About Resurrection Parish - St. Thomas More Church · Bethel Park, Pennsylvania
Resurrection Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Pittsburgh that serves the South Hills suburbs of Pittsburgh from two church buildings: St. Thomas More Church in Bethel Park (the administrative center, at 126 Fort Couch Road) and St. John Capistran Church in Upper St. Clair. It was formed on January 4, 2021 through the merger of the former St. Thomas More Parish and St. John Capistran Parish as part of Bishop David Zubik's "On Mission for The Church Alive!" initiative. The parish is led by Fr. Michael R. Ackerman, installed as pastor on January 21, 2023 by Bishop Zubik, with Fr. James J. Chepponis serving as Senior Parochial Vicar (also the Diocese of Pittsburgh's Director of Music) and four permanent deacons. Parish life includes an active music ministry with multiple choirs, faith formation for grades 1–8, youth and young adult ministries, marriage and family ministry, and the St. Thomas More Family Life Center and Catholic School on the Fort Couch Road campus.
- Established
- 1953
- Patron
- St. Thomas More (patron of the Bethel Park church); the merged parish itself is named for the Resurrection of the Lord
- Rector
- Rev. Michael R. Ackerman
- Diocese
- Diocese of Pittsburgh
Why belong here
Resurrection Parish gives Catholics in the South Hills two worship sites — the historic St. Thomas More Church on Fort Couch Road in Bethel Park and St. John Capistran Church in Upper St. Clair — with eight weekend Masses between them, daily Mass, and a full Catholic school (St. Thomas More School) and Faith Formation program. The parish is large enough to offer genuinely rich ministries, including a thriving music program with five choirs, a youth ministry and a young-adult ministry, RCIA-style faith formation, marriage and family ministry, parish events and the annual SummerFest, while remaining rooted in the Eucharist and the seven sacraments in the Diocese of Pittsburgh tradition. Visitors and newcomers are welcomed into an active, multigenerational community with a clear mission to live as a 'Eucharistic people nourished by Jesus through the Sacraments.'
Mass times at Resurrection Parish - St. Thomas More Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 9:00–10:00 AM (St. Thomas More)
- Saturday 4:00–4:45 PM (St. John Capistran)
Parish Identity & Mission
Resurrection Parish identifies itself in its published mission statement as 'a Catholic family, called by God, our Creator, to be a community… a Eucharistic people nourished by Jesus through the Sacraments… empowered by the Holy Spirit to serve all of God's people — In faith, by spreading the Word of God; In hope, by passing on the teachings of the Church; In Love, by sharing our resources and talents.' That statement, displayed under the parish's own page, anchors both the Bethel Park and Upper St. Clair worship sites and frames the parish's pastoral planning.
- Mission Statement text published on resurrectionpgh.org
- Pastoral Planning / Parish Vision & Direction page on the parish website
History of the Parish
St. Thomas More was founded June 17, 1953 by Bishop John J. Deaden with Rev. James P. Logue as first pastor. After meeting in the Upper St. Clair Fire Hall and then the old Clifton School, the parish built an all-aluminum church in 1954 on Sisters of St. Joseph land, relocated it in 1958 when Fontbonne Academy was built, opened its school in 1957, and dedicated its current brick church in 1969 (cornerstone laid by Cardinal Wright). A complete renovation in 1993 was followed in 2007 by the dedication of a 72,000-square-foot Family Life Center. After Bishop Zubik's 'On Mission for The Church Alive!' initiative, the parish merged with St. John Capistran on January 4, 2021, becoming Resurrection Parish; Fr. Michael R. Ackerman was installed as pastor on January 21, 2023.
- Founded June 17, 1953 by Bishop John J. Dearden
- First pastor: Rev. James P. Logue (d. October 1965)
- All-aluminum church dedicated October 2, 1954; relocated to Fort Couch Road 1958
- School opened 1957; expanded to 16 classrooms by 1959; convent added 1963
- Monsignor Francis J. Rooney succeeded Fr. Logue in 1965
- Cornerstone laid April 21, 1969 by John Cardinal Wright; church dedicated September 14, 1969 by Bishop Vincent M. Leonard
- Rededicated June 12, 1993 by Bishop Donald Wuerl after renovation under Fr. Kenneth R. White
- St. Thomas More Family Life Center (72,000 sq ft) dedicated October 2007 by Bishop David A. Zubik
- Merger with St. John Capistran effective January 4, 2021
- Fr. Michael R. Ackerman installed as pastor January 21, 2023
Pastoral Succession
The parish's history page and diocese profiles together list St. Thomas More's recent pastors and administrators, with names and years as recorded by the parish itself.
