About St. Benedict · Johnstown, Pennsylvania
St. Benedict Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Borough of Geistown, just outside Johnstown, Pennsylvania, in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown. Founded as a mission of St. Joseph Church in 1911 by a small group of Catholic farm families, it has grown into a vibrant parish with daily Mass, a Catholic elementary school, extensive CCD/faith-formation programs, and a wide range of liturgical and outreach ministries. Its parish motto, "Ora et Labora" ("Pray and Work"), honors the Benedictine monks of St. Vincent's Archabbey in Latrobe who were the first to staff the parish.
- Established
- 1911
- Patron
- St. Benedict (Patriarch of the Monks of the West)
- Rector
- Rev. David S. Peles
- Diocese
- Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown
Why belong here
St. Benedict's offers daily and weekend Masses plus an active Eucharistic devotion (Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament several mornings a week and Eucharistic Days of adoration) to feed parishioners spiritually. Its family-focused faith formation runs all the way from Elementary and High School CCD and Confirmation preparation through RCIA, Vacation Bible School and a strong Youth Ministry — making it a parish where children, teens and adults grow in faith together. Add to that a flourishing Music Ministry, Pro-Life and Outreach (Helping Hands) ministries, Cursillo and Frassati Laurel Highlands small communities, and a Catholic elementary school on the campus, and you have a parish where newcomers can plug in at any age.
Mass times at St. Benedict
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday following the 8:00 AM Mass
- Tuesday following the 12:05 PM Mass
- Saturday at 3:00 PM
- Tuesdays during Lent at 6:30 PM (Mass followed by Confessions)
Adoration times
- Monday 7:00 – 8:00 AM (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament before morning Mass)
- Wednesday 8:00 – 8:45 AM (during the school year)
- Wednesday 7:00 – 8:00 AM (June through August)
- Friday 7:00 – 8:00 AM (Exposition before morning Mass)
- Tuesday following the 12:05 PM Mass until 4:00 PM
- First Tuesday of the month 3:00 – 4:00 PM (Pro-Life Holy Hour, beginning April 7, 2026)
Parish Mission, Motto and Identity
St. Benedict Parish lives by a short, clear mission: 'To proclaim and live the message of Jesus Christ; through the power of the Holy Spirit, pray and work to build up His Church; and to do the will of the Father always and everywhere.' Its parish motto, 'Ora et Labora' — Latin for 'Pray and Work' — was inherited from the Benedictine monks of St. Vincent's Archabbey in Latrobe who were the first to staff the parish in 1911. The patronage of St. Benedict, the Patriarch of the Monks of the West, gives the parish its name and its monastic flavor of prayer joined with labor.
- Mission Statement
- Parish Motto: Ora et Labora
- Patron: St. Benedict (feast July 11)
Parish History
St. Benedict's began as a mission of St. Joseph Church, Johnstown, in 1911 after 16 Catholic families in the farming community of Geistown asked Fr. Maximilian, a Benedictine from St. Vincent's Archabbey in Latrobe, to organize their worship. The first Mass was celebrated on May 11, 1911, a one-room school opened that November, and a four-room school was dedicated on December 1, 1912. Bishop McCort declared St. Benedict's an independent parish in 1930 and appointed Father Cletus Barroner as its first pastor; the original church was moved to the present site, two wings were added, and in 1962 the wooden church was razed and the present church was built. Franciscan Sisters of Millvale — first Sisters Mildred and Aloyse — staffed the parish school in its earliest years.
- 1911: Mission established by Fr. Maximilian, OSB; first Mass May 11, 1911
- 1911: One-room school built, staffed by Sisters Mildred and Aloyse
- 1912: Four-room school dedicated December 1
- 1930: Declared independent parish by Bishop McCort; Fr. Cletus Barroner first pastor
- 1962: Present church built after the original wooden church was razed
Pastor, Clergy and Staff
Rev. David S. Peles is the current pastor. He is assisted by Rev. Savarimuthu Simon (Fr. Antony Sudherson also listed in bulletins) and Deacon Michael L. Russo. Laity staff include Mr. Joseph Gaunt (Office of Music & Liturgy), Mrs. Jeanine Lawn (Ministries and Communications Coordinator), Mrs. Judy Klaum (Bookkeeper), Sr. Cindy Burns, CCW (High School CCD, Confirmation, RCIA), Mrs. Michelle Robatin (Elementary CCD) and Sr. Delphine E. Apinjoh (Youth Ministry). Parish School Principal is George Nace; parish secretary line is ext. 501.
- Rev. David S. Peles — Pastor (ext. 502, [email protected])
- Rev. Savarimuthu Simon / Fr. Antony Sudherson (ext. 507)
- Deacon Michael L. Russo — 814-288-3036, [email protected]
- Mr. Joseph Gaunt — Music & Liturgy (814-241-1923)
- Sr. Cindy Burns, CCW — High School CCD, Confirmation, RCIA
- Mrs. Michelle Robatin — Elementary CCD
- Mrs. Judy Klaum — Bookkeeper
- Mrs. Jeanine Lawn — Ministries & Communications Coordinator
Mass and Liturgical Schedule
The parish offers a full daily and weekend Mass schedule plus a robust Eucharistic devotion. Daily Mass is celebrated Monday and Friday at 8:00 AM, Tuesday and Thursday at 12:05 PM, and Wednesday at 9:00 AM during the school year (8:00 AM June–August). Weekend Masses are Saturday Vigil at 5:00 PM and Sunday at 8:30 and 10:30 AM, with the Sunday Mass livestreamed on the parish YouTube channel.
