About St. Gregory Thaumaturgus · North East, Pennsylvania
St. Gregory Thaumaturgus Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Erie serving the community of North East, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1875, the parish has worshipped in its present church building on South Pearl Street since it was dedicated on November 22, 1925. For most of the twentieth century the parish was shepherded by the Redemptorist Fathers (1914–1996), and it continues today as an active family of faith with a parish school, daily and Sunday Masses, weekly confessions, and devotions to Our Mother of Perpetual Help. Led by pastor Father Thomas Brooks with Deacon Richard Winschel and a small lay staff, the parish celebrated its 150th anniversary in November 2025 with Bishop Lawrence Persico and received an apostolic blessing from Pope Leo XIV.
- Established
- 1875
- Patron
- St. Gregory Thaumaturgus (Gregory the Wonder-Worker, Bishop of Neocaesarea)
- Rector
- Rev. Thomas Brooks
- Diocese
- Diocese of Erie
Why belong here
St. Gregory Thaumaturgus offers a small-town Catholic community anchored by a rich sacramental life: daily Mass (Monday through Friday), four Sunday Masses (with online streaming), Saturday confessions, and weekly Our Mother of Perpetual Help devotions. The parish runs a parish school (preschool through grade 8) and a religious education program, so families can grow in faith together across generations. As a 150-year-old parish with deep Erie-Diocese roots, generous religious sisters and priests, and a recent apostolic blessing from Pope Leo XIV, it is a welcoming place both to belong and to visit.
Mass times at St. Gregory Thaumaturgus
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 p.m. (or by request)
Parish Identity & History
St. Gregory Thaumaturgus Parish is the Catholic community of North East, Pennsylvania, in the Diocese of Erie. The first wooden church on South Pearl Street was built by early Catholic settlers in 1867; the parish was formally established in 1875. The current St. Gregory Church, built to serve a growing congregation, was dedicated on November 22, 1925 by Archbishop John Mark Gannon — an anniversary the parish marked precisely a century later in 2025. From 1914 to 1996 the parish was served by the Redemptorist Fathers (C.Ss.R.) of the Baltimore Province, who shaped its spiritual identity for 82 years.
- First church built on South Pearl Street: 1867
- Parish established: 1875
- Redemptorist pastoral era: 1914–1996
- Current church dedicated by Archbishop John Mark Gannon: November 22, 1925
- 150th anniversary Mass with Bishop Lawrence Persico: November 22, 2025
- Apostolic blessing received from Pope Leo XIV for the dual anniversary
150th Anniversary Celebration (2025)
On Saturday, November 22, 2025, the parish marked 150 years as a parish family and 100 years in its present church building. Bishop Lawrence Persico traveled to North East to celebrate the anniversary Mass with pastor Father Thomas Brooks and Father John Collins, C.Ss.R., provincial superior of the Baltimore Province of the Redemptorists, who represented the generations of Redemptorist priests who had shepherded the parish. The celebration's theme, 'Thankful for the past, joyful for the present, hopeful for the future,' was displayed on a banner at the front of the church. Father Brooks announced that the parish had received a special apostolic blessing from Pope Leo XIV in honor of the dual anniversary. A reception was held afterward in the St. Gregory School gym, where parishioners received commemorative wine glasses and shared treasured parish memories.
- Anniversary Mass: November 22, 2025
- Celebrant: Bishop Lawrence Persico, Diocese of Erie
- Concelebrant: Father John Collins, C.Ss.R. (Baltimore Province)
- Host pastor: Father Thomas Brooks
- Theme: 'Thankful for the past, joyful for the present, hopeful for the future'
- Reception in St. Gregory School gym with commemorative wine glasses
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by pastor Father Thomas Brooks, with Permanent Deacon Richard Winschel assisting. A small lay staff supports parish operations, faith formation, pastoral care, and liturgical music. The diocesan staff listing for St. Gregory Thaumaturgus identifies the following team members serving the parish family.
