About St. Francis of Assisi Masontown Site · Masontown, Pennsylvania
St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Western Fayette County, Pennsylvania is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Greensburg serving worshipers at two sites — the Masontown Site (the historic All Saints Church at 101 W. Church Avenue in Masontown) and the Footedale Site. The parish was formed on June 25, 2013 by merging six former faith communities — All Saints (Masontown), Holy Rosary (Republic), Madonna of Czestochowa (Cardale), St. Mary / Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Leckrone), St. Procopius (New Salem), and St. Thomas (Footedale) — and was named after St. Francis of Assisi to honor Pope Francis, whose election coincided with the parish's founding. Today it is administered by Rev. Anthony J. Klimko, VF, assisted by four parochial vicars, with daily and weekend Masses offered at both sites.
- Established
- 2013
- Patron
- St. Francis of Assisi
- Rector
- Rev. Anthony J. Klimko, VF (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Greensburg
Why belong here
St. Francis of Assisi welcomes Catholics and inquirers into a Eucharistically-centered faith community nourished by Scripture, Church teaching, and the seven Sacraments. It keeps doors open through daily Mass on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the Masontown site and Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Footedale site, and offers a strong slate of lay ministries — from altar servers and lectors to a funeral choir, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, and homebound ministers — so there is a real place for nearly every talent. Rooted in the merger of six small coal-country parishes, it carries forward the immigrant Catholic heritage of Western Fayette County and aims to be, in its own words, 'an instrument of peace.'
Mass times at St. Francis of Assisi Masontown Site
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday (Masontown): 5:00 – 5:30 pm
- Saturday (Footedale): 3:00 – 3:30 pm
History of St. Francis of Assisi Parish
St. Francis of Assisi Parish was formed on June 25, 2013 when Bishop Lawrence E. Brandt of the Diocese of Greensburg merged six smaller parishes in Western Fayette County in response to declining Catholic population. The parish was named to honor Pope Francis, who had been elected earlier that year. Its two current worship sites — Masontown (in the historic All Saints Church) and Footedale — carry forward more than a century of Catholic heritage rooted in the immigration of European coal miners and their families into the bituminous coal and coke region around the turn of the twentieth century.
- Formed June 25, 2013 from the merger of All Saints (Masontown), Holy Rosary (Republic), Madonna of Czestochowa (Cardale), Our Lady of Perpetual Help / St. Mary (Leckrone), St. Procopius (New Salem), and St. Thomas (Footedale)
- Named to honor Pope Francis, the first pope ever to take the name of the saint of Assisi
- 10th anniversary celebrated by Bishop Larry J. Kulick on March 18, 2023
The Former All Saints Parish (Masontown)
All Saints Parish was established in October 1908 by Bishop J.F. Canevin of Pittsburgh, who sent Father Francis J. Kolb — a young German priest from Delmont — to found a parish for the immigrant faithful of Masontown. Father Kolb's first Mass was offered at the Leckrone church on October 25, 1908, and the cornerstone of the Masontown church was laid September 26, 1909. The completed church and rectory were dedicated by Bishop Canevin on April 24, 1910.
- Erected: 1908
- First Mass celebrated October 25, 1908
- Architect: John T. Comes, in Gothic Mission style
- Cornerstone laid September 26, 1909; dedicated April 24, 1910 by Bishop J.F. Regis Canevin
- Partnered with Our Lady of Perpetual Help and St. Mary Parish, Leckrone on October 30, 2008
- Merged into St. Francis of Assisi Parish on June 25, 2013
Other Founding Communities
The five other communities that joined to form St. Francis of Assisi each had their own founding story in the coal-and-coke country of Western Fayette County.
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help / St. Mary (Leckrone) — erected 1902 as St. Columbkill Church; renamed in 1907; partnered with All Saints in 2008
- Holy Rosary (Republic) — erected August 22, 1915; partnered with Madonna of Czestochowa in 2002
- Madonna of Czestochowa (Cardale)
- St. Procopius (New Salem)
- St. Thomas (Footedale)
Parish Mission and Identity
The parish describes itself as 'a Eucharistically-centered faith community whose life is formed by our baptismal commitment to Christ; is nourished by Scripture, Church teachings and the Sacraments; and is supported by membership in the worldwide church around us.' It carries forward the heritage of the six former faith communities and, under the patronage of St. Francis of Assisi, strives to be 'an instrument of peace and all that God calls us to be.'
Clergy and Staff
The parish is presently led by an Administrator and four parochial vicars, supported by a small business office.
- 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
Liturgical Ministries
There are many ways parishioners can dedicate time and talent to the celebration of the Mass and other liturgical services at the parish.
- Altar Servers (children who have made first Communion; also adult servers for daily Mass)
- Arts & Environment
- Choir and Cantors (contact: Eric Blanda, organist)
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Communion Ministers to the Homebound
- Funeral Altar Servers
- Funeral Choir
- Lectors
- Sacristans
- Ushers/Greeters
Parish Organizations and Service
Beyond liturgy, lay faithful run traditional Catholic parish organizations and meet ongoing maintenance needs.
- Knights of Columbus — hosts an annual Lenten / Ash Wednesday fish fry in Masontown
- Christian Mothers — host Lenten fish fry dinners
- Maintenance & Upkeep Team — seeking parishioners with general, carpentry, masonry, electrical and plumbing skills (Masontown lead Rick Bobincheck 724-317-6635; Footedale lead Dave Madison 724-366-2307)
Newcomers and Visitors
St. Francis of Assisi invites new parishioners to register by downloading, printing and mailing the Parish Registration Form to the parish office at 101 West Church Avenue, Masontown, PA 15461. The parish emphasizes that there is 'always a place' at St. Francis of Assisi 'to gather in community to glorify God's name in worship, be nurtured in God's word, be fed with the body and blood of Jesus Christ, reach out in service to our neighbor, and enjoy each other's fellowship and support.'
Giving and Bulletin
Parishioners can give online through the parish website and subscribe to receive the weekly bulletin by email at www.parishesonline.com. The bulletin deadline for submissions is Monday at noon.
Contact and Location
Parish office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. The bulletin deadline is Monday at noon.
- St. Francis of Assisi Parish — 101 W. Church Ave, Masontown, PA 15461
- Phone: 724-583-7866
- Fax: 724-583-0373
- Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Safe Environment and Diocesan Compliance
Parish volunteers who work with youth or vulnerable adults must comply with the Diocese of Greensburg Safe Environment Policy, including background clearances and training as described at dioceseofgreensburg.org/youth-protection/clearances/.
Pastoral Leadership Timeline
Pastoral leadership of the merged parish since its 2013 founding has included Father William G. Berkey (referenced in 2023 as former Pastor) and Father Marlon Pates (Pastor at the time of the 10th anniversary). The parish is currently administered by Rev. Anthony J. Klimko, VF.
- Rev. William G. Berkey — former Pastor
- Rev. Marlon Pates — Pastor (as of 2023 10th anniversary)
- Rev. Anthony J. Klimko, VF — current Administrator
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. William G. Berkey
Former pastor; thanked by Bishop Kulick in 2023 for sacrifices made during the parish's formative years.
- Rev. Marlon Pates
Pastor as of 2023; mentioned by Bishop Kulick at the 10th anniversary Mass.