About Sacred Heart · Youngstown, Pennsylvania
Sacred Heart Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish at 421 Main Street in Youngstown, Pennsylvania (Westmoreland County), founded in 1875 by Benedictine monks from nearby Saint Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe. Since 2007 it has been formally partnered with St. Cecilia Parish in Whitney, sharing one pastor, staff, and a combined pastoral center, and the two communities worship and serve together across the rural Latrobe area. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Greensburg, is served by the Benedictine community of Saint Vincent Archabbey, and offers weekend Mass on Saturday evening and Sunday morning along with weekday Mass on Tuesday and Thursday. The parish is known for its 1875 history, its historic Tewes-donated church bell, and a long tradition of parish organizations such as the Rosary Altar Society and the Knights of Columbus.
- Established
- 1875
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Fr. James F. Podlesny, O.S.B.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Greensburg
Why belong here
Sacred Heart offers the warmth of a small, intergenerational Catholic community in the Youngstown–Latrobe area, with steady Benedictine leadership, two weekend Masses (Saturday 6:00 pm and Sunday 10:30 am), weekday Masses on Tuesday and Thursday, and an open invitation to register as a member of either Sacred Heart or its partner parish, St. Cecilia. Parish life is enriched by a Faith Formation program for children, a long-standing Rosary Altar Society, a Bingo Club, a Combined Parish Events Committee, and the Knights of Columbus, all supported by a small, named staff and volunteer liturgical musicians. The parish describes itself as a place where 'no one feels like a stranger,' and continues to serve homebound parishioners, support the Diocesan Lenten Appeal, and keep the 1875 founding spirit alive in a 1974-built church still crowned by its original Tewes-donated bell.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes (½ hour) before each Mass, or by appointment
Our Story — The History of Sacred Heart
Sacred Heart traces its origins to the early 1860s, when immigrants from Slovakia, Italy, Ireland, Spain, and England settled in Youngstown, Pennsylvania, to work in the area's coal mines and factories. With Saint Vincent Archabbey (founded by Benedictines from Bavaria in 1845–46) as the nearest Catholic church, and winter travel difficult, the local community began planning a mission church. On June 26, 1875, Archabbot Boniface Wimmer, O.S.B., and Fr. Mauritius Kaeder, O.S.B., met with Youngstown citizens in the home of Justice of the Peace Philip McAtee. A 30-by-40-foot brick church and school was built on land willed to Saint Vincent Archabbey by Moses Gillespie, completed December 4, 1875, and dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on December 26, 1875.
- 1875 — Sacred Heart mission church dedicated Dec. 26, 1875, by Archabbot Boniface Wimmer, O.S.B.
- 1917 — Sacred Heart School opens Oct. 8, 1917 (34 students from 23 families)
- 1934 — Rosary Altar Society (originally Confraternity of Christian Mothers) organized by Fr. Florian Bergmann, O.S.B.
- 1945 — Felician Sisters from Coraopolis begin teaching at the school
- 1956 — New, 'most modern' school building in the area opens under Fr. Flavian Yelinko, O.S.B. (167 students)
- 1973–1974 — Old church demolished May 1, 1973; new church opens Jan. 19, 1974 under Fr. Matthew Benko, O.S.B.
- 2001 — Sacred Heart established as a freestanding parish (March 10, 2001) under Fr. Chad Ficorilli, O.S.B.
- 2007 — Becomes a 'Partner Parish' with St. Cecilia, Whitney, under Fr. Peter Augustine Pierjok, O.S.B.
- 2017 — Fr. James F. Podlesny, O.S.B. named pastor (July 17, 2017)
Building Sacred Heart School (1917–2007)
Subscriptions for a separate school were announced April 22, 1917, and the two-story, two-room building opened October 8, 1917, with 34 students from 23 families. For nearly three decades laypeople taught the school, divided between grades 1–4 and 5–8. In 1945, Fr. Adrian Krakowski, O.S.B., brought in Felician Sisters of Coraopolis, and by 1956 — under Fr. Flavian Yelinko, O.S.B. — the parish had a new, 'most modern' school building with 167 students. Sacred Heart School continued to serve the area under the Diocese of Greensburg, the Felician Sisters, and lay teachers until falling enrollments forced its closing at the end of the 2006–2007 school year; parish children now attend Christ the Divine Teacher School in Latrobe or Aquinas Academy in Greensburg.
