About St. Maria Goretti · Laflin, Pennsylvania
St. Maria Goretti Parish is a Catholic community of about 850 families located in the Borough of Laflin, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, in the Diocese of Scranton. The parish was established on September 17, 1967 by Bishop J. Carroll McCormick, and for its first ten years celebrated Mass in the chapel of the nearby Oblates of St. Joseph Seminary. The present church was built under the leadership of Monsignor Philip A. Gray and dedicated on November 13, 1977, and the parish today continues to mark its calendar around the life of its young patron saint, Maria Goretti.
- Established
- 1967
- Patron
- Saint Maria Goretti
- Rector
- Rev. Alex Roche
- Diocese
- Diocese of Scranton
Why belong here
St. Maria Goretti offers the rhythm of a close-knit parish life — weekend and weekday Mass, Saturday confession, First Friday benediction, a CCD program running September through April, and a Youth Ministry that is actively growing. Parishioners can join a Women's Bible Study, a Senior Group that meets monthly, a Vacation Bible School each summer, and a Ministry Fair held around the July 6th feast day. The community also rallies around its graduating seniors each year through the long-running Monsignor Philip A. Gray Merit Award scholarships, and supports parish life through a Service and Social Concerns Committee and a Welcome/Hospitality Committee.
Mass times at St. Maria Goretti
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:30 PM – 4:15 PM
- Monday during Lent: 5:30 PM – 6:00 PM
- First Friday: 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM (during the First Friday Holy Hour)
Adoration times
- First Friday Holy Hour (immediately following the 8:00 AM Mass)
Parish History
St. Maria Goretti Parish was canonically established on September 17, 1967 by Bishop J. Carroll McCormick as the Catholic home for the Laflin area. It grew out of four historic mission chapels — Keystone, Saint Theresa Mission, Yatesville, and Old Boston — that had served scattered families in the borough. The first Mass drew only thirteen people; the parish now counts about 850 families. For its first decade, Mass was celebrated at the nearby Oblates of St. Joseph Seminary, and the present church was not built until 1977.
- Established September 17, 1967 by Bishop J. Carroll McCormick
- Formed from Keystone, Saint Theresa Mission, Yatesville, and Old Boston chapels
- 10-acre White Birch Hollow site purchased in 1967 for $30,000
- First Mass: 7:30 a.m. on September 17, 1967 (13 attendees)
Building the Church
Monsignor Philip A. Gray, the fourth pastor, organized a building and fund committee and a successful New Church Appeal, aided by pastoral assistant Sister Daria Bisulca, R.S.M. The exterior is finished in white textured stucco, wood, and stone to express the modern character of the community. The Blessing of the Main Altar came on November 10, 1977, the Stations of the Cross were blessed on November 18, 1977, and the church and chapel were formally dedicated on November 13, 1977 by Auxiliary Bishop James C. Timlin, with founding pastor Father Harry Lewis as homilist.
- Rectory purchased 1975
- Parish Office constructed 1979
- Family Center dedicated 1987
- Grotto dedicated as Parish Shrine July 6, 2002 (centennial of the saint)
Pastorate and Succession
St. Maria Goretti has been led by a succession of pastors beginning with Father Harry J. Lewis in 1967. Monsignor Philip A. Gray is credited as the builder of the present church, and the parish's long-running merit scholarship program still bears his name. The current pastor, Father Alex Roche, also serves the wider diocese as Director of Vocations and Seminarians.
- Rev. Harry J. Lewis (1967–1970) — first pastor
- Rev. Francis T. Brennan (1970–1974)
- Rev. Gerald M. Gannon (1974–1975)
- Msgr. Philip A. Gray (1975–1994) — oversaw construction
- Very Rev. James Paisley and Msgr. Andrew J. McGowan (1994–2006)
- Rev. Michael Kirwin (from 2006)
- Rev. Seth Wasnock (by 2021)
- Rev. Alex Roche — current pastor and Diocesan Director of Vocations
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently served by Father Alex Roche as pastor and Deacon Dr. Michael Imbrogno. Father Roche was ordained in 2012 and holds a Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Lateran University; he is known across the diocese for his cooking and his monthly discernment dinners for men considering the priesthood.
- Rev. Alex Roche — Pastor; Diocesan Director of Vocations and Seminarians; ordained 2012; S.T.L., Pontifical Lateran University
- Deacon Dr. Michael Imbrogno
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish runs a Sunday CCD program from September through April, with classes meeting 9:30–10:45 AM between the two Sunday Masses. A parish Youth Ministry has been established and is growing in numbers and support. The diocese supports RCIA and youth ministry programs through its Office of Parish Life.
