About Holy Ghost [Ruthenian] · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Holy Ghost Byzantine Catholic Church is a Ruthenian (Byzantine) Catholic parish of the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh, located at 225 Olivia Street in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, in the greater Pittsburgh area. Founded on August 1, 1907 by Carpatho-Rusyn immigrants from the mountains of Eastern Europe, the parish is one of the most visible Byzantine Catholic communities in the region — its 9:00 a.m. Sunday Divine Liturgy has been broadcast live on WEDO 810 AM radio for more than thirty years, reaching listeners across western Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio, northern West Virginia, and via the internet worldwide. Father Frank A. Firko, the current pastor, also serves as Administrator of the related Northside Pittsburgh mission site at 1437 Superior Avenue (a separate canonical parish founded in 1902 that the same clergy team staffs). Today the parish runs the famous Pirohi (pirohy) Project, the Slavjane folk ensemble, Eastern Christian Formation, a youth group, the GCU Lodge 390, and the Holy Ghost Golden Agers, and live-streams every service on YouTube.
- Established
- 1907
- Patron
- Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit)
- Rector
- Very Reverend Frank A. Firko (also Administrator of the Northside Pittsburgh mission site at 1437 Superior Avenue)
- Diocese
- Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh (Ruthenian / Metropolitan Church of Pittsburgh, in full communion with the Pope of Rome)
Why belong here
Parishioners belong to a parish that has kept Carpatho-Rusyn Byzantine Catholic spirituality alive in the Pittsburgh region for more than a century, and that still broadcasts its 9:00 a.m. Sunday Divine Liturgy on WEDO 810 AM and live on the internet so the homebound and faithful worldwide can pray along. Beyond Sunday worship, the parish sustains a remarkable range of community life: the famous Pirohi Project fundraiser, the Slavjane folk ensemble, Eastern Christian Formation for children and youth, the ByzanTEENS youth group, GCU Lodge 390, the Holy Ghost Golden Agers, and a Carpatho-Rusyn radio program. Whether you are Byzantine Catholic by birth, returning to the faith, or simply curious about the Eastern Catholic tradition, Holy Ghost welcomes new and returning parishioners to register by phoning the church office.
Mass times at Holy Ghost [Ruthenian]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays (McKees Rocks): 3:15 PM – 3:40 PM
- Sundays (McKees Rocks): 8:15 AM – 8:40 AM
- Sundays (Northside Pittsburgh): 10:30 AM
- By appointment
Parish Overview & Mission
Holy Ghost Byzantine Catholic Church is a Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic parish of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh serving the McKees Rocks / greater Pittsburgh community. Its stated mission is 'to know and love the Lord, Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit to the Glory of God the Father,' and its vision is to perpetuate the Eastern Catholic Church through worship, prayer, and service as a parish family by providing education, stewardship, and community outreach to all. The parish is staffed by Very Reverend Father Frank A. Firko, pastor, with Deacon Michael E. Meaders serving the Northside Pittsburgh mission site.
- Mission: To know and love the Lord, Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit to the Glory of God the Father.
- Vision: Enlightened by the Word and Holy Mysteries of God, to perpetuate the Eastern Catholic Church, through Worship, Prayer, and Service, as a Parish Family, by providing Education, Stewardship and Community Outreach to all.
- Pastor: Very Reverend Frank A. Firko
- Mailing address: 225 Olivia Street, McKees Rocks, PA 15136
- Phone: (412) 771-3324
History of Holy Ghost (McKees Rocks)
On April 12, 1907, Carpatho-Rusyn faithful filed a petition with Roman Catholic Bishop Regis Canevin of Pittsburgh for permission to establish their own parish. They purchased eight lots, built a rectory in 1908, began the church in 1913, and ran a parish school from 1958 staffed by the Sisters of Christ the Teacher. The church interior was fully redecorated in the Byzantine tradition in 1982–83 with a Greek icon screen and wall icons, and further beautified with European crystal chandeliers before the 2007 centennial.
- April 12, 1907: petition filed with Bishop Regis Canevin for parish status.
- 1907: eight lots purchased; Divine Services first held in an old dance hall on the property.
- 1908: rectory completed.
- 1913: construction of the present church began.
- 1958: parish school built, administered by the Sisters of Christ the Teacher (later closed).
- 1961: new rectory dedicated; old rectory became the convent.
- 1982–83: complete interior redecoration in the Byzantine tradition; icon screen brought from Greece; elevator installed.
- Before 2007: European crystal chandeliers, new iconography, additional tier to the iconostasis, refurbished pews, new flooring, and a facelift to the social hall and parking lot.