- 1917 opening enrollment: 34 students from 23 families
- 1945 enrollment: 76 students (with the Felician Sisters)
- 1947 enrollment: 109 students (two more sisters added; new convent built)
- 1956 enrollment: 167 students in the new school
- Closed at the end of the 2006–2007 school year
The Historic Church Bell and the 1974 Church
The Tewes family is prominent in Sacred Heart's history. The church bell was donated by Frank and Elizabeth Tewes in 1920, and the couple's son Francis was the first to ring it. It is one of the few mementos kept from the 1875 mission church and remains in use today, mounted in the bell tower above the entrance of the present church. When growth made the old brick church too small, the dream of a new church was realized through the efforts of Fr. Matthew Benko, O.S.B., and the parish council: the last Mass in the old church was Easter Sunday, April 22, 1973, demolition began May 1, 1973, and the first Mass in the new church was offered on January 19, 1974.
- 1875 brick church: 30 by 40 feet, built for $2,000
- Bell tower of today's church houses the 1920 Tewes bell
- Old church's last Mass: Easter Sunday, April 22, 1973
- First Mass in new church: January 19, 1974, by Fr. Matthew Benko, O.S.B.
Worship & Liturgy
Sacred Heart shares its sacramental and liturgical life with its partner parish, St. Cecilia in Whitney, and the two communities together follow one combined Liturgy Schedule. Sacred Heart itself hosts the Saturday Vigil Mass at 6:00 PM, the Sunday Mass at 10:30 AM, and weekday Masses on Tuesday and Thursday at 8:00 AM; St. Cecilia hosts the Sunday 8:00 AM and Saturday 4:00 PM Masses and weekday Masses on Wednesday and Friday at 8:00 AM. The parish is air conditioned and live-streams its Masses via Facebook and YouTube for those who cannot attend in person. Holy Day schedules are published in the current parish bulletin.
- Saturday Vigil — 6:00 PM at Sacred Heart
- Sunday — 10:30 AM at Sacred Heart (8:00 AM at St. Cecilia)
- Tuesday & Thursday — 8:00 AM at Sacred Heart
- Wednesday & Friday — 8:00 AM at St. Cecilia
- Holy Days — see current parish bulletin
Live-Streamed Masses
The partner parishes live-stream Masses on Facebook and YouTube so the homebound and those traveling can stay connected to the parish's liturgical life.
- Facebook: facebook.com/SHSCMass
- YouTube: youtube.com/@sacredheartstceciliamass
Parish Staff
Sacred Heart and its partner parish, St. Cecilia, are served by a small staff that supports the pastor, coordinates faith formation, music, and sacraments, and keeps the parish offices running. Office hours at the Combined Pastoral Center (222 St. Cecilia Road, Latrobe) are Monday through Thursday, 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM; the office is closed Fridays.
- Pastor: Fr. James F. Podlesny, O.S.B. — direct line 724-423-9240
- Secretary: Sondra Wagner — [email protected] (724-423-9241)
- Office Assistant: Jeremy Zawelensky — [email protected] (724-423-9247)
- Bookkeeper / Regional Parish Business Manager: Angela Reese — [email protected]
- Coordinator of Youth Religious Education: Mary Stoner — [email protected] (724-972-1472)
- Regional Director of Youth Ministry: Justin Massetto — [email protected] (724-600-4648)
- Sacristan (volunteer): Lucille Knapczyk
- Liturgical Musicians (organists): Linda Bruening and Mary S. Kornides
- Maintenance / Custodial: Jim Johnston
Parish Organizations & Ministries
Sacred Heart's parish life is shaped by a handful of long-standing lay organizations and ministries. The Rosary Altar Society, the parish's women's prayer and service group, dates back to 1934; the Bingo Club runs a popular monthly fundraiser; the Combined Parish Events Committee plans socials and fundraisers for both partner parishes; and the Knights of Columbus meets in the Sacred Heart school building. Liturgical ministries — lectors, Eucharistic ministers, servers, collection counters, and organists — are filled by volunteer parishioners.
