About Mount Saint Peter · New Kensington, Pennsylvania
Mount Saint Peter Catholic Church is an Italian-heritage Roman Catholic parish at 100 Freeport Road in New Kensington, Pennsylvania, situated along the Allegheny River about 25 miles northeast of Pittsburgh in the Diocese of Greensburg. Founded by Italian immigrants in 1902–1903 and named for Saint Peter, the first Pope, it is one of the oldest Italian Catholic congregations in the region. The current Art Deco/International-style church was built by the parishioners themselves during World War II (dedicated July 4, 1944) using materials from the dismantled Richard B. Mellon mansion in Pittsburgh, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. Today the parish is part of the New Kensington Catholic Community (NKCC), alongside St. Joseph and St. Mary of Czestochowa parishes, serving roughly 5,000 members and is regionally famous for its annual Festa Italiana held the first weekend of August.
- Established
- 1902
- Patron
- Saint Peter the Apostle (the first Pope)
- Rector
- Father Daniel L. Blout
- Diocese
- Diocese of Greensburg
Why belong here
Mount Saint Peter is a welcoming, growing faith community with deep Italian-Catholic roots and a strong sense of family. Members commit to worship, growth, service, connection, and giving through vibrant weekend and weekday Masses, the OCIA process, youth and young adult ministry (including Theology on Tap gatherings), and a robust music ministry. The parish is also a force for good in the New Kensington area: its food pantry serves more than 300 families a month, the annual Festa Italiana brings the wider community together the first weekend of August, and the parish is part of the collaborative New Kensington Catholic Community serving New Kensington together with St. Joseph and St. Mary of Czestochowa parishes.
Mass times at Mount Saint Peter
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM at Mount Saint Peter Church (MSP)
Parish History
St. Peter's Congregation was organized in 1902 for the Diocese of Pittsburgh by Reverend Bonaventure Piscopo of the Apostolic Band; New Kensington was the first of seventeen Italian parishes Bishop Richard Phelan helped establish. The first resident pastor, Reverend Vincenzo Maselli, began celebrating Mass in 1903 in a small building at Second Avenue and Tenth Street, then moved to the basement of St. Mary's Polish Church before land at Ridge Avenue and Constitution Boulevard was donated by the Burrell Improvement Company. The first St. Peter's Church had its cornerstone blessed on July 4, 1905 and was dedicated by Bishop Regis Canevin on September 25, 1905. By 1929 it was badly overcrowded, and in 1933 Bishop Hugh Boyle urged construction of a larger church. After five years of door-to-door fundraising, the parish purchased the Leslie estate on April 1, 1938–39, broke ground in May 1941, and the parishioners built the current Art Deco / International-style church by hand, dedicating it on July 4, 1944. Materials were salvaged from the recently dismantled Richard B. Mellon 60-room mansion in Pittsburgh. Architect Enos Cooke designed the building, which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 5, 1998.
- 1902 — Parish organized by Rev. Bonaventure Piscopo
- 1903 — First resident pastor, Rev. Vincenzo Maselli; first Masses in a small downtown building
- 1905 — Cornerstone of original church blessed July 4; church dedicated by Bishop Canevin September 25
- 1923 — Rev. Nicola Fusco appointed pastor
- 1933 — Bishop Hugh Boyle recommends a larger church
- 1938 — Land purchased from Mrs. Leslie for $20,000
- 1941 — Ground broken for the new church
- 1944 — New church dedicated July 4
- 1998 — Listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP #98000398)
- 2002 — Mount Saint Peter School merges to form Mary Queen of Apostles School
- 2004 — Parish motto adopted: 'to restore all things in Christ...with the fire of love.'
Pastor & Clergy
Mount Saint Peter is currently served by a team of priests of the New Kensington Catholic Community. Father Daniel L. Blout serves as Pastor, with Father Rodolfo (Rody) P. Mejia, Jr., Father Anthony Cortado, and Father Elpidio ('Bimbot') Alcontin as Parochial Vicars (Father Bimbot currently Pro-Tem). The parish also maintains a lay Pastoral Ministry Team including Mrs. Heather Hensley (Youth and Young Adult Ministries) and Mr. Timothy Ruflin (Regional Director of Faith Formation & Discipleship), along with music, business, and Safe Environment staff.
