About St. Peter · Wellsboro, Pennsylvania
St. Peter's Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in the borough of Wellsboro, Tioga County, Pennsylvania, in the Diocese of Scranton. Founded in 1879, the parish describes itself as "a Parish Community of Faith, Hope, and Love," and gathers parishioners from Wellsboro and surrounding communities for daily and weekend Mass, the Sacraments, adoration, faith formation, and a wide range of lay ministries. The parish is pastored by Rev. Jacek J. Bialkowski and is served by a committed lay staff including Directors of Religious Education, a Business Manager, and a Secretary. Weekend Masses are celebrated on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, with daily Mass Tuesday through Friday and a full slate of Confession times, Eucharistic Adoration, devotions, and outreach ministries.
- Established
- 1879
- Patron
- St. Peter (the Apostle)
- Rector
- Rev. Jacek J. Bialkowski
- Diocese
- Diocese of Scranton
Why belong here
St. Peter's welcomes parishioners and visitors into a small, committed community that takes its mission of being "united in service to God to share our faith with one another and our community" literally. Beyond weekend and daily Mass, the parish offers a rich devotional life — Tuesday Eucharistic Adoration ending with Evening Prayer and Benediction, the St. John Neumann Prayer Group (part of the Diocese's Charismatic Renewal), Women's Bible Study, and a Prayer Chain. It runs CCD religious education for Pre-K through 12th grade, a Youth Group, Vacation Bible School, Confirmation prep, and an RCIA process for adults entering the Church. Outreach runs through the Knights of Columbus, Social Concerns committee, Samaritan House hospice support, Cards and Games, a twice-yearly Parish Clothing Sale, and fundraising dinners, so there are genuine ways for every age, talent, and stage of life to plug in.
Mass times at St. Peter
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday: 11:45 AM
- Thursday: 11:45 AM
- Friday: 11:45 AM
- Saturday: 4:30 PM
Adoration times
- Tuesday: begins after the 12:10 PM Mass (per parish website) / 7:30 AM Mass (per diocese listing) and continues throughout the day, traditionally closing with Evening Prayer and Benediction around 6:45 PM
About St. Peter's Catholic Church
St. Peter's Catholic Church sits at 47 Central Avenue in Wellsboro, the county seat of Tioga County in north-central Pennsylvania. The parish is part of the Diocese of Scranton and is led by pastor Rev. Jacek J. Bialkowski. Its published mission statement calls the community "a Parish Community of Faith, Hope, and Love," describing parishioners as "present day disciples of Jesus Christ" united by the Holy Spirit in service to God, one another, and the wider Wellsboro community. The website frames the parish as a "gifted and growing community, grateful to God for our many blessings."
- Parish Mission Statement: 'We, the parishioners of St. Peter's Church, are called to holiness by God as present day disciples of Jesus Christ. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are united in service to God to share our faith with one another and our community. May our participation in the Holy Sacraments, our ministries and our devotion to Mary bring glory to God and His Kingdom.'
- Diocese: Diocese of Scranton
- Office Hours: Monday – Thursday, 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM (per diocese listing)
History of the Parish
Catholic life in Wellsboro began in 1873 as St. John's Catholic Society, organized by Bishop O'Hara of Scranton, with monthly Masses in Converse Hall. In 1879 the growing community was formally erected as a parish, renamed St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church, and given its first resident pastor in Rev. John C. McDermott. Through the late nineteenth century the parish acquired its buildings, established an eight-acre cemetery, and ministered to mission churches across Tioga County. Over time the mission churches developed their own parish life, and St. Peter's today serves as the Catholic anchor for Wellsboro itself and the surrounding area.
- 1873 — St. John's Catholic Society organized by Bishop O'Hara; ~75 members within a year.
- 1879 — Erected as St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church; Rev. John C. McDermott named first pastor.
- 1881 — Old Academy building purchased and remodeled ($1,200); parsonage purchased ($1,000).
- 1882 — Rev. M. E. Lynott succeeds Father McDermott.
- Late 1880s — Eight-acre Catholic Cemetery established south of the borough; church built at Hoytville ($6,000).
- 1889 — June flood damages Hoytville and Tioga mission properties.
- 1890–91 — Rev. M. J. Manly takes over; two-story frame parish residence completed ($4,500).
- Diocese of Scranton lists Year Founded: 1879.
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Peter's runs a Pre-K through 12th grade CCD program (Religious Education classes) that runs September through May. The parish also forms children for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion, prepares teens for Confirmation, and hosts Vacation Bible School in recent years (VBS 2019, 2021, 2022 are documented on the website).
- Religious Education / CCD — Pre-K through 12th grade, September–May.
- Children's Liturgy of the Word — during 8:30 AM Sunday Mass in the school year.
- Confirmation preparation — scheduled separately.
- Vacation Bible School (VBS) — recent years: 2019, 2021, 2022.
- First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion prep.
Youth Ministry
The parish maintains a Youth Group divided into middle school (grades 6–8) and high school (grades 9–12) tracks, organized by volunteer Youth Group Leaders. Activities documented on the parish website include a High School youth service trip to Goodies for Our Troops, a youth group hike, a Christmas party, bowling, a luau, Steubenville pictures, and Confirmation gatherings.
- Middle School Youth Group (grades 6–8).
- High School Youth Group (grades 9–12).
- Service projects (Goodies for Our Troops).
- Social activities: hikes, Christmas party, bowling, luau, Steubenville.
RCIA — Becoming Catholic
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults begins each September and prepares adults to be received into the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil. It is open both to adults baptized in another Christian tradition and to non-baptized adults. The parish emphasizes that no commitment is required to inquire.
- Begins each September.
- Open to adults baptized in another faith and to non-baptized adults.
- Culminates at the Easter Vigil.
