About St. Jude · Mountain Top, Pennsylvania
Saint Jude Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Mountain Top, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, founded in 1953 and part of the Diocese of Scranton. The parish serves the Mountain Top community from its campus at 420 South Mountain Boulevard and is led by Reverend Joseph J. Evanko, V.E., with Reverend William A. Asinari as Assistant Pastor and Deacons James T. Atherton, Joseph Chmiola, and retired Deacon Eugene Kovatch on staff. The parish sustains a full sacramental life with daily and weekend Mass, a perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel in the church, a Catholic school, a religious education program, and a robust network of ministries organized around liturgy, faith formation, prayer, and social outreach.
- Established
- 1953
- Patron
- Saint Jude Thaddeus (the Apostle)
- Rector
- Rev. Joseph J. Evanko, V.E.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Scranton
Why belong here
Saint Jude Parish offers a remarkably full Catholic life for a community of its size: weekend and daily Mass, a perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel inside the church, weekly Reconciliation on Mondays and Saturdays, and devotions including the Tuesday Novena to St. Jude, Thursday Divine Mercy Chaplet, and First Saturday Litany and Rosary. Families can grow in faith through Saint Jude School, a graded K-8 religious education program with both Sunday morning and Monday evening options, a two-year Confirmation formation program for 7th and 8th graders, and adult formation such as the Walking with Purpose women's Bible study. Parishioners also put faith into action through the Social Action Committee — supporting the Mountaintop Food Bank, St. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen, Pennsylvanians for Human Life, blood drives, the Giving Tree, and bereavement support — making St. Jude a place where worship, formation, and service go together.
Mass times at St. Jude
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Mondays: 5:30–7:00 PM in the Reconciliation Room
- Saturdays: 4:30–5:15 PM at St. Mary's
- Saturdays: 3:15 PM (per Diocese of Scranton parish listing)
Adoration times
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel located in the church — sign-up sheets for a weekly holy hour are in the annex
- First Saturday of the Month: 8:00 AM Litany & Rosary to the Blessed Mother in the St. Jude Adoration Chapel
Mission & Identity
Saint Jude Parish frames itself as a baptismal community called to proclaim the Good News. Its mission statement reads: 'Through our baptismal call in the Catholic Church, we, the members of St. Jude Parish, accept the challenge to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ to all.' The parish lists four aspirations: to cultivate a welcoming faith community; to work together as people of God to deepen our faith; to be one with Christ in the Eucharist; and to respond to God's call by sharing our talents and gifts with each other and all of God's people.
Mass & Liturgical Schedule
The regular Mass schedule includes a Saturday Vigil at 4:00 PM and two Sunday Masses at 8:30 AM and 11:00 AM. Weekday Mass is offered Monday through Friday at 7:00 AM, with an additional 1:30 PM School Mass on Wednesdays during the school year. Holy Day Masses are celebrated with a 5:45 PM vigil and 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM Masses (plus 1:30 PM during the school year).
- Saturday Vigil: 4:00 PM
- Sunday: 8:30 AM and 11:00 AM
- Weekday Mass: Monday–Friday 7:00 AM
- Wednesday 1:30 PM School Mass during the school year
Easter, Christmas & Holy Day Schedules
Saint Jude publishes a full set of seasonal Mass times for the greater liturgical year, including the Paschal Triduum, Christmas, the Solemnity of Mary, and Holy Days of Obligation.
- Easter Vigil (Holy Saturday): 8:00 PM; Easter Sunday: 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 12:00 Noon
- Christmas Eve: 4:00 PM, 7:00 PM, 12:00 Midnight; Christmas Day: 8:30 AM and 11:00 AM
- Solemnity of Mary Vigil (Dec 31): 4:00 PM; Solemnity of Mary (Jan 1): 9:00 AM
- Holy Thursday: 7:00 PM; Good Friday: 3:00 PM; Blessing of Baskets, Holy Saturday: 1:30 PM in the SJS Gym
- All Saints Day 2025 Vigil: Saturday, October 31 at 4:00 PM
Parish Staff
Saint Jude is staffed by two priests, three deacons (one retired), and a team of lay ministry and administrative leaders.
- Rev. Joseph J. Evanko, V.E. — Pastor (ext. 227)
- Rev. William A. Asinari — Assistant Pastor (ext. 226)
- Deacon Eugene Kovatch — Retired
- Deacon James T. Atherton — Permanent Deacon (ext. 229)
- Deacon Joseph Chmiola — Permanent Deacon (ext. 229)
- Ms. Tracie Machalick — Director of Business & Technology (ext. 223)
- Miss Janice Stefanik — Parish Secretary (ext. 221)
- Mr. Joe Dubinski — Coordinator of Music (ext. 247)
- Mrs. Tricia Scanlan — Director of Religious Education & Youth Ministry (ext. 228)
- Mrs. Christina Masteller — Coordinator of Young Family Life (ext. 225)
- Mr. Sean Savage — Director of Faith Formation (ext. 222)
Religious Education & Youth Faith Formation
The Religious Education Program is designed to give the parish's youth a strong understanding of the Catholic faith, its teachings, practices, and values, while deepening their spiritual life in community.
