About St. Charles Borromeo · Ashland, Pennsylvania
St. Charles Borromeo is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Allentown serving the residents of Ashland, Girardville, and the surrounding communities of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The parish was formed in 2015 by a decree of the Diocese of Allentown merging the Catholic parishes in Ashland, Gordon, and Girardville, with St. Vincent de Paul Church in Girardville retained as a secondary worship site. Worship is offered at the main church at 1115 Walnut Street in Ashland and at the St. Vincent de Paul Worship Center at 260 N 2nd Street in Girardville, with daily Mass celebrated in St. Anne Chapel on the lower level of the Ashland church. The parish is pastored by Rev. Christopher M. Zelonis and supported by a permanent deacon, parish secretary, and business manager.
- Established
- 2015
- Patron
- St. Charles Borromeo
- Rector
- Rev. Christopher M. Zelonis
- Diocese
- Diocese of Allentown
Why belong here
St. Charles Borromeo welcomes Catholics and visitors alike to celebrate Mass and the sacraments at either of its two worship sites — the historic Ashland church and the St. Vincent de Paul Worship Center in Girardville — making it a natural spiritual home for families across the Schuylkill County coal-region communities. The parish offers a steady rhythm of weekday and Sunday Mass, regular Confession, weekly Adoration, and a team of lay ministers, lectors, and Eucharistic ministers who serve the liturgies. A small but dedicated staff — including a permanent deacon, parish secretary, and a business manager shared with St. Patrick Church in Pottsville — keeps the parish running and accessible to anyone interested in joining.
Mass times at St. Charles Borromeo
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 3:55 PM
- Sunday 8:30 AM – 8:55 AM
Adoration times
- Tuesday 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM (in St. Anne Chapel)
About St. Charles Borromeo Parish
St. Charles Borromeo is a Roman Catholic parish of the Catholic Diocese of Allentown that serves the residents of Ashland, Girardville, and the surrounding communities of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, as well as friends, visiting relatives, guests, and travelers. Parishioners strive to maintain the strong Catholic identity and cultural traditions established in the area's earlier churches while continuing to build a vibrant spiritual community for the 21st century and beyond. Visitors, Catholics from other parishes, and those of other religions are warmly welcomed to attend Holy Mass, with the parish asking that only Catholics who are prepared to do so receive Holy Communion.
- Parish of the Catholic Diocese of Allentown
- Serves Ashland, Girardville, and surrounding Schuylkill County communities
- Welcomes all visitors to attend Holy Mass
History of the Parish
St. Charles Borromeo Parish was created in 2015 when the Diocese of Allentown merged the Catholic parishes of Ashland, Gordon, and Girardville. The consolidation was part of a wider regional trend in Schuylkill County that also saw the merging of parishes in nearby Shenandoah and Mahanoy City. As part of the merger, St. Vincent de Paul Church in Girardville was preserved as a worship site — now the St. Vincent de Paul Worship Center — ensuring continued Catholic presence in the Girardville community. Tax records list a formation year of 1946, reflecting the long-standing Catholic community that predated the 2015 merger.
- Formed in 2015 by a decree of the Diocese of Allentown
- Result of a merger of parishes in Ashland, Gordon, and Girardville
- St. Vincent de Paul Church retained as a worship site in Girardville
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by its Pastor, Rev. Christopher M. Zelonis, and served by Permanent Deacon John Sutter. Lay staff support the day-to-day operations of the parish and its worship sites.
- Rev. Christopher M. Zelonis — Pastor
- Deacon John Sutter — Permanent Deacon (ordained September 14, 2024; married to Kim, four children and four grandchildren; from St. Patrick Church, Pottsville; resides in Schuylkill Haven)
- Shannon Butler — Business Manager for St. Charles Borromeo, Ashland, and St. Patrick Church, Pottsville (with the parish since March 2017; degrees from McCann School of Business and Alvernia University)
- Janet Paulukonis — Parish Secretary; also a Lector and Eucharistic Minister
Worship Sites
The merged parish operates from two locations: the historic St. Charles Borromeo Church in Ashland, which serves as the main church and includes St. Anne Chapel on the lower level, and the St. Vincent de Paul Worship Center in Girardville, which was preserved as a worship site following the 2015 merger.
- St. Charles Borromeo Church — 1115 Walnut St., Ashland, PA 17921
- St. Anne Chapel — lower level of the Ashland church (used for weekday Masses)
- St. Vincent de Paul Worship Center — 260 N 2nd St., Girardville, PA 17935
Parish Ministries & Liturgical Roles
Parishioners at St. Charles Borromeo serve the liturgies and the parish community as lectors and Eucharistic ministers, with the parish secretary herself serving in both roles. The parish is supported by a small but dedicated staff and lay volunteers who keep the church's liturgical and administrative life running.
- Lectors
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Parish Office Administration
Visit, Contact & Office Hours
Anyone interested in joining the parish or learning more is encouraged to contact the parish office. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM, and closes briefly for lunch each day from 12:00 PM to 12:30 PM.
- Parish office phone: (570) 875-1521
- Office hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM (closed 12:00 – 12:30 PM daily)
- Mailing/physical address: 1115 Walnut St., Ashland, PA 17921
- Website: http://www.stcharlesashland.com/home