About St. Lawrence · Williamsport, Pennsylvania
St. Lawrence Parish is a Roman Catholic parish located at 800 West Central Avenue in South Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, serving as the territorial parish for areas south of the Susquehanna River. Established in 1931 by Bishop Thomas Charles O'Reilly of the Diocese of Scranton, it has grown from a small wood-frame mission church built by its own parishioners to a faith community of more than 400 families. Since July 2009 it has been linked with St. Boniface Parish in Williamsport, and on November 3, 2024 Bishop Joseph C. Bambera formally consolidated the two parishes into the unified St. Boniface Parish under a single pastor and pastoral team.
- Established
- 1931
- Patron
- St. Lawrence
- Rector
- Reverend Glenn E. McCreary, V.E.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Scranton
Why belong here
St. Lawrence offers the intimacy of a smaller, neighborhood parish rooted in South Williamsport while sharing the staff and ministries of the larger St. Boniface Parish just across the river. Parishioners can attend a quiet 7 a.m. weekday Mass at the church on West Central Avenue, join the Parish Activity Committee's six to eight annual fellowship events, participate in the Folk Choir at the 8 a.m. Sunday Mass, or take part in joint adult faith-formation talks, Bible studies, and the PREP religious-education program that serves both parishes.
Mass times at St. Lawrence
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 1st Saturday of the month, 9:00–9:30 AM (St. Lawrence Church)
Parish History
St. Lawrence Parish was established by the Most Reverend Thomas Charles O'Reilly, Bishop of Scranton, on July 13, 1931 to serve Catholics living in the Borough of South Williamsport and the surrounding area south of the Susquehanna River. Father Raymond E. Larkin was named first pastor and was installed at the inaugural Mass on August 10, the feast of St. Lawrence, concelebrated with Bishop O'Reilly before more than 2,000 people. Early Masses were held in the South Williamsport Community Hall until land was purchased from Romie Steinbacher, Ben Bruno, and Ralph Jones. The cornerstone was laid in May 1932 for a simple wood-frame, shingle-covered church built largely by the labor of parishioners who gave work in place of money toward their pledges. The new church was dedicated in October 1932. The parish continued to expand after World War II under Father James H. O'Hara and Father Thomas Knight, with a school and convent completed in 1966. Father Joseph Breslin (1966–1990) added Saturday Masses, brick exterior facing, a new organ, and a full interior renovation; the school and convent were closed in 1972. Subsequent pastors — Father Tamalis, Father Francis Pauselli, Father Thomas Sinnott, Father Michael Zipay, and Msgr. Stephen McGough — added the narthex, sacristies, restrooms, and the parish hall. In 2024 Bishop Joseph C. Bambera formally consolidated St. Lawrence with St. Boniface Parish under a single pastor.
- Founded July 13, 1931 by Bishop Thomas Charles O'Reilly
- First pastor: Father Raymond E. Larkin (installed Aug. 10, 1931)
- First church dedicated October 1932
- School and convent completed September 1966; closed 1972
- Parish hall added under Father Pauselli (1996–2007)
- Linked with St. Boniface July 2009
- Consolidated into St. Boniface Parish effective November 3, 2024
Architecture & Buildings
The original 1932 church was a modest wood-frame, shingle-covered building constructed largely through donated labor. Over the decades it was transformed by a series of building campaigns: brick exterior facing (Breslin era), an ambitious interior renovation, a new organ, a narthex, rear sacristy, and restrooms under Father Tamalis in the 1990s, and a dedicated parish hall added under Father Pauselli in 1996–2007 that now hosts ministry activities, bereavement receptions, Bible studies, and fellowship events.
- Original wood-frame, shingle-covered church (1932)
- Brick exterior facing added under Father Breslin
- Narthex, rear sacristy, and restrooms added 1990s
- Parish hall added 1996–2007
Sacramental Life
St. Lawrence celebrates the Eucharist and Reconciliation on a regular weekly schedule and supports parishioners through the sacraments of initiation, marriage, and anointing of the sick via the shared parish staff. Sacramental preparation for youth is provided through the joint PREP (Parish Religious Education Program), and adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation, or full reception into the Catholic Church are welcomed through the RCIA process coordinated by Brian Haas.