- Father Daniel L. Blout — Pastor
- Father Rodolfo (Rody) P. Mejia, Jr. — Parochial Vicar
- Father Anthony Cortado — Parochial Vicar
- Father Elpidio (Bimbot) Alcontin — Parochial Vicar Pro-Tem
- Mrs. Heather Hensley — Pastoral Associate for Youth and Young Adult Ministries
- Mr. Timothy Ruflin — Regional Director of Faith Formation & Discipleship
- Mr. William Staniszewski — Business Manager
- Mr. Will Smith / Mr. David Leo — Music Minister for Mount Saint Peter Parish
- Mr. Michael Discello — Safe Environment Coordinator
New Kensington Catholic Community (NKCC)
Mount Saint Peter is one of three parishes of the New Kensington Catholic Community, alongside St. Joseph Parish (1125 Leishman Avenue) and St. Mary of Czestochowa Parish (857 Kenneth Avenue). All three parishes share a single parish office at 100 Freeport Road (phone 724-335-9877), and together form a coordinated community of faith under the Diocese of Greensburg. Their shared mission emphasizes 'strong and vibrant worship, lifelong faith formation, community outreach, and faithful stewardship.'
- St. Joseph Parish — 1125 Leishman Avenue, New Kensington
- St. Mary of Czestochowa Parish — 857 Kenneth Avenue, New Kensington
- Shared NKCC Parish Office at 100 Freeport Road
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Faith Formation & Sacraments
The parish walks members and newcomers through every major sacramental moment. Infant Baptism requires contacting the Parish Office four months before the child's birth; marriage preparation begins at least one year (some materials say nine months) in advance; OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults) welcomes those seeking to enter the Church; and the Anointing of the Sick can be arranged by contacting any of the priests. Regional faith formation is led by Mr. Timothy Ruflin, Director of Faith Formation & Discipleship.
- Infant Baptism — contact office 4 months before birth
- Marriage — contact office at least one year in advance
- OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation for Adults
- Anointing of the Sick — contact any priest
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 12:00–1:00 PM at MSP
Youth & Young Adult Ministry
Youth Ministry across the NKCC parishes is coordinated by Mrs. Heather Hensley (Pastoral Associate for Youth and Young Adult Ministries). Programs include Middle School Youth Ministry (Grades 6–8, Wednesday evenings at St. Margaret Mary), High School Youth Ministry (Grades 9–12, Sunday evenings monthly at St. Margaret Mary), and a dedicated Confirmation preparation track for 8th graders. A separate Young Adult Ministry serves ages 20–40 and hosts Theology on Tap gatherings at local venues such as Ash Taphouse in New Kensington.
- Middle School Youth Ministry (Grades 6–8) — Wednesday evenings
- High School Youth Ministry (Grades 9–12) — Sunday evenings monthly
- Confirmation Preparation (8th grade candidates)
- Young Adult Ministry (ages 20–40)
- Theology on Tap — held at venues including Ash Taphouse, 2150 Freeport Road
- Contact: Heather Hensley, [email protected], 724-335-9877 ext. 6206
Music & Liturgy
The parish maintains a Music Ministry Team that supports liturgy across the three NKCC parishes. Mr. Will Smith (and Mr. David Leo, per parish bulletins) serves as Music Minister for Mount Saint Peter Parish, with Mr. George Pecoraro at St. Mary of Czestochowa, Mrs. Diane Painter at St. Joseph, and additional support staff. The team collaborates closely with the priests to support weekend Masses, holy days, and special celebrations such as the Festa Italiana opening Mass.
- Music Minister for Mount Saint Peter Parish — Mr. Will Smith / Mr. David Leo
- Music Minister for St. Joseph — Mrs. Diane Painter
- Music Minister for St. Mary of Czestochowa — Mr. George Pecoraro
- Festa Italiana Saturday opening Mass features full music ministry
Outreach: Food Pantry & Community Service
The Mount Saint Peter Food Pantry is one of the most active outreach ministries of the parish, serving more than 300 families per month. A monthly 'Food Pantry Wish List' is publicized across all three NKCC parishes, with parishioners invited to bring a specially requested item (cleaning supplies, baby items, food staples, etc.) to any of the three churches for distribution the following month. The pantry partners with the Knights of Columbus Council #1381 on seasonal drives such as the June Diaper Drive benefiting Family Life Network, a local pro-life organization. Funds raised through the Trash & Treasure Sale and Festa Italiana also benefit the food pantry and community outreach ministries. The parish also supports the Knead Community Café in downtown New Kensington, which serves healthy meals with dignity regardless of ability to pay.
