About St. Ignatius Loyola · Kingston, Pennsylvania
St. Ignatius Loyola Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Kingston, Pennsylvania, in the Diocese of Scranton. The community traces its roots to 1885, when St. Ignatius Church was founded for Irish immigrants in what is now Pringle. In 2007–2009, three Kingston parishes — St. Ignatius (Irish), St. Hedwig (Polish, est. 1901) and St. Mary of the Annunciation (Lithuanian, est. 1902) — were consolidated at the St. Ignatius Church site and renamed St. Ignatius Loyola Parish. Today the blended parish is pastored by Monsignor David L. Tressler and is active in liturgy, social outreach, cultural exchange, and spirituality, organizing its life around the four commissions of Word, Worship, Community, and Service laid out in Bishop Joseph Bambera's pastoral letter Wounded and Loved, Regathering the Scattered.
- Established
- 1885
- Patron
- St. Ignatius of Loyola
- Rector
- Monsignor David L. Tressler
- Diocese
- Diocese of Scranton
Why belong here
St. Ignatius Loyola is a warm, blended Catholic community that brings together Irish, Polish and Lithuanian heritage under one roof at its historic North Maple Avenue church in Kingston. Worshippers are drawn by daily and weekend Mass, Saturday confessions, live-streamed Sunday liturgy, and a richly varied ministry life organized around Word, Worship, Community, and Service — from adult faith-sharing groups and FORMED digital formation to outreach like Mother Teresa's Haven, the Christmas Angel Wreath Project, Socks for Veterans, grocery bag collections and a kids' summer lunch program. With a Catholic school (Good Shepherd Academy) connected to its campus, a long partnership with Holy Cross priests from King's College, and an active Parish Pastoral Council, it offers an unusually deep parish life for a neighborhood church.
Mass times at St. Ignatius Loyola
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 12:00 Noon at St. Ignatius Church
- Saturday 4:45–5:00 PM at Holy Family Church
History & Mission
The parish's official History & Mission page tells the long story of three immigrant churches in Kingston that became one. St. Ignatius was founded in 1885 for Irish immigrants; St. Hedwig's was established on October 16, 1901 for Polish families; and St. Mary of the Annunciation was begun by Lithuanian immigrants in 1902. After the Diocese of Scranton's Called to Holiness and Mission initiative reduced the diocese from 196 to 121 parishes, the three communities were consolidated at the St. Ignatius site in 2007–2009 and renamed St. Ignatius Loyola Parish.
- 1885: St. Ignatius Church founded for Irish immigrants in Pringle; Father Bergan first pastor.
- 1891: The present St. Ignatius Church completed under Father O'Malley; cemetery property purchased in Pringle.
- 1901 (Oct 16): St. Hedwig's Church established for Polish immigrants on Zerby Avenue; completed 1909.
- 1902: St. Mary of the Annunciation begun by Lithuanian immigrants; foundation hand-dug during a miners' strike; basement church blessed March 1903 under Father Kudirka.
- 1916: Present rectory of Spanish design built.
- 1930s–40s: St. Ann's Chapel built on East Hoyt Street; Market Street house purchased as a convent.
- 1946: Holy Cross priests from King's College begin serving the parish, continuing today with Father Issing, C.S.C.
- 1954: Long-desired Catholic school realized as West Side Central Catholic High School on North Maple Avenue opens; later Bishop O'Reilly H.S., now Good Shepherd Academy.
- 1972: Hurricane Agnes devastates the Annunciation community; church completely refurbished under Msgr. Lasky.
- 2007–2009: Three Kingston parishes consolidated; renamed St. Ignatius Loyola Parish under Father Lapera.
- Nov 12, 2018: Monsignor David L. Tressler installed as current pastor.
Parish Mission Statement
The parish mission, as published on the official site, reads: 'We, the blended Catholic community of St. Ignatius Loyola, draw strength from Word and Sacrament, especially in the celebration of the Eucharist. Modeling Christ's work, we embrace our commitment to God's call. We remain faithful to the shared acts of prayer, study and service. Together we extend Christ's hospitality to others and light the path of peace for generations to come.' The Parish Pastoral Council organizes parish life around the four commissions of Word, Worship, Community, and Service drawn from Bishop Joseph Bambera's pastoral letter Wounded and Loved, Regathering the Scattered, and implemented through Servant Leadership.
Clergy & Staff
The parish is served by a pastor, an assistant pastor, and a deacon. The Diocese of Scranton's parish directory lists office hours as Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM.
