About Saint Mary (Holy Spirit Parish) · New Castle, Pennsylvania
Holy Spirit Parish of Lawrence County is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Pittsburgh that serves the New Castle, Pennsylvania area. Formed in July 2019 under Bishop David Zubik's 'On Mission for The Church Alive!' initiative, it is one of 57 new parishes created by merging the Pittsburgh Diocese's 188 parishes amid declining clergy and congregant numbers. Originally spanning seven worship sites (St. Mary, St. Vitus, St. Camillus, St. Joseph the Worker, St. Vincent de Paul, St. James the Apostle, and St. Anthony), Holy Spirit Parish today operates from three active church buildings — St. Vitus Church (the parish hub), St. Mary Church, and St. Camillus Church in Neshannock Township — after four sites were closed in September 2023. The parish mission is to 'Know Christ, Love Christ, Serve Christ and Invite others to Christ through Word, Sacrament and Sacrifice.'
- Established
- 2019
- Patron
- The Holy Spirit
- Rector
- Rev. Benjamin E. Barr
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh
Why belong here
Holy Spirit Parish welcomes Catholics across Lawrence County into a single family of faith with three active worship sites — St. Vitus Church (the parish hub and weekday Mass chapel), St. Mary Church, and St. Camillus Church in Neshannock Township — offering daily and weekend Masses, Saturday confessions at St. Vitus, and extensive Eucharistic adoration at the dedicated Holy Spirit Adoration Chapel (open six days a week). The parish runs faith formation for all ages, sacramental preparation (including baptism classes held at St. Mary's Marian Room), weekly devotions such as the Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help and the St. Anthony Novena, a livestream Mass ministry, and community traditions like the annual Holy Spirit Parish Festival and Parish Golf Outing.
Mass times at Saint Mary (Holy Spirit Parish)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM at St. Vitus Church
Adoration times
- Monday 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM at Holy Spirit Adoration Chapel
- Tuesday 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM at Holy Spirit Adoration Chapel
- Wednesday 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM at Holy Spirit Adoration Chapel
- Thursday 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM at Holy Spirit Adoration Chapel
- Friday 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM at Holy Spirit Adoration Chapel
- Saturday 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM at Holy Spirit Adoration Chapel
- Sunday 1:00 PM – 8:00 PM at Holy Spirit Adoration Chapel
About Holy Spirit Parish
Holy Spirit Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Pittsburgh that brings together the Catholic communities of New Castle and surrounding Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. The parish website (hsplc.org) describes itself as a 'digital hub' for staff, parishioners, and visitors exploring the Catholic faith, with the mission: 'Together as one family, let us know, love, and serve Christ while inviting others to Him through Word, Sacrament, and Sacrifice.' The parish office sits at 915 S. Jefferson Street in New Castle and is open 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM Monday through Friday.
- Parish office phone: 724-652-3422
- Office hours: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Monday–Friday
- Website: hsplc.org
- Diocese: Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh
Our Three Church Sites
After the September 2023 closures of St. Vincent de Paul, St. Anthony, St. James the Apostle, and St. Joseph the Worker, Holy Spirit Parish is served by three active worship buildings. St. Vitus Church serves as the parish hub and houses the weekday Mass chapel and the scheduled-confession location. St. Mary Church (formerly part of Mary, Mother of Hope Parish) and St. Camillus Church in Neshannock Township round out the parish's sacramental life across the county.
- St. Vitus Church — 910 S. Mercer Street, New Castle, PA 16101 (parish hub; Saturday Vigil 4 PM; Sunday 7 AM, 9 AM; daily Mass Mon–Fri 9 AM; Saturday confessions 11 AM–12 PM)
- St. Camillus Church — 314 W. Englewood Avenue, New Castle (Neshannock Twp.), PA 16105 (Saturday Vigil 4 PM; Sunday 11 AM)
- St. Mary Church — 124 N. Beaver Street, New Castle, PA 16101 (Sunday 8 AM)
History of the Parish
Holy Spirit Parish was created in July 2019 through a diocesan-wide consolidation effort. The parish has since navigated early-pandemic adaptations, livestreaming of Masses, and a 2023 reduction from seven churches to three. Its component communities include centuries-old New Castle Catholic life, a Neshannock Township parish founded in 1959 (St. Camillus), and rural Pulaski roots reaching back to 1838.
