About St. Cecilia · Whitney, Pennsylvania
St. Cecilia Catholic Church is a Benedictine-served Roman Catholic parish in the tiny coal-country community of Whitney, Pennsylvania (Westmoreland County), in the Diocese of Greensburg. Founded in 1891 by Slovak immigrants who worked the local coke ovens of the Pittsburgh-Connellsville coal basin, the parish is one of two 'Partner Parishes'—together with Sacred Heart in nearby Youngstown—under a single Benedictine pastor from Saint Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe. Today the parish continues as a Christ-centered, Eucharist-focused community served by Fr. James F. Podlesny, O.S.B., celebrating Mass in a sturdy brick church built in 1916 and recognized as a Pennsylvania Charitable Trust.
- Established
- 1891
- Patron
- Saint Cecilia
- Rector
- Fr. James F. Podlesny, O.S.B.
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Greensburg
Why belong here
St. Cecilia offers what its founders first sought in 1891: a Eucharistic-centered Catholic home close to home. Worship is celebrated multiple times a week in the historic 1916 brick church—Saturday Vigil at 4:00 pm, Sunday at 8:00 am, and weekday Masses Wednesdays and Fridays at 8:00 am—and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is held First Fridays. A parish school, convent, and rectory once made this a complete campus; today the former convent is a fully handicap-accessible Combined Pastoral Center (with grade-level walkway from the parking lot), and the parish is sustained as a true Benedictine community served by monks of Saint Vincent Archabbey with a renewed Christ-focused reverence in liturgy, year-round adult and young-adult faith/Bible study, youth sacramental preparation and religious education, a Monday Night Rosary, Healing Masses, and a Parish Festival. With debt retired and a $310,000 reserve fund in place, St. Cecilia is a stable, prayerful place to belong.
Mass times at St. Cecilia
Weekly Mass schedule
Adoration times
- First Friday Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at St. Cecilia Church (see bulletin for exact time)
Our Parish Story
St. Cecilia's history is the story of Slovak Catholic immigrants who came to work the coke ovens of the Pittsburgh-Connellsville coal basin in the late 1800s. After walking long distances to Saint Vincent Archabbey for Mass, they organized, bought land on a hillside north of Whitney away from the coke-plant smoke, and dug their own foundation after a day's labor. The parish was dedicated on November 22, 1891 under the patronage of Saint Cecilia, a third-century Roman martyr whose feast the Church still keeps that day.
The 1916 Brick Church
Under Fr. Xavier Traxler, O.S.B., the present brick church—110 × 50 feet, with a high gable and sturdy south steeple—was designed to resist the 'ridgers' that rolled off Chestnut Ridge at night. Cornerstone was laid July 16, 1916 by Archabbot Leander Schnerr, O.S.B., and the church was dedicated November 26, 1916 with sermons in Slovak and English. Its $20,363 construction debt was paid off in only four years, and stained-glass windows and sanctuary furnishings were donated by parishioners and societies.
- Cornerstone laid July 16, 1916
- Dedicated November 26, 1916
- Bell installed October 15, 1916
- Construction cost $20,363
- Debt retired in four years
School, Convent and Convent-to-Office Conversion
Fr. Xavier brought the Sisters of Saints Cyril and Methodius of Danville, Pennsylvania to staff the parish school, and Anderson and Sons of Latrobe built the convent, dedicated September 17, 1922 by Archabbot Schnerr for $20,201. After the school closed in 1971, the building was leased at various times to social-service tenants (Adelphoi Village, Bright Beginnings Day Care), and during Fr. Peter Augustine Pierjok's pastorate (2007–2017) it was totally gutted and converted into the Combined Pastoral Center with new electrical and plumbing systems, IT/computer/phone systems, hardwired emergency lighting, smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors, a surveillance security system, hardwood and ceramic-plank flooring, and full handicap accessibility on the first floor from a grade-level walkway with handrails leading from the parking lot.
- Sisters of Saints Cyril and Methodius staffed the school
- Convent dedicated September 17, 1922
- School closed in 1971
- Combined Pastoral Center at 222 St. Cecilia Road
Partner-Parish Relationship with Sacred Heart, Youngstown
Since their inceptions in the late 1800s, both St. Cecilia (Whitney) and Sacred Heart (Youngstown) have been served by Benedictine monks of Saint Vincent Archabbey. Under Fr. Chad Ficorilli, O.S.B. (1998), Sacred Heart was formally established by the Diocese of Greensburg as a freestanding parish in 2001, and since 2007 the two parishes have shared a single pastor. Fr. James F. Podlesny, O.S.B. is the current pastor of both. Combined liturgical, staff and office resources are managed out of the Combined Pastoral Center.
- Sacred Heart established as freestanding parish March 10, 2001
- Single pastor since 2007
- Bulletin for Sacred Heart: sacredheart-online.com
Benedictine Heritage
Both parishes have been served since their inceptions by the Benedictine monks of Saint Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, a community founded by monks who arrived from Europe in 1846 and from which 21 other abbeys and monasteries were founded in the USA, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. The Benedictines emphasize prayer and labor (ora et labora), hospitality, simplicity of lifestyle, and vows of obedience, stability, and conversatio morum—'conversion of life'—seeking to see Christ in every person, especially the poor and neglected, and balancing work and prayer.
