About St. Barbara · Harrison City, Pennsylvania
St. Barbara Catholic Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Greensburg, located in Penn Township at 111 Raymaley Road, Harrison City, Pennsylvania (ZIP 15636), in the Penn-Trafford region of Westmoreland County. The parish traces its origins to 1962 and its original church and catechetical center was dedicated on December 8, 1963. Today St. Barbara Parish serves as an active faith community offering daily and weekend Mass in English, weekly Confession and Adoration, regional faith formation, youth ministry, a music program, and signature events like the annual Family Festival, Camp Virture, and weekly Wednesday Bingo.
- Established
- 1962
- Patron
- Saint Barbara
- Rector
- Fr. Dan Carr (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Greensburg
Why belong here
St. Barbara Parish offers a full sacramental life — daily Mass Monday through Friday, two Sunday Masses plus a Saturday vigil, Saturday Confession, and weekly Wednesday Adoration from 9:30 AM into the evening. Families are especially welcomed through Tiny Disciples (birth–age 4), Faith Formation for First Communion and Confirmation, regional Youth and Young Adult Ministry, and a parish-run Family Festival. A staffed Music Ministry, a Director of Pastoral Leadership and Community Engagement, an active Business Office, and signature parish events like weekly Bingo and Camp Virture make it easy for newcomers to plug into the life of the parish.
Mass times at St. Barbara
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 12:00 PM (and by appointment)
Adoration times
- Wednesday: 9:30 AM to 11:00 PM
History of St. Barbara Parish
St. Barbara Parish was founded in 1962 in Penn Township, Westmoreland County, to serve the growing Catholic population of the Harrison City area. The original church building and catechetical center were formally dedicated on December 8, 1963 — a moment preserved in a commemorative booklet held by the Historic Pittsburgh Book Collection at the University of Pittsburgh. Over more than six decades, the parish has been shaped by generations of priests and lay faithful who built its faith community, schools' presence, and outreach programs. Today the parish is part of the Diocese of Greensburg's Penn-Trafford Region, sharing regional ministry staff with neighboring parishes while retaining its own clergy and parish staff.
- Founded 1962
- Church and Catechetical Center dedicated December 8, 1963
- Penn-Trafford Region, Diocese of Greensburg
- Patron: Saint Barbara
Livestream & Broadcast
The parish livestreams its 10:30 AM Sunday Mass each week on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram so that homebound parishioners and the wider community can worship with St. Barbara. The Mass is also rebroadcast on Cornerstone TV on Sunday evenings at 8:00 PM.
- Sunday 10:30 AM livestream: YouTube, Facebook, Instagram
- Sunday 8:00 PM rebroadcast on Cornerstone TV
Clergy & Parish Staff
The parish is currently served by Fr. Dan Carr as Administrator and Fr. Daniel Iletogbe as Parochial Vicar. The wider parish team includes regional directors for Faith Formation and Youth Ministry, a Pastoral Associate, Director of Pastoral Leadership and Community Engagement, Director of Music Ministry, Business Manager, Facilities staff, Parish Receptionist, Video Director, and Safe Environment Coordinator.
- Fr. Dan Carr — Administrator
- Fr. Daniel Iletogbe — Parochial Vicar
- Mary Allison — Regional Director of Faith Formation and Discipleship, Penn-Trafford Region
- Dawn Borger — Pastoral Associate
- Christie Smith — Director of Pastoral Leadership and Community Engagement
- Bob Vareha — Director of Music Ministry
- Amelia Steele — Regional Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, Penn-Trafford Region
- Larry George — Video Director
- Julie Kopasko — Safe Environment Coordinator
- Jan Shepherd — Business Manager
- Beth Oblak — Parish Receptionist
- Ihor Romakh — Facilities Manager
- Iryna Romakh — Facilities Custodian
Faith Formation & Discipleship
Faith Formation for St. Barbara Parish is led regionally by Mary Allison, Regional Director of Faith Formation and Discipleship for the Penn-Trafford Region, in coordination with parish staff. Programs include preparation for First Eucharist and First Reconciliation, a two-year high school Confirmation process (Year 1 and Year 2), and on-going discipleship for parishioners of all ages.
