St. Jude Thaddeus [Ruthenian]

About Saint Jude Thaddeus

Saint Jude Thaddeus Byzantine Catholic Church is a small Ruthenian (Byzantine) Catholic parish in Ernest, Indiana County, Pennsylvania. Although it lies geographically within the territory of the Roman Diocese of Greensburg, the parish belongs to the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh (Ruthenian Metropolitanate sui juris). The parish describes itself as 'small in number' but committed to serving Jesus Christ through the Eastern Catholic traditions — its stated mission is 'to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the Eastern Catholic Traditions.' The current pastor, Father Vasyl Kadar, also serves Saints Peter and Paul in Punxsutawney, and the parish collