About Saints John & Paul Church - Saint Luke the Evangelist Parish · Sewickley, Pennsylvania
Saint Luke the Evangelist Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Pittsburgh serving the Sewickley/Franklin Park and Ambridge communities in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The parish operates from two campuses — Saints John & Paul Church at 2586 Wexford Bayne Road in Sewickley/Franklin Park, and Good Samaritan Church at 725 Glenwood Avenue in Ambridge — together with the Saints John & Paul Grotto Chapel used for daily Mass and perpetual adoration. With more than 2,300 registered families, it is one of the youngest and fastest-growing parishes in the diocese, featuring a lively faith-formation program, youth ministry, outreach to seniors, bilingual (English/Spanish) liturgy, and a monthly sensory-friendly Mass.
- Established
- 1994
- Patron
- Saint Luke the Evangelist; Saints John & Paul (church campus) and Good Samaritan (second campus)
- Rector
- Father Joe Carr
- Diocese
- Diocese of Pittsburgh
Why belong here
Saint Luke the Evangelist is a vibrant, two-campus Catholic community that puts its faith into action across every stage of life. Families will find a robust faith-formation program for children and teens, an active Youth Ministry, and a parish nursery; Spanish-speaking parishioners are welcomed by Father Mario Gonzalez and a weekly Spanish Mass; and those with sensory or developmental needs are embraced by a monthly Sensory-Friendly Saturday Mass. Adults can grow through Bible studies, the 'Disciples on the Journey' Lenten series, Perpetual Adoration in the Grotto Chapel, and a wide range of parish ministries — while outreach programs such as the Senior Connection and Parish Social Ministry extend the parish's care to the elderly, homebound, and those in need throughout the Sewickley, Franklin Park, and Ambridge area.
Mass times at Saints John & Paul Church - Saint Luke the Evangelist Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 5:30 PM — Good Samaritan Church
- Thursday 6:00 PM — Saints John & Paul Church
- Saturday 3:00 PM — Good Samaritan Church
- Saturday 4:00 PM — Saints John & Paul Church
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration — Saints John & Paul Grotto Chapel (suspended Saturdays for maintenance)
- Monday–Friday 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM — Good Samaritan Chapel
About Saint Luke the Evangelist Parish
Saint Luke the Evangelist is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Pittsburgh serving more than 2,300 families across Sewickley, Franklin Park, and Ambridge. The parish combines the Saints John & Paul campus in Sewickley/Franklin Park with the Good Samaritan campus in Ambridge, sharing one pastor, clergy, and staff between the two sites. From its founding in 1994 it has been recognized as one of the youngest and most energetic communities in the diocese.
- Two worship campuses plus the Saints John & Paul Grotto Chapel
- Part of the Diocese of Pittsburgh (Roman-Latin Rite)
- Founded February 12, 1994
- Saints John & Paul Church dedicated May 2, 2010
Parish History & Identity
Saints John & Paul Parish was established on February 12, 1994, and grew rapidly into a large faith community noted for both its traditional Catholic reverence and its youthful energy. Its church building was dedicated on May 2, 2010. Over the years the parish evolved into a two-campus configuration under the Saint Luke the Evangelist name, with Good Samaritan Church in Ambridge joining the family. A standing Archives Committee records and preserves photographs, liturgical books, and newspaper items that document the community's heritage.
- Founded 1994, church dedicated 2010
- Recognized as having the youngest population in the diocese
- Archives Committee meets at Good Samaritan, Thursdays 9:30 AM
Clergy & Staff
Saint Luke the Evangelist is served by a pastor, a parochial vicar, a priest for Latino Communities, and three permanent deacons, supported by a pastoral associate, parish ministers, directors of music, a director of faith formation, a youth minister, a parish social minister, business-office staff, and a facilities team.
