About St. Anne [Ruthenian] · Clymer, Pennsylvania
Saint Anne Byzantine Catholic Church is a small Ruthenian (Byzantine) Catholic mission parish in the coal-country town of Clymer, Pennsylvania, in the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh. Although the local Greek Catholic community dates back to 1907 and built its first church in 1919 under the patronage of Saint Michael the Archangel, the parish as Byzantine Catholic and under the patronage of Saint Anne — grandmother of the Lord — was organized in 1964 through the efforts of laywoman Mary Halady. The present church was created in 1966 by transforming a former store into a traditional wooden Byzantine church crowned by an icon screen, with the icons written by noted iconographer Timothy Loya. Today the parish is served by Father Wesley M. Mash and remains a small but active Byzantine Catholic community within the Ruthenian Metropolitanate of Pittsburgh, even though it sits geographically inside the Roman Diocese of Greensburg.
- Established
- 1907
- Patron
- Saint Anne (Anne, grandmother of the Lord)
- Rector
- Reverend Wesley M. Mash
- Diocese
- Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh (Ruthenian Metropolitanate sui juris of Pittsburgh); geographically located within the territory of the Roman Diocese of Greensburg.
Why belong here
St. Anne is a small but deeply dedicated Byzantine Catholic community where the faithful take personal pride in the upkeep of their converted, icon-screen church. Visitors and members are welcomed into a rich Ruthenian liturgical life — Divine Liturgy every Sunday, Lenten Presanctified Gifts on Wednesdays, Eastern Christian Formation classes for children (with parents expected alongside), a coffee social after Liturgy, a Bethany Ministry, and ministries for lectors, altar servers, and handmaidens. It is a parish that treasures its Carpatho-Rusyn heritage, its choral and Slavic culinary traditions, and the patroness Saint Anne — grandmother of the Lord.
Mass times at St. Anne [Ruthenian]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Prior to Divine Liturgy
Parish Overview
Saint Anne Byzantine Catholic Church is a Ruthenian (Byzantine) Catholic mission parish in Clymer, Pennsylvania, in the coal-country region of Indiana County. It belongs to the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh, the Ruthenian Metropolitanate sui juris. Although the surrounding geographic territory is served by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Greensburg, St. Anne is a fully Eastern Catholic parish whose life — liturgy, calendar, and formation — follows the Byzantine Ruthenian tradition. The parish is served by Father Wesley M. Mash, who also cares for Saint Mary's Holy Protection Byzantine Catholic Church in Homer City, PA.
- Rite: Byzantine (Ruthenian)
- Jurisdiction: Archeparchy of Pittsburgh
- Pastor: Rev. Wesley M. Mash
- Address: 48 Franklin Street, Clymer, PA 15728
- Phone (Rectory): 724-479-2206
- Email: [email protected]
History of the Clymer Greek Catholic Community
Greek Catholic (Ruthenian) immigrants settled the Clymer–Dixonville area in the first decade of the 1900s, drawn to work in the region's coal patches at Starford, Commodore, Idamar, Possum Glory/Heilwood, and nearby towns. In 1907 the community organized a parish with the help of St. Michael Greek Catholic Union Lodge #414, dedicating it to Saint Michael the Archangel. A church building was constructed on Morris Street in 1919. In the early 1930s, like many American Greek Catholic communities, the majority of the parish aligned with the Carpatho-Russian Greek Catholic Diocese and became Orthodox. Only a small Byzantine Catholic remnant remained, and for roughly thirty years they were served liturgically by Father Theodore Mankovich from SS. Peter and Paul, Punxsutawney, with Divine Liturgy celebrated in the basement of St. Anthony Roman Catholic Church and at the Union Hall.
- 1907 — Parish organized under Saint Michael the Archangel with help of GCU Lodge #414
- 1919 — Church built on Morris Street
- Early 1930s — Majority align with Carpatho-Russian Greek Catholic Diocese (Orthodox)
- c. 1930s–1964 — Fr. Theodore Mankovich of Punxsutawney serves the small Byzantine Catholic remnant
Refounding as Saint Anne (1964–1966)
In 1964, through the efforts of laywoman Mary Halady, the remaining Byzantine Catholic faithful in Clymer were designated a mission of SS. Peter and Paul Byzantine Catholic Church in Patton, Pennsylvania. Father Andrew Chura was assigned, a choir was organized, and the community adopted Saint Anne — grandmother of the Lord — as its patroness, giving the parish its present name. In 1966 the present site was purchased; the former store on the property was redesigned, with much sacrifice and labor, into a proper Byzantine Catholic church crowned by a traditional icon screen. The neighboring lot was later acquired to enhance the location.
