About St. Patrick · Franklin, Pennsylvania
St. Patrick Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Franklin, Pennsylvania, serving the faithful of Venango County from its red-brick church at the corner of 10th and Liberty Streets. Established in 1857, it belongs to the Diocese of Erie and is currently led by Pastor Rev. James C. Campbell and Permanent Deacon Richard P. O'Polka. The parish offers daily and Sunday Mass, perpetual Holy Hours before Mass, monthly 24-hour Eucharistic Adoration, and a wide range of faith-formation, youth, music, and outreach ministries for parishioners of all ages.
- Established
- 1857
- Patron
- St. Patrick
- Rector
- Rev. James C. Campbell
- Diocese
- Diocese of Erie
Why belong here
St. Patrick's welcomes new members with a simple registration form and an active parish life grounded in the Eucharist — daily Mass, a weekly Holy Hour before every Mass, and monthly 24-hour Eucharistic Adoration. Families with children in public schools can enroll in the parish Religious Education program (Grades K–5 Sunday mornings and Grades 6–8 every other Sunday), and teens in Grades K–12 are drawn into a busy Youth Group led by Beth Wachob and Sarah Merkel, complete with pilgrimages, Lego Nights, and monthly gatherings. Parishioners also sing in a coordinated Liturgical Music program under Chrystal Shelvey, support a parish food pantry through the Knights of Columbus, and find a pastoral staff ready to walk with them through every sacrament — baptism, confirmation, marriage, anointing of the sick, and reconciliation.
Mass times at St. Patrick
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday at 4:00 p.m.
- Saturday after the 9:00 a.m. Mass
- Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Holy Hour one hour before every Mass (Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri at 8:00 a.m.; Wed at 4:00 p.m.; Sat at 8:00 a.m.; Sun at 7:00 a.m.)
- Monthly 24-hour Eucharistic Adoration beginning after the 9:00 a.m. Mass on the First Friday of each month, continuing until Benediction at 8:45 a.m. Saturday
History of St. Patrick Parish
St. Patrick Parish was established in 1857 according to the Diocese of Erie and GCatholic records, the same era in which the Diocese of Erie itself was being organized in northwestern Pennsylvania. The first Catholic church building in Franklin was erected in 1865 to serve the growing Catholic community in this oil-and-timber region of Venango County. By the late 1870s that original structure had become too small, and the present red-brick church at 10th and Liberty Streets was begun in 1879. It was formally dedicated on May 21, 1882 under the pastorate of the Rev. John Quincy Adams. A parish school followed in 1893, completing the basic institutional shape the parish still carries today. The history of the parish and Diocese of Erie was documented in Monsignor Robert G. Barcio's Pictorial History of the Diocese of Erie, 1853-2003.
- 1857 — Parish established
- 1865 — First Catholic church built in Franklin
- 1879 — Construction of the present church begins
- May 21, 1882 — Current church dedicated under Rev. John Quincy Adams
- 1893 — Parish school added
Clergy & Staff
St. Patrick Parish is currently led by Pastor Rev. James C. Campbell and Permanent Deacon Rev. Mr. Richard P. O'Polka. A small support team keeps the parish office, finances, music, maintenance, and cemetery running day to day.
- Pastor: Rev. James C. Campbell
- Permanent Deacon: Rev. Mr. Richard P. O'Polka
- Secretary: Michelle Stiglitz ([email protected])
- Finance Secretary: Diana Boal ([email protected])
- Liturgical Music Coordinator: Chrystal Shelvey
- Liturgical Music Associate: Pamela Kahle
- Religious Education Leader: Paula Klinger
- Youth Ministers: Beth Wachob and Sarah Merkel
- Maintenance: Clayton Simon
- Cemetery: Ernest Axton
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious Education is described as 'the ongoing development of the whole person into the image and likeness of Jesus Christ.' Children in public schools are encouraged to begin classes in first grade; the program builds on what began at Baptism and aims toward full sacramental initiation and lifelong discipleship. The Religious Education program is led by Paula Klinger.
- Grades K–5: Sundays 9:00–10:20 a.m. (held in the St. Patrick School building, September through May)
- Grades 6–8: every other Sunday afternoon, September through May
- Confirmation preparation through Religious Education or RCIA
Youth Ministry & Youth Group
St. Patrick's runs a very active Youth Group for students in Grades K through 12, led by Beth Wachob and Sarah Merkel. The group meets at least once a month and has been involved in pilgrimages and community events. Events and registration are managed through online Google Forms posted on the parish website.
