About Resurrection Parish - St. John Capistran Church · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Resurrection Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Pittsburgh serving two worship sites — St. John Capistran Church in Upper St. Clair and St. Thomas More Church in Bethel Park. It was formed in January 2021 by merging the longtime neighboring parishes of St. John Capistran and St. Thomas More under pastors Fr. Mark Eckman and now Fr. Michael R. Ackerman. The parish straddles the South Hills communities of Upper St. Clair and Bethel Park and offers an unusually rich sacramental, musical, and faith-formation life across both campuses, under the spiritual patronage of St. John Capistran (a 14th-century Franciscan preacher) and Thomas More (the great English martyr-chancellor).
- Established
- 2021
- Patron
- Saint John Capistran (plus Saint Thomas More as co-patron of the merged parish's St. Thomas More worship site)
- Rector
- Rev. Michael R. Ackerman
- Diocese
- Diocese of Pittsburgh
Why belong here
Resurrection Parish is one of the few South Hills parishes that truly offers two historic worship sites and a single, unified parish life — so you get the intimacy of a neighborhood church (St. John Capistran in Upper St. Clair or St. Thomas More in Bethel Park) with the resources of a large merged community: daily and weekend Mass on each campus, a robust music ministry featuring the Canticle Choir, The King's Singers children's choir and the Resounding Grace handbell ringers, faith formation for grades K–8, a Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atrium, RCIA, a 2,000-volume parish library, plus family-life ministries, charity and outreach, and signature parish-wide events like the annual SummerFest. The presence of a diocesan Director of Music in residence makes this parish something of a regional center for Catholic liturgy and sacred music in the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
Mass times at Resurrection Parish - St. John Capistran Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (St. Thomas More)
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM (St. John Capistran)
- Also by appointment (parish office)
History of Resurrection Parish
Resurrection Parish was created on January 4, 2021 by merging the two historic South Hills parishes of St. John Capistran (Upper St. Clair) and St. Thomas More (Bethel Park) under the Diocese of Pittsburgh, with Fr. Michael R. Ackerman installed as pastor on January 21, 2023 by Bishop David A. Zubik. The merger combined more than a century of combined Catholic history in Bethel Park and Upper St. Clair, the 72,000 sq. ft. St. Thomas More Family Life Center, two church buildings, and a large combined parish staff.
- St. John Capistran's Catholic worshipping presence on McMillan Road began in 1923 as a chapel mission of St. Agatha, Bridgeville.
- St. Thomas More was established June 17, 1953 by Bishop John J. Dearden, with Rev. James P. Logue as founding pastor.
- St. Thomas More's 1969 church was designed with cornerstone laid by Cardinal John Wright and dedicated by Bishop Vincent M. Leonard.
- St. John Capistran became an independent parish in December 1968 under Rev. Eugene J. Dougherty.
- The parish was formally renamed Resurrection Parish in January 2021.
St. John Capistran Church (Upper St. Clair)
Worship site of Resurrection Parish located at 1610 McMillan Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15241. The current church building was begun in February 1972 with the first Mass celebrated at Christmas midnight that same year, replacing an earlier sanctuary that had been created in 1953 by remodeling a public school purchased from Upper St. Clair Township. The site also includes Capistran Hall (built 1982) and a rectory completed in 1985.
- Address: 1610 McMillan Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15241
- Saturday Vigil Mass: 5:00 PM
- Sunday Masses: 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM
- Weekday Mass: Monday–Friday 8:30 AM
- Confession: Saturday 4:00–4:45 PM (and by appointment)
St. Thomas More Church (Bethel Park)
The parish's second worship site and the location of the parish Administrative Center, located at 126 Fort Couch Road, Bethel Park, PA 15241. The current church was built 1966–1969 (cornerstone April 21, 1969 by Cardinal Wright; dedicated September 14, 1969 by Bishop Vincent M. Leonard) and was completely renovated and rededicated on June 12, 1993 by Bishop Donald Wuerl under then-Pastor Rev. Kenneth R. White. The adjoining St. Thomas More Family Life Center was dedicated in October 2007 and houses a gym, school and religious-education facilities plus the parish office.
- Address: 126 Fort Couch Road, Bethel Park, PA 15241
- Saturday Vigil Mass: 4:00 PM
- Sunday Masses: 8:00 AM, 9:30 AM, 11:30 AM
- Weekday Mass: Monday–Saturday 11:30 AM
- Confession: Saturday 9:00–10:00 AM (and by appointment)
Clergy and Staff
Resurrection Parish is staffed by a pastor, a senior parochial vicar who also serves the wider diocese as Director of Music, and a deacon, supported by parish office staff, a Minister of Music, and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and faith-formation coordinators.
- Rev. Michael R. Ackerman — Pastor (installed January 21, 2023)
- Rev. James J. Chepponis, MDiv, MA — Senior Parochial Vicar and Diocesan Director of Music (412-456-3042)
- Deacon William G. Batz, Ph.D. — Deacon
- Mr. Daniel F. Kovacic — Minister of Music (dwell on Resurrection Parish Music Ministry)
- Denise DeCapria — Catechesis of the Good Shepherd coordinator (412-835-6996 ext. 226)
Music and Liturgy
Resurrection Parish takes sacred music seriously, framed around St. Augustine's maxim 'to sing well is to pray twice.' The parish fields multiple choirs across its two campuses and has performed large choral works (Fauré's Requiem in 2019, Vaughan Williams's Fantasia on Christmas Carols in 2020, Vivaldi's Gloria RV 588 in 2022) for major liturgies and concerts.
