About Holy Family Parish - Saint Joseph Church (Verona) · Verona, Pennsylvania
Holy Family Parish – St. Joseph Church in Verona, Pennsylvania, is one of four worship sites of the merged Holy Family Parish in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. The parish traces its roots to 1866, when German Catholic settlers in the Verona area built the first St. Joseph Church, and it has served the community continuously through multiple church buildings. Since July 1, 2020, St. Joseph Church has operated as part of Holy Family Parish alongside St. Irenaeus (Oakmont), St. John the Baptist (Plum), and Our Lady of Joy (Holiday Park), sharing a single clergy team, school, and pastoral staff.
- Established
- 1866
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Kevin G. Poecking
- Diocese
- Diocese of Pittsburgh (Roman Catholic)
Why belong here
St. Joseph Church is one of four welcoming worship sites that make up Holy Family Parish, meaning parishioners receive the personal, small-town feel of a Verona church together with the resources of a larger merged community — including Holy Family Catholic School, an OCIA (RCIA) program, faith formation for children, a youth ministry, a music ministry, and outreach across eastern Allegheny County. The parish celebrates Mass in English (with one monthly Spanish Mass at the Plum site) and offers weekday Adoration, regular confession, and a livestream option for those who cannot attend in person.
Mass times at Holy Family Parish - Saint Joseph Church (Verona)
Weekly Mass schedule
Adoration times
- Adoration is celebrated at the parish's other worship sites: St. John the Baptist Church — Mondays prior to 6:30 PM Mass, starting at 5:30 PM; St. Irenaeus Church — Wednesdays prior to 6:30 PM Mass, starting at 5:30 PM; St. John the Baptist Church — Saturdays following 9 AM Mass, until 10:30 AM. (No St. Joseph Verona-specific adoration time is published.)
About Holy Family Parish
Holy Family Parish was formed on July 1, 2020, when the Diocese of Pittsburgh merged five parishes in eastern Allegheny County — St. Joseph (Verona), St. John the Baptist (Plum), St. Irenaeus (Oakmont), St. Januarius (Plum), and Our Lady of Joy (Holiday Park) — under Bishop David Zubik's 'On Mission for The Church Alive!' strategic initiative. The parish is led by a single clergy team and shares one Catholic school and one preschool across multiple campuses. The mission statement of the parish is captured simply on the About page: 'We are Holy Family Parish.'
- Decree of Holy Family Parish (corrected) — published on the parish About page
- Letter from Bishop Zubik to Parishioners
- Holy Family Announcement Video by Father Kevin
St. Joseph Church – Verona: Parish History
The St. Joseph community in Verona dates back to 1840, when a German Catholic settler purchased land in the area and later built a small chapel in his home for occasional Masses by visiting priests from St. Philomena parish in Pittsburgh. The arrival of the railroad in 1855 accelerated the area's growth, and by 1866 the Catholic families were numerous enough to build a dedicated church. The cornerstone was laid on July 23, 1866, and the first St. Joseph Church was dedicated before year's end.
- 1840 — Land purchased by a Catholic settler; private chapel built in his home for visiting priests from St. Philomena, Pittsburgh
- 1855 — Railroad arrival brings population growth and more frequent priestly visits
- 1866 — Cornerstone laid July 23; first St. Joseph Church dedicated before end of year
- 1870 — Fr. Joseph Suehr assigned to St. Joseph and St. James (Wilkinsburg); resides at St. James
- 1873 — St. James receives its own pastor; Fr. Suehr remains only at St. Joseph and builds an addition
- August 7, 1887 — Cornerstone laid for second (larger) St. Joseph Church
- 1948 — Parish school built
- December 1, 1956 — Combination church-and-school building dedicated; old church becomes parish hall
- May 1968 — Old 1887 church torn down
- July 26, 1981 — Ground broken for new church; old school to be converted to classrooms
- June 27, 1982 — Current St. Joseph Church dedicated
- July 1, 2020 — St. Joseph Parish merges with four neighboring parishes to form Holy Family Parish
Clergy & Pastoral Staff
Holy Family Parish is served by one clergy team across all four worship sites. The current pastor is Rev. Kevin G. Poecking, assisted by Parochial Vicar Rev. Daniel D'Antonio. Three deacons support the parish's pastoral and liturgical life, including Deacon Eric Collier, who also serves as Pastoral Associate. Office and program staff handle faith formation, youth ministry, music, school administration, and operations.