- Pastor: Rev. Thomas Brooks
- Permanent Deacon: Deacon Richard Winschel
- Support Staff: Jennifer Nikolishen
- Pastoral Minister: Cindy Riefstahl
- Liturgical Music Contact: Daniel Zimmer
- Religious Education Leader: Corey Hansen
Religious Sisters & Earlier Clergy
Two communities of religious sisters have shaped St. Gregory's history: the Sisters of St. Joseph and the Sisters of St. Benedict. They taught at St. Gregory School, supported parish life, and helped form generations of young people. Father David Hanley, whose ministry in North East began in 1898, is also remembered as one of the priests who assisted the parish in the years leading up to the Redemptorist era.
- Sisters of St. Joseph — parish and school ministry
- Sisters of St. Benedict — parish and school ministry
- Father David Hanley — began ministry in North East in 1898
Devotions & Other Services
The parish gathers for weekly devotion to Our Mother of Perpetual Help following Wednesday morning Mass, and continues to livestream its daily and Sunday Masses online to reach homebound parishioners and those who cannot attend in person.
- Our Mother of Perpetual Help Devotion — Wednesday 8:30–8:45 a.m. (after 8:00 a.m. Mass)
- Live-streamed Masses via the parish Facebook page (Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri 8:00 a.m.; Sun 9:00 a.m.)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation for parish children is coordinated through the parish's Religious Education program, led by Religious Education Leader Corey Hansen. The program complements the academic religious instruction offered at St. Gregory Parish School.
- Religious Education Leader: Corey Hansen
- Parish-based religious education for children
- Integrates with parish school faith formation
St. Gregory Parish School
St. Gregory Parish School is the parish's preschool-through-8th-grade Catholic school, located adjacent to the Parish Office and Our Mother of Perpetual Help Chapel at 136–140 W. Main St., North East. The school opened in fall 1941 and remains a vital ministry of the parish. Its mission emphasizes academic success, moral character, and service to others, and it uses the motto 'Saint Gregory School, where faith and knowledge meet, nurturing Christian Leadership One Student at a Time.' The school's athletic teams are known as the Crusaders.
- Grades: Preschool through 8
- Opened: Fall 1941
- Principal: Maricarol Schoenfeldt
- Phone: (814) 725-4571
- Mailing address: 140 W. Main St., North East, PA 16428-1132
- Website: http://www.stgregs.net/
- Mascot: Crusaders
- Mission: 'faith and knowledge meet, nurturing Christian Leadership One Student at a Time'
Pastoral Care & Music
Pastoral Minister Cindy Riefstahl coordinates the parish's pastoral outreach to the sick, homebound, and those in need. Liturgical Music Director Daniel Zimmer leads the parish's music ministry for Masses and special liturgies throughout the year.
- Pastoral Minister: Cindy Riefstahl
- Liturgical Music Contact: Daniel Zimmer
Visit, Contact & Locations
St. Gregory's welcomes visitors and newcomers to join in daily and Sunday Masses, Saturday confessions, and parish devotions. The parish church and parish office are located a short distance apart in the heart of North East, Pennsylvania, with St. Gregory School next to the Parish Office.
- Church address: 48 S. Pearl St., North East, PA 16428
- Parish Office / Our Mother of Perpetual Help Chapel: 136 W. Main St., North East, PA 16428
- Parish Office Phone: (814) 725-9691
- Parish Fax: (814) 725-1225
- Parish Email: [email protected]
- Parish Website: http://www.stgregoryparish.info/
- School Phone: (814) 725-4571
- Diocese: Diocese of Erie (eriercd.org)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father David Hanleyfrom 1898
Began his ministry in North East, assisting earlier pastors before the Redemptorist era.
- Redemptorist Fathers (C.Ss.R.), Baltimore Province1914–1996
Shepherded the parish for 82 years; built and dedicated the present church in 1925.
- Rev. Thomas Brookscurrent pastor
Current pastor; led the 150th anniversary Mass on November 22, 2025 with Bishop Persico.