- Canticle Choir (high school through adult) — rehearses Thursday evenings 7:00–9:00 PM at St. Thomas More; sings 9:00 AM Mass at St. John Capistran (1st & 3rd Sundays) and 9:30 AM at St. Thomas More (2nd & 4th Sundays).
- The King's Singers Children's Choir (Grades 2–8) — rehearses Monday evenings 5:00–6:30 PM at St. Thomas More; sings once a month at 11:00 AM Masses rotating between the two church sites.
- Resounding Grace handbell ringers — parish bell choir.
- Minister of Music: Daniel F. Kovacic ([email protected], 412-833-0031 ext. 242).
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith formation for children and adults is offered across the parish, including a parish-based K–8 religious education program (Christ in Us curriculum for Grades 1–7, Chosen for Grade 8), the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atrium for ages 3–9, and ongoing adult faith talks, courses, retreats and DVD lecture series.
- Grades 1–7: Christ in Us (Sadlier) syllabus
- Grade 8: Chosen (Ascension Press) syllabus
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd — Levels I (3–6) and II (6–9), housed at the St. John Capistran site (1610 McMillan Rd.); contact Denise DeCapria at 412-835-6996 ext. 226.
- Adult faith formation — talks and courses year-round by parishioners, parish priests, employees, visiting priests, and professional speakers (times vary).
- Diocesan 'Faith Education in the Home' resources linked from the parish site.
Parish Library
St. Thomas More's parish library — established almost 25 years ago out of an initial gift of 250 books — has grown into a 2,000-volume collection covering general religion, Scripture, prayer, spirituality, Mary, Church history, saints and popes, plus a children's section and special collections (Lent/Easter, Advent/Christmas, Justice & Peace, Pro-life, the Holocaust, parenting). Most contents are post-Vatican II current scholarship; audio books and DVD lecture series (e.g., Bishop Robert Barron's CATHOLICISM) are a feature.
- Located between the breezeway and the doors entering St. Thomas More Church.
- Open after Sunday 9:30 AM and 11:30 AM Masses at St. Thomas More, and after 11:30 AM Mass on Mondays and Wednesdays.
- Friends of the Library meet the 3rd Thursday of each month at a restaurant.
- Opportunities for service with no experience necessary; orientations provided.
- Librarian: Kay Houston.
Pastoral Identity — Patrons and Saints
Resurrection Parish draws its spiritual identity from both of its constituent patron saints: St. John Capistran and St. Thomas More. St. John Capistran — born in the Italian town of Capistrano on June 24, 1386, a Franciscan friar known for his preaching of the Holy Name of Jesus across Europe — died October 23, 1456 and was canonized in 1724. He is the patron saint of judges, jurists, and military chaplains, and his feast is observed on October 23.
- Saint John Capistran (1386–1456): Franciscan preacher, lawyer, governor of Perugia, defender of the faith against heresy.
- Feast day: October 23.
- Patron of: judges, jurists, military chaplains.
- St. Thomas More — patron of the parish's Bethel Park worship site and namesake of the merged parish's other half.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James P. Logue1953–1965
Founding pastor of St. Thomas More; died suddenly in office October 1965.
- Msgr. Francis J. Rooney1965–
Assigned to St. Thomas More after Fr. Logue's death; oversaw construction of the 1969 church.
- Rev. Kenneth R. Whiteby 1993
Guided the 1993 renovation/rededication of St. Thomas More.
- Rev. James Wehner2008
Pastor of St. Thomas More.
- Rev. Mark Eckman2009; 2020
Pastor of St. Thomas More from 2009; named Administrator of both St. John Capistran and St. Thomas More in 2020, presiding over the 2021 merger.
- Rev. James Farnan2013
Pastor of St. Thomas More.
- Rev. Peter Horton2018
Administrator of St. Thomas More (2018), then also of St. John Capistran (2018).
- Rev. Eugene J. DoughertyDecember 1968–
First resident pastor when St. John Capistran became an independent parish.
- Rev. Edward F. SweeneyJuly 1971
Appointed pastor of St. John Capistran.
- Rev. Bernard M. HarcarikMarch 1975–1986
Oversaw 1982 construction of Capistran Hall, school refurbishment, and 1985 rectory.
- Rev. John M. O'TooleMay 1986
Appointed pastor of St. John Capistran.
- Rev. Robert J. ReardonJuly 1991–2003
The Pastoral Room was renamed the Reardon Room in his honor in June 2003.
- Rev. James J. ChepponisJuly 2003
Pastor of St. John Capistran until the 2021 merger; now Senior Parochial Vicar.
- Rev. Michael R. AckermanInstalled January 21, 2023
Installed by Bishop David A. Zubik; current pastor of Resurrection Parish.