Saint Scholastica Church - Christ the King Parish

About Saint Scholastica Church

Saint Scholastica is the Aspinwall worship site of Christ the King Parish, located at 309 Brilliant Avenue, Aspinwall, PA 15215. The parish's history is preserved in a 96-page hardback book, 'A History of Saint Scholastica Parish,' published in connection with the 2007 centennial and available through the parish office. The parish guiding verse is Micah 6:8 — 'Act justly, love tenderly, and walk humbly before your God.'

• 309 Brilliant Avenue, Aspinwall, PA 15215
• Phone: (412) 781-0186
• Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:30 AM – 1:30 PM
• Patron: Saint Scholastica, twin sister of St. Benedict; feast day February 10

History of Saint Scholastica Parish

From a 1903 petition by twenty Catholic families, through a 1905 mission under Fr. Thomas Rosensteel, to its establishment as a parish in 1907, Saint Scholastica grew rapidly. The original 1909 church was replaced in 1950 with the present modern building, and the school — opened by the Franciscan Sisters in 1925 — became the regional Christ the Divine Teacher Catholic Academy in 1997. The parish celebrated its centennial in 2006–2007 and, in July 2021, merged with three other parishes to form Christ the King Parish.

• 1903 — Twenty Catholic families petition for a parish in Aspinwall
• 1905 — Diocese approves a mission church under Fr. Thomas Rosensteel of St. Joseph, Sharpsburg; first Mass on the second floor of McKenzie's Hall at 227 Commercial Avenue
• 1906 — First eight lots purchased for $9,000; Bishop Canevin supplies the name 'St. Scholastica'
• 1907 — Parish established; Fr. John Hackett appointed first pastor
• 1909 — Original small church dedicated January 31
• 1912 — Rectory built (oldest building on the property)
• 1925 — School opens with 159 students, staffed by Sisters of St. Francis from Mount Alvernia
• 1928 — First eighth-grade class graduates
• 1949 — Cornerstone for new modern church laid in October
• 1950 — New church dedicated June 25 at a cost of $230,000
• 1970s — Stained glass windows replace original clear glass
• 1985 — New school and gymnasium replace the original 1909 church and school
• 1994 — Fr. Robert Duch becomes twelfth pastor; church interior renovated in 1995
• 1997 — School becomes regional Catholic school, renamed Christ the Divine Teacher Catholic Academy
• 2001 — New Pastoral Center built (parish office, small kitchen, multi-purpose room)
• 2005 — Parish grows to over 1,350 families
• 2006–2007 — Centennial celebrated; time capsule placed behind St. Joseph statue
• 2014 — Fr. James Torquato installed as fourteenth pastor (May 4)
• 2018 — Joins Lower Allegheny Valley grouping under Fr. Dale DeNinno
• July 2021 — Merged to form Christ the King Parish

Architecture and Sacred Art

The present Saint Scholastica Church is a mid-century modern building designed by architect Alfred Reid, with the cornerstone laid in October 1949 and the church dedicated on June 25, 1950. The sanctuary's striking artwork was created by two notable sculptors in a coordinated modern idiom: Janet de Coux carved the walnut crucifix and the statues of Mary and St. Joseph, while Eliza Miller carved the slate Stations of the Cross. Original clear glass windows were replaced with stained glass in the 1970s.

• Architect: Alfred Reid
• Dedicated: June 25, 1950
• Construction cost: $230,000
• Walnut crucifix and statues of Mary and St. Joseph — Janet de Coux
• Slate Stations of the Cross — Eliza Miller
• Stained glass windows added in the 1970s
• Oldest building on property: 1912 rectory

Worship at Saint Scholastica

The Aspinwall church is one of several worship sites within Christ the King Parish. Weekend Masses at Saint Scholastica include a Saturday Vigil and a Sunday morning Mass, and the church is also one of the parish locations for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday morning daily Mass, plus the special Independence Day Mass.

Christ the King Parish — Pastoral Team

Saint Scholastica is shepherded as part of Christ the King Parish in the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, with clergy serving the merged communities across Aspinwall, Sharpsburg, Blawnox, and O'Hara Township.

• Rev. Dale E. DeNinno, MDiv — Pastor ([email protected])
• Rev. William P. Siple, STL — Senior Parochial Vicar ([email protected])
• Rev. Jinjo Kim — Chaplain to the Korean Catholic Community ([email protected])
• Deacon Robert F. Wertz, Jr.

Catholic Education — Christ the Divine Teacher Catholic Academy

Catholic schooling has been central to Saint Scholastica since 1925, when the Sisters of St. Francis from Mount Alvernia opened the parish school with 159 students. The school building was replaced in 1985 with a new school and gymnasium, and in 1997 the school became a regional Catholic school with the added support of parishes in Blawnox, O'Hara Township, and Sharpsburg. It was renamed Christ the Divine Teacher Catholic Academy (CDTCA) and continues to serve as a regional Catholic elementary school.

• Founded 1925 with 159 students (Sisters of St. Francis from Mount Alvernia)
• New school and gymnasium built in 1985 (replacing original 1909 church/school)
• Became a regional school in 1997 — renamed Christ the Divine Teacher Catholic Academy
• Serving parishes of Blawnox, O'Hara Township, Sharpsburg, and Aspinwall

Parish Ministries and Outreach

As part of Christ the King Parish, Saint Scholastica parishioners serve through a wide network of ministries. Outreach and social-justice ministries include the St. Vincent de Paul Society (rental, food, and emergency assistance), Hope for Haiti, Respect Life, and the Creation Care Team (inspired by Pope Francis' Laudato Si'). Parish life is supported by the Social Committee (Parish Picnic, Donut Sundays), the Music Ministry (concerts, choral vespers, special programs), and Youth Ministry Social Outreach (service projects and two week-long Summer of Service camps each summer).

• St. Vincent de Paul Society
• Hope for Haiti Committee
• Respect Life Committee
• Creation Care Team
• Social Committee / Parish Picnic / Donut Sundays
• Music Ministry
• Youth Ministry Social Outreach (Summer of Service camps)

Pastoral Center, Facilities, and Cry Room

A new Pastoral Center was built in 2001 between the church and the 1985 school building. It houses the parish office, a small kitchen, and a multi-purpose room usable for both large and small gatherings. The church also features a Cry Room for young families located above the sacristy, accessible through the door near the organ.

• Pastoral Center built in 2001
• Includes parish office, small kitchen, and multi-purpose room
• Cry Room for young families — above the sacristy, door near the organ
• No on-site parking lot — street parking only on surrounding blocks

Visiting Saint Scholastica

Saint Scholastica Church is at 309 Brilliant Avenue in the borough of Aspinwall, just across the Allegheny River from the city of Pittsburgh. Street parking is available on the blocks around the church (there is no parish lot), and the church is fully within Christ the King Parish in the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh.

• Address: 309 Brilliant Avenue, Aspinwall, PA 15215
• Phone: (412) 781-0186
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: http://christthekingpgh.org/
• Diocese: Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh