About St. Francis of Assisi Footedale Site · Footedale, Pennsylvania
The Footedale Site is one of two worship sites of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, a merged Roman Catholic community in western Fayette County, Pennsylvania, belonging to the Diocese of Greensburg. The Footedale church is the former St. Thomas Parish, founded in 1901 by Polish and other immigrant coal miners and rebuilt in 1910–1911 after a devastating fire in the Romanesque style with buff brick and a red Spanish tile roof. St. Francis of Assisi Parish was canonically formed on June 25, 2013, from the union of six former faith communities (All Saints, Holy Rosary, Madonna, St. Mary, St. Procopius, and St. Thomas) and is pastored under the patronage of St. Francis of Assisi as a Eucharistically-centered community striving to be an instrument of peace.
- Established
- 1901
- Patron
- St. Francis of Assisi
- Rector
- Rev. Anthony J. Klimko, VF (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Greensburg
Why belong here
St. Francis of Assisi Parish welcomes all who wish to worship at either its Masontown or Footedale site, and at the Footedale Site the parish offers a historic Romanesque church with regular Saturday vigil and Sunday Mass plus Tuesday and Thursday morning weekday Masses. The parish describes itself as a 'Eucharistically-centered faith community' where 'all are welcome, trust is present, risks for the kingdom of God are taken, and the gifts of everyone are called forth.' Active organizations — including the Christian Mothers (who host Lenten Fish Dinners in the Footedale social hall), the Knights of Columbus, the Ladies of Charity, and a Maintenance & Upkeep Team — give parishioners concrete ways to serve their neighbors and their church.
Mass times at St. Francis of Assisi Footedale Site
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 – 3:30 PM (Footedale Site)
History of the Footedale Site (Former St. Thomas Parish)
The Footedale church is the continuation of St. Thomas Parish, founded in 1901 as coal mining opened across Fayette County. Immigrants of many nationalities — Polish, Slovak, Irish, Italian and others — came to work the mines and coke ovens of the H.C. Frick Coke Company and needed a Catholic church close to home. Bishop Richard Phelan of the Diocese of Pittsburgh sent Father John Jaskovits to organize the parish, and the very first Mass was celebrated on Sunday, May 13, 1901, in one of the Frick Company houses. The Frick Company granted a 99-year lease on the land where the church still stands. A frame church was begun under Father Jaskovits (cornerstone blessed July 4, 1903), and completed by his successor Father Michael Orzechowski, who dedicated it on July 4, 1905 with Bishop Paul Rhode of Green Bay presiding.
- Founded 1901 by Father John Jaskovits under Bishop Richard Phelan of Pittsburgh
- First Mass: Sunday, May 13, 1901, in a Frick Company house
- 99-year lease on the property granted by H.C. Frick Coke Co.
- Father Ignatius Ostaszewski (1905–1909) built a frame rectory and opened the parish school and convent
- Original frame church destroyed by fire on November 17, 1909
- Rebuilt church cornerstone blessed July 17, 1910 by Very Rev. Michael A. Lambing
- New church dedicated August 9, 1911 by Jesuit missionary Father Charles Janowski
Architecture of the Footedale Church
Rebuilt after the 1909 fire, the Footedale church was completed in 1911 in a Romanesque style. It is constructed of buff brick topped with a red Spanish tile roof and features beautiful stained-glass windows. The church serves today as one of two worship sites of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, the other being the Masontown site, while still preserving the historic sanctuary where generations of coal-country Catholics have worshipped since the early twentieth century.
- Romanesque-style design
- Buff brick construction
- Red Spanish tile roof
- Stained-glass windows
- Sitting on land leased from the H.C. Frick Coke Company
St. Francis of Assisi Parish — Six Faith Communities Merged
On June 25, 2013, six former parishes of western Fayette County were canonically merged to form today's St. Francis of Assisi Parish. These communities — All Saints, Holy Rosary, Madonna, St. Mary, St. Procopius (New Salem, founded 1905), and St. Thomas (Footedale, founded 1901) — had already begun partnering in various combinations during the 1990s and 2000s. The parish takes its name and patronage from St. Francis of Assisi, the 13th-century 'Poverello' and patron saint of animals, ecology, and merchants, with a feast day celebrated October 4.
