About Most Holy Name of Jesus Parish · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Most Holy Name of Jesus Parish is a historic Roman Catholic parish on Troy Hill on Pittsburgh's North Side, founded in 1868 and serving the community of Troy Hill and Manchester ever since. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Pittsburgh and is one of six parishes that make up the 'Shrines of Pittsburgh,' a collaborative team ministry that also includes Immaculate Heart of Mary (Polish Hill), St. Anthony Chapel (Troy Hill), St. Nicholas (Millvale), and St. Patrick–St. Stanislaus Kostka (Strip District). Its cornerstone was laid on August 26, 1866, and the church was dedicated on June 7, 1868, by Bishop Michael Domenec, with its first resident pastor, Rev. S. G. Mollinger, assigned on July 4, 1868. It is closely associated with the world-famous St. Anthony Chapel, built by Fr. Mollinger next door to house his extraordinary collection of relics.
- Established
- 1868
- Patron
- The Most Holy Name of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Nicholas S. Vaskov, S.T.L.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Pittsburgh
Why belong here
Worshipping at Most Holy Name of Jesus means praying in one of Pittsburgh's oldest parish churches, on the same Troy Hill bluff where Bishop Domenec dedicated the building in 1868 and where Fr. Mollinger's legacy lives on next door at St. Anthony Chapel, home to more than 5,000 relics. As part of the Shrines of Pittsburgh, the parish shares Sunday Mass and a full pastoral team with five sister churches across the city, giving parishioners a small-neighborly community rooted in North Side immigrant history and connected to a much wider Catholic family.
Mass times at Most Holy Name of Jesus Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Parish Identity & Team Ministry
Most Holy Name of Jesus Parish is one of six parishes that make up the Shrines of Pittsburgh, a collaborative team ministry within the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Its sister churches are Immaculate Heart of Mary (Polish Hill), St. Anthony Chapel (Troy Hill), St. Nicholas (Millvale), St. Patrick, and St. Stanislaus Kostka (both in the Strip District). The team shares clergy, a single website (pghshrines.org), a weekly bulletin, and combined programming.
- Diocese of Pittsburgh
- Shrines of Pittsburgh (six-parish team ministry)
- Sunday Mass: 9:00 a.m.
- Parish office: 1700 Harpster Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15212
- Phone: (412) 231-2994
- Email: [email protected]
Founding and 19th-Century Growth
Before the parish existed, Troy Hill Catholics belonged to St. Mary Church in Allegheny City. In 1866 pastor Father John Stibiel judged that the Catholic populations of Troy Hill and Manchester could each sustain their own parish, and he planned three 'Holy Family' parishes: St. Joseph in Manchester, the Most Holy Name of Jesus on Troy Hill, and St. Mary in the center. He purchased the Claim and Harpster Streets site for $3,100, laid the cornerstone on August 26, 1866, and saw Bishop Michael Domenec dedicate the church on June 7, 1868. Rev. Suitbert G. Mollinger became the first resident pastor on July 4, 1868, and immediately began organizing the parish — within three months a school had opened in a partitioned rear room of the church. A separate school was built in 1875, a rectory in 1877, and a convent followed soon after.
- Land purchased 1866 at Clark/Hazel Streets (now Claim/Harpster) for $3,100
- Cornerstone laid August 26, 1866
- Dedicated by Bishop Michael Domenec on June 7, 1868
- First pastor assigned July 4, 1868
- Parish school opened late 1868 in rear of church
- School built 1875; rectory built 1877; convent acquired later
Fr. Suitbert G. Mollinger and the Relics of St. Anthony Chapel
Fr. Mollinger's tenure (1868–1892) is the defining chapter of the parish. Coming from a wealthy European family, he took advantage of mid-19th-century European political upheavals and the resulting looting of churches and monasteries to acquire relics that ended up in pawnshops and second-hand stores. He ultimately assembled more than 5,000 relics, the largest such collection in the world, which is still venerated at St. Anthony Chapel next door. He proposed funding a new parish church for $150,000 (his $75,000 plus a parish match), but the parish committee judged the goal unattainable; instead he built a small chapel dedicated to St. Anthony in 1880, enlarged it in 1892, and saw it re-dedicated on June 13, 1892. He died two days later, on June 15, 1892.
