About St. John XXIII Parish - St. Benedict the Abbot Church · McMurray, Pennsylvania
St. John XXIII Parish is a large Roman Catholic community in the South Hills of Pittsburgh, serving roughly 10,000 registered parishioners across three church sites: St. Benedict the Abbot in McMurray (Peters Township), St. Francis of Assisi in Finleyville, and St. Isaac Jogues in Jefferson Hills. Formed on July 1, 2020 under Bishop David Zubik's 'On Mission for The Church Alive!' initiative, the parish combines the former St. Benedict the Abbot (founded 1962), St. Francis of Assisi, and St. Isaac Jogues parishes into one combined faith community in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Weekend Masses are celebrated at both St. Benedict (the main campus) and St. Francis, with select liturgies livestreamed from St. Benedict, and the parish runs a robust slate of ministries — choirs, faith formation K-8, youth ministry, a preschool, an interfaith food pantry, and St. Vincent de Paul outreach.
- Established
- 1962 (St. Benedict the Abbot, predecessor parish); 2020 (St. John XXIII Parish, merger)
- Patron
- St. John XXIII (Pope John XXIII)
- Rector
- Rev. Robert M. Miller
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh
Why belong here
St. John XXIII offers the scale and resources of a large South Hills parish (about 10,000 members) while keeping worship at two active church sites — St. Benedict in McMurray and St. Francis in Finleyville — with Mass in English every day of the week and livestreamed weekend Masses. Newcomers are personally welcomed by the pastor and a Welcoming Ministry, can place children in Faith Formation (K-8) or St. John's Catholic Preschool, and can plug into adult faith growth through Catholic Scripture Study, Centering Prayer, Catholic Men's Fellowship, RCIA, and perpetual Eucharistic Adoration. Outreach runs deep locally through the St. John XXIII Interfaith Food Pantry, St. Vincent de Paul, Family Promise, Meals on Wheels, prayer blanket and respect-life ministries, and social groups for widows, widowers, the bereaved and MOMS — meaning there is a place for almost every interest or season of life.
Mass times at St. John XXIII Parish - St. Benedict the Abbot Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 6:30 PM at St. Francis of Assisi
- Saturday 11:00 AM at St. Benedict the Abbot
Adoration times
- Thursday at St. Benedict the Abbot: 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM (with extended / monthly all-day adoration on the Third Thursday of the month)
The Parish at a Glance
St. John XXIII Parish is a tri-site Catholic community that came into being on July 1, 2020, combining St. Benedict the Abbot (McMurray/Peters Township), St. Francis of Assisi (Finleyville), and St. Isaac Jogues (Jefferson Hills). It is one of roughly 57 parishes in the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh following Bishop David Zubik's 'On Mission for The Church Alive!' realignment and serves approximately 10,000 registered parishioners. Worship is in English at two active church campuses — St. Benedict (the main administrative site at 120 Abington Drive, McMurray) and St. Francis of Assisi (3609 Washington Avenue, Finleyville) — with a full daily Mass schedule, including vigil Masses on Saturday and three Sunday morning liturgies.
- Main offices at St. Benedict the Abbot, McMurray
- Two worship sites active: St. Benedict and St. Francis
- Diocese of Pittsburgh
- Pastoral patron: Pope St. John XXIII
History of St. John XXIII Parish
St. John XXIII Parish was canonically erected by Bishop David Zubik on July 1, 2020, merging three South Hills parishes into one under the Diocese of Pittsburgh's 'On Mission for The Church Alive!' initiative. Each of the predecessor parishes contributed a long local history: St. Benedict the Abbot was founded May 29, 1962; before its church was built, Sunday Mass was celebrated in the Peters Township Senior High School auditorium. Ground was broken for a temporary church on January 12, 1964, and the building was dedicated on August 1, 1965. The 1965 church served for more than 40 years before population growth in Peters Township led to the construction of a new church seating over 1,100, dedicated August 5, 2006; the 1965 building was then converted into the parish center and classrooms for religious education. In 2020, Bishop Zubik chose the name 'St. John XXIII' in honor of the pope who convened the Second Vatican Council, after parishioners submitted more than 30 name suggestions narrowed by the pastoral council to five finalists.