- All Saints Parish
- Holy Rosary Parish (Republic, founded 1916)
- Madonna of Czestochowa Parish (Cardale)
- St. Mary Parish (Nativity, Uniontown)
- St. Procopius Parish (New Salem, founded 1905)
- St. Thomas Parish (Footedale, founded 1901)
Clergy, Staff & Leadership
St. Francis of Assisi Parish is administered by Rev. Anthony J. Klimko, VF, who also serves as pastor/administrator of several other parishes in the Roman Catholic Churches of Southern Fayette County grouping. He is assisted by a team of parochial vicars serving the merged community. Two lay staff members support the parish office at 101 W. Church Avenue, Masontown, which serves both the Masontown and Footedale sites.
- Rev. Anthony J. Klimko, VF — Administrator
- Rev. Teodoro Cortezano — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Vincent Yee Concepcion — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Alien Z. Rocamora — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Innocent Noronm Orduah — Parochial Vicar pro-tem
- Linda Rohol — Business Manager
- Cheryl Grimm — Office Assistant
Ministries & Parish Life
The parish supports an active roster of lay organizations. At the Footedale Site the Christian Mothers host the popular Lenten Fish Dinners in the social hall every Friday in Lent. The Knights of Columbus host seasonal fish fries at the Masontown cafeteria. The Ladies of Charity of the Roman Catholic Churches of Southern Fayette County operate a Children's Closet out of the former St. Mary (Nativity) Parish Center in Uniontown, providing clothing, diapers, and blankets to mothers and children in need — earning the 2025 Catholic Charities Salt & Light Human Service Organization Award. A volunteer Maintenance & Upkeep Team handles general, carpentry, masonry, electrical, and plumbing needs at both sites.
- Christian Mothers — Lenten Fish Dinners at Footedale social hall (Fri 11 AM–6 PM)
- Knights of Columbus — Ash Wednesday and Lenten Fish Fries at Masontown
- Ladies of Charity — Children's Closet and outreach to mothers and children
- Maintenance & Upkeep Team — volunteer carpenters, masons, electricians, plumbers
- Safe Environment / Youth Protection — diocesan clearance program for all volunteers
Sacraments
Information about the celebration of the sacraments is available through the parish office at 101 W. Church Avenue, Masontown (phone 724-583-7866). The Sacrament of Reconciliation is regularly offered at the Footedale Site before the Saturday Vigil Mass.
- Baptism — inquire at parish office
- Marriage — inquire at parish office
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 3:00–3:30 PM at the Footedale Site
- Eucharist — see Mass & Confession Schedule
- Youth Protection clearances required for all parish volunteers per Diocesan Safe Environment Policy
Visiting & Accessibility
The Footedale Site is fully accessible to parishioners and visitors with mobility needs. The church has handicap accessibility from the rear corner of the building with eight accessible parking spaces, while the attached social hall is accessible from the front entrance, includes a handicap-accessible restroom, and offers nine additional accessible parking spaces.
- Handicap accessibility from the rear corner of the church building
- Eight handicap-accessible parking spaces at the church
- Social hall accessible from the front entrance
- Handicap-accessible restroom in the social hall
- Nine accessible parking spaces at the social hall
Contact & Parish Office
Parish business is handled from the central office in Masontown, which serves both the Masontown and Footedale worship sites. Office hours are 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. The weekly bulletin is published online and can be received by email through parishesonline.com.
- Parish Office: 101 W. Church Ave, Masontown, PA 15461
- Phone: 724-583-7866
- Fax: 724-583-0373
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Footedale Site: 528 Footedale Road, New Salem, PA 15468
- Website: http://www.sfoafayette.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John Jaskovits1901
Founding pastor appointed by Bishop Richard Phelan; celebrated first Mass May 13, 1901 in a Frick Company house; began construction of first frame church.
- Rev. Michael Orzechowskiafter 1903
Succeeded Father Jaskovits; completed the first church, dedicated July 4, 1905 by Bishop Paul Rhode of Green Bay.
- Rev. Ignatius Ostaszewski1905–1909
Erected a frame rectory (July 1906) and opened the parish school and convent that same year.
- Father Koperaearly 1900s
Oversaw rebuilding after the November 17, 1909 fire; the 1911 church was described as a memorial to him after his transfer in 1917.