About Ascension Church /of St. Philip Parish · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Ascension Church is one of two worship centers in Saint Philip Parish, located near Ingram, Pennsylvania. It serves the communities of Crafton, Ingram, Crafton Heights, Sheraden, Elliott, West End, and Thornburg, alongside St. Philip Church in Crafton. The parish, which includes the former Ascension, Guardian Angels, and Holy Innocents parishes, is one of the oldest in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, founded in 1839. It offers a vibrant community of intentional discipleship, with opportunities for faith formation, sacraments, and active stewardship through ministries. The current pastor is Father James Torquato.
- Established
- 1839
- Patron
- St. Philip the Apostle
- Rector
- Father James Torquato
- Diocese
- Diocese of Pittsburgh
Why belong here
Saint Philip Parish offers a vibrant community of intentional discipleship with opportunities for active stewardship through time, talent, and treasure. You can find your place in parish ministries, programs, and the school, and encounter the Lord through sacraments, faith formation, and community events. Whether you’re new to the area or seeking deeper involvement, you’re invited to join this long-standing parish family with roots dating back to 1839.
Mass times at Ascension Church /of St. Philip Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
About Us
Welcome to Saint Philip Parish! We are a vibrant community of intentional disciples in the communities of Crafton, Ingram, Crafton Heights, Sheraden, Elliott, West End and Thornburg. Our parish has a long and rich history in this part of Allegheny County going back to 1839 – before the Diocese of Pittsburgh was even established! Our roots are diverse and have traversed through many changes and new beginnings as we continue to carry out the work of Christ in our local area. Saint Philip Parish strives to provide for each parishioner, young and old, ample avenues to live their faith with time, talent and treasure. You are invited to find YOUR place in our parish family and use this website to connect with our parish ministries, programs and school.
History
St. Philip Parish is one of the oldest parishes in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. In fact, when it was established in 1839, it was the Archbishop of Philadelphia, the Bishop Francis Patrick Kenrick, who dedicated the original church, which was located in the center of today’s parish cemetery. St. Philip pre-dates the Diocese of Pittsburgh and was the only Catholic church located on the western side of Pittsburgh beyond the Ohio River for many years. It was in 1838, that a lot, containing one acre and 95 perches, was acquired from Philip Smith, a Philadelphia merchant, “for the use and benefit of the Roman Catholic congregation of St. Clair Township and of the neighborhood, to be used, occupied, and enjoyed by them as a cemetery or burying ground, and also for the erection thereon of a church for the use and benefit of said congregation and of the Roman Catholic religion forever.” From the Diary and Visitation Record of Bishop Kenrick, 1839: “July the twenty-fifth day. I dedicated to divine service a church under the invocation of St. Philip the Apostle, distant about four miles from Pittsburg, near Chartier’s Creek. The ground (for this church) was given by Philip Smith, a truly worthy Catholic, and esteemed for his sincere and upright life. The Rev. John O’Reilly celebrated the High Mass; and there were present also the Rev. Edward Garland and the Rev. Joseph Cody. Jeremiah Dunlevy, a very good man who lives not far from the church, entertained us at dinner.” Families comprising the early congregation were: the Flanigans, Dunns, Campbells, Doyles, McCabes, McDermotts, Murphys, Dunlevys, Coleman, Rodgers, Bourkes, Bonnetts and Walshes. Many of these early parishioners are buried in the church cemetery. When the Diocese of Pittsburgh was established in 1843, St. Philip was one of only seven churches listed in Allegheny County, according to the journal of Bishop Michal O’Connor. For the first year the care of the new church was in the hands of Rev. John O’Reilly, then pastor of St. Paul Church, Pittsburgh. For the first year the care of the new church was in the hands of Rev. John O’Reilly, then Pastor of St. Paul, Pittsburgh. Late in 1840, however, the Rev. Andrew Gibbs took charge, celebrating Mass monthly, dividing his time between two other widely separated parishes, those at Pine Creek and Wexford, making his journey on horseback. Father Gibbs was one of the most remarkable of the pioneer priests of this district. The same is true of the next priest who served St. Philip, the Rev. Thomas McCullagh, who was the first priest ordained in and for the newly established Diocese of Pittsburgh. He shepherded the flock at St. Philip for a few years after his ordination. Rev. John Powell came in 1846, Father John Tuigg, later becoming Bishop of Pittsburgh, came in 1850 and Rev. James McGowan was assigned to St. Philip in 1851. St. James Parish, Temperanceville, now Pittsburgh’s West End, was formed in 1854 and for the next twelve years St. Philip was a mission of St. James. Rev. James McGowan was in charge of the two churches in 1854, Rev. John Baptist O’Connor and Rev. Cornelius Sheehan in 1855, Rev. John Hackett in 1856-57, and Rev. Matthew Carroll from 1857 to 1870. Under Fr. Carroll the original church was lengthened twenty-five feet.
Ministries
Saint Philip Parish offers many opportunities for active stewardship of time, talent and treasure! Please notify the Parish Office if you are interested in becoming involved. From Our Pastor: 'You are invited to find YOUR place in our parish family and use this website to connect with our parish ministries, programs and school.'
Sacraments
The parish offers all sacraments including Baptism, Reconciliation, Eucharist, Confirmation, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders. The Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) is available for adults and children seeking to learn more about the Catholic Faith.