About St. Benedict the Abbot · Lebanon, Pennsylvania
St. Benedict the Abbot is a bilingual Roman Catholic parish in the city of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, belonging to the Diocese of Harrisburg. It was formed on July 2, 1995, by merging the former Slovak parish of SS. Cyril & Methodius with the Hispanic parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and remains the only bilingual Catholic church in Lebanon County. The parish serves both English- and Spanish-speaking faithful through weekend and weekday Masses in both languages, perpetual adoration, and a CCD Religious Education program. Today it is pastored by Rev. José Elías Mera Vallejos and supported by a team of parish staff and volunteers.
- Established
- 1995
- Patron
- St. Benedict the Abbot (founder of Western monasticism and author of the Benedictine Rule; patron saint of Europe)
- Rector
- Rev. José Elías Mera Vallejos
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg
Why belong here
St. Benedict the Abbot is the only bilingual Catholic parish in Lebanon County, welcoming both English- and Spanish-speaking families into one worshipping community at 1300 Lehman Street. It offers daily and weekend Mass in both languages, nearly continuous Eucharistic Adoration throughout the week, frequent opportunities for the Sacrament of Penance, and a CCD Religious Education program for children and Confirmation candidates. With accessible parking, a social hall, and a dedicated staff and Music Director, the parish provides a warm, intergenerational home for Catholics in the Lebanon area.
Mass times at St. Benedict the Abbot
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday 5:00 pm
- Saturday 3:00 pm
- First Friday of the month 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Adoration times
- Monday – Saturday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm in the Adoration Chapel
- Thursday 9:00 am – 6:30 pm in the main Church
History of the Parish
St. Benedict the Abbot was canonically established on July 2, 1995, from the merger of two earlier Lebanon congregations: the Slovak parish of SS. Cyril & Methodius and the Hispanic parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Both communities had deep roots in the city stretching back to the early 1900s and the 1950s, respectively, and together they form the only bilingual Catholic church in Lebanon County. The first pastor was Rev. Francis J. Tamburro.
- 1808–1904: Immigration of Slovak and Austria-Hungarian faithful to Lebanon County
- Nov 12, 1905: First Slovak Mass celebrated in the basement of St. Mary's by Rev. Andrew J. Kennedy
- May 29, 1906: Ground broken at 13th and Lehman Street for the new Slovak church
- July 7, 1907: Bishop John W. Shanahan blesses the church with 923 members enrolled
- March 28, 1954: SS. Cyril and Methodius School constructed
- 1952: Hispanic Apostolate of Lebanon begins at St. Mary's Church
- 1988: Our Lady of Guadalupe church consecrated at 329 N. 8th St
- 1993: Bishop Nicholas Dattilo launches diocesan Renewal and Reorganization
- July 2, 1995: St. Benedict the Abbot parish officially established
The Slovak Heritage — SS. Cyril & Methodius
Bishop Shanahan of the Diocese of Harrisburg believed the Slovak laborers and their families needed their own national parish. Without a Slovak priest available, he sent Rev. Andrew J. Kennedy to learn the language at St. Michael's Slovak Church in Lansford before assigning him to Lebanon. The resulting parish, SS. Cyril & Methodius, became one of only three Slovak parishes in the diocese, and its members' sacrificial giving funded the parish school built in 1954.
The Hispanic Heritage — Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
The Hispanic Apostolate of Lebanon began in 1952 at St. Mary's Church under a succession of diocesan priests and clergy from Woodstock, Maryland. The community moved from a chapel on 12th Street to one at 11th & Brandywine, and in 1988 the church of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe was consecrated at 329 N. 8th Street. When the 1995 merger created St. Benedict the Abbot, the Hispanic community joined the Slovak community in one bilingual parish.
Our Patron Saint — St. Benedict the Abbot
The parish is named for St. Benedict of Nursia (c. 480–547), founder of Western monasticism and author of the famous Rule that bears his name. He is the patron saint of Europe and is traditionally depicted with a bell, a raven, a serpent (representing poison), and a broken cup. His feast day is July 11. The parish's patron reflects a community built on prayer, hospitality, and a rule of life — themes that echo through both of the founding congregations' histories.
Mass and Worship Schedule
St. Benedict the Abbot celebrates Mass in both English and Spanish throughout the week. The Sunday and Saturday schedule anchors parish life, and a Thursday evening Spanish Mass and weekday morning Masses round out the offerings. The full schedule is published on the parish website and the Diocese of Harrisburg parish page.
- Saturday Vigil Mass: 4:00 pm
- Saturday Morning Mass: 9:00 am
- Sunday Mass (English): 8:30 am
- Sunday Mass (Spanish): 11:30 am
- Weekday Masses (English): Monday, Tuesday, Friday at 9:00 am
- Weekday Mass (Spanish): Thursday at 7:00 pm
Parish Staff
The parish is led by its pastor and supported by a team of lay and formation staff handling religious education, finances, administration, music, and maintenance. Staff contact information is published on the parish website.
- Rev. José Elías Mera Vallejos — Pastor ([email protected])
- Ana Mejia — Director of Religious Education ([email protected])
- Robert Rakow — Finance Manager ([email protected])
- Cecilia Hernandez — Parish Secretary ([email protected])
- Angela Bazan — Administrative Assistant ([email protected])
- Caroline Jacobs — Music Director
- Jose R. Martinez Millan — Parish Custodian
- Roy Swetland — Parish Maintenance ([email protected])
Faith Formation & Religious Education (CCD)
The parish's Religious Education program (CCD — Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) nourishes the faith of children and their families. Classes gather in the parish Social Hall on Sundays, with a Confirmation track meeting on Wednesdays.
- Children's CCD: Sundays in the Social Hall; drop-off 9:45 am, class 10:00 am – 11:15 am
- Confirmation preparation: Wednesdays at 6:00 pm in the Church Basement
- Registration and information: Ana Mejia, [email protected] or (717) 450-4506
Youth Ministry
The parish website announces that a new Youth Ministry program is coming soon, signaling an active effort to engage the next generation of bilingual Catholic families.
Music Ministry
Music at weekend and weekday liturgies is coordinated by Music Director Caroline Jacobs. The parish welcomes musicians and singers from both language communities to support sung worship in English and Spanish.
Sacraments and Devotional Life
Beyond Mass, Confession, and Adoration, the parish offers the ongoing devotional rhythm of a traditional Catholic parish. First Fridays include an extended three-hour period for Confession, and the parish maintains the Church and an Adoration Chapel as centers of prayer.
- Daily and weekly Mass in English and Spanish
- Weekly and First Friday confessions
- Eucharistic Adoration Monday through Saturday
- Children's and Confirmation catechesis
Visiting and Facilities
The parish campus at 1300 Lehman Street provides the practical amenities a visiting family needs: parking, restrooms, and a social hall that hosts Religious Education classes, parish events, and gatherings.
- Address: 1300 Lehman St, Lebanon, PA 17046
- Phone: (717) 450-4506
- Fax: (717) 450-5623
- On-site parking, restrooms, and social hall
Bulletins and News
The parish posts current and archived bulletins on its website and offers free weekly email subscription through Discover Mass. Bulletins are the best source for the latest announcements, schedules, and parish events.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Francis J. Tamburro1995–
First pastor of St. Benedict the Abbot following the 1995 merger of SS. Cyril & Methodius and Our Lady of Guadalupe.