- Rev. James P. Logue, first pastor (1953–1965)
- Monsignor Francis J. Rooney (from 1965)
- Rev. Kenneth R. White (officiated 1993 rededication)
- Rev. James J. Chepponis, named pastor July 2003
- Rev. James Wehner, pastor 2008
- Rev. Mark Eckman, pastor 2009; Administrator 2020
- Rev. James Farnan, pastor 2013
- Rev. Peter Horton, Administrator 2018
- Rev. Michael R. Ackerman, current pastor (installed 2023)
Clergy & Parish Staff
Resurrection Parish is served by a clergy team of two priests in active parochial roles plus two priests in residence and four permanent deacons. The broader staff includes pastoral, faith-formation, music, communications, administrative, and maintenance personnel supporting both worship sites and the Family Life Center.
- Rev. Michael R. Ackerman — Pastor
- Rev. James J. Chepponis, MDiv, MA — Senior Parochial Vicar and Diocesan Director of Music
- Rev. Mark A. Eckman — In Residence
- Rev. Douglas Peduti, SJ, PhD — In Residence
- Deacon William G. Batz, Ph.D.
- Deacon Lawrence R. Sutton, Ph.D.
- Deacon Joseph F. Kralik, Jr.
- Deacon Russell White
- Mary Swindal — Pastoral Associate
- Denise DeCapria — Director of Faith Formation; Jennifer O'Rourke — Religious Ed Program Manager
- Dawn Madden — Youth Ministry Coordinator; Bridgette Kennedy-Riske — Young Adult Coordinator
- Jackie Schratz — Marriage & Family Ministry Coordinator
- Daniel Kovacic — Director of Music; Jon Runion — Associate Director of Music
- Jerry Brandl — Business Manager; Sally Daley — Bookkeeper
- Susan Young / MJ Beckham — Bulletin & Media coordinators
- Bridget Graves — Events & Development Coordinator
- Susie Levitt — Safe Environment Coordinator; Sarah Wildenhain — Parish Office Support / Safe Environment
- Colleen Pauley — Parish Secretary / Office Coordinator
- Jock Janaszek — Facilities Manager; Dave Thompson & others — Maintenance; Lucia Facco — Parish Chef
- Pastoral Council and Finance Council members listed on the parish's Staff page
Music Ministry
Faith grows when it is expressed well in celebration, the parish's music page writes. Resurrection Parish's Music Ministry, directed by Daniel F. Kovacic (Director of Music) and Evan Snyder, runs five choirs and a cantor program that rotate between St. Thomas More and St. John Capistran for Sunday and special liturgies. The program has premiered large choral works in recent years including Fauré's Requiem, Vaughan Williams's Fantasia on Christmas Carols, and Vivaldi's Gloria.
- Canticle Choir (HS–Adult) — Thursday 7:00–9:00 PM at St. Thomas More
- The King's Singers Children's Choir (Grades 2–8) — Monday 5:00–6:30 PM at St. Thomas More
- Resounding Grace Ringers handbell choir (HS–Adult) — Tuesday 6:30–7:45 PM at St. Thomas More
- The King's Ringers / Joyful Noise Ringers (Grades 4–8) — Monday 6:00–7:15 PM at St. Thomas More
- Living Spirit Choir (HS–Adult) — Lenten-season choir
- Ministry of Cantor — leads the Responsorial Psalm at liturgies
- Recent large works: Fauré Requiem (2019), Vaughan Williams Fantasia on Christmas Carols (2020), Vivaldi Gloria RV 588 (2022)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at Resurrection Parish spans preschool through eighth grade, using the 'Christ in Us' curriculum for grades 1–7 and 'Chosen' for grade 8, in line with the Diocese of Pittsburgh's 'Faith Education in the Home' framework. Programs are administered by the Director of Faith Formation and the Religious Ed Program Manager and meet in the school/RE wing of the St. Thomas More Family Life Center on Fort Couch Road.