- Monsignor David L. Tressler — Pastor (since November 12, 2018)
- Reverend Michael J. Boris — Assistant Pastor
- Deacon Gerard P. Pernot
- Fr. Dan Issing, C.S.C. — Holy Cross priest from King's College supporting the parish
Word — Faith Formation
The Word commission promotes evangelization through faith formation for all ages. Children's Religious Education (CCD) is led by Co-Director Mrs. Carmella Faust, with Children's Liturgy of the Word offered at the 10:30 AM Sunday Mass and age-appropriate Children's Bulletins available every Sunday in the church foyer. Adult Faith Formation includes Parish Faith Sharing Groups that meet on the second Friday of each month from 6:00–8:00 PM in Conlan Hall (men and women 18+ welcome; refreshments served), and a free parish subscription to FORMED — an on-demand Catholic digital library of movies, videos, Bible studies and audiobooks sometimes called 'Catholic Netflix.' To register, parishioners go to signup.formed.org, enter the 18704 ZIP code, and select the Kingston, PA location.
- Co-Director of Religious Education: Mrs. Carmella Faust ([email protected], 570-287-3682)
- Parish Faith Sharing Groups — 2nd Friday, 6:00–8:00 PM, Conlan Hall
- Children's Liturgy of the Word — at the 10:30 AM Sunday Mass
- FORMED parish subscription — signup.formed.org, ZIP 18704
Worship — Liturgical Ministries
The Worship commission prepares a prayerful and welcoming environment for every liturgy, training and scheduling the many laypeople who make parish Mass possible.
- Music for Sundays and special feast days; choirs and cantors
- Altar Servers
- Lectors
- Ushers
- Eucharistic Ministers (yearly formation)
- Altar Linen Ministry (contact: Susan Verdone, 570-288-5376)
- Parish Writers
Community — Fellowship & Hospitality
The Community commission promotes social activities and events that build fellowship and welcome all, continuing the parish's blended Irish–Polish–Lithuanian heritage.
- Holy Name Society and Mary's Ministry
- Communications: Bulletin, Calendar of Events, Online Postings
- Halloween and Christmas parish events
- Parish Thanksgiving Dinner
Service — Outreach & Social Justice
The Service commission supports ministries that address the needs of parishioners and the wider community and advocates for social justice. A stated goal is to identify immigrant and minority groups in the local area and respond to their needs.
- Mother Teresa's Haven — food and shelter for the homeless
- Partnerships with community organizations
- Christmas Angel Wreath Project
- Parish Thanksgiving Dinner
- 'Socks for Veterans'
- Grocery Bag and Food Collections
- Kids Summer Lunch Program
- Presentations on Social Concerns
- Finance Council and Parish Pastoral Council
Worship Sites
St. Ignatius Loyola Parish worships at its historic church at 339 North Maple Avenue in Kingston. The diocese also notes a second worship site — Holy Family Church — about 1.8 miles away in Luzerne, where Mass is celebrated Saturday at 5:15 PM and Sunday at 9:00 AM, daily Mass is at 12:10 PM Monday–Friday, and confessions are heard Saturday 4:45–5:00 PM.
- St. Ignatius Church — 339 N. Maple Ave., Kingston, PA 18704
- Holy Family Church — Luzerne (Saturday 5:15 PM, Sunday 9:00 AM; daily Mass 12:10 PM Mon–Fri)
Schools & Religious Education
The long-held dream of a parish school was finally realized in 1954, when West Side Central Catholic High School opened on North Maple Avenue; it later also housed a middle school, was merged into Bishop O'Reilly High School, and today operates as Good Shepherd Academy. Children's faith formation is coordinated by Co-Director Mrs. Carmella Faust, while Ms. Diane Janoski serves as Co-Director for Holy Family Parish.
- Good Shepherd Academy (elementary school, on the historic North Maple Avenue campus)
- Religious Education (CCD) — Co-Director Mrs. Carmella Faust, 570-287-3682
Getting in Touch
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, fax, or email. The parish maintains a live-stream of its Sunday Mass and posts website updates and bulletins online.
- Address: 339 North Maple Avenue, Kingston, PA 18704
- Phone: (570) 288-6446
- Fax: (570) 288-0463
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Live-streamed Sunday Mass: 10:30 AM via stignatiuspa.com
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Bergan1885–
First pastor, appointed by Bishop O'Hara; purchased the present North Maple Avenue / Pringle Street property.
- Father O'Malley1891–
Completed the present church; parish cemetery property purchased in Pringle.
- Father Lynott
Served during the Great Depression; prioritized the poor and marginalized.
- Father Caufield
Served during the Great Depression; prioritized the poor and marginalized.
- Msgr. Gaigon1943–1965
- Msgr. Boylan1965–1975
- Msgr. Clarke1975–1989
- Msgr. Conlan1989–1996
- Msgr. Van Loon1996–2005
- Father Lapera2005–2011
Led the 2007–2009 consolidation of St. Ignatius, St. Hedwig, and St. Mary of the Annunciation into St. Ignatius Loyola Parish.
- Father John Polednak2011–2015
- Father Chmil2015–2017
- Father McKernan2017–2018
Retired in 2018.
- Monsignor David L. Tressler2018–present
Became pastor on November 12, 2018.