Saint Joseph (North Oakland)-Saint Clare of Assisi Parish

Saint Clare of Assisi Parish — Three-Site Catholic Community in Butler County

Saint Clare of Assisi Parish is the merged Catholic parish that, since January 4, 2021, unites three historic Butler County worship sites: St. Joseph in North Oakland (Chicora), Mater Dolorosa in Chicora, and St. Wendelin in Carbon Center. Its motto, displayed prominently on the parish website, is "Love God, Serve God: Everything is in that." The parish is led by Pastor Fr. Matthew McClain and a team of Capuchin senior parochial vicars and additional priests, supported by parish staff and a School of Religion program.

St. Joseph, North Oakland — Parish History

The Catholic presence in North Oakland dates to 1845, when the original St. Joseph parish was founded to serve both Irish and German families in the area. Before a resident pastor was assigned, the mission was served by German-speaking clergy from St. Peter in Butler and by English-speaking clergy from St. Patrick in Sugar Creek or Brady's Bend, with the first resident pastors being bilingual. In the 1870s an English-only pastor was assigned, and in 1874 a new English-language church was built. The German congregation then petitioned to form its own parish, taking over the original 1845 church and rededicating it as St. Joseph (German) on July 18, 1877.

• 1845 — Original St. Joseph parish founded (Irish and German)
• 1874 — English-speaking St. Joseph builds new church
• July 18, 1877 — St. Joseph (German) parish established, rededication of the original church
• 1954 — Original German church escapes a tornado unscathed
• January 16, 1966 — St. Joseph (German) and St. Joseph (English) reunite; the German church becomes a receiving chapel for St. Joseph Cemetery
• 1993 — St. Joseph begins sharing a pastor with Mater Dolorosa, Chicora
• 2015 — Bishop David Zubik launches "On Mission for The Church Alive!"
• January 4, 2021 — Merger with Mater Dolorosa and St. Wendelin forms Saint Clare of Assisi Parish; St. Joseph Church remains an active worship site

Our Clergy Team

Saint Clare of Assisi Parish is served by a pastor and a team of senior parochial vicars, with administrative staff supporting the parish office and worship sites.

• Fr. Matthew (Matt) McClain — Pastor — 724-445-3713 ext 3104 — [email protected]
• Fr. James Kurtz, OFM Cap. — Senior Parochial Vicar
• Fr. Ward Stakem, OFM Cap. — Senior Parochial Vicar
• Fr. Louis (Lou) Pascazi — Senior Parochial Vicar — 724-445-3713 ext 3105 — [email protected]
• Barb Boltz — Parish Administrative Assistant & Facilities Scheduler — [email protected]
• Martha Birch — Parish Accountant — [email protected]
• Nicole Karenbauer — Parish Administrative Assistant, School Accountant, Safe Environment Coordinator
• Sue Fraley — Director of Evangelization, Youth & Young Adult Ministry — [email protected]
• Audra Brown — Director of Religious Education — [email protected]
• Vince Ritzert — Director of Music — [email protected]
• Vince Houpt — Music Minister, St. Joseph Parish — [email protected]

Faith Formation & Religious Education (PSR)

The Parish School of Religion (PSR) partners with parents to provide religious education for school-age children from Kindergarten through 8th grade who attend public school or non-Catholic private school. Classes can be attended on Monday evenings during the school year or as half-day sessions over two weeks in June.

• PSR Coordinator: Christine Steele — [email protected] — 636-394-4368 ext 183
• PSR Secretary: Marla Delaney — [email protected] — 636-394-4368 ext 184
• Confirmation Preparation for 8th graders
• RCIA for adults entering the Catholic Church
• Baptismal Preparation (required course for first-time parents)
• Vacation Bible School

Parish Ministries and Groups

Saint Clare of Assisi Parish supports a wide network of ministries that span prayer, formation, outreach, and parish life. Many of these ministries are shared across the three worship sites, while some — such as Christian Mothers — are rooted at St. Joseph.

• Liturgical Ministries
• All Souls Mass
• Angel/Giving Trees
• Discovering Christ evangelization series
• Bible Study
• Book Club
• Faith Alive Prayer Group
• March for Life
• Parish Picnic and Volunteer Party
• Young Adult Ministry ("Bar Talk")
• Youth Group
• Legion of Mary
• Christian Mothers (meets at St. Joseph Church)
• Knights of Columbus

Music and Worship

Music ministry for the parish is led by Vince Ritzert (Director of Music) and Vince Houpt (Music Minister at St. Joseph Parish).

• Director of Music — Vince Ritzert ([email protected])
• Music Minister, St. Joseph — Vince Houpt ([email protected])
• Weekly Vigil Mass livestreamed from St. Wendelin at 4:00 PM on the St. Clare Parish YouTube Channel

School and Cemetery

The merged parish remains connected to St. Wendelin School and to the historic St. Joseph Cemetery, with cemetery inquiries routed through the diocesan Catholic Cemeteries Association office.

• St. Wendelin School — 211 St. Wendelin Rd., Butler, PA 16002 — 724-285-4986 — [email protected]
• St. Wendelin School Principal: JoLynn Clouse
• St. Joseph Cemetery — inquiries via Catholic Cemeteries Association, North Regional Office, 2636 Ellwood Road, New Castle, PA 16101, 724-323-0033, [email protected]

Contact and Visiting

The Saint Clare of Assisi Parish Administrative Center is located at the St. Joseph campus. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM (noon).

• Parish Administrative Center — 864 Chicora Road, Chicora, PA 16025
• Phone — 724-445-3713
• Fax — 724-607-1183
• Office Hours — Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Parish website — https://www.saintclareparish.com/
• Sacrament and Facilities Scheduling — Barb Boltz, [email protected]