About St. John Bosco · Conyngham, Pennsylvania
St. John Bosco Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Conyngham, Pennsylvania, in the Diocese of Scranton, founded in 1963 and dedicated on December 15 of that year. The parish serves the Western Valley of Luzerne County and today is led by Rev. Richard J. Polmounter, MS, with Rev. Christian Ekeh as Associate Pastor and Deacon Maurice J. Cerasaro, Jr. In July 2021 the parish also assumed leadership of nearby Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Weston, PA, and together the two worship sites form a single faith community built on the mission pillars of Word, Worship, Community, and Service.
- Established
- 1963
- Patron
- St. John Bosco
- Rector
- Rev. Richard J. Polmounter, MS
- Diocese
- Diocese of Scranton
Why belong here
St. John Bosco Parish offers a warm, full-life Catholic community in the Sugarloaf Valley with daily Mass Monday through Friday, multiple Sunday Masses, a weekly Rosary group, First Friday and First Saturday devotions with Eucharistic Holy Hours, and a thriving music ministry led by Jennifer Gerhard with adult and youth choirs. Families can hand their children on to Maureen Ciavarella's Youth Faith Formation program, while the parish carries out its missionary call through Salvation Army outreach, the Valley Food Pantry, and annual fundraisers like the Spring Fling Flea Market, Golf Tournament, Spaghetti Dinner, and Grey Dog Raffle. Whether you are drawn by the beautiful current church building dedicated in 1992, the parish's four-fold mission of Word, Worship, Community and Service, or the fellowship of the Knights of Columbus and parish council, there are many ways to belong and to serve.
Mass times at St. John Bosco
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- St. John Bosco Church, Conyngham — Saturday 3:00 PM to 3:30 PM
- Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Weston — Sunday 8:15 AM to 8:45 AM
- Anytime by appointment
Adoration times
- First Fridays: 8:30 – 9:30 AM at St. John Bosco (following the 8:00 AM Mass)
- First Saturdays: 2:30 – 3:30 PM at St. John Bosco
- Public Eucharistic Holy Hours at St. John Bosco Church (monthly)
Parish Overview & Mission
St. John Bosco Parish in Conyngham, Pennsylvania, is a Roman Catholic community of the Diocese of Scranton, founded in 1963 and built upon the vision of a small group of Catholic families in the Conyngham/Sugarloaf area. Its formal mission statement reads: 'We, the Catholic Community of Saint John Bosco Parish, are called to bring others to Christ and in doing so, are brought to Christ.' The parish organizes that mission around four pillars — Word, Worship, Community, and Service.
- Word, Worship, Community, Service — the parish's four mission pillars
- Diocese of Scranton parish, founded 1963
- Serves the Western Valley of Luzerne County
Our History
In July 1959, twenty Conyngham/Sugarloaf families wrote a letter to Bishop Jerome D. Hannan saying, 'We feel the Catholic population has become large enough to support a church or a mission.' Bishop Hannan ordered a census and discovered more than one hundred Catholic families in the Western Valley, all traveling considerable distances to Mass in Hazleton. Bishop William J. Hafey had acquired the campus land a decade earlier; construction began in 1963 and the church was dedicated on December 15, 1963.
- 1959 letter from twenty founding families to Bishop Hannan
- 1963: construction begins; December 15, 1963 dedication
- March 29, 1964: first Baptism (Michael Anthony Maylath)
- June 28, 1964: first First Eucharist
- July 4, 1964: first Wedding (Carol Hyde and Michael Drewniak)
- November 9, 1966: first Confirmation
- 1973: Parish Center built under Msgr. George T. Casey
- December 6, 1992: current church dedicated under Fr. John K. Manno after $1.1 million campaign
- July 1, 2021: parish assumes leadership of Sacred Heart of Jesus, Weston
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Richard J. Polmounter, MS and Associate Pastor Rev. Christian Ekeh, with the diaconal ministry of Deacon Maurice J. Cerasaro, Jr. Rev. Patrick D. McDowell serves as Pastor Emeritus of Sacred Heart of Jesus. Retired assisting priests include Rev. Steven J. Brosk, USAF, LT COL, RET and Rev. Edward L. Michelini.
- Pastor: Rev. Richard J. Polmounter, MS
- Associate Pastor: Rev. Christian Ekeh
- Deacon: Maurice J. Cerasaro, Jr.
- Pastor Emeritus (Sacred Heart): Rev. Patrick D. McDowell
- Retired assisting: Rev. Steven J. Brosk USAF (Ret.), Rev. Edward L. Michelini
- Office Manager: Melanie Pensock
- Office Assistant: Sarah Woolbert
- Business Manager: Beverly Cogan
- Bulletin Editor: Amy Herbener
- Youth Faith Formation Director: Maureen Ciavarella
- Music Ministry Director (SJB): Jennifer Gerhard
- Organist & Choir Director (SH): Robin Pottorff
- Parish Council Chair: Pam Synoski
- Finance Advisory Chair: Joseph Gallagher
- Liturgy Committee Chair: Edward Slusarczyk
- Knights of Columbus Grand Knight: William J. Pendziwiatr
- Sacristan / Mass Coordinator: Veronica Martonik
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
Faith Formation at St. John Bosco is directed by Maureen Ciavarella and serves the parish's school-age children, continuing a tradition of religious education that has run since the parish's earliest years. The parish also maintains a separate Faith Formation Facebook page for ongoing communication with families. Adults preparing for full communion with the Church are welcomed through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA).