- Sunday CCD classes, 9:30–10:45 AM (September–April)
- Parish Youth Ministry (growing)
- RCIA supported through diocesan Office of Parish Life
Music & Liturgical Life
Music and liturgical life at St. Maria Goretti are shaped by an active Liturgical and Spiritual Life Committee, an Adult Choir, cantors, and an organist. First Fridays bring the community together for prayers and Benediction following the 8:00 AM Mass.
- Adult Choir
- Cantors
- Organist
- Liturgical and Spiritual Life Committee
Parish Groups & Fellowship
Beyond the sanctuary, parishioners gather for a monthly Senior Group (typically the second Wednesday at 12:30 PM), a Women's Bible Study (periodic evenings such as 6:30–8:30 PM sessions), and Sunday Coffee gatherings after the 9:00 AM Mass. The parish also fields a Welcome/Hospitality Committee and a Service and Social Concerns Committee.
- Senior Group — monthly meetings
- Women's Bible Study
- Sunday Coffee after 9:00 AM Mass
- Welcome / Hospitality Committee
- Service and Social Concerns Committee
Monsignor Philip A. Gray Merit Award Scholarships
Since 1985, St. Maria Goretti has honored its graduating high-school seniors through the Monsignor Philip A. Gray Merit Award program, founded by the pastor of the same name to encourage young parishioners. Each senior who attends the Baccalaureate Mass receives a Bible signed by the pastor, and substantial cash awards are given to qualifying students. The annual Harvest Tea, launched in 1990 by the late Mary Lombardo, is the program's signature fundraiser, and the names of all recipients are inscribed on a plaque in the church vestibule.
- Scholarship program founded 1985 by Msgr. Philip A. Gray
- Annual Harvest Tea fundraiser begun in 1990 by Mary Lombardo
- Baccalaureate Mass for graduating seniors each May
- Recipients' names inscribed on a plaque in the church vestibule
Youth & Family Activities
St. Maria Goretti's family life centers on Vacation Bible School each July (most recently a week-long morning program), a Mother's Day Carnation Sale, an annual Baby Bottle Drive benefiting local mothers and infants, and the summer Feast Day Celebrations and Ministry Fair held around July 4th and 5th, the eve of the parish's patron feast day.
- Vacation Bible School — held in July (typically 9:00 AM–Noon)
- Mother's Day Carnation Sale (May)
- Baby Bottle Drive (May)
- Feast Day Celebrations and Ministry Fair (July 4–5)
Facilities & Grounds
The parish campus includes the 1977 church and adjoining chapel, the rectory purchased in 1975, the parish office built in 1979, and the Family Center dedicated in 1987, which hosts meetings, fundraisers like the Harvest Tea, Vacation Bible School, and parish social events. A grotto shrine of St. Maria Goretti stands to the right of the main entrance.
- Church and chapel (dedicated 1977)
- Rectory (1975)
- Parish Office (1979)
- Family Center (1987)
- Grotto of St. Maria Goretti (Parish Shrine since 2002)
Parish Mission Statement
St. Maria Goretti's published mission statement reads: "We, the people of St. Maria Goretti Church, recognize that Jesus Christ is the Lord of our individual and collective lives. We are an evangelizing community, embracing the vision of the Welcoming Church and growing in holiness and grace through word, worship and service. All that we do, we do For The Greater Glory of God."
- "Evangelizing community, embracing the vision of the Welcoming Church"
- "Growing in holiness and grace through word, worship and service"
- "All that we do, we do For The Greater Glory of God"
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Harry J. Lewis1967–1970
First pastor; preached the homily at the 1977 church dedication.
- Rev. Francis T. Brennan1970–1974
Died July 28, 1974; had hoped to build the church and a Catholic school.
- Rev. Gerald M. Gannon1974–1975
Purchased the present rectory.
- Msgr. Philip A. Gray1975–1994
Fourth pastor; led construction and 1977 dedication of the church; founded the Monsignor Philip A. Gray Merit Award scholarships in 1985.
- Very Rev. James Paisley1994–2006
Co-pastor with Msgr. McGowan from 1994; refurbished the Grotto; appointed to St. Therese's Parish, Shavertown, in July 2006.
- Msgr. Andrew J. McGowan1994–2006
Co-pastor; died July 19, 2006 in Baltimore.
- Rev. Michael Kirwin2006–?
Followed Paisley and McGowan; reported as the then-current pastor on the parish Wikipedia article.
- Rev. Seth Wasnockby 2021
Pastor at the time of the 2021 Harvest Tea fundraiser.
- Rev. Alex Rochecurrent
Listed on the parish website as current pastor; also serves as Diocesan Director of Vocations and Seminarians.