About Church of the Beloved Disciple · Grove City, Pennsylvania
Church of the Beloved Disciple is a Roman Catholic parish in Grove City, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, within the Diocese of Erie. The parish is named for St. John the Apostle, the 'Beloved Disciple' of Jesus, and traces its origins to 1925 when Father Cornelius Cooney was assigned to begin a Catholic mission in Grove City. Today the parish shares its ministry with the sister church of St. Michael the Archangel in Emlenton, PA, and serves the community through daily and weekend Masses, faith formation for children and youth, a Little Disciples preschool, the Knights of Columbus, the Legion of Mary, and a range of outreach, prayer, and fellowship ministries. In October 2025 the parish joyfully marked its 100th anniversary with Bishop Lawrence Persico presiding at a milestone Mass.
- Established
- 1925
- Patron
- St. John the Apostle (the Beloved Disciple)
- Rector
- Very Rev. V. David Foradori, E.V.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Erie
Why belong here
Beloved Disciple Parish offers a full schedule of Masses each week (including a Saturday Vigil and two Sunday Masses between Grove City and St. Michael in Emlenton), Saturday confession, and monthly Eucharistic Adoration, making daily sacramental life very accessible. Families are served by a robust Faith Formation program (K-12), a Little Disciples Preschool, and youth groups EDGE (middle school) and Purpose (grade 9), while adults find community through the Legion of Mary, Knights of Columbus Council #3658, Altar Rosary Society, Bible Study, Book Club, the St. Monica Prayer Group, and the Beloved Mercy outreach ministry. Welcoming newcomers is a stated priority: 'Please contact the parish office for an appointment to register or fill out our Parish Registration Form online. We hope you will become a part of our parish family!'
Mass times at Church of the Beloved Disciple
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30pm – 4:15pm (at Beloved Disciple)
- Sunday 8:00am – 8:40am (at St. Michael the Archangel, Emlenton)
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Fridays before first Saturdays, following the 8:00am Morning Mass (at Beloved Disciple)
Parish History
Catholic life in the Grove City area traces back to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Hallsville in the early 1900s. When that small church could no longer hold its nearly 80 parishioners, a building committee led by John McCune Jr. worked to bring a new Catholic church into the borough. On February 27, 1925, Rev. Cornelius Cooney was assigned to Grove City and began saying Mass in the Odd Fellows Hall on South Broad Street. Groundbreaking was held April 18, 1926, the cornerstone was laid July 18, 1926, and the English-cottage-style church designed by Fuller and Steckler of Erie was dedicated October 2, 1927. The Our Lady of the Sacred Heart building was razed, but its bell and statues were preserved — the bell, gifted by the Darcangelo family, was housed in a separate structure on the church's north side. The original facility was finally completed in 1950 with a Bianca Dura marble statue of St. John in the front niche, a new rectory followed in 1960, a contemporary re-modeling in 1970, and an education building in 1971. In 2005 a new church was built on South Center Street Extension and the old building was sold. On October 5, 2025, the parish joyfully marked 100 years with Bishop Lawrence Persico.
- 1896: Rev. Fred Borman founded the Catholic mission in Grove City
- Early 1900s: Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Hallsville served as the original church
- 1925: Rev. Cornelius Cooney assigned as first pastor (1925-1935)
- 1927: Church of the Beloved Disciple dedicated October 2
- 1950: Bianca Dura marble statue of St. John placed in front niche
- 1960: New rectory built
- 1970: Interior re-modeled from traditional to contemporary style
- 1971: Education building completed
- 2005: New church building constructed at 1310 South Center Street Extension
- October 5, 2025: 100th anniversary Mass celebrated with Bishop Lawrence Persico
Pastor & Parish Staff
The parish is led by Very Rev. V. David Foradori, E.V., and assisted by Deacon Owen Wagner. A team of lay staff coordinate faith formation, music, outreach, the parish office, and the Little Disciples Preschool.
- Very Rev. V. David Foradori, E.V. — Pastor (ext. 111, [email protected])
- Deacon Owen Wagner — Deacon Assistant (ext. 110, [email protected])
- Mikey Bancroft — Parish Secretary / Outreach Contact (ext. 100, [email protected])
- Marialyce Garvis — Director of Faith Formation (ext. 112)
- Lisa Bablak — Faith Formation Secretary (ext. 115, [email protected])
- Christine Guarnieri, OFS — Music Director (ext. 117, [email protected])
- Victoria Wagner — Outreach / Beloved Mercy Ministry Coordinator (ext. 116)
- Lorie Wizorek — Little Disciples Preschool Director (724-748-6868)
- Nelsa Armour — Environment
- Beverly Walter — Little Disciples Aide
- Kathy Whittaker — Little Disciples Aide
- James Shuey — Part-time Custodian
- Tanya Carr — Faith Formation Coordinator (St. Michael site, 724-867-2422)
- Amy Kaufman — Secretary / Bookkeeper (St. Michael site)
- Jennifer May — Music Minister (St. Michael site)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at Beloved Disciple and St. Michael serves children from kindergarten through high school with a tiered Sunday program. Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation is integrated into the formation year, and adult faith formation meets twice a month.
