About St. Benedict the Moor · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
St. Benedict the Moor Parish is a Black Catholic personal parish in Pittsburgh's historic Hill District, founded in 1889 by Fr. Patrick McDermott, CSSp, as a mission of the Holy Ghost College (now Duquesne University). Worshipping today in the former Holy Trinity Church building at 91 Crawford Street — a 1894 structure designed by Moeser & Bippus and crowned since 1968 by an 18-foot statue of its patron saint — the parish was formally designated a personal parish for the Black Catholic community by Bishop David Zubik on July 13, 2020. Sunday Mass is celebrated in English at 11:00 AM, and the parish is currently pastored by Fr. Matthew Hawkins, who has set Liturgy, Evangelization, and Discipleship as the parish's three pastoral priorities.
- Established
- 1889
- Patron
- St. Benedict the Moor (Benedetto Manasseri, born near Messina, Sicily, to African parents who had been enslaved in the early 16th century; patron saint of the African diaspora and of African Americans)
- Rector
- Rev. Matthew (Matt) Hawkins
- Diocese
- Diocese of Pittsburgh (Roman Catholic) — Central Deanery, North Vicariate (effective July 1, 2025)
Why belong here
St. Benedict the Moor offers something rare in a Catholic parish: a worshipping home grounded in over 135 years of Black Catholic heritage, joyfully Catholic liturgy that weaves in Latin chant and a weekly gospel choir, and a congregation that intentionally welcomes everyone — long-time members, university students from Pitt, CMU, and Duquesne, ecumenical neighbors, and newcomers alike. As a personal parish, members come by personal choice rather than by geography, and the community is known for its radical hospitality, intergenerational care, and strong preaching on the sacraments and sacred Scripture. Joining means becoming part of a living Hill District landmark where Black Catholic tradition and contemporary Catholic mission meet.
Mass times at St. Benedict the Moor
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 10:30 AM – 10:45 AM (before Mass)
- By appointment — call 412.281.3141 or email [email protected]
Welcome
The parish describes itself plainly on its Welcome page: 'Welcome to Saint Benedict the Moor Parish, a Personal Parish for black Catholics in Pittsburgh.' The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 2 PM, and the building at 91 Crawford Street is noted as accessible. Visitors and newcomers are invited to call 412.281.3141 or email Fr. Matthew Hawkins to make an appointment.
- Personal parish for the Black Catholic community in Pittsburgh
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 10 AM – 2 PM
- Accessible church building at 91 Crawford Street
History of St. Benedict the Moor Parish
Founded July 28, 1889 by Fr. Patrick McDermott, CSSp, as a mission of the Holy Ghost College (now Duquesne University), the parish grew out of the first National Congress of Black Catholics (Washington, D.C., January 1889). It met in several locations before settling into the former Holy Trinity Church at Crawford and Centre in 1962, was consolidated with Holy Trinity, St. Brigid, and St. Richard parishes over the 1960s–1990s, and was formally established as a personal parish on July 13, 2020. The parish community celebrates the legacy of Black Catholic worship, education, and civil-rights witness in the Hill District for over 135 years.
- 1889: Mission founded July 28 by Fr. Patrick McDermott, CSSp, with Elizabeth Anderson, Fanny Brent, and Mrs. Lloyd Thomas; Sisters of Mercy open a day school.
- 1958: Holy Trinity Parish suppressed.
- 1962: Diocese reopens former Holy Trinity Church at Crawford & Centre as St. Benedict the Moor's new home.
- 1968: St. Benedict building demolished; Bishop John J. Wright dedicates the 18-foot Shrady statue atop the bell tower on November 24.
- 1970: Fr. Augustus Taylor, Jr., becomes the first African-American pastor in the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
- 1973: Hill District Catholic School formed in the former St. Richard building, renamed St. Benedict the Moor School.
- 1981: Fr. Louis Vallone, Jr., begins long pastorate.
- 1997: St. Richard formally joins the consolidation.
- 1998: Building designated a Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation Historic Landmark.
- July 13, 2020: Bishop David Zubik establishes St. Benedict the Moor as a personal parish for Black Catholics.
- July 1, 2025: Parish joins the new Central Deanery, North Vicariate, Diocese of Pittsburgh.
Architecture & Landmark Statue
The Crawford Street church was built in 1894 by the Pittsburgh architectural firm Moeser & Bippus, originally as Holy Trinity Church. Its defining exterior feature is the 18-foot statue of St. Benedict the Moor placed atop the bell tower in 1968 by sculptor Frederick Charles Shrady, depicting the patron with arms outstretched toward the Golden Triangle. Bishop John J. Wright's 1968 dedication spoke of the saint's hands lifted 'in gestures of forgiveness, prayer, and peace over the Pittsburgh community.' The building has been on the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation's list of Historic Landmarks since 1998.
- Architect: Moeser & Bippus (1894)
- Sculptor of bell-tower statue: Frederick Charles Shrady (1968)
- Statue dedication: November 24, 1968, by Bishop John J. Wright
- Funding for statue: anonymous Protestant donor of one of Pittsburgh's oldest families
- PHLF Historic Landmark designation: 1998
Bible Study with Fr. Matthew
Fr. Matthew Hawkins hosts a weekly Bible Study on Zoom every Thursday at 7:00 PM. The parish invites parishioners and visitors to 'discover the beauty, truth, and wisdom' of Scripture together with the pastor. Registration is required to receive the Zoom link — interested participants should contact Fr. Matthew at 412.281.3141 or [email protected].
