About Saint Ferdinand Church of Divine Grace Parish · Cranberry, Pennsylvania
Divine Grace Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, canonically established on July 1, 2022 by Bishop David Zubik through the merger of three historic parishes: St. Ferdinand of Cranberry Township, St. Gregory of Zelienople, and Holy Redeemer of Ellwood City/Koppel/Wampum. It is the largest parish in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, serving the faithful across three church buildings that all remain open. Its mission is to unite all believers into the One Body of Christ and to invite everyone in its community to experience Jesus Christ. The parish maintains an extensive schedule of daily and weekend Masses, regular confession, perpetual adoration, and a broad slate of ministries from faith formation to youth ministry, music, prison ministry, and outreach.
- Established
- 1961
- Patron
- Saint Ferdinand
- Rector
- Rev. James A. Wehner, STD
- Diocese
- Diocese of Pittsburgh
Why belong here
Divine Grace Parish welcomes everyone to one of the largest Catholic communities in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, with three active worship sites and an unusually rich schedule of daily and weekend Masses, weekly confession, and multiple days of Eucharistic adoration. Families find a full Faith Formation program with First Reconciliation and First Communion preparation, a dedicated youth and young adult ministry, and St. Gregory School on the Zelienople campus. Parishioners can also serve through Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Prison Ministry, music and liturgical ministries, or join a long roster of parish groups and devotions.
Mass times at Saint Ferdinand Church of Divine Grace Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM at St. Gregory Church
- Wednesday: 6:00 PM – 6:45 PM at Holy Redeemer Church
- Saturday: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM at Holy Redeemer Church
- Saturday: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM at St. Ferdinand Church
- Saturday: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM at St. Gregory Church
Adoration times
- Sunday: 12:15 PM – 4:00 PM at Holy Redeemer Church
- Monday: 8:00 AM – 8:50 AM at Holy Redeemer Church
- Tuesday: 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM at St. Gregory Church (All Day Adoration)
- Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM at St. Ferdinand Church (All Day Adoration)
- Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 7:00 PM at Holy Redeemer Church (All Day Adoration)
- Thursday: 8:00 AM – 8:50 AM at Holy Redeemer Church
- Friday: 8:00 AM – 8:50 AM at Holy Redeemer Church
- Friday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM at St. Ferdinand Church (after the 8:30 AM Mass)
Welcome to Divine Grace Parish
Divine Grace Parish was canonically constituted on July 1, 2022 by Bishop David Zubik to serve the People of God from the Cranberry Township, Ellwood City, and Zelienople areas. It is now the largest parish in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Its stated mission is to unite all believers into the One Body of Christ and to invite everyone in the community to experience Jesus Christ — using the gifts of faith and talent to welcome all and worship together. The parish maintains a unified website (divinegracepgh.org) where newcomers can register, browse ministries, and access the weekly bulletin.
- Parish purpose: 'to use our faith and talents to welcome all and worship together so that everyone feels invited to experience Jesus Christ and draw others to our community, one centered around Jesus Christ and His vision of unity.'
- New Member Registration form available on the parish website.
- Three active worship sites: Saint Ferdinand (Cranberry), Saint Gregory (Zelienople), Holy Redeemer (Ellwood City).
History of the Parish
The Saint Ferdinand roots of Divine Grace Parish go back to January 1960, when Bishop John J. Wright established a mission of St. Alphonsus, Wexford in Cranberry Township. The first Mass was celebrated at Hartner's Restaurant on Route 19 on January 24, 1960, then moved to the Cranberry Fire Hall. On May 31, 1961, the mission was raised to parish status and Father William McAndrew became the first resident pastor; he died suddenly in June 1962 and was succeeded by Father James Biller. A transitional church/social hall/CCD building was dedicated on February 20, 1966 by Bishop Wright. By the late 1980s, Cranberry's explosive growth had outgrown the original church; the new, larger Saint Ferdinand Church was dedicated on December 23, 1990 by Bishop Donald W. Wuerl. In response to diocesan-wide planning through the 'On Mission for The Church Alive!' initiative (launched 2015), the three parishes were grouped under a shared clergy team in 2018 and formally merged into Divine Grace Parish on July 1, 2022.
- 1960 — Mission of St. Alphonsus established in Cranberry; first Mass at Hartner's Restaurant, January 24, 1960.
- 1961 — Saint Ferdinand Mission raised to parish status, May 31, 1961; Father William McAndrew named first pastor.
- 1962 — Father James Biller appointed pastor after Father McAndrew's sudden death.
- 1965/1966 — First Mass in transitional church on Easter Sunday 1965; Bishop Wright dedicates the building February 20, 1966.
- 1989/1990 — Groundbreaking October 8, 1989; new Saint Ferdinand Church dedicated December 23, 1990 by Bishop Wuerl.
- 2002 — Bishop Wuerl redrew parish boundaries, moving parishioners east of Route 19 to St. Kilian Parish.
- 2015 — Bishop Zubik launches 'On Mission for The Church Alive!' initiative.
- 2018 — Saint Ferdinand, Holy Redeemer, and St. Gregory grouped under one clergy team.
- 2022 — Three parishes formally merged as Divine Grace Parish on July 1, 2022.
