About St. Cecilia · Lebanon, Pennsylvania
St. Cecilia's Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, part of the Diocese of Harrisburg. The parish serves the faithful of the Lebanon community with weekend and daily Masses, a religious education program under the direction of Sr. Margaret Bender, O.S.F., and a tradition of strong lay involvement. Pastor Very Rev. Michael Laicha, V.F., leads the parish and is known for the annual parish Fastnacht Sale and summer Festival — two beloved community fundraisers that anchor parish life.
- Patron
- St. Cecilia (patron saint of music and musicians)
- Rector
- Very Rev. Michael Laicha, V.F.
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg
Why belong here
St. Cecilia's offers a welcoming, active Catholic community in the city of Lebanon with multiple weekend Masses, daily Mass four days a week, Saturday confessions, and a Parish Religious Education program for children. The parish is known for its strong sense of fellowship, exemplified by beloved traditions like the Fastnacht Sale and the summer Festival that bring parishioners together across generations. New parishioners are warmly welcomed and encouraged to register at the Parish Office.
Mass times at St. Cecilia
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 – 3:30 PM (per Diocese of Harrisburg listing)
- Saturday 3:15 – 3:45 PM (per parish bulletin listing)
Welcome from the Pastor
On the parish homepage, Very Rev. Michael Laicha, V.F., extends a personal welcome: 'May I take this opportunity to welcome you to the Roman Catholic Parish of Saint Cecilia in Lebanon, Pennsylvania.' He describes Saint Cecilia's as 'a great parish with many wonderful people and things going on,' noting that he has 'witnessed great faith in our people and have found in them people who love God and are willing to do whatever they can for their parish.' He credits the active, faithful parishioners as the reason the parish is 'active and alive.'
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all the usual Catholic sacraments. Baptisms are celebrated the second and fourth Sunday of the month at 1:00 PM, with parents asked to contact the parish office. Couples preparing for Matrimony must contact the Parish Priest at least one year prior to the desired wedding date, in keeping with Diocesan of Harrisburg regulations. Confirmation is prepared through the Parish Religious Education program or a Catholic school, with the Diocese of Harrisburg requiring an 8th-grade Confirmation retreat.
- Baptism — 2nd & 4th Sunday at 1:00 PM
- Confirmation — Parish Religious Education or Catholic school track + 8th-grade retreat
- Holy Communion / Eucharist
- Reconciliation — Saturdays before the Vigil Mass
- Matrimony — contact pastor at least 1 year in advance
- Anointing of the Sick — contact parish office
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Cecilia's Parish Religious Education program, under the direction of Sr. Margaret Bender, O.S.F., prepares children for the sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation. Children attending Catholic school also fulfill their preparation through their school studies. Parents and guardians are encouraged to bring their children to weekly Mass and to pray with them daily as part of the preparation process. Confirmation candidates complete a Confirmation booklet and participate in various meetings and an 8th-grade retreat.
- Director of Religious Education: Sr. Margaret Bender, O.S.F.
- Parish Religious Education program
- Confirmation booklet and meetings
- 8th-grade Confirmation retreat (Diocese of Harrisburg requirement)
Parish Life & Fundraisers
St. Cecilia's is well-known in the Lebanon community for two major annual fundraisers. The Fastnacht Sale, held on the Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, is a beloved Pennsylvania Dutch tradition that has seen parishioners produce well over 100,000 handmade fastnachts in a single year. The Festival, held the third weekend in July, brings together the parish and surrounding community for food, games, a fish fry, Designer Bag Bingo, and fellowship — described by parishioners as fun as well as financially vital to the parish.
- Annual Fastnacht Sale — Sunday, Monday, Tuesday before Ash Wednesday
- Annual Festival — third weekend in July
- Designer Bag Bingo in the parish Social Hall
- Parish Fish Fry nights
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Very Rev. Michael Laicha, V.F., Pastor. The V.F. (Vicar Forane) designation indicates he serves as a deanery leader within the Diocese of Harrisburg. The Director of Religious Education is Sr. Margaret Bender, O.S.F. (a Sister belonging to a Franciscan community). The parish office can be reached at (717) 272-4412 during the week, and parishioners are encouraged to register at the office, notify the office of any moves, and update contact information as needed.
- Pastor: Very Rev. Michael Laicha, V.F.
- Director of Religious Education: Sr. Margaret Bender, O.S.F.
- Parish office — 717-272-4412
Visiting & Registering
New parishioners are warmly welcomed at St. Cecilia's and are encouraged to register at the Parish Office during the week. Parishioners moving from the parish are asked to notify the Parish Office prior to moving, and to keep their contact information up to date. The parish facility includes the church, parking, restrooms, and a Social Hall that hosts parish events such as bingo, fish fries, and community dinners.
- New parishioner registration at the Parish Office
- Notify parish office of moves and contact changes
- On-site: Church, Parking, Restrooms, Social Hall
Bulletin & News
The parish publishes a weekly bulletin with announcements, reflections, and information about upcoming events. Bulletins are available through the parish website and via Discover Mass, which offers a free weekly email subscription that delivers the latest bulletin directly to subscribers. The bulletin is also the primary channel for promoting parish events such as the Fastnacht Sale, Festival, fish fries, and special Mass or confession schedules.
- Weekly parish bulletin
- Free email bulletin subscription via Discover Mass
- Announcements for fundraisers, Mass changes, and parish events