About Parish of St. Raphael the Archangel - St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church · Carnegie, Pennsylvania
St. Raphael the Archangel Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, established on January 4, 2021, that unites three worship sites serving the communities of Carnegie, Green Tree, and Scott Township in Pennsylvania's South Hills. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, located at 330 Third Avenue in Carnegie, is the parish's Carnegie worship site; its current church building was dedicated on November 20, 2011, after the 1992-era St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish (itself a merger of six older parishes) decided to renovate the historic St. Luke Church. The parish serves its members through the sacraments, faith formation, RCIA, St. Vincent de Paul, Christian Mothers, and other ministries, striving 'to live as faith-filled disciples of Christ' and to spread 'His Gospel message of Love, Hope, Mercy, and Eternal Life.'
- Established
- 1992
- Patron
- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (for the Carnegie worship site); St. Raphael the Archangel (for the combined parish)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Pittsburgh
Why belong here
St. Raphael the Archangel Parish welcomes families and individuals from Carnegie, Green Tree, and Scott Township to a community rooted in nearly two centuries of Catholic life in the South Hills. Worshippers can choose from Masses at all three churches seven days a week, receive the sacrament of Reconciliation on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and join lively ministries including Faith Formation (CCD), RCIA for new Catholics, Christian Mothers, St. Vincent de Paul, altar service, and a yearly parish festival — all supported by an active school of lay volunteers and protecting God's Children training. The historic 2011-renovated St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church itself is a living symbol of the parish's motto: blending the new with artifacts preserved from the older Carnegie parishes that formed the community.
Mass times at Parish of St. Raphael the Archangel - St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church
Parish of St. Raphael the Archangel — Overview
St. Raphael the Archangel Parish is a tri-site Roman Catholic community in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, established January 4, 2021. It was created through the On Mission for The Church Alive! initiative by merging St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (Carnegie), St. Margaret of Scotland (Green Tree), and Ss. Simon and Jude (Scott Township). The parish describes its mission as embracing 'the spiritual and corporal needs of the communities of Carnegie, Green Tree, and Scott' and striving to spread 'the Gospel message of Love, Hope, Mercy, and Eternal Life.' St. Raphael's three churches serve as the parish's worship sites, each with its own daily Mass schedule, devotions, and traditions.
- Established: January 4, 2021
- Diocese: Pittsburgh
- Three worship sites: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (Carnegie), St. Margaret of Scotland (Green Tree), Ss. Simon and Jude (Scott Township)
- Communities served: Carnegie, Green Tree, Scott Township (Pittsburgh South Hills)
History of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church
The Carnegie worship site's story is one of repeated mergers and rebuilding. In 1992, the Diocese of Pittsburgh consolidated six older parishes — Holy Souls, Immaculate Conception, St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Joseph, St. Luke (with St. Vincent de Paul Chapel in Rennerdale/Walkers Mill) — into a new parish named for St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. Of those six churches, three (St. Joseph, Immaculate Conception, and St. Vincent de Paul) were closed; St. Joseph was razed and the other two were sold, while Holy Souls, St. Ignatius, and St. Luke remained open. In September 2004, severe flooding from Hurricane Ivan struck Carnegie and forced the closure of both Holy Souls and St. Luke, leaving only St. Ignatius usable. After study, the parish petitioned to close Holy Souls (sold to the Carnegie Community Development Corporation in 2006) and decided to renovate the historic St. Luke Church as its single worship space. Renovation began October 16, 2010 — the interior was turned 180 degrees and rebuilt, preserving only three walls, the roof, and the stained glass windows. The renovated church was dedicated as St. Elizabeth Ann Seton on November 20, 2011. St. Ignatius Church was suspended for worship in November 2011 and sold in 2014. In 2021, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton merged with two neighboring parishes to form St. Raphael the Archangel, but the Carnegie church remains open as one of the three worship sites of the new parish.
- 1992: Parish formed from merger of six older parishes
- 2004: Hurricane Ivan floods damage Holy Souls and St. Luke churches
- 2005–2006: Holy Souls petitioned for closure; sold to Carnegie Community Development Corporation in 2006
- October 2010: Renovation of St. Luke Church begins
- November 20, 2011: Renovated church dedicated as St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
- 2014: St. Ignatius Church sold
- January 4, 2021: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton merges into St. Raphael the Archangel Parish
On Mission for The Church Alive!
The 2021 creation of St. Raphael the Archangel Parish was a direct outcome of Bishop David Zubik's 'On Mission for The Church Alive!' initiative, announced April 12, 2015. The strategic planning process was designed to foster 'viable, sustainable and vibrant parishes' in response to declining Mass attendance and a shrinking pool of priests. During the 2018 transition period, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton shared clergy and staff with future partner parishes and eventually published a joint bulletin, before officially merging on January 4, 2021.
- Initiative announced April 12, 2015 by Bishop David Zubik
- Goal: address declining Mass attendance and fewer priests
- Process: parishes grouped, then merged under one clergy team
Ministries & Parish Life
The parish's ministry page describes a community served by 'many active and dedicated ministries' spanning faith formation, liturgy, and charity. Programs include Faith Formation (CCD), RCIA, the altar server program (open to students in grade 4 and up), St. Vincent de Paul, Christian Mothers, and liturgical roles such as choir and sacristan. Each summer, the parish gathers for a multi-day Festival, and a parish-wide raffle raises operating support.
- Faith Formation (CCD) — religious education for parish children
- RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
- Altar Servers — open to students grade 4 and above
- St. Vincent de Paul — corporal works of mercy
- Christian Mothers — faith and fellowship for women
- Liturgical ministries (choir, sacred liturgy)
- Parish Festival (mid-July)
- Parish Raffle (annual fundraiser)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation (CCD) is the parish's religious education program for children, and the parish also runs an active RCIA program for adults preparing to enter the Catholic Church. Registration for Faith Formation typically opens each summer for the coming academic year.
- Faith Formation (CCD) for parish children
- RCIA for adult converts and catechumens
Volunteer Requirements & Safe Environment
All parish volunteers must complete the Protecting God's Children Maltreatment 3.2 and Vulnerable Adults Training through the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Volunteers register through the diocesan system using 'Pittsburgh' as the organization and the access code 'protect.' The parish also points volunteers toward Mandated Reporter training and updating state clearances, and offers a staff contact (Karen Maurer) for help with usernames.
- Required: Protecting God's Children Maltreatment 3.2 and Vulnerable Adults Training
- Diocesan registration: organization = 'Pittsburgh'; access code = 'protect'
- Additional trainings: Mandated Reporter, state clearances
Getting Involved
The parish website lists quick links for joining the parish, updating parish registration, becoming a godparent or sponsor, signing up for FlockNote email/text communication, livestreaming comments/feedback, learning about living wills and Healthcare Power of Attorney, and shopping the parish store. Parishioners in discernment about priesthood can also connect to the diocese's vocations resources from the homepage.
- Join the parish
- Update your registration
- Learn about the role of a godparent or sponsor
- FlockNote email/text sign-up
- Volunteer clearances
- Mandated Reporter training
- Livestream comments
- Living wills & Healthcare Power of Attorney information
- Parish store
- Discerning a call to priesthood
Visiting St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church is located at 330 Third Avenue, Carnegie, PA 15106, in Allegheny County. The parish office number is 412-857-5356, and the parish can also be reached through its social media channels on Facebook and YouTube (@straphaelcgs).
- Address: 330 Third Avenue, Carnegie, PA 15106
- Parish phone: 412-857-5356
- Website: straphaelcgs.org
- Facebook: facebook.com/straphaelcgs
- YouTube: youtube.com/@straphaelcgs