About St. Joseph the Worker · Williamsport, Pennsylvania
St. Joseph the Worker Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the historic district of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, in the Diocese of Scranton. The parish was founded in 2009 and worships in the 1889 Annunciation Church, with daily Mass celebrated in the Holy Family Chapel in the adjacent Fleming Center. The parish describes itself as 'a family of disciples, prophets, apostles, sinners and saints on a journey' centered on 'Jesus Christ in the Heart of Williamsport.' It is staffed by a pastor, a deacon, and a faith-formation team, and it operates a food pantry, hosts Family Promise of Lycoming County, and runs a PreK–12 Faith Formation program along with adult faith studies and sacramental preparation.
- Established
- 2009
- Patron
- St. Joseph the Worker
- Rector
- Reverend Brian (David W. Bechtel listed on diocese page) — note: the parish's own staff page lists Father Brian Van Fossen as pastor
- Diocese
- Diocese of Scranton
Why belong here
St. Joseph the Worker welcomes new members and visitors with open arms — the parish invites anyone new to the Williamsport area to stop by the office for coffee and conversation, register as members, and join its family of disciples. It combines a historic 1889 church (with original marble altar and a Tiffany-stained-glass window) with a robust PreK–12 Faith Formation program, OCIA (formerly RCIA) for adults and children, adult Bible studies, and a full sacramental-preparation track for Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation. The parish also lives the Corporal Works of Mercy through an on-site food pantry serving over 500 families a month, hosting Family Promise of Lycoming County, supporting a social-justice committee, and gathering under the daily Mass in the Holy Family Chapel — making it a parish where faith formation and outreach are tightly woven together.
Mass times at St. Joseph the Worker
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 4:30 PM in the Church
- Saturday: immediately after the 9:00 AM daily Mass in the Church (when Mass is celebrated)
- By appointment
History & Identity
St. Joseph the Worker Parish was founded in 2009 through the merger of the former Annunciation and St. Joseph parishes in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and is part of the Diocese of Scranton. The parish identifies itself as 'a family of disciples, prophets, apostles, sinners and saints on a journey' with the motto 'Jesus Christ in the Heart of Williamsport.' Its worship site — the 1889 Annunciation Church at 702 W. Fourth Street — preserves the original marble altar, open vestibule, wooden wainscot panels, and a Tiffany-stained-glass Ascension window unveiled in 1900.
- Founded 2009 (Diocese of Scranton)
- Successor parish to Annunciation and St. Joseph parishes, Williamsport
- Parish church: Annunciation Church (1889), architect Amos Wagner
- Costello Memorial Tiffany window by Frederick Wilson, unveiled 14 Oct 1900
Our Buildings & Campus
All three parish buildings sit in Williamsport's historic district within a short walk of one another and reflect the parish's heritage. The Parish Offices are housed in the former St. Joseph School at 711 W. Edwin Street, whose original slate blackboards are still in place; the building also contains the food pantry. The Fleming Center at 720 W. Fourth Street — named for Monsignor William J. Fleming, a former pastor of Annunciation Parish — contains the Holy Family Chapel where daily Mass is offered, the parish hall, and second-floor rooms used for Sunday morning Faith Formation. The church itself is the 1889 Annunciation building at 702 W. Fourth Street, whose bell tower was never completed because of the deaths of four workers during construction.
- Parish Church (Annunciation Church) — 702 W. 4th Street, built 1889
- Fleming Center & Holy Family Chapel — 720 W. 4th Street
- Administration Building (former St. Joseph School) — 711 W. Edwin Street
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 9 AM–4 PM (closed 12–1 PM)
Faith Formation for Children & Youth
The parish runs a PreK through Grade 12 Faith Formation program on Sunday mornings (held in the second-floor rooms of the Fleming Center). Curriculum progresses through themed years: PreK–K 'Jesus and the Holy Family'; Grade 1 'God is Love'; Grade 2 'Our Life in Jesus' (with focus on Reconciliation and Eucharist); Grade 3 'The Kingdom of God and the Church'; Grade 4 'Jesus Teaches Us How to Live' (morality, Ten Commandments, Beatitudes); Grade 5 'The Sacraments'; Grade 6 'Sacred Scripture' (the four senses of Scripture, Genesis to Revelation); and Grades 7–8 'Chosen: Your Journey Toward Confirmation' (24-lesson, 2-year preparation). High-school men and women (Grades 9–12) meet on Sunday mornings for Bible studies, apologetics, Q&A with the pastor, and small-group discussion.
