About St. George [Ukrainian] · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church is an Eastern-rite (Byzantine) Catholic parish located at 3455 California Avenue on Pittsburgh's North Side. As a parish of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church — the largest Eastern Catholic Church in full communion with the Holy See — it serves faithful who worship according to the ancient Byzantine liturgical traditions of their Ukrainian ancestors. The parish is known for its active pyrohy (pierogi) fundraiser, its church school for children, and its enduring place as a center of Ukrainian-American community life in Western Pennsylvania.
- Established
- 1918
- Patron
- St. George the Great Martyr
- Rector
- Fr. Ihor Hohosha
- Diocese
- Ukrainian Diocese of Saint Josaphat in Parma (geographically located within the territory of the Roman Diocese of Pittsburgh)
Why belong here
St. George offers a home where Ukrainian-American Catholics and anyone drawn to the Byzantine liturgical tradition can worship in the ancient rites of their ancestors while remaining in full communion with the Pope and the universal Catholic Church. The parish combines the rhythm of Sunday and weekday Divine Liturgy with a vibrant church school for children (with Children's Liturgy and a St. Nicholas Party each year), community-building events like coffee socials and an annual Pierogie Fest, and beloved fundraising traditions such as the famous Old-World pyrohy. As one of Pittsburgh's historic North Side Ukrainian parishes, it has been a center of Ukrainian-American spiritual, educational, and cultural life for more than a century.
Mass times at St. George [Ukrainian]
Weekly Mass schedule
Parish History
St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church was founded in 1918 by Western-Ukrainian immigrants who had settled on Pittsburgh's North Side beginning in the late 1880s. Originally worshiping with Holy Ghost Byzantine Catholic Church, the immigrants organized their own mission — supported by the Ukrainian Knights of St. George and the Taras Shevchenko Branch of the National Aid Association — and appointed Rev. Wolodymyr Ulianytsky as their first pastor. The parish built a church and school at 60 Doerr Street, dedicated April 27, 1919, by Right Rev. Peter Poniatishyn (who later returned as pastor in 1943). After weathering the Great Depression under Rev. Wolodymyr Kozoriz, the parish flourished under Rev. Peter Oleksiw (1938), Rev. Eustace Weselowsky (1951), and especially Rev. Wasyl Dzydzora (1962), under whose leadership the current California Avenue church was built (ground-breaking July 2, 1967; first Divine Liturgy January 19, 1969) and the famous pyrohy fundraiser was born. Metropolitan Ambrose Senyshyn blessed the new church in 2002, and the parish family continues under the care of Fr. Ihor Hohosha, pastor since September 1, 2012.
- Founded 1918 as a mission by Ukrainian immigrants on Pittsburgh's North Side
- Doerr Street church dedicated April 27, 1919, by Right Rev. Peter Poniatishyn
- Relocated to 3455 California Avenue; first Liturgy in new building January 19, 1969
- Pyrohy (pierogi) fundraiser started in 1962 under Fr. Wasyl Dzydzora
- New church blessed by Metropolitan Ambrose Senyshyn in 2002
- Celebrated 100th anniversary in 2018
Clergy & Staff
St. George is currently served by Fr. Ihor Hohosha, pastor since September 1, 2012. The parish also benefits from dedicated lay coordinators who keep its ministries running.
- Fr. Ihor Hohosha — Pastor (since September 1, 2012)
- Mrs. Inna Hohosha — Church School Coordinator
- Mr. Darrell Chulack — Church Hall (412-766-8800)
- Pyrohy Coordinator — listed in parish contacts
Liturgical Schedule
The parish celebrates the Byzantine Divine Liturgy in English and Ukrainian. The principal Sunday Liturgy is offered at 9:30 AM, with weekday Liturgies on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings at 9:00 AM. Saturday evening features Great Vespers at 5:00 PM, and the Vigil Divine Liturgy at 4:00 PM is shared with the faithful at St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Church in McKees Rocks. On Feast Days the parish gathers for a Vesperal Divine Liturgy at 7:00 PM the prior evening and the feast-day Liturgy at 10:00 AM. (Note: a parish directory site lists Sunday Liturgy at 10:00 AM — the parish's own bulletin page should be checked for the current time.)
- Sunday Divine Liturgy — 9:30 AM (parish bulletin to confirm)
- Weekday Divine Liturgy — Tue / Wed / Fri at 9:00 AM
- Saturday — 4:00 PM Vigil Divine Liturgy (held at McKees Rocks)
- Saturday — 5:00 PM Great Vespers
- Feast Days — 7:00 PM Vesperal Liturgy (prior evening); 10:00 AM Divine Liturgy
Sacramental Life & Devotions
The parish maintains the traditional Byzantine sacramental and devotional rhythm: Divine Liturgy intentions can be requested via envelopes in the vestibule, and Eternal Candle Offerings for memorial or special intentions are available there as well. The Sunday School year concludes each spring with First Holy Reconciliation for the children.
- Liturgy intention request envelopes — vestibule
- Eternal Candle Offering sign-ups — vestibule
- First Holy Reconciliation — early June (concluding Sunday School event)
Church School (Sunday School)
St. George's Church School, coordinated by Mrs. Inna Hohosha, meets weekly from late October through late May. The program weaves regular classes with Children's Liturgies, a St. Nicholas Party in December, a Mardi Gras / Great Fast opening, special services for Palm Sunday and Easter, and concludes in early June with First Holy Reconciliation. The 2023–2024 schedule posted on the parish website shows the full rhythm of the program year.
