Our Lady of Victory Church ~ Guardian Angels Parish

Our Lady of Victory and Guardian Angels Parish

Our Lady of Victory Church sits at 1319 Low Grade Road in Harwick, Pennsylvania, and is one of two worship campuses of Guardian Angels Parish (Upper Allegheny Valley Grouping). Guardian Angels was formed July 1, 2020 when Our Lady of Victory merged with Holy Family (Creighton), Holy Martyrs (Tarentum), Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament (Natrona Heights), St. Joseph (Natrona) and St. Alphonsus (Springdale). After five sister churches were closed in 2022, the parish continues with Mass and sacraments offered at Most Blessed Sacrament (Natrona Heights) and Our Lady of Victory (Harwick).

Parish History: From 1944 Mission to Today

Our Lady of Victory was established in 1944 following a May meeting of local Catholics with the pastor of St. Mary of Czestochowa, New Kensington. The parish's first Mass was celebrated on July 30, 1944 in an abandoned school building. After serving as a mission of St. Mary and later of St. Alphonsus in Springdale, the parish was assigned a resident pastor in June 1959 and its current church, dedicated December 7, 1957, was improved with stained-glass windows and a new organ in the 1960s, a carillon in the 1970s, and a major renovation in 1983. The parish joined the On Mission for The Church Alive! consolidation in 2020 and emerged from the 2022 diocesan restructuring as one of only two surviving Guardian Angels worship sites.

• 1944: Parish organized; first Mass July 30 in an abandoned school
• 1956: Ground broken for new church (Nov 22)
• 1957: Church dedicated December 7
• 1959: Resident pastor assigned, parish becomes independent
• 2015: Bishop Zubik launches On Mission for The Church Alive!
• July 1, 2020: Forms Guardian Angels Parish through merger
• 2022: Five of seven churches closed; Our Lady of Victory retained

Parish Leadership and Clergy

Guardian Angels Parish is served by a single clergy team under Pastor Rev. John B. Lendvai, with Senior Parochial Vicar Rev. Andrew Fischer and Parochial Vicar Rev. Jack Brennan assisting across both campuses. Parish business operations are administered by Tom Babinsack.

• Rev. John B. Lendvai — Pastor
• Rev. Andrew Fischer — Senior Parochial Vicar
• Rev. Jack Brennan — Parochial Vicar
• Tom Babinsack — Administrator/Business Manager

Faith Formation and Youth

The parish runs faith formation for children preparing for sacraments, including First Penance prior to First Communion in second grade (with an expected parent retreat). Adult and teen fellowship is offered through parish-organized groups.

• Religious Education / CCD classes
• First Penance & First Communion preparation (Grade 2)
• Young Men's Faith and Fellowship — Wednesday evenings
• Young Women's Faith and Fellowship — Monday evenings
• Diocesan Confirmation program

Prayer, Devotions and Music

Parish prayer life includes Eucharistic Adoration, a weekly Rosary, the Perpetual Help Novena, the Mercy Fire Prayer Group, Stations of the Cross during Lent, and a distinctive Sawdust Carpet procession led by Fr. Jack Brennan around the feast of Pentecost — a tradition recalled by the parish in which carpets are constructed in the morning and a service is celebrated in the afternoon.

• Eucharistic Adoration
• Weekly Rosary
• Perpetual Help Novena
• Mercy Fire Prayer Group
• Stations of the Cross (Lent, at Most Blessed Sacrament)
• Sawdust Carpet procession (June)

Parish Life, Outreach and Giving

Guardian Angels Parish describes its mission as promoting Catholic family life through the celebration of God's word, the Holy Eucharist, fellowship, and charitable service. The parish supports OnLine Giving, runs fundraisers (including an annual basket raffle), and welcomes volunteers through its parish service organizations.

• OnLine Giving
• Basket Raffle fundraisers
• Parish Service Organizations
• Stewardship and evangelization initiatives
• Outreach to roughly 3,000 registered families across the Allegheny Valley

Sacraments

Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Matrimony, Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders are celebrated through the parish. First Penance is celebrated prior to First Communion in the second grade, with at least one parent expected to attend a retreat prior to the child's first confession. Couples are asked to contact the parish office for marriage preparation.

• Baptism
• First Penance (Grade 2)
• First Communion (Grade 2)
• Confirmation
• Marriage preparation
• Anointing of the Sick
• Holy Orders / Vocations support

Visitor Information

Our Lady of Victory Church is located at 1319 Low Grade Road, Harwick, PA 15049. The parish office (mailing address) is 800 Montana Avenue, Suite 2, Natrona Heights, PA 15065, and can be reached at (724) 226-4900 or [email protected].

• Worship Site: 1319 Low Grade Rd, Harwick, PA 15049
• Parish Office: 800 Montana Ave, Suite 2, Natrona Heights, PA 15065
• Phone: (724) 226-4900
• Email: [email protected]
• Web: guardianangelspgh.org
• Facebook: /guardianangelspgh/