- MSP Food Pantry — serves 300+ families per month
- Monthly Food Pantry Wish List at all three NKCC parishes
- Knights of Columbus Council #1381 diaper drives (benefits Family Life Network)
- Knead Community Café (downtown New Kensington)
- Mt. St. Peter Trash & Treasure Sale fundraiser (held in Marble Hall)
Festa Italiana
Held annually the first weekend of August on the Mount Saint Peter grounds at 100 Freeport Road, the Festa Italiana is a beloved regional tradition that draws thousands for homemade Italian food, music, dancing, children's games, and adult games. The festival typically begins with a 4:30 PM Saturday Vigil Mass followed by opening at 5 PM, and continues through the weekend with live entertainment (such as the Murphy's Music Center Big Band). Approximately 200 volunteers begin preparing foods in early July, ultimately producing more than 3,200 meatballs, 265 gallons of sauce, 60 pans of lasagna, and 240 pizzas in a recent edition, along with pasta e fagiole, sausage sandwiches with onions and peppers, Italian rice balls, pulled pork, baked chicken, cannoli, frappe, pizzelles, biscotti, and gelato. Dough comes from Fazio's Italian Market in Arnold, and basil is grown in a garden on the side of the church. The Legacy Booth on site displays old parish photos chronicling the church's history.
- Annual — first weekend of August
- Opens with 4:30 PM Saturday Vigil Mass; festival runs 5 to 10 PM
- Live music, dancing, children's games, adult games
- Homemade Italian specialties — lasagna, meatballs, sausage, pasta e fagiole, rice balls, desserts
- Approximately 200 volunteers prepare food in advance
- Legacy Booth displays historical parish photos
- Bus transportation has historically been available from Valley High School
Mary Queen of Apostles School
In September 2002, Mount Saint Peter School joined with Saint Joseph School and Saint Margaret Mary School to form Mary Queen of Apostles School, a regional Catholic school. The Mount Saint Peter campus now educates children in preschool through third grade, providing early faith formation alongside general academics for the NKCC and surrounding communities.
- Formed September 2002 by consolidation of Mount Saint Peter, Saint Joseph, and Saint Margaret Mary Schools
- MSP campus serves preschool through grade 3
Becoming a Member
New parishioners are warmly welcomed. Registration forms can be downloaded from the parish website and either mailed to the Parish Office or placed in the Sunday collection basket. A welcome letter follows, inviting the new family to meet with Father Dan and the Parish Staff. The parish's stated mission is 'a growing faith community that brings people to Christ, forms disciples, and sends them out to transform the world.'
- Downloadable Mt. St. Peter Parish registration form on the website
- Submit by mail or in the Sunday collection basket
- Follow-up welcome letter and meeting with Fr. Dan
- Parish motto: 'to restore all things in Christ...with the fire of love.'
Architecture & Historic Significance
The present Mount Saint Peter Church, designed by architect Enos Cooke in Art Deco and International style, is one of only a handful of churches in southwestern Pennsylvania documented under the 'Aluminum Industry Resources of Southwestern Pennsylvania' Multiple Property Submission to the National Register of Historic Places. The building is constructed in part from materials salvaged from the 60-room Richard B. Mellon mansion in Pittsburgh, which had been recently dismantled when the parish began building. It was dedicated on July 4, 1944, and listed on the National Register on May 5, 1998. The Marble Hall is a notable interior gathering space used for events like the Trash & Treasure Sale.
- Art Deco / International style — architect Enos Cooke
- Built 1941–1944 by the parishioners
- Materials from the dismantled Richard B. Mellon 60-room mansion
- Dedicated July 4, 1944
- National Register of Historic Places — May 5, 1998 (NRHP #98000398)
- Part of the 'Aluminum Industry Resources of Southwestern Pennsylvania' MPS
- Marble Hall — multi-purpose event space
Staying Connected
Parishioners can keep up with news, events, and homilies through a few simple channels. The parish uses Flocknote for email and text updates (text NKCC to 84576), and archived homilies from Fr. Dan, Fr. Rody, Fr. Bimbot, and Fr. Anthony are posted on the St. Margaret Mary YouTube channel. The Diocese of Greensburg maintains an Instagram presence (@dioceseofgreensburg) that features regional Catholic life including NKCC events.
- Flocknote — text NKCC to 84576
- Homily archive — St. Margaret Mary YouTube channel
- Diocesan Instagram — @dioceseofgreensburg
- Parish bulletins — published weekly
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Reverend Bonaventure Piscopo1902
Member of the Apostolic Band for the Diocese of Pittsburgh; organized the new parish in New Kensington to serve the Italian immigrant work force.
- Reverend Vincenzo Maselli1903
First resident pastor; celebrated the parish's first Mass in a small building on the corner of Second Avenue and Tenth Street.
- Reverend Nicola Fusco1923–
Appointed pastor on September 7, 1923. Born in Italy, educated at the College of the Archabbey of St. Vincent at Latrobe. Devoted to art and architecture; his work was invaluable in the construction of Mount Saint Peter. Author of 'Mount Saint Peter: Story of Saint Peter's Church in New Kensington, Pennsylvania.'