About St. Rose of Lima · York, Pennsylvania
Saint Rose of Lima is a Catholic parish in the City of York, Pennsylvania, belonging to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg. Founded in 1907 as a mission of St. Patrick's York, the parish has served York's Catholics for more than a century and operates St. Rose of Lima Elementary School (PreK3 through 6th grade). It is currently pastored by Rev. Celestine Nwakwuo, OP, a Dominican priest, and offers weekend Masses in the church and school, daily weekday Masses, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, regular Confessions, OCIA, a parish school, and a Religious Education program for grades K–8.
- Established
- 1907
- Patron
- St. Rose of Lima
- Rector
- Rev. Celestine Nwakwuo, OP
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg
Why belong here
St. Rose of Lima offers a complete Catholic parish life in central York: a daily and Sunday Mass schedule (including a Saturday Vigil and a Sunday Mass at St. Rose Elementary School), weekly Eucharistic Adoration and Confession on Wednesdays, the OCIA process for those entering the Church, a Religious Education program for kindergarten through 8th grade, and a PreK3–6 Catholic elementary school under the direction of Principal Sharon Johnston. The parish is governed by an active Parish Pastoral Council, supported by a Finance Committee, and led by a Dominican pastor, Father Celestine Nwakwuo, OP — making it a stable, long-standing community of faith, education, and outreach.
Mass times at St. Rose of Lima
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday after 6:00 PM Mass (approximately 6:30–7:00 PM)
- Saturday 3:30–4:30 PM
Adoration times
- Wednesday 6:00–7:00 PM (following the 6:00 PM Mass; also includes Confession)
Parish History
St. Rose of Lima Parish was founded on June 23, 1907 by the Very Reverend John I. Hallern as a mission of St. Patrick's, York. Reverend Thomas F.X. Dougherty served as the first pastor, and the first church was the former St. Matthew's Lutheran Congregation building at 31 Carlisle Avenue, dedicated September 3, 1907. A new church, classrooms, and social hall on the present site were blessed on December 19, 1915; the Sisters of Saint Joseph arrived on August 28, 1919 and opened St. Rose of Lima School on September 8 with 82 students enrolled in the first week. The present church's cornerstone was laid March 10, 1957 and was dedicated on December 1, 1957. A mosaic of St. Rose behind the main altar — a reproduction of an 18th-century picture — was dedicated in memory of Father Henry J. Howarth, the parish's fourth pastor.
- Founded: June 23, 1907
- Founder: Very Rev. John I. Hallern
- First pastor: Rev. Thomas F.X. Dougherty
- First church: former St. Matthew's Lutheran Congregation building, 31 Carlisle Avenue
- Parish Center dedicated: December 19, 1915
- School opened: September 8, 1919 (Sisters of St. Joseph)
- Present church cornerstone laid: March 10, 1957
- Present church dedicated: December 1, 1957 (silver jubilee)
- New convent completed: 1967
St. Rose of Lima Elementary School
St. Rose of Lima Elementary School has served York since 1919 and is a parish-operated Catholic elementary school educating children from PreK3 through Grade 6. The school is led by Principal Sharon Johnston and is described on its own website as 'firmly rooted in Catholic values' with a mission-focused education that supports the intellectual, spiritual, and physical growth of each child. The school offers a low student-to-teacher ratio and welcomes families regardless of faith, requiring standard Pennsylvania clearances (Act 34, Act 151, Act 114 where applicable) for adult volunteers.
- Grades: PreK3 through 6
- Principal: Sharon Johnston
- School office phone: 717-792-0889
- Website: https://www.stroseschoolpa.org/
- Welcomes all families regardless of faith
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish Religious Education program serves children from Kindergarten through 8th Grade and meets every Sunday from 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM in the Parish Center. The 2025–2026 program began September 21, 2025. Sacrament preparation is scheduled through the parish: First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation each year, with 2026 dates posted on the parish website. The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA, formerly RCIA) meets on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 PM, with new participants welcome to join at any time.
- Religious Education (K–8): Sundays 8:00–9:30 AM, Parish Center
- OCIA (RCIA): Wednesdays at 7:00 PM
- Coordinator: Paul Flaherty (Acting)
- First Reconciliation 2026: Saturday, May 2, 2026
- First Communion 2026: Sunday, May 3, 2026 at 9:30 AM Mass
- Confirmation 2026: Sunday, April 19, 2026 at 2:00 PM at St. Patrick's Church
Parish Staff & Leadership
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Celestine Nwakwuo, OP (Order of Preachers / Dominican), with a small staff supporting the parish office, school, music ministry, finances, and archives. The Parish Pastoral Council, chaired by Damian Deller with Vice Chair Randy Ebersole, shares in the pastoral leadership of the parish across six mission areas: Evangelization, Education, Pastoral Ministry, Liturgy, Social Concerns & Outreach, and Ecumenism & Interfaith Concerns.
- Pastor: Rev. Celestine Nwakwuo, OP
- Music Director: Hermina Boyle
- Principal: Sharon Johnston
- Financial Secretary: Greg Bianco
- Administrative Assistant: Mary Piro
- Receptionist/Archivist: Ann Zimmerman
- Pastoral Council Chair: Damian Deller
- Pastoral Council Vice Chair: Randy Ebersole
- Finance Committee Chair: Norm Basso
- Religious Education Acting Coordinator: Paul Flaherty
Parish Pastoral Council
The Parish Pastoral Council supports the pastor in pastoral planning and carries out the parish's mission across six areas — Evangelization, Education, Pastoral Ministry, Liturgy, Social Concerns & Outreach, and Ecumenism & Interfaith Concerns. Elected council members, along with ex-officio members from the parish and school leadership, meet regularly to discern and guide parish life.
- Chair: Damian Deller
- Vice Chair: Randy Ebersole
- Secretary: Kim Poncavage
- Council members: Everett Bryant, Cathie Lentz, Donna Moyer, Joel Plaza, Thomas Pokrivka, Tim Riley, Rich Schieler, Claire Shubert
Music Ministry
Music at St. Rose of Lima is directed by Music Director Hermina Boyle, who supports the parish's weekend and weekday liturgies and coordinates the parish choir and musicians. The 9:30 AM Sunday Mass is live-streamed for those unable to attend in person.
- Music Director: Hermina Boyle
- Live-streamed Mass: Sunday 9:30 AM
Office, Contact & Visiting
The parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM, and Friday from 8:30 AM to 12:00 Noon. Visitors and parishioners can reach the parish at 950 W. Market Street, York, PA 17401-3694, by phone at 717-846-4935, or by email at [email protected]. The diocesan listing notes that church, parking, and restrooms are available on site.
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 8:30 AM–3:30 PM; Fri 8:30 AM–12 Noon
- Phone: 717-846-4935
- Email: [email protected]
- Amenities on site: church, parking, restrooms
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Very Rev. John I. Hallern1907 (founder)
Founded the parish as a mission of St. Patrick's, York on June 23, 1907.
- Rev. Thomas F.X. Dougherty1907–
First pastor; oversaw the blessing of the first church at 31 Carlisle Avenue on September 3, 1907.
- Rev. Henry J. Howarth
Fourth pastor of St. Rose of Lima; memorialized by the mosaic of St. Rose behind the main altar.