About St. Boniface · Williamsport, Pennsylvania
St. Boniface Parish in Williamsport, Pennsylvania is the oldest Catholic parish in Williamsport and the second oldest in Lycoming County, with roots in the German Catholic immigrants who settled the region in the 1830s. Today the parish is a two-church community that includes St. Boniface Church (326 Washington Blvd., Williamsport) and St. Lawrence Church (800 West Central Ave., South Williamsport), both served by the Diocese of Scranton. The present St. Boniface church was built and dedicated in 1975 after the historic 1875 church was destroyed by fire on December 5, 1972, and features materials and a Ruffatti pipe organ shipped from Italy to complement its brick-and-slate construction.
- Established
- 1857
- Patron
- St. Boniface
- Rector
- Reverend Glenn E. McCreary, V.E.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Scranton
Why belong here
St. Boniface is a two-church parish that takes seriously its German-Catholic heritage while serving the Williamsport community today. Parishioners can worship at St. Boniface Church on Washington Boulevard or at St. Lawrence Church in South Williamsport, take part in faith formation for every age through the joint PREP program (K–8) and the high school ministry led by a seminarian, join one of many active ministries (music, lector, altar server, extraordinary minister of Communion, ushers and greeters, bereavement, Family Promise, Social Concerns, or the new Senior C.A.R.E. team), and find confession available every Monday evening at St. Boniface. The parish mission is to nurture each person's gifts, teach the Word of God, celebrate the Eucharist with joy, and reach out in love and service.
Mass times at St. Boniface
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- St. Boniface: Every Monday 5:30–7:00 p.m. (except December 25 & January 1)
- St. Ann: Every Thursday 5:30–7:00 p.m.
- St. Lawrence: 1st Saturday of each month 9:00–9:30 a.m.
Parish History
St. Boniface traces its origins to 1834, when the Engel and Hiller families — among the first German Catholics in Williamsport — emigrated from Bavaria. Holy Mass was first celebrated in Williamsport in 1835 in private homes, served by visiting priests from Danville, Bastress, and Milton. In 1853 a small group of German Catholics began meeting to organize a parish, and with the blessing of Bishop (later Saint) John Nepomucene Neumann they purchased land on January 23, 1854 at the corner of Washington and Anthony Streets (now St. Boniface Street). A 24-by-48-foot wooden church was completed in 1854–1855 and the parish received its first resident pastor, Rev. John B. Bach, in January 1857.
- 1835 — First Masses celebrated in homes of Catholic settlers by visiting priests.
- 1853 — German Catholics organize to found a parish; consult Bishop Neumann.
- 1854 (Jan 23) — Plot of land purchased at Washington and Anthony Streets.
- 1855 — Wooden church completed; first baptism celebrated.
- 1857 — First resident pastor, Rev. John B. Bach (served until Sept. 1861).
- 1875 — Larger second church built (destroyed by fire in 1972).
- 1880 — New convent erected.
- 1897 — St. Boniface School completed; blessed October 13, 1897.
- 1939 — William Penn public school leased (purchased 1943).
- 1955 — Centennial of the first church.
- 1972 (Dec 5) — Historic church destroyed by fire.
- 1975 (Aug 3) — New church dedicated by Bishop J. Carroll McCormick.
The 1972 Fire and Rebuilding
On Tuesday, December 5, 1972, fire destroyed St. Boniface Church — a building that had served the parish for nearly a century and was widely regarded as a Williamsport landmark. The local press headlined the loss with 'St. Boniface Church Destroyed by Fire' and 'Spectacular Early Morning Blaze Ruins City Landmark.' Under Pastor Msgr. Eugene Clark, committees were formed and pledges approaching $400,000 were raised. The architectural firm of Brooks & Redfoot designed the new building in keeping with the original brick-and-slate character, while brass, bronze, and copper were used for the interior appointments. The parish commissioned a Regal pipe organ from Fratelli Ruffatti, which was built and shipped from Genoa, Italy, and the new St. Boniface was solemnly dedicated by the Most Reverend J. Carroll McCormick, Bishop of Scranton, on August 3, 1975. The scriptural verse chosen for the occasion was 'We have built a house to His name, that He might dwell there forever' (11 Paralipomenon 6:2).
- Fire date: December 5, 1972.
- Rebuilding campaign: ~$400,000 in pledges.
- Architects: Brooks & Redfoot.
- Pipe organ: Regal by Fratelli Ruffatti, Genoa, Italy.
- Dedication: August 3, 1975, by Bishop J. Carroll McCormick.
The Present Church (1975)
The current St. Boniface Church was built in brick with a slate roof, deliberately echoing the materials of its predecessor, and finished inside with brass, bronze, and copper. Its most distinctive artistic feature is the Regal pipe organ designed and built by Fratelli Ruffatti and shipped from Genoa, Italy — a link between the rebuilt American parish and the centuries-old Italian tradition of Catholic church organs.
- Style: Brick exterior with slate roof; brass/bronze/copper interior.
- Architect: Brooks & Redfoot.
- Pipe organ: Fratelli Ruffatti (Genoa, Italy).
