St. Maria Goretti Parish was established by the Most Reverend J. Carrol McCormick D.D., Bishop of Scranton, on September 17,1967.  It is located in the Borough of Laflin, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, and presently has a membership of about 850 families.  For ten years Mass was celebrated in the chapel of the Oblates of St. Joseph Seminary which is located nearby.  Under the leadership and direction of Monsignor Philip A. Gray, the fourth pastor, the church of St. Maria Goretti was built.  On Sunday, November 13, 1977, the church was dedicated.  The Most Reverend James C. Timlin, D.D., V.G. Auxiliary Bishop of Scranton officiated at the laying  of the cornerstone, and  the  Solemn Blessing of the church.  He was the principal celebrant of the Pontifical Mass which followed.  The Reverend Harry Lewis, the first pastor, was the homilist.  In attendance at the Mass were five nieces of St. Maria Goretti from the United States.  The last living sister of Saint Maria Goretti was in a convent in Italy, but was unable to attend because of ill health.  A grotto of Saint Maria Goretti is located to the right of the entrance to the church.

Prayer to St. Maria Goretti

Little Saint,
and true child of Mary, the Mother of Jesus,
you were so young but so very strong in resisting a cruel tempter
and preferring to die a martyr.
How greatly we need you today-when
Chastity is discarded and morality is betrayed.
Be our model and intercessor before God,
So that he may hear our plea for guidance.
Multiply faithful children of Mary,
And bring us safely to the throne of her Son,
who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father, etc.

There really isn't much to tell about St. Maria Goretti because she died when she was 12 years old.

Born in Corinaldo, Ancona, Italy, on October 16 1890; her farm-worker father moved his family to Ferrier di Conca, near Anzio. Her father died of malaria and her mother had to struggle to feed her children.

In 1902 an eighteen-year-old neighbor, Alexander, grabbed her from her steps and tried to rape her. When Maria said that she would rather died than submit, Alexander began stabbing her with a knife.

As she lay in the hospital, she forgave Alexander before she died. Her death didn't end her forgiveness, however.

Alexander was captured and sentenced to thirty years. He was unrepentant until he had a dream that he was in a garden. Maria was there and gave him flowers. When he woke, he was a changed man, repenting of his crime and living a reformed life. When he was released after 27 years he went directly to Maria's mother to beg her forgiveness, which she gave. "If my daughter can forgive him, who am I to withhold forgiveness," she said.

When Maria was declared a saint in 1950, Alexander was there in the St. Peter's crowd to celebrate her canonization. She was canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1950 for her purity as model for youth.

She is called a martyr because she fought against Alexander's attempts at sexual assault. However, the most important aspect of her story is her forgiveness of her attacker -- her concern for her enemy extending even beyond death. Her feast day is July 6. St. Maria Goretti is the patroness of youth and for the victims of rape.