About St. Ignatius Loyola · Reading, Pennsylvania
St. Ignatius Loyola is a Roman Catholic parish located in Sinking Spring, serving the western Berks County community of Reading, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1965 under Bishop Joseph McShea of the Diocese of Allentown, it is a vibrant parish family anchored in the Eucharist, with a K-8 regional school, a regional PREP religious education program, a thriving CYO, and over forty parish organizations and ministries. The current pastor is Rev. Thomas Bortz, supported by two parochial vicars, three permanent deacons, and a full lay staff.
- Established
- 1965
- Patron
- St. Ignatius Loyola
- Rector
- Rev. Thomas Paul Michael Joseph Bortz
- Diocese
- Diocese of Allentown
Why belong here
St. Ignatius Loyola is a large, multi-generational parish family where the Eucharist is at the center of everything. With five Sunday Masses, daily Masses Monday through Saturday, perpetual-style Eucharistic Adoration Tuesdays and Wednesdays, a vibrant K-8 regional school, a parish religious education program (PREP), an active CYO, a Knights of Columbus council, and dozens of other ministries — from a Food Pantry and St. Vincent de Paul conference to a Transportation Ministry for fellow parishioners — there is a place for every age and talent to serve, and a pastor and clergy who know their people by name.
Mass times at St. Ignatius Loyola
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- By appointment (call Rectory 610-678-3767)
Adoration times
- Tuesday – Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament following the 8:00 AM Mass until 10:00 PM, with Evening Prayer & Benediction
- Wednesday – Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament from 6:00 AM until 7:00 PM, with Evening Prayer & Benediction
Parish History
St. Ignatius Loyola Parish was established in 1965 by Bishop Joseph McShea, the founding bishop of the Diocese of Allentown, when 475 families from Sacred Heart, West Reading, formed the new faith community in the Whitfield/West Lawn area of western Berks County. Daily Mass was first celebrated in the renovated garage of the new rectory in November 1965, while the auditorium of the West Lawn Fire Company served as the first worship space. After the eight-classroom school opened September 6, 1967 under the School Sisters of St. Francis, Mass moved to the school auditorium, and on April 13, 1968 the contemporary octagonal church was dedicated. The parish grew steadily through five pastorates, became a 'mother parish' in 1982 with the birth of St. Francis de Sales in Robesonia, and today serves over 3,000 families — doing all, in the words of St. Ignatius, 'for the greater glory of God.'
Founding Pastorate — Rev. Joseph Radocha (1965–1969)
Under founding pastor Rev. Joseph Radocha and administrator Rev. Robert Coll, the parish buildings rose one by one: the school was completed first and staffed by the School Sisters of St. Francis (with Sister M. Perpetua as first principal), Mass moved to the school auditorium, and finally the contemporary octagonal church opened its doors on April 13, 1968.
- First principal: Sister M. Perpetua
- School opened Sept. 6, 1967 with 230 students
- Church dedicated April 13, 1968
Current Pastorate — Rev. Thomas Bortz (2013–present)
Rev. Thomas Paul Michael Joseph Bortz — a Reading native, Central Catholic grad, former Millersville University business graduate, environmental technician and screen-printing business owner — was ordained in 2004 by Bishop Cullen. His first assignment was at St. Ignatius, followed by service as Parochial Vicar at the Cathedral and St. Anne's, Bethlehem, and as the first Chaplain of Berks Catholic High School. Since 2013 he has served as the parish's fifth pastor while also serving on numerous diocesan committees (Council of Priests, Synod, Strategic Planning, Priestly Life and Spirituality, Vocations, Board of Education, District CYO Spiritual Director, Priest Personnel Board) and as Dean of Berks County. He oversaw 2013 interior renovations — new padded pews, carpeting, tabernacle, brass railings, and a devotional area dedicated to St. Ignatius.
St. Ignatius Loyola Regional School
The parish has operated St. Ignatius Loyola Regional School since 1967, when it opened its doors under the School Sisters of St. Francis with Sister M. Perpetua as the first principal and 230 students in eight classrooms. Today it serves Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 8, currently led by Principal Mrs. Emilia Ward (610-678-0111; [email protected]). A Home & School Association supports the school, and a 'Tuition Angel Sponsor' program helps families in need of tuition assistance.
- Pre-K through Grade 8
- Principal: Mrs. Emilia Ward — 610-678-0111
- Tuition Angel Sponsor financial-aid program
- Home & School Association (first Tuesday meetings)
Parish Religious Education Program (PREP)
PREP is the parish's faith-formation ministry that helps children, youth, and families grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ and the Church. Through education, service, and community-building, PREP nurtures lifelong disciples who know the faith, live it through service, and remain connected to the parish. PREP also coordinates the preparation for First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation, and is led by Coordinator Jenny Matlack.
- Coordinator: Jenny Matlack — 610-678-0676
- Office Manager: Dagmara Chrobak
- PREP Assistant Coordinator: Kristen Hook
- Covers First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, Confirmation
Youth Ministry (SILYM)
St. Ignatius Loyola Youth Ministry (SILYM) is a Sunday-night high-school program — held from 6:30–8:30 PM in the John Paul II room at the church — where teens from many schools and backgrounds gather to hang out, play games, and discuss who Jesus is and why He gave us the gift of His Catholic Church. No sign-ups or registration are necessary; teens are invited to bring their real questions and get real answers in a welcoming environment.
