About St. Patrick · Pottsville, Pennsylvania
The Church of St. Patrick is a Roman Catholic parish in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, founded in 1827 by immigrant families drawn to the anthracite coal region. It is the first Catholic church established in the lower anthracite coal fields and the mother church from which many surrounding Schuylkill County parishes grew. Today the parish is part of the Diocese of Allentown and worships in its third church building, a limestone structure completed in 1892 on Mahantongo Street, where it continues to serve Pottsville with daily and Sunday Masses, religious education, a preschool, and ties to local Catholic schools Assumption BVM and Nativity BVM.
- Established
- 1827
- Patron
- St. Patrick
- Rector
- Rev. Msgr. Edward Zemanik (Parochial Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Allentown
Why belong here
St. Patrick welcomes new parishioners with open arms and offers a deeply rooted Catholic community in the heart of Pottsville. The parish provides daily and Sunday Mass, a preschool for ages 3–5, a Parish Religious Education Program (PREP) for children in grades 1 through 8, and close ties to two outstanding local Catholic schools — Assumption BVM grade school and Nativity BVM High School. Newcomers can register online or in the rectory office and are encouraged to meet the clergy to begin a spiritual home where education, family activities, and lifelong friendships have formed Catholics for nearly two hundred years.
Mass times at St. Patrick
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM (per Discover Mass listing)
- Thursday: 6:30 PM – 7:00 PM (per Discover Mass listing)
Adoration times
- Wednesday: 8:30 AM – 11:00 AM (per Discover Mass listing)
- Thursday: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (per Discover Mass listing)
History of St. Patrick Parish
St. Patrick is the first Catholic church of the lower anthracite coal region, founded October 27, 1827 by immigrant families in the new town of Pottsville. Within six years the parish had its first resident pastor, and within twelve years a second, larger church was dedicated over and around the original log building. The current limestone church, the parish's third, was completed in 1892 and substantially renovated at the end of the 1960s. Generations of Schuylkill County Catholics trace their faith roots back to this 'mother church.'
- Founded October 27, 1827 by a small group of Catholic families meeting in a private home.
- Fr. John Fitzpatrick, S.J. (Goshenhoppen, Bally) advanced the $150 to buy the original Fourth St. and Mahantongo Rd. plot.
- First log church built for about $1,000; first resident pastor arrived in 1833.
- Second church dedicated September 29, 1839 — built around the first, which was then dismantled.
- Current (third) church begun under Fr. William Duffy, completed 1892 under Fr. Francis J. McGovern.
- Major 1969–1970 renovation: steeple restored, exterior modernized, interior rebuilt with new sacristy, oratory and crypt.
The Church Building
The third Church of St. Patrick was completed in 1892 and has defined Mahantongo Street ever since. Its exterior is Avondale limestone with Indiana limestone window trim, and the steeple remains a Pottsville landmark. The building is set directly against the Yuengling Brewery complex, which the parish itself notes makes it hard to photograph cleanly. A comprehensive 1969–1970 renovation restored the steeple, modernized the exterior, and fully reconstructed the interior.
- Avondale limestone exterior, Indiana limestone window trim.
- Steeple restored in 1969–1970.
- New sacristy, oratory, and underground crypt added during the same renovation.
- Shares a wall with the historic Yuengling Brewery.
St. Patrick Cemetery
The parish maintains St. Patrick Cemetery No. 3, which sits on a hill overlooking the city of Pottsville. It has long been the traditional resting place for Catholics of the parish, with generations of funeral processions carrying coffins from the Mahantongo Street church up to the cemetery for Requiem High Masses.
Clergy and Parish Staff
The parish Directory page (stpatrickpottsville.org/staff) lists the priests, deacon, and lay staff who currently serve St. Patrick. The home page also references 'Father Phil Rodgers, our Pastor' as the spiritual leader, reflecting a recent pastoral transition. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to noon on Friday.
