Saint Joseph Melkite Greek-Catholic Church, Scranton, PA, is a local parish of the Melkite Eparchy of Newton.
St. Joseph Melkite Greek Catholic Church traces its origin to the mid 1890’s when the
first immigrants, primarily from the regions of Zahle and Ableh, in present day Lebanon, settled
in Scranton. Among them were the Abda, Abdo, Abood, Ahee, Ash, Assaf, Basila, Betress,
Bolus, Bomrad, Carker, Chally, Coury, Fayad, Ferris, Haddad, Hibye, Jacobs, Josephs, Shehadi,
Shimally, Simon, Sirgany, Zabady, and Zaydon families. They were the foundation of the rock
on which St. Joseph was built, and of which many still worship here today.
For the first few years the Melkite Catholics had no Church of their own. Occasionally, a
Melkite Catholic Priest would visit the community and offer the Divine Liturgy in a home or
vacant store. In 1897, Father Joseph Simon, B.S., the first pastor of St. Joseph Melkite Greek
Catholic Church in Lawrence, Massachusetts began to regularly visit Scranton to serve the
spiritual needs of its growing Melkite Catholic population. Soon thereafter the Melkite Catholic
community purchased a house on Chestnut Street on the city’s West Side, close to where most of
them resided, this the present site of St. Joseph. It is also noteworthy that Chestnut Street has
since been renamed “Saint Frances Cabrini Avenue,” in honor of the “patron saint of
immigrants.” Saint Cabrini walked the streets and personally founded a school and a convent in
the same block as St. Joseph. It is also believed that Mother Cabrini worshiped with the original
founding members.
At this site Father Simon established a permanent mission for the Melkite Catholics of
Scranton under the patronage of Saint Joseph, the Betrothed of the Mother of God, which he
served for eleven years. For a short time in the early 1900’s, the mission also hosted Scranton’s
Maronite Catholic community and its first pastor, Father Anthony Zogby.
In 1908, the mission community was officially established as a parish with the
appointment of Father Thomas Fayad, B.C., the first resident pastor of St. Joseph Church. Under
the direction of Father Fayad, the house originally purchased by the parishioners was razed and a
new church and rectory were constructed on the site and furnished at the cost of twenty thousand
dollars.
Father Fayad remained at St. Joseph Church until 1924, when he was succeeded by
Father Athanasius Simon. Father Simon’s pastorate was marked by the Great Depression, which
proved to be a difficult time for the parish. By soliciting funds door to door from parishioners
and friends, the church was able to remain open.
Father Simon fell asleep in the Lord in February, 1935, and was succeeded by Father
Paul Sion, B.S., who remained at the parish for only three years. The parishioners were
unsuccessful in their attempt to secure another Melkite Catholic priest for St. Joseph Church and
Father James Riley, a Roman Catholic priest was appointed administrator of the parish by the
Bishop of Scranton in 1938. At this time, the practices of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church
were replaced by those of the Roman Catholic Church.
St. Joseph has many ties to the religious history of Scranton. The priestly order of the
Passionist Fathers of St. Ann’s Basilica, also in the city’s West Side, lent us the services of two
priests, Father Conrad Aleckna, C.P., from 1939-1942, and Father Nilus McAndrew, C.P., from
1942-1943. Following the Passionist fathers, St. Joseph was served by Father Salvatore Florey
in 1943, Father Joseph McGowan from 1944 through 1951, and Father William Egan, from
1951-1971.
Father Egan’s arrival at St. Joseph Church heralded a reawakening of parish life with the
reorganization of the choir, alter servers, and religious education programs. Many improvements
to the structure of the Church were made under his direction, including the construction of a new
sacristy, installation of stained glass windows, and a refurnished sanctuary. In 1966, when the
Melkite Greek Catholic Exarchate for the United States was established, Father Egan offered to
remain at St. Joseph Church. Under the direction of the Most Reverend Justin Najmy, the first
Melkite Catholic Exarch, Father Egan worked diligently toward restoration of the practices of the
Melkite Greek Catholic Church. The first Melkite Divine Liturgy since 1938 was served by
Father Egan on January 15, 1967. In October 1967, approximately thirty children of the parish,
who had not been chrismated at the time of their Baptism, were brought into the Melkite Church
for Chrismation.
In 1968-69, Father Egan undertook the remodeling of the Church. The exterior was
renewed and the interior redesigned to conform with Byzantine liturgical requirements. Father
Egan remained at Saint Joseph until 1971, when he was succeeded by Father Badie Essa. On
September 26, 1971 a farewell testimonial was held at the Hotel Jermyn for Father Egan by the
parishioners of St. Joseph Church for his many years of devoted service. Later, Father Egan was
honored by Archbishop Joseph Tawil with the appointment to the ecclessial rank of
“Archimandrite” for his dedication to the Melkite Greek Catholic Church.
Father Essa’s tenure at St. Joseph was brief and he was succeeded by Father Seraphim
Michalenko, M.I.C., in August 1972. The following year Sisters Victoris Michalenko, Sophia
Michalenko, and Mary Ann Socha began to assist Father Seraphim in his ministry at St. Joseph.
