About Saint Gregory of Divine Grace Parish · Zelienople, Pennsylvania
Saint Gregory Church in Zelienople, Pennsylvania is one of three worship sites that make up Divine Grace Parish, the largest parish in the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh. Divine Grace Parish was constituted by Bishop David Zubik on July 1, 2022, uniting the former parishes of St. Ferdinand (Cranberry Township), St. Gregory (Zelienople), and Holy Redeemer (Ellwood City) into a single Catholic community serving northern Allegheny, Butler, and Lawrence counties. The Zelienople church itself was founded in 1906 by seventy families on land donated by the Zelienople Land Company and remains the historic heart of the Zelienople Catholic community, alongside the parish school it has operated continuously since 1911.
- Established
- 1906
- Patron
- Saint Gregory the Great (Pope and Doctor of the Church)
- Rector
- Rev. James A. Wehner, STD
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh
Why belong here
Divine Grace Parish welcomes everyone seeking to encounter Jesus Christ across northern Allegheny, Butler, and Lawrence counties, with three active worship sites, daily and weekend Mass in English, regular Confession, perpetual Adoration days, and a thriving Catholic school that has educated children on the Zelienople campus since 1911. The parish is large enough to offer a full team of priests and deacons, robust faith formation for all ages, OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation), youth and young adult ministry, liturgical music programs, baptism preparation, marriage and funeral ministries, and outreach — yet each of the three church campuses retains its own distinct community identity and schedule. Joining Divine Grace means becoming part of a faithful community whose stated mission is 'to invite everyone in our community to experience our Lord Jesus Christ.'
Mass times at Saint Gregory of Divine Grace Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday: 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM — Saint Gregory Church, Zelienople
- Wednesday: 6:00 PM to 6:45 PM — Holy Redeemer Church, Ellwood City
- Saturday: 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM — Saint Gregory Church, Zelienople
- Saturday: 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM — Saint Ferdinand Church, Cranberry Township
- Saturday: 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM — Holy Redeemer Church, Ellwood City
Adoration times
- Tuesday: 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM — Saint Gregory Church (All Day Adoration)
- Wednesday: 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM — Saint Ferdinand Church (All Day Adoration)
- Wednesday: 9:30 AM to 7:00 PM — Holy Redeemer Church (All Day Adoration)
- Thursday: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM — Saint Gregory Church (All Day Adoration)
- Friday: 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM — Saint Ferdinand Church (after the 8:30 am Mass)
- Private prayer at St. Gregory: 10:00 am–3:00 pm (M–F); 10:00 am–12:00 pm (Sat.)
Welcome and Parish Identity
Divine Grace Parish describes itself as 'a thriving community of engaged believers in Jesus Christ vibrantly sharing the word of love for God and one another in the fullness of one faith-filled and inviting apostolic community.' The parish's stated purpose is '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 and service.' The parish was constituted by Bishop David Zubik on July 1, 2022, to serve the People of God from the Cranberry Township, Ellwood City, and Zelienople areas — making it the largest parish in the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
- Three worship sites: St. Ferdinand (Cranberry Twp), St. Gregory (Zelienople), Holy Redeemer (Ellwood City)
- Administrative Center: 2535 Rochester Road, Cranberry Township, PA 16066
- Parish Phone: 724-776-2888
History of St. Gregory Parish (Zelienople)
St. Gregory Church was founded by seventy families in 1906 on land donated by the Zelienople Land Company. The first parish school was built and opened in 1911 and has continuously thrived as a center of Catholic education in the region ever since. In 1939, St. Matthias Church in Evans City became a mission church of St. Gregory. The two churches grew and flourished through the 1990s, but in 2017 St. Matthias was merged back into St. Gregory, primarily due to the decline of the Catholic population in Evans City. Saint Matthias Church was struck by lightning in 2019; the damage was extensive, and the church was soon after demolished. Much of the recoverable contents were incorporated into the life and liturgy at St. Gregory Church.
