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Eleven years after its opening, the Mother Maria Kaupas Center in Mount Carmel, PA, continues to work on revitalization of the
local Church and community while looking to the life of Venerable Maria Kaupas as an inspiration for living the Catholic faith.

The Center, a ministry of Divine Redeemer Church, observed its one-decade milestone with a Mass of celebration Sunday, May 18, 2025 the church, followed by a reception and brief program in the parish hall.

The main celebrant for the Mass was Bishop Timothy Senior of the Diocese of Harrisburg, Concelebrating were priests with strong ties to the Kaupas Center and the parish. They included Rev. Martin Moran, who as pastor of Divine Redeemer envisioned and established the Kaupas Center in 2015; Rev. Ryan Fischer, former pastor; Rev. Bernard Wamayose, Apostles of Jesus, the present pastor; and Rev. Jonathan Sawicki, a “native son” of Divine Redeemer. Representatives of four congregations of women religious, numbering more than 20 Sisters in all, proudly honored the continuing
legacy of Maria Kaupas. Sisters of Saint Casimir Immacula Wendt and Elizabeth Ann Yocius were lectors for the Mass, and they were joined for the celebration by Sisters Margaret Petcavage, Virginia Gaspis and Rita Marie Kerdock. Sister Rita Marie is a native
of Mount Carmel. Sisters were also present representing Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Scranton; IHM Sisters living in nearby
Kulpmont whose Motherhouse is at Immaculata (near Philadelphia), and Sisters of Saints Cyril and Methodius of Danville. Saints Cyril and Methodius and IHM Sisters (Immaculata) were among the congregations who, along with Sisters of Saint Casimir, taught in separate parish schools and later as part of a regional merger, Holy Spirit School in Mount Carmel.Officials from the Kaupas Center, Jake Betz, director, and Suzanne Domzalski, project manager, presented the gifts at the offertory.
Two deacons with strong Mount Carmel connections served at the Mass. They are, Deacon Walt Kozlowski, of Divine Redeeme Parish, and Deacon Robert Wislock, of Shamokin, who belonged to the former Holy Cross parish, the site of the Sisters of Saint Casimir’s first ministry.

Among the special guests at the Mass and reception were Jeanne Frawley, president, and Mary Smithson, chair of the board of
trustees at Villa Joseph Marie High School; Shaunna Barnhart, who leads the Bucknell University Coal Region Field Station; Carl Milofsky and Ben Marsh, retired Bucknell professors and friends of the Kaupas Center, and Mayor Philip “Bing” Cimino, who pre-
sented a borough proclamation to the Center in gratitude for its service to the community.

During his homily, Bishop Senior made special mention of his past acquaintance with Sisters of Saint Casimir, including their involvement at Villa Joseph Marie High School and St. Bede’s parish in Holland, PA. He spoke proudly of the contribution made by one of his predecessors, Bishop John Shanahan, in assisting the first Sisters of Saint Casimir, including Mother Maria, in the formation of the new congregation in 1907. He also congratulated the Sisters of Saint Casimir on the election of Pope Leo XIV, who they knew well in south Chicago as Father Bob Prevost. Jake Betz, Kaupas Center director, introduced those called upon to present remarks during the reception. These included Sister Immacula, Fathers Wamayose, Moran, Fischer and Sawicki; Mayor Cimino, mayor of Mount Carmel Borough; and Shaunna Barn-
hart, of the Coal Region Field Station at Bucknell University, Lewisburg. The Field Station also recently separated its 10th anniversary, having been formed around the time the Kaupas Center opened in 2015. The Kaupas Center was the first partner agency work with the Field Station in identifying opportunities for experiential learning collaborations in Mount Carmel.

The Kaupas Center’s Maria Kaupas Prayer Group sponsors a monthly Holy Hour in the Center chapel. The Center holds a monthly diaper program for low-income families in the Mount Carmel area and an annual winter service program for local college students.
Attendees at daily Mass faithfully pray for the Beatification of Mother Maria following recitation of the Rosary.