About St. Rose of Lima · Carbondale, Pennsylvania
St. Rose of Lima Parish is a historic Roman Catholic community rooted in Carbondale, Pennsylvania, founded in 1832 and recognized as the oldest Catholic parish in Lackawanna County. The parish served the coal-region faithful for nearly two centuries from its landmark church at 6 North Church Street, built by and for the immigrant miners and their families who built the town's stone foundations. As of July 1, 2024, St. Rose of Lima Parish and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish unified into a single canonical entity — Our Lady of the Rosary Parish — while the Church of St. Rose of Lima remains very much in use as one of two worship sites in the new parish. Today the unified parish offers daily and weekend Masses, the sacraments, faith formation for children and adults (OCIA), a strong music and liturgy program, an active parish cemetery, and a long tradition of serving the Lord through humble, working-class devotion.
- Established
- 1832
- Patron
- St. Rose of Lima
- Rector
- Rev. Joseph J. Mosley
- Diocese
- Diocese of Scranton
Why belong here
St. Rose of Lima offers the rare chance to belong to what is essentially Carbondale's founding Catholic community — a nearly 200-year-old parish where coal-country faith is still lived out with quiet devotion. The Church of St. Rose of Lima continues to host most of the unified parish's weekday Masses (Mon/Wed/Fri at 8 a.m.), the Saturday Vigil, and two Sunday Masses, with Saturday confessions from 3:15 to 3:45 p.m. and a full faith-formation program for children, an OCIA (RCIA) process for adults, OCIA/bereavement ministry, and a strong music program led by both a traditional and a contemporary choir director.
Mass times at St. Rose of Lima
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:15 PM – 3:45 PM at St. Rose of Lima Church
Our Lady of the Rosary Parish — A Unified Catholic Community
Since July 1, 2024, St. Rose of Lima Parish and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish have been canonically united as Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, a single Catholic community of about 1,800 registered families that lives its mission 'rooted in tradition and centered in the Eucharist' and committed to 'God's love in service to others.' Although the new parish has one pastor, staff, and budget, the two historic churches — St. Rose of Lima and Our Lady of Mount Carmel — remain open as places of worship, with regular Mass and confession schedules published across both.
- Unified parish effective July 1, 2024 under the Diocese of Scranton
- Pastor: Rev. Joseph J. Mosley (since the consolidation)
- Mission Statement: 'Our Lady of the Rosary is a unified catholic community rooted in tradition and centered in the Eucharist. We are welcoming disciples of Christ committed to God's love in service to others.'
History & Heritage of St. Rose of Lima
St. Rose of Lima was established in 1832 to serve the early Catholic families of Carbondale, Pennsylvania, many of them immigrants drawn to work the anthracite mines. A log structure served as the first church; in 1842 Rev. Henry Fitzsimmons built the brick church whose walls stand today. Major expansions came under Rev. Thomas Coffey (installed 1887), who added the transepts, balconies, choir loft, pews, stained glass and an enlarged sanctuary. The 189-foot bell tower went up in 1899, and over the decades the parish has continually repaired and beautified the building — most dramatically with the 1975 interior renovation under Rev. Thomas Horan, when the mosaic of the Risen Christ behind the altar, new pews and new carpeting were installed. Former pastor Fr. Charles P. Connor, Ph.D., published the definitive parish history, 'History of Saint Rose of Lima Parish, Carbondale, Pennsylvania, 1832–2007.'
- 1832 — Parish founded; first church a log structure
- 1842 — Rev. Henry Fitzsimmons builds new larger brick church (core of present building)
- 1887 — Rev. Thomas Coffey adds transepts, balconies, choir loft, pews, stained glass, enlarged sanctuary
- 1899 — Bell tower / steeple added; remains the tallest structure in Carbondale
- 1966 — Steeple repaired and repainted
- 1975 — Rev. Thomas Horan renovates interior; mosaic of the Risen Christ installed behind the altar
- 1985 — Exterior repairs and painting
- 1992 — New roof
- circa 2019–2020 — $850,000 restoration of granite front steps, bluestone and brick façade, bell-tower sheet metal
- Published parish history: Charles P. Connor, 'History of Saint Rose of Lima Parish, 1832–2007'
Architecture & Sacred Art
The St. Rose of Lima Church is built in the Romanesque Revival style that was popular in the late 1800s and was influenced by northern European cathedral forms. Its massive brick walls, bluestone trim and granite steps frame one of the city's most recognizable silhouettes. The interior is enriched by the central 'Rose' stained-glass window over the main entrance — restored and re-illuminated as a 'beacon of hope' — together with the mosaic of the Risen Christ added behind the altar in 1975.
- Romanesque Revival style
- Central 'Rose' stained-glass window over the entrance (restored)
- Mosaic of the Risen Christ behind the altar (1975)
- 1899 bell tower and steeple — tallest building in Carbondale
Clergy & Parish Staff
The unified parish is led by a pastor with the assistance of an assistant pastor, a senior priest in residence, and a deacon, supported by a lay and religious staff that directs religious education, music, OCIA, bereavement ministry, the cemetery, and parish office operations.