- First Eucharist preparation
- First Reconciliation preparation
- Confirmation — two-year high school program (Year 1 and Year 2)
- Lifelong faith formation and discipleship
Youth & Young Adult Ministry
Youth ministry at St. Barbara is coordinated regionally by Amelia Steele, Regional Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Penn-Trafford Region. Young adults can also participate in Financial Peace University-style series offered through the parish's Priority One pastoral plan.
- Regional Youth Ministry, Penn-Trafford Region
- Young Adult outreach
- Financial Peace Series for Young Adults
Music Ministry
Music Ministry at St. Barbara Parish is led by Director of Music Ministry Bob Vareha, supporting sung liturgy at the parish's weekend and daily Masses, holy days, and special celebrations.
- Director of Music Ministry: Bob Vareha
Sacraments
St. Barbara Parish celebrates the full range of Catholic sacraments. Families wishing to prepare their children for Baptism, First Eucharist, First Reconciliation, or Confirmation are asked to contact the Parish Office; registered parishioners considering marriage should contact the office at least six months in advance; and families should notify the Parish Office at the time of death to arrange a Funeral Liturgy.
- Baptism — contact Parish Office
- First Eucharist and First Reconciliation preparation
- Confirmation — two-year program
- Marriage — six-month preparation
- Funeral Liturgy — arranged through Parish Office
- Anointing of the Sick — by request
Catholic Schools
St. Barbara Parish supports the Diocese of Greensburg's regional Catholic schools. Families are pointed to three area schools: Queen of Angels Catholic School, Mother of Sorrows Catholic School, and Greensburg Central Catholic High School.
- Queen of Angels Catholic School
- Mother of Sorrows Catholic School
- Greensburg Central Catholic High School
Priority One — Parish Pastoral Plan
Priority One is St. Barbara Parish's current pastoral initiative running from fall 2023 through spring 2025. It focuses on engaging parents bringing children for Baptism, drawing more young-adult parishioners into ministry, and launching new family-focused programs including Tiny Disciples for ages birth–4, a Hospitality Ministry at Sunday Baptisms, baptism anniversary cards, a Family Gathering, and a parish Ministry Fair.
- Goal 1: Engage 25% of parents bringing children for Baptism
- Goal 2: Involve an additional 20 parishioners ages 25–45
- Tiny Disciples (birth–age 4) launched
- Hospitality Ministry at Sunday Baptisms
- Family Gathering for recently baptized families
- Parish Ministry Fair
- Financial Peace Series for Young Adults
Parish Events & Fellowship
St. Barbara Parish hosts a number of beloved annual and recurring events that build community beyond the sanctuary, including its Family Festival, Camp Virture, and weekly Wednesday Bingo (doors open at 5:00 PM, first game at 7:00 PM).
- Family Festival (annual)
- Camp Virture (summer)
- Weekly Wednesday Bingo
Visit, Register & Get Involved
Newcomers are warmly invited to register as parishioners of St. Barbara through the Parish Office (online registration and printable forms are both available). The parish also offers online giving and encourages parishioners to volunteer with one of its many ministries, including faith formation, hospitality, music, bingo, festival, and youth programs.
- Parish registration via website or Parish Office
- Online giving available
- Volunteer opportunities across ministries
- Contact: 724-744-7474
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Richard Kosisko1985–1988
Parochial vicar at St. Barbara before assignments at Saint Paul (Greensburg), Blessed Sacrament Cathedral, and as pastor of multiple parishes; honored as a 2025 jubilarian for 40 years of priesthood.
- Fr. Anthony Ditto1997–1999
Parochial vicar at St. Barbara Harrison City; later served as pastor of Visitation (Mt. Pleasant), St. Patrick (Brady's Bend), St. Raymond of the Mountains (Donegal), and others; honored as a 2025 jubilarian for 35 years of priesthood.
- Fr. Michael P. Sikon
Listed as pastor on older third-party parish directories; precedes current Administrator Fr. Dan Carr.