- Inquiries: call the rectory at 570-724-3371.
Liturgical Ministries
Lay people play a substantial role in the parish liturgy. The Worship Committee assists the priest in planning and implementing the liturgies, while a roster of trained ministers serves at each Mass and at the parish's outreach Masses in local nursing homes.
- Music Ministry — many musicians serving the parish.
- Lectors — proclaim Scripture at weekday and weekend Masses.
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion — assist the priest and deacon at Mass.
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion to nursing homes.
- Altar Servers — boys and girls 4th grade and up; training once per year in summer.
- Worship Committee — assists the priest in planning and implementing liturgies.
- Church Linens & Decorations — altar linens and liturgical decorations.
- Funeral Luncheon — coordinates and serves luncheons following funeral Masses.
Devotions & Prayer Groups
St. Peter's offers a rich devotional life centered on the Eucharist and Marian devotion, alongside small-group Bible study and a charismatic prayer community linked to the Diocese of Scranton's Charismatic Renewal.
- Eucharistic Adoration — Tuesday day-long adoration closing with Evening Prayer and Benediction.
- St. John Neumann Prayer Group — praise, singing, sharing, teaching and intercession; affiliated with the Diocese of Scranton's Charismatic Renewal.
- Women's Bible Study — Thursdays, 7:00 PM in the Parish Center.
- Prayer Chain — personal prayer for those who request it; members are called when prayers are requested.
- Contemplative Spirituality Group — receptive silence and fostering the experience of God's presence.
- Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites — lay Carmelites pursuing evangelical perfection in the world.
Parish Groups, Committees & Councils
Beyond liturgical and devotional ministries, St. Peter's is sustained by a broad network of parish committees, councils and social groups. These bodies handle parish governance, finances, facilities, hospitality, fundraising and social life.
- Parish Council — helps the pastor carry out the spiritual and corporal works of the parish; meets monthly in the Parish Center.
- Finance Council — helps the pastor manage parish funds; meets quarterly as needed in the Rectory.
- Buildings and Grounds — assists in maintenance and upkeep of the church, parish center and rectory.
- Worship Committee — meets monthly in the Rectory.
- Social Concerns Committee — facilitates the parish's response to the Gospel's social justice message and coordinates 4–5 community service projects per year; meets bi-monthly or as needed in the Parish Center.
- Fundraising Dinners — plans and carries out parish dinners to raise funds and promote fellowship.
- Parish Clothing Sale — twice-yearly sale of gently used clothing and household goods.
- Knights of Columbus — fraternal benefit society serving the parish through fundraising and special events.
- Cards and Games — Thursdays at 12:00 noon in the Parish Center; bring a sandwich.
- Cemetery Committee — preserves the parish cemetery as a dignified memorial.
Outreach & Charity
Outreach is woven through several of the parish's ministries. Most notably, the Social Concerns Committee coordinates 4–5 community service projects per year, and the parish supports Samaritan House, a volunteer hospice/terminal-illness support ministry. Youth and CCD students participate in service initiatives such as the coin challenge (raising $530.64 for a local charity — most recently Samaritan House) and Goodies for Our Troops. The parish website includes a 'You Can Make a Difference' page encouraging estate planning through bequests, annuities, life insurance, and other assets.
- Samaritan House — provides care for persons suffering from terminal illness, staffed by volunteers working with hospice.
- Social Concerns — 4–5 community service projects per year.
- Coin Challenge — CCD fundraising for local charities (recent year: $530.64 for Samaritan House).
- Goodies for Our Troops — High School Youth Group service.
- Estate giving — bequests, annuities, life insurance, and other assets.
Parish Staff
Day-to-day parish operations are supported by a small staff. The pastor leads the parish and is assisted by a Business Manager, a Secretary, Maintenance Staff, and Directors of Religious Education. The parish's ministries booklet also lists dozens of lay contacts for individual groups and committees.
- Pastor: Rev. Jacek J. Bialkowski (current); previously Rev. David W. Bechtel.
- Business Manager: Patti Mitchell — [email protected]
- Secretary: Connie Spang — [email protected]
- Maintenance Staff: Connie Spang, Francis Kennedy
- Directors of Religious Education: Maureen Poirier and Melissa Mann — [email protected] — (570) 724-9789
Contact, Visit & Connect
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. Peter's by phone, fax, email, or through the parish website and Facebook Page. The Saturday 5:00 PM Mass is livestreamed on Facebook (no Facebook account needed). The ChristLife Facebook Page is also linked from the parish ministries page, and the weekly bulletin is available on the parish website.
- Address: 47 Central Avenue, Wellsboro, PA 16901.
- Phone: (570) 724-3371.
- Fax: (570) 724-6322.
- Email: [email protected].
- Website: www.stpeterswellsboro.com.
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/St-Peters-Catholic-Church (also linked ChristLife Facebook Page).
- Weekly Bulletin available on the parish website.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John C. McDermott1879–1882
First pastor of St. Peter's; came from Blossburg mission; acquired and remodeled the old Academy as a church, purchased the parsonage, and oversaw missions at Tioga and Antrim.
- Rev. M. E. Lynott1882–1890
Established the eight-acre Catholic Cemetery south of the borough and built the church at Hoytville ($6,000); Hoytville and Tioga properties damaged by the flood of June 1889.
- Rev. M. J. Manly1890–
Succeeded Father Lynott on November 12, 1890; completed the parish residence opposite the church in 1891, remodeled the church, added a bell and statuary, graded the grounds and built carriage sheds, and maintained missions across Tioga County.
- Rev. David W. Bechtel
Listed as Pastor in the parish's printed Directory of Parish Groups, Committees, and Ministries booklet.
- Rev. Jacek J. Bialkowski
Current pastor, named on the parish website and the Diocese of Scranton parish finder page.