- Sunday Morning Program — Kindergarten through 6th Grade, 9:30–10:40 AM
- Monday Evening Program — Kindergarten through 6th Grade, 6:00–7:10 PM
- Home Family Catechesis Program — structured home-based program (2nd, 7th, and 8th grade Sacramental Prep not eligible)
- First Penance / First Communion Preparation — 2nd grade Sacramental Prep, with First Communion Mass typically in May
- Confirmation Formation Program — two-year, 7th and 8th grade, meeting every other Sunday evening 6:00–7:30 PM
Confirmation Formation
Confirmation at St. Jude is a two-year formation program traditionally completed in 7th and 8th grade. Rather than a traditional classroom model, the parish uses talks and discussion groups led by young adult small-group leaders from the parish, gathering every other Sunday evening beginning with prayer in church.
- Sessions every other Sunday 6:00–7:30 PM
- Parent Meeting — September 28, 6:00–7:00 PM
- 8th Grade Confirmation Retreat — January 10
- 8th Grade Confirmation Interviews — April 19–24
- Confirmation Practice — May 22 at 6:00 PM; Confirmation — May 23 at 10:00 AM
- Saint Jude School students receive Confirmation formation in their Religion class and join the parish program for retreats, interviews, and the sacrament
Saint Jude School
Saint Jude Parish is home to an on-site Catholic school (Saint Jude School / SJS). Students attend the Wednesday 1:30 PM School Mass during the school year, and Confirmation candidates from the school receive their religious instruction as part of the school day and join parish retreats and the Confirmation celebration.
- Wednesday 1:30 PM School Mass during the school year
- SJS Gym used for Holy Saturday Blessing of Baskets (1:30 PM)
- Sacramental-year Religious Ed fees reduced for SJS students ($45 per child in grades 2 and 8)
Parish Ministries & Councils
The parish organizes lay leadership through a Pastoral Council and Finance Council, and supports active committees that prepare the worship space and coordinate social outreach.
- Pastoral Council — collaborates with the pastor on the spiritual well-being and mission of the parish
- Finance Council — assists the pastor in managing parish finances and business functions in accordance with church and civil law
- Art and Environment Committee — prepares the worship space for the feasts of the year with liturgical symbols, artwork, and floral design
- Social Action Committee — meets 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7:00 PM in the School Library
Social Action & Outreach
The Social Action Committee represents the parish 'in loving service to our fellow brothers and sisters through works of mercy seeking peace, justice and love for all,' sponsoring an event or project each month to keep social justice issues in the forefront of parish life.
- Monthly food collection for the Mountaintop Food Bank (first Sunday of the month)
- St. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen — volunteers prepare and serve lunch once a month
- Pennsylvanians for Human Life — carnation sale and baby bottle collection
- Loose-change Lenten collection benefiting CEO, St. Vincent de Paul Kitchen, Ruth's Place, and other organizations
- Blood drives, Giving Tree, Feed-a-Friend, and Bereavement / Memorial Mass & support
Prayer Ministries
Beyond the Mass and Eucharistic Adoration Chapel, the parish nurtures prayer through a parish prayer chain and adult faith formation for women.
- Prayer Chain — submit prayer requests or join via the Parish Office
- Walking with Purpose — Catholic women's Bible study running October through April
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration — weekly holy hour sign-ups in the church annex
Worship Sites
The Diocese of Scranton parish listing identifies Saint Jude Church as the parish's primary worship site and references a related worship site (St. Mary's), which is also the Saturday location for regularly scheduled confessions.
- Saint Jude Church — 420 South Mountain Boulevard, Mountain Top, PA 18707 (primary)
- St. Mary's — Saturday confession location (4:30–5:15 PM)
Visit, Directions & Contact
Parish Office hours are Monday through Thursday 8:30 AM–1:00 PM and 1:30–4:30 PM, and Sunday 9:30 AM–12:30 PM. The parish is accessible from I-81 (Exit 165), I-80 (Exit 262), and Route 309, with detailed driving directions published on the parish website.
- Phone: (570) 474-6315 • Fax: (570) 474-0775
- Pastor email: [email protected]
- Address: 420 South Mountain Boulevard, Mountain Top, PA 18707
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 8:30 AM–1:00 PM and 1:30–4:30 PM; Sun 9:30 AM–12:30 PM