- 1906 — founding by seventy families
- 1911 — parish school opens
- 1939 — St. Matthias (Evans City) becomes a mission of St. Gregory
- 2017 — St. Matthias merged back into St. Gregory
- 2019 — St. Matthias struck by lightning and demolished; contents salvaged to St. Gregory
The Three Church Campuses of Divine Grace Parish
Although St. Gregory is the Zelienople parish entity originally requested, since 2022 it has been part of Divine Grace Parish. The parish retains three active churches, each with its own weekend Mass schedule: • Saint Ferdinand Church (Cranberry Township) — 2535 Rochester Road. Saturday Vigil: 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Sunday: 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m. • Saint Gregory Church (Zelienople) — 2 West Beaver Street, Zelienople, PA 16063. Saturday Vigil: 5:00 p.m. Sunday: 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m. • Holy Redeemer Church (Ellwood City) — 415 Fourth Street, Ellwood City, PA 16117. Saturday Vigil: 5:00 p.m. Sunday: 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m.
- All three churches remain open as worship sites
- Weekday Mass times vary by campus; see Mass Times page for full schedule
- Baptisms scheduled at each campus on different Sundays each month
Clergy and Staff
Divine Grace Parish is served by a full clergy team of three priests and three deacons, supported by an extensive lay staff for faith formation, youth ministry, music, communications, finance, and facilities. The pastoral team is led by Pastor Rev. James A. Wehner, STD, with Senior Parochial Vicars Rev. John P. Gallagher, STL and Rev. Joseph M. Freedy, STL, and Parochial Vicar Rev. Daniel Kushner. Deacons serving the parish are Jeffrey J. Ludwikowski, Donald C. Pepe, and Joseph Ross. Seminarian Chris Baker is also assigned to the parish.
- Pastor: Rev. James A. Wehner, STD
- Senior Parochial Vicar: Rev. John P. Gallagher, STL
- Senior Parochial Vicar: Rev. Joseph M. Freedy, STL
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Daniel Kushner
- Deacon Jeffrey J. Ludwikowski
- Deacon Donald C. Pepe
- Deacon Joseph Ross
- Director of Evangelization & Catechetical Ministries: Jason Gawaldo
- Coordinator for Faith Formation: Kay Ann Bellissimo and Emma Sabados
- Coordinator for Youth and Young Adult Ministry: Michael Assaf
- Assistant Coordinator for Youth Ministry: Hannah Repasky
- Coordinator of Music and Liturgical Ministries: Kevin Johnson
- Facilitator of Parish Ministries: Jennifer Livorse
- Director of Communications: Bob De Witt
- Digital Media Specialist: Alena Kucan
- Coordinator for Finance: John Grenci
- Safe Environment & PDS Coordinator: Christine Kunz
- Coordinator of Plant Operations: Deacon Don Pepe
St. Gregory School
St. Gregory School has operated on the Zelienople campus since 1911, making it one of the longest continuously running Catholic schools in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. The school serves students in Pre-K through Grade 8 and draws a diverse student body from various Catholic parishes and non-Catholic churches throughout Butler County and the surrounding area, with transportation services provided by eleven neighboring school districts. The current principal is Mrs. Erin Harris, and the pastor overseeing the school is Rev. James A. Wehner.
- Address: 115 Pine Street, Zelienople, PA 16063 (school office: 724-452-4064)
- Grades: PK, K–8
- Enrollment: approximately 235 students
- Student-teacher ratio: about 17:1
- Principal: Mrs. Erin Harris
- Website: school.stgregzelie.org
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith Formation at Divine Grace Parish serves learners at every stage of life, from baptism preparation for infants and toddlers through adult OCIA. The parish Office of Evangelization and Catechetical Ministries, directed by Jason Gawaldo, coordinates faith formation for children, youth, and adults across all three church campuses. Parents are asked to complete Baptism Formation prior to the baptism of their first child, with sessions rotating through all three campuses throughout the year.