- When: Thursdays, 7:00 PM
- Where: Zoom (registration required)
- Contact: 412.281.3141 or [email protected]
Worship, Music & Liturgical Life
Liturgy is one of the parish's three Next Generation Parish priorities. As the Hill District's older white residents left the neighborhood, clergy and the Diocese adapted the liturgies to embrace Black Catholic traditions — including a weekly gospel choir that performs at Sunday Mass — while remaining firmly within the Roman Rite. Under Fr. Matthew Hawkins, the parish has also woven in Latin chant and hymns as a unifying thread, since parishioners come from many countries and dialects and the familiar cadence of Latin offers common ground, restoring a sense of home for immigrants while honoring the Church's universality.
- Weekly gospel choir at Sunday Mass
- Latin chant and hymns incorporated into liturgy
- Personal-parish character preserves Black Catholic traditions within the Roman Rite
- One of three parish priorities: Liturgy
Evangelization & Discipleship
Alongside Liturgy, Evangelization and Discipleship round out the parish's three pastoral priorities under Fr. Matthew's leadership. The parish emphasizes inviting more people into ministries, recognizing gifts in the community, and forming disciples who build up the Body of Christ. A 'Mission Proposal' initiative invites every member to share ideas for how the parish can respond to needs they see — Fr. Matthew frames this as honoring the Holy Spirit at work in the community and being good stewards of the time, energy, and resources entrusted to the parish.
- Parish-wide Mission Proposal discernment process
- Calling forth gifts of parishioners (e.g., lay leaders like Lisa-Joy Finch, known for personally welcoming visitors)
- Next Generation Parish journey with priorities: Liturgy, Evangelization, Discipleship
St. Benedict the Moor School
St. Benedict the Moor School, located at 631 Watt Street in the Hill District, has been an educational anchor of the neighborhood for more than a century. Its mission is to 'form scholars rooted in faith, excellence, and joy,' partnering with families to nurture each child's God-given gifts, foster a culture of respect and belonging, and prepare students to lead, serve, and thrive. The school welcomes children from across the parish and the wider neighborhood — including families from neighboring Protestant congregations — and continues to host community-building events such as family fitness-and-fellowship evenings.
- Address: 631 Watt Street, Pittsburgh, PA
- Phone: 412-682-3755
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: sbtmschool.org
- Mission: 'forms scholars rooted in faith, excellence, and joy'
Parish Staff & Clergy
St. Benedict the Moor Parish is currently pastored by Fr. Matthew (Matt) Hawkins, who serves as the visible spiritual leader and administrator. The parish's own website and bulletin pages list him as the primary contact for appointments, Bible study, confessions, and pastoral needs. The parish does not currently publish a multi-clergy staff page; additional clergy (parochial vicars, deacons, or assisting priests) are not named on the public site.
- Pastor: Rev. Matthew (Matt) Hawkins
- Contact for appointments: 412.281.3141 / [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 10 AM – 2 PM
Stewardship & Giving
The parish invites parishioners and friends to support its mission through online giving — both one-time and recurring donations — via the parish website. Fr. Matthew has framed stewardship as good care of the time, energy, and resources God has entrusted to the community, and the Mission Proposal process is itself a form of communal discernment about how those gifts are deployed.
- Online giving (one-time and recurring) via sbtmparishpgh.com
- Mission Proposal — parish-wide stewardship discernment
Visiting, Contact & Getting Involved
All are welcome at St. Benedict the Moor. Visitors are invited to attend Sunday Mass at 11:00 AM, join Bible Study on Thursday evenings via Zoom, or contact Fr. Matthew to schedule an appointment. The parish's charism, in the words of longtime parishioner Judge Conrad A. Johnson, is one of hospitality: 'anyone who visits or comes to the parish, and some become members, are struck or impressed by how welcoming … we are to everyone who comes through our doors.' The parish draws worshippers from throughout Greater Pittsburgh — uncommon for a Catholic parish — because it is a personal parish, defined by personal choice rather than by geographic boundaries.
- Sunday Mass: 11:00 AM (with live stream)
- Bible Study: Thursdays 7 PM on Zoom
- Office: 412.281.3141 / [email protected]
- Address: 91 Crawford Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 10 AM – 2 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Patrick McDermott, CSSp1889 (founder)
Holy Ghost priest who established the parish as a mission of the Holy Ghost College (now Duquesne University); assisted by laywomen Elizabeth Anderson, Fanny Brent, and Mrs. Lloyd Thomas.
- Fr. Paul Bassompierre1968 (united pastorate)
Led Saint Brigid–Saint Benedict the Moor when the parishes merged after the St. Benedict building was demolished.
- Fr. Augustus Taylor, Jr.1970
First African-American priest assigned to a parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh.
- Fr. Louis (Lou) Vallone, Jr.1981–early 1990s
Provided strong spiritual and financial leadership through the 1980s.
- Fr. Carmen D'Amico
Named pastor in the parish's archived history page; continued ministry into the parish's later 20th-century consolidation.
- Fr. Matthew Hawkinspresent
Current pastor; leads the parish's Next Generation Parish priorities of Liturgy, Evangelization, and Discipleship.