- St. Benedict the Abbot parish founded: May 29, 1962
- First Masses: Peters Township Senior High School auditorium
- Groundbreaking for original church: January 12, 1964
- Original church dedicated: August 1, 1965
- New St. Benedict the Abbot church dedicated: August 5, 2006 (1,100+ seats)
- Parish merger and birth of St. John XXIII: July 1, 2020
- Name selected by Bishop David Zubik from five finalists
Worship Sites
The single St. John XXIII Parish is anchored at St. Benedict the Abbot in McMurray while retaining St. Francis of Assisi, Finleyville, as an active worship and pastoral site. Both campuses maintain parish offices and host Masses, weddings, and funerals. St. Isaac Jogues in Jefferson Hills is part of the parish structure under the merged identity.
- St. Benedict the Abbot — 120 Abington Drive, McMurray, PA 15317 (main campus)
- St. Francis of Assisi — 3609 Washington Avenue, Finleyville, PA 15332
- St. Isaac Jogues — 1216 Collins Avenue, Jefferson Hills, PA 15025
Parish Staff and Clergy
St. John XXIII is led by a pastor with the assistance of a senior parochial vicar, a parish chaplain, and two deacons. The parish's lay staff includes parish secretaries, a business manager and facilities scheduler, a Safe Environment coordinator, a Social Minister (parish outreach), a Director of Mission Integration, a Bulletin Editor, three Music Ministers, two Directors of Faith Formation, an Administrative Assistant for Faith Formation, two Youth Ministers, and the Director of St. John's Catholic Preschool.
- Rev. Robert M. Miller — Pastor (ext. 290, [email protected])
- Rev. Pierre M. 'Fr. Bud' Falkenhan — Senior Parochial Vicar (ext. 291, [email protected])
- Rev. David W. Green — Parish Chaplain (ext. 292, [email protected])
- Deacon Victor P. Satter ([email protected], 724-348-9649)
- Deacon Kevin Lewis ([email protected], 724-348-8107)
- Jane Sarra — Director of Mission Integration / Pastoral Council moderator (ext. 115)
- Beth Jesserer & Carol Cicci — Directors of Faith Formation
- Jennie Trapanotto & Christie Kulbieda — Youth Ministers
- Rene Sherwin — St. John's Catholic Preschool Director (724-941-5473)
- Mary Spinabelli — Social Minister
Mass, Sacraments and Devotions
St. John XXIII offers a full daily Mass schedule in English at both worship sites, with two Saturday vigil Masses (4:00 PM at St. Francis and 5:00 PM at St. Benedict) and three Sunday Masses (7:30 AM and 10:00 AM at St. Benedict, 9:00 AM at St. Francis). The 5:00 PM Saturday Mass and the 8:30 AM weekday Mass at St. Benedict are livestreamed; recordings are posted online afterward. The parish celebrates Anointing of the Sick through home and facility visits, with the pastor visiting Catholic residents at McMurray Hills, Paramount, Peters Township Nursing, and similar facilities within parish boundaries every 4-6 months.
Worship Music and Liturgical Ministries
The parish's Music Ministry is led by three staff musicians (Jeanie Werner, Tom Franzak, Carol Accetta) and supports four choirs and a handbell choir. Lay liturgical vocations are organized into separate, named ministry groups with coordinators listed in the parish bulletin.
- Adult Choir
- Contemporary Choir
- Resurrection Choir
- Young People's Choir
- Handbell Choir
- Lectors
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Altar Servers
- Greeters / Welcoming Ministry
- Ushers
Faith Formation and Religious Education
St. John XXIII's Faith Formation program serves children from kindergarten through grade 8 with a registered administrative support team. Children's Liturgy of the Word and adult faith enrichment — including Catholic Scripture Study, Centering Prayer, Catholic Men's Fellowship, and RCIA for unbaptized or uncatechized adults — round out the lifelong learning offerings. The parish also invites volunteers who work with children to comply with the Diocese's Safe Environment Program before beginning ministry.
- Beth Jesserer — Director of Faith Formation (ext. 113)
- Carol Cicci — Director of Faith Formation (ext. 110)
- Laurie Hughes — Administrative Assistant for Faith Formation (ext. 107)
- Children's Liturgy of the Word
- Catholic Scripture Study (Sharon Pampena)
- Centering Prayer (Mary Broglie)
- Catholic Men's Fellowship (Patrick Gallagher)
- RCIA — by contacting the parish office
St. John's Catholic Preschool
St. John's Catholic Preschool is an outreach of St. John XXIII Parish at 120 Abington Drive, McMurray, and is open to all children ages 3 through 5 regardless of religion. It is certified by the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and staffed by teachers with elementary-education backgrounds and experience in Catholic or public schools. Class offerings include Early Learners (3s), Pre-K (4s), and a Transitional class (5s), with optional Adventure Day and Extended Day add-ons.