- PreK–K: Jesus and the Holy Family
- Grade 1: God is Love
- Grade 2: Our Life in Jesus (focus on Confession & Eucharist)
- Grade 3: The Kingdom of God and the Church
- Grade 4: Jesus Teaches Us How to Live (morality & Beatitudes)
- Grade 5: The Sacraments
- Grade 6: Sacred Scripture
- Grade 7–8: 'Chosen' Confirmation preparation (2 years)
- Grades 9–12: Men's & Women's groups — Bible studies, apologetics, Q&A
Adult Faith Formation & OCIA
Adult Faith Formation is open to anyone 18 or older who wishes to deepen their understanding of the Catholic faith. The parish typically offers two concurrent studies each year — for example, a Sunday-morning 9:15 AM 'Bible Timeline: The Story of Salvation' (taught by Deacon John Bubb) and a Thursday-evening 7:00 PM 'The Church is One Foundation: A Study of the Church in Acts of the Apostles' (taught by Father Brian Van Fossen). The parish also runs the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults and Children (OCIA, formerly RCIA) for those preparing to enter the Catholic Church.
- Sundays 9:15 AM — The Bible Timeline (Deacon John Bubb)
- Thursdays 7:00 PM — Acts of the Apostles study (Fr. Brian Van Fossen)
- OCIA (Adults & Children) — inquire at office
- Sign-up via the parish office
Sacramental Preparation
The parish prepares children, teens, and adults for the Sacraments of Initiation and for Marriage. Sacramental preparation is coordinated through the Faith Formation office and includes Reconciliation/First Communion (typically received in Grade 2) and Confirmation (Grades 7–8 through the 'Chosen' program). Baptism is offered for infants and children, and the OCIA process prepares adults and older children for full initiation into the Church. Couples preparing for marriage are invited to contact the parish office.
- Baptism (infants & children)
- First Reconciliation & First Holy Communion
- Confirmation (Chosen, 2-year program, Grades 7–8)
- Marriage preparation
Liturgy & Music
The Liturgy Committee coordinates the parish's worship life, meeting on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month (and as needed) from 6:00–7:00 PM in the Parish Administration Building. The committee's mission is to develop, coordinate, and execute the liturgy of St. Joseph the Worker Parish so as to bring a rich worship experience to the parish community, rooted in Catholic tradition and centered on the Eucharistic Presence of Christ. Volunteer liturgical ministries are coordinated through [email protected].
- Liturgy Committee meets 2nd & 4th Wednesdays, 6:00–7:00 PM
- Contact: 570.323.9456 / [email protected]
- Eucharistic-centered liturgy rooted in Catholic tradition
Parish Outreach & Social Justice
Outreach is a core ministry of the parish. The Castellano Ministry Center partners with the United Churches of Lycoming County (UCLC) food pantry, which provides a 3-day emergency supply of food to over 500 families each month (client hours Tuesdays & Thursdays 10 AM–2:30 PM; donations accepted Mondays 9 AM–Noon). The parish also hosts Family Promise of Lycoming County at the Castellano Center two to three times a year, helping homeless and low-income families work toward sustainable independence. The Social Justice Committee (led by Margaret Harpster) meets on the 1st Wednesday of each month from 6:00–7:00 PM and organizes events such as the 'World Marriage Day' celebration, a blood-donor clinic, book studies, and a 5K run, all rooted in the Corporal Works of Mercy.
- UCLC Food Pantry — Tue & Thu 10 AM–2:30 PM; donations Mon 9 AM–Noon
- Family Promise of Lycoming County — hosted 2–3 times/year
- Social Justice Committee — 1st Wednesday, 6:00–7:00 PM
- World Marriage Day, Blood Donor Clinic, 5K Run, book studies
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Father Brian Van Fossen (Pastor) and Deacon John Bubb. The lay staff includes Caleb Cochran (Director of Faith Formation for PreK–12, also coordinating youth ministry), Lauren Cooley (Stewardship Coordinator — recording, reporting, and promoting stewardship of time, talent, and treasure, plus accounting and marketing), Leonard Hazel (Maintenance Coordinator and member since 2010 via RCIA), and administrative assistants Holly King and Ann. Staff members' bios — published on the parish website — share their faith journeys and ties to the parish community.
- Pastor: Rev. Brian Van Fossen
- Deacon: John Bubb
- Director of Faith Formation: Caleb Cochran
- Stewardship Coordinator: Lauren Cooley
- Maintenance Coordinator: Leonard Hazel
- Administrative Assistants: Holly King & Ann
Getting Involved & Membership
The parish welcomes new members and visitors warmly. Anyone new to the Williamsport area — or anyone wishing to deepen their faith journey — is invited to stop by the parish office for coffee and conversation. Office staff can be reached at 570-323-9456 or [email protected]. The Administration Building entrance is just off Edwin Street, on the first floor of the old St. Joseph School.
- New parishioners welcome — stop by the office
- Phone: 570-323-9456
- Email: [email protected]
- Office: 711 W. Edwin Street (Administration Building)