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Parish HistoriesSaint James
Saint Katharine Drexel
Saint James Parish
History
Immaculate Conception Church
119 West Chestnut Street, Washington, PA 15301
On December 8, 1854, the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Mother was defined by Pope Pius IX. On August 16, 1855, the first Immaculate Conception Church of Washington, PA was dedicated. The roots of Immaculate Conception parish go back to St. James Church in West Alexander, Pa, between 1795 and 1800. Priests from Brownsville, PA came by horseback to tend to the needs of the faithful. of West Alexander, Claysville and Washington. The first resident pastor, Rev. Daniel Hickey, who resided in West Alexander, PA, was appointed in 1852. In 1852, the first Immaculate Conception Church was built in Washington, PA on the corner of Lincoln and East Wheeling Streets. In 1874, a brick building was purchased in the nearby town of Claysville, PA. Sacred Heart Church began there in 1875 and remains in use today, serving the parishioners who live in nearby Claysville. In 1900, construction began on a parochial grade and high school at the corners of North Franklin and West Chestnut Streets. The school opened in September of 1901. It was considered one of the most modern and best-equipped school buildings in the diocese and served the parish and surrounding area for the next sixty-three years. The Sisters of Mercy of Pittsburgh lived in a convent built next to the school, staffed the school.
One of the problems facing Rev. Martin J. Hughes, who became pastor in December of 1911, was the lack of centralization of the church, rectory, school and convent. In 1915, he purchased additional property on West Chestnut Street next to the school. Plans for a new church were made, and construction began in 1929. The new Immaculate Conception Church was blessed and dedicated on September 1, 1930. Rev. Hughes was instrumental in building the church, and remained here as pastor for 42 years, from 1911 to 1953. The parish mourned his death in June, 1956. He was buried next to the Chapel at I.C. Cemetery (Locust St.).
The church is of Gothic design. The walls are of masonry, with exterior faced with limestone. The altars are of Italian marble. The original plans were for a mural or mosaic on the wall behind the main altar. Due to the depression of the 1930s, plus the large debt placed on the parish for construction of the church, this was not completed. The stained-glass windows were added in 1958-1959. Rev. Ralph L. Hayes, pastor at this time, chose the basic theme, “The Immaculate Conception in Scripture, Tradition and History,” for the windows. This church is believed to be the first church in this country to bear the name “Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary,” after the promulgation of the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception by Pope Pius IX on December 8, 1854.
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Saint Hilary Church
320 Henderson Avenue, Washington, PA 15301
The Polish people of Washington, PA longed for a church and priest of their own. On June 16, 1907, the Polish people in the area met in the home of Stanley Kozlowski for the purpose of forming “The Saint Michael Archangel Society.” This small group of people undertook the task of buying land for a church, rectory and school. On May 29, 1913, the Polish Roman Catholic Congregation purchased land in Canton Township and erected a new church – Saint Michael the Archangel. Due to some controversy with the Diocese of Pittsburgh over the property, the congregation split into two (2) groups, Roman Catholics and Polish National Catholics. In May 1914, the Polish National Catholic Congregation renamed Saint Michael the Archangel to the Holy Trinity Polish National Catholic Church.
The Roman Catholics were still without a church to call her own. In July 1919, the Pittsburgh Diocese granted permission to this small group of Roman Catholics to organize a new parish that would be named Saint Hilary. Reverend Victor Majka was assigned and services were temporarily conducted in a rented room. This building was located on the corner of Allison and McAdam Avenues. In a short time, land was purchased for $1,000.00 on Henderson Avenue where the church would eventually be built. On October 23, 1919, Reverend Anthony Spiewak was appointed pastor of Saint Hilary. The parishioners rented a home at 1025 Jefferson Ave. that served as the first rectory. In November, 1919, a house was purchased on Henderson Avenue. This was used as the rectory until, March 25, 1958 when it was destroyed by fire. On October 4, 1920, the building of the new church had begun.
The materials and workers were supplied by the parish. Father Spiewak and Anthony Pyzdrowski, the contractor, saw to it that the new church was built according to specifications. Dedication of the cornerstone for the new Saint Hilary Church took place on December 12, 1920. The blessing ceremonies were conducted by Bishop Regis Canevin of Pittsburgh. The completed church was dedicated on September 5, 1921, by Hugh C. Boyle, Bishop of the Pittsburgh Diocese. The community of Saint Hilary continued to grow. On November 30, 1936, Reverend Anthony Spiewak died of pneumonia at the age of 49. The newly ordained Reverend Stanley J. Zolnierzak was appointed “Vicar Econome” of Saint Hilary. Father Zolnierzak was replaced by Reverend Andrew J. Zapora on February 1, 1937. Under the direction of Father Zapora, the membership more than tripled, the debt was paid and the school was built. In 1947, the parish had grown to the extent that the Diocese decided to assign Reverend Daniel Szczygiel as the first permanent assistant pastor. He was followed by Reverend Joseph Kolozczyk (1950); Reverend Joseph Ostrowski (1953); and Reverend Joseph Cvelbar (1959). In 1954, Saint Hilary became a territorial parish. Boundaries were set up between Saint Hilary and Immaculate Conception. On March 25, 1958, a fire broke out at the rectory. Despite the efforts of Father Cvelbar and some bystanders, Father Zapora died. Father Stanley Zolnierzak was once again appointed pastor of Saint Hilary Parish.
