About Bentleyville Main Church (Ave Maria) of St. Katharine Drexel Parish · Bentleyville, Pennsylvania
Bentleyville Main Church (Ave Maria) is one of two worship sites of Saint Katharine Drexel Parish, a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Pittsburgh serving Bentleyville, Richeyville, Roscoe, Fredericktown-Marianna, and California in Washington County, Pennsylvania. The parish was established on January 8, 2017 (the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord) by Bishop David A. Zubik through the merger of five predecessor parishes: Ave Maria–Bentleyville, Saint Agnes–Richeyville, Saint Joseph–Roscoe, Saint Oliver Plunkett–Fredericktown-Marianna, and Saint Thomas Aquinas–California. Saint Katharine Drexel Parish is now in partnership with Saint James Parish in Washington, and together they share priests, a website, and coordinated Mass and Confession schedules across multiple worship sites.
- Established
- 2017
- Patron
- Saint Katharine Drexel (Philadelphia heiress and foundress of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament; canonized October 1, 2000 by Pope Saint John Paul II)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Pittsburgh (Roman Catholic)
Why belong here
Saint Katharine Drexel Parish offers traditional Catholic worship in several small-town churches, with the 4:00 PM Saturday Vigil and 11:00 AM Sunday Masses at Bentleyville Main Church forming the heart of its weekly schedule. As a merged parish of five historic communities (Ave Maria–Bentleyville, Saint Agnes–Richeyville, Saint Joseph–Roscoe, Saint Oliver Plunkett–Fredericktown-Marianna, and Saint Thomas Aquinas–California), it carries on more than a century of Catholic life in Washington County while being partnered with Saint James Parish for shared resources and an active schedule of Confession, Adoration, and devotional prayer.
Mass times at Bentleyville Main Church (Ave Maria) of St. Katharine Drexel Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:20–3:45 PM at Bentleyville Main Church (also by appointment, call 724-209-1370)
- Sunday 8:20–8:45 AM at Richeyville Mission Church (also by appointment, call 724-209-1370)
Adoration times
- Friday 9:30 AM–6:15 PM at Bentleyville Main Church — ONLY during LENT (Benediction/Reposition begins at 6:15 PM; volunteer coordinator: Deacon Mike Gatto, [email protected], 724-209-1370)
Parish History
Saint Katharine Drexel Parish was canonically erected on January 8, 2017, the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, by Most Reverend David A. Zubik, Bishop of Pittsburgh. It is the product of a five-parish merger that brought together Ave Maria of Bentleyville, Saint Agnes of Richeyville, Saint Joseph of Roscoe, Saint Oliver Plunkett of Fredericktown-Marianna, and Saint Thomas Aquinas of California into a single new parish serving the small coal-country communities of southwestern Washington County, Pennsylvania. Bishop Zubik appointed the Reverend Edward Yuhas and the Reverend Paul Grunebach as the first priests to serve the parish. The parish bears the name of Saint Katharine Drexel, the Philadelphia heiress who founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament and who did part of her formation with the Sisters of Mercy in Pittsburgh before being canonized by Pope Saint John Paul II on October 1, 2000.
- Established: January 8, 2017 by Bishop David A. Zubik
- Predecessor parishes: Ave Maria (Bentleyville), Saint Agnes (Richeyville), Saint Joseph (Roscoe), Saint Oliver Plunkett (Fredericktown-Marianna), Saint Thomas Aquinas (California)
- First priests appointed: Rev. Edward Yuhas and Rev. Paul Grunebach
- Patron: Saint Katharine Drexel, canonized 2000
Worship Sites & Facilities
Saint Katharine Drexel Parish has two worship sites: Bentleyville Main Church (the former Ave Maria parish) at 126 Church Street, Bentleyville, and the Richeyville Mission Church (the former Saint Agnes parish) at 2 Church Street, Richeyville. Parish gatherings and meetings outside the church buildings are held at Drexel Hall, 208 Abromaitis Street, Bentleyville.
- Bentleyville Main Church — 126 Church St., Bentleyville, PA 15314
- Richeyville Mission Church — 2 Church St., Richeyville, PA 15358
- Drexel Hall — 208 Abromaitis St., Bentleyville, PA 15314
Catholic Partner Parishes (with Saint James Parish)
Saint Katharine Drexel Parish is partnered with Saint James Parish in Washington, PA. Together they form the 'Catholic Partner Parishes,' sharing clergy, a single combined website (catholicpartnerparishes.org), and one unified schedule of Masses, Confessions, Adoration, and devotions across all worship sites. Saint James contributes Immaculate Conception Church (Washington), Saint Hilary Church (Washington), and Sacred Heart Church (Claysville).
- Saint James Parish sites: Immaculate Conception Church (119 W. Chestnut St., Washington), Saint Hilary Church (320 Henderson Ave., Washington), Sacred Heart Church (Main St., Claysville)
- Combined online home: catholicpartnerparishes.org
- Sunday Mass radio broadcast: WJPA AM 1450 / 95.3 FM (from Immaculate Conception, 10:00 AM)
Lenten & Holy Week Devotions
The combined parishes publish a coordinated calendar of Lenten Penance Services and Holy Week devotions across all worship sites. Most-recent published examples (2024) include communal Penance Services at Richeyville Mission, Immaculate Conception, Bentleyville Main, and Saint Hilary, plus Holy Thursday evening devotions at Bentleyville Main Church (6:30 PM–10:00 PM) and Immaculate Conception (7:00 PM until midnight).
- Penance Service: Monday 6:00 PM — Richeyville Mission
- Penance Service: Tuesday 6:00 PM — Immaculate Conception
- Penance Service: Wednesday 6:00 PM — Bentleyville Main / Immaculate Conception / Saint Hilary
- Holy Thursday: 6:30 PM–10:00 PM — Bentleyville Main; 7:00 PM–Midnight — Immaculate Conception
Contact & Getting Involved
The parish office can be reached by phone at (724) 209-1370 or by email at [email protected]. The combined Catholic Partner Parishes website (catholicpartnerparishes.org) is the central hub for Mass times, Confession and Adoration schedules, event calendars, parish histories, and contact information for both Saint James Parish and Saint Katharine Drexel Parish.
- Phone: (724) 209-1370
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: catholicpartnerparishes.org
- Parish office: shared with Saint James Parish (Washington, PA)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Edward Yuhas2017–
Co-first priest appointed by Bishop Zubik when the merged parish was established on January 8, 2017.
- Rev. Paul Grunebach2017–
Co-first priest appointed by Bishop Zubik when the merged parish was established on January 8, 2017.