- Rev. Joseph J. Mosley — Pastor
- Rev. Boniface Ameyaw — Assistant Pastor
- Rev. Seth D. Wasnock, V.F., V.E. — In Residence
- Deacon Patrick J. Massino
- Sr. Ann McLaughlin, IHM — Pastoral Associate
- Mrs. Kathy Yaklic — Director of Religious Education
- Mrs. Eileen Aguiar — OCIA / Bereavement Ministry
- Mrs. Alissa Swarts — Director of Music and Liturgy
- Mrs. Maryanne DeMark — Director, Contemporary Choir
- Ms. Cheryl Dottle — Office & Cemetery Manager
- Mr. Brad Saul — Cemetery Supervisor
- Mr. Stephen Senko — Sacristan
- Mr. Paul Moran, Jr. — Funerals
- Mrs. Ann Marie Carroll — Receptionist
Faith Formation & OCIA
The parish's Religious Education program, directed by Mrs. Kathy Yaklic, serves about 118 children in the consolidated parish. Adults seeking to become Catholic or to complete their initiation sacraments are welcomed through the OCIA process (the restored name for the former RCIA), coordinated by Mrs. Eileen Aguiar, who also directs the parish's Bereavement Ministry.
- Religious Education for children — 118 enrolled (2022–2023)
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — 7 adults welcomed in 2022–2023
- Bereavement Ministry — coordinated with OCIA
Sacraments at the Parish
The parish celebrates all seven sacraments regularly. In the 2022–2023 fiscal year alone the parish reported 36 Baptisms, 25 First Reconciliations, 25 First Communions, 21 Confirmations, 7 adults welcomed through OCIA, 6 weddings, and 160 funerals — a striking figure that reflects the parish's role as a hub of end-of-life ministry across the Carbondale area. For any sacramental need, parishioners are invited to call the parish office at 570-282-2991.
- Baptism — 36 in 2022–2023
- First Reconciliation — 25 in 2022–2023
- First Communion — 25 in 2022–2023
- Confirmation — 21 in 2022–2023
- Adult OCIA — 7 welcomed in 2022–2023
- Weddings — 6 in 2022–2023
- Funerals — 160 in 2022–2023
Music & Liturgy
Music at St. Rose of Lima flows from the parish's long tradition of choral worship, recently refreshed with both a classical and a contemporary ensemble. Mrs. Alissa Swarts directs Music and Liturgy overall, while Mrs. Maryanne DeMark leads the Contemporary Choir. Mass and liturgy videos are shared weekly on the parish's Facebook page (@OLORCarbondale) and YouTube channel.
- Music and Liturgy Director: Mrs. Alissa Swarts
- Contemporary Choir Director: Mrs. Maryanne DeMark
- Live-streamed and recorded Masses posted to @OLORCarbondale on Facebook and YouTube
Parish Cemetery
The parish operates its own cemetery in Carbondale, with its own staff and phone line. The Cemetery Office can be reached at 570-282-5557; the Cemetery Manager is Ms. Cheryl Dottle, and the Cemetery Supervisor is Mr. Brad Saul.
- Cemetery Office: 570-282-5557
- Cemetery Manager: Ms. Cheryl Dottle
- Cemetery Supervisor: Mr. Brad Saul
Parish Office & Contact
Parish business is conducted from a single unified office shared with Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Office hours run Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with the office closed from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. for lunch. The parish can be reached by phone, email, mail, online giving, and social media.
- Address: 6 North Church Street, Carbondale, PA 18407
- Phone: 570-282-2991 (Parish Office) | 570-282-5557 (Cemetery Office) | Fax 570-282-7580
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: olorcarbondale.org (reached via 3as1catholics.org)
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 9 a.m. – 12 noon; 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
- Facebook: facebook.com/OLORCarbondale
- YouTube: youtube.com/@OLORCarbondale
- Online Giving available via the parish website
Devotions & Annual Observances
The parish keeps a steady rhythm of devotions through the year. The Corpus Christi celebration in June has been highlighted since the unification by a Eucharistic procession transferring the Blessed Sacrament from the closing Church of St. Michael the Archangel in Simpson to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church and then to St. Rose of Lima — a visible sign of unity across the new parish. November brings the All Souls Day Mass of Remembrance and the parish's traditional 40 Hours Devotion, while the parish prayer apostolate also prays regularly for an increase of vocations to the priesthood and religious life and for the vocation of marriage.
- All Souls Day Mass of Remembrance (November)
- 40 Hours Devotion
- Eucharistic Procession for Corpus Christi (June)
- Parish-wide prayer for vocations and for the vocation of marriage
Pastoral Vision & Planning
In the years leading up to consolidation, the combined communities ran a parish renewal initiative publicly referenced as 'Vision 2030.' Out of that process came the name-selection vote that produced 'Our Lady of the Rosary Parish' for the new canonical entity, and the practical roadmap for merging finances, websites, email, and parish data into one system. The result has been a unified parish that is leaner administratively while preserving both historic churches as ongoing places of Mass, confession and devotion.
- Long-range renewal initiative 'Vision 2030'
- December 14, 2023: New name 'Our Lady of the Rosary' selected and submitted to Bishop Bambera
- June 2, 2024: Closing Mass and Corpus Christi procession at the former St. Michael's Church, Simpson
- July 1, 2024: Effective date of the unified Our Lady of the Rosary Parish
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Henry Fitzsimmons1842
Led the building of the new, larger brick church that became the core of the present St. Rose of Lima.
- Rev. Thomas Coffey1887
Installed as pastor in 1887; oversaw construction of the transepts, balconies, choir loft, new pews, stained glass windows, and an enlarged sanctuary.
- Rev. Thomas Horan1975
Led the major interior renovation that added the mosaic of the Risen Christ behind the altar, plus new pews and carpeting.
- Fr. Walsh (Rev. Walsh)circa 2019–2020
Pastor during the $850,000 façade, bell tower, and granite-step restoration project.
- Rev. Charles P. Connor, Ph.D.early 2000s–c. 2010
Former pastor and parish historian; authored 'History of Saint Rose of Lima Parish, Carbondale, Pennsylvania, 1832–2007,' held in the Catholic Historical Research Center, Philadelphia.