About St. Lawrence The Martyr · Albion, Pennsylvania
St. Lawrence the Martyr Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Erie, serving the West County community around Albion, Pennsylvania. The parish was formally erected in October 1914 after Catholic settlers in the Albion area had worshipped with visiting priests since the 1850s; a church building had been completed and dedicated on June 16, 1901. Today the parish includes St. Lawrence Church on East State Street in Albion and the secondary mission church of St. Philip in Edinboro, and it is pastored by Rev. Michael Kesicki with the assistance of Permanent Deacon Paul McCoy. The parish is rooted in a small farming community that values hospitality, the Eucharist, faith formation, Marian devotion, and service to neighbors.
- Established
- 1914
- Patron
- St. Lawrence the Martyr
- Rector
- Rev. Michael Kesicki
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie, Pennsylvania
Why belong here
St. Lawrence the Martyr is a small, welcoming family of faith in rural Albion that takes seriously its call to "love God, love others, and make disciples." Sunday Mass is offered on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, with daily Mass Monday through Friday and a strong rhythm of Confession, First Friday Adoration, the Living Rosary, a Ladies of the Rosary sodality, Knights of Columbus Council #3979, a Prayer Shawl Ministry, Homebound Visits, Faith Formation for K–11, and a parish choir — giving every age and temperament a way to belong.
Mass times at St. Lawrence The Martyr
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:15 PM – 3:45 PM at St. Lawrence (parish website)
- Saturday 4:15 PM – 4:45 PM at St. Lawrence (Diocese of Erie listing / bulletin)
- Sunday 7:30 AM at St. Philip Mission, Edinboro
- Thursday during Holy Hour, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM at St. Lawrence
Adoration times
- First Friday 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM at St. Lawrence
- Thursday 6:00 PM Holy Hour at St. Lawrence Church
- Thursday during Holy Hour 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM at St. Lawrence
Parish Identity & Welcome
St. Lawrence the Martyr Parish presents itself as a "wonderful welcoming Family of Faith" in Albion, Pennsylvania, together with its secondary mission church, St. Philip, in Edinboro. The parish motto or mission statement on the website reads: "We are committed to loving God, loving others, and making disciples." Founders, long-time parishioners, newcomers, and visitors are all explicitly welcomed. The parish belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie, Pennsylvania.
- St. Lawrence the Martyr Parish — Albion, PA (primary church)
- St. Philip Mission Church — Edinboro, PA (secondary mission)
- Diocese of Erie
- Mission: love God, love others, make disciples
History of St. Lawrence the Martyr Parish
Catholic families in the Albion area were being visited by traveling priests from St. Philip in Crossingville well before 1855. The cornerstone of the first St. Lawrence Church was laid on November 4, 1900, under Father Lawrence McBride, and the new church was dedicated on June 16, 1901, before more than 2,000 people. The parish was formally erected in October 1914. The 1900 church was removed in 1967; the current church was solemnly blessed on July 13, 1975.
- Catholic presence in Albion since before 1855
- Cornerstone laid November 4, 1900; church dedicated June 16, 1901 (2,000+ attendees)
- Parish formally erected October 1914
- Original church removed 1967; current church solemnly blessed July 13, 1975
- 1956 parish history by Rev. Ennis A. Connelly
- Original rectory stood until tornado of May 1985
The 1900 Cornerstone: A Time Capsule
The face of the cornerstone of the original St. Lawrence Church is inscribed "St. Lawrence Church, Erected 1900." It contains the names of Bishop Fitzmaurice and Erie diocesan officials, President McKinley, Pope Leo XIII, Cardinal Gibbons, Albion Borough officials, and oldest parishioners Frank Ehrman, Nicholas Mullaly, James Gallagher, and Dan O'Brien. Inside was a sealed copper box holding U.S. coins of 1900 (from one cent to one dollar plus a five dollar bill) and a 45-year written history of the Albion congregation, naming Fathers O'Brannigan, Burns, Adams, Tracey, McGovern, Ruddy, Lynch, Peter Cauley, Graham, and McBride.
- Inscription: 'St. Lawrence Church, Erected 1900'
- Sealed copper box with 1900 coins ($0.01–$1.00, plus $5 bill) and a written history
- Names the priests who served on the charge from ~1855 to 1900
- Names oldest parishioners: Frank Ehrman, Nicholas Mullaly, James Gallagher, Dan O'Brien
St. Philip — The Secondary Mission in Edinboro
By diocesan decree, Saint Philip Parish in Crossingville was merged into Saint Lawrence the Martyr Parish by extinctive union. Its historic church continues as the parish's secondary mission, now at 25797 State Highway 98, Edinboro, PA 16412. The Crossingville community traces its roots to Irish immigrants arriving between 1798 and 1800, making it one of the oldest Catholic communities in the Diocese of Erie. Sunday Mass at St. Philip is celebrated at 8:00 AM, with Reconciliation at 7:30 AM.
