Central Diocese

From WBRE: New Polish National Catholic Bishop Installed in Scranton

Scranton, Lackawanna County – There is a new leader of the Polish National Church in Scranton. Bishop John Edward Mack was installed Sunday at the Cathedral of the Central Diocese in the Electric City.

Bishop Mack was installed at a mass at St. Stanislaus Cathedral. He has been serving as a pastor for more than 25 years in Pittsburgh, but he is very familiar with Scranton.

“I went to seminary here in Scranton. It’s been about 25 years since I was back here,” said Bishop Mack.

Scranton is also where the Polish National Catholic Church began in 1897. The bishop says don’t let the name fool you, the church has evolved. “We’re and ethnic bearing church we began as strictly church. Now we’re multi-ethnic we reach out to all people.”

Bishop Mack says he looks forward to leading the Central Diocese of the church and its 42 parishes, which reaches as far west as Denver and as far south as Baltimore. “Each individual church has unique talents and gifts they always need to share with the community,” he said. Though it might be hard to get to each church. “We don’t have a diocesan jet so I guess we’ll put a few miles on the car.”