- Director: Kami Malencia (Rene Sherwin) — 724-941-5473 / [email protected]
- Early Learners (3s) — Tue/Thu, AM 9:00-11:30 / PM 12:30-3:00
- Pre-K (4s) — Mon/Wed/Fri, AM 9:00-11:30 / PM 12:30-3:00
- Transitional (5s) — Mon/Tue/Wed/Thu, AM 9:00-11:30 / PM 12:30-3:00
- Adventure Day and Extended Day add-ons available
- Student-to-teacher ratios: 8:1 / 10:1 / 12:1
Youth and Young Adult Ministry
Two parish staff Youth Ministers plan and run the youth program for middle and high school students, while a Young Adult Ministry gathers the 18-35 crowd from across the South Hills region of the Diocese for fellowship, formation, and outreach.
- Jennie Trapanotto — Youth Minister (ext. 112)
- Christie Kulbieda — Youth Minister (ext. 112)
- Young Adult Ministry (South Hills focus)
- Abbey Players (youth drama)
- Boy Scouts (Troop sponsored at the parish)
- Bowling League
- Abbey Coffee House (post-Sunday hospitality)
Parish Life, Service and Outreach
St. John XXIII is anchored by an extensive network of parish-life groups — men's, women's, and family communities — and a robust charity and outreach arm. The parish staff includes a Social Minister (Mary Spinabelli) coordinating social-services outreach, and the St. Vincent de Paul Conference maintains an active helpline.
- St. John XXIII Christian Men / Men's Club
- St. John XXIII Christian Women / Women of St. Scholastica
- Men's Emmaus / Women's Emmaus
- Knights of Columbus (Benny Jung)
- Ladies of Charity
- Prayer Blanket Ministry (Mary Jane Jurofcik)
- Prayer Chain (Kathy Schirra)
- Respect Life Committee (Theresa Ross)
- Social Support Group of a Lost Spouse
- Divorce Care Support Group (Jane Sarra)
- Meal Ministry (Donna Waigand)
- Funeral Repast (Mary Kay Schaner)
- Funeral Servers
- Wedding Coordinators
Community Outreach and Charitable Works
Service to neighbors is a defining mark of the parish. The St. John XXIII Interfaith Food Pantry — a stand-alone ecumenical collaboration headquartered at 3609 Washington Avenue, Finleyville — distributes food on the first and third Saturday mornings of each month from 9:00 AM to noon (724-348-7145 / john23foodpantry.org). The parish also partners with St. Vincent de Paul, Family Promise, and Meals on Wheels, and parishioners contribute their time to an active Community Garden and Gardening Committee at the St. Benedict campus.
- St. John XXIII Interfaith Food Pantry — 1st & 3rd Saturdays, 9 AM-12 PM, 3609 Washington Ave., Finleyville (724-348-7145)
- St. Vincent de Paul Conference helpline — 724-941-9406 ext. 142
- Family Promise partnership
- Meals on Wheels
- Community Garden (Patty Ross / Maryanne Wyse) and Gardening Committee at St. Benedict (Judy Prado)
Communications and Pastoral Tools
Beyond the website and bulletin, the parish relies on Flocknote to reach parishioners instantly via text and email. The parish also maintains a Facebook presence and produces a weekly printed bulletin compiled by the bulletin editor.
- Weekly bulletin — [email protected]
- Flocknote — text/email platform mentioned on john23.org/flocknote
- Online Mass archive of livestreamed recordings
- Safe Environment Coordinator — Jennifer Bunnell (ext. 106, [email protected])
Visiting and Joining the Parish
Newcomers are welcomed by the pastor and a Welcoming Ministry and are invited to register by submitting a printed form to the parish office. The parish encourages visitors to stay for Abbey Coffee House after Sunday Mass, explore the website, and contact coordinators on the Ministries contact-information page to find a ministry fit. Active participation in ministry typically requires completion of the Diocese of Pittsburgh's Safe Environment Program.
- Registration forms: printable form mailed or delivered to the church office
- Abbey Coffee House after Sunday Mass
- Safe Environment compliance required for ministry volunteers
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Carmen D'Amico2019-2020 (administrator, pre-merger)
Served as administrator of the predecessor St. Benedict the Abbot Parish during the run-up to the 2020 'On Mission' merger and helped coordinate the combination of staff, social services and ministry among the three parishes.
- Rev. Robert M. Miller2020-present
Current Pastor of St. John XXIII Parish following its formation on July 1, 2020.