- Pastor 1868–1892
- Assembled 5,000+ relics, now housed at St. Anthony Chapel
- Offered $75,000 toward a new church (declined by parish)
- Built St. Anthony Chapel 1880; enlarged and re-dedicated June 13, 1892
- Died June 15, 1892
Building Expansions and the 1933 Wall Collapse
The original 100-foot-long building was repeatedly enlarged as the congregation grew. In 1869 Mollinger added two side altars and replaced the main altar. In the 1890s his successor tore down the rear wall, adding the present sanctuary and sacristy, side entrances from Harpster Street, a new front, and a belfry, with the work completed in 1898. In the early 20th century the sacristy was extended and a basement was dug beneath the church. On May 1, 1933, a side wall collapsed; until repairs were completed, Holy Name's faithful attended Mass at the neighboring St. Anthony Chapel.
- Side altars and new main altar added 1869
- Sanctuary, sacristy, side entrances, front, and belfry completed 1898
- Sacristy extended and basement dug in early 1900s
- Side wall collapsed May 1, 1933 — worship held at St. Anthony Chapel during repairs
The Troy Hill Historic Marker and Architectural Legacy
A historical marker on Claim Street, erected by Most Holy Name of Jesus Church, commemorates 'First Pastor Fr. Suitbert G. Mollinger 1868–1892.' The same 19th-century church building, repeatedly renovated rather than replaced, continues to serve the parish community today.
Clergy of the Shrines of Pittsburgh Team Ministry
Most Holy Name of Jesus shares its pastoral team with the other Shrines of Pittsburgh parishes. The current team serves all six parishes together, supporting Masses and ministries at Immaculate Heart of Mary, St. Anthony Chapel, St. Nicholas, St. Patrick, St. Stanislaus Kostka, and Most Holy Name of Jesus.
- Rev. Nicholas S. Vaskov, S.T.L. — Moderator, Team Ministry and Pastor
- Rev. Michael R. Ruffalo — Team Ministry / Curator of the Patrimony
- Deacon G. Gregory Jelinek
Worship Schedule
The Diocese of Pittsburgh's published Sunday Mass schedule for Most Holy Name of Jesus Church on Troy Hill lists a single Sunday Mass in English. Weekday and Holy Day Masses, confession times, and other devotions are listed on the parish bulletin via the shared Shrines of Pittsburgh website.
- Sunday 9:00 a.m. — Most Holy Name of Jesus Church (Troy Hill)
- Weekday and Confession schedules — see current bulletin at pghshrines.org
Plan a Visit
Most Holy Name of Jesus is on Troy Hill in Pittsburgh's North Side, at the corner of Claim and Harpster Streets. The parish office is at 1700 Harpster Street, and the church sits next door to St. Anthony Chapel — both belong to the same parish family and a visit naturally combines prayer in the historic church with a tour (or Mass) at the chapel of 5,000 relics.
- 1700 Harpster Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15212
- (412) 231-2994
- [email protected]
- pghshrines.org/about-holy-name
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John Stibieluntil 1866 (founder, pastor of St. Mary who organized the parish)
Pastor of St. Mary, Allegheny City; chose the title Most Holy Name of Jesus, purchased the Claim and Harpster Streets site, and supervised construction.
- Rev. Suitbert G. Mollinger1868–1892
First resident pastor; built up the parish, launched its school, and amassed the 5,000+ relics now at St. Anthony Chapel. Died June 15, 1892.
- Rev. 'Duffner' / Father Duffnerafter 1892
Continued Mollinger's building program; completed the sanctuary, sacristy, side entrances, front extension, and belfry in 1898.