About St. Mary of Czestochowa · Blossburg, Pennsylvania
St. Mary of Czestochowa Church is a Catholic parish in Blossburg, Pennsylvania, in the Diocese of Scranton. Established on March 15, 1874, it was the first parish in the Diocese of Scranton founded specifically for the faithful of Polish descent, built by Polish Catholic immigrants who came to work in the upper Tioga Valley coal basin. Today it is served as a mission church of Holy Child Parish in Mansfield under the pastoral care of Reverend Bryan B. Wright, with weekend Mass on Sunday at 9:00 a.m. and weekday Masses on Monday and Tuesday at 12:10 p.m.
- Established
- 1874
- Patron
- Our Lady of Czestochowa (Blessed Virgin Mary, venerated under the title of Czestochowa)
- Rector
- Rev. Bryan B. Wright
- Diocese
- Diocese of Scranton
Why belong here
St. Mary of Czestochowa offers parishioners the rare chance to belong to the first Polish-descent Catholic parish in the Diocese of Scranton, a community with 150 years of continuous worship and a still-vibrant Polish-American identity. As a mission church of Holy Child Parish, it combines a small-town, family-style worship community with the broader ministries of a multi-site parish, including faith formation, liturgical ministries, and parish service opportunities. Sunday Mass at 9:00 a.m., preceded by Adoration, along with weekday Masses on Monday and Tuesday, makes regular devotion easy for working families in the Blossburg area.
Mass times at St. Mary of Czestochowa
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- First Saturday 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM at St. Mary's Church
Adoration times
- Sunday 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM (before Mass)
- Monday 11:30 AM – 12:10 PM (before Mass)
- Tuesday 11:30 AM – 12:10 PM (before Mass)
- First Saturday 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
About St. Mary of Czestochowa
St. Mary of Czestochowa Church is a Catholic mission church in Blossburg, Tioga County, Pennsylvania, belonging to the Diocese of Scranton and served through Holy Child Parish in Mansfield. The parish traces its roots to the Polish Catholic immigrants who settled the upper Tioga Valley coal basin in the mid-19th century and asked their bishop for a Polish-language church of their own. Worship continues today in the brick church built in 1960 to replace the original wooden structure.
- Founded March 15, 1874
- Diocese of Scranton
- Mission church of Holy Child Parish, Mansfield
- Consolidated July 2009
History of the Parish
In 1874 Blossburg was the acknowledged center of the upper Tioga Valley coal basin, surrounded by mining communities such as Morris Run, Arnot, Fall Brook, Landrus, Klondike, Morris, Hoytville, Antrim, and Covington. Polish Catholic immigrants in these settlements worshipped at the existing St. Andrew's parish but wanted to grow in faith in their native tongue. A petition to Bishop William O'Hara led to the founding of St. Mary of Czestochowa on March 15, 1874, the first parish in the Diocese of Scranton established for Polish-descent faithful. A monument outside the present church still commemorates this distinction, and the founding date is displayed on a sign above the main entrance.
The 1960 Brick Church
The original wooden church of the late 1800s was replaced by the present brick edifice in 1960, built at a cost of $190,190.90. A piece of the ornate original railing, complete with floral carving, survives among the parish's memorabilia and was displayed for the 150th anniversary.
- Original wood church built late 1800s
- Current brick church dedicated 1960
- Original railing relic preserved by parishioners
150th Anniversary Celebration
Parishioners marked the 150th anniversary of St. Mary of Czestochowa on Sunday, June 23, 2024. The celebration began with Mass at 9:00 a.m. in the church and continued with an anniversary dinner at 3:00 p.m. in St. Mary's Hall, featuring Polish foods and memorabilia brought by multigenerational parishioners.
- Anniversary Mass June 23, 2024 at 9:00 a.m.
- Polish-food dinner at St. Mary's Hall at 3:00 p.m.
- Parishioners shared old photos and original-church artifacts
Mass & Worship Schedule
St. Mary of Czestochowa offers Sunday Mass at 9:00 a.m. (preceded by Adoration at 8:30 a.m.), with weekday Masses on Monday and Tuesday at 12:10 p.m. The parish also marks Holy Days with a 12:10 p.m. Mass. Additional Masses are celebrated at the other worship sites of Holy Child Parish.
- Sunday 9:00 AM (Adoration 8:30 AM)
- Monday 12:10 PM
- Tuesday 12:10 PM
- Holy Day 12:10 PM
Parish Staff & Leadership
St. Mary of Czestochowa is served by the pastor and staff of Holy Child Parish. The pastor is Reverend Bryan B. Wright. Day-to-day operations are supported by parish staff in Mansfield including a Financial Secretary / Director of Religious Education, parish Secretaries, and Maintenance personnel.
- Rev. Bryan B. Wright — Pastor
- Darlene Buck — Secretary
- Charlie Roupp — Maintenance
- Cara Clementi — Secretary
- Tressa Wells — Housekeeper
- Denise Grishka
- Jim Parnick
Ministries & Faith Formation
Through Holy Child Parish, parishioners of St. Mary of Czestochowa can take part in Liturgical, Service, Education, and Funeral ministries. Father Bryan also leads a Lectio Bible Study series in Holy Child Hall following the 11:15 a.m. Sunday Mass. Religious Education and Faith Formation programs are coordinated parish-wide through the Director of Religious Education.
- Liturgical ministries
- Service ministries
- Education / Faith Formation
- Funeral ministries
- Lectio Bible Study (Holy Child Hall)