Parish Ministries & Organizations
Parish life extends well beyond Sunday worship. The Pirohi Project is the parish's most recognizable fundraiser, with volunteers making and selling homemade Carpathian pirohy on designated Fridays each fall and Advent. The Slavjane folk ensemble represents Carpatho-Rusyn cultural heritage and is officially recognized by the Archeparchy. Education, youth, and seniors are served by ECF classes, ByzanTEENS, GCU Lodge 390, and the Holy Ghost Golden Agers.
- Pirohi (Pirohy) Project — kitchen: (412) 331-5155.
- Slavjane Folk Ensemble — contact Dean Poloka (412) 877-9351.
- Eastern Christian Formation (ECF) — Sundays 10:30–11:15 AM at McKees Rocks.
- ByzanTEENS youth ministry — contact Steven / Steve Puluka.
- GCU Lodge 390 — contact Margaret Beliunas (412) 331-3577.
- Holy Ghost Golden Agers — senior fellowship group.
- Carpatho-Rusyn Radio — Rusyn.fm Sunday afternoons at 3:30 PM; archives at c-rsmedia.org.
Radio Apostolate & Live Streaming
For more than thirty years, Holy Ghost has broadcast its 9:00 AM Sunday Divine Liturgy live on WEDO 810 AM ('The Station of Nations,' based in White Oak, PA), with a signal reach of about 100 miles covering western Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio, and northern West Virginia. The broadcast is also carried on the internet at wedo810.com, and digital video cameras in the church have enabled live streaming of services on YouTube around the clock. The Carpatho-Rusyn radio program is a separate weekly broadcast preserving Rusyn language and culture.
- WEDO 810 AM — every Sunday, 9:00 AM, live from Holy Ghost, McKees Rocks.
- Online: wedo810.com (worldwide listening).
- YouTube live stream: search 'Holy Ghost Church Live Stream' (free registration alerts viewers to live programming).
- Carpatho-Rusyn Radio: Rusyn.fm Sunday afternoons at 3:30 PM; archive c-rsmedia.org.
Northside Pittsburgh Mission Site
In addition to its main church in McKees Rocks, Holy Ghost's clergy team administers the Byzantine Catholic worship site at 1437 Superior Avenue on Pittsburgh's North Side — a separate canonical Ruthenian parish originally founded in 1902 by Father John Korotnoki, an immigrant from the Eparchy of Prešov. That Northside site is best known in popular culture as the church from which the funeral Divine Liturgy for the artist Andy Warhol was celebrated in 1987; he was interred in the family plot at St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Cemetery in Bethel Park.
- Address: 1437 Superior Avenue, Pittsburgh (North Side), PA 15212.
- Sunday Divine Liturgy: 11:00 AM.
- Solemn & Simple Holy Day: 6:00 PM.
- Confession: Sundays 10:30 AM.
- Clergy: Very Rev. Frank A. Firko (Administrator) and Deacon Michael E. Meaders.
- Originally founded Pentecost Sunday, May 18, 1902, by Father John Korotnoki from the Eparchy of Prešov (now eastern Slovakia).
- Current Superior Avenue church built 1927 and dedicated 1928 after a 1925 fire damaged the original Doerr Street church.
Parish Facilities & Accessibility
The parish complex includes the historic McKees Rocks church with its Greek icon screen and imported chandeliers, a social hall / former school building, and a parking lot — all of which received significant upgrades before the 2007 centennial. An elevator installed during the 1982–83 renovation assists elderly and disabled parishioners, and the social hall is available for rental by contacting the church office.
- Church with full Byzantine iconography and imported crystal chandeliers.
- Social hall / former school building — available for rental; contact the church office.
- Elevator installed in 1982–83 renovation for accessibility.
- Pirohi Project kitchen: (412) 331-5155.
- Parking lot on the parish grounds.
Getting Involved
The parish welcomes new and returning parishioners and asks them to register by phoning the church office. The Byzantine Catholic community is also encouraged to remember Holy Ghost in their wills to help secure the parish's future and to maintain a Byzantine Catholic witness. Practical ways to participate include volunteering for the Pirohi Project, joining the Slavjane ensemble, enrolling children in Eastern Christian Formation, supporting the ByzanTEENS, joining GCU Lodge 390, or helping with the Carpatho-Rusyn radio broadcast.
- New & returning parishioners: register by phoning the church office.
- Remember the church in your will — a Byzantine Catholic witness for the future.
- Volunteer opportunities: Pirohi Project, Slavjane, ECF, ByzanTEENS, GCU 390, Golden Agers, Carpatho-Rusyn Radio.