- Rev. Kevin G. Poecking — Pastor ([email protected])
- Rev. Daniel D'Antonio — Parochial Vicar ([email protected])
- Deacon Eric Collier — Deacon & Pastoral Associate
- Deacon Timothy Noca — Deacon
- Deacon Joseph Vannucci — Deacon, Retired
Parish Office & Support Staff
Lay staff coordinate the parish's day-to-day operations, communications, faith formation, and facilities.
- Jenny Collier — OCIA Coordinator
- Karen Deemer — Bulletin Editor, Office Coordinator
- Joyce Doyle — General Office, Mass Intentions, Sacrament Records, Funeral Coordinator
- Joe Keffer — Director of Music Ministry
- Patty Mahr — Parish Accounting & Mailings Coordinator
- Rich Myler — Technology Manager
- Lisa Noca — Faith Formation (CCD) Coordinator
- Bill Pahlman — Maintenance Coordinator
- Mike Maseth — Assistant Maintenance Coordinator
- Mia Pampena — Youth Minister
- John St. Leger — Business Manager
- Britnea Walters — Young Adult / Sacraments
Mass & Devotion Schedule (Holy Family Parish-wide)
Masses and devotions are spread across the parish's four worship sites; the schedule below is taken from the parish's official Mass Times page. St. Joseph Church in Verona hosts the Saturday Vigil Mass and one Sunday Mass, plus the Thursday morning Mass. The full parish schedule also includes a monthly Spanish Mass on the last Sunday of the month at St. John the Baptist Church.
- Saturday Vigil 5:30 PM — St. Joseph Church, Verona (English)
- Saturday 4:00 PM — St. John the Baptist Church, Plum (English)
- Sunday 7:30 AM — Our Lady of Joy, Holiday Park (English)
- Sunday 8:00 AM — St. Irenaeus Church, Oakmont (English)
- Sunday 9:00 AM — St. John the Baptist Church, Plum (English)
- Sunday 9:30 AM — St. Joseph Church, Verona (English)
- Sunday 10:30 AM — Our Lady of Joy, Holiday Park (English)
- Sunday 11:00 AM — St. Irenaeus Church, Oakmont (English)
- Sunday 12:00 PM — St. John the Baptist Church, Plum (English)
- Sunday 4:00 PM (LAST SUNDAY) — St. John the Baptist Church (Spanish)
- Monday 9:00 AM — St. Irenaeus (English)
- Monday 6:30 PM — St. John the Baptist (English)
- Tuesday 9:00 AM — Our Lady of Joy (English)
- Wednesday 9:00 AM — St. John the Baptist (English)
- Wednesday 6:30 PM — St. Irenaeus (English)
- Thursday 9:00 AM — St. Joseph, Verona (English)
- Friday 9:00 AM — Our Lady of Joy (English)
- Friday 12:00 PM — St. Irenaeus (English)
- Saturday 9:00 AM — St. John the Baptist (English)
Livestream Schedule
Selected Masses are livestreamed from across the parish for those unable to attend in person. The current livestream rotation, as posted on holyfamilypgh.org, includes Masses from each worship site, including the Saturday Vigil and the Thursday morning Mass from St. Joseph, Verona.
- Saturday 5:30 PM Vigil — St. Joseph (Verona)
- Sunday 7:30 AM — Our Lady of Joy
- Sunday 9:00 AM — St. John the Baptist
- Sunday 11:00 AM — St. Irenaeus
- Monday 9:00 AM — St. Irenaeus
- Tuesday 9:00 AM — Our Lady of Joy
- Wednesday 9:00 AM — St. John the Baptist
- Thursday 9:00 AM — St. Joseph (Verona)
- Friday 9:00 AM — Our Lady of Joy
- Saturday 9:00 AM — St. John the Baptist
Faith Formation, Youth & Sacramental Preparation
Holy Family Parish runs a full slate of formation programs for children, youth, and adults. The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) welcomes those preparing to enter the Catholic Church, the Faith Formation (CCD) program instructs children, and the Youth Ministry serves teens across the four worship sites. A separate Young Adult / Sacraments ministry supports older teens and adults preparing for or living the sacramental life.
