About Holy Cross · Youngwood, Pennsylvania
Holy Cross Parish is a Catholic community of more than 600 families in Youngwood, Pennsylvania, part of the Diocese of Greensburg. The parish traces its origins to 1908 and today gathers for daily and Sunday Mass, offers faith formation for children and adults, runs an active youth ministry, and supports a wide range of liturgical and pastoral ministries. It is pastored by Fr. Rogelio Rodriguez ('Fr. Rod') with Deacon John Zombar assisting, and its parish life is shaped by long-standing groups including the Women's Guild, the Knights of Columbus, the Ministry of Care, and a CCD program for children in kindergarten through fifth grade.
- Established
- 1917
- Patron
- The Holy Cross (Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross)
- Rector
- Rev. Rogelio Rodriguez (Fr. Rod)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Greensburg
Why belong here
Holy Cross is a welcoming, multigenerational parish of more than 600 families that lives out its faith through daily Mass, a thorough faith-formation program for children in K–5 (with RCIA for adults), an active Youth Ministry, and a deep bench of lay-led ministries. Parishioners can serve as lectors, altar servers, ushers, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, choir members and cantors, or join the Ministry of Care, Women's Guild, Knights of Columbus, or Prayer Chain. The parish's combination of traditional devotions — including an annual Candlelight Service for the beloved dead and the Christmas Angel Tree Project — with strong catechesis and a clear, well-published Mass and confession schedule makes it easy to plug in.
Mass times at Holy Cross
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 p.m. (immediately preceding the 5:00 p.m. Vigil Mass)
Parish History
Catholic worship in Youngwood goes back to 1908, when Benedictine Fr. Edward Andelfinger began celebrating Sunday Mass in the community under permission from Bishop Regis Canevin of Pittsburgh. He stopped after a year because the Catholic population was so small. In 1914 Bishop Canevin authorized an official mission, and two and a half lots were purchased from the Youngwood Land Company in August 1916 for a 35-by-65-foot church on the corner of Eighth and Depot Streets. Benedictine Fr. Germain Ball celebrated the first Mass there in 1917; he died in March 1918, and Fr. Gilbert Straub took over as pastor. A few months after Fr. Germain's death, Bishop Canevin blessed and dedicated the new church under the title of Holy Cross.
- 1908 — First Sunday Masses in Youngwood by Fr. Edward Andelfinger, OSB
- 1914 — Bishop Canevin authorizes a Catholic mission in Youngwood
- 1916 — Two and one-half lots purchased from the Youngwood Land Company
- 1917 — First Mass in original 35′ × 65′ Holy Cross Church (Eighth & Depot Streets)
- 1918 — Fr. Gilbert Straub becomes pastor; Bishop Canevin blesses and dedicates church as Holy Cross
- 1953 — Fr. Hubert Macko, OSB, assigned as second (and last) Benedictine pastor
- June 30, 1955 — Bishop Hugh L. Lamb constitutes Holy Cross a separate parish with St. Gilbert (Hunker) as its mission
- 1955 — Fr. Joseph A. Pernatozzi appointed first resident pastor
- May 1961 — Plans for a larger addition announced
- March 19, 1962 — Bishop William G. Connare breaks ground for the addition
- December 22, 1962 — First Mass concelebrated in the almost-completed addition
- April 21, 1963 — 500-seat addition dedicated by Bishop Connare
Clergy & Parish Staff
Holy Cross is pastored by Fr. Rogelio Rodriguez (known to parishioners as 'Fr. Rod'), who also serves as Trust Administrator. He is assisted by Deacon John Zombar. The parish office is staffed Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (closed 12:00–1:00 p.m. for lunch), by Office Assistant Samantha Zuckowich, who is also the primary email contact.
- Pastor & Trust Administrator: Rev. Rogelio Rodriguez (Fr. Rod)
- Deacon: John Zombar
- Office Assistant: Samantha Zuckowich
- Director of Music & Worship: Dr. Eugene M. Dangelo
- Sacristan: Eleanor Hamrock
- Custodian: Timi Fowler
- Prayer Chain: Judy Field
- Ministry of Care Facilitator: Joan Jones
- Faith Formation & Facebook: Jennifer Kirshner
- Youth Ministry: Bob Chappell
- Clearances and Virtus Training: Michele Wentzel
- Knights of Columbus liaison: Ed Lucas
- Women's Guild President: Kim Tlumack
Office Hours & Contact
The parish office is open four days a week for visits and phone calls. The mailing address, phone, fax and email are all listed on the parish website's Contact Us page.