- Preschool, Kindergarten, Grades 1–7 — Christ in Us
- Grade 8 — Chosen
- Diocese of Pittsburgh Faith Education in the Home alignment
- Sacramental preparation (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation preparation)
Youth, Young Adult & Family Ministries
The parish maintains dedicated coordinators for youth ministry (grades-school through high school), a separate young-adult ministry, and a marriage & family ministry, providing pathways for parishioners from childhood through adult life.
- Youth Ministry — coordinated by Dawn Madden
- Young Adult Ministry — coordinated by Bridgette Kennedy-Riske
- Marriage & Family Ministry — coordinated by Jackie Schratz
St. Thomas More Family Life Center & Catholic School
On June 1, 2005 Phase I site preparation began for the 72,000-square-foot St. Thomas More Family Life Center on the Fort Couch Road campus. It contains a family life center, a regulation-size gymnasium, and dedicated school and religious-education facilities. The building was dedicated in October 2007 by Bishop David A. Zubik and continues to anchor the parish's school and faith-formation programs.
- Groundbreaking June 1, 2005
- Dedicated October 2007 by Bishop David A. Zubik
- 72,000 sq ft footprint
- Houses Family Life Center, regulation-size gym, and school / religious-education classrooms
- Hosts St. Thomas More Catholic School on the same campus
Communications, Events & Parish Life
The parish maintains an online bulletin that can be received by email, livestreams Masses online, posts notices and updates (including a fillable Mass Intention Request Form) on its website, and runs a 'Traveling Statue for Vocations' devotion. The annual CASCO USA SummerFest with Resurrection Parish, along with other events coordinated by the Events & Development Coordinator, anchors parish community life.
- Online Mass livestream
- Email bulletin subscription
- Fillable Mass Intention Request Form
- Traveling Statue for Vocations devotion
- Annual CASCO USA SummerFest with Resurrection Parish
- Bulletin Editors / Media and Social Media coordinators handle parish communications
Getting Involved & Councils
Resurrection Parish invites parishioners into leadership through its elected Pastoral Council and Finance Council, whose current members are listed on the parish's Staff page.
- Pastoral Council: Deacon Bill Batz, Heather Bogdon, Daniel Broderick, Philip Enck, Thomas Fowler, Kevin Garber, Lynn Hogan, John O'Leary, Michele Petrovich, Michele Schnieders, Joseph Schuck, Abigail Skeel, Susan Speer
- Finance Council: Robert Dudas, Deacon Joseph Kralik, Joan Hornbake, Nancy Murray, John Niedenberger, Dave Paolicelli, Michael Ravasio, James Rhoades, Christopher Schnieders, Jay Shock, Jim Wojcik (contact: [email protected])
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James P. Logue1953–1965
First pastor; appointed by Bishop John J. Dearden; oversaw founding, the aluminum 'Quonset Hut' church, and opening of the parish school. Died suddenly in October 1965.
- Monsignor Francis J. Rooney1965
Assigned as pastor after Father Logue's death; oversaw groundbreaking for the new (current) St. Thomas More Church in 1966.
- Rev. Kenneth R. Whiteby 1993
Shepherded the complete renovation and rededication of the church on June 12, 1993 by Bishop Donald Wuerl.
- Rev. James J. Chepponis2003–2008
Named pastor in July 2003; later became Senior Parochial Vicar of the merged Resurrection Parish and Diocesan Director of Music.
- Rev. James Wehner2008–2009
Named pastor of St. Thomas More in 2008.
- Rev. Mark Eckman2009–2018; 2020 (Administrator)
Named pastor of St. Thomas More in 2009; returned as Administrator of the linked parishes in 2020 during the merger.
- Rev. James Farnan2013–2018
Named pastor of St. Thomas More in 2013.
- Rev. Peter Horton2018–2020
Named Administrator of St. Thomas More in 2018, also Administrator of St. John Capistran that same year.
- Rev. Michael R. Ackerman2023–present
Current pastor of Resurrection Parish; installed January 21, 2023 by Bishop David A. Zubik.