The Monthly Prayer for Peace Rosary will be held on the 1st day of every month at 5:30 PM.  

Recognizing that with God all things are possible we gather to pray the Rosary seeking the intercession of Mary to bring peace to our world, nation, state, communities, schools, parishes, families, and in our homes.  

Prayer begins in front of the statue of Mary in our parking lot promptly at 5:30 PM - please arrive a few minutes early.  If the weather is bad, we will gather inside the church.

All are invited!  Questions may be directed to Jane Grier at 570-640-7514

On Saturday, January 24 and Sunday, January 25 immediately after the 3:30 PM Mass and the 8:30 AM Mass, we will gather in St. John XXIII Hall to celebrate our gift of life and learn how to promote a Culture of Life.  This year we will have a Meatball Mania FOOD SALE and a BAKE SALE – take out or eat together in the hall.  Choose between five varieties of meatballs, along with a small side and a dinner roll – for $7.00.  

The choices are:  

Italian Meatballs + side of ziti; 

Swedish Meatballs + side of noodles; 

Ham Balls w/Brown Sugar Glaze + side of noodles; 

Buffalo Chicken Meatballs + side of potato salad; and 

Grape Jelly / Chili Sauce Meatballs + side of potato salad.  

PLEASE PRE-ORDER by January 19 by signing up in the St. John XXIII Family Room or call Cheryl at 484-866-3835.  If anyone would like to donate a baked good for the Bake Sale, please contact Cheryl.

Boston-based pianist, organist, and conductor Andrew Sheranian, founding artistic director of The Bach Project, will offer a piano recital featuring music by Bach, Chopin, Debussy, and Mozart.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2026

7:00 PM

ST. JOHN XXIII CHURCH

Light refreshments following the concert in the Parish Hall

TICKETS:  $10

Available at the door or in advance at the Parish Office during regular business hours.

This special concert marks the inaugural performance on our magnificent new piano, generously donated by the estate of Richard and Janice Light. 

Find hope and healing after the death of a loved one through this support group. Registration is preferred, but all are welcome

DATE: Every Monday beginning APRIL 1, 2024

TIME:  6:00PM - 7:30PM

PLACE: St. Richard Parish Hall

For more information, please contact:

Marie FInlan  570-590-9690

Stan Huegel  570-778-9057

Mark Pacoe - organist and music director from ST. PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL in NYC - will be coming here to perform an organ concert at St. John XXIII church.  A cake and coffee reception will follow the concert in the Parish Hall. 

FRIDAY, APRIL 19 at 7:00PM

Tickets $10

Tickets are available at the parish office during normal business hours and will be available at the door.

Doors open at 6:00PM

Our yearly carnation sale will take place on Mother's Day weekend in St. John XXIII Church.  Proceeds benefit Birthright Women's Center in Frackville.  

Carnations will be available in the Narthex of the church before and after Masses. Suggested donation is $2.00 - choose between 3 colors with symbolic meaning:

• White: love for a deceased mother
• Red: deep love for a living mother
• Pink: symbolic of motherhood and gratitude

In honor of mothers and Mother's Day, we will be doing our yearly Carnation Sale and Baby Bottle Campaign.

CARNATION SALE:  

Carnations will be available in the Narthex at the back of the church before and after Mass on both days.  These flowers represent love, admiration, and the endurance of a mother's love, and have been used for Mother's Day since 1908.  Symbolically, red/pink carnations are used to honor living mother's or other mother figures, and white carnations honor deceased mothers.

Suggested donation for carnations is $3.00.  All proceeds will go to Birthright Pregnancy Center in Frackville to help pregnant women.

These flowers can be given to mothers, grandmothers, step-mothers, or other mothers in your life, or placed at their final resting place or at the Blessed Mother at the altar.

BABY BOTTLE CAMPAIGN:  

Pick up a baby bottle and fill it with coins, or insert money or a check, then return it to the parish by Father's Day.  The baby bottles will benefit CareNet Women's Center of Carbon County.  This center offers services for pregnant women, including classes and baby supplies.

