July 5

Ceremonial locking of doors at St. Mark’s Church

At 10 o’clock last Sunday morning Father Michael Kirwin, Father Ed Masakowski, Msgr. Donald McAndrews and Father Paul McDonald led a prayer service at St. Mark’s Church, Inkerman, that marked the official end for the church. Kirwin is the pastor of St. Maria Goretti’s into which St. Mark’s was combined. Masakowski and McAndrews are former St. Mark’s pastors and McDonald is Provincial Superior of the Oblates of St. Joseph Order. The last mass at the 108-year-old parish was celebrated on January 3.

click image to enlarge

Parishioners listen to the scripture readings presented during the prayer service at St. Mark’s Church which officially closed last Sunday.

click image to enlarge

Rev. Michael Kirwin, Pastor of St. Maria Goretti Church.

Following the prayer service last Sunday Peggy Gallagher, the parish’s oldest member who was 90 on June 16, ceremonially locked the church doors.

click image to enlarge

St. Mark’s oldest parishioner Peggy Gallagher, 90, center, locks the doors to the church for the final time and hands over the keys to the Rev. Michael Kirwin, pastor of St. Maria Goretti Church in Laflin, as altar server Michael Conlon, 12, assists Very Rev. Paul McDonnell as he holds the Blessed Sacrament

Photos by Bill Tarutis

click image to enlarge

Very Rev. Paul McDonnell, OSJ, right, and altar server Michael Conlon, 12, face the statue of St. Mark during the prayer service on Sunday

 

Reader Comments

Questions or comments? Here's how to reach us.
Join the discussion on our Facebook page

COMMENT HERE

Comment*:


Name*:


E-mail*:

* These fields are required.



Be the first to post a comment on this page!


Most Viewed PD News Stories in Past 7 Days

1. Bye-Bye Birdie: landmark Exeter bar closing
2. Free Health Clinic two years old
3. Chase, rescues precede arrest
4. WP man’s memoir reads like an adventure novel
5. Council fires W. Pittston cop
6. Remembering the Exeter mine disaster 111 years later
7. Marker honors women of garment industry
8. Duryea must fence in new skateboard area in park

Most E-Mailed PD News Stories in Past 7 Days

1. Remembering the Exeter mine disaster 111 years later
2. WP man’s memoir reads like an adventure novel
3. Chase, rescues precede arrest
4. CD sales to benefit children
5. Pittston raises police strength


The Times LeaderThe Weekender - NEPA's #1 Arts and Entertainment WeeklyThe Abington Journal - Serving the Clarks Summit area of Lackawanna CountyThe Dallas Post - Serving the Back Mountain of Luzerne CountyThe Pittston Dispatch - Serving the upper Wyoming ValleyEl Mensajero - El único semanario Hispano de noticias en el Noreste de Pennsylvania.
The Times Leader Scranton Edition - Serving all of Lackawanna CountyThe Hazleton Times - Serving all of Southern Luzerne CountyThe Tunkhannock Times - Serving all of Wyoming CountyFive Mountain Times - Serving Western Luzerne County
The Wilkes-Barre Publishing Company