Clergy, Staff & Parish Directory
St. Boniface Parish is currently served by a pastor and assistant pastor, with a team of lay staff coordinating faith formation, finances, and parish life. The parish secretary and financial secretary staff the office Monday through Friday.
- Rev. Glenn E. McCreary, V.E. — Pastor
- Rev. Dias Antony Valiamarathungal — Assistant Pastor
- Seminarian Andrew McCarroll — High School Ministry leader
- Brian Haas — RCIA Coordinator ([email protected])
- Karen Balestino — Director of Religious Education ([email protected])
- Christine Dell — Parish Secretary ([email protected])
- Mary Jo Raniero — Financial Secretary ([email protected])
Worship Sites
St. Boniface Parish encompasses two churches in the greater Williamsport area. Both share clergy and faith-formation programs, and the parish mailing address is unified at the Washington Boulevard office.
- St. Boniface Church — 326 Washington Boulevard, Williamsport, PA 17701
- St. Lawrence Church — 800 West Central Avenue, South Williamsport, PA 17702
- Joint parish mailing address: 326 Washington Blvd., Williamsport, PA 17701
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation is offered across all ages through the parish's joint religious-education program (PREP) and a high school ministry. PREP serves youth from Kindergarten through 8th grade as a joint ministry of St. Boniface and St. Lawrence parishes, and includes preparation for the sacraments of First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation. The High School Ministry Program, for students in grades 9–12, is led by Seminarian Andrew McCarroll together with a team of adult volunteers and offers Sunday-morning conversations on faith and life. Adult faith formation and initiation into the Church is supported through the RCIA, coordinated by Brian Haas.
- PREP (Parish Religious Education Program) — K–8, joint with St. Lawrence.
- High School Ministry Program — Grades 9–12, led by Seminarian Andrew McCarroll.
- RCIA — Coordinator Brian Haas ([email protected]).
- Director of Religious Education — Karen Balestino ([email protected]).
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners serve the Church's worship in many roles — proclaiming the Word, distributing Holy Communion, serving at the altar, leading music, and caring for the worship environment. The Music Ministry at St. Lawrence provides a cantor and organist/keyboard player at the Saturday 5:30 p.m. Mass and a folk choir of 8–12 members using keyboard, guitar, and flute at the 8:00 a.m. Sunday Mass.
- Music Ministry
- Ministry of Lector
- Extraordinary Minister of Communion
- Ministry of Altar Serving
- Liturgical Environment
- Ministry of Usher and Greeter
- Altar & Rosary Society
Parish Life & Fellowship
Beyond the liturgy, the parish builds community through social events, fundraisers, and parish activities organized by the Parish Activity Committee. The Senior C.A.R.E. Team (Communion, Activities, Resources & Encouragement) is a newer ministry reaching out to parishioners at home, with trained volunteers offering Communion visits and companionship to seniors.
- Parish Activity Committee — promotes 6–8 fellowship activities per year.
- Senior C.A.R.E. Team — Communion, Activities, Resources & Encouragement for homebound parishioners.
- St. Boniface Parish Carnival — annual fundraiser.
Outreach & Social Concerns
The Social Concerns Committee coordinates the parish's response to local needs, supporting agencies and people in need and educating parishioners about their social Gospel responsibilities. The parish also partners with Family Promise, which provides food, shelter, and support services for homeless families, offers advocacy to prevent families from becoming homeless, and educates parishioners about poverty.
- Social Concerns Committee.
- Family Promise — food, shelter, and support for homeless families; advocacy; poverty education.
- Bereavement Ministry — emotional support for families who have lost a loved one.
Parish Operations & Facilities
Day-to-day parish life is supported by a Finance Council advising the pastor on financial matters, a Grounds/Maintenance/Environment team caring for the church buildings and property, and a Parish Office staff answering phone calls and email Monday through Friday.
- Finance Council.
- Grounds / Maintenance / Environment ministry.
- Parish Office hours — Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (closed 12:00–1:00 p.m. for lunch).
- St. Boniface Church — open for private prayer daily 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
- St. Lawrence Church — open Mon–Fri 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (except Holy Days & holidays).
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, fax, or email. The parish mailing address covers both St. Boniface and St. Lawrence churches.
- Phone: 570-326-1544
- Fax: 570-326-6746
- Email: [email protected]
- Mailing address: 326 Washington Blvd., Williamsport, PA 17701
- Website: http://www.stbonifacecatholic.com/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John B. BachJan 1857 – Sep 1861
First resident pastor; opened the parish school, purchased land for the cemetery, enlarged the original church with an annex.
- Rev. John N. Koeper1870 – c.1875
Reorganized the school, brought teacher/organist Carl Cremer from Germany, and entrusted the school in 1874 to the Sisters of Christian Charity fleeing the Kulturkampf.
- Rev. Steinknecht
During his pastorate St. Mary's Academy / High School was founded and the new school building completed and blessed on October 13, 1897.
- Rev. Borrmann
Leased the former William Penn public school in 1939 (purchased in 1943) to handle enrollment growth.
- Msgr. Eugene Clark
Pastor after the 1972 fire; led the rebuilding campaign that raised nearly $400,000 in pledges and oversaw construction of the present church.