- Monthly gatherings for Grades K–12
- Lego Club / Lego Night
- Pittsburgh Pilgrimage — itinerary included the Holy Stairs, St. Anthony Chapel, Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, the Strip District, and dinner at Hofbräuhaus
- Online sign-ups via Google Forms for activities and registration
Liturgical Music
Music at Sunday and daily Masses is coordinated by Chrystal Shelvey with associate Pamela Kahle. The choir rehearses regularly (Tuesday evenings in recent bulletins, with extra rehearsals before major feasts) and lends its voice to the parish's two Sunday Masses as well as special liturgies throughout the year.
- Liturgical Music Coordinator: Chrystal Shelvey
- Liturgical Music Associate: Pamela Kahle
- Regular Choir Rehearsals (Tuesday evenings)
- Extra Choir Rehearsals before major feasts
- Sung Recitation of the Divine Mercy Chaplet (Sundays 3:00–4:00 p.m.)
Sacraments
The parish prepares Catholics for each of the seven sacraments, with published guidelines for Reconciliation, Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick.
- Reconciliation: Wed 4:00 p.m., Sat after 9:00 a.m. Mass, Sat 3:30 p.m., or by appointment
- Baptism: scheduled Sundays during or after Mass; sponsor must be baptized (one practicing Catholic suffices) and parents must give reasonable hope of raising the child in the practice of the faith
- Confirmation: sponsor must be baptized, confirmed, a registered parishioner who attends Mass regularly; parish residency rules apply
- Matrimony: six months' notice to the pastor required plus Pre-Cana
- Anointing of the Sick: contact the parish priest; the parish should also be notified of hospitalization
Devotions
Beyond the Mass, the parish life is rich in traditional Catholic devotions, especially around the Eucharist and Divine Mercy.
- Daily Holy Hour before every Mass
- Monthly 24-hour First Friday Eucharistic Adoration
- Divine Mercy Chaplet — Saturday 4:00 p.m. before the Vigil Mass
- Sung Divine Mercy Chaplet — Sundays 3:00–4:00 p.m.
- Benediction Saturday 8:45 a.m. at the close of First Friday Adoration
Parish Outreach & Community
St. Patrick Parish participates in the wider Venango County Catholic community, including ongoing outreach through a parish food pantry distributed at the Knights of Columbus Hall, regular Masses at the Caring Place (a local care facility), and celebrations with St. Stephen School. A parish library is open periodically for parishioners.
- Food Pantry Distribution at the Knights of Columbus Hall
- Caring Place Mass
- St. Stephen School Mass
- Parish Library (open selected hours)
- Security Training for parish volunteers and staff
Parish Cemetery
St. Patrick Parish maintains a parish cemetery, overseen by cemetery manager Ernest Axton. Families may contact him through the parish office for information about burial plots, perpetual care, and scheduling.
- Cemetery manager: Ernest (Ernie) Axton
- Contact through the parish office at (814) 437-5763
Capital Campaign
The parish currently highlights a Capital Campaign on its homepage, inviting parishioners to support the long-term stewardship of the church buildings and grounds originally built in the late nineteenth century.
Communications & My Parish App
Parishioners and visitors can stay connected through the 'My Parish App' — installed on a phone or tablet after texting 'App' to 88202 and selecting St. Patrick, Franklin as the home parish. The app provides daily Mass readings, prayers, the weekly bulletin, parish messages, and announcements. The parish bulletin itself is published weekly and archived on the parish website at stpatrickfranklin.org/weeklybulletin.php.
- My Parish App (text App to 88202)
- Weekly Bulletin online at stpatrickfranklin.org/weeklybulletin.php
- Parish registration form available on the website
Getting Involved & Visiting
Newcomers — whether new to Franklin or new to the parish — are welcomed with an online registration form on stpatrickfranklin.org. The parish staff and Pastor Fr. Campbell invite visitors to worship in the historic church at 949 Liberty Street, join any of the parish ministries listed above, and contact the parish office at (814) 437-5763 or [email protected] for more information.
- Parish Registration Form on the homepage
- Office open Monday–Thursday 9:00 a.m. to noon (closed Fridays)
- Phone: (814) 437-5763
- Email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John Quincy Adams
Pastor during whose tenure the present church was begun in 1879 and dedicated May 21, 1882