About St. Bernard · Indiana, Pennsylvania
St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Greensburg serving the town of Indiana in Indiana County, Pennsylvania. As of 2020, the parish was the spiritual home of about 1,123 households and roughly 2,479 people, and is currently shepherded by Capuchin Franciscan friars. Beyond Sunday worship, the parish runs faith formation for children, a youth ministry for grades 7–12, the OCIA (formerly RCIA) process, music and liturgical ministries, and maintains St. Bernard Cemetery on Clairvaux Drive.
- Established
- 1847
- Patron
- St. Bernard of Clairvaux
- Rector
- Rev. Richard N. Owens, O.F.M. Cap.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Greensburg
Why belong here
St. Bernard of Clairvaux is a welcoming, mid-sized Catholic community of more than 2,400 parishioners rooted in Indiana, Pennsylvania, with a faith story stretching back to 1847. Families can enroll children in faith formation (CCD), teens in grades 7–12 can join a youth ministry that meets Sunday evenings, and adults exploring Catholicism can walk the OCIA process at their own pace. The parish also offers the full sacramental life, multiple liturgical and music ministries, and a long-standing pastoral tradition—shepherded today by Capuchin Franciscan friars—that values both fellowship and service.
Mass times at St. Bernard
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 8:45 AM – 9:30 AM (per parish website); Saturdays 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM and by appointment (per Newcomers page)
Adoration times
- Tuesday 11:30 AM – 6:30 PM
Parish History
Indiana County Catholics worshiped under the pastor of SS. Simon and Jude in Blairsville until the cornerstone of the first St. Bernard Church was laid on June 6, 1846; Bishop Michael O'Connor of Pittsburgh dedicated it in 1847. Benedictine Father Idilo van der Green became the first resident pastor, and the parish's earliest decades were shaped by Benedictines such as Father Boniface Wimmer and Father Leander Schnerr. The frame church quickly outgrew its seating, and Bishop Domenic of Pittsburgh laid the cornerstone for a Roman-style brick church with a 135-foot steeple in 1869 on land donated by Paul Vogel & Brothers; it was dedicated September 26, 1871. After the Benedictines withdrew in 1876, secular clergy took over, with Father George Allman as the first non-Benedictine pastor. The parish established what became known as the Old St. Bernard Cemetery on East Oak Street in 1890 under Father Adam F. Tonner, who was succeeded—after the brief ten-month pastorate of Father Rutters—by Father Neil 'Mac' McNelis, who stayed 35 years until 1933 and was followed by Msgr. James Brady, who served nearly 50 years.
- 1846: Cornerstone for first St. Bernard Church laid June 6
- 1847: First church dedicated by Bishop Michael O'Connor of Pittsburgh
- 1869–1871: Roman-style brick church with 135-foot steeple built
- 1876: Benedictine Order withdraws; Father George Allman becomes first non-Benedictine pastor
- 1887: Father Adam F. Tonner succeeds; establishes East Oak Street cemetery in 1890
- 1898–1933: Father Neil 'Mac' McNelis serves 35 years
- 1933: Msgr. James Brady succeeds; serves nearly 50 years
Building the Modern Church (1950s–1970s)
The 1950s and 1960s brought a series of remodels, and in 1958 a shrine to Our Lady of Fatima was erected on the northern edge of the cemetery. By 1965 bricks had begun falling from the historic steeple, and Masses were temporarily moved to the recreation center while masonry and louvered windows were repaired. In 1969 'The Lodge' was built by several men from the parish along with Catholic youth for retreats, meetings, and socials. The parish's long-running work with Indiana State College (now IUP) students, begun in the late 1950s out of a former macaroni factory on the edge of campus, was reorganized in 1968 as St. Thomas More University Parish.
