About St. Benedict · Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania
St. Benedict is a Roman Catholic mission church located at 1849 Newton Ransom Boulevard in Newton Township, just outside Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania. It is the second worship site of Our Lady of the Snows Parish in the Diocese of Scranton, founded in 1991 to relieve overcrowding at the parish's main church on South State Street. The mission, originally built on 16.9 acres of land, is recognized for its warm, welcoming design and features a striking nine-and-a-half foot crucifix carved from a locally harvested red oak and stained glass windows by Abington-area artist Gerhard Bauth. Today, St. Benedict shares its clergy and pastoral staff with the rest of Our Lady of the Snows Parish.
- Established
- 1991
- Patron
- St. Benedict
- Rector
- Rev. John M. Lapera
- Diocese
- Diocese of Scranton
Why belong here
St. Benedict offers a warm, welcoming mission community in the heart of the Abingtons, with weekend Masses, the Sacrament of Reconciliation before Mass, and a signature Eucharistic Adoration tradition that anchors midweek prayer. As one of two worship sites of Our Lady of the Snows Parish, it shares a vibrant set of ministries—Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Altar Servers, Religious Education, Adult Bible Study, Youth Ministry, hospital visitation and homebound Communion—along with a debt-free parish that has spent its recent years nurturing partnership with neighboring St. Gregory Parish. Worshipping here means joining a parish that built a beautiful church with its own hands and still cherishes that community spirit.
Mass times at St. Benedict
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:15 pm
About St. Benedict Mission
St. Benedict is the second worship site of Our Lady of the Snows Parish (OLS), a Catholic community in the Diocese of Scranton that has served the greater Clarks Summit/Abingtons area since 1899. The mission was dedicated on December 8, 1991, on 16.9 acres at 1849 Newton Ransom Boulevard in Newton Township, and shares a single pastor, staff, and ministry roster with Our Lady of the Snows Church on South State Street in Clarks Summit. The parish describes itself as 'one community, two sites' united by shared worship, formation, and service.
History
When Msgr. John Bendik arrived as pastor of Our Lady of the Snows in 1986, the parish had grown to roughly two thousand families spread over ninety square miles, with at least six weekend Masses still not enough to seat everyone. After a parish meeting on June 7, 1988, OLS broke ground on a second church in Newton Township. St. Benedict was dedicated December 8, 1991. Parishioners raised the funds to furnish the worship space themselves, including the now-iconic crucifix carved from a 105-year-old Bald Mountain red oak by local artist Gerhard Bauth. The mission celebrated its 25th anniversary with a Mass on November 19, 2016.
- 1899 — original Catholic mission chapel established in Clarks Summit under St. Patrick's, Nicholson
- 1911 — Our Lady of the Snows established as an independent parish in the Diocese of Scranton
- 1986 — Msgr. John Bendik appointed pastor of OLS
- 1988 (June 7) — parish meeting at Our Lady of Peace School to plan a second church
- 1991 (Dec. 8) — Church of St. Benedict dedicated on Newton-Ransom Boulevard
- 1992 (Feb. 15) — parish committee fells 80-foot, 105-year-old red oak at base of Bald Mountain for the altar crucifix
- 2016 (Nov. 19) — 25th anniversary Mass celebrated with Msgrs. Bendik, McGarry, and Quinn
Clergy & Staff
Our Lady of the Snows Parish (including the St. Benedict mission) is served by a pastor, an assistant pastor, a pastor emeritus, and a deacon. All listed clergy serve both worship sites.
- Rev. John M. Lapera — Pastor
- Rev. Andrew T. McCarroll — Assistant Pastor
- Msgr. Joseph G. Quinn — Pastor Emeritus
- Deacon Leo L. Lynn
Parish Ministries
Our Lady of the Snows Parish (encompassing St. Benedict) maintains a wide range of active ministries. The parish has eliminated all debt and supports both worship sites through shared faith formation, outreach, and pastoral care programs.
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Lectors
- Altar Servers
- Religious Education
- Adult Bible Study
- Hospital Visitation
- Communion to the Homebound
- Bereavement Counseling
- Youth Ministry
- Young Adult Ministry
Sacraments
Sacramental preparation and celebration are coordinated through the Our Lady of the Snows Parish office, which serves both OLS Church and St. Benedict. Couples are asked to contact the parish at least six months before a wedding; those seeking baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick, or reception into the Church through RCIA are invited to call the office for next steps.
- Baptism — call the parish office to schedule
- Eucharist & Confirmation — Religious Education program
- Marriage — at least 6 months preparation
- Reconciliation — Saturday 3:15 pm or by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick — call the parish office; available to the homebound
- Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
Abington-Area Parish Partnership
Our Lady of the Snows Parish has enjoyed a partnering relationship with the Church of Saint Gregory Parish, originally recommended through the Diocese of Scranton's 'Called to Holiness and Mission' process. Shared activities have included combined weekday Masses, joint hospital visits by priests and deacons, seasonal adult faith formation (such as a Lenten Retreat), Vacation Bible School, and Advent Lessons and Carols. The pastors have also collaborated in deanery planning around Vision 2020 and the Diocesan Blueprint.
Visiting St. Benedict
St. Benedict sits at 1849 Newton Ransom Boulevard in Newton Township, about five miles southwest of the main Our Lady of the Snows Church on South State Street in Clarks Summit. From State Street, head out of Clarks Summit toward Newton Ransom Boulevard; the mission is on the parish's 16.9-acre property with on-site parking. The parish office, reachable at (570) 586-1741 or [email protected], can provide current directions and additional information.
- Address: 1849 Newton Ransom Boulevard, Clarks Summit, PA 18411
- Phone: (570) 586-1741
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.olsparish.net/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. John Bendik1986–1995 (pastor of OLS who founded St. Benedict in 1991)
Led Our Lady of the Snows Parish when St. Benedict was built; founder of the mission church.
- Msgr. James McGarry
Former pastor of OLS / St. Benedict; participated in the 25th anniversary Mass in 2016.
- Msgr. Joseph G. Quinn
Past pastor of OLS / St. Benedict; currently Pastor Emeritus; was current pastor at the time of the 25th anniversary.
- Rev. John M. Lapera
Current Pastor of Our Lady of the Snows Parish (which includes St. Benedict).