About St. Isidore the Farmer Parish - St. Alphonsus Church · Mc Donald, Pennsylvania
St. Isidore the Farmer Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, formed on July 1, 2020, through the merger of six historic parishes — St. Alphonsus (McDonald), Our Lady of Lourdes (Burgettstown), St. Columbkille (Imperial), St. Michael (Avella), St. Patrick (North Fayette/Oakdale), and St. Ann (Bulger) — under Bishop David Zubik's 'On Mission for The Church Alive!' initiative. The parish serves roughly 2,700 families and 6,500 parishioners across western Allegheny and Washington counties, with six church buildings still open and an Administrative Center at 103 Church Road, Imperial. St. Alphonsus Church in McDonald is the original Gothic worship site where this particular parish legacy began, and the parish is currently shepherded by Pastor Rev. Harry R. Bielewicz, MDiv (a Saint Vincent Seminary alumnus, class of 1986) and Parochial Vicar Rev. John Ferguson.
- Established
- 1893 (St. Alphonsus Church dedicated May 14, 1893; current church re-dedicated June 16, 1901; St. Isidore the Farmer Parish formally established July 1, 2020)
- Patron
- St. Alphonsus (St. Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church) for the McDonald worship site; St. Isidore the Farmer for the merged parish
- Rector
- Rev. Harry R. Bielewicz, MDiv
- Diocese
- Diocese of Pittsburgh
Why belong here
St. Isidore the Farmer Parish welcomes more than 6,500 parishioners across western Allegheny and Washington counties into a vibrant, multi-site Catholic community that offers daily and weekend Mass at six historic church buildings, live-streamed liturgies on Facebook and YouTube, a four-year Next Generation Parish formation process with the Catholic Leadership Institute, Faith Formation for grades 1–8 at multiple sites, and a robust network of more than 15 ministries — from the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Eucharistic Minister, Lector, Greeter/Usher, and Sacristan programs to a Men's Club and Altar Society. Rooted in the legacy of parishes like St. Alphonsus in McDonald and tied into South Regional Catholic Elementary Schools, the parish serves families with outreach to the sick, homebound, and hungry, while upholding a missionary impulse to bring others to Jesus.
Mass times at St. Isidore the Farmer Parish - St. Alphonsus Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Friday: 4:00 PM to 4:30 PM at Our Lady of Lourdes
- Saturday: 12:00 PM to 12:30 PM at St. Columbkille
- Saturday: 3:15 PM to 3:45 PM at St. Alphonsus (McDonald)
- Confessions are also available by appointment
St. Isidore the Farmer Parish
St. Isidore the Farmer Parish is a multi-site Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, formally established on July 1, 2020. It is the fruit of Bishop David Zubik's 'On Mission for The Church Alive!' initiative, which began in April 2015 in response to declining Mass attendance and a decreasing pool of priests. Six historic parishes were grouped together and ultimately merged into one: St. Alphonsus (McDonald), Our Lady of Lourdes (Burgettstown), St. Columbkille (Imperial), St. Michael (Avella), St. Patrick (North Fayette/Oakdale), and St. Ann (Bulger). All six worship sites remain open, with the Administrative Center at 103 Church Road, Imperial. The parish serves roughly 2,700 families / 6,500 parishioners across western Allegheny and Washington counties.
- Established July 1, 2020
- Diocese of Pittsburgh
- Six worship sites
- 2,700 families / 6,500 parishioners
- Administrative Center: 103 Church Road, Imperial, PA 15126
- Phone: 724-695-7325
- Email: [email protected]
St. Alphonsus Church (McDonald)
St. Alphonsus Church, located at 219 W. Lincoln Avenue in McDonald, PA 15057, is the historic heart of this section of the parish. Built in 1900–1901 to replace the original 1893 Gothic church that burned down, it anchors the local Catholic community in the Borough of McDonald on the border of Allegheny and Washington counties. Today, St. Alphonsus hosts the Saturday Vigil Mass at 4:00 PM and a Friday morning Mass at 8:00 AM, with confessions heard Saturday 3:15–3:45 PM.
- Address: 219 W. Lincoln Ave., McDonald, PA 15057
- Architectural style: Gothic (original 1893 building)
- Current building dedicated June 16, 1901
- Saturday Vigil Mass: 4:00 PM (English)
- Friday Mass: 8:00 AM (English)
- Confessions: Saturday 3:15–3:45 PM and by appointment
St. Alphonsus History
St. Alphonsus began as a mission of St. Patrick Parish in Noblestown. Fr. Dennis Gallagher organized the Catholics in McDonald; on February 2, 1892, Bishop R. Phelan approved the construction of a new church, and architect J. W. Campbell designed a Gothic, two-story building seating 550. The corner-stone was laid July 31, 1892 before roughly 5,000 people, and the church was dedicated on May 14, 1893 — complete with statuary and Stations of the Cross from Munich, German stained-glass windows donated by parish families, and a reed pipe organ. The original church burned in 1900 (the fire was possibly caused by an overheated gas flue), and the current church at West Lincoln Avenue and Third Street was begun the next month, dedicated on June 16, 1901. Fr. Joseph Burgoon became the first resident pastor in 1903 and served for an extraordinary 48 years until his death in August 1951.
