About St. John Cantius Church (Korean Community) · Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania
St. John Cantius Church in Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania is one of six church buildings that today make up Christ the King Parish in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Founded in 1906 as a Polish national parish, it served generations of Polish immigrants in the Allegheny River valley. After the original Polish congregation declined, the building became home in 2008 to the Korean Catholic Community (KCCP), which had been worshiping together since 1989. Today the Korean-language Sunday Mass is celebrated at 11:00 a.m. at 623 High Street (6th and High Streets) in Sharpsburg, served by a Korean chaplain under the umbrella of Christ the King Parish. A Thursday Korean Mass and a Korean school and youth program also operate from the parish's former school building.
- Established
- 1906
- Patron
- St. John Cantius
- Rector
- Rev. Dale E. DeNinno, MDiv (Pastor of Christ the King Parish); Rev. Jinjo Kim (Chaplain to the Korean Catholic Community)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Pittsburgh
Why belong here
St. John Cantius is the spiritual home of the Korean Catholic Community of Pittsburgh, offering Korean-language Mass every Sunday at 11:00 a.m. and a Thursday morning Korean Mass in the education-center chapel. The community runs a Korean school (한글 학교) for faith and language formation, a Sunday-morning shuttle that picks up parishioners in Oakland, Shadyside, and Squirrel Hill, and parish social activities that have filled the downstairs hall since 2008. As part of Christ the King Parish, members also have access to Mass, confession, and programs at Saint Joseph, Saint Scholastica, Saint Mary, Saint Edward, and Madonna of Jerusalem churches. If you are a Korean Catholic in the Pittsburgh area — or simply looking for a warm, multilingual Catholic community in Sharpsburg — you will find a home here.
Mass times at St. John Cantius Church (Korean Community)
Weekly Mass schedule
About St. John Cantius Church
St. John Cantius Church is one of six church buildings that together form Christ the King Parish in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. It sits at 6th and High Streets in the borough of Sharpsburg, along the Allegheny River just northeast of Pittsburgh. The building's life has been shaped by successive waves of Catholic immigrants: first Polish families in 1906, and since 2008, the Korean Catholic Community of Pittsburgh (KCCP). Today the building is best known as the home of the Korean Catholic Community's Korean-language Sunday liturgy.
History
St. John Cantius Parish traces its origins to the Polish families who settled in Sharpsburg in the late nineteenth century. They first worshipped at St. Stanislaus Kostka in the Strip District (organized 1875) and later at Holy Family in Lawrenceville (1902), before Bishop Regis Canevin established their own parish on October 14, 1906 with Father Michael Kozłowski as founding pastor. The combined church and school at 6th and High Streets was dedicated on January 26, 1908. After the catastrophic fire of June 15, 1965, Father John Styka led a five-year effort to rebuild; the present church was dedicated February 28, 1971. Following pastoral succession through Frs. Strzelinski, Fischer, and Almade, the parish was merged into Christ the King Parish and in 2008 welcomed the Korean Catholic Community.
- Founded October 14, 1906 by Bishop Regis Canevin
- First pastor: Fr. Michael Kozłowski (1906–1908)
- Original church-school building dedicated January 26, 1908
- 1965 fire destroyed church and damaged school
- Present church dedicated February 28, 1971
- Merged into Christ the King Parish
- Korean Catholic Community moved in 2008
The Polish Years (1906–2008)
For more than a century St. John Cantius served as a Polish national parish. The Felician Sisters ran the school from 1908; the parish built a new convent in 1952; and after the 1965 fire Father Styka and the parishioners rallied to rebuild both school (reopened March 1966) and church (dedicated 1971). St. Michael's Young Men's Society, founded by Father Kozłowski in 1907, helped new immigrants gain citizenship and supported parish life.
- St. Michael's Young Men's Society (founded 1907)
- Felician Sisters staffed the school from 1908
- New convent built 1952
- 1965 fire followed by five-year rebuilding effort
The Korean Catholic Community (2008–present)
The Korean Catholic Community of Pittsburgh (KCCP) was organized in 1989 and originally worshipped at St. Pamphillus Parish in Beaver before moving to St. John Cantius in 2008. The chaplain moved into the rectory and parishioners began using the downstairs social hall for religious education and social events. The community runs a Korean school, publishes its own bulletins, and operates a Sunday-morning shuttle for members living in Oakland, Shadyside, and Squirrel Hill.
- KCCP organized 1989 at St. Pamphillus, Beaver
- Moved to St. John Cantius in 2008
- Korean-language Mass every Sunday at 11:00 a.m.
- Korean school (한글 학교) for faith and language formation
- Sunday shuttle serving South Side, Oakland, Shadyside, East Liberty
Clergy and Pastoral Team
St. John Cantius is served as part of Christ the King Parish. The Korean Catholic Community is cared for by a dedicated chaplain, while the multi-site parish is led by a pastor and senior parochial vicar.
- Rev. Dale E. DeNinno, MDiv — Pastor, Christ the King Parish
- Rev. William P. Siple, STL — Senior Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Jinjo Kim — Chaplain to the Korean Catholic Community
- Deacon Robert F. Wertz, Jr.
Sacraments and Devotions
Confession, adoration, and other devotional schedules are coordinated across Christ the King Parish's six church buildings; the parish website and bulletin carry the most current weekly schedule.
Contact
The parish administrative center can be reached at 412-963-8885 or [email protected]. Korean Catholic Community members with questions about the shuttle or parish life may write to [email protected].
- Phone: 412-963-8885
- Email: [email protected]
- KCCP email: [email protected]
- Website: christthekingpgh.org/st-john-cantius-church
- Korean-language site: tkccp.net
- Facebook: facebook.com/KCCPittsburgh
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Michael Kozłowski1906–1908
Founding pastor appointed by Bishop Regis Canevin on October 14, 1906; oversaw construction and 1908 dedication of the combined church-school.
- Fr. John Czaplinski1908–1941
Long-tenured second pastor.
- Fr. Ted Wisniewski1941–1942
Served as administrator of the parish.
- Fr. John Styka1942–1980
Built the 1952 convent; led the parish through the devastating 1965 fire and the five-year effort to build the present church, dedicated 1971.
- Fr. Ernest Strzelinski1980–1996
- Fr. Andrew Fischer1996–2007
- Fr. Frank D. Almade2007–2009
Last resident pastor before St. John Cantius joined Christ the King Parish.
- Rev. Jinjo Kim2008–present (Chaplain)
Chaplain to the Korean Catholic Community resident at the rectory since 2008.