About Saint Susanna Church - Christ the Divine Shepherd Parish · Penn Hills, Pennsylvania
Saint Susanna Church is a Roman Catholic parish located at 200 Stotler Road in Penn Hills, Pennsylvania, in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Founded in 1960 by Bishop John J. Wright and dedicated on September 15, 1962, the parish was named after the ancient Roman Church of St. Susanna, with which Bishop Wright was familiar from his years in Rome as secretary to Boston's Cardinal William O'Connell. Since January 6, 2020, St. Susanna has been part of Christ the Divine Shepherd Parish, a multi-campus merger that also includes St. Bernadette in Monroeville, St. Bartholomew and St. Gerard Majella in Penn Hills, and North American Martyrs (Monroeville/Pitcairn). Today the parish serves the eastern Pittsburgh suburbs of Monroeville, Penn Hills, and Pitcairn with weekend Masses, weekday liturgies, Eucharistic adoration, faith formation, youth ministry, and a long-running Lenten fish fry that draws hundreds of volunteers.
- Established
- 1960
- Patron
- St. Susanna of Rome (3rd-century Roman virgin-martyr, d. 295 AD)
- Rector
- Rev. Michael Roche
- Diocese
- Diocese of Pittsburgh (Roman Catholic)
Why belong here
Christ the Divine Shepherd Parish offers a full Catholic life across three active campuses, with the St. Susanna site hosting a Saturday Vigil Mass, two Sunday Masses, two weekday Masses, weekly Eucharistic adoration on Tuesdays, and Saturday confessions. Parishioners can grow in faith through parish-wide faith formation and discipleship programs (led by Director Erin Zeigler and Assistant Director Irene Swackhammer), youth ministry (Celena Colcombe), Sacred Music and Worship, the Ladies of Charity service organization inspired by St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac, Men's Emmaus retreats, and the East End Kids youth performance troupe — all under the pastoral care of Father Mike Roche and a team of parochial vicars and deacons. The parish's signature Lenten fish fry, run by roughly 60 volunteers each Friday, is a beloved expression of fellowship and stewardship that the pastor calls one of the great joys of priestly life.
Mass times at Saint Susanna Church - Christ the Divine Shepherd Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:00 PM (at St. Susanna, before the 5:00 PM Vigil Mass)
- Saturday: 3:15 PM – 3:45 PM (at St. Susanna, on or near Holy Days per directory listing)
Adoration times
- Tuesday: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM (St. Susanna campus)
History of St. Susanna Parish
St. Susanna Parish was established in 1960 by Bishop John J. Wright of Pittsburgh to serve the rapidly growing Catholic population of eastern Penn Hills. The new church at 200 Stotler Road was formally dedicated on September 15, 1962. The parish's distinctive name came directly from Bishop Wright's Roman experience: he had worked in Rome as secretary to Cardinal William O'Connell of Boston, who was then the Cardinal assigned to the ancient Church of St. Susanna. The church's namesake, St. Susanna, was a 3rd-century Roman virgin-martyr (d. 295 AD), and her shrine near the Baths of Diocletian has stood on the same site since antiquity. In a detail the parish itself emphasizes, Bishop Wright died on August 10, 1979 — the eve of St. Susanna's August 11 feast. St. Susanna remained an independent parish for nearly 60 years before joining Christ the Divine Shepherd Parish on January 6, 2020.
- Founded: 1960
- Dedicated: September 15, 1962
- Founder: Bishop John J. Wright, Diocese of Pittsburgh
- Patron: St. Susanna of Rome, virgin-martyr (d. 295 AD); feast day August 11
- Merged into Christ the Divine Shepherd Parish: January 6, 2020
Christ the Divine Shepherd Parish (the merged community)
Since January 6, 2020, St. Susanna has been one of three active worship sites of Christ the Divine Shepherd Parish, which was formed by merging St. Bernadette (Monroeville), St. Bartholomew (Penn Hills), St. Gerard Majella (Penn Hills), St. Susanna (Penn Hills), and North American Martyrs (Monroeville/Pitcairn). The combined parish serves the Monroeville / Penn Hills / Pitcairn corridor in eastern Allegheny County and is led by its pastor with two senior parochial vicars, an in-residence hospital chaplain, and two permanent deacons.