Pastor and Parish Staff
Fr. James F. Podlesny, O.S.B. is the pastor of both Partner Parishes (named July 17, 2017 by Bishop Edward Malesic of the Diocese of Greensburg). The combined staff includes Sondra Wagner (Combined Secretary), Mary Stoner (Combined Coordinator of Youth Religious Education), Angela Reese (Regional Parish Business Manager / Combined Bookkeeper), Jeremy Zawelensky (Office Assistant), Justin Massetto (Regional Director of Youth Ministry), Jim Johnston (Maintenance/Custodial), and Linda Bruening (Liturgical Musician / Organist).
- Fr. James F. Podlesny, O.S.B. – Pastor
- Sondra Wagner – Combined Secretary
- Mary Stoner – Combined Coordinator of Youth Religious Education
- Angela Reese – Regional Parish Business Manager
- Jeremy Zawelensky – Office Assistant
- Justin Massetto – Regional Director of Youth Ministry
- Jim Johnston – Maintenance/Custodial
- Linda Bruening – Liturgical Musician (Organist)
Faith Formation and Youth Ministry
Combined Youth Religious Education and Sacramental Preparation (First Communion, Confirmation) is coordinated by Mary Stoner (724-972-1472, [email protected]). A Regional Director of Youth Ministry (Justin Massetto, 724-600-4648) supports youth programming across the Partner Parishes. Year-round adult and young-adult faith/Bible study is also offered.
- Youth Sacramental Prep and Religious Education
- Regional Youth Ministry
- Adult and young-adult faith/Bible study
Sacraments
Baptisms are scheduled at both parishes (see bulletin for dates), and Baptism preparation is required. Youth receive First Holy Communion and Confirmation through the combined Youth Sacramental Prep program. Couples should call the parish office for marriage preparation. Anointing of the Sick and First Friday Visits bring Communion to the homebound and those in senior care (Fr. Jim celebrates Mass at Kadima Healthcare and at The Fountains Senior Care on scheduled Mondays).
- Baptism (with preparation)
- First Holy Communion
- Confirmation
- Marriage
- Anointing of the Sick / First Friday Visits
Office, Contact, and Visits
The Combined Pastoral Center at 222 St. Cecilia Road, Latrobe, PA 15650 (air-conditioned and recognized as a Pennsylvania Charitable Trust) is open Monday through Thursday, 8:00 am to 3:00 pm, closed Fridays. Phones: 724-423-3777 (St. Cecilia) and 724-537-7358 (Sacred Heart); Fax 724-423-3778; Fr. Jim's direct line 724-423-9240; emergency line 724-423-3777, ext. 5. The mailing address for St. Cecilia is P.O. Box 80, Whitney, PA 15693.
- Office hours Mon–Thu, 8:00 am–3:00 pm (closed Fri)
- Combined Pastoral Center, 222 St. Cecilia Road
- Fr. Jim's direct line: 724-423-9240
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Theophilus, O.S.B.1891
Newly ordained founding pastor; taught chemistry, physics, and astronomy at Saint Vincent College and commuted from the Archabbey.
- Fr. Xavier Traxler, O.S.B.1909–1934
Slovak-speaking, 25-year pastor; built the present 1916 brick church and the 1922 convent; brought in the Sisters of Saints Cyril and Methodius for the school.
- Fr. Basil Balko, O.S.B.1935
Succeeded Fr. Xavier as pastor.
- Fr. Cuthbert Gallick, O.S.B.1935–c.1949
Athletic pastor; paid off debt and made church/school/social-hall improvements; Golden Jubilee of parish celebrated November 2, 1941.
- Fr. Raymond Balko, O.S.B.1949–1950
- Fr. Brendan Smetana, O.S.B.1950–1952
- Fr. Nepomucene Hruza, O.S.B.1952–1956
- Fr. Jordan Burick, O.S.B.c.1956–1967
Diamond Jubilee of the parish celebrated under his pastorship on Sunday, November 20, 1966; about 300 families at that time.
- Fr. Nicholas Lesko, O.S.B.1967
- Fr. Lucian Malich, O.S.B.1969–1980
Activated Parish Council, organized CCD program; closed the parish school in 1971 after only ten years of operation.
- Fr. Conall Pfiester, O.S.B.1980
Expertise in building/maintenance; remodeled rectory and installed new boiler and restrooms.
- Fr. Charles Weber, O.S.B.1980s–1993
Confronted financial and physical-plant problems; prepared parish for its 1991 centennial.
- Fr. Mark Peters, O.S.B.1993
- Fr. Chad Ficorilli, O.S.B.1998
First pastor also assigned to Sacred Heart, Youngstown; installed $250,000 HVAC loan.
- Fr. Aaron Buzzelli, O.S.B.2003
Assisted by senior priest Fr. William Beaver, O.S.B.
- Fr. Peter Augustine Pierjok, O.S.B.2007–2017
Assigned August 20, 2007 as pastor/administrator of both Partner Parishes; nearly 10-year pastorate paid off combined debts of $400,000 (St. Cecilia) and $341,000 (Sacred Heart), installed new roof, renovated interior, converted convent into handicap-accessible combined parish offices.
- Fr. James F. Podlesny, O.S.B.2017–present
Named pastor July 17, 2017 by Bishop Edward Malesic; current pastor of both Partner Parishes.