St. Mary of the Lake

Parish Mission

Saint Mary of the Lake states its mission as: "To know, love and serve the Lord and one another, in imitation of Mary." The parish sees itself as one of the newest and also one of the smallest parishes in the Diocese of Scranton, yet it describes its parish family as "vibrant and enthusiastic" with "a keen appreciation of their past" looking "confidently toward the future." Worship, formation, and outreach ministries are all oriented around this mission statement.

History of Saint Mary of the Lake

The parish was founded through decades of gradual growth around Lake Winola. The historical milestones — from the 1931 cottage porch Mass, to the 1956 dedication of the church as a mission, to the 1986 establishment as a full parish, to the 2022 three-parish linking — are presented in detail on the parish's own 'Our Locations' page. Key events include the dedication of the parish hall in 1970, the 1993 ordination of Deacon Pieretti, the 2006 ordination of Father Kelleher, and the 2011 silver-jubilee Mass.

• 1931 — First Mass at LaRue cottage, Wilkes-Barre shore
• 1956 — Church completed and dedicated as mission of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Tunkhannock (Father Joseph Nallin)
• 1968–1970 — Parish hall built by volunteer labor and dedicated in 1970
• Sept. 1, 1986 — Designated a full parish by Bishop James C. Timlin
• 1993 — Deacon Raymond Pieretti ordained (first permanent-deacon class, Diocese of Scranton)
• 2004 — Linked with Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary parish
• 2006 — Father Robert J. Kelleher ordained (parishioner, Lake Winola)
• 2011 — 25th Anniversary Mass of Thanksgiving celebrated by Bishop Joseph C. Bambera
• 2022 — Linked with Our Lady of the Abingtons and Saint Patrick's as the NEPA Catholic community

Catholic Faith Formation & Religious Education

Religious formation for youth of all ages — including preparation for the Sacraments of First Holy Eucharist and Confirmation — is provided through the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD). Classes run from September through May following the 9:30 AM Mass each Sunday. Adult inquirers who wish to enter the Church or complete their initiation receive formation through the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA), which normally runs from September through April/May with reception of the Sacraments at the Easter Vigil; inquirers are welcome at any time of year.

• Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) — Director of Religious Education: Ashley Kenia (570-780-6120)
• Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) — contacts Lucy Ziman ([email protected]) and Greg Solfanelli ([email protected])
• Preparation for First Holy Eucharist and Confirmation

Youth Ministry

NexGen Youth Ministry is the parish's outreach for teens from seventh/eighth grade through college graduation, focused on service hours and recreation. It meets one Sunday morning per month and then plans an additional faith, service, or recreation event that month, providing a welcoming environment for young people to give back to the community.

• NexGen Youth Ministry — open to 7th/8th grade through college graduation
• Contact: Julie Harvatine ([email protected])
• Service hours and recreation opportunities

Liturgical Ministries

Parishioners are invited to serve the liturgy as lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, altar servers, and collection counters, and many more are needed to keep the parish running.

• Lectors
• Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
• Altar Servers — those interested should contact the parish office
• Collection Counters
• Adult Choir (Music Ministry) — sings at the 9:30 AM Sunday Mass and major feasts

Music Ministry

Saint Mary of the Lake has a very active adult choir that participates in the liturgy for the Sunday Mass, as well as for major feasts and events throughout the year. Singers are recruited from the parish community to support Sunday worship and the wider liturgical calendar.

• Adult Choir sings at the 9:30 AM Sunday Mass
• Singers support major feasts and parish events throughout the year

Pastoral Leadership & Councils

Father Arbogaste Satoun serves as Pastor, assisted by the Parish Pastoral Council, Parish Finance Council, and Buildings & Grounds Committee — all advisory bodies to the pastor and the parish community. The Pastoral Council serves as an advisory body providing direction for the whole parish in light of the mission statement; the Finance Council reviews budgets and financial statements; the Buildings & Grounds Committee maintains and beautifies parish properties.

• Pastor: Reverend Arbogaste Satoun
• Parish Pastoral Council
• Parish Finance Council
• Buildings & Grounds Committee

Social Concerns & Outreach

The Social Concerns Ministry is described as an integral expression of Catholic identity — "an integral part of who we are and how we live as Catholics" — expressing the virtues of faith, hope, and love within the local community. The ministry collaborates with other parish and outside organizations to fund and staff a wide range of works in the Lower Wyoming County community.

• Adopt-A-Family Christmas Program — gifts for Mill City / Lake Winola families in need
• Lower Wyoming County Food Pantry — monthly distribution, plus Thanksgiving and Christmas food certificates
• Sonshine Ministry — visits to parishioners and community members sharing food, treats, and Christ's message
• Veterans outreach — annual 'Santa to veterans' gift bags for residents of Saint Francis Commons, Scranton, with Saint Mary CCD students decorating the bags and the Saint Mary Altar & Rosary Society donating baked goods
• Wyoming County Correctional Facility — monthly religious service by parish volunteers
• Adopt-A-Highway

Pro-Life Ministry

The Pro-Life Ministry works to promote the sanctity of all human life, both born and unborn. It organizes annual parish-wide activities including the Mother's Day carnation sale and participation in the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C.

• Annual Mother's Day carnation sale
• Annual March for Life in Washington, D.C.

NEPA Catholic — Linked Parish Community

Since 2022 Saint Mary of the Lake has shared a single pastor and pastoral team with Our Lady of the Abingtons (Dalton) and Saint Patrick's (Nicholson) under the NEPA Catholic banner (https://nepacatholic.com/). The rectory/office is at 700 West Main Street, Dalton, PA 18414, and Father Satoun leads worship, formation, and outreach across all three worship sites.

• Saint Mary of the Lake — Lake Winola (Dalton Road)
• Our Lady of the Abingtons — Dalton
• Saint Patrick's — Nicholson
• Linked parishes share one pastor (Father Arbogaste Satoun) and joint Mass, devotions, and ministry schedules

Contact & Visit

Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, email, post, or in person. The mailing address is P.O. Box 1, Lake Winola, PA 18625; the church is located at 1872 Dalton Road.

• Phone: (570) 563-1622
• Fax: (570) 563-0988
• Email: [email protected]
• Address: 1872 Dalton Road, P.O. Box 1, Lake Winola, PA 18625
• Website: https://nepacatholic.com/