About St. Gregory · Macdonaldton, Pennsylvania
St. Gregory Church is a small Roman Catholic mission parish in the unincorporated coal-mining community of Macdonaldton, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown. Originally a shared worship space with a Greek Catholic congregation serving immigrant mining families in the early 1900s, it has remained a steady presence through the decline of the mines and is currently served by the pastor of Ss. Philip and James Parish in neighboring Meyersdale. The parish is closely tied to its annual Labor Day picnic, a homecoming tradition begun in 1940 that sustains both the church's finances and the bonds of its founding families.
- Established
- early 1900s (parish worship began in the union-built hall; property transferred to the Diocese of Altoona in 1951)
- Patron
- St. Gregory
- Rector
- Rev. Michael A. Wolfe (appointed October 1, 2025)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown
Why belong here
St. Gregory is a small, mission-sized parish with deep roots in the coal-mining heritage of Somerset County. Worshipping here means joining a tight-knit community of descendants of the founding immigrant families, sharing a tradition that has survived the closure of the mines and continues through the annual Labor Day picnic — both homecoming and fundraiser. As a mission of Ss. Philip and James in Meyersdale, the parish offers traditional Roman Catholic worship in an intimate, historic setting where everyone knows one another.
Mass times at St. Gregory
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 8:15 – 9:00 AM
History & Origins
St. Gregory grew out of the immigrant mining community of Macdonaldton, Somerset County. The Donaldton Land Co. sold a parcel of land to Joseph Gutt in 1906; in 1917 he conveyed it to trustees of the United Mine Workers of America, Local No. 3163, who built the structure that still serves as the church. For many years the building alternated Sundays between Greek Catholic and Roman Catholic services. After the Greek Catholic congregation moved to Pine Hill, St. Gregory continued as a Roman Catholic mission. When the mines closed, the community scattered; the parish was formally conveyed to Bishop Richard T. Guilfoyle of the Diocese of Altoona in trust for St. Gregory Church on Feb. 22, 1951.
The Labor Day Picnic Tradition
The annual Labor Day picnic — featuring family-style ham and turkey dinners with noodles and stuffing, games, a bake sale, themed baskets, and refreshments — has been the parish's signature event since it was started under Rev. Joseph D. Tomko in 1940-42. Originally a homecoming for families forced to leave when the shaft and slope mines closed, the picnic has become the parish's primary fundraiser. According to parishioner Tom Smith, 'We're facing the same struggles as every other church. The picnic is important to sustain the church financially. The committee enjoys planning and working with each other for the picnic. It's a good time to catch up with each other's families and our lives.' The picnic continues to draw original mining families back to Macdonaldton each year.
- Begun 1940-42 under Rev. Joseph D. Tomko
- Family-style ham and turkey dinners
- Games, bake sale, themed baskets
- Primary parish fundraiser
Pastoral Leadership
As a mission parish, St. Gregory has typically been shepherded from a neighboring parish. From 1980 to 1987, Monsignor Samuel J. Tomaselli, pastor of St. Peter's in Somerset, accepted responsibility for St. Gregory at Bishop Hogan's request; that duty was then transferred to the pastor of Ss. Philip and James in Meyersdale, the arrangement that has continued. Very Rev. James M. Dugan, VF — also Dean of the Southern Deanery — pastored the mission alongside Ss. Philip and James. Rev. Stephen Shin, OFM Cap., of the St. Augustine Province of Capuchin Franciscans, served as pastor while residing at Our Lady of the Mountains Parish in Cumberland, Maryland. Effective October 1, 2025, Bishop Mark appointed Rev. Michael A. Wolfe as pastor of Saints Philip and James (Meyersdale), Saint Gregory (MacDonaldton), Saint Mary (Pocahontas), and Saint Michael (West Salisbury).
- Rev. Joseph D. Tomko (1940-1942)
- Monsignor Samuel J. Tomaselli (1980-1987)
- Very Rev. James M. Dugan, VF
- Rev. Stephen Shin, OFM Cap. (to 2025)
- Rev. Michael A. Wolfe (2025-present)
Visit & Contact
St. Gregory is located at 137 Church St., Macdonaldton, PA 15530. Because the parish is administered alongside Ss. Philip and James in Meyersdale, the parish office line — (814) 634-8150 — and email — [email protected] — connect callers with parish staff. The church's official listing is maintained by the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, which lists the parish jointly with Ss. Philip and James.
- Address: 137 Church St., Macdonaldton, PA 15530
- Phone: (814) 634-8150
- Email: [email protected]
- Diocesan listing shared with Ss. Philip and James, Meyersdale
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Joseph D. Tomko1940-1942
Established the parish's annual Labor Day picnic as a homecoming and fundraiser during the post-mine-closure era.
- Monsignor Samuel J. Tomaselli1980-1987
Pastor of St. Peter's, Somerset; took on St. Gregory MacDonaldton as a third mission at Bishop Hogan's request in 1980; responsibility for St. Gregory was transferred to the pastor of Ss. Philip and James, Meyersdale, in 1987.
- Very Rev. James M. Dugan, VFprior to 2022
Pastor of Ss. Philip and James, Meyersdale, and St. Gregory, MacDonaldton; also Dean of the Southern Deanery of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown.
- Rev. Stephen Shin, OFM Cap.approximately 2022-2025
Capuchin friar (St. Augustine Province); resided at Our Lady of the Mountains Parish, Cumberland, MD, while pastoring Ss. Philip & James and St. Gregory; reassigned outside the diocese effective October 1, 2025.
- Rev. Michael A. Wolfe2025-present
Appointed by Bishop Mark effective October 1, 2025 as Pastor of Saints Philip and James (Meyersdale), Saint Gregory (MacDonaldton), Saint Mary (Pocahontas), and Saint Michael (West Salisbury).