexler, KCHS, Ph.D., Ch.D. — Permanent Deacon
Parish Ministries and Programs
The parish runs a wide range of lay-led ministries, with coordinators listed on the parish website. These cover liturgical roles (altar servers, lectors, extraordinary ministers, cantors, choirs), faith formation (RCIA, Bible study, Scripture study), outreach (SSJ Serve food bank, Giving Tree, Pro-Life), community life (Saint Simon Seniors, Pastoral Council, Finance Council), and hospitality (greeters, ushers).
- Altar Servers — Deacon Reuben Hartzell
- Bible Study (Wed. evening) — Oliver Delgado
- Scripture Study (Thu. morning) — Trisha Moller
- Cantors — Mary Sienicki
- Contemporary Choir — Mary Ann Haney
- Extraordinary Ministers — Dr. Joseph Daday
- Finance Council — Rev. Msgr. William F. Baver
- Funeral Choir — Jean Cunningham
- Giving Tree & Greeters — Anna Marie German
- Lectors — Mark Tusan
- Pastoral Council — Kristina White
- Pro Life — Eleanor Beighe
- R.C.I.A. — Rev. Msgr. William F. Baver
- SSJ Serve and Food Bank — Carol Machain
- Saint Simon Seniors — Joan Balik
- Ushers — Jack Clark (5 PM), Jerry Green (9 AM)
- Wedding Organist — Jean Cunningham
Faith Formation and School
Parish children attend Notre Dame Catholic School while remaining parishioners of Saints Simon & Jude. The parish CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) religious education program is held at St. Ursula Church; attendance at other CCD programs requires a letter from the pastor. Adult faith formation is supported through the RCIA program, a Wednesday-evening Bible study, and a Thursday-morning Scripture study.
- Notre Dame Catholic School — parish children attend while remaining parishioners
- CCD classes — held at St. Ursula Church
- RCIA — coordinated by the Pastor
- Bible Study — Wednesday evenings
- Scripture Study — Thursday mornings
Sacraments and Parish Registration
The parish welcomes new members; those wishing to register should contact the Pastor directly. Marriage preparation for registered parishioners should begin at least one year — and no less than six months — prior to the proposed wedding date.
- Parish Registration — contact the Pastor to become a member
- Marriage Preparation — begin one year (no less than six months) before proposed date
- Religious Education — CCD at St. Ursula Church
- RCIA — for adults seeking initiation into the Catholic Church
Music and Liturgy
Liturgical music is supported by a team of cantors and two choirs (contemporary and funeral), as well as a dedicated wedding organist.
- Cantors — Mary Sienicki
- Contemporary Choir — Mary Ann Haney
- Funeral Choir — Jean Cunningham
- Wedding Organist — Jean Cunningham
Outreach and Parish Life
The parish operates several outreach and community-life programs, including a food bank, a Giving Tree for those in need, a Pro-Life committee, and a seniors' fellowship group. The Men's Club has run the parish's popular Lenten Fish Fry since 1997.
- SSJ Serve and Food Bank — Carol Machain
- Giving Tree — Anna Marie German
- Pro Life — Eleanor Beighe
- Saint Simon Seniors — Joan Balik
- Lenten Fish Fry (Men's Club, begun 1997)
Visiting Saints Simon and Jude
The parish church and rectory are located at 730 West Broad Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018. Visitors are welcome at any of the 11 weekly Masses; the parish publishes a weekly bulletin through its website and on the bulletin publisher's site with current information on services and events. Newcomers wishing to register are asked to contact the Pastor directly.
- Address — 730 West Broad Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018
- Parish Office / Rectory — (610) 866-5582
- Parish Fax — (610) 866-2992
- Parish Secretary email — [email protected]
- Diocese — Allentown
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Austin Greenthrough 1953 (and following)
Pastor in 1953, when on December 23, 1953 he wrote to the Most Rev. Bernard J. Dolan inquiring about an expansion plan at SSJ.