About St. Francis of Assisi - Catholic Community of Bradford · Bradford, Pennsylvania
St. Francis of Assisi was a Catholic parish in Bradford, Pennsylvania, in the Diocese of Erie, established in 1946 to serve the faithful on the east side of Bradford. After decades of ministry, on February 4, 2023, Bishop Lawrence T. Persico accepted the proposal of pastors and parishioners to merge St. Francis of Assisi Parish into neighboring St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish, and St. Francis church became a secondary (mission) church of St. Bernard. As of April 2025 the church's status was further reduced to a secondary church 'without mission status' — Sunday and Holy Day Masses are no longer celebrated there, though the building is open on Fridays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. for visitation and prayer, and the annual Feast of St. Francis is still honored with Mass. Parish life, sacramental records, offices, and pastoral care are now coordinated through St. Bernard Catholic Community at 95 E. Corydon St., Bradford, which uses the shared website stbernardcatholic.org.
- Established
- 1946
- Patron
- St. Francis of Assisi
- Rector
- Rev. John Jacquel
- Diocese
- Diocese of Erie
Why belong here
Although St. Francis of Assisi Church in Bradford no longer hosts Sunday or Holy Day Masses, it remains a sacred presence in the community — open on Fridays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. for prayer and visitation, and home each year to the Feast of St. Francis. Active Catholic life for Bradford has been renewed and consolidated at neighboring St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish, where parishioners can celebrate daily and Sunday Mass at St. Bernard Church and the Divine Mercy Chapel, gather for faith formation for children and adults, receive the sacraments through the parish office, and join a community committed to prayer, evangelization, and service in the Diocese of Erie. Catholics who once called St. Francis their parish home now belong to and are warmly received by St. Bernard Catholic Community.
Mass times at St. Francis of Assisi - Catholic Community of Bradford
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sacrament of Penance is offered at St. Bernard Parish Saturday from 3:15 to 3:45 p.m., and anytime by appointment (parish office: 814-362-6825).
Parish Identity and Merger with St. Bernard of Clairvaux
St. Francis of Assisi Church, 15 St. Francis Drive, Bradford, Pennsylvania, was established in 1946 as part of the Diocese of Erie. In February 2023, Bishop Lawrence T. Persico accepted a proposal to merge St. Francis of Assisi Parish into neighboring St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish (est. 1876) so that the Catholic community of Bradford could be renewed and energized. St. Francis church initially continued as a secondary (mission) church of St. Bernard; in April 2025 the Diocese of Erie removed its mission status. Today the church is open on Fridays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. for prayer and visitation, and the annual Feast of St. Francis is still observed with Mass. All parish administration, sacramental records, and active liturgical life now belong to St. Bernard Catholic Community.
- Founded: 1946
- Merged into St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish: February 4, 2023
- Mission status removed by Diocese of Erie: April 2025
- Mailing: c/o St. Bernard Parish, P.O. Box 2394, Bradford, PA 16701
Clergy and Parish Staff
The pastor of the merged Catholic community of Bradford is Rev. John Jacquel, supported by Senior Associate Rev. Edward Walk. Parish staff — business manager Gina Davidson, administrative assistant Elaine Doriguzzi, religious education leader Cindy Greek, and liturgical music contact Rita Bennardi — are listed on the shared St. Bernard Catholic website.
- Pastor: Rev. John Jacquel
- Senior Associate: Rev. Edward Walk
- Business Manager: Gina Davidson
- Administrative Assistant: Elaine Doriguzzi
- Religious Education Leader: Cindy Greek
- Liturgical Music Contact: Rita Bennardi
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith formation for the Catholic community of Bradford is coordinated through St. Bernard Parish. Cindy Greek serves as the Religious Education Leader, supporting children and families through the Parish School of Religion program and sacramental preparation for Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation.
- Parish School of Religion
- Sacramental preparation (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation)
- Contact: Cindy Greek via the parish office
Liturgical Music
Music ministry for the merged community is coordinated through Rita Bennardi, supporting sung prayer at weekend and weekday Masses at St. Bernard Church and the Divine Mercy Chapel.
- Liturgical Music Contact: Rita Bennardi
St. Francis of Assisi Church as a House of Prayer
Although St. Francis of Assisi Church no longer hosts weekly Masses, it continues in service as a place of prayer for the Bradford community. The diocesan decree emphasized that secondary churches of St. Bernard Parish 'remain open to the faithful at least occasionally for public or private worship.' Visitation hours and the annual Feast of St. Francis preserve the church's spiritual role.
- Open Fridays 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. for visitation and prayer
- Feast of St. Francis Mass celebrated annually
- Situated at 15 St. Francis Drive, Bradford, PA 16701
Contact, Mailing Address, and Online Resources
Parishioners and visitors contact the merged community of Bradford through the St. Bernard parish office by phone, email, or website. The website stbernardcatholic.org now serves as the online home for both St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish and the secondary churches of St. Francis of Assisi (Bradford) and Our Mother of Perpetual Help (Lewis Run).
- Phone: (814) 362-6825
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://stbernardcatholic.org/
- Mailing: St. Bernard Parish, P.O. Box 2394, Bradford, PA 16701
- Diocese: Diocese of Erie — Bishop Most Rev. Lawrence T. Persico