About St. Isidore the Farmer Parish - Our Lady of Lourdes Church · Burgettstown, Pennsylvania
St. Isidore the Farmer Parish is a merged Roman Catholic community in the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh that brings together six historic congregations across western Pennsylvania's Washington and Allegheny County hills: St. Alphonsus (McDonald), Our Lady of Lourdes (Burgettstown), St. Columbkille (Imperial), St. Michael (Avella), St. Patrick (North Fayette Township / Oakdale), and St. Ann (Bulger). Formally established on July 1, 2020, as part of Bishop David Zubik's "On Mission for The Church Alive!" initiative, the parish serves roughly 2,700 families and 6,500 parishioners across all six worship sites, with the administrative center in Imperial. The parish is currently shepherded by Pastor Rev. Harry R. Bielewicz, MDiv, and Parochial Vicar Rev. John Ferguson, and is engaged in a multi-year Next Generation Parish experience with the Catholic Leadership Institute. Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Burgettstown — the original 1916 parish — remains one of the six open church buildings, hosting a 9:00 a.m. Sunday Mass and weekday Masses streamed live on Facebook and YouTube.
- Established
- 1916
- Patron
- Our Lady of Lourdes
- Rector
- Rev. Harry R. Bielewicz, MDiv
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh
Why belong here
St. Isidore the Farmer Parish is a six-church Catholic family rooted in more than a century of faith in the Burgettstown, McDonald, Imperial, Avella, Oakdale, and Bulger communities, with every historic worship building still open for Mass and the sacraments. Members can worship close to home at one of six sites — including a 9:00 a.m. Sunday Mass and weekday Masses livestreamed from Our Lady of Lourdes in Burgettstown — while being served by a single pastoral team and supported by more than 15 active ministries spanning liturgical service, faith formation, evangelization, and outreach. The parish is currently investing in a four-year Next Generation Parish experience with the Catholic Leadership Institute, focused on discipleship, vibrant Sunday worship, shared leadership, and a missionary impulse — making it an especially inviting moment for new families and returning Catholics to get involved.
Mass times at St. Isidore the Farmer Parish - Our Lady of Lourdes Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Friday 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM at Our Lady of Lourdes, Burgettstown
- Saturday 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM at St. Columbkille, Imperial
- Saturday 3:15 PM – 3:45 PM at St. Alphonsus, McDonald
- Confessions are also available by appointment
About St. Isidore the Farmer Parish
St. Isidore the Farmer Parish is a six-church merged Roman Catholic community in the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, formed on July 1, 2020, under Bishop David Zubik's "On Mission for The Church Alive!" strategic planning process. It unites the historic parishes of St. Alphonsus (McDonald), Our Lady of Lourdes (Burgettstown), St. Columbkille (Imperial), St. Michael (Avella), St. Patrick (North Fayette / Oakdale), and St. Ann (Bulger), and serves roughly 2,700 families and 6,500 parishioners. The administrative center is at 103 Church Road, Imperial, PA 15126, and Pastor Rev. Harry R. Bielewicz, MDiv and Parochial Vicar Rev. John Ferguson lead the clergy team. The parish has launched a four-year Next Generation Parish experience with the Catholic Leadership Institute to deepen discipleship, share leadership, strengthen its Sunday worship, and embrace a missionary impulse.
- Administrative Center: 103 Church Road, Imperial, PA 15126
- Parish phone: 724-695-7325
- Parish email: [email protected]
- Six worship sites across Washington and Allegheny Counties
Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Burgettstown
Our Lady of Lourdes is the Burgettstown worship site of St. Isidore the Farmer Parish, located at 1112 Main Street, Burgettstown, PA 15021. It hosts the parish's 9:00 a.m. Sunday Mass (livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube) and 8:00 a.m. weekday Masses on Tuesday and Wednesday (also livestreamed), and offers Friday confessions from 4:00 to 4:30 p.m. It is the direct descendant of the parish founded in 1916, and the historic 1918 church/school building adjacent to the present church now serves as the Religious Education Center.
- Sunday Mass: 9:00 AM (with live stream)
- Tuesday Mass: 8:00 AM (with live stream)
- Wednesday Mass: 8:00 AM (with live stream)
- Friday Confessions: 4:00–4:30 PM
History of Our Lady of Lourdes (1915–2020)
Our Lady of Lourdes traces its origin to 1915, when Catholic families in Burgettstown petitioned the Bishop of Pittsburgh for a parish of their own. An assistant from St. Alphonsus traveled weekly to celebrate Mass in an upper room at Valek's Hall in Erie Mine, in schoolrooms, and in Miner's Hall until Bishop John Francis Regis Canevin formally established the parish in May 1916. Rev. William J. McCashin was the first permanent pastor, and the parish grew to include a 1918 basement church, a 1923 expansion, a 1942 Catholic elementary school staffed by the Sisters of Mercy, and the present church dedicated February 11, 1957. Eight pastors served the parish across its first century, which it celebrated in 2016, and the parish was merged into St. Isidore the Farmer Parish on July 1, 2020.
