About St. John Neumann of Regina Coeli Parish · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
St. John Neumann Church is one of three worship sites of Regina Coeli Parish, a Roman Catholic community in the Diocese of Pittsburgh serving the Bellevue, Emsworth, and Franklin Park areas of Pennsylvania's North Hills. The parish was established on July 2, 1979 as the 321st parish in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, with its church building at 2230 Rochester Road dedicated by Bishop Vincent Leonard in May 1982. Since July 1, 2022 it has been grouped with the Church of the Assumption (Bellevue) and Sacred Heart (Emsworth) to form Regina Coeli Parish under the Diocese of Pittsburgh's 'On Mission for The Church Alive!' initiative, with all three church buildings remaining open and active.
- Established
- 1979
- Patron
- St. John Neumann (C.Ss.R.) — first American Redemptorist, ordained in 1836 in New York, missionary on the Niagara frontier, builder of churches and schools, known for his love of children, declared patron of the parish for which the parish is named.
- Rector
- Fr. Timothy Deely (pastor of Regina Coeli Parish, installed August 14, 2022)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh
Why belong here
Regina Coeli Parish welcomes Catholics from across the North Hills of Pittsburgh to worship at any of its three churches (Assumption in Bellevue, Sacred Heart in Emsworth, or St. John Neumann in Franklin Park/Pittsburgh). The parish offers daily Mass at all three sites, a robust Faith Formation program built around the Montessori-based Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (Levels I–III), a Youth Ministry serving grades 6–12, First Friday and First Saturday devotions, all-night Eucharistic Adoration, Vacation Bible School, and ministries serving young people and families — including a special-needs-friendly Mass. As pastor Fr. Deely's team says, the parish aims to be 'a spiritual home for years to come' where parishioners grow in relationship with God as good stewards of their time, talent, and treasure.
Mass times at St. John Neumann of Regina Coeli Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 9:30 AM – 10:00 AM
- Monday: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Wednesday: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (per Discover Mass listing for the parish)
- First Saturday: 9:00 AM (before the 10:00 AM First Saturday Mass at Assumption)
- By appointment
Adoration times
- All Night Adoration on First Fridays, beginning at 8:00 PM Friday evening and concluding with Benediction at 9:45 AM and Mass at 10:00 AM Saturday morning (at the Church of the Assumption)
- Monday Adoration at St. John Neumann: 9:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Parish History — St. John Neumann
Saint John Neumann Parish was founded on July 2, 1979 as the 321st parish in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Fr. William R. Bovard, its founding pastor, welcomed 356 families into the new community serving Franklin Park and surrounding North Hills neighborhoods. Ground was broken for the church on September 13, 1981, and Bishop Vincent Leonard formally dedicated St. John Neumann Church in May 1982. In 2006 the parish added a Parish Hall — later named 'Bovard Hall' in honor of its founding pastor — along with a specially designed Atrium for the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program.
- Founded July 2, 1979 — 321st parish in the Diocese of Pittsburgh
- Founding pastor: Fr. William R. Bovard
- Groundbreaking: September 13, 1981 (2230 Rochester Road)
- Dedicated by Bishop Vincent Leonard in May 1982
- Bovard Hall (2006 Parish Hall addition) named for founding pastor
From On Mission to Regina Coeli Parish
On April 28, 2018, Bishop David Zubik announced that St. John Neumann Parish would be grouped with the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Bellevue) and Sacred Heart (Emsworth) as part of the diocesan 'On Mission for The Church Alive!' initiative — a consultative strategic planning response to declining Mass attendance and fewer priests. Following years of consultation, on July 1, 2022 the three parishes formally merged into Regina Coeli Parish, with all three church buildings remaining open for worship. Fr. Timothy Deely was installed as pastor on August 14, 2022.
- April 28, 2018 — grouping announced by Bishop David Zubik
- July 1, 2022 — parishes merged into Regina Coeli Parish
- August 14, 2022 — Fr. Timothy Deely installed as pastor
- Companion churches: Assumption (Bellevue, founded 1903) and Sacred Heart (Emsworth, founded 1891)
Our Patron — St. John Neumann, C.Ss.R.
St. John John Neumann (1811–1860), the parish's patron, was a Bohemian-born priest who, after his ordination in 1836 by the Bishop of New York, served tirelessly on the Niagara frontier for four winters. In 1840 he became the first American to join the Redemptorist order of priests. Known for building churches, establishing schools, and a special love for children, he is a canonized saint whose memorial falls on January 5 in the Roman Catholic calendar. Our Lady of Perpetual Help is the patron of his Redemptorist order, and Regina Coeli Parish entrusts its families to her intercession under the title 'Regina Coeli' — Queen of Heaven.