- First rector: Fr. Robert Kiernan (also pastor of St. Patrick's, Noblestown)
- 1892 cornerstone laid; 1893 dedication; 1900 fire; 1901 re-dedication
- First resident pastor: Fr. Joseph Burgoon (1903–August 1951, 48 years)
- Founded Sts. Peter and Paul Mission, Cherry Valley, c. 1912
- St. Vincent de Paul Society, Men's Club, Altar Society formed in 20th century
- Origin of McDonald Meals on Wheels: Sister of Mercy Delellis Laboon (second CCD coordinator)
Clergy Team
St. Isidore the Farmer Parish is led by a pastor and parochial vicar serving all six worship sites, supported by an active liturgy and formation staff. The pastor is supported by a parochial vicar, and additional clergy (such as Fr. David) assist with parish ministries including sacristan coordination.
- Rev. Harry R. Bielewicz, MDiv — Pastor
- Rev. John Ferguson — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. David (Poecking) — assists with sacristan ministry contact
Liturgical Ministries
Liturgical ministries are the backbone of parish worship at St. Isidore the Farmer, with opportunities for practicing Catholics aged 18 and older in good standing to serve at Mass and to bring Holy Communion to the sick.
- Eucharistic Minister (Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion) — contact Fr. Harry or Fr. John
- Lector — contact Fr. Harry, Fr. John, or John Staub
- Greeter / Usher — contact the parish office
- Sacristan — contact Fr. David
- Communion to the Sick — special track for current Eucharistic Ministers
Faith Formation (Grades 1–8)
Faith Formation for the 2026–27 school year is offered in four formats, making Catholic religious education accessible across the parish's widely scattered geography. The Faith Formation Office can be reached at 724-695-2146.
- Sunday mornings 9:15–10:45 AM — St. Alphonsus (McDonald)
- Sunday mornings 9:15–10:45 AM — St. Michael (Avella)
- Monday evenings 6:00–7:30 PM — St. Columbkille (Imperial)
- Homeschool Option — parent meeting held Monday, August 31
- Contact: Jen Greenawald, Faith Formation Office — 724-695-2146
Next Generation Parish
St. Isidore the Farmer Parish has entered a four-year partnership with the Catholic Leadership Institute to grow into a Next Generation Parish. The process fosters spiritual maturity, shared leadership, a vibrant Sunday experience, and a missionary impulse to reach the young, families, the sick, the homebound, and the hungry, while building ecumenical ties with other faith traditions. The parish has placed this intention under the intercession of St. Isidore the Farmer.
- Partnered with Catholic Leadership Institute
- Four-year experience
- Four pillars: Spiritual Maturity, Shared Leadership, Vibrant Sunday Experience, Missionary Impulse
- Intention placed under the intercession of St. Isidore the Farmer
Community Life & Outreach
St. Isidore the Farmer serves about 6,500 parishioners with a network of more than 15 ministries, including the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Men's Club, and Altar Society carried forward from St. Alphonsus's 20th-century legacy. Pastoral leadership has voiced a hope 'to reach out to our young people, to reach out to our families, to reach out to the sick, homebound and hungry,' and 'to work more closely with our brothers and sisters from other faith traditions.'
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Men's Club
- Altar Society
- Communion to the Sick
Getting Involved
Parishioners are invited to take part in liturgical and formational ministries, prayer and devotional life, and the upcoming Next Generation Parish committees that will animate the parish over the next four years. A Liturgical Ministers Availability Form is published online, and the parish encourages anyone discerning a call to contact Fr. Harry, Fr. John, John Staub (lector coordinator), or Fr. David (sacristans).
- Liturgical Ministers Availability Form on stisidorethefarmer.org
- Contact Pastor: [email protected]
- Parish office phone: 724-695-7325
Contact
The parish Administrative Center is the main point of contact for sacramental needs, registration, and general inquiries.
- St. Alphonsus Church: 219 W. Lincoln Ave., McDonald, PA 15057
- Administrative Center: 103 Church Road, Imperial, PA 15126
- Phone: 724-695-7325
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.stisidorethefarmer.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Dennis Gallagherlate 1880s–1890s
Pastor of St. Patrick's, Noblestown; organized the McDonald Catholic community that became St. Alphonsus mission.
- Fr. Robert Kiernan1893 (dedication)
First rector of St. Alphonsus; also pastor of St. Patrick's (Noblestown), which shared oversight of the mission.
- Fr. Joseph Burgoon1903 – August 1951
First resident pastor of St. Alphonsus (since 1903); served an extraordinary 48 years until his death in August 1951. Organized the first CCD/Sunday Schools in Bulger and Cherry Valley; oversaw Sts. Peter and Paul Mission (Cherry Valley) from its founding c. 1912.
- Fr. Kenneth Sparks2008 onward
First pastor since the 1890s to serve both St. Patrick's and St. Alphonsus simultaneously, beginning a shared-pastor arrangement that continued into the 2020 merger.