- Address: 711 Depot Street, Youngwood, PA 15697
- Phone: 724-925-7811
- Fax: 724-925-6170
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday–Thursday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (closed 12:00–1:00 p.m. for lunch); closed Friday–Sunday
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Holy Cross runs a structured K–5 Faith Formation program (also known as CCD) on Sunday mornings, plus the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) and a separate Youth Ministry track. The K–5 program meets in the Tots-N-Tikes daycare building next to the church from 8:45 a.m. to 9:45 a.m., running from late September through late April. Each month includes a family day, and older children take on roles in the liturgy as ushers, readers, gift-carriers, and altar servers.
- K–5 Faith Formation (CCD) — Sundays 8:45–9:45 a.m., September–April, in the Tots-N-Tikes building next to the church
- K & 1st grade — introduction to the Catholic Church and basic prayers
- 2nd grade — preparation for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist (three additional parent/child meetings/retreats required)
- 3rd–5th grade — continued formation on the road to Confirmation
- Monthly family days with parents
- RCIA for adults seeking initiation into the Catholic Church
- Faith Formation contact: Jennifer Kirshner, 412-849-4922
- All catechists and aides must complete VIRTUS training, adhere to the diocesan Code of Pastoral Conduct, and hold PA Child Services Law clearances
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners serve the Mass and other liturgies in a wide range of roles, from the sanctuary to the gathering space. All liturgical ministers must meet the Diocese of Greensburg's VIRTUS training, Code of Pastoral Conduct, and background-check requirements.
- Altar Servers — boys and girls who have made First Holy Communion
- Lectors (Readers)
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Ushers — welcome and seat the congregation, assist the handicapped, take up collections
- Communion to the Sick and Homebound — brings the Eucharist to parishioners in nursing homes, personal-care homes, and private residences
- Choir / Cantors
- Sacristans
Pastoral & Outreach Ministries
Beyond the sanctuary, Holy Cross parishioners staff ministries that care for one another and connect the parish to the wider community. The Ministry of Care in particular is one of the most visible lay apostolates, while the Women's Guild, Knights of Columbus, and Prayer Chain round out the parish's outreach.
- Ministry of Care — welcomes new parishioners at a twice-yearly parish breakfast, makes phone calls and visits to the ill and homebound, sends cards for significant life events, and coordinates the annual Candlelight Service in memory of the beloved dead each November and the Christmas Angel Tree Project
- Prayer Chain — led by Judy Field
- Women's Guild — led by President Kim Tlumack
- Knights of Columbus — liaison Ed Lucas
- Youth Ministry — led by Bob Chappell
Parish Councils
Holy Cross is guided by two consultative bodies working with the pastor: a Pastoral Council concerned with the overall pastoral life of the parish (community, worship and prayer, service, faith formation, and leadership/administration), and a Finance Council that oversees temporal and financial matters.
- Pastoral Council — Sarah Deemer (Chair); members Karen Adamoski, Anthony Rizzardi, Sharon Rizzardi, Becky Hald, Kay Sofranko, Ed Lucas, Kim Tlumack, John Bensko
- Finance Council — chaired by 'Mark' (per parish directory)
- Both councils serve in consultative roles to the pastor per Canon 536
Catholic Resources & Pro-Life Links
The parish website hosts a small Catholic resources page that links parishioners to diocesan and national Catholic organizations for further reading and engagement, including a dedicated pro-life section.
- Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Greensburg
- Catholic Relief Services
- Knights of Columbus
- March for Life
- USCCB 'People of Life'
- Knights of Columbus Pro-Life Programs & Initiatives
- Priests for Life
- National Right to Life Committee
Diocese & Identity
Holy Cross Parish belongs to the Diocese of Greensburg, the Roman Catholic diocese that covers Westmoreland, Armstrong, Indiana, and Fayette counties in southwestern Pennsylvania. The parish's mailing address uses the diocesan email domain (@dioceseofgreensburg.org), reflecting its formal relationship with the chancery.
- Diocese of Greensburg (Latin-rite Roman Catholic)
- Parish of 600+ families (per the parish's own directory listing)
- Pastoral team accountable to the Bishop of Greensburg
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Benedictine Fr. Edward Andelfinger1908–~1909
Pastor of Most Holy Sacrament (Blessed Sacrament Cathedral) in Greensburg; began celebrating Sunday Mass in Youngwood with Bishop Canevin's permission but gave up after about a year due to the small number of Catholics.
- Benedictine Fr. Germain Ball1917–1918
Celebrated the first Mass in the original Holy Cross Church on the corner of Eighth and Depot Streets; died March 1918.
- Benedictine Fr. Gilbert Straub1918–1952
Took over after Fr. Germain's death; served the Holy Cross mission for 34 years.
- Benedictine Fr. Hubert Macko1953–
Second and last Benedictine pastor of Holy Cross; assigned in 1953, the year before the mission became a parish.
- Fr. Joseph A. Pernatozzi1955–
Appointed by Bishop Hugh L. Lamb as the first resident pastor when Holy Cross was constituted a separate parish on June 30, 1955; oversaw the construction of the 1962–63 addition concelebrated with Bishop Connare.