About Epiphany - Divine Mercy Parish · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Divine Mercy Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, established on January 6, 2020 through the merger of two historic Center-City parishes — the Church of the Epiphany and St. Mary of Mercy — under the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Located in the heart of the city near the Hill District/Uptown neighborhoods, the parish operates across two landmark churches (Epiphany Church at Washington Place and Centre Avenue, and St. Mary of Mercy at Stanwix Street and the Boulevard of the Allies). Its mission centers on being a Eucharistic center offering daily Mass, frequent confession, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Catholic speaker series, youth and young adult events, outreach to the vulnerable, and the well-known Red Door hospitality ministry that feeds those in need.
- Established
- 2020
- Patron
- The Divine Mercy
- Rector
- Rev. Nicholas Vaskov
- Diocese
- Diocese of Pittsburgh
Why belong here
Divine Mercy is one of the few downtown parishes where Catholics can encounter a complete sacramental life — daily Mass in two historic churches, frequent weekday confessions, multiple Eucharistic adoration hours, vibrant devotions including a Marian Mass on First Saturdays, and adoration every Sunday morning before the 10:00 AM Mass ad orientem. Beyond the sanctuary, the parish is anchored by the Red Door, a Great-Depression-era hospitality ministry that still provides free meals, a food pantry, showers, laundry, clothing, and personal-care items six days a week to those in need. Whether you live in the city, work downtown, attend Duquesne University, or simply want a Catholic home rooted in Tradition, service, and devotion to the Divine Mercy, you will find a place here.
Mass times at Epiphany - Divine Mercy Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 9:00 AM – 10:45 AM — Epiphany Church
- Monday – Friday 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM — Saint Mary of Mercy (follows the noon Mass)
- Friday 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM — Epiphany Church
Adoration times
- Sunday 9:00 AM – 9:45 AM — Epiphany Church
- Wednesday 7:30 AM – 11:45 AM — Epiphany Church
- Friday 7:30 AM – 11:45 AM — Epiphany Church
- Monday – Friday 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM — Saint Mary of Mercy
- Monday – Friday 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM — Saint Mary of Mercy
- Monday – Friday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM — Epiphany Church
About Divine Mercy Parish
Established on January 6, 2020, and rooted in Catholic Tradition and Faith, Divine Mercy Parish is made up of the former parishioners of the Church of the Epiphany and Saint Mary of Mercy, located in the heart of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. The parish aims to root itself as a Eucharistic Center, devoted to offering spiritual and physical nourishment to a diverse community — both parishioners and non-parishioners alike. Parish life centers on vibrant liturgies, frequent confession, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, a Catholic Speaker Series, youth and young adult events, encounters with and for the most vulnerable, outreach ministry, and multicultural encounters.
History of the Parish
The two historic churches that now make up Divine Mercy Parish each have their own deep roots in Pittsburgh Catholic life, coming together under Bishop David Zubik's 'Center-City Catholic Parishes' plan.
Church of the Epiphany (1902)
Epiphany Church was created when St. Paul Cathedral was moved from downtown to Oakland in the early 1900s. Bishop Phelan petitioned the Court of Common Pleas in 1901 to sell the old cathedral to Henry Clay Frick for $1,325,000 and to build a new church, rectory, and school on Washington Place for the Catholic families of the Uptown neighborhood. Bishop Phelan blessed the cornerstone on August 10, 1902; the building was dedicated on August 2, 1903 at a total construction cost of $386,016.12, and Epiphany served as the diocesan pro-cathedral until 1906 when the new St. Paul Cathedral in Oakland was consecrated.
- Founding pastor: Rev. Lawrence O'Connell (served 54 years)
- Architect: Edward Stotz (Romanesque with Byzantine details)
- Designated a Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation Historic Landmark in 1998
- New four-story rectory blessed by Bishop Zubik in Spring 2010 (architect John Conzulo Associates, contractor P. J. Dick Co.)
Saint Mary of Mercy (1870)
St. Mary of Mercy was founded in 1870, two years after a house was purchased in September 1868 and converted into a chapel called Our Lady of Consolation for the Irish residents of the Point area. Originally a mission of St. Paul Cathedral, it became an independent parish in 1870, purchased the old Ames Methodist Episcopal Church in 1876 (rededicated that September), built a new church dedicated May 28, 1893, and finally replaced it with the present church — the fourth on the site — dedicated October 25, 1936 at the corner of Stanwix Street and the Boulevard of the Allies.
