About St. James The Greater Church · Apollo, Pennsylvania
St. James the Greater Roman Catholic Church is a small parish in Apollo, Pennsylvania, part of the Diocese of Greensburg and currently served by Benedictine Father Vincent Zidek, OSB, who also pastors the neighboring Our Lady, Queen of Peace Church in East Vandergrift. The parish's Catholic roots in Apollo go back to 1884, and today it gathers its faith community for a Saturday Vigil Mass and one Sunday Mass on Owens View Avenue. Its mission statement centers on Scripture, Eucharist, faith formation, evangelization, and stewardship as the ways the parish lives out its call to be a Christ-centered community in a diverse Christian region of western Pennsylvania.
- Established
- 1885
- Patron
- St. James the Greater (Apostle)
- Rector
- Father Vincent Zidek, OSB
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Greensburg
Why belong here
St. James the Greater offers a tight-knit Catholic community in Apollo where families can worship together at a Saturday Vigil or Sunday Mass and walk their children through the parish's Faith Formation (CCD) program for pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. The parish's own mission statement points to the Eucharist, Scripture, evangelization, and stewardship as the pillars of its life, and it currently shares a Benedictine pastor with nearby Our Lady, Queen of Peace, so the two parishes serve the broader Kiski Valley together. For Catholics looking for an established, tradition-rooted parish with a clear faith-formation program and active parish life, St. James is a welcoming place to call home.
Mass times at St. James The Greater Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays, 3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (at St. James the Greater Church)
About St. James the Greater
St. James the Greater is a Roman Catholic parish in Apollo, Pennsylvania, in the Diocese of Greensburg. The parish's own mission statement commits it to being 'a Christ-centered community' rooted in Scripture and the Eucharist, with Catholic education, Faith Formation, evangelization, and good stewardship as the ways it lives out the Gospel in the Kiski Valley.
- Patron: St. James the Greater (Apostle)
- Feast Day: July 25
- Diocese: Roman Catholic Diocese of Greensburg
- Pastor: Father Vincent Zidek, OSB (Benedictine)
Parish History
Catholic worship in Apollo began in 1884 in the Uncapher Building on North 4th Street, and the parish was formally established in 1885. Early Masses were held in the home of James Reynolds and then in the Warren Avenue skating rink. From 1890 to 1894 the parish was served by a resident Benedictine priest from Saint Vincent Archabbey; when population shifted to Vandergrift, Saint James became a mission church. Masses were celebrated in the 1892 Pegtown church (North Apollo), then in the Gianini Building (1926–1929), and in private homes until 1944, when Father James Hanlon was appointed resident pastor. The present church on Owens View Avenue was built in 1954 and the school in 1955; the school closed in 1998.
- 1884 — First Mass in the Uncapher Building, North 4th Street
- 1885 — Parish of Apollo formally established
- 1890–1894 — Resident Benedictine priest from Saint Vincent Archabbey
- 1892 — Small church built in Pegtown (North Apollo); still standing as a private home
- 1926–1929 — Masses in the Gianini Building
- 1929–1944 — Masses in private homes
- Sept. 21, 1944 — Father James Hanlon appointed resident pastor
- 1954 — Current church built on Owens View Avenue
- 1955 — Parish school opens
- 1998 — Parish school closes
Mission Statement
St. James Parish describes itself as a community 'aware of the unique nature of our Roman Catholic tradition and our call to be a Christ-centered community.' Its mission statement names four practical commitments: Catholic education, the Faith Formation Program, evangelization, and good stewardship, all aimed at 'mirroring Gospel values' by serving the larger community.
- Identity: Christ-centered Roman Catholic community
- Means: Scripture and the Eucharist
- Priorities: Catholic education, Faith Formation, evangelization, stewardship
Faith Formation (CCD)
The parish Faith Formation (CCD) program assists parents — who are recognized as the first educators of their children — in providing moral, spiritual, and intellectual formation for their kids. Classes meet on Sunday evenings and serve children from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. Families interested in enrolling a child or in volunteering as a catechist can contact the Director of Faith Formation directly.
- Ages served: Pre-K through 12th grade
- When: Sunday evenings
- Director of Faith Formation: Tina Komarinski, (724) 331-7953
- Regional Director of Faith Formation: Katie Tylinski
Parish Staff & Leadership
The parish is currently served by a Benedictine pastor who also pastors neighboring Our Lady, Queen of Peace in East Vandergrift. Day-to-day parish operations and faith formation are led by a small staff of lay administrators and catechetical leaders.
- Pastor — Father Vincent Zidek, OSB
- Business Manager — Dana Summerhill ([email protected])
- Parish staff — Crystal Leonarski
- Director of Faith Formation — Tina Komarinski, (724) 331-7953
- Regional Director of Faith Formation — Katie Tylinski
Parish Office
The parish office is located at the church on Owens View Avenue in Apollo, with weekday hours Monday through Friday. Visitors and parishioners can reach the office by phone or email during posted hours.
- Address: 109 Owens View Avenue, Apollo, PA 15613
- Phone: (724) 478-4958
- Email: [email protected]
- Monday–Thursday: 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and 1:00–4:00 p.m.
- Friday: 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and 1:00–3:00 p.m.
Parish Life & Annual Events
In addition to Mass and Faith Formation, St. James maintains an active calendar of parish fundraisers and community gatherings. Recurring events include a spring rummage sale, a Spring Garden Tea, and a 'Fleatique' (flea market / antiques sale), which serve both as fellowship opportunities and as fundraisers supporting parish life.
- Annual Rummage Sale (May)
- Spring Garden Tea
- Fleatique (flea market / antiques)
Linked Parish: Our Lady, Queen of Peace
St. James the Greater shares its pastor with Our Lady, Queen of Peace Church in East Vandergrift, and the two parishes cooperate in faith formation and pastoral life. Confessions at Our Lady, Queen of Peace are heard on Saturdays from 12:00 to 12:30 p.m., and its Sunday Mass is at 11:00 a.m., giving the broader Kiski Valley Catholic community a fuller weekly schedule across the two parishes.
- Shared pastor: Father Vincent Zidek, OSB
- Our Lady, Queen of Peace Confessions: Saturdays, 12:00–12:30 p.m.
- Our Lady, Queen of Peace Sunday Mass: 11:00 a.m.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Benedictine priest from Saint Vincent Archabbey (unnamed)1890–1894
Resident priest assigned to the parish from the Benedictine Community of Saint Vincent Archabbey.
- Father James Hanlon1944–
Appointed resident pastor of Saint James on September 21, 1944, restoring a resident priest to the community after decades as a mission.