About St. Clare of Assisi · Saint Clair, Pennsylvania
St. Clare of Assisi Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the borough of Saint Clair, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, within the Diocese of Allentown. It was created on July 15, 2008, by the consolidation of the borough's five historic Catholic parishes (St. Boniface, St. Mary's, Immaculate Conception, St. Casimir, and Ss. Peter & Paul) and now worships in the former St. Mary Church building at 250 East Hancock Street. The parish is linked in a pastoral grouping with Holy Cross Church in New Philadelphia, sharing Mass schedules, religious education, and ministries. It is served by Rev. Msgr. William F. Glosser as pastor, with a deacon, religious-education director, music director, office manager, and cemetery administrator forming its staff.
- Established
- 2008
- Patron
- St. Clare of Assisi
- Rector
- Rev. Msgr. William F. Glosser, V.F., M.A., M.Div.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Allentown
Why belong here
St. Clare of Assisi is a warm, multi-generational parish that welcomes newcomers into a single family of faith shaped by the legacy of five historic Saint Clair churches. Worship is offered several times a week at the parish and at partner Holy Cross Church in New Philadelphia, with a Saturday Vigil and Sunday morning Mass at St. Clare, weekday Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, and a regular Saturday confession schedule. The parish runs an active PREP/CCD program with sacraments for First Communion and Confirmation, supports school families through its links with Assumption BVM School and Nativity BVM High School, maintains an outdoor grotto and prayer garden, and tends roughly ten cemeteries — making it a true community hub for Catholic life in the greater Saint Clair area.
Mass times at St. Clare of Assisi
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 3:15 PM – 3:45 PM
- Or by appointment (call the rectory)
Adoration times
- Tuesday 6:00 PM at Holy Cross Church (followed by Eucharistic Adoration with Confessions until 7:00 PM)
Parish History & Formation
St. Clare of Assisi Parish was established on July 15, 2008, when the Diocese of Allentown consolidated the five Catholic parishes of the borough of Saint Clair in response to declining populations, fewer priestly vocations, and financial strain. St. Boniface (1853), St. Mary's (1864), Immaculate Conception (1905), St. Casimir (1912), and Ss. Peter & Paul (1918) were suppressed and merged into a single new parish operating from the former St. Mary Church building. The merger prompted appeals to Rome by affected parishioners; in 2011 the Vatican's Congregation for the Clergy upheld the suppression of the parishes, leaving the future of the closed buildings under continued discussion. Monsignor William F. Glosser, previously pastor of St. Canicus and St. Fidelis in Mahanoy City, was named founding pastor.
- Predecessor parishes: St. Boniface (1853), St. Mary's (1864), Immaculate Conception (1905), St. Casimir (1912), Ss. Peter & Paul (1918)
- Founded July 15, 2008 — Diocese of Allentown under Bishop Edward P. Cullen
- Bishop John N. Neumann dedicated Saint Clair's first Catholic church (St. Boniface) in 1853
- Vatican upheld the parish suppressions in 2011
- Outdoor grotto built under Msgr. Glosser as a tribute to the five merged parishes
Parish Mission & Identity
The parish's official mission statement is grounded in the Four Marks of the Catholic Church and the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. Members are called to live as a family of faith and a school of prayer, putting their apostolic and community-minded endeavors into practice to spread the Gospel. The parish takes as its motto a line from St. Clare of Assisi's letter to St. Agnes of Prague: 'If you are what you should be, you will set the whole world afire.'
- Dedicated under the patronage of St. Clare of Assisi
- Emphasizes Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist
- Promotes the Paschal Mystery of Jesus Christ
Clergy, Staff & Parish Office
St. Clare of Assisi is led by founding pastor Rev. Msgr. William F. Glosser, V.F., M.A., M.Div., who is assisted by Msgr. Myron Grabowsky (in residence) and Deacon John Matulevich, M.A. The lay staff includes the office manager, cemetery administrator, director of religious education, and director of music, who together handle the day-to-day life of the parish and its link with Holy Cross Church.
- Pastor: Rev. Msgr. William F. Glosser, V.F., M.A., M.Div.
- In Residence: Rev. Msgr. Myron Grabowsky
- Deacon: John Matulevich, M.A.
- Office Manager: Mrs. Debbie Walters
- Cemetery Administrator: Mrs. Mary Ann Lubinsky
- Director of Religious Education: Mrs. Dottie (Dorothy) Frie
- Director of Music: Mrs. MaryLou Woznisky
Mass & Sacrament Schedule
The parish publishes its Mass schedule on its website and weekly bulletin. Parishioners are reminded to always consult the bulletin for last-minute changes. Holy Days of Obligation and special holy-day Masses are announced in the bulletin.
- Saturday Vigil: 4:00 PM at St. Clare of Assisi
- Sunday: 8:30 AM at St. Clare of Assisi
- Thursday: 8:00 AM
- Friday: 8:00 AM
- Monday: No Mass
Sacraments
St. Clare of Assisi prepares parishioners for the Sacraments of Initiation and the other Rites of the Church. Baptisms are scheduled after an instruction session for parents, marriages require at least one year of preparation, and First Communion and Confirmation are prepared through the PREP program. Low-gluten hosts are available for those who need them — the rectory should be notified in advance.
