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Holy
Ghost
| Address:
828
Meadow Avenue
Charleroi, PA 15022
Contact Information:
Telephone:
724-483-8622
FAX: 724-483-0696
Email: None
Available
Website Address: N/A
Pastor: Father
James A. Ragan
Liturgy
Schedule:
N/A
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At
the close of the nineteenth century, industrialization and immigration
were transforming the farms and small towns along the Monongahela
River. The newly incorporated city, Charleroi, and its sister
towns of Monessen, Donora, Monongahela and Belle Vernon, were
leading in the new economic boom in glass production, coal mining
and steel making. Helping to fuel this new American Industrial
Age was a tidal wave of hard working immigrants from southern
and eastern Europe.
As Charleroi prospered, the needs of the many immigrants living
there grew. Among these needs was the desire to form “spiritual”
communities which would observe the many ethnic traditions of
the Byzantine Ruthenian Church. In January 1899, Rev. John
Hrabar was able to visit the faithful, solemnize marriages, baptize
the young and give hope to the growing community. Religious
services were held in the old Mound Hall on McKean Avenue.
On June 7, 1899 a fourteen member committee convened to make positive
steps for the erection of a new church. Their efforts were
successful, and six lots were purchased on Ninth and Meadow Avenues.
The new church was dedicated on July 4, 1899, and the first
pastor was Rev. Nestor Volensky. This church marked the
firm beginning of a spiritual home for the Eastern Catholics,
and it was a consolation to many Roman Catholic Slavs who came
to pray in the Slavonic tongue familiar to them.
Tragedy visited the congregation on April 27, 1907, when the wooden
church was destroyed by a tornado, leaving only the bell tower
erect. A determined congregation made new plans to rebuild
the church in stone and brick.
While the work of rebuilding was carried on, the congregation
was welcomed to the use of a hall for their religious services
at SS. Cyril and Methodius Church. The new brick church
was completed in December of 1907.
Holy Ghost Church celebrated its 60th Anniversary in 1959 under
the spiritual guidance of then Father George Kuzma, who later
as Bishop of the Eparchy of Van Nuys, California from 1991-2000.
In 1970 construction of a new church structure was completed.
The beautiful new structure was necessary to accommodate
a thriving parish family.
During the 1980’s the parish family once again reflected
the economic realities of the once heavy industrial Mid-Mon Valley.
With the decline in coal mining and steel making as well
as the aging of the community, Holy Ghost parish served the unemployed
and needy through the establishment of the Charleroi Area Food
Pantry housed at the church.
The parish faithful undertook a complete icon renovation project,
donating the time and resources to provide for 250 icons in the
church. The spirit of the church remained strong, and on
October 25, 1987, a celebration of thanksgiving for the renovation
of the church took place. Holy Ghost serves as a reminder of the
dedicated faithful who have, through their faith, generosity and
Byzantine Rite tradition, so humbly honored our Lord God in its
one hundred year history.
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The
Official Website of the
Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh
66 Riverview Avenue • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15214
Telephone: 412-231-4000 | Fax: 412-231-1697
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The
Archeparchy of Pittsburgh Website is an Official Publication
of the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh. ©
2003, Office of Communications. Neither any part of this site
nor its content may be reproduced, transmitted, copied, or
used in any way without the expressed permission of the Archeparchy
of Pittsburgh Office of Communications. This site may be linked
freely.
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