- 1958: Shrine to Our Lady of Fatima erected on cemetery grounds
- 1965: Falling-bricks repair project on 135-foot steeple; Masses move temporarily to recreation center
- 1968: St. Thomas More University Parish established for IUP
- 1969: 'The Lodge' built by parishioners for retreats and meetings
New Church and 150th Anniversary
Even after decades of repairs, the parish determined a new church was needed. A building drive launched in January 1976 raised over $400,000, construction on the new limestone-encased building began in June 1977, and the first Mass in the newly named St. Bernard of Clairvaux Church was celebrated on November 25, 1978. Bishop William G. Connare celebrated the formal dedication on April 22, 1979, and the old church was razed a month later. St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish marked its 150th anniversary on June 29, 1997, with Bishop Anthony G. Bosco presiding at Mass and dedicating the shrine of St. Bernard, followed by a reception in the social hall.
- 1976: Building drive launched; over $400,000 raised
- June 1977: Construction begins on limestone-encased church
- November 25, 1978: First Mass in new St. Bernard of Clairvaux Church
- April 22, 1979: Formal dedication by Bishop William G. Connare
- June 29, 1997: 150th anniversary Mass with Bishop Anthony G. Bosco
Our Clergy and Staff
The parish is currently shepherded by Capuchin Franciscan friars (Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, O.F.M. Cap.). Fr. Richard N. Owens, OFM Cap., serves as pastor; Fr. Jonathan Ulrick, OFM Cap., is parochial vicar and Catholic chaplain to IUP; and Br. Stephen Cantwell, OFM Cap., is in residence. A deacon is also in residence.
- Fr. Richard N. Owens, OFM Cap. — Pastor
- Fr. Jonathan Ulrick, OFM Cap. — Parochial Vicar & Catholic Chaplain to IUP
- Br. Stephen Cantwell, OFM Cap. — In-Residence
- Deacon — In-Residence
Parish Office & Support Staff
The parish office is staffed Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM (closed Fridays). The team includes administrative, financial, faith-formation, youth-ministry, cemetery, facilities, and clearance-coordination roles.
- Danielle Cribbs — Regional Director for Faith Formation and Evangelization
- Diane Cawley — Parish & Cemetery Financial Secretary
- James L. Rhoades — Cemetery Manager (724-465-4370 or 724-762-3222)
- Jessica Thompson — Regional Director for Youth Ministry
- Edward O'Sullivan — Facilities Manager
- Anita Hood — Clearance Coordinator
Faith Formation (CCD)
The parish's faith-formation program, traditionally known as CCD, assists parents as the first teachers of the faith and provides catechesis for school-aged children, including sacramental preparation. The parish frames catechesis as a lifelong journey rooted in Christ and offered in the home, parish, and diocese, quoting the Diocese of Greensburg's 1999 catechetical resource 'Taste and See'. Danielle Cribbs serves as Regional Director for Faith Formation and Evangelization.
- Catechesis for school-aged children
- Sacramental preparation
- Adult-faith formation opportunities
- Director: Danielle Cribbs, Regional Director for Faith Formation and Evangelization
Youth Ministry
The youth ministry serves grades 7 through 12 and is shared between St. Bernard of Clairvaux and St. Thomas More University Parish. It meets Sunday evenings from 5:00 to 7:00 PM to break open the word of God, and throughout the year also plans community-service projects, trips, and fellowship activities. The program is part of 'Chosen: Next Generation Indiana Catholic Youth Ministry'.
- Open to grades 7–12
- Sunday evenings, 5:00–7:00 PM
- Shared ministry serving St. Bernard of Clairvaux and St. Thomas More University Parish
- Director: Jessica Thompson, Regional Director for Youth Ministry
OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
The OCIA process (formerly known as RCIA) welcomes non-Christians, Christian non-Catholics, and Catholics who have not yet received First Communion or Confirmation into full initiation. The process is held throughout the year at St. Bernard of Clairvaux and can begin at any time; full initiation of catechumens typically happens at the Easter Vigil, but is tailored to each individual's needs.