- 1964 — Designated mission of SS. Peter & Paul, Patton; Fr. Andrew Chura assigned
- Saint Anne adopted as patroness
- 1966 — Present site purchased; former store converted into Byzantine church
- From 1967 to 1994 — Administered from SS. Peter & Paul, Patton
Architecture & Icons
The church's signature feature is its traditional Byzantine icon screen, whose icons were written by Timothy Loya, a well-known American Byzantine iconographer. The wider interior is intentionally reminiscent of the rustic wooden churches of the old Carpathian country, and the community continues to take great pride in the building's upkeep.
- Icon screen by Timothy Loya
- Rustic wooden interior in the style of old country churches
- Converted in 1966 from a former store
Divine Liturgy & Services
St. Anne celebrates the Byzantine (Ruthenian) Divine Liturgy, with confession heard before Liturgy. During Great Lent, the parish adds the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts on Wednesday evenings. A coffee social follows the Sunday Liturgy, an important moment of fellowship for this small community.
- Sunday Divine Liturgy: 8:45 AM
- Wednesday 6:00 PM — Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts (during Lent)
- Confessions: prior to Divine Liturgy
- Coffee Social after Sunday Divine Liturgy
Eastern Christian Formation
Eastern Christian Formation (ECF) classes are held from 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM throughout the school year, taught by three catechists. Parents or guardians are expected to attend alongside their students, in keeping with the Byzantine Catholic understanding of formation as a family vocation.
- ECF classes: Sundays 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM during the school year
- Three catechists serve the program
- Parents/guardians MUST attend with students
Sacraments
The parish provides the standard Byzantine Catholic sacraments in coordination with its mission status. Marriages must be arranged at least six months in advance, and Anointing of the Sick is offered according to pastoral need.
- Confession: prior to Divine Liturgy
- Marriage: advance arrangement at least 6 months before the wedding
- Anointing: by pastoral consideration/need
Ministries & Organizations
St. Anne maintains a network of lay ministries and parish organizations under the present pastorate. In its earlier decades the parish also supported a vibrant church school, a famed choir, and a Ladies Society celebrated for its Slavic foods — a heritage the present community still honors.
- Parish Choir
- Eastern Christian Formation (three teachers)
- Bethany Ministry
- Altar Servers
- Lector
- Handmaidens
- Parish Advisory Council
- Historical Ladies Society (Slavic culinary tradition)
Clergy
St. Anne is currently served by Rev. Wesley M. Mash, who also pastors Saint Mary's Holy Protection Byzantine Catholic Church in Homer City, Pennsylvania. The parish has historically been a mission community served by priests from neighboring Byzantine Catholic parishes such as SS. Peter & Paul in Patton and SS. Peter & Paul in Punxsutawney.
- Rev. Wesley M. Mash — Pastor (Clymer and Homer City)
- Fr. Andrew Chura — first assigned 1964
- Fr. Theodore Mankovich — periodic pastor from Punxsutawney, c. 1930s–1964
Contact & Visit
The church sits at 48 Franklin Street in Clymer, at the intersection of PA-286 (Franklin Street) and PA-403. The parish can be reached through the rectory line (724-479-2206) or via email at [email protected].
- Address: 48 Franklin Street, Clymer, PA 15728
- Rectory phone: 724-479-2206
- Email: [email protected]
- Intersection of PA-286 and PA-403
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Andrew Chura1964–
First priest assigned to the new mission of SS. Peter & Paul, Patton, when the community adopted Saint Anne as patroness and a choir was organized.
- Father Theodore Mankovich1930s–1964 (approx.)
Pastor of SS. Peter & Paul, Punxsutawney; periodically served the small remnant of Byzantine Catholic faithful in Clymer, celebrating Divine Liturgy in the basement of St. Anthony Roman Catholic Church and at the Union Hall.