About St. Elizabeth · Bear Creek, Pennsylvania
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish is a small Roman Catholic community in Bear Creek, Pennsylvania, part of the Diocese of Scranton. Founded in 1938, the parish serves the Bear Creek area through its main church on Bear Creek Boulevard and the mission church of St. Mark in Thornhurst Township. With around 444 households and roughly 693 parishioners, it is a close-knit faith community offering weekend and weekday Masses, religious education for PreK–Grade 8, and ongoing faith formation rooted in prayer, worship, and service.
- Established
- 1938
- Patron
- St. Elizabeth of Hungary
- Rector
- Reverend Rawel Toppo (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Scranton
Why belong here
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish is a welcoming Catholic community in Bear Creek that offers a full schedule of weekend and weekday Masses, First Friday Eucharistic Adoration with Benediction, the Sacrament of Reconciliation before Masses, and an active Religious Education program for children in PreK through Grade 8. With a part-time Music Director and choir, a small but devoted staff, and a clear mission to help parishioners grow in prayer, develop their God-given gifts, share their faith, and serve those in need, the parish is a comfortable place to belong whether you live full-time in the area or visit the Pocono foothills seasonally.
Mass times at St. Elizabeth
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- St. Elizabeth (Bear Creek): Half hour before Masses
- Saturday: 5:30 PM (Upon Request) at St. Elizabeth
- Saturday: 3:30 PM at St. Mark, Thornhurst
Adoration times
- First Friday Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament after the 9:00 AM Mass
- Benediction at 12:00 Noon on First Friday
About Our Parish
Saint Elizabeth of Hungary and Saint Mark Parish is the Roman Catholic community serving Bear Creek, Pennsylvania and the surrounding mountain communities of the southern Pocono region. The parish was founded in 1938 and is part of the Diocese of Scranton. Its mission statement, drawn from the parish website, calls its members to discover God's desire for relationship through prayer and worship, to develop the gifts God has given them, to share the faith of Jesus Christ through a welcoming community and beautiful liturgy, and to be of service to one another and especially to those in need.
- Founded: 1938
- Diocese: Scranton
- Rite: Roman (Latin)
- Primary Language: English
- Approximately 444 families / 693 parishioners
Worship Sites
The parish has two worship sites. The primary church, Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, stands on Bear Creek Boulevard in Bear Creek. The second worship site, Saint Mark Church, is located on Bear Lake Road in Thornhurst Township and serves as a mission church within the parish.
- Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Church — 5700 Bear Creek Boulevard, Bear Creek, PA 18602
- Saint Mark Church — 1052 Bear Lake Road, Thornhurst Township, PA 18424
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all of the standard Catholic sacraments. Recent sacramental statistics published by the Diocese of Scranton show active participation in Christian Burials, Anointings of the Sick, Marriages, Confirmations, First Communions, and Baptisms. Faith formation classes, especially for First Communion and Confirmation, are coordinated through the parish Religious Education program.
- Baptism
- First Communion (through Religious Education)
- Confirmation
- Marriage
- Anointing of the Sick
- Christian Burial
Religious Education & Faith Formation
Religious Education is one of the parish's central ministries. The program serves children from PreK through Grade 8 and is led by volunteer Directors of Religious Education. According to Diocese of Scranton parish statistics, approximately 41 children are currently enrolled in PreK–Grade 8 religious education.
- PreK through Grade 8 Religious Education Program
- Directors of Religious Education: Emily Bell and Renee Sipple
- Approximately 41 students enrolled
Music & Liturgy
The parish maintains an active music ministry under a part-time Music Director, who also serves the parish as Parish Secretary. The choir supports the liturgical life of both worship sites, contributing to the parish's goal of beautiful liturgy called out in its mission statement.
- Director of Music / Choir Director: Mer Rish
- Music Director — part-time position
- Choir supports weekend and holy day liturgies
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by an Administrator rather than a residential pastor, supported by a small staff of part-time and volunteer ministry leaders. Two former pastors are honored as Pastors Emeritus.
- Administrator: Rev. Rawel Toppo
- Office Manager: Amanda Proch
- Parish Secretary & Director of Music/Choir: Mer Rish
- Directors of Religious Education: Emily Bell and Renee Sipple
- Pastors Emeritus: Rev. Anthony M. Urban and Rev. William J. Karle
Stewardship, Giving & Outreach
The parish website highlights a 'Giving' section that frames stewardship as 'your gifts make a difference in people's lives.' Online Giving is available, and the parish mission statement calls members to be of service to the community and especially to those in need. According to diocesan parish statistics, the parish has an annual budget of roughly $287,000 with annual income of about $269,000 and an Annual Appeal Goal of $24,000.
- Online Giving available through parish website
- Annual Appeal Goal: $24,000
- Mission focus on service to those in need
Communication & Bulletin
The parish maintains an up-to-date bulletin on its website, along with a dedicated Lenten and Holy Week Calendar, to keep parishioners informed of Mass times, devotions, and parish events.
- Parish Bulletin (regularly updated online)
- Lenten and Holy Week Calendar
- Contact Form available via parish website
Visiting & Contact
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, fax, or email, or visit during posted office hours. Both worship sites are handicap accessible. The Diocese of Scranton listing additionally provides the parish fax line and confirms the email contact for administrative use.
- Address: 5700 Bear Creek Blvd., Bear Creek, PA 18602
- Phone: (570) 472-3061
- Fax: (570) 472-3503
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Tuesday & Wednesday, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Handicap accessible worship sites
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Reverend Anthony M. Urban
Pastor Emeritus
- Reverend William J. Karle
Pastor Emeritus