- St. Bernadette — 245 Azalea Dr, Monroeville, PA 15146
- St. Susanna — 200 Stotler Rd, Penn Hills, PA 15235
- North American Martyrs — Monroeville/Pitcairn
- Divine Mercy Academy — parish school at the St. Bernadette campus
- Parish mission: 'to nourish the Shepherd's flock by forging a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ, worshipping authentically, engaging community.'
Clergy, Deacons, and Parish Staff
The parish is currently served by a pastor, two senior parochial vicars, a hospital-chaplain priest in residence, and two permanent deacons. Father Michael Roche became pastor of Christ the Divine Shepherd Parish in 2023; a 2024 TribLive profile described him as being in his second year at the parish at that time. Father William D. Wuenschel, ordained in 2015, and Father Thomas R. Miller serve as senior parochial vicars. Father Kenneth Kezmarsky — who previously served at St. Bernadette in the late 1990s — serves as hospital chaplain and priest in residence, though he is being reassigned in July 2026. Deacon Michael W. Kelly serves as Pastoral Associate and Deacon Nick Wytiaz assists in ministry. Lay staff oversee music, faith formation, youth ministry, safe environment, business, and maintenance.
- Rev. Michael Roche — Pastor ([email protected], ext. 135)
- Rev. William D. Wuenschel — Senior Parochial Vicar ([email protected], ext. 117; ordained 2015)
- Rev. Thomas R. Miller — Senior Parochial Vicar ([email protected])
- Rev. Kenneth Kezmarsky — In Residence / Hospital Chaplain ([email protected]); leaving July 2026 for Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Moon Township
- Deacon Michael W. Kelly — Pastoral Associate ([email protected], ext. 112)
- Deacon Nick Wytiaz ([email protected])
- Joshua Bandish — Sacred Music and Worship ([email protected])
- Celena Colcombe — Youth Minister ([email protected], ext. 128)
- Erin Zeigler — Director of Parish Formation & Discipleship ([email protected], ext. 208)
- Irene Swackhammer — Assistant Director of Faith Formation ([email protected], ext. 150)
- Trish DiGiannurio — Safe Environment ([email protected])
- Gary Brueggman — Business Manager ([email protected], ext. 114)
- Kathy DeStefano, Sandy Palmieri, Ginny Beck — Secretaries
- Tim Jacob — Maintenance Coordinator ([email protected], ext. 140)
- Eileen Almeter — Custodian
Faith Formation, Youth, and Discipleship
The parish maintains a full formation team under Director of Parish Formation & Discipleship Erin Zeigler and Assistant Director of Faith Formation Irene Swackhammer, with Celena Colcombe coordinating youth ministry across all campuses. The parish uses the FORMED digital platform and the Hallow prayer app, both linked from the parish homepage. A Corpus Christi Eucharistic Procession is held annually after the 11:00 AM Mass, and the parish recognizes graduating high-school seniors each year with a blessing Mass.
- Parish Formation & Discipleship
- Youth Ministry (grades K–12)
- FORMED digital subscription
- Hallow prayer app
- East End Kids youth performance troupe (grades 5–12, summer show 'SOMETHING TO BELIEVE IN')
- Annual Corpus Christi Eucharistic Procession
- Annual senior blessing Mass
Music and Sacred Liturgy
Sacred Music and Worship is led by Joshua Bandish ([email protected]). The parish quotes the Second Vatican Council's Sacrosanctum Concilium (no. 112) on its music page, calling sacred music 'a treasure of inestimable value.' Weekend Masses feature both a cappella and choral settings.