- Youth Faith Formation Director: Maureen Ciavarella
- RCIA for adults seeking full initiation
- Youth Ministry program
- Faith Formation email: [email protected]
Music & Liturgy
Liturgical music is coordinated by Jennifer Gerhard at St. John Bosco, who directs the Adult & Youth Choir and the Cantors. Robin Pottorff serves as Organist and Choir Director at Sacred Heart of Jesus in Weston. The Liturgy Committee, chaired by Edward Slusarczyk, supports the parish's worship life alongside Sacristan/Mass Coordinator Veronica Martonik.
- Adult & Youth Choir and Cantors (SJB) — Jennifer Gerhard
- Organist & Choir Director (SH) — Robin Pottorff
- Liturgy Committee — Edward Slusarczyk, Chair
- Sacristan / Mass Coordinator — Veronica Martonik
Outreach & Service
True to the parish's Service pillar, St. John Bosco carries out regular outreach to those in need in the Sugarloaf Valley and beyond. The parish supports the Salvation Army and the Valley Food Pantry, and its Bereavement & Hospitality ministry — led by Philip and Marie Guza — walks with families in times of loss. Annual fundraisers and community events include the Spring Fling Flea Market, the Golf Tournament, the Spaghetti Dinner, and the Grey Dog Raffle.
- Salvation Army Outreach
- Valley Food Pantry Outreach
- Bereavement & Hospitality — Philip & Marie Guza
- Annual Spring Fling Flea Market
- Annual Golf Tournament
- Annual Spaghetti Dinner
- Annual Grey Dog Raffle
- Weekly Stewardship
- Diocesan Annual Appeal (DAA) — Ambassadors James & Cecilia Zielinski
Parish Organizations & Councils
Lay leadership is exercised through the Parish Pastoral Council (chaired by Pam Synoski), the Parish Finance Council / Finance Advisory (chaired by Joseph Gallagher), and the Knights of Columbus (Grand Knight William J. Pendziwiatr). The parish also hosts a Secular Franciscan / Third Order group coordinated by Ed Pane, OFM, and oversees the maintenance of the Sacred Heart–Saint Joseph Cemetery on Weston Road.
- Parish Pastoral Council — Pam Synoski, Chair
- Finance Advisory — Joseph Gallagher, Chair
- Knights of Columbus — William J. Pendziwiatr, Grand Knight
- Secular Franciscan Third Order — Ed Pane, OFM, Coordinator
- Sacred Heart–Saint Joseph Cemetery, Weston Road — Dan Davis, Grave Digger
- Maintenance — Larry Huff & Marie Sauers
Sacraments
St. John Bosco celebrates the full range of Catholic sacraments. Baptisms, weddings, and anointing calls are arranged through the Parish Office. The parish runs a Faith Formation program that prepares children for First Eucharist and Confirmation, and offers RCIA for adults preparing to enter full communion with the Catholic Church.
- Baptism (first celebrated March 29, 1964)
- First Eucharist (first celebrated June 28, 1964)
- Confirmation (first celebrated November 9, 1966)
- Marriage / Weddings (first parish wedding July 4, 1964)
- RCIA
- Anointing of the Sick by appointment
Contact, Hours & Visiting
Parish Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:30 AM to Noon and 1:00 to 3:30 PM; the office is closed to the public on Fridays, weekends, and holidays. Mailing address is PO Box 919, Conyngham, PA 18219-0919. The GPS-only street address is 573 State Route 93, Sugarloaf, PA 18249 (the church mailing list notes Google-able as 'Saint John Bosco Church, Conyngham, PA').
- Parish Office: 570-788-1997
- Fax: 570-788-6667
- Email: [email protected]
- Faith Formation: [email protected]
- Bulletin submissions: [email protected] (9 days before publication)
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 8:30 AM–Noon, 1:00–3:30 PM; closed Fridays
Worship Sites & Facilities
The parish has two worship sites. The main church of St. John Bosco sits at 573 State Route 93 in Sugarloaf and is the location of the parish office, Faith Formation offices, and most parish activities. The second site, Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, is at 554 Main Street in Weston, PA, where Sunday Mass is celebrated at 9:00 AM. The parish also maintains the Sacred Heart–Saint Joseph Cemetery on Weston Road in Weston.
- St. John Bosco Church — 573 State Route 93, Sugarloaf, PA 18249
- Sacred Heart of Jesus Church — 554 Main Street, Weston, PA 18256
- Sacred Heart–Saint Joseph Cemetery — Weston Road, Weston, PA
- Parish Center — built 1973 under Msgr. Casey
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. Joseph T. Shaughnessy1964 (first pastor)
Installed as founding pastor on March 8, 1964; led the early years of the parish after the 1963 dedication.
- Msgr. George T. Caseyfourth pastor; built Parish Center in 1973
Known as the "people's priest".
- Sister Ann Bernadette McGough, RSM1982 – December 1, 1990
Director of Religious Education; served until her death.
- Rev. John K. Manno1984 – 1998 (seventh pastor)
Launched a $1.1 million capital campaign and oversaw construction of the current church building, dedicated December 6, 1992.
- Msgr. Joseph C. Bambera1998 – 2001 (eighth pastor)
Later became Bishop of the Diocese of Scranton.
- Rev. Richard J. Polmounter, MSappointed August 16, 2015; assumed Sacred Heart of Jesus, Weston, July 1, 2021
Ordained May 6, 1978 by Bishop J. Carroll McCormick at St. Peter's Cathedral, Scranton.