- Year-round process; begin at any time
- Full initiation typically at the Easter Vigil
- Stages adapted to each individual's readiness
- Contact: Danielle Cribbs, Regional Director of Faith Formation
Sacraments
Parishioners can celebrate all three sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation) at the appropriate age and with sacramental preparation. The sacrament of reconciliation is available during the Saturday confession times and by appointment. Marriage is arranged through the parish office. The Anointing of the Sick can be scheduled, and those exploring vocations are directed to the Diocese of Greensburg vocations office.
- Baptism
- Eucharist (First Communion)
- Confirmation
- Reconciliation: Saturdays and by appointment
- Marriage: contact parish office to reserve a date and begin preparation
- Anointing of the Sick: scheduled through the parish office
- Vocations / Holy Orders: directed to Diocese of Greensburg vocations office
Parish Life & Ministries
Parishioners are invited to share the gifts of the Holy Spirit through a range of liturgical, music, health, and youth ministries. The parish notes that 'each person participates in ministry according to the gifts of the Holy Spirit given to him or her' and encourages those discerning a call to contact the parish office.
- Liturgical Ministry
- Music Ministry
- Health Ministry
- Youth Ministry
- Faith Formation (CCD) and OCIA
St. Bernard Cemetery
St. Bernard Cemetery is maintained by the parish and offers an online lookup tool for finding burial sites by name, additional interred, or lot number. Inquiries about the cemetery can be directed to Cemetery Manager James L. Rhoades.
- Online burial-site lookup (by name, additional interred, or lot number)
- Cemetery Manager: James L. Rhoades — 724-465-4370 or 724-762-3222
- Historically linked to the East Oak Street 'Old St. Bernard Cemetery' established in 1890
Newcomers & Visitors
Newcomers to St. Bernard of Clairvaux are welcomed with an easy online registration (families with more than three children are asked to contact the parish office to add household members). The parish invites newcomers into faith formation for children, OCIA for adults exploring Catholicism, sacramental life, and a broad range of ministries. Confessions are available Saturdays from 8:00 to 10:00 AM or by appointment.
- Online parish registration (up to three children per submission)
- Faith formation for school-aged children
- OCIA process for adults exploring Catholicism
- Confessions Saturdays 8:00–10:00 AM and by appointment
Contact & Visiting
Parish Office hours are Monday–Thursday, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM (closed Fridays, per the 'New Office Hours Effective February 1, 2026' notice). The parish shares diocesan confirmation and graduation-Mass events and welcomes questions by phone or email. The parish also maintains a Facebook page under the name 'SaintBerns'.
- Address: 200 Clairvaux Drive, Indiana, PA 15701
- Phone: 724-463-2277
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM (closed Fridays)
- Social: facebook.com/SaintBerns/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Benedictine Father Idilo van der Green1847–
First resident pastor; served under the Benedictine Order during the parish's early decades.
- Benedictine Fathers Boniface Wimmer and Leander Schnerr
Father Wimmer, founder of St. Vincent Benedictine Monastery, and Father Schnerr, third Archabbot of St. Vincent Archabbey, both served St. Bernard in some capacity during its early history.
- Father George Allman1876–
First non-Benedictine pastor, appointed after the Benedictine Order withdrew from the parish in 1876.
- Father Adam F. Tonner1887–
Succeeded Father Allman; oversaw major improvements including new altars, steam heat, running water, a stable and phaeton, and established the Old St. Bernard Cemetery on East Oak Street in 1890.
- Father Rutters10 months
Served only briefly before retiring from active ministry; Benedictines supplied temporary priests until a replacement was found.
- Father Neil 'Mac' McNelis1898–1933
Originally hired on a temporary basis; stayed 35 years until his death in 1933; famous for sauerkraut and turtle soup suppers and bingo fundraisers.
- Msgr. James Brady1933–c.1982
Succeeded Father Mac and served the parish for almost 50 years.
- Father Thomas A. Federline2013–2020
Pastor during the period leading up to the parish's 175th-anniversary year.
- Rev. Richard N. Owens, O.F.M. Cap.c.2021–present
Current pastor; Capuchin friar who has led a yearlong 175th-anniversary celebration featuring fundraising and service projects.