About Nativity of the Mother of God [Ruthenian] · Du Bois, Pennsylvania
Nativity of the Mother of God Byzantine Catholic Church is a Ruthenian (Byzantine) Catholic parish in DuBois, Pennsylvania, serving the faithful of Clearfield County under the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh of the Ruthenians (Metropolitanate sui juris of Pittsburgh). Founded in 1910 by a group of Byzantine Catholic immigrants from the Slavic lands, the parish celebrated its 115th year of continuous witness in 2025, sharing its clergy with Holy Trinity Church in Sykesville and SS. Peter & Paul in Punxsutawney since 1993. The current church, completed in 1985, and its social hall (1975) form the heart of parish life, and the small but devout congregation of roughly fifty families continues the Byzantine tradition of sung Divine Liturgy on Sundays at 11:00 AM.
- Established
- 1910
- Patron
- Nativity of the Mother of God (Nativity of the Theotokos)
- Rector
- Father Nathaniel Tapsak (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Archeparchy of Pittsburgh (Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic Metropolitanate sui juris of Pittsburgh)
Why belong here
Nativity of the Mother of God offers the rare experience of an intimate, family-sized Byzantine Catholic community in which every member is known and valued. Rooted in the Ruthenian tradition brought to America by Slavic immigrants, the parish celebrates the sung Divine Liturgy — a scriptural, participatory dialogue between clergy and people — and welcomes visitors of all backgrounds, with children especially encouraged to attend. After Sunday worship the parish gathers in its social hall for refreshments and fellowship, and the building is handicap accessible, making the experience easy for older parishioners, families with small children, and visitors alike.
Mass times at Nativity of the Mother of God [Ruthenian]
Weekly Mass schedule
History of Nativity of the Mother of God
Organized in 1910 by a group of Byzantine Catholic faithful, the parish was for its first sixty years served from Holy Trinity Church in Sykesville. Even without a resident pastor the congregation preserved a spirit of fidelity and cooperation that continues today. The arrival of Father John Kovach in 1970 marked a turning point: the parish began fundraising in earnest, built a new social hall (blessed September 7, 1975), and on October 16, 1983 signed an architect's contract for the present church, which opened for worship on June 23, 1985 and was solemnly dedicated by Archbishop Stephen J. Kocisko on the patronal feast, September 8, 1985.
- 1910: parish organized
- 1970: Father John Kovach becomes first resident pastor
- September 7, 1975: social hall blessed and dedicated
- October 16, 1983: architect contract signed for new church
- June 23, 1985: new church opened for worship
- September 8, 1985: solemn blessing and dedication by Archbishop Stephen J. Kocisko
- 1993–present: shared clergy arrangement with Holy Trinity (Sykesville) and SS. Peter & Paul (Punxsutawney)
Clergy and Staff
The parish is administered by Father Nathaniel Tapsak, who also serves Holy Trinity in Sykesville, and is assisted by Deacon Paul M. Boboige, a longtime member of the community.
- Father Nathaniel Tapsak — Administrator
- Deacon Paul M. Boboige — Deacon
- Rectory: (814) 894-5440
Divine Liturgy and Services
Byzantine worship at Nativity of the Mother of God centers on the Sunday Divine Liturgy. The parish follows the Byzantine Ruthenian (Eastern Catholic) rite, in communion with Rome but using the ancient liturgical traditions of the East. The liturgical schedule is intentionally simple, in keeping with the parish's small size and shared-clergy model.
- Sunday Divine Liturgy: 11:00 AM
- Feast Days Divine Liturgy: 7:00 PM
- Friday services: 7:00 PM (varies with the church calendar)
Holy Mysteries (Sacraments)
The parish publishes contact-the-rectory instructions for the celebration of Marriage and Anointing, reflecting the Byzantine Catholic practice of preparing families and individuals through their priest.
- Marriage — contact the rectory
- Anointing of the Sick — contact the rectory
Parish Buildings and Facilities
The present church opened in 1985 and was solemnly dedicated that September. Adjacent to it is the parish social hall, dedicated in 1975, which hosts fellowship after Sunday Divine Liturgy and serves as the gathering space for parish activities. The parish notes its facilities are handicap accessible and families with children of all ages are warmly welcomed.
- Church building — completed 1985, dedicated September 8, 1985
- Social hall — dedicated September 7, 1975
- Handicap accessible / handicap friendly facilities
- Refreshments served in the social hall after Liturgy
Parish Life and Community
The parish describes itself as a small congregation of about fifty people — a Christian family that grows together across generations. Visitors of all backgrounds are welcome, and Byzantine liturgical traditions (sung responses, the icon screen, the use of bread and wine at the Divine Liturgy) are presented as a living heritage brought from the Slavic lands by immigrant ancestors.
- Small congregation (about 50 people)
- Welcomes people of all backgrounds
- Families and children of all ages warmly invited
- Slavic Ruthenian heritage brought by immigrant ancestors
- Fellowship with refreshments after Sunday Liturgy
Byzantine Catholic Identity
Nativity of the Mother of God is an apostolic Eastern Catholic parish in full communion with Rome, drawing its rite and spirituality from the Byzantine tradition used by Ruthenian Catholics. The parish is part of the Metropolitan Archeparchy of Pittsburgh (Ruthenian), even though DuBois sits geographically within the territory of the Roman (Latin) Diocese of Erie.
- Rite: Byzantine (Ruthenian)
- Church sui iuris: Byzantine Ruthenian Catholic
- Metropolitan Archeparchy: Pittsburgh of the Ruthenians
- Geographic location: within the Roman Diocese of Erie
Visit and Contact
Visitors are warmly invited to experience Byzantine worship and to partake of refreshments afterward in the social hall. Those planning a marriage, anointing, or other pastoral needs are asked to call the rectory in advance.
- Address: 200 McCullough Street, DuBois, PA 15801
- Rectory phone: (814) 894-5440
- Website: archpitt.org/place/duboispa-2/
- Facebook: Nativity of the Mother of God Byzantine Catholic Parish
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father John Kovach1970 –
First resident pastor; arrived spring 1970 and inaugurated the dream of a new church complex.
- Father Myron Kochaba
Served alongside Archbishop Stephen J. Kocisko at the solemn blessing and dedication of the new church on September 8, 1985.