In 1906, the original Holy Child Roman Catholic Church was built on the east side of South Main Street in Mansfield, Pennsylvania as a mission church of Saint Andrew’s Catholic Parish (est. 1851) in Blossburg, Pennsylvania. It was built primarily for the Catholic students who attended Mansfield State Normal, since there were few resident Catholic families. Holy Child was established as a Parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Scranton in 1953. The original church was replaced by the current church, dedicated in 1963. Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Tioga, Pennsylvania was established in 1879 as a mission church of St. Peter’s Parish in Wellsboro, and became a mission church of Holy Child Parish in Mansfield in 1953. St. Mary’s in Tioga closed in 2008.
In 1874, Saint Mary of Czestochowa Catholic Church was established in Blossburg, PA. At that time, Blossburg was the hub of the upper Tioga Valley coal basin, which included the towns of Antrim, Arnot, Covington, Fall-Brook, Hoytville, Klondike, Landrus, Morris, and Morris Run. Although the many Polish Catholic immigrants who had settled in Blossburg originally attended its one Roman Catholic church (Saint Andrew’s). Saint Mary of Czestochowa was established in 1874 and became the first church in the Diocese of Scranton that was established for the faithful of Polish descent. The original wood church that was constructed in the late 1800s was replaced by a new brick-edifice building in 1960. In 2007, due to financial strain, St. Andrew’s (Blossburg) was closed alongside St. Joseph’s (Morris Run), and St. Stanislaus (Arnot). In 2009, Saint Mary of Czestochowa became part of Holy Child Parish.
From 30 residential families and 90 college students in 1953, Holy Child Parish has steadily grown and now ministers to over 300 families throughout Tioga County.
New members are asked to register by contacting the Parish Office. Registration is a requirement for admission to our religious education programs and reception of the Sacraments of Baptism, First Penance, Confirmation, and Matrimony. Also, you must be a registered and practicing parishioner to receive testimonial letters for sponsorship at Baptism, Confirmation, and Marriage outside of the parish.
We welcome all who join us for worship and invite you to become part of our Holy Child Catholic Parish Family!