- 1915 – Catholic families petition the Bishop of Pittsburgh
- May 1916 – Parish formally established; Rev. William J. McCashin first pastor
- December 8, 1918 – Basement church dedicated
- 1923 – Two additional floors added; school opens 1942 with Sisters of Mercy
- 1955–1957 – Current church built; dedicated February 11, 1957
- 1971 – School transitions to lay teachers, first in the area
- 2016 – 100th anniversary celebrated with community dinner
- July 1, 2020 – Merged into St. Isidore the Farmer Parish
Clergy and Pastoral Leadership
The parish is served by Pastor Rev. Harry R. Bielewicz, MDiv, and Parochial Vicar Rev. John Ferguson, with contact through the parish administrative center in Imperial. Both clergy are listed on the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh parish page and can be reached at their diocesan email addresses. Father Bielewicz has publicly expressed gratitude for the parish's Next Generation Parish journey and invites parishioners to prayerfully consider serving on one of its committees.
- Rev. Harry R. Bielewicz, MDiv — Pastor ([email protected])
- Rev. John Ferguson — Parochial Vicar ([email protected])
Livestream and Online Worship
For parishioners unable to attend in person, the parish livestreams Mass on its Facebook page at 9:00 AM on Sundays and 8:00 AM Monday through Thursday, with the same schedule mirrored on its YouTube channel. Recorded Masses are also archived on both platforms for on-demand viewing. The livestreamed Masses rotate among the parish's churches, with Our Lady of Lourdes featured on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Sundays.
- Facebook livestream: Sundays 9:00 AM; Monday–Thursday 8:00 AM
- YouTube livestream: Sundays 9:00 AM; Monday–Thursday 8:00 AM
- On-demand recorded Masses available on Facebook and YouTube
Ministries and Parish Life
St. Isidore the Farmer Parish supports more than 15 ministries serving its 2,700 families and 6,500 parishioners, including a dedicated Liturgical Ministries program that supports the Mass and celebration of the sacraments across all six churches, an Evangelization Committee focused on spreading the Gospel, and a Religious Education program housed in the historic 1918 building at Our Lady of Lourdes in Burgettstown. The parish is also undertaking a four-year Next Generation Parish initiative with the Catholic Leadership Institute to cultivate a deeper missionary spirit and welcome young people, families, the sick, the homebound, the hungry, and brothers and sisters of other faith traditions.
- Liturgical Ministries — Mass and Sacramental support across six churches
- Religious Education — at the former 1918 church/school in Burgettstown
- Evangelization Committee
- Next Generation Parish — 4-year initiative with the Catholic Leadership Institute
Next Generation Parish Initiative
The parish is partnering with the Catholic Leadership Institute over a four-year experience designed to assess strengths and opportunities, plan for the future, and cultivate a deeper missionary spirit. The initiative focuses on four pillars: fostering spiritual maturity through discipleship, sharing leadership for organizational health, offering a vibrant Sunday experience through hymns, homilies, and hospitality, and embracing a missionary impulse to bring others to Jesus. The intention is placed under the intercession of Saint Isidore the Farmer, and parishioners are invited to pray weekly for its success and to consider serving on one of the project's committees.
- Four-year partnership with the Catholic Leadership Institute
- Four pillars: spiritual maturity, shared leadership, vibrant Sunday experience, missionary impulse
- Intention placed under the intercession of Saint Isidore the Farmer
- Open invitation for parishioners to serve on committees
Worship Sites Across the Parish
All six historic church buildings remain open and active within the merged parish, allowing parishioners to worship close to home in their familiar setting while sharing one clergy team and parish administration. The sites span a wide area of western Pennsylvania's Washington and Allegheny County hill country, from McDonald and Burgettstown to Imperial, Avella, Oakdale, and Bulger.
- St. Alphonsus Church — 219 West Lincoln Avenue, McDonald, PA 15057
- Our Lady of Lourdes Church — 1112 Main Street, Burgettstown, PA 15021
- St. Columbkille Church — 103 Church Road, Imperial, PA 15126 (parish administrative center)
- St. Michael Church — 97 Highland Avenue, Avella, PA 15312
- St. Patrick Church — 7322 Noblestown Road, Oakdale, PA 15071
- St. Ann Church — 967 Grant Street, Bulger, PA 15019
Contact and Visiting
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office at the Imperial administrative center (103 Church Road, Imperial, PA 15126) by phone at 724-695-7325 or by email at [email protected]. Clergy can be reached directly at their diocesan addresses ([email protected] for the Pastor, [email protected] for the Parochial Vicar). For those unable to attend Mass in person, livestreams are available on the parish Facebook page and YouTube channel Sundays at 9:00 AM and Monday–Thursday at 8:00 AM.
- Parish office: 103 Church Road, Imperial, PA 15126
- Phone: 724-695-7325
- Email: [email protected]
- Pastor: [email protected]
- Parochial Vicar: [email protected]
- Livestream: Facebook and YouTube, Sundays 9:00 AM and Mon–Thu 8:00 AM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. William J. McCashin1916–?
Founding pastor; traveled by horse and buggy to outlying mining communities to celebrate Mass.
- Rev. Francis ___
Listed among the eight pastors who served the parish across its first century (surname incomplete in source).
- Rev. Edward Trzec[iak]
Pastor in the parish's first century.
- Rev. Richard Tuskey
Pastor in the parish's first century.
- Rev. Robert [Bos]cci
Pastor in the parish's first century (surname partially preserved).
- Rev. Rudolph ___
Pastor in the parish's first century (first name only recorded).
- Rev. George Moncek
Pastor at the time of the parish's 100th anniversary celebration in 2016.