- Rev. Msgr. Edward Zemanik — Parochial Administrator
- Rev. Philip F. Rodgers — Pastor (per homepage reference)
- Rev. Hubert Asante Kumi — Part-Time Parochial Vicar / Part-Time Pastoral Ministry
- Rev. Gregory Karpyn — In Residence
- Deacon Robert (Bo) Reiley — Permanent Deacon
- Debbie Walker — Office Administrator (570-622-1802, ext. 0)
- Shannon Butler — Business Manager (570-622-5566)
- Dale Verchick — Director of Religious Education / PREP (570-516-0107)
- Sharon Rossi — Preschool Teacher (570-622-0106)
- Erin Heckman — Preschool Teacher Assistant (570-622-0106)
- Ralph Chiplonia — Maintenance
- Carol Boyer — Principal, Assumption BVM School
- Michael Grabowski — Principal, Nativity BVM High School
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish runs a Parish Religious Education Program (PREP) for children in grades 1 through 8, directed by Dale Verchick. The parish describes the program as 'dynamic' and complements it with a range of family-oriented faith activities advertised through the bulletin.
- PREP for grades 1–8, directed by Dale Verchick (570-516-0107).
- Family faith activities and events highlighted in the parish bulletin.
St. Patrick Preschool
St. Patrick Preschool serves children ages 3, 4, and 5. Although it is run by the Church of St. Patrick, the preschool is housed in the main building of Assumption BVM School at 112 S. 7th Street, Pottsville, where preschoolers frequently gather with the elementary grades for shared projects and special activities.
- Ages 3, 4, and 5.
- Run by the parish, housed at Assumption BVM School (112 S. 7th St., Pottsville).
- Preschool Teacher: Sharon Rossi (570-622-0106).
- Preschool Teacher Assistant: Erin Heckman (570-622-0106).
Catholic Schools Associated with the Parish
St. Patrick's website highlights two Catholic schools serving its families: Assumption BVM School (the local Catholic grade school) and Nativity BVM High School. The parish notes that both schools are 'second to none' and expresses pride in their accomplishments. The parish preschool is also physically housed at the Assumption BVM campus.
- Assumption BVM School (Catholic grade school) — Principal Carol Boyer.
- Nativity BVM High School — Principal Michael Grabowski.
- St. Patrick Preschool is housed in the Assumption BVM building.
Parish Life, Outreach, and Special Events
Beyond Mass and the sacraments, St. Patrick hosts a range of community and spiritual events. The annual Pet Blessing in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi draws dogs, cats, fish and reptiles to the church 'barking' lot on Mahantongo Street, and the parish has hosted public Patriotic Rosary gatherings to mark national anniversaries. A parish-wide Discipleship Survey conducted by the Catholic Leadership Institute was underway to help plan the parish's future ministry.
- Annual Pet Blessing (in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi) — church parking lot on Mahantongo St.
- Public Patriotic Rosary gatherings in the parking lot across from the church.
- Catholic Leadership Institute parish-wide survey on discipleship.
- Online Giving program for stewardship support.
- New-parishioner registration via the website or in person at the rectory.
Visiting, Registering, and Getting in Touch
The Parish Rectory Office is located with the church at 319 Mahantongo Street, Pottsville, PA 17901. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to noon on Friday. New parishioners are warmly welcomed and can register in person, request a form online through the parish website, or call to make an appointment to meet the pastor.
- Address: 319 Mahantongo Street, Pottsville, PA 17901.
- Phone: (570) 622-1802 (rectory, ext. 0).
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Fri 8:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
- Diocese: Diocese of Allentown.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. John Fitzpatrick, S.J.Pre-1833 (visiting from Goshenhoppen)
Jesuit who advanced the $150 to buy the original land; traveled ~50 miles by horseback from Bally, Berks County.
- First resident pastor (name not preserved on parish site)From 1833
Arrival prompted the building of the second church.
- Fr. William DuffyBegan the third-church project, died 1892
Launched construction of the current limestone church in 1889.
- Fr. Francis J. McGovern1892 onward
Native of Mount Carbon; completed the current church building after Fr. Duffy's death in 1892.
- Fr. Philip F. Rodgers
Listed as pastor on the parish website; reassigned by the Diocese of Allentown in 2025 to St. Jane Frances de Chantal Parish, Easton.