- Sunday and weekday Masses
- First Saturday reconciliation (9:00–9:30 AM)
- RCIA for adults (Brian Haas, [email protected])
- Youth sacramental preparation through PREP
- Bereavement and funeral ministry
Music Ministry
The Music Ministry at St. Lawrence provides a cantor and organist/keyboard player for the Saturday Mass and a Folk Choir of 8 to 12 members — using keyboard, guitar, and flute — for the 8 a.m. Sunday Mass. Schedules for cantors and musicians are published on the parish website.
- Cantor and organist/keyboard player at Saturday Mass
- Folk Choir (keyboard, guitar, flute) at the 8:00 AM Sunday Mass
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation is shared across the consolidated parishes. PREP (Parish Religious Education Program) is a joint ministry of St. Boniface and St. Lawrence that provides religious education for youth from Kindergarten through 8th grade. Adult faith formation is robust and includes Sunday-morning PREP Talks in the St. Boniface Rectory basement, 'Mondays with The Chosen' video/discussion series, a Church History Series with Jack Houston, Bishop Barron on the Eucharist, and a Gospel of Mark study. Many adult sessions are held at the St. Lawrence Parish Hall.
- PREP – Parish Religious Education Program (K–8), joint with St. Boniface
- RCIA for adults
- PREP Talks (Sunday mornings, St. Boniface Rectory basement)
- 'Mondays with The Chosen' video series
- Church History Series with Jack Houston (St. Lawrence Parish Hall)
- Bishop Barron on the Eucharist
- Gospel of Mark series
- Director of Religious Education: Karen Balestino ([email protected])
Parish Life & Fellowship
Beyond the sacraments, St. Lawrence cultivates a strong sense of community through social and fundraising activities. The Parish Activity Committee meets monthly and organizes six to eight activities a year. Past events have included the annual St. Patrick's Day Dinner in the parish hall, the joint Season of Saints Parish Picnic, and the St. Boniface Parish Carnival.
- Parish Activity Committee (contact: Diane Fisher, 570-322-3278)
- St. Patrick's Day Dinner
- Season of Saints Parish Picnic (joint with St. Boniface)
- St. Boniface Parish Carnival (September)
- Bereavement / Funeral Reception Volunteers
Liturgical Service Ministries
St. Lawrence schedules and trains lay parishioners for the principal liturgical roles at Mass. Schedules for Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors & Commentators, and Altar Servers are published on the parish website under the Resources/Schedules section so that volunteers can see their assignments in advance.
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Lectors & Commentators
- Altar Servers
- Bereavement / Funeral Reception Volunteers
Parish Staff & Clergy
Following the November 2024 consolidation, the pastoral team serves the unified St. Boniface Parish (which includes St. Lawrence Church). Inquiries about St. Lawrence are handled through the shared parish office.
- Pastor: Rev. Glenn E. McCreary, V.E.
- Associate: Rev. Dias Antony Valiamarathungal
- Parish Secretary: Christine Dell ([email protected])
- Financial Secretary: Mary Jo Raniero ([email protected])
- RCIA Coordinator: Brian Haas ([email protected])
- Director of Religious Education: Karen Balestino ([email protected])
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Raymond E. Larkin1931–1946
First pastor; installed August 10, 1931, the feast of St. Lawrence.
- Rev. James H. O'Hara1946–1951
Membership grew remarkably during his tenure.
- Rev. Thomas Knight1951–1966
Oversaw building of the school and convent, dedicated September 1966.
- Rev. Joseph Breslin1966–1990
Added Saturday Mass, brick facing, organ, and interior renovation; school and convent closed in 1972.
- Rev. Tamalis1990–1996
Added narthex, rear sacristy, restrooms, and additional interior work.
- Rev. Francis Pauselli1996–2007
Built the parish hall, enabling bereavement ministry, scripture study, and fellowship.
- Rev. Thomas Sinnott2005–2006
- Rev. Michael Zipay2006–2009
- Msgr. Stephen McGough2009–
Pastor of St. Boniface who also became pastor of St. Lawrence when the parishes were linked in July 2009.
- Rev. Glenn E. McCreary, V.E.
Current pastor of the consolidated St. Boniface Parish (which includes St. Lawrence Church) following the November 3, 2024 consolidation by Bishop Bambera.