- Weekend: Sat 5:00 PM; Sun 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM
- Weekday: Mon 8:00 AM; Tue 12:05 PM; Wed 9:00 AM (8:00 AM June–Aug); Thu 12:05 PM; Fri 8:00 AM
- Reconciliation: Mon & Tue after Mass; Sat 3:00 PM
- Adoration before morning Mass on Mon, Wed and Fri; second Thursday 5:30–6:30 PM
- Church open for private prayer 6:30 AM – 5:00 PM daily
Sacramental Life
The parish prepares members for the sacraments of Christian initiation and for marriage. Baptisms require parents to be registered, active members; first-time parents take a Baptismal Preparation Class through the Rectory. Couples are asked to contact the parish at least nine months before their wedding and to follow diocesan Marriage Preparation guidelines. The homebound and hospitalized are visited weekly by priests and Deacon Russo, with Holy Communion brought to the sick by arrangement. RCIA, Confirmation, First Penance and First Communion formation are all run through the parish.
- Baptism preparation class for first-time parents
- Marriage: 9-month notice, diocesan guidelines
- Care of the Sick: communion visits and weekly Memorial Medical Center ministry
- RCIA for adults; Confirmation, First Penance and First Communion for children
Faith Formation and Religious Education
The parish's faith-formation program is one of its largest ministries. Sr. Cindy Burns, CCW coordinates High School CCD, Confirmation and RCIA, and a separate Elementary CCD program is led by Mrs. Michelle Robatin. Youth Ministry is led by Sr. Delphine E. Apinjoh and the parish also runs an annual Vacation Bible School. Break Open the Word and Adult Education sessions meet weekly in the St. John Paul II Building.
- Elementary CCD (Mrs. Michelle Robatin)
- High School CCD, Confirmation, RCIA (Sr. Cindy Burns, CCW)
- Youth Ministry (Sr. Delphine E. Apinjoh)
- Vacation Bible School
- Adult Education / Break Open the Word
- Confirmation Sessions B/C for grades 8–11
Liturgical and Music Ministries
Under Director of Music & Liturgy Mr. Joseph Gaunt, the parish runs a full roster of liturgical ministries designed to draw worshipers into active participation. The St. Benedict Choir sings at the Saturday 5:00 PM or Sunday 10:30 AM Mass with rehearsals on Wednesday evenings; the Resurrection Choir provides music at all funerals.
- Music Ministry (choir, cantors, instrumentalists) — Director Joseph Gaunt
- Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist (contact Becky Lear, 814-241-0483)
- Readers, Ushers, Greeters
- Altar Servers
- Arts and Environment
- Resurrection Choir (funerals)
Spiritual and Small-Community Ministries
Beyond the sacraments, parishioners grow in faith through small communities and devotional groups. These include the prayer and spirituality ministries listed on the parish's Ministry Index, plus formal movement groups such as Cursillo and Frassati Laurel Highlands.
- Prayer Ministry
- Bible Study
- Lectio Divina Women's Prayer Group
- Stephen Ministries
- Cursillo
- Frassati Laurel Highlands
- Oblates of St. Benedict
- St. Benedict Men's Group
- Our Lady of Grace Rosary Makers
Outreach and Pro-Life
Helping Hands is the parish's outreach effort, and the Pro-Life Group gathers monthly for a Holy Hour. Sunday Community Breakfasts in the Parish Hall benefit Deacon Michael Missions, and the parish bulletin lists ongoing food drives and the Knights of Columbus Gob Pie Sale as regular ways to support neighbors in need.
- Helping Hands (outreach)
- Pro-Life Group — Holy Hour first Tuesday of the month
- Community Breakfasts benefiting Deacon Michael Missions
- Knights of Columbus food drives
- Gob Pie Sale (seasonal fundraiser)
Parish School and Facilities
Bishop McCort Catholic Elementary (dmcatholic.org) is the parish's school on the campus, with the principal available at 814-961-3622. Most formation meetings for CCD, RCIA, Adult Education and Parish Pastoral Council take place in the St. John Paul II Building on site, and the Parish Hall hosts Community Breakfasts and other gatherings.
- Bishop McCort Catholic Elementary — 814-961-3622
- St. John Paul II Building (formation and council meetings)
- Parish Hall (community events)
Communications and Connect
Parishioners stay informed through a weekly printed bulletin (posted online each Friday), a parish livestream on YouTube (typically live by 7:00 AM Sunday), Flocknote for funeral communications, and email channels for each ministry. To become a registered member — including moving into, within, or out of the parish — contact the Rectory at 814-266-9718 ext. 501.
- Weekly bulletin (PDF)
- Sunday Mass livestream on YouTube
- Flocknote group communications
- Parish membership registration via Rectory
- Pastoral Council email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Maximilian (Benedictine)1911 – early
Benedictine from St. Vincent's Archabbey, Latrobe; organized the mission and celebrated the first Mass on May 11, 1911.
- Fathers Valerian and Romanafter Fr. Max
Benedictines who succeeded Fr. Maximilian while he was still living or after his death; school faculty grew to four sisters.
- Father Cletus Barroner1930 –
Appointed first pastor when Bishop McCort declared St. Benedict's an independent parish in 1930; oversaw the move of the original church and the construction of two wings.