About St. James · Pleasant Mount, Pennsylvania
St. James Catholic Church is a worship site of Saint Katharine Drexel Parish in the Diocese of Scranton, located at 361 Great Bend Turnpike in the village of Pleasant Mount, Wayne County, Pennsylvania. The historic church was built in 1887 at the intersection of Routes 371 and 670 and remains an active Sunday Mass site, with the adjoining St. James Cemetery on Route 371 just west of the village. Although the local Catholic community was reorganized in 2010 under the Saint Katharine Drexel umbrella (along with St. Juliana in Rock Lake, St. Joseph in Forest City, and formerly the churches of St. Mary of the Assumption and St. Cecilia), St. James continues to serve as a centerpiece of Catholic life in northern Wayne County, with weekend and weekday Mass, faith formation for children and youth, RCIA, a parish Bible study, music ministry, and outreach through the St. Vincent de Paul fund and partnerships with the Salvation Army.
- Established
- 1887
- Patron
- St. James the Greater (the Apostle)
- Rector
- Rev. Arun Lakra, HGN (Parish Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Scranton
Why belong here
St. James offers a small, traditional Catholic community in the heart of rural Pleasant Mount, with a Sunday Mass at 11:00 a.m., weekly Tuesday and Thursday morning Masses, and confessions before each weekday Mass. The parish runs religious education for grades 1–8 at St. James, a weekly adult Bible study, RCIA adapted to those inquiring, a small volunteer choir, and a St. Vincent de Paul assistance fund that quietly serves neighbors in need. As part of Saint Katharine Drexel Parish, worshippers here also benefit from shared sacramental preparation (First Communion in May, annual Confirmation at St. Joseph in Forest City), a Stewardship Council, and combined youth, men's, and women's fellowship across the linked parishes.
Mass times at St. James
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday, 8:30 – 8:50 a.m. at St. James, 361 Great Bend Turnpike, Pleasant Mount
- Thursday, 8:30 – 8:50 a.m. at St. James, 361 Great Bend Turnpike, Pleasant Mount
About St. James Church, Pleasant Mount
St. James Catholic Church sits at 361 Great Bend Turnpike in Pleasant Mount, Wayne County, Pennsylvania — the small village at the crossroads of Routes 371 and 670. The brick-and-stone church was built in 1887 to serve the Irish and other Catholic settlers of Mount Pleasant Township, and its cemetery just west of town on Route 371 contains more than a century of parish burial records. Today St. James is one of the principal worship sites of Saint Katharine Drexel Parish, a multi-site Catholic community organized in 2010 from the former parishes of Pleasant Mount, Rock Lake, Lake Como, and Hilltop, and staffed jointly with Ascension Parish in Forest City.
- Built 1887 at the intersection of Routes 371 and 670
- Adjoining St. James Cemetery on Route 371, west of the village
- Worship site of Saint Katharine Drexel Parish (formed 2010)
- Diocese of Scranton, Roman (Latin) Rite
History of the Parish
St. James was established as an independent parish in the late nineteenth century, with the present church constructed in 1887 at the heart of Pleasant Mount village. The parish served Catholic families across Mount Pleasant Township and surrounding hilltowns for more than a century, with the St. James Cemetery documenting generations of baptisms, marriages, and burials. In 2010, the Diocese of Scranton reorganized several small parishes in northern Wayne County. The former St. James (Pleasant Mount), St. Juliana (Rock Lake), St. Mary of the Assumption (Lake Como), and St. Cecilia (Hilltop) parishes were merged into Saint Katharine Drexel Parish, headquartered in Forest City. The parish website emphasizes that the new entity 'received a new name in 2010 but is deeply rooted in Pleasant Mount, Rock Lake, and northern Wayne County,' and is 'built on the traditions and the lively faith' of the parishes that came together. St. James Church continues to function as an active Sunday Mass site within this combined parish.
