St. Florian

About St. Florian Parish

St. Florian Parish serves the United–Mount Pleasant area of Westmoreland County from a campus at 4263 Route 981, with a mailing address in United, PA 15689. Its stated mission is to "build up the Kingdom of God by offering ourselves with Jesus for the true good of every person." The parish office is staffed Monday through Friday, with extended morning hours Thursday and a half-day Friday, and is reachable at 724-423-4431 (fax 724-423-4438).

Our History

The parish was founded in 1909–1910 by Slovak coal-country families who wanted their own national church, and grew from a humble hall-and-school congregation into a multi-parish canonical successor that today also serves as steward of the cemeteries and sacramental records of the former Forty Martyrs and St. Stanislaus parishes. Key dates on the parish timeline include 1909 (founding committee), 1910 (cornerstone and first Masses), 1912 (cemetery purchased in Trauger), 1919 (first Confirmation), 1935 (Silver Jubilee), 1951 (Diocese of Greensburg erected), 1955 (school addition), 1981 (current church dedicated), 2008 (merger with Forty Martyrs and St. Stanislaus), 2010 (100th anniversary and installation of Father Karenbauer), and 2013 (appointment of Father Sedlak).

• 1909 — Committee forms in Adam Lazor's home
• May 20, 1910 — Father John Matejcsik arrives as first pastor
• September 4, 1910 — Cornerstone placed by Father C. Gasparik and Bishop Joseph M. Koudelka
• 1914 — Cornerstone laid for present Trauger brick church (St. Mary's Greek Catholic)
• September 29, 1919 — First Confirmation, 276 faithful
• 1935 — Silver Jubilee Mass
• March 10, 1951 — Becomes a parish of the new Diocese of Greensburg
• May 22, 1955 — Bishop Hugh L. Lamb dedicates school addition
• June 4, 1955 — First Mass of Father Thomas Holoman, the parish's first priestly ordination
• August 28, 2007 — New Mass schedule approved for three partnered parishes
• October 30, 2008 — Named canonical successor parish for Forty Martyrs and St. Stanislaus
• November 23, 2008 — Mass of Welcome and Remembrance
• September 19, 2010 — 100th anniversary Mass with Bishop Brandt; Father Karenbauer installed
• June 25, 2013 — Father John A. Sedlak appointed pastor by Bishop Brandt

Building and Architecture

The original 1910 church was built of more than 31,000 bricks, with a Pennsylvania-slate floor and a marble altar hand-carved in northern Italy. After decades of growth, a new brick church was begun with a groundbreaking on September 7, 1980, and dedicated by Father Feeney and Bishop Connare on August 9, 1981, at a total cost of $800,000. Architects Frank Church and his son George designed the building; its stained-glass windows, designed by Milcho Silianoff, were made from glass collected from around the world in tribute to the immigrant heritage of the parish. A capital drive raised more than $350,000 — exceeding its goal by $100,000.

Parish Staff

The day-to-day work of the parish is shared by Father John A. Sedlak (Pastor) with seven lay staff: Dr. Joseph Dreliszak (CFFE Director), Teresa Davis (Parish Secretary / Bookkeeper / Office Manager), Lottie Hirak (Preschool Director), Mandy Kelly (Preschool Aide), Steven Makar (Music Director), and Mary Jane Makar (Organist).

Preschool

St. Florian Parish Preschool welcomes children of all faiths and offers programs for three- and four-year-olds in a Christ-centered environment, with hands-on activities, guest speakers, and kindergarten-readiness skills. Three-year-olds attend Tuesday and Thursday mornings (8:15–11:00 a.m.); four-year-olds attend Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings (8:15–11:00 a.m.), afternoons (12:00–2:45 p.m.), or full-day (8:15 a.m.–2:45 p.m.). Contact Preschool Director Lottie Hirak at 724-423-4437.

Faith Formation & Religious Education

Faith Formation at St. Florian covers preschool through eighth grade and includes Youth Ministry, the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA), Sacramental Preparation, and Vacation Bible School, all coordinated through the CFFE (Congregational Faith Formation and Education) Office under Director Dr. Joseph Dreliszak (724-423-5087).

• Preschool through 8th-grade faith formation
• Youth Ministry
• RCIA / RCIC
• Sacramental Preparation
• Vacation Bible School

Sacraments

St. Florian celebrates the seven sacraments and publishes preparation guidelines on its website. Baptism is offered to infants and children up to the age of reason (about seven) after brief parental instruction; older candidates enter at least a year of catechesis or RCIA/RCIC. Confirmation completes baptismal grace and requires parish catechesis (or RCIA for the unbaptized); sponsors must be fully initiated Catholics at least 16 years old, lead a life in harmony with the faith, and not be the candidate's parent. The parish also coordinates Sacramental Preparation for First Eucharist and Confirmation, RCIA, Marriage preparation, and Anointing of the Sick.

• Baptism — with parental catechesis for infants; RCIA/RCIC for older candidates
• Confirmation — preparation via parish faith formation or RCIA
• Eucharist
• Marriage preparation
• Anointing of the Sick
• RCIA / RCIC

Parish Organizations & Ministries

St. Florian encourages parishioners to take part in its many organizations. The Altar Society cares for altar needs and prays the rosary for the deceased; the Baker's Dozen runs parish socials; Catholic Daughters serves religious, charitable and educational aims; the Cemetery group administers St. Florian, St. Stanislaus, and Forty Martyrs cemeteries; Christians Uniting brings together local pastors for ecumenical work; the Choir and Cantors welcome new singers; the Festival Committee plans upcoming events; Kolache Bakers produce traditional pastries at Easter and Christmas; the Parish Care Group visits the homebound, nursing-home and hospital parishioners; the Prayer Shawl Group knits and crochets shawls blessed by the pastor for the ill; Religious Formation and the parish Preschool serve children; and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul serves the poor and disadvantaged.

• Altar Society
• Baker's Dozen
• Catholic Daughters of America
• Cemeteries (St. Florian, St. Stanislaus, Forty Martyrs)
• Christians Uniting
• Choir / Cantors
• Festival Committee
• Kolache Bakers
• Parish Care Group
• Prayer Shawl Group
• Preschool
• Religious Formation
• St. Vincent de Paul Society

Our Region (Diocesan Context)

St. Florian is one of a cluster of parishes in the eastern Westmoreland County portion of the Diocese of Greensburg. Its closest partnered and neighboring parishes include Forty Martyrs (which it absorbed in 2008), St. Stanislaus (also absorbed in 2008), Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Mount Pleasant, St. Pius X, St. John the Baptist, St. Raymond of the Mountains in Donegal, and the Connellsville-area parishes.

Contact & Visit

Parishioners and visitors may reach the parish office at 724-423-4431 (fax 724-423-4438) during office hours: Monday–Thursday 8:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Friday 8:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. The church is at 4263 Route 981, Mount Pleasant, PA 15666, with mail addressed to P.O. Box 187, United, PA 15689. Weekly bulletins and announcements are posted on the parish website.