About St. Joseph Chapel at Seton Hill University · Greensburg, Pennsylvania
Saint Joseph Chapel is the Catholic chapel and spiritual heart of Seton Hill University, a Catholic liberal arts university in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, founded in 1882 by the Sisters of Charity. Dedicated on November 18, 1896, the chapel serves as the focal point of campus worship for students, faculty, and staff through the university's Campus Ministry program, and is listed as a Catholic worship site by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Greensburg. Daily and Sunday Masses are celebrated in the chapel during the academic year, together with the Sacrament of Reconciliation, ecumenical prayer, retreats, and faith-formation programming. Although Catholic in orientation, the chapel's Campus Ministry warmly welcomes students of all faith traditions.
- Established
- 1896
- Patron
- Saint Joseph
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Greensburg
Why belong here
Saint Joseph Chapel is the spiritual center of Seton Hill University — a place where students, faculty, staff, and visitors are welcomed into daily and weekly Mass, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, ecumenical prayer, retreats, Bible study, and faith-sharing small groups. Although Catholic in orientation, Campus Ministry invites students of all faith traditions to participate. Worship is supported by student liturgical ministers (Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Liturgical Assistants, Ministers of Hospitality, Cantors, and Chapel Singers), making it easy to belong, serve, and grow in faith alongside a tight-knit Hilltop community founded on the Sisters of Charity's values of humility, simplicity, and charity.
Mass times at St. Joseph Chapel at Seton Hill University
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sundays, 6:00–6:45 p.m. (during the academic year)
- Penance Services scheduled during Advent and Lent
Saint Joseph Chapel — The Heart of Seton Hill
Dedicated on November 18, 1896, Saint Joseph Chapel is the spiritual and architectural centerpiece of the Seton Hill University hilltop campus in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Called 'the heart of Seton Hill,' the chapel continues to serve the daily prayer life of the university community more than 125 years after its dedication. It is one of the Catholic worship sites recognized by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Greensburg.
- Dedicated November 18, 1896
- Pillars of rose Georgian marble; altars of Carerra marble
- 18 stained glass windows, including two 16-foot rose windows
- Circular angel window in the ceiling above the altar
- Hand-carved wooden pews
- Pipe organ donated by Andrew Carnegie
- Chapel bell installed December 7, 1899
The Sisters of Charity and the Building of the Chapel
Saint Joseph Chapel grew out of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill's arrival in Greensburg. Mother Aloysia Lowe and three sisters came to western Pennsylvania from Cincinnati in 1870 at the request of Bishop Michael Domenec. Mother Aloysia purchased the Jennings Farm on August 7, 1882, and the Sisters opened Saint Joseph Academy a year later. After worshipping for years in temporary chapels, the Sisters under Mother Anne Regina Ennis began a permanent chapel dedicated to Saint Joseph. When Mother Anne Regina died before its completion, Mother Josephine Doran — an artist and the third Superior of the community — finished the work, directing construction and designing the stained-glass figures in the chapel's south front doors. Donations from families and friends of the Sisters furnished the chapel, and gold jewelry was even melted down to form the halo of the Virgin Mary statue.
- 1870: Sisters Aloysia Lowe and companions arrive in western Pennsylvania from Cincinnati
- August 7, 1882: Mother Aloysia purchases the Jennings Farm in Greensburg
- September 1883: Saint Joseph Academy opens for girls
- Mother Anne Regina Ennis initiates chapel construction, dies before its completion
- Mother Josephine Doran oversees completion and designs stained-glass figures
- November 18, 1896: Saint Joseph Chapel is dedicated
- December 7, 1899: 200 Sisters swing the chapel bell into its tower
Architecture and Sacred Art
Saint Joseph Chapel's interior is built of pillars of rose Georgian marble, with intricately sculpted high and side altars of Carerra marble and hand-carved wooden pews. Eighteen stained glass windows fill the space with light, including two 16-foot rose windows and a circular angel window in the ceiling above the altar. In stained glass above the main entrance are depicted the values dearest to the Sisters of Charity: humility, simplicity, and charity. The chapel's pipe organ was donated by Andrew Carnegie — the first organ he ever gave to a private institution.
