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Holy
Protection of the Mother of God
| Address:
2115
Listravia Avenue
Morgantown, WV 26505
Contact Information:
Telephone:
304-296-2455
FAX: n/a
Email: n/a
Website Address: n/a
Pastor: Rev. Michael Huszti
Liturgy
Schedule:
please call church for times.
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PARISH HISTORY
At the turn
of the century, the steel mills of West Virginia were an attractive
enticement to recent European immigrants. They beckoned the newcomers
to journey to this part of the country offering hope for a stable
life for the families that would join its forces. It was in this
industrial environment that Holy Protection of the Mother of God
parish was formed. While the new immigrants began to establish
roots and raise families in their new home, they realized that
there was one important part of heir lives missing--a church of
their own. In 1915 approximately one hundred people began to organize
under the leadership of Reverend Theophile Zatkovich to form what
would become the parish often simply referred to as St. Mary’s.
In 1918 this dedicated group of pioneers undertook the project
of building a permanent church structure, the same edifice that
continues to serve the faithful of the parish to this very day.
The young parish would face many trying times but always emerged
strengthened in their dedication to the church. Their founding
pastor would remain with them until 1923; he would later become
the first chancellor of the newly created Exarchate of Pittsburgh.
In the years that followed, the people would see numerous pastors
come and go. To date, twenty-six pastors, many of whom were non-resident,
have served the parish. Despite the numerous transitions and uncertainties,
the parish continued to grow and flourish.
In the early 1970’s the church would lose a great deal of
its property and its rectory to what is presently Interstate 68.
In 1972 a rectory was added onto the church structure and a hall
was built underneath it. In 1983 the original dome of the church
was replaced with an onion dome that can be seen from I-68. Between
the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, a ramp was constructed
for handicapped accessibility and a vestibule added to the front
of the church. By the end of 1999, the parish hopes to have a
hall addition completed that will enhance the existing facilities
and provide more spacious accommodations for social gatherings.
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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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