- Grades K-5: Sundays 9:15-10:45am (Beloved Disciple)
- Grades 6-8 EDGE: Sundays 6:00-8:00pm
- Grade 9 Purpose: Sundays 6:00-8:00pm
- Grades 10-12: Sundays 6:00-8:00pm
- St. Michael site: Grades K-8, Sundays 10:00-11:30am
- Adult Faith Formation: 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, 5:30-7:00pm
- Director of Faith Formation: Marialyce Garvis (ext. 112)
- Faith Formation Secretary: Lisa Bablak (ext. 115)
- Tuition: $25/student up to $75/family max; need-based scholarships available
Little Disciples Preschool
Little Disciples Preschool is the parish's early-childhood faith-and-learning program, directed by Lorie Wizorek and assisted by Beverly Walter and Kathy Whittaker. It is part of the parish family and shares the parish campus at 1310 South Center Street Extension.
- Director: Lorie Wizorek (724-748-6868)
- Aides: Beverly Walter, Kathy Whittaker
Music & Liturgy
Liturgical music is coordinated by Christine Guarnieri, OFS at Beloved Disciple and Jennifer May at St. Michael the Archangel. The parish livestreams the Saturday 4:30pm and Sunday 11:00am Masses on its Facebook page, allowing homebound parishioners and those away from home to remain connected to the parish's liturgies.
- Music Director (BD): Christine Guarnieri, OFS (ext. 117, [email protected])
- Music Minister (StM): Jennifer May (724-867-2422)
- Live-streamed Masses on Facebook: Saturday 4:30pm and Sunday 11:00am
Parish Outreach & Service Ministries
Outreach is coordinated through a dedicated ministry team led by Parish Secretary/Outreach Contact Mikey Bancroft and Outreach/Beloved Mercy Ministry Coordinator Victoria Wagner. The parish partners with Vitalant for community blood drives and supports the Knights of Columbus Council #3658's Helping Hand Program, which assists parishioners with travel and incidental costs during medical treatment.
- Parish Secretary / Outreach Contact: Mikey Bancroft (ext. 100)
- Outreach / Beloved Mercy Ministry Coordinator: Victoria Wagner (ext. 116)
- Vitalant Community Blood Drives held at the parish
- Knights of Columbus #3658 Helping Hand Program (Emlenton Council #4602 also active)
- Funeral meals, parish picnic, chicken & biscuit dinners, and soup dinners (Altar Rosary Society)
- Knights of Columbus Lenten Fish Dinners, Fridays during Lent 4:00-6:30pm
Prayer Groups & Devotions
Beyond the Mass schedule, the parish sustains a rich devotional life through the Legion of Mary, a Tuesday-evening Rosary group, a Bible Study, a Book Club, and the St. Monica Prayer Group that gathers to pray for loved ones and themselves through St. Monica's intercession.
- Legion of Mary (BD): Wednesdays at 6:00pm in the Schleigh Library
- Holy Rosary: Tuesdays at 6:00pm in the church
- Bible Study: Mondays at 6:00pm
- Book Club: monthly discussion
- St. Monica Prayer Group: 2nd Tuesday of every month, 7:00-8:00pm, Schleigh Library
Knights of Columbus Council #3658
Knights of Columbus Council #3658 was chartered in Grove City in 1953 under the leadership of Natale Rossi. The council continues to serve the parish and broader community from its hall adjacent to the church at 1342 S. Center St. Ext. (Route 208), Grove City, PA. Business meetings are held at 8:00pm on the first Wednesday of each month. The council is well known in the parish for sponsoring the Friday Lenten Fish Dinners and for its many charitable works.
- Chartered 1953 under founding Grand Knight Natale Rossi
- Hall located adjacent to the church at 1342 S. Center St. Ext., Grove City, PA
- Business meetings: 1st Wednesday, 8:00pm, K of C Hall
- Lenten Fish Dinners: Fridays during Lent, 4:00-6:30pm
Sister Parish: St. Michael the Archangel, Emlenton
Beloved Disciple Parish shares ministry with St. Michael the Archangel in Emlenton, PA (807 Chestnut Street, PO Box 117, Emlenton, PA 16373, 724-867-2422). St. Michael's offers Sunday Mass at 9:00am, Sunday Confession at 8:00-8:40am, Grades K-8 Faith Formation on Sundays 10:00-11:30am, and shares the parish's clergy and faith formation team. Office hours at the Emlenton site are Monday-Thursday 9:00am-4:00pm.
- Address: 807 Chestnut Street, PO Box 117, Emlenton, PA 16373
- Phone: (724) 867-2422
- Sunday Mass: 9:00am
- Sunday Confession: 8:00-8:40am
- Faith Formation (K-8): Sundays 10:00-11:30am
- Altar Rosary Society (StM): 3rd Wednesday at 6:00pm
Visiting & Joining the Parish
Newcomers are warmly welcomed at Beloved Disciple. The parish asks visitors to contact the office for an appointment to register or to fill out the Parish Registration Form online. Registration forms can also be mailed, dropped off, or placed in the collection basket. Parishioners and visitors are encouraged to greet the pastor after Mass.
- Parish office phone: (724) 748-6700
- Office hours at Grove City: Monday 9:00am-1:00pm
- Office hours at St. Michael, Emlenton: Monday-Thursday 9:00am-4:00pm
- Online Parish Registration Form available via the parish website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Cornelius Cooney1925-1935
First Pastor; assigned to Grove City February 27, 1925; began Mass in the Odd Fellows Hall; oversaw construction and 1927 dedication of the church.