- Father Joe Carr — Pastor
- Father Christopher Mannerino — Parochial Vicar
- Father Mario Gonzalez — Priest for Latino Communities
- Deacon Jim Olson — Pastoral Associate
- Deacon Tony Giordano — Permanent Deacon
- Deacon Tom Boucek — Permanent Deacon
- Karen Walker, Mary Louise Kohser — Parish Ministers
- Ana Bakhtar — Parish Social Minister
- Vincent Gentile — Director of Music Ministry (SSJP)
- Bridget Jarsulic — Director of Music Ministry (Good Samaritan)
- Holly Smith — Director of Faith Formation
- Sarah Sacco — Coordinator of Faith Formation at Saints John & Paul
- Chris Patsch — Coordinator of Faith Formation at Good Samaritan / Safe Environment Coordinator
- Nick Sciarappa — Youth Minister
- Trish Cerminara — Nursery Coordinator at Saints John & Paul
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish runs a Lifelong Faith Formation program serving children, youth, and adults, with the centrality of Sunday Liturgy as the 'source and summit' of Christian life at its core. Programming intentionally connects worship, learning, and service and offers intergenerational learning alongside age-appropriate groups.
- Religious Education for children and youth on Sunday mornings
- Six Weeks with the Bible (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Corinthians)
- Catholicism 101; The Saints; The Sacraments
- Disciples on the Journey — annual Lenten Scripture series
- Winter Prayer Breakfast with guest speaker
- Lifelong learning with witness-teachers
Youth, Music & Family Life
Saint Luke the Evangelist is known for its thriving youth and family ministries. Two Directors of Music Ministry lead the liturgical music program at each campus, a Youth Minister coordinates programming for middle- and high-school students, and a parish nursery supports families with small children.
- Youth Ministry led by Nick Sciarappa
- Parish Nursery coordinated by Trish Cerminara at Saints John & Paul
- Music Ministry: Vincent Gentile (SSJP), Bridget Jarsulic (GS)
Outreach & Social Ministry
Putting faith into action is the parish's hallmark. The Senior Connection provides more than 50 volunteers who assist elderly and needy neighbors, and weekly visits plus a monthly Mass are offered at Concordia of Franklin Park Nursing Care Home. The Parish Social Minister coordinates broader charitable outreach.
- Senior Connection — 50+ volunteers serving elderly and homebound
- Weekly visits and monthly Mass at Concordia of Franklin Park
- Parish Social Ministry led by Ana Bakhtar
Hispanic / Latino Community
Father Mario Gonzalez serves as Priest for Latino Communities, and the parish celebrates a weekly Spanish-language Mass to welcome Spanish-speaking parishioners into full sacramental and community life.
- Father Mario Gonzalez — Priest for Latino Communities
- Sunday 4:00 PM Spanish Mass — Good Samaritan Church
Sensory-Friendly Ministry
Saint Luke the Evangelist hosts a monthly Sensory-Friendly Mass designed to lessen environmental stimulus and provide a prayerful, welcoming, and nonjudgmental worship experience. The Mass welcomes families with small children and individuals with autism, asthma, ADHD, sensory-processing disorder, Down syndrome, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and adults with dementia and Alzheimer's.
- First Saturday of every month, 5:00 PM at Saints John & Paul
- Welcomes individuals with sensory and developmental needs
Locations, Offices & Contact
The parish is administered from two office locations that correspond to its two worship campuses. Both offices can be reached through the central email [email protected], and live-streamed Masses are available for those at home.
- Saints John & Paul Office: 2586 Wexford Bayne Road, Sewickley, PA 15143 — (724) 935-2104, Mon–Fri 9:30 AM–5:00 PM (closed for lunch)
- Good Samaritan Office: 725 Glenwood Avenue, Ambridge, PA 15005 — (724) 266-6565, Mon/Wed/Fri 9:00 AM–4:00 PM (closed Tue & Thu)
- Central email: [email protected]
- Directions: I-79 exit onto Route 910, 0.5 miles west
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Joseph McCaffrey
Listed as pastor on older parish directory entries (churchesinusa.com profile).