- 8:00 AM a cappella Mass
- 11:00 AM choir Mass
- Sacrosanctum Concilium 112 quoted as guiding principle
Outreach: Ladies of Charity
The Ladies of Charity is a parish organization of volunteer women inspired by St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac that ministers to the needy, sick, and shut-ins of the parish. Their corporal and spiritual works of mercy include social visits and phone calls to shut-ins, praying the rosary at nursing homes, seasonal food drives, the Patriotic Rosary, Mary's Way of the Cross, and the Giving Tree. They also attend funeral homes and funeral Masses to support grieving families.
- Inspired by St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac
- Shut-in visits and phone calls
- Rosary at nursing homes
- Seasonal food drives (Thanksgiving / Christmas)
- Patriotic Rosary
- Mary's Way of the Cross
- Giving Tree
- Funeral home and funeral Mass support
Men's Emmaus Retreat
The parish hosts a Men's Emmaus Retreat — a weekend encounter-style retreat program rooted in the wider Cursillo / Emmaus movement — open to men of the parish and beyond. Registration is handled through the parish office.
- Men's Emmaus Retreat
- Open to men of the parish and beyond
- Registration through the parish office
Parish School: Divine Mercy Academy
Divine Mercy Academy is the parish school of Christ the Divine Shepherd Parish. It is located at 245 Azalea Drive, Monroeville, PA 15146, on the St. Bernadette campus. The school is led by Principal Nikole Laubham and serves parish families with a Catholic K–8 education.
- Address: 245 Azalea Drive, Monroeville, PA 15146
- Phone: (412) 372-7255
- Website: www.dmapgh.org
- Principal: Nikole Laubham ([email protected])
- Administrative Assistant: Erin Bozicevic ([email protected])
Lenten Fish Fry
One of the parish's most beloved traditions is its annual Lenten fish fry, held each Friday in Lent. According to a 2024 TribLive profile, about 60 volunteers help put on the meal each Friday, drawing hundreds of attendees from Monroeville, Penn Hills, and Pitcairn. Pastor Father Mike Roche called it 'one of the joys of being a priest' — a place where volunteers, diners, and clergy all come together in fellowship.
- Held each Friday during Lent
- Approximately 60 volunteers per Friday
- Strong community gathering across the parish's three communities (Monroeville, Penn Hills, Pitcairn)
Pastoral Care, Hospital Chaplaincy, and Deacons
Hospital chaplaincy for the parish community is provided by Father Kenneth Kezmarsky, who also serves in residence until his July 2026 reassignment. Deacon Michael W. Kelly serves as Pastoral Associate and Deacon Nick Wytiaz assists across the parish. Parish staff also include a Safe Environment coordinator (Trish DiGiannurio) to ensure safe-environment compliance for all parish programs and ministries involving children and vulnerable adults.
- Hospital chaplain: Rev. Kenneth Kezmarsky
- Pastoral Associate: Deacon Michael W. Kelly
- Deacon: Nick Wytiaz
- Safe Environment: Trish DiGiannurio
Visit, Contact, and Getting Involved
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish through the St. Susanna campus (200 Stotler Road, Penn Hills, PA 15235) or through the temporary parish offices at Biedenbach Hall on the St. Bernadette campus. The parish communicates regularly through its website, weekly bulletin, and the FORMED / Hallow digital platforms linked from the homepage.
- Parish website: christthedivineshepherd.org
- Main parish phone: (412) 373-0050
- St. Susanna phone: (412) 798-5596
- Email contacts: [email protected] for parish staff
- Weekly bulletin published for all campuses
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Jeremy Mohler
Former Senior Parochial Vicar; departed July 2024 to become administrator of St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Duncansville, in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown.
- Rev. Kenneth Kezmarsky2024–2026
Served as Senior Parochial Vicar and hospital chaplain; previously served at St. Bernadette in the late 1990s. Departing July 2026 to Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Moon Township.
- Rev. Michael Roche2023–present
Current pastor; in his second year at the parish as of 2024.