- Coordinator: Mrs. Inna Hohosha
- First class: late October, with a Children's Liturgy
- December includes St. Nicholas Party (Dec. 10, 2023)
- Mardi Gras / Great Fast opening celebrated in February
- Palm Sunday (March 17, 2024) and Easter (March 24, 2024) marked
- Year concludes with First Holy Reconciliation on the first Sunday of June
Pyrohy (Pierogi) Fundraiser
Pyrohy-making has been a beloved St. George tradition since 1962, when parishioners began making pierogies during the pastorate of Rev. Wasyl Dzydzora to support church projects. Today, dedicated volunteers continue the Old-World craft to fund parish operations and ministries. All varieties are sold at $11 per dozen — among the lowest prices in the Pittsburgh area.
- Classic varieties: Potato, Sauerkraut, Half/Half (Potato with Sauerkraut)
- Special varieties: Loaded Potato, Jalapeño, Farmer's Cheese
- $11.00 per dozen for all varieties
- Normal sale days: Thursdays and Fridays, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM (summer hours vary)
- Busiest season: Philip's Fast (Advent) and the Great Fast (Lent) — advance orders required
- Orders: Church Hall, 412-766-8800 (leave a message if no answer)
- Sales updates posted on the parish Facebook page, 'St. George's Pittsburgh Pierogies'
Community Life & Events
Parish life at St. George has long revolved around shared meals, music, and cultural celebrations. The annual Pierogie Fest is a long-standing tradition, and the parish also hosts coffee socials, fundraising dinners, and musical evenings such as the Women's Bandura Association of North America Ukrainian musical presentation. The parish supports parish youth at the annual Eparchial Youth Days, and the RaiseRight gift-card program offers an easy way for parishioners to contribute to parish finances through everyday purchases.
- Pierogie Fest — annual tradition
- Coffee Socials — sponsored by parishioners (contact Vicki Senko)
- Women's Bandura Association of North America — Ukrainian musical evening
- Eparchial Youth Days — youth attend with Fr. Igor and Michael Spak
- RaiseRight Gift Card Program — coordinator Vicki Senko; St. George earns a percentage of each card sold
- Scholarship Program — parish and Ukrainian Technological Society (UTS) scholarships awarded annually
- Support Ukraine — donations page linked on parish site
Bulletin & Communications
The parish publishes regular bulletins that announce the schedule, intentions, and upcoming activities. Bulletins from the current and prior year are archived on the parish website, and the most recent bulletin should always be consulted for specific feast-day and event times.
- Bulletins page (current and previous year) — parish website
- Donation Center page — online giving via PayPal and direct Support Ukraine link
- Helpful Links — parish sitemap, Sunday School Schedule, About, Contact
About the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
St. George is a member of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, the largest Eastern-Rite Catholic sui juris particular church in full communion with the Holy See. Though it worships according to the Byzantine liturgical tradition inherited from the Christians of Kyivan Rus', it remains in full communion with Rome and with the Pope. The parish falls ecclesiastically under the Ukrainian Diocese of Saint Josaphat in Parma (with its see in Parma, Ohio), even though it sits geographically within the territory of the Roman Diocese of Pittsburgh.
- Eastern-Rite Catholic Church in full communion with Rome
- Byzantine liturgical tradition of Ukrainian Christians
- Ecclesiastically under the Ukrainian Diocese of Saint Josaphat in Parma
- Geographic location: within the territory of the Roman Diocese of Pittsburgh
Contact & Visit
Visitors are warmly welcomed at St. George, both online and in person. The parish's homepage invites guests with the words of John 1:46 — 'Come and see.' Whether for a Sunday Divine Liturgy, a feast-day celebration, or a pyrohy pickup, parishioners and visitors alike are invited into the life of the parish family.
- Address: 3455 California Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15212
- Phone: 412-766-8801
- Fax: 412-766-3379
- E-mail: [email protected]
- Church Hall (orders & pyrohy): 412-766-8800
- Website: saintgeorgepittsburgh.org
- Donations accepted online via PayPal on the parish Donation Center page
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Wolodymyr Ulianytsky1918
Appointed pastor at founding on April 14, 1918; led purchase of 60 Doerr Street property.
- Rev. Wolodymyr Kozoriz1930s
Led the parish through the hardships of the Great Depression.
- Right Reverend Peter Poniatishyn1943
Former Apostolic Administrator for Ukrainian Catholics in the U.S. who dedicated the original church in 1919; became pastor in 1943.
- Rev. Peter Oleksiw1938
Arrived in 1938; remodeled the entrance, installed stained glass and iconostasis; Sisters of St. Basil began teaching.
- Rev. Eustace Weselowsky1951
Succeeded in 1951; Rev. Henry Sagan became first parochial vicar under his pastorate.
- Rev. Wasyl Dzydzora1962
Assigned in 1962 to lead the relocation building project; began the parish pyrohy fundraiser tradition.
- Msgr. George Appleyard
Transferred out in 1999; oversaw Metropolitan Ambrose's blessing of the new church.
- Rev. Roman Harwas
Served parish family after Msgr. Appleyard's transfer in 1999.
- Rev. Andrew Marko
Served parish family after Rev. Harwas.
- Rev. Steven Paliwoda
Served parish family before Fr. Michlik.
- Rev. Valerian M. Michlik2001-
Began priestly service at St. George on August 1, 2001.
- Fr. Ihor Hohosha2012-present
Current pastor; started serving the parish family on September 1, 2012.