- July 2019: Formed by merger of seven parishes under Bishop Zubik's 'On Mission for The Church Alive!'
- October 2018: New Castle-area parishes already grouped under Fr. Joseph R. McCaffrey as senior pastor
- February 2020: St. Lawrence building in Hillsville formally closed
- 2020–2022: COVID-19 pandemic required livestreamed Masses and digital outreach
- September 2023: Four of the seven church sites closed (St. Vincent de Paul, St. Anthony, St. James the Apostle, St. Joseph the Worker)
- August 24, 2024: Fr. Benjamin E. Barr installed as parish's second pastor
Clergy & Pastoral Staff
The parish is led by Fr. Benjamin E. Barr, installed as pastor on August 24, 2024. He is assisted by a senior parochial vicar and a deacon. The parish extends the diocese's liturgical and pastoral ministry across its three sites and its faith formation programs.
- Rev. Benjamin E. Barr — Pastor (installed August 24, 2024)
- Rev. Aaron J. Kriss, MDiv — Senior Parochial Vicar
- Deacon John J. Carran
- Fr. Benjamin Barr extension: 724-652-3422 ext. 2203
- Fr. Aaron Kriss extension: 724-652-3422 ext. 2202
Devotions & Weekly Prayer
Two parish novenas anchor the week's devotional life outside of Mass: the Monday Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help at the Adoration Chapel, and the Tuesday St. Anthony Novena at St. Vitus Church.
- Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help — Mondays 7:00 PM, Holy Spirit Adoration Chapel
- St. Anthony Novena — Tuesdays 7:00 PM, St. Vitus Church
- Mass of Anointing — celebrated periodically (dates listed in bulletin)
Sacraments
The parish prepares the faithful for and celebrates the seven sacraments. Baptism preparation classes are held at St. Mary Church in the Marian Room; couples preparing for marriage are asked to contact the parish office at least one year in advance; a Mass of Anointing is celebrated periodically for the sick.
- Baptism — class at St. Mary Marian Room; register via 724-652-3422 ext. 2210 (Jan Book)
- First Communion & Confirmation — preparation through Faith Formation
- Matrimony — contact parish office at least one year prior
- Anointing of the Sick — Mass of Anointing celebrated on announced dates
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation is offered for all ages and is administered from the Holy Spirit Faith Formation Building at 915 S. Jefferson Street, New Castle. Programs support sacramental preparation, ongoing catechesis, and adult formation.
- Faith Formation Building — 915 S. Jefferson St., New Castle, PA 16101
- Baptismal prep classes
- First Communion and Confirmation preparation
- Adult faith formation offerings
Parish Life & Outreach
Beyond the sacraments, Holy Spirit Parish hosts annual community events that bring the merged Catholic community together, including the summer Holy Spirit Parish Festival and the Holy Spirit Parish Golf Outing. The parish also livestreams Masses for the homebound and offers online giving.
- Annual Holy Spirit Parish Festival (held on St. Vitus grounds)
- Annual Holy Spirit Parish Golf Outing
- Livestream Mass via hsplc.org and YouTube
- Online Giving through parish website
- Weekly digital bulletin and bulletin archives
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Joseph R. McCaffrey2018–2024
Senior pastor of the New Castle-area parishes from October 2018; led them through the 2019 formation of Holy Spirit Parish and the 2023 site closures; first pastor of the merged Holy Spirit Parish.
- Rev. Benjamin E. Barr2024–present
Installed as pastor of Holy Spirit Parish on August 24, 2024; previously served at Our Lady of Grace Parish.