[Includes photos of Holy Rosary Church, parsonage, and convent, and a sketch of the school]
Prominent among the leading men of Scranton is Father Boland, who is pastor of Holy Rosary Catholic Church at North End. He was born in Archbald, PA, 15 Sep 1872, the son of James and Ann (Killeen) Boland.
James Boland, deceased, was a native of New York and his wife was born at Carbondale. They were early settlers of Archbald, PA, where Mr Boland followed his trade as a carpenter. He and his wife are buried at Archbald. They were the parents of the following children: John, lives at Oneota NY; Rev James, pastor of St Lucy's (sic)Catholic Church, Scranton; Rev P J, the subject of this sketch; Dr Frank, physician and surgeon, lives at Philadelphia, is a veteran of the World War; Joseph, lives at Carbondale, PA, is a veteran of the World War, having served in the US Navy; and Mary, married to Louis Toolan, lives at Carbondale, PA.
Rev P J Boland grew up in Archbald and received his early education there. He then entered St Thomas College, Scranton, and was the first graduate from that institution. Later he attended St Bonaventure College, where he prepared for the priesthood. He was ordained 25 Jul 1900 in St Peter's Cathedral, Scranton, by the Rt Rev Bishop Hoban, and celebrated his first mass in St Thomas Aquinas Church, Archbald. Rev P J Boland's first assignment was to St Joseph's Church at Minooka, and he was later transferred to St Peter & St Paul's Church at Towanda, PA, as an assistant. He spent four years at St John's Church in Scranton, and was also assistant at St Peter's Cathedral in this city for seven years, during which time he was moderator of Catholic Women's Club. Reverend Boland was appointed pastor of Holy Rosary Church on 1 Sep 1926.
The largest parochial school in Scranton is in connection with Holy Rosary Church and has an enrollment of 750 pupils.