- OCIA (formerly RCIA) — coordinated by Jenny Collier ([email protected])
- Faith Formation / CCD — coordinated by Lisa Noca ([email protected])
- Youth Ministry — coordinated by Mia Pampena ([email protected])
- Young Adult & Sacraments — coordinated by Britnea Walters ([email protected])
Holy Family Catholic School & Preschool
Holy Family Catholic School (K-8) is the parish's inter-parochial school, and the Holy Family Preschool Program is offered at two campuses — Oakmont and Plum. The preschool program offers half-day and whole-day options ranging from two to five days a week and integrates early academics with faith formation, including Spanish instruction for four-year-old and transitional-kindergarten students on the Plum campus. The preschool uses the 'I Am Special' Religion Series as a framework, and students celebrate seasonal Paraliturgies for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter.
- Holy Family Catholic School K-8 — Principal Marie DiLonardo ([email protected])
- Holy Family Preschool — Director Jeanne Loebig, M.S.Ed. ([email protected], 412-793-4580 x 604)
- Plum campus features: weekly Spanish for 4-year-olds and transitional kindergarten; B.E.A.R. (Be Excited About Reading) library program
- Both campuses: daily prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, calendar, weather, songs, and finger plays at morning circle
- Curriculum emphases: kindergarten readiness; awareness of God's love; cognitive and social excellence; STEAM learning centers; literacy and pre-math skills
Music & Liturgy
Music ministry for Holy Family Parish is led by Joe Keffer, Director of Music Ministry ([email protected]), supporting sung liturgy across all four worship sites and the parish school.
- Director of Music Ministry — Joe Keffer
Bulletin, Office & Contact
Holy Family Parish publishes a unified weekly bulletin covering all four worship sites, and the bulletin editor is Karen Deemer ([email protected]). The parish's main administrative office is at 444 Holy Family Way, Pittsburgh, PA 15239, with weekday office hours primarily staffed at St. John the Baptist Church.
- Parish mailing address: Holy Family Parish, 444 Holy Family Way, Pittsburgh, PA 15239
- Parish office phone: 412-793-4511
- Parish office email: [email protected]
- Office at St. John the Baptist: Mon–Thu 8 AM – 4 PM; Fri 8 AM – 12 PM; Sun 9 AM – 1 PM; Sat closed
- Office at St. Irenaeus (limited): Mon 8 AM – 4 PM; Tue 12 PM – 3 PM; Wed 1 PM – 6 PM; Thu 12 PM – 3 PM
On Mission for The Church Alive!
St. Joseph Parish's 2020 merger into Holy Family Parish is the local fruit of Bishop David Zubik's 'On Mission for The Church Alive!' initiative, announced on April 12, 2015. The diocesan process was a consultative strategic planning effort designed to address declining Mass attendance, fewer available priests, and shifting pastoral needs across the Diocese of Pittsburgh. After consultation, parishes were grouped together and served by a single clergy team to eventually form new parishes — leading to the formation of Holy Family Parish on July 1, 2020.
- 2015 — Bishop Zubik announces 'On Mission for The Church Alive!'
- 2018 — Parishes begin sharing clergy and a joint bulletin during transition
- July 1, 2020 — St. Joseph (Verona), St. John the Baptist (Plum), St. Irenaeus (Oakmont), St. Januarius (Plum), and Our Lady of Joy (Holiday Park) merge to form Holy Family Parish
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Joseph Suehr1870–after 1873
First resident pastor; originally assigned jointly to St. Joseph and St. James in Wilkinsburg, residing at St. James. In 1873, when St. James received its own pastor, Fr. Suehr became responsible only for St. Joseph and built an addition to the church.