- Present church dedicated October 25, 1936
- Hosted the Red Door hospitality ministry from its Great Depression origins
Merger into Divine Mercy Parish
On October 15, 2018, Bishop Zubik named Rev. Christopher D. Donley as Administrator with the responsibility of bringing the Center-City Catholic Parishes (Epiphany, St. Mary of Mercy, St. Benedict the Moor, and St. Patrick-St. Stanislaus) together as one. The merger was accomplished on January 6, 2020, creating Divine Mercy Parish under the patronage of the Divine Mercy.
- Administrator: Rev. Christopher D. Donley (2018–2020)
- Established: January 6, 2020
- Pastor: Rev. Nicholas Vaskov
The Red Door Outreach Ministry
The Red Door is Divine Mercy Parish's signature outreach to the Pittsburgh community. It began during the Great Depression as a simple-meal ministry and has grown to meet a wide range of human needs. The Red Door currently serves two meals a day, six days a week, plus Sunday Supper on Sunday afternoons. Lunch typically includes a snack bag, juice, water, and a sandwich — all given freely with nothing expected in return. The ministry is 100% reliant on donations.
- Location: Boulevard of the Allies side of Saint Mary of Mercy Church, 202 Stanwix Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
- Provides: free meals, food pantry, showers, laundry, clothing, blankets, tents, personal hygiene products
- Sunday Supper: Sunday afternoons
- Volunteer sign-ups available via the parish website (Sunday Sign Ups link)
- Active social media presence: @thereddoorpgh on Instagram and Facebook
Parish Staff
Divine Mercy Parish is led by a pastor and supported by an active team of priests, a deacon, and lay staff in administration, evangelization, music, and the Red Door outreach.
- Pastor: Rev. Nicholas Vaskov
- Parochial priests: Rev. Edward Bryce, Rev. Pio-Anthony Okafor, Rev. Peter Claver, Rev. Matthew Hawkins, Rev. Emmanuel Mezza, Rev. Leonard Zifac Nyuydze, Rev. John Minde
- Deacon John Corcoran
- Deacon Scott Potter (Red Door) and Heidi Potter
- Erica Paul — Office Manager
- Dolores Shipe — Pastoral Associate
- JJ Cuddy — Business Manager
- Lucia Boulos — Evangelization Assistant
- Ian Brown — Music Director
- Katie Dorman — Red Door Coordinator
- Part-Time Red Door Assistants
Ministries & Formation
The parish offers a variety of ministries for spiritual growth, evangelization, and community formation, as outlined in the parish's mission statement and website.
- Catholic Speaker Series
- Youth and Young Adult events
- Outreach to the vulnerable
- Multicultural encounters
- Daughter's Women's Bible Study (Mondays 10:15 AM)
Locations & Visiting
Divine Mercy Parish operates across two historic churches and a single parish administrative center.
- Parish Center / Epiphany Rectory: 164 Washington Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 (directly opposite Chatham Center)
- Epiphany Church: Washington Place and Centre Avenue, Hill District / Uptown (next to PPG Paints Arena)
- Saint Mary of Mercy Church: 202 Stanwix Street at the Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
- Parish phone: 412-471-0257 / 412-471-0654
- Email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Lawrence O'Connell1902–c.1956 (54 years)
Founding pastor of Church of the Epiphany; built the parish's schools, residences, ministries, and served the multi-ethnic neighborhood through the mid-20th century.
- Rev. James W. Garvey
Former pastor of Epiphany; author of 'Epiphany in Uptown' and 'Our Second Century of Service' historical writings on the parish.
- Rev. Christopher D. Donley2018–2020
Administrator named October 15, 2018 by Bishop Zubik to lead the unification of the Center-City Catholic Parishes; oversaw the merger that created Divine Mercy Parish on January 6, 2020.
- Rev. Nicholas Vaskov2020–present
Current Pastor; also serves as Director of the Shrines of Pittsburgh and previously as Administrator of St. Mary of Mercy Parish.