- Founded 1807 (Irish immigrants arriving 1798–1800)
- Located at 25797 State Highway 98, Edinboro, PA 16412
- Sunday Mass 8:00 AM; Reconciliation 7:30 AM
- Mailing goes through St. Lawrence, 180 E. State St., Albion, PA 16401
Clergy, Staff & Office
The parish is pastored by Rev. Michael Kesicki with Permanent Deacon Paul McCoy assisting. The Parish Office is staffed by Lori Adamson (Parish Secretary); Faith Formation is led by Carrie Sawin and Criss Rotko, with Cassie Adamczyk also listed in more recent bulletins. Parish maintenance is handled by Jim Mitchell. The Faith Formation Office and Parish Center rental inquiries are handled through 814-756-4840 (Renae Mihalak).
- Pastor: Rev. Michael Kesicki
- Permanent Deacon: Deacon Paul McCoy ([email protected])
- Parish Secretary: Lori Adamson
- Faith Formation Co-Leaders: Carrie Sawin (814-440-0487) & Criss Rotko (814-449-0192)
- Faith Formation Leader (recent): Cassie Adamczyk (814-873-8339; [email protected])
- Parish Maintenance: Jim Mitchell
- Parish Center / Rental: Renae Mihalak, 814-756-4840
- Parish Office Hours: Mon–Thu (8:30 AM–1:30 PM or 9:00 AM–2:00 PM)
Faith Formation (Religious Education)
Faith Formation is offered for children Kindergarten through Grade 11, traditionally meeting Sundays 9:00–10:00 AM around the 10:00 AM Family Mass. The program is led by Carrie Sawin and Criss Rotko, with Cassie Adamczyk serving as Faith Formation Leader in recent bulletins. Altar Server ministry is open to students in 4th grade and up; Lectors are post-Confirmation adults; Greeters are high school students and up. Sacramental preparation (First Communion, Confirmation, Baptism) flows through the Faith Formation office.
- Faith Formation K–11, Sundays 9:00–10:00 AM
- Altar Servers (grade 4+)
- Lectors (post-Confirmation adults)
- Greeters (high school+)
- Faith Formation Email: [email protected] (or [email protected])
Parish Ministries & Organizations
The parish supports a range of lay organizations and service ministries listed on its Ministries page, including the Pastoral and Finance Councils, the Knights of Columbus Council #3979, the Ladies of the Rosary at St. Lawrence and the Altar Rosary Society at St. Philip, the Cursillo movement ("Making a friend, being a friend, and introducing that friend to Christ"), a Prayer Shawl Ministry, Homebound Visits, and the St. James Cemetery Caretaking Committee. Music is led by choir director Maripat Kitchen ("Those who sing pray twice!" — St. Augustine).
- Pastoral Council / Finance Council
- Knights of Columbus Council #3979 — President John Shade (814-756-4512)
- Ladies of the Rosary (St. Lawrence) — President Tammy Maskrey
- Altar Rosary Society (St. Philip) — President Jan Petrus
- Cursillo
- Prayer Shawl Ministry
- Homebound Visits — Darcy Paradise
- St. James Cemetery Caretaking Committee
- Parish Choir — Director Maripat Kitchen
Sacraments
The parish prepares and celebrates the seven sacraments in the ordinary rhythm of parish life: Baptism, Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, Confirmation, Matrimony, Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders (through vocations contact with the diocese). Couples preparing for marriage participate in Pre-Cana or Engagement Encounter. Sick Calls and Anointing are by appointment, with emergency contact through the parish office.
- Baptism — contact the Parish Office
- Reconciliation — see schedule
- First Communion — via Faith Formation
- Confirmation — via Faith Formation
- Matrimony — Pre-Cana or Engagement Encounter required
- Anointing of the Sick / Sick Calls — by appointment; emergencies 814-756-3623
- Sponsor Certificates available
Community Life & Fundraising
Community life at St. Lawrence includes weekly Monday Night Bingo at St. Lawrence Parish Center (doors open 5:30 PM, games begin 6:30 PM) and periodic fundraisers such as the annual 50/200 Club and Booster Button sales supporting local youth like the Albion Area Fair. AA meetings are held at the Parish Center. The parish publishes a weekly bulletin (available on its website) and a weekly e-bulletin PDF.
- Monday Night Bingo at St. Lawrence Parish Center
- Annual 50/200 Club drawings
- AA Meetings at Parish Center
- Weekly bulletin (PDF) and website news
St. James Cemetery
St. James Cemetery is served by a parish Caretaking Committee listed among the parish ministries. Cemetery Manager is Greg Petrus (per parish bulletins).
- St. James Cemetery Caretaking Committee
- Cemetery Manager: Greg Petrus
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Michael Kesickipresent
Current pastor per the parish website and Diocese of Erie listing.
- Rev. Thomas Trocchio
Listed as Pastor in earlier parish bulletins.
- Rev. James J. Kennelley
Listed as Pastor in a past parish bulletin.
- Rev. Marc Solomon
Listed as a priest in a 2017 parish bulletin (email [email protected]).
- Rev. Philip M. Oriole
Listed as pastor on third-party directories (older listing).
- Father Lawrence McBridecirca 1890s–1901
The priest who laid plans to build the first church; the parish name honors the 'Lawrence' portion of his christened name.
- Rev. Ennis A. Connelly1956
Author of 'History of St. Lawrence Parish'.