Holy Ghost Byzantine Catholic Church
Pastor:
Rev. Ronald P. Larko
Address:
225 Olivia Street
McKees Rocks, PA 15136
Phone:

412-771-3324
Fax:
412-331-1870
E-mail:
Web site:
DIVINE LITURGY SCHEDULE
Saturdays:
6:00 pm
Sundays:
9:00 am
Broadcast live over WEDO 810 AM Radio
Vigil of Holy Days:
7:00 pm
Holy Days:
9:00 am
Confessions:
4:30 - 5:30 Saturdays
GREAT FAST (LENT) SERVICES
Wednesdays
7:00 pm - Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts
HOLY MYSTERIES (SACRAMENTS)
Baptism/Chrismation/Eucharist:
by appointment
Reconciliation:
by appointment
Marriage:
by appointment
Anointing:
by appointment
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Eastern Christian Formation (ECF):
Sundays
10:30 - 11:15 am


Holy Ghost McKees Rocks
Holy Ghost inside
In 1898 the Pressed Steel Car Company built its plant in McKees Rocks, just down the river from Pittsburgh.  The plant attracted many job-seeking immigrants. At first the people attended the North Side or South Side Pittsburgh churches.  In 1905 the first lodge of the Greek Catholic Union was formed as Society No.390 under the protection of St. Michael the Archangel.  The first and most important project of the newly-formed society was the organization of a parish and construction of a new church in the town of McKees Rocks.

On April 12, 1907 the faithful filed a petition with Bishop Regis Canevin, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Pittsburgh, for permission to establish a parish.  Upon approval they decided to purchase eight lots on which the church and rectory are presently located.   In order to raise the needed amount, a parishioner provided the down payment and each parish member was assessed.  All the parish needed now was a priest of their own.

Divine Services were held in an old dance hall that was on the property when it was purchased.  The parishioners received their first priests who unfortunately did not stay long as there was no rectory for the priest and his family.  In 1908 the parish completed a rectory, and in 1913 the building of the church began.  The parish flourished under the leadership of capable pastors well into the 1950's.

For the next two decades, a parish school was successfully administered by the Sisters of Christ the Teacher.  However, with the shift in the parish population in the late 60's and early 70's, the school eventually closed.  In 1961 a new rectory was dedicated, and the old rectory became the convent.

Despite the migration of parishioners out of the “Bottoms,” the parish continued to be a hub of activity.  The church was completely renovated beginning in the Fall of 1982.  This extensive project included the complete redecoration of the sanctuary according to the Byzantine tradition.  The icon screen was brought piece by piece from Greece, and icons were written on the walls of the church.  During this renovation, an elevator was also installed for the elderly parishioners.  By Pentecost of 1983, the entire church was completed and the radio apostolate was undertaken, bringing the Divine Liturgy into countless homes each Sunday.

Today the parish is as active and busy as ever with its “landmark” Pirohi Project, the Slavjane Folk Ensemble, ECF program, GCU Lodge and Holy Ghost Golden Agers. Sunday's Radio Divine Liturgy over WEDO 810 AM brings the parish community into the homes of those unable to attend church. The future of Holy Ghost Church promises to be filled with the blessings of God. The witness of this parish shows truly, God is with us - “S nami Boh.”

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.