- Director: Tim Wood — 610-223-5908
- Sunday nights 6:30–8:30 PM
- Meets in the John Paul II room
- Open to all high-school students
Music & Liturgical Ministries
Music Ministry is directed by Mr. Martin Pastor (223-284-2574) and is supported by three parish choirs: the Traditional Choir (Martin Pastor), the Holy Family Choir (Gina Gonzales), and the Contemporary Choir (Chip Adams). Liturgical service is supported by a deep bench of ministries including Altar Servers (open to youth in grades 5–12), Lectors (Michael Duff), Special Ministers of the Eucharist / Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (Bonnie Moore & Agnes Gentile), Ushers (Michael Marcellus), Parish Greeters (Kristin Herbein), and the Knights of Columbus and Columbiettes.
- Music Director: Martin Pastor
- Traditional, Holy Family, and Contemporary Choirs
- Altar Servers: training offered twice yearly (grades 5–12)
Outreach & Charity
The parish operates an active St. Vincent de Paul conference (Friends of St. Vincent de Paul Society, meeting the second Monday), a parish Food Pantry distributed on Wednesdays (3:00–4:00 PM, coordinated by Terry and Mary Dugan), a Catholic Soup Kitchen ministry (Deb Christ), a Transportation Ministry that drives fellow parishioners to weekend Mass and to the 8:00 AM daily Mass (Donna Unger), a Bereavement Ministry and Funeral Ministry (Amy Brown), Hospital Visitors, and a St. Gianna Pro-Life / Respect Life ministry. The King's Men apostolate and the Legion of Mary round out the spiritual and service life of the parish.
- Food Pantry: Wednesdays 3:00–4:00 PM
- Friends of St. Vincent de Paul: second Monday
- Transportation Ministry drives parishioners to Mass
- Catholic Soup Kitchen — Deb Christ
Parish Life & Fellowship
Sheryl Lanciano serves as Director of Parish Life (610-678-0676), supported by Parish Greeters and a growing calendar of events including an annual Parish Picnic, a Seniors Group meeting on the first Wednesday, and a Bible Sharing Group meeting Thursday mornings alongside a Men's Bible Study (Jeremy Clark).
- Director of Parish Life: Sheryl Lanciano
- Seniors Group: first Wednesday (Barb Kunder)
- Thursday Women's Bible Study (Marilyn Alberts)
- Men's Bible Study (Jeremy Clark)
Sacraments & Pastoral Care
The parish prepares Catholics for Baptism through its Baptismal Program, prepares children for First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion and Confirmation through PREP, and welcomes adults into the Church through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) on Thursdays from September to Easter. Weddings are arranged through the Rectory, and Funeral Liturgy is coordinated by Funeral Coordinator Amy Brown (484-336-8074). Hospital Visitors and Pastoral Care Ministry visit the sick and homebound; St. Gianna Pro-Life advocates for the unborn; and the parish maintains a bereavement ministry to walk with mourners.
- Baptism Program: Rectory 610-678-3767
- OCIA: Thursdays Sept–Easter (Gary & Candice Wheeler)
- Funeral Coordinator: Amy Brown — 484-336-8074
Clergy & Staff Directory
Parish clergy includes Pastor Rev. Thomas Bortz, Parochial Vicars Rev. George Osei Ababio and Rev. John Pendzick, and Permanent Deacons Rick Lanciano, Ed Sanders, and Dan Osle. The lay staff includes Rectory Administrative Assistants Jamie Sauselen and Debbie Pilliod (Safe Environment Coordinator), Business Manager Terry Dugan, Principal of St. Ignatius Loyola Regional School Emilia Ward, Director of Parish Life Sheryl Lanciano, Director of Youth Ministry Tim Wood, PREP Coordinator Jenny Matlack, Music Director Martin Pastor, and Funeral Coordinator Amy Brown.
- Pastor: Fr. Tom Bortz — [email protected], 610-678-3767 ext. 1
- Parochial Vicars: Fr. George Osei Ababio, Fr. John Pendzick
- Deacons: Rick Lanciano, Ed Sanders, Dan Osle
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Joseph Radocha1965–1969
Founding pastor; oversaw construction of school and the octagonal church dedicated April 13, 1968.
- Rev. Stephen Bednarik1969–1977
Second pastor; built new rectory (1976), parish topped 1,000 families; died September 1977, his pipe-organ dream realized later that year.
- Rev. Pascal Sabas1977–1983
Third pastor; installed patron statue, opened new convent, added stained-glass windows, shepherded birth of daughter parish St. Francis de Sales in Robesonia (1982).
- Rev. Msgr. James A. Treston1983–2013
Fourth pastor (30 years); led 1991 school expansion and 1996 church renovation/enlargement, introduced Stewardship, grew parish to ~3,000 families / 11,000 souls by 2008.
- Rev. Thomas Bortz2013–present
Fifth and current pastor; began ministry at St. Ignatius as parochial vicar under Msgr. Treston; oversaw 2013 interior renovations and serves as Dean of Berks County.