Clergy and Staff
Divine Grace Parish is led by a clergy team under Father James A. Wehner, STD, the parish's first Pastor, with two Senior Parochial Vicars, a Parochial Vicar, four Deacons, and a Seminarian in residence. A large lay staff supports parish operations: an Executive Assistant/Office Manager, Finance Coordinator, Bookkeeper, Director of Evangelization & Catechetical Ministries, Communications Director, Faith Formation Coordinators, Youth Ministry team, Music & Liturgical Ministries Coordinator, Digital Media Specialist, organists, maintenance leads at each site, and administrative assistants.
- Pastor: Rev. James A. Wehner, STD.
- Senior Parochial Vicars: Rev. John P. Gallagher, STL; Rev. Joseph M. Freedy, STL.
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Daniel Kushner.
- Deacons: Jeffrey J. Ludwikowski, Donald C. Pepe, Joseph E. Ross, Erik Pintar.
- Diocesan Seminarian: Chris Baker.
- Diocesan Bishop: Most Rev. David A. Zubik, DD.
Faith Formation
The Faith Formation office coordinates sacramental preparation for children, ongoing religious education, and the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) process — formerly known as RCIA — for adults and children seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church. Second-grade children prepare for First Reconciliation and First Communion through parent meetings in the fall, family-based Bible and catechism study at home, and on-site classes; Jason Gawaldo (Director of Evangelization & Catechetical Ministries) and coordinators Emma Sabados and Kay Ann Bellissimo support families. Adaptations are available for children with physical or learning disabilities, per diocesan policy.
- Second Grade Sacraments (First Reconciliation & First Communion).
- OCIA — for adults never baptized, Catholics needing Eucharist/Confirmation, and Christians from other traditions.
- Ongoing Faith Formation classes for school-age children.
- Youth Ministry and Young Adult Ministry led by Michael Assaf with assistant Hannah Repasky.
Liturgy and Music
Music and liturgical ministries are led by Coordinator of Music and Liturgical Ministries Kevin Johnson, supported by parish organists Jeff Davis and David Kosior. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion assist the priests at every Mass, distributing the Body and Blood of Christ and bringing Communion to the homebound. Site coordinators oversee the ministry at each of the three worship sites.
- Director of Music/Liturgy: Kevin Johnson.
- Organists: Jeff Davis and David Kosior.
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion with site leaders at each church (St. Ferdinand – Mark DeNapoli; Holy Redeemer – Rosina Betz; St. Gregory – Joyce Gaydosz).
- Contact for Eucharistic ministry: Jennifer Livorse, 724-776-2888 ext. 1210.
Outreach and Other Ministries
Beyond Mass and formation, Divine Grace Parish maintains a wide variety of parish ministries. The Prison Ministry fulfills the Work of Mercy of visiting the imprisoned, with visits roughly twice a month under leader Shalini Savio. Communications and digital media keep parishioners connected through the parish bulletin, social channels, and the website. Facilitator of Parish Ministries Jennifer Livorse serves as a central point of contact for anyone discerning a call to serve.
- Prison Ministry — leader Shalini Savio, contact via Jennifer Livorse.
- Communications / Digital Media — led by Director of Communications Bob De Witt and Digital Media Specialist Alena Kucan.
- Facilitator of Parish Ministries — Jennifer Livorse (724-776-2888 ext. 1210).
- Maintenance and Plant Operations across all three sites under Deacon Don Pepe.
St. Gregory School
St. Gregory School is the parish's Catholic school, located on the Zelienople campus. It serves as a ministry of Divine Grace Parish and offers a school Mass on Fridays during the school year (August through May) at 9:00 AM at Saint Gregory Church. The school's staff is integrated into the wider parish staff directory.
- Friday School Mass at 9:00 AM at St. Gregory Church (Aug–May).
- School staff listed on the parish's 'Our Staff' page.
Plan Your Visit
Visitors can find Mass times, confession schedules, adoration hours, and directions for all three worship sites on the parish website's Mass Times page. The parish office is open during the week and can be reached at 724-776-2888 or [email protected]. Newcomers are encouraged to register through the New Member Registration form on the website, and the parish publishes a printable bulletin and a current calendar of upcoming special Masses, prayer services, and devotions.
- Address (Administrative Center): 2535 Rochester Road, Cranberry Township, PA 16066.
- Phone: 724-776-2888.
- Email: [email protected].
- Bulletin and Mass Times: divinegracepgh.org/mass-times and /bulletins.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. William McAndrew1961–1962
First resident pastor of St. Ferdinand Parish; died suddenly June 5, 1962. A statue of Jesus at the church entrance was later dedicated in his memory.
- Rev. James Biller1962–
Appointed by Bishop John J. Wright on July 3, 1962 after the death of Father McAndrew.
- Rev. Bartley Sorenson1976–1981
First Parochial Vicar of St. Ferdinand, named November 1976.
- Rev. Charles Speicherfrom 1981
Appointed to minister at St. Ferdinand in July 1981.
- Rev. John P. Gallagher, STL
Served as pastor of the former St. Ferdinand Parish immediately prior to the 2022 merger; now Senior Parochial Vicar of Divine Grace Parish.
- Rev. James A. Wehner, STD2022–present
First Pastor of Divine Grace Parish, constituted July 1, 2022.