The Sisters first resided at the Mother Cabrini Convent and later at St. Ann Monastery while also
maintaining teaching positions at their parochial schools. Father Seraphim labored to further
reorganize the parish according to the traditions of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church and to
encourage a committed Christian lifestyle among members of the community. The sisters
developed an Eastern Christian Formation Program for the youth of the parish. In 1974, Father
Deacon Roman Obrycki, M.I.C., was assigned to St. Joseph Church and on November 3 of that
year was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by Archbishop Tawil at our parish. Less than two
years later, on February 29, 1976, Archbishop Joseph Tawil ordained to the priesthood one of St.
Joseph’s own sons, Rev. Father Frank Milienewicz of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
In December, 1976, the Rt. Rev. Archimandrite Dimitri Hatoum, B.C., was assigned as
pastor of St. Joseph Church. During his tenure at the parish, renovation of the interior of the
rectory was completed through the generous efforts of the parishioners, as well as the installation
of a new roof for the rectory and Church. Archimandrite Hatoum served as pastor of the parish
until July, 1984, when he retired from the active ministry after fifty years of priestly service in
the Melkite faith.
Father Kenneth Sherman was named administrator of St. Joseph Church by Archbishop
Joseph Tawil upon the retirement of Archimandrite Hatoum. Father Ken continued the process
of bringing a greater appreciation of the richness of the traditions of the Melkite Rite to the
parish, venturing into cooperative efforts with the other Eastern Catholic Churches of the city
including an annual Lenten Mission and adult enrichment programs. Father Ken initiated the
design and construction of new icons and iconostasis for the church interior in order to conform
with Melkite tradition.
On June 17, 1986, St. Joseph Church was blessed by the visit of His Beatitude Maximos
V Hakim, Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, of Alexandria and
Jerusalem. The program for the patriarchial visit included Vespers and a reception in the parish
hall attended by local Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant hierarchs and clergy in addition to many
parishioners and friends.
On November 1, 1987, a Divine Liturgy concelebrated by Archbishop Joseph Tawil,
Father Ken and visiting clergy commemorated the 90 th anniversary of the founding of St. Joseph.
The Divine Liturgy was followed by a grand reception attended by over 250 people.
During the fall of 1989 Father Ken was reassigned and Father Basil Parent was named
administrator of St. Joseph by Archbishop Tawil. Father Basil continued the work of his
predecessors in the instruction of the Melkite tradition, introducing a Bible Study group,
expanding the Youth group Sunday School, as well as being actively involved in the West Side
Ministerium of clergy from various denominations and the continuation of the Lenten Mission of
the local Greek Catholic Churches. Under Father Basil’s direction the new icons and iconostasis
were completed and installed. On September 14, 1991, Archbishop Ignatias Ghattas visited our
parish and concelebrated the Divine Liturgy prior to dedicating the splendid icons and
iconostasis in glorification of our Divine Lord and the Mother of God.
In November 1995 Father Basil was reassigned and Father Philip Azoon was named
Administrator of St. Joseph by Sayedna John A. Elya. Sayedna celebrated Vespers and Divine
Liturgy here on the Theophany, January 6, 1996, and remained snowbound in Scranton for three
extra days. Father Philip, a former lay teacher of the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey and
teacher of theology for 25 years, continued his life of instruction by educating his parishioners,
not only of the origins of the Melkite Church in the Middle East and the beauty of our Liturgy,
but also the very foundation of the Catholic Church itself that traces its roots to the Middle East
from Jesus Christ.
Father Philip’s two years, thus far, at St. Joseph have been very busy. In addition to his
spiritual teaching he directed a major capital campaign to remodel our Church and rectory. The
newly refinished belltower was dedicated on June 8, 1997. He reestablished a major
commitment to our youth. Through his efforts St. Joseph has enjoyed major growth in Sunday
School attendance, Altar Server participation, and youth activities. His stewardship is
exemplary. Father Philip is committed to the sick and infirmed of our Parish Community.
Father Philip’s efforts have generated a great awakening among past and present Melkites as
well as members of the Roman Catholic Church. He has worked diligently to strengthen our ties
with St. Ann’s Maronite Church, Scranton. Our Father Philip also assisted Father Philip
Altavilla (Director of Ecumenism and Inter-faith Affairs for the Diocese of Scranton) in the
process and acceptance of becoming a biritual priest serving both Byzantine and Latin rites.
A Centennial Committee was established in mid 1996 by the Parish Council to remember
the numerous sacrifices of our forefathers. A Centennial Anniversary Divine Liturgy and Dinner
were celebrated on October 26, 1997.
CELEBRATING 126 YEARS IN SCRANTON in 2023. We are one of the three oldest churches in our Eparchy .
Founded by Lebanese immigrants in the late 1890s, we are a faith community that has withstood many trials and tribulations. Today we continue to witness to the Gospel of Our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania: concentrated in the Lackawanna Valley. Our faithful parishioners and friends hail from Albany to Philadelphia and areas surrounding.
Patriarchate of Antioch. Catholic but not Roman, Byzantine in Tradition, brothers and sisters of the Orthodox East.
St. Joseph Church
Address : 130 St. Frances Cabrini Avenue
Scranton, PA 18504
Website : www.melkitescranton.org
E-mail : scrantonmelkite@comcast.com
Phone : 570-343-6092
Mobile : 570-468-4854
Rev. Fr. Christopher Manuele