Honor mother's on Mother's Day by performing a work of mercy to benifit local pregnancy centers and help out women and babies in need.

Pick up a baby bottle and fill it with coins, or insert money or a check, then return it to the parish.  The baby bottles will benefit CareNet of Carbon.

Carnations will be available in the back of the church to honor your mother, step-mother, grandmother, or other maternal figure, alive or deceased.  The donations received will benefit Birthright of Frackville.  Suggested donation is $2.00.

Support a local non-profit organization being established alongside, and in conjuncion with,  a local pro-life gynecologist whose vision is to create a place and services that support life.  United Hearts Life is a was established to ensure that women always receive the utmost respect and loving

support while furthering the "pro-life" effort..  T-shirts are available for purchase, or donations of any size will be accepted.

Honoring mothers through this month by supporting a local Women's Center.

Pick up a baby bottle and fill it with coins, or insert money or a check, then return it to the parish by Father's Day.  The baby bottles will benefit CareNet of Carbon.

Support a local non-profit organization being established alongside, and in conjuncion with,  a local pro-life gynecologist.

Her vision is to create a place and services that support life.  United Hearts Life is a was established to ensure that women always receive the utmost respect and loving

support while furthering the "pro-life" effort..  

T-shirts are available for purchase, or donations of any size will be accepted.

View the website at UnitedHearts.life to donate.  See the T-shirts in the narthex of St. John XXIII, contact Cheryl @484-866-3835 for more information.

Join us for a Mass of Remembrance for the loss of a child.  Family members and friends are welcome.  

• Enroll your child's name in the Book of Innocents to be prayed for at monthly Masses.  
• Light a candle for your child
• Write an intention

After Mass there will be time to spend together in the hall - refreshments will be available.

Tuesday, May 14 at 7:00PM at St. John XXIII

Adult Small Group is open discussions in a friendly, non-threatening small group setting where we explore books, homilies, or videos and relate them to our own lives, using them as a model for us to grow and tackle life's problems.  The groups encourage personal relationships with each other and with God.

TV Series "The Chosen"

The Chosen shows plausible scenarios of what life might have been like for the apostles following Jesus.  Come to our small group to join in the experience of the apostles and relate their experiences to our own, in our life difficulties.

________________________________

8 weeks on Tuesdays - starting OCT 1 through NOV 21

10:00 AM-12:00 PM in the Parish Hall

PREREQUESIT:  Seasons 1 & 2

Sign up HERE or contact Cheryl at 484-866-3835

For more information, go to the ADULT FORMATION page (under the PARISH LIFE tab)

If you have not seen Seasons 1 & 2 but would like to, contact Cheryl at the number above.

A memorial service to pray for all the victims of abortion and to remember the children lost through abortion.  

The service takes place at 1:00 in St. Jerome (New) Cemetery  near the Tamaqua Elementary School - the Rosary is prayed after the service.  

Click for more information

Click here for DIRECTIONS

We will be selling t-shirts for the Prayer Garden.  They'll make great Christmas gifts.  Several designs will be available.

Watch the bulletin for more information.  Orders will be taken - money due at time of order.  $25 per shirt.

Contact Cheryl for more information or to order shirts at 484-866-3835

We will be selling t-shirts for the Prayer Garden.  They'll make great Christmas gifts.  Several designs will be available.

Watch the bulletin for more information.  Orders will be taken - money due at time of order.  $25 per shirt.

Contact Cheryl for more information or to order shirts at 484-866-3835

A basket raffle will be held at St. John XXIII Hall on Saturday, October 18 and Sunday, October 19. - Benefits St. John XXIII Church Projects.

We will be collecting hygeine items to be distributed to people or families in need.

SJ23 Youth will be making Blessing Bags with the items collected on NOV 10, and then distributing them at a later date.

Suggested items:  toothpaste, toothbrushes, dental floss, combs/brushes, hand sanitizer, hand wipes, deodorant, lotion, female products, socks . . .

