About St. Gabriel the Archangel · Port Allegany, Pennsylvania
St. Gabriel the Archangel Church is a Roman Catholic mission church at 203 East Arnold Avenue in Port Allegany, Pennsylvania, in the Diocese of Erie. The Catholic community in Port Allegany grew out of missions served from Saint Mary, Sartwell, with the pastor actually residing in Port Allegany as early as the 1850s; the community was officially named Saint Gabriel the Archangel in 1876 and its first church was dedicated in 1883. In 2009 it was partnered to share a pastor with Saint Eulalia in Coudersport, and on December 2, 2023, Bishop Lawrence Persico decreed an 'extinctive union' merging Saint Gabriel the Archangel Parish into Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Parish in nearby Smethport (about seven miles away), with St. Gabriel's retained as a secondary mission church where weekend and holy-day Mass continues to be celebrated. The mission is pastored today by Rev. Joseph Dougherty.
- Established
- 1876
- Patron
- St. Gabriel the Archangel
- Rector
- Rev. Joseph Dougherty
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie
Why belong here
St. Gabriel the Archangel offers a small, faithful Catholic community in Port Allegany with a Saturday evening vigil Mass and a Tuesday morning weekday Mass with a rosary devotion to follow. As a mission church of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Parish, parishioners benefit from a shared pastor, religious education led by Fran Reilly, liturgical music led by Steve Eidson, and parish staff support from Skye Peterson — all while keeping a beloved local worship site alive in the heart of McKean County.
Mass times at St. Gabriel the Archangel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday at 3:00 p.m. (at Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Church, Smethport)
Overview — St. Gabriel the Archangel, Port Allegany
St. Gabriel the Archangel Church is the Catholic mission church serving Port Allegany in McKean County, Pennsylvania. Originally an independent parish established in 1876, it has since 2023 been a secondary mission church of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Parish in Smethport, within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie. The mission is pastored by Rev. Joseph Dougherty and continues to host regular weekend and weekday Masses for the Port Allegany community.
- Established: 1876
- Diocese: Erie
- Current status: Secondary mission church of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Parish (since December 2, 2023)
- Pastor: Rev. Joseph Dougherty
History
The Catholic community in Port Allegany began as a mission of Saint Mary, Sartwell, with the Sartwell pastor residing in Port Allegany in the 1850s. The community was officially named Saint Gabriel the Archangel in 1876; the first church was dedicated in 1883 and the parish received its first resident pastor in 1897. For many years the pastor of Saint Gabriel also served the mission church of Saint Mary in Roulette. A devastating fire in 1951 led to a complete renovation of the church building.
Realignment and the 2023 Merger into Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Parish
In 2009 Saint Gabriel was partnered to share a pastor with Saint Eulalia Parish in Coudersport. By 2023, demographic decline and a reduced number of priests prompted Bishop Lawrence Persico to propose a McKean County reconfiguration. Originally slated to merge into Saint Eulalia, feedback from priests and parishioners revealed that most Saint Gabriel families live between Port Allegany and Smethport, and that the church is roughly seven miles closer to Smethport than to Coudersport. On June 22, 2023 the Presbyteral Council unanimously approved a revised plan merging Saint Gabriel into Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Parish; Bishop Persico issued the formal decree on December 2, 2023, effecting an 'extinctive union.' All sacramental records, assets, responsibilities, and liabilities were transferred to Saint Elizabeth's, and St. Gabriel's was retained as a secondary mission church where Mass is permitted on Sundays, holy days, and their vigils.
- 2009: Partnered to share a pastor with Saint Eulalia, Coudersport
- June 22, 2023: Presbyteral Council unanimously approves revised merger plan
- December 2, 2023: Bishop Persico's decree merges Saint Gabriel into Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Parish
- Status now: Secondary mission church of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Parish
Clergy and Staff
The mission is served by the pastor and staff of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Parish. Religious education, liturgical music, and parish administrative support are coordinated across the combined parish community.
- Pastor — Rev. Joseph Dougherty
- Religious Education Leader — Fran Reilly
- Liturgical Music Contact — Steve Eidson
- Support Staff — Skye Peterson
Ministries and Faith Formation
As a mission of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Parish, St. Gabriel's shares in the parish's faith formation and music programs. Religious education for parish children is coordinated by Fran Reilly, and liturgical music is led by Steve Eidson. Skye Peterson serves in a parish staff support role.
- Religious Education
- Liturgical Music
- Parish Staff Support
Contact and Visiting
Parishioners and visitors can reach the church through the Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Parish office in Smethport. The mailing address for parish business is c/o Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Parish, 307 Franklin St., Smethport, PA 16749.
- Address (church): 203 East Arnold Avenue, Port Allegany, PA 16743
- Mailing address: c/o Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Parish, 307 Franklin St., Smethport, PA 16749
- Phone: (814) 887-9254 (parish office)
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.stelizabethsmethport.org/
- Facebook: facebook.com/stelizabethofhungary/