Ascension of Our Lord Byzantine Catholic Church
Pastor:
Rev. John L. Mina
Address:
318 Park Avenue
Clairton, PA 15025
Phone:

412-233-7422
Fax:
412-233-0529
E-mail:
Web site:
Banquet Hall/Catering:
412-233-9455
DIVINE LITURGY SCHEDULE
Daily:
8:00 am
Saturdays:
4:00 pm
Sundays:
10:00 am
Vigil of Holy Days:
8:00 am
Holy Days:
10:00 am
Confessions:
Saturday: 3:00-3:40 pm
Sunday: 9:00-9:40 am
GREAT FAST (LENT) SERVICES
Wednesdays:
7:00 pm - Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts
Fridays:
7:00 pm - Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Eastern Christian Formation (ECF):
Sundays
8:45 - 9:45 am
grades K-8
SOCIAL/ANNUAL EVENTS
Parish Picnic:
held in late September at Clairton Park
Pirohy & Holubki sales:
held periodically
Ladies Guild Christmas Party:
held annually in December
Mother-Daughter Banquet:
held annually
Religious Education Field Trip :
held annually
ORGANIZATIONS
Holy Name Society
Ladies Guild
GCU
Lodge #288


Ascension of Our Lord Byzantine Catholic Church was founded in the bustling new industrial city of Clairton on the edge of Pittsburgh in 1907, by Greek Catholics from the kingdoms of Hungary and Galicia--Habsburg crown lands in Central Europe.  On October 6, 1907 the church was built on land acquired in 1906 and was solemnly dedicated by Bishop Soter Ortinsky (1907-1916), the first Greek Catholic bishop for the United States.  Rev. Cornelius Laurisin was the first pastor.  Under one of his successors, a rectory was erected and the cemetery was purchased. The church was adorned and finished according to the canonical requirements of the Byzantine Church.  The impressive five-tier icon screen was blessed in 1909.

In 1931 faithful parishioners carried out extensive renovations and eliminated parish debts.  A house was secured as a convent for Sisters of St. Basil the Great, who taught religion to the children.  Parish organizations were revitalized and formed anew.  These included an active Holy Name Society, Rosary Society, Altar Society, Choir and Sodality.  In the 1950's the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine of religious education teachers was formed.  Many men of the parish became active Knights of Columbus.  A marble altar and tabernacle were installed--gifts of the Altar and Holy Name Societies.

Again in 1964, a vast building program was initiated.  An elegant auditorium/banquet hall was completed on the corner of Park Avenue and Third Street.  The superior catering of the parishioners, who donated hours of dedicated labor, made possible the construction of an impressive rotunda-style church with hemispheric golden domes.  The church and a modern rectory, connected to the church by a covered walk and cloistered courtyard, were dedicated in 1981.  The enormous marble baldacchino and two carrara marble shrines arrived from Italy in 1985.  On April 30, 1989 the parish celebrated the burning of the mortgage on the church and the rectory.

In 1998 a monumental iconographic project was launched, and plans were drawn for a marble icon screen to be made in Italy.  In this Jubilee Year, Ascension Church boasts a vibrant liturgical and community life.  It has restarted its choir, has an excellent ECF program, an active Ladies Guild, a community-involved GCU Lodge, a catering and pirohi project, and participates in charitable works.

The Official Website of the
Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh
66 Riverview Avenue • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15214
Telephone: 412-231-4000 | Fax: 412-231-1697

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.