Father Stanley continued with the building program. A new convent for the Sisters of Saint Joseph was dedicated on December 6, 1959. Ground was broken for the new church on March 13, 1966. Fourteen months later, on May 30, 1967, Bishop John J. Wright of Pittsburgh dedicated and blessed the new Saint Hilary Church. The church population was now at 820 families.
Father Stanley Zolnierzak retired in June, 1986. Reverend Thomas D. O’Neil was appointed the new pastor of Saint Hilary Church. Under the direction of Father O’Neil, many improvements to the buildings and grounds began. The remaking of the convent into a rectory, which had begun under Father Stanley was now completed. More property was purchased and additional parking was added. Many improvements were made in the school and the school hall. A storage facility and garage were built. Landscaping added the finishing touches. Taking full advantage of the improved facilities, the parish implemented new social activities. In the mid 1990’s a complete renovation of the church’s interior began. During the next few years, walls, pews, statues and the sanctuary were totally redone. In addition, the Reconciliation room was modernized and a much-needed cry room was built. The new millennium brought with it the dedication of the newly renovated Father Zapora Hall in 2000 and our Holy Family Shrine dedicated to Father Stanley Zolnierzak in 2002. Through the years from 1919 to the present, Saint Hilary Church has made great strides. The dedicated pastors and parishioners have much to be proud of. The dream conceived many years ago has now become a reality since 1919. -
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Sacred Heart Church
Main Street, Claysville PA 15323
The origins of Sacred Heart Church are intricately tied to the spread of the Catholic faith in Washington County. In 1794, a Catholic pioneer named Henry Montague settled near West Alexander. His house became a center for other pioneers and missionaries passing through.
In 1811 Father O’Brien, the first stationary priest in Pittsburgh, offered Mass in a log chapel in the area. 1813 saw the construction of the nation’s first interstate highway, the National Pike. By 1818, the workers had reached Washington County. To minister to the needs of the construction workers, as well as the settlers the road would bring, a Father McGuire directed construction of the St. James Chapel. It was located on the Pike about a mile east of West Alexander.
St. James was visited regularly by priests from Pittsburgh and from Wheeling into the early 1830’s. In 1940, Father Duffy erected a brick chapel. As time passed the Hempfield railroad (later B & O, then CXS) was laying tracks through the area. For a short while, the construction workers joined with National Pike workers and the descendants of early settlers to bring the Catholic population to approximately 25 families. By the 1870’s, however, the brick church was becoming unsafe. Most of the permanent congregation was in the vicinity of Claysville. Land for a new church was chosen, that was close to Claysville, the railroad, and the National Road. St. James Chapel was razed and sold for the material it contained. Only the pews were kept for the new church – the same pews that are used today. It is noteworthy that the Reverend J. A. Canevin, brother to a later Bishop of Pittsburgh, was pastor for a short time during construction.
The new church was completed in 1874. The following summer, the Church of the Sacred Heart was officially dedicated by Fr. M. Domenec, with Fr. F. McCarthy named Pastor. The rural congregation did not maintain a steady growth, so Mass was celebrated only once per month, on the 2nd Sunday. It was not until 1950 that a weekly, 10:30am Mass was scheduled at Sacred Heart. That has continued to this day. In 1989, the parishioners dedicated themselves to the Divine Mercy of Jesus. -
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Saint Katharine Drexel Parish
HistorySaint Katharine Drexel Parish was established by the Most Reverend David A. Zubik, Bishop of Pittsburgh on January 8, 2017, the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord. The Reverend Edward Yuhas and the Reverend Paul Grunebach were appointed by Bishop Zubick as the first priests to serve Saint Katharine Drexel Parish.
Saint Katharine Drexel Parish is a result of a merger between the predecessor parishs of: Ave Maria-Bentleyville, Saint Agnes-Richeyville, Saint Joseph-Roscoe, Saint Oliver Plunkett-Fredericktown-Marianna, and Saint Thomas Aquinas-California.
Saint Katharine Drexel is a native of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, born in 1858 and raised in Philadelphia, where she
also lived her whole life. She was a religious woman in consecrated life who founded an order dedicated to the education of African and Native Americans. Saint Katharine Drexel served her novitiate with the Sisters of Mercy in Pittsburgh. She was canonized a saint in the Great Jubilee Year 2000 by Pope Saint John Paul II and Saint Katharine Drexel is the patron saint of racial justice and philanthropists.Bentleyville Main Church Richeyville Mission Church
126 Church St., Bentleyville, PA 15314 4 Church St., Richeyville, PA 15358
Drexel Hall
208 Abromaitis St., Bentleyville, PA 15314