- Baptism preparation for infants and children (ages 6 and under)
- Baptism Formation sessions at all three campuses
- Faith Formation for school-age children (Coordinator: Kay Ann Bellissimo and Emma Sabados)
- Youth Ministry (Coordinator: Michael Assaf; Assistant: Hannah Repasky)
OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
OCIA — formerly known as RCIA — is the parish's process for welcoming new members into the Catholic Church. Becoming Catholic involves entering into relationship with a community of God's people, and the OCIA journey is personalized to each inquirer while supported by parish team members who pray with them, attend sessions, and share their own life stories as Catholics.
- For adults never baptized who desire to become Catholic
- For children 7 years and older, never baptized, seeking to become Catholic
- For baptized Catholics who have not received First Communion or Confirmation
- For adults baptized in another Christian tradition (Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist, etc.)
- Contact: Jason Gawaldo, 724-776-9177 x1317, [email protected]
Sacraments
Divine Grace Parish celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments across its three campuses. Baptisms of children age 6 and under are scheduled through the Parish Office at 724-776-2888 x1101 at least two months in advance, on the first Sunday of each month at Holy Redeemer after the 11:00 AM Mass, the second or fourth Sunday at St. Ferdinand at 2:00 PM, and the third Sunday of each month at St. Gregory after the 10:00 AM Mass. Other sacraments include First Communion, Confirmation (prepared through the parish's catechetical programs), Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and Funeral/Bereavement ministry.
- Baptism — St. Gregory: Third Sunday after the 10:00 AM Mass
- Baptism — Holy Redeemer: First Sunday after the 11:00 AM Mass
- Baptism — St. Ferdinand: Second or Fourth Sunday at 2:00 PM
- Older children (over 6): contact Faith Formation Office
- Marriage and Weddings — contact Parish Office
- Bereavement / Funerals — parish ministry
Liturgical Ministries and Music
The parish's Music and Liturgical Ministries team, under Coordinator Kevin Johnson, supports the sung and ceremonial life of the liturgy across all three campuses. Liturgical lay ministries include Sacristans, Altar Servers, Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, and Ushers, along with Hospitality and Greeters and Ministry to the Homebound.
- Sacristans
- Altar Servers
- Lectors
- Ushers
- Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist
- Hospitality and Greeters
- Ministry to the Homebound
- Music and Liturgical Ministries
Formation of Divine Grace Parish
Divine Grace Parish emerged from Bishop David Zubik's diocesan initiative 'On Mission for The Church Alive!', announced April 12, 2015, in response to declining Mass attendance, reduced sacramental participation, and a falling number of priests available for parish ministry. Following a period of consultation with the faithful, parishes were grouped together and served by a single clergy team to eventually form one new parish. The three parishes of Holy Redeemer (Ellwood City/Koppel/Wampum), Saint Ferdinand (Cranberry Township), and St. Gregory (Zelienople) were formally merged on July 1, 2022. All three churches remained open to serve the new parish, which is now the largest in the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
- 2015 — Bishop Zubik announces 'On Mission for The Church Alive!'
- 2018 — parishes grouped under single clergy teams
- July 1, 2022 — Divine Grace Parish formally constituted
- All three churches remain open as worship sites
- Largest parish in the Diocese of Pittsburgh
Visiting and Contact
Saint Gregory Church sits at 2 West Beaver Street in the heart of Zelienople, Butler County. Visitors can reach the parish office at 724-776-2888 or [email protected]. The parish is active on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Flocknote; the school website is school.stgregzelie.org.
- Address: 2 West Beaver Street, Zelienople, PA 16063
- Phone: 724-776-2888
- Email: [email protected]
- Parish website: divinegracepgh.org
- School website: stgregzelie.org
- Social: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Flocknote
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Lawrence Smith
Listed in school leadership context as pastor during recent era of St. Gregory School (per MapQuest school listing).