Journey Forward:
Parish Consolidation and Linkage
As part of the Diocese of Scranton’s Vision 2030 pastoral planning process, Bishop Bambera announced in June 2024 the consolidation of St. Boniface and St. Lawrence Parishes. This important step was completed in November 2024.
The newly formed parish will be linked with St. Ann Parish in October 2025 (updated from July 2025), uniting our communities in faith and mission. This page serves as a resource for updates, information, and opportunities for prayer and participation as we move forward together in hope.
RECENT UPDATES
WE VALUE YOUR INPUT
1. How will families with children at Saint Ann’s plan to attend Sunday Mass and also pick them up from Religious Ed classes when Mass has changed to 9:30 and Religious Ed ends at 9:45? Also, how will students making their Confirmation/Communion be able to attend class and church? Will Religious Ed times change?
Great questions - thank you for thinking ahead! We’re currently planning to survey all families to get a sense of what time will work best for religious education, especially with the new shared Mass schedule in mind. The goal is to make sure that class times don’t conflict with Mass, while still allowing students the opportunity for a positive and productive formation experience. Whether your child is preparing for First Communion, Confirmation, or just growing in their faith, we want to ensure that both Religious Ed and Mass attendance remain a smooth and meaningful part of your Sunday routine. Once we gather input through the survey, we’ll adjust the schedule as needed to accommodate as many families as possible. Stay tuned, and thank you for your patience and flexibility as we work through the details!
2. I feel the change of the Saturday Mass to 5:30pm is going to be difficult for some parishioners. The elderly do not like driving in the dark and some do not attend now during the fall and winter months because of this. Being that the new Mass time is during the dinner hours it will be inconvenient for families. We all want to attend our beautiful church of St. Ann and not have to go elsewhere. The 4:30 Mass is a perfect fit for many parishioners. Thank you.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. We know that this change may be difficult - especially for those who prefer not to drive after dark or find the later time less convenient for family routines.
When creating the new shared Mass schedule with St. Boniface, decisions had to be made that could realistically be covered by just one priest, even though we’ll have an assistant pastor. With St. Boniface holding a 4:00pm Vigil and St. Ann a 4:30pm, both couldn’t be kept as-is. Canon Law also requires that Vigil Masses start no earlier than 4:00pm, so there was no option to move either earlier.
The transition teams looked at Mass attendance data reported to the Diocese each October. St. Boniface’s 4:00pm Mass consistently draws more parishioners than St. Ann’s 4:30pm, which helped guide the decision to retain that earlier Vigil and shift St. Ann’s to 5:30pm.
This same approach was used when determining the Sunday Mass schedule. A single priest is only permitted to celebrate three Masses in one day under Canon Law, so maintaining four Sunday Masses across St. Lawrence, St. Boniface, and St. Ann wasn’t an option. Since the Vigil at St. Lawrence will be discontinued, it was considered fair and reasonable to allow the church to retain its Sunday 8:00am Mass - especially since the 7:30am Mass at St. Ann is the least attended of the three weekend Masses.
The two most highly attended Sunday Masses in the mix were the 10:00am at St. Ann and the 10:30am at St. Boniface. Because the two could not remain with just 30 minutes between them, each was adjusted: St. Ann’s moved a half hour earlier to 9:30am, and St. Boniface’s shifted a half hour later to 11:00am.
We understand that any changes to longstanding schedules can be difficult, and we truly appreciate your understanding as we work through this transition.
3. I knew a lot of people would not be happy about the change of Saturday evening Mass from 4:30 to 5:30 and I just wanted to say that I was thrilled when I saw the time of Mass was changing back to 5:30. With that being said, I totally understand that it may be a hardship for some folks who no longer feel comfortable driving after dark. If there are any parishioners who live within a few miles of my home and they need a ride, I would be more than happy to provide transportation. Maybe parishioners who are willing to be ride providers could be matched up with people who live in their area who need transportation. I remember St. Boniface had a similar program many years ago and my dad and I always provided transportation for an elderly lady who did not have a car.
Thank you for your thoughtful and generous comment! It's truly encouraging to see parishioners looking out for one another, especially during changes that may affect some more than others. Your willingness to offer rides is a beautiful example of Christian care and community.
To support this spirit of service, we invite anyone who is willing to drive others to Mass - or anyone who would like a ride - to please contact the Parish Office. We hope to match those in need with nearby volunteers, so everyone has the chance to attend Mass. Thank you again for your kindness and initiative!
4. What will happen to the rectory and Adoration chapel at St Anns?
There are currently no plans to change the use of the Rectory or Adoration Chapel. The Rectory will continue to serve as office space for parish staff, and the Adoration Chapel and Convent building will remain as they are. The Convent is currently used for Religious Education classes, Scouts, Knights of Columbus, and other parish meetings.
Once the linkage takes place, there will be a review of all parish facilities to ensure we remain good stewards of our resources. This will include considering how best to use spaces like the Rectory, especially since it will no longer house a priest. No decisions have been made at this time.
5. (Paraphrased and condensed for clarity and inclusion):
Some parishioners have expressed disappointment over the elimination of the 7:30AM Mass, particularly those who regularly attended it. There are questions about who made the decision, concerns that it may have been influenced by clergy preferences, and frustration about a perceived lack of unity. Some have also raised concerns about the future of the Rectory and whether it will be sold. A few feel that the broader challenges facing the Diocese should not negatively impact St. Ann’s, and some are reconsidering their financial support as a result.
The shared Mass schedule was developed by a transition team composed of lay people from both parishes, based on Mass attendance trends and other parish statistics. The 7:30AM Mass is the least attended of our weekend Masses, which is why it was a sensible choice for elimination in the new schedule. This decision allows each worship site to retain a Sunday Mass that can be served by a single priest if necessary.
There are no plans to sell the rectory at this time. The upcoming parish linkage is not intended to divide, but to strengthen our faith community and foster unity as we respond to the realities of a priest shortage. We are grateful for your continued prayers and support during this time of transition.
6. Why are our parishes being linked if we’ll have two priests?
Some may have seen the latest edition of The Catholic Light and read about the appointment of the new assistant pastor, Fr. Dias Antony Valiamarathungal, who will be serving at St. Boniface Parish effective July 1st. He comes to us from the Diocese of Kottapuram in India, and he will also be part of the linkage with St. Ann taking place in October. So why the linkage if we’ll still have two priests?
The answer lies in the roles and responsibilities of priests:
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A pastor is appointed by the bishop to lead a parish. He carries full responsibility for spiritual leadership, parish administration, and long-term planning.
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An assistant pastor (or parochial vicar) helps with Masses, sacraments, and ministry, but does not have the same authority or administrative responsibility.
Not every priest is assigned as a pastor. Becoming a pastor requires pastoral experience, leadership readiness, and an appointment by the bishop. While we are blessed to have two priests, only one has been assigned as pastor.
The assistant pastor helps carry out ministry, but the linked structure allows the pastor to guide both parishes in unity, with shared support.