- 1887 — present St. James Church built in Pleasant Mount
- Long-running independent St. James Parish (Pleasant Mount)
- 2010 — merged with St. Juliana, St. Mary of the Assumption, and St. Cecilia to form Saint Katharine Drexel Parish
- Twinned pastorally with Ascension Parish, Forest City
Clergy and Parish Staff
Rev. Arun Lakra, HGN — a member of the Heralds of Good News missionary society, born in India and ordained May 3, 2015 — was appointed Parish Administrator of Ascension and Saint Katharine Drexel Parishes on July 19, 2022. He is assisted by Deacon Carl S. Albright. Lay staff serving the combined parishes include Jill Bailer (Business Manager / Administrative) and Danielle O'Neill (Director of Religious Education).
- Rev. Arun Lakra, HGN — Pastor / Parish Administrator (appointed July 19, 2022)
- Deacon Carl S. Albright
- Jill Bailer — Business Manager / Administrative
- Danielle O'Neill — Director of Religious Education
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Parish Religious Education for children and youth in Grades 1 through 8 is held at St. James Church and the parish rectory. The program is coordinated by the Director of Religious Education, Danielle O'Neill. Sacramental preparation for First Communion is offered yearly in May, and Confirmation preparation takes place annually in combination with Ascension Parish, with the Confirmation liturgy celebrated at St. Joseph Church in Forest City.
- CCD for Grades 1–8 at St. James Church & Rectory
- First Communion — yearly in May
- Confirmation — annually with Ascension Parish, at St. Joseph Church, Forest City
Adult Faith Formation
The parish offers a weekly adult Bible study and RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) adapted to the needs of those inquiring about the Catholic faith. Youth and young adult ministry is a current priority of the Parish Pastoral Council.
- Weekly adult Bible Study
- RCIA — offered as needed for adults seeking initiation
- Youth and Young Adult Ministry — a Parish Pastoral Council priority
Liturgical Ministries
All parishioners at Ascension and Saint Katharine Drexel Parishes are encouraged to take part in liturgical ministry. Lectors proclaim the Word of God at Mass; Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion assist with the distribution of the Eucharist (must be confirmed and complete required training); and Altar Servers (Grades 3–12) serve at the altar with training provided. The Music Ministry at St. James is a small volunteer choir that sings every Sunday of the year.
- Lector
- Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion
- Altar Server (Grades 3–12)
- Music Ministry — small choir at St. James, sings every Sunday
Parish Life and Outreach
Saint Katharine Drexel Parish emphasizes faith, hope, and charity in its mission statement, calling the faithful to 'build a closer relationship with God by reaching out in love through worship, prayer, fellowship, and sharing the Gospel.' Outreach efforts coordinated from the combined parishes include a St. Vincent de Paul assistance fund administered by the pastor and shared with Ascension Parish; partnerships with the Salvation Army, which uses parish facilities for monthly food distribution and December Christmas gift storage; Cub Scout meetings held weekly in the lower level of the parish office; and an active welcome / hospitality ministry.
- St. Vincent de Paul Fund — assistance for those in need
- Salvation Army food distribution — monthly, and Christmas gifts in December
- Cub Scout Pack — weekly meetings in parish office lower level
- Welcome / Hospitality / Fellowship ministry
- Men's and Women's conferences — active participation in Diocesan conferences
Parish Stewardship and Leadership
The parish has formed a Stewardship Council following Diocesan Stewardship Council formation, designed to work alongside the Parish Pastoral Council and Parish Finance Council in shaping the parish's spiritual and temporal life.
- Parish Pastoral Council — very active, with developed Pastoral Plan and Coordinating Teams
- Parish Finance Council — meets as needed or quarterly
- Parish Stewardship Council — newly formed, works with pastoral and finance councils
Contact and Visiting St. James
St. James Church is at 361 Great Bend Turnpike, Pleasant Mount, PA 18453, at the crossroads of Routes 371 and 670. The shared parish office for Saint Katharine Drexel (with Ascension Parish) can be reached at (570) 785-3838, by fax at (570) 785-3713, and by email at [email protected]. The parish bulletin and current announcements are posted on the joint website, apskdp.org.
- Address: 361 Great Bend Turnpike, Pleasant Mount, PA 18453
- Parish Phone: (570) 785-3838
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://apskdp.org/
- At the intersection of Route 371 and Route 670