- Rosary Altar Society (since 1934; meets 2nd Thursday of the month; prays Rosary on Wednesdays in May & October at Sacred Heart)
- Bingo Club (monthly St. Cecilia Bingo, 1st Sunday Sept.–May)
- Combined Parish Events Committee (Sacred Heart & St. Cecilia social and fundraising events)
- 200 Club (Sacred Heart fundraiser now run by the Combined Parish Events Committee)
- Knights of Columbus (meets at the Sacred Heart school building)
- Faith Formation / Religious Education (youth catechesis, coordinated by Mary Stoner)
- Liturgical music ministry (organists Linda Bruening, Mary S. Kornides)
- Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, and altar servers
- Homebound visits / Communion to the homebound
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Faith Formation program provides sacramental preparation and religious education for the children of both partner parishes. Classes are coordinated by Mary Stoner and meet on Sunday mornings during the school year; registration forms are available in the parish bulletin and online. The program relies on volunteer catechists for pre-K through 8th grade.
- Coordinator: Mary Stoner — [email protected], 724-972-1472
- Catechists serve pre-K through 8th grade
- Annual registration via the parish bulletin or online form
Sacraments & Becoming a Parishioner
Parishioners are encouraged to formally register with Sacred Heart or St. Cecilia, which simplifies the planning of baptisms, weddings, and funerals and allows parishioners to serve as sacramental sponsors. Certificates of eligibility to be a sponsor for Baptism or Confirmation can only be given to registered, practicing members.
- Baptism — call the pastor to schedule and prepare
- Reconciliation — ½ hour before Mass or by appointment
- Wedding — meet with the pastor at least 12 months in advance
- Anointing of the Sick — through the parish
- First Communion & Confirmation — through Faith Formation
- Parish registration — contact the office at 724-423-3777 or 724-537-7358
Outreach & Diocesan Support
Sacred Heart supports the Diocese of Greensburg's annual Diocesan Lenten Appeal (DLA) and participates in regional Catholic school initiatives that sustain Catholic education for parish children after the closure of Sacred Heart School in 2007. The parish continues home visits to the homebound and is part of the combined ministry of the Sacred Heart / St. Cecilia Partner Parishes.
- Diocesan Lenten Appeal (annual)
- Regional Catholic schools: Christ the Divine Teacher (Latrobe) and Aquinas Academy (Greensburg)
- Homebound visits and Communion calls
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Mauritius Kaeder, O.S.B.1875
Presiding pastor of St. Vincent Mother Church; co-planned Sacred Heart mission with Archabbot Boniface Wimmer.
- Fr. Florian Bergmann, O.S.B.1934
Organized the Rosary Altar Society (as the Confraternity of Christian Mothers).
- Fr. Adrian Krakowski, O.S.B.1945
Brought the Felician Sisters to teach at Sacred Heart School.
- Fr. Flavian Yelinko, O.S.B.1951–
Assigned Sept. 6, 1951; built the modern 1956 school building.
- Fr. Matthew Benko, O.S.B.1973–1974
Led the building of the new (current) Sacred Heart Church; offered the first Mass in it Jan. 19, 1974.
- Fr. Aiden Pfeister, O.S.B.
Served at Sacred Heart while it was a mission parish of St. Vincent.
- Fr. Boniface Buerkle, O.S.B.
Served at Sacred Heart while it was a mission parish of St. Vincent.
- Fr. John Haag, O.S.B.
Served at Sacred Heart while it was a mission parish of St. Vincent.
- Fr. Aelred Beck, O.S.B.
Served at Sacred Heart while it was a mission parish of St. Vincent.
- Fr. Chad Ficorilli, O.S.B.2001–
First freestanding pastor after Sacred Heart was established as a parish on March 10, 2001; Fr. Ralph Tajak, O.S.B. served as parochial vicar.
- Fr. Aaron Buzzelli, O.S.B.
Pastor; Fr. Bill Beaver, O.S.B. served as senior priest in residence.
- Fr. Peter Augustine Pierjok, O.S.B.August 20, 2007 – July 2017
First pastor/administrator of the combined 'Partner Parishes' of Sacred Heart and St. Cecilia, Whitney; retired parish debt and refurbished facilities.
- Fr. James F. Podlesny, O.S.B.July 17, 2017 – present
Named pastor by Bishop Edward Malesic; current pastor.