- Ordained 1836 by the Bishop of New York
- First American Redemptorist (1840)
- Builder of churches, founder of schools, beloved of children
- Redemptorist order's patron: Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Clergy & Staff
Regina Coeli Parish is served by a clergy team led by Pastor Fr. Timothy Deely, along with Fr. Joe Sioli and Deacons Rick Caruso and Bill Palamara. The parish also maintains an actively staffed lay-leadership team: a Director of Pastoral Care and Lay Ministry (James Marnell), a Director of Religious Education, a Director of Youth Ministry (open as of October 2024), and the CGS coordinator Kelly Reed.
- Fr. Timothy Deely — Pastor (installed August 14, 2022)
- Fr. Joe Sioli — parochial clergy
- Deacon Rick Caruso
- Deacon Bill Palamara
- Fr. William R. Bovard — founding pastor (1979)
- James Marnell — Director of Pastoral Care and Lay Ministry
- Kelly Reed — Catechesis of the Good Shepherd coordinator ([email protected])
Faith Formation — Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
The flagship faith-formation program at Regina Coeli is the Montessori-based Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS), serving children ages 3 through grade 6 across three Atrium levels. Level I (ages 3–6) introduces the Good Shepherd and the Mass; Level II (ages 6–9) deepens Scripture, morality parables, and First Communion preparation; Level III (ages 9–12) traces the history of salvation and calls the older child into a life-commitment with God. CGS meets once per week in the parish's purpose-built atrium (added in 2006) on a variety of days. The program is coordinated by Kelly Reed ([email protected]).
- Level I — 3 to 6 year olds (Good Shepherd, Mass gestures)
- Level II — 6 to 9 year olds (Scripture, morality, First Communion prep)
- Level III — 9 to 12 year olds (history of salvation)
- Coordinator: Kelly Reed, [email protected], (412) 367-5885
- Sessions scheduled based on registration and catechist availability
Youth Ministry & Confirmation
Regina Coeli Parish maintains an active youth ministry serving students in grades 6 through 12 with weekly middle-school and high-school gatherings, monthly activities, catechesis, and Confirmation preparation. The parish celebrated Confirmation on Saturday, May 2nd at 10:00 AM at the Church of the Assumption. In October 2024 the diocese posted a job opening for a full-time (35 hr/week) Director of Youth Ministry to further develop this ministry across the three-church parish.
- Weekly MS and HS gatherings + monthly activities
- Confirmation preparation and retreat-based formation
- Coordinator of Youth Ministry (full-time position posted October 2024)
- Diocesan liaison through Office of Youth and Young Adult Engagement
Vacation Bible School & Children's Programs
Each summer Regina Coeli offers Vacation Bible School at the Church of the Assumption. In 2026 the program runs June 8–12, 9:30 AM–12:00 PM for children entering K–grade 4 and 9:30 AM–3:00 PM for grades 5–8; high-school youth (9th grade and up) are invited to volunteer. The parish also implements the Empowering God's Children® child-safety program as part of its formation offerings.
- VBS June 8–12, 2026 at Assumption
- K–Grade 4: half-day 9:30 AM–12:00 PM
- Grades 5–8: full-day 9:30 AM–3:00 PM
- Youth 9th grade+ may volunteer
- Empowering God's Children® program in use
Sacramental & Devotional Life
Beyond Sunday Mass, Regina Coeli observes a rich devotional calendar rooted in traditional Catholic practices: a First Friday Candlelight Mass at 7:00 PM at Assumption in honor of the Sacred Heart, with all-night Adoration until Saturday morning; the First Saturday devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Confessions at 9:00 AM, Rosary at 9:30 AM, Mass at 10:00 AM at Assumption); the Divine Mercy Novena beginning Good Friday and running through Divine Mercy Sunday; and the parish-wide First Nine Fridays Devotion.
- First Friday Candlelight Mass — 7:00 PM at Assumption
- First Saturday Mass with Confessions and Rosary — Assumption
- All-Night Adoration on First Fridays
- Divine Mercy Novena — Good Friday through Divine Mercy Sunday
- First Nine Fridays Devotion (Sacred Heart)
Contact, Address & Directions
St. John Neumann Church is at 2230 Rochester Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15237 (in the Franklin Park / North Hills area), phone (412) 366-2020, with general inquiries to [email protected]. The parish administrative office for Regina Coeli Parish is at 45 N. Sprague Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15202 (Bellevue). Driving directions: PA-279 North to Exit 15, right onto Camp Horne Road, left onto Rochester Road to the church.
- St. John Neumann Church: 2230 Rochester Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15237
- Phone: (412) 366-2020
- Email: [email protected]
- Parish office (Regina Coeli): 45 N. Sprague Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15202
- From PA-279 N: Exit 15 → Camp Horne Rd → Rochester Rd
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. William R. Bovard1979 – founding
Founding pastor of St. John Neumann Parish; 356 families at founding; Bovard Hall (added 2006) later named in his honor.