Items can be placed in a basket in the Narthex at St. John XXIII church that will be available from October 26 through November 9.

We will be collecting hygeine items to be distributed to people or families in need.

SJ23 Youth will be making Blessing Bags with the items collected on NOV 10, and then distributing them at a later date.

Suggested items:  toothpaste, toothbrushes, dental floss, combs/brushes, hand sanitizer, hand wipes, deodorant, lotion, female products, socks . . .

Items can be placed in a basket in the Narthex at St. John XXIII church that will be available from October 26 through November 9.

A beautiful time spent with family creating an Advent wreath for your home.  Some branches will be supplied - bring some greenery or other things you would like in your wreath.  The wreaths will be blessed by Deacon Ed before you leave.

Watch the bulletin for further information, sign-up, and cost.

A beautiful time spent with family creating an Advent wreath for your home.  Some branches will be supplied - bring some greenery or other things you would like in your wreath.  The wreaths will be blessed by Deacon Ed before you leave.

Watch the bulletin for further information, sign-up, and cost.

Donate items for Birthright and Catholic Charities to give to pregnant women or families with children to help in their need.

We will be collecting items through the month of December.  Items accepted are gift cards or monetary donations (which will go to Birthright), or items including diapers (size 3-6), pull-ups, small infant-safe toys, baby bottles, sippy cups, blankets, bibs, infant/toddler clothing, and baby hygeine products.  Gift cards and monetary can be placed in the collection box or mailed to the parish.  Items can be placed under the Giving Tree in the Hall.

Join us for a serene night of prayer, Christmas music, reflections, and light refreshments to celebrate the start of Advent and get into the proper spirit to welcome Jesus at Christmas.

Tuesday, December 2 at 6:30 at St. John XXIII Hall --- watch for the bulletin announcement in November.

Join us for a serene night of prayer, Christmas music, pasta dinner, and a Christmas special to celebrate the start of Advent and get into the proper spirit to welcome Jesus at Christmas.

Tuesday, December 2 at 6:30 at St. John XXIII Hall --- watch for the bulletin announcement in November.

Homemade candy sale will be taking place in the parish hall on December 13 and 14 after each SJ23 Mass.

We are in need of wonderful volunteers to make their delicious candy favorites for our fundraiser!

Contact Rose 570-645-3642 for more information

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM

This is a beautiful night where you can spend time with Jesus in a serene and reverent setting in Eucharistic Adoration, with light background music to help set the tone for a deep encounter with Jesus.  

There are typically 2-3 priests available for confession.  And you can light a candle for a special intention, and write a special intention, to place at the altar.

Spend as much time as you like during these two hours and enjoy the quiet reflection, as well as the grace that Jesus will give you, as you give your heart to him and prepare for his coming at Christmas.

((Sitting with Jesus - Encounter with Jesus))

Join us for engaging discussion, enlightening information, and socialization while we take a go deeper into Lenten season meaning and how to "Lent" well with a series from FORMED.

Four Tuesdays beginning March 11 through April 1 from 10:00 -  11:30 in the St. John XXIII Hall.

Sign up in the Narthex of St. John XXIII Church or contact Cheryl at 484-866-3835

Adult Small Group is open discussions in a friendly, non-threatening small group setting where we explore books, homilies, or videos and relate them to our own lives, using them as a model for us to grow and tackle life's problems.  The groups encourage personal relationships with each other and with God.

TV Series "The Chosen"

The Chosen shows plausible scenarios of what life might have been like for the apostles following Jesus.  Come to our small group to join in the experience of the apostles and relate their experiences to our own, in our life difficulties.

________________________________

8 weeks on Tuesdays - starting OCT 1 through NOV 21

10:00 AM-12:00 PM in the Parish Hall

PREREQUESIT:  Seasons 1 & 2

Sign up HERE or contact Cheryl at 484-866-3835

For more information, go to the ADULT FORMATION page (under the PARISH LIFE tab)

If you have not seen Seasons 1 & 2 but would like to, contact Cheryl at the number above.