- Baptism — parents attend an instruction session; call parish office
- Marriage — at least one year of preparation required
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 3:15–3:45 PM or by appointment
- First Communion (2nd grade PREP)
- Confirmation (8th grade PREP)
- Low-gluten hosts available on request
Religious Education — PREP / CCD
The Parish Religious Education Program (PREP/CCD), directed by Dottie Frie, serves public-school children of the parish and Holy Cross. Each summer the program holds a two-week 'Boot Camp' in June; children who do not complete both weeks must then complete the material online or be home-schooled. Sacramental-year students (2nd and 8th grades) also attend Wednesday-evening classes from 6:00 to 7:30 PM in addition to Boot Camp.
- PREP Boot Camp — two weeks in June (e.g. June 8–11 and June 22–25, 2026)
- 1st Penance classes — Wednesday evenings 6:00–7:30 PM (2nd grade)
- 1st Communion classes — Wednesday evenings 6:00–7:30 PM (2nd grade)
- Confirmation classes — Wednesday evenings 6:00–7:30 PM (8th grade)
- Director of Religious Education: Dottie Frie
- PREP website: stcstsprep.weebly.com
PREP Activities, Youth Events & Family Faith
Beyond the classroom, the parish publishes a calendar of optional faith-and-fellowship activities that PREP families use to fulfill the parish's yearly activity requirement (three activities before May). Events weave the liturgical year, the seasons, and service into the life of the children.
- St. Clair Halloween Parade — parish walks as saints / holy figures (Oct 15)
- Outdoor Children's Rosary at St. Clare Grotto + 'Make Your Own Ice Cream Sundae'
- Volunteering at the Apple Dumpling Fest
- All Saints Day Mass at St. Clare of Assisi
- Children's Thanksgiving Mass at Holy Cross with food donation
- Living Nativity and Tree Lighting events in New Philadelphia and Saint Clair
- Feast of the Immaculate Conception — Masses at both parishes
- Children's Movie Afternoon and Pizza Party
- Children's Valentine's Day Get Together / Dance
- Ash Wednesday Mass and Children's Easter Pageant
- Confirmation Retreat at Nativity BVM
- First Communion Retreat and Mass
- Back Pack Blessing (August)
Music & Liturgy
Liturgical music at St. Clare of Assisi is coordinated by Director of Music MaryLou Woznisky. The parish supports the liturgical seasons with special music and ensembles, and choir contributions enrich weekend Masses and major feasts.
- Director of Music: MaryLou Woznisky
- Seasonal choral and instrumental support for weekend and holy-day Masses
Cemeteries & Memorial Care
The combined parishes of St. Clare of Assisi and Holy Cross maintain roughly ten cemeteries, including Queen of the Universe Cemetery in Saint Clair. Cemetery Masses are celebrated seasonally, particularly around Memorial Day, Independence Day, and the late-summer and early-fall Saturdays. The cemetery administrator publishes rules about grave decorations so that grass can be safely cut every 8–10 days, and asks families to remove flowers and decorations by a set date each spring.
- Approximately ten cemeteries maintained across the combined parishes
- Queen of the Universe Cemetery (Saint Clair) — site of seasonal Memorial Day and summer Masses
- Cemetery Administrator: Mary Ann Lubinsky
- Immaculate Conception Hall: 570-429-0302
Schools & Catholic Education Partners
While St. Clare of Assisi itself does not operate a parish school, it actively partners with regional Catholic schools and serves their families through PREP and sacramental preparation.
- Assumption BVM School — 570-622-0106
- Nativity BVM High School — 570-622-8110
- Saint Joseph Center for Special Learning — stjosephctr.com
Parish Registration, Stewardship & Communications
Registration is recommended for all who worship regularly with the parish and is required for celebrating Baptism and Marriage at the parish, as well as for issuing sponsor certificates. The parish communicates through its website, weekly bulletin, Facebook page, and the Tabella app (text CLARE to 844-799-0488). Weekly financial reports appear in the bulletin, and parishioners are encouraged to share their time, talents, and treasure.
- Parish registration required for Baptism, Marriage, and sponsor certificates
- Weekly bulletin and bulletin PDF archives (2024 and 2025) on the website
- Tabella app — text CLARE to (844) 799-0488
- Active Facebook page referenced on the parish homepage
Safety, Accessibility & Outreach
The parish maintains accessibility features and complies with the Diocese of Allentown's safe-environment policies. Information about reporting abuse is published in every bulletin.
- Handicap lift accessible from Mill Street, with an attendant for all weekend Masses
- Diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator: Mrs. Wendy S. Krisak, MA, MCC, LPC — 1-800-791-9209
- Secretary for Youth Protection: Pamela Russo, MSW, MS — 1-610-871-5200 ext. 2204
- Catholic Bishop Abuse Reporting Service: www.ReportBishopAbuse.org — 1-800-276-1562
- Knights of Columbus Council 14009 (parish-based council)
Visit, Directions & Contact
The parish is located at 250 East Hancock Street, Saint Clair, PA. From US Route 61, take the Hancock Street exit; the church is a large red brick building four blocks down on the right at the corner of Mill and Hancock Streets. The office is open weekdays by phone, and parishioners are encouraged to call or email with questions about sacraments, funerals, or registration.
- Address: 250 East Hancock Street, Saint Clair, PA 17970-1049
- Office Phone: (570) 429-0370
- Rectory / Emergency Phone: (570) 429-0701
- Fax: (570) 429-0630
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://stclareassisi.weebly.com
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Msgr. William F. Glosser, V.F.2008–present
Founding pastor; transferred in from St. Canicus and St. Fidelis parishes in Mahanoy City. Celebrated his 40th anniversary of ordination in August 2024 with the parish's 16th anniversary.