- Rose Georgian marble pillars
- Carerra marble high and side altars
- Hand-carved wooden pews
- 18 stained glass windows
- Two 16-foot rose windows
- Circular angel window above the altar
- Andrew Carnegie–donated pipe organ
Cecilian Hall
Built at the same time as the chapel, the adjoining Cecilian Hall continues to serve Seton Hill as a venue for performances, ceremonies, and lectures, and remains closely associated with the chapel wing on the hilltop campus.
Campus Ministry and Worship
Saint Joseph Chapel is served by Seton Hill University's Campus Ministry, which — though Catholic in orientation — welcomes students of all faith traditions to enrich their university experience through prayer and worship, community service, social responsibility, and faith-sharing. Masses are held in the chapel when classes are in session, from late August through early December and from mid-January through early May; Mass is not offered on campus during summer, winter, or spring break.
- Sunday – 7:00 p.m.
- Monday & Wednesday – 12:00 p.m. (noon)
- Tuesday – 8:30 p.m.
- All are welcome
Liturgical Ministries for Students
Students are encouraged to volunteer and be trained to serve in the chapel's liturgical ministries. These roles support Sunday liturgy and special celebrations and provide a hands-on way to take ownership of worship on campus.
- Eucharistic Minister – assists the presider in distributing the Eucharist and presides at weekday Communion Services
- Lector – proclaims the Word of God at Sunday liturgy and special celebrations
- Liturgical Assistant – assists the sacristan and the presider during Mass
- Minister of Hospitality – greets the assembly and helps with worship aids and collections
- Cantor – leads the assembly in song at Sunday Mass and special celebrations
- Chapel Singers – supports and enhances the singing of the Sunday assembly
Spiritual Programming and Faith Formation
Beyond the Mass schedule, Saint Joseph Chapel and Campus Ministry offer a rich program of retreats, evenings of reflection, Bible study, faith-sharing small groups, spiritual direction, pastoral counseling, and ecumenical prayer services held several times each semester. A current schedule of Sunday Mass and other liturgical services is published in The Vine newsletter on campus, and information about church and synagogue services in the greater Greensburg area is available from the Campus Ministry Office.
- Retreats and evenings of reflection
- Bible study and faith-sharing small groups
- Spiritual direction and pastoral counseling
- Ecumenical Prayer Services (multiple times per semester)
- The Vine (campus newsletter) with current schedule
- Greensburg-area worship referral information
Four Pillars of Campus Ministry
Seton Hill's Campus Ministry mission is organized around four pillars that guide its programming in and beyond Saint Joseph Chapel.
- Welcoming – an inclusive, welcoming community celebrating the diversity of its members
- Celebrating – acknowledging the presence of God in all creation and fostering a vibrant spiritual life
- Learning – grounding education in the Catholic Intellectual Tradition while respecting diverse belief systems
- Serving – offering opportunities to experience, reflect upon, and act from Catholic Social Teaching on justice, mercy, and compassion
Special Masses and University Liturgical Life
Saint Joseph Chapel is also the setting for a number of signature Masses that mark the rhythm of the Seton Hill academic year, including the Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Feast Day Mass (January 4), the All Souls' Day Memorial Mass honoring deceased alumni and friends, and the Alumni Weekend Mass. These celebrations underscore the chapel's role as a continuing link between current students and the wider Seton Hill community.
- Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Feast Day Mass (January 4)
- All Souls' Day Memorial Mass
- Alumni Weekend Mass
- Elizabeth Ann Seton Birthday Mass (August 28)
Contact and Staff
For further information about Saint Joseph Chapel, the Campus Ministry Office can be reached through its Director, Tony Krzmarzick, who has served Seton Hill as Director of Campus Ministry since July 2020. The office assists the chaplain with all liturgical celebrations on campus and creates opportunities for faith exploration, growth, and formation through liturgy, Bible study, small-group faith-sharing, retreats, spiritual direction, and pastoral counseling.
- Tony Krzmarzick – Director of Campus Ministry
- Phone: (724) 830-1052
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @shu.campusministry
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Mother Anne Regina Ennis
Initiated construction of Saint Joseph Chapel; died in office before the foundation was fully completed.
- Mother Josephine Doran (Mother Joseph Doran)elected 1894, served two terms
Third Superior of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill; completed the chapel, directed its construction, designed the stained-glass figures in the south front doors, and oversaw the chapel bell's installation (1899) in honor of her Silver Jubilee.