About St. Faustina Kowalska · Nanticoke, Pennsylvania
Saint Faustina Kowalska Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Scranton serving the Greater Nanticoke area in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Founded in July 2010, it was created to consolidate and renew Catholic life in this former Wyoming Valley coal-mining city, where six Roman Catholic churches had been established between 1874 and 1942. The parish now serves roughly 1,800 families from two worship sites — Holy Trinity Church on South Hanover Street in Nanticoke and Saint Mary, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in nearby Mocanaqua — and offers Mass in both English and Spanish.
- Established
- 2010
- Patron
- Saint Faustina Kowalska
- Rector
- Reverend Brian F. Van Fossen, V.F.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Scranton
Why belong here
Saint Faustina Kowalska Parish is the spiritual home for English-speaking and Spanish-speaking Catholics across the Greater Nanticoke area, offering four weekend Masses (including one in Spanish), weekday Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, Rosary and Divine Mercy Devotions, and a robust Faith Formation program for children in kindergarten through eighth grade (Confirmation). A large pastoral team, a Knights of Columbus council, the Ladies of Mary sodality, a Social Concerns outreach, and a Youth & Young Adult Ministry give parishioners of every age a place to serve. With two historic worship sites — Holy Trinity in Nanticoke and Saint Mary, Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Mocanaqua — this is a community rooted in the rich coal-country Catholic heritage of the Wyoming Valley and shaped by the missionary spirituality of Saint Faustina, the Apostle of Divine Mercy.
Mass times at St. Faustina Kowalska
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays beginning at 9:00 AM in the Marian Chapel
- First Saturday — within the First Saturday Devotion at Our Lady of Mount Carmel
- By appointment — call the parish office
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration on First Fridays (begins after the 8:00 AM Mass)
- Eucharistic Adoration as part of the First Saturday Devotion at Our Lady of Mount Carmel
About the Parish
Saint Faustina Kowalska Parish is a Roman Catholic community in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, founded in July 2010 and now serving about 1,800 families in the Greater Nanticoke Area. The parish's mission statement reads: "We, the faithful of St. Faustina Kowalska Parish, having been entrusted with the mission of spreading the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ, accept that challenge. Guided by the Holy Spirit, nourished by the Word of God and the Holy Eucharist, we freely give of our time, talents and treasure to glorify God and proclaim God to the world through our actions as we strive for our own and others' salvation by worship, service and education in our faith community. We serve God by serving all."
Our Story
Nanticoke is a small city of roughly 10,000 people set among the Appalachian Mountains in what was once a thriving coal-mining hub. Between 1874 and 1942, six Roman Catholic churches were founded here, and for many decades all six flourished. In recent decades, however, a shortage of priests, declining financial resources, and shifting population demographics forced the Diocese of Scranton and the local Catholic community through a period of dramatic change. After several years of preparation, a single new parish was formed in July 2010 under the patronage of Saint Faustina Kowalska — the Polish mystic, visionary, and Apostle of Divine Mercy canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2000. Today the parish operates from two worship sites: Holy Trinity Church on South Hanover Street in Nanticoke, and Saint Mary, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in nearby Mocanaqua.
Pastoral Staff
The parish is led by a pastor, a pastor emeritus, a deacon, and a team of full- and part-time lay staff. The Saint Faustina Pastoral Staff list was updated on the parish website as of 12/29/2025.
- Pastor — Rev. Brian F. Van Fossen, V.F.
- Pastor Emeritus — Rev. James R. Nash
- Deacon — Herbert W. Cruikshank
- Director of Stewardship — Peggie Jimcosky
- Director of Administration — Richard Laury
- Director of Maintenance — Michael Fedorchak
- Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministry — Maria Mera
- Faith Formation Coordinator — Charlotte Golobek
- Office Support — Sylvia Brodowicz
- Knights of Columbus Grand Knight — James Ford
- Ladies of Mary — Mary Bau
- Social Concerns ministry leaders
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation classes for Kindergarten through 8th Grade are held on Sundays from 9:00 to 10:30 AM at the Parish Center. Doors lock at 9:05 AM. The program includes a two-year Confirmation sequence (7th and 8th grades). Classes for the 2025–2026 year began on Sunday, September 7, 2025.
- Kindergarten — Kelly Emmett
- 1st Grade — Gail Ann Gorski (aide: Haley Verazin)
- 2nd Grade — Len Golobek, Kim Cardone
- 3rd Grade — Amy Kosch (aide: Charlotte Kosch)
- 4th Grade — Joan Prestash (aide: Olivia Dougherty)
- 5th Grade — Jackie Brown (aide: Zach Zubritski)
- 6th Grade — Sara Percival (aide: Juliana Percival)
- 7th Grade / Confirmation Level 1 — Cliff Roote, Ken Angradi
- 8th Grade / Confirmation Level 2 — Maria Mera (aide: Sara Mera)
- Faith Formation Coordinator — Charlotte Golobek
Parish Ministries & Organizations
Parishioners are active in a range of ministries, organizations, and devotional groups that support worship, formation, fellowship, and outreach. New members are always welcome to join.
- Knights of Columbus
- Ladies of Mary
- Social Concerns outreach
- Youth & Young Adult Ministry
- Stewardship Committee
- Music Ministry (Sunday choir)
- Parish Festival Committee
Parish Life & Events
Beyond the regular schedule of Masses and devotions, Saint Faustina Parish hosts an annual Parish Festival and weekly parish bulletins that list Mass intentions, Sanctuary Candle memorials, and coming events. Altar flowers and the Weekly Sanctuary Candle in the Marian Chapel may be offered in memory of a loved one by calling the parish office.
Contact & Office Hours
The parish office is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. The mailing address is 520 South Hanover Street, Nanticoke, PA 18634. Office phone is (570) 735-4833; fax is (570) 735-2281; email is [email protected].
Vision 2030
Saint Faustina Parish maintains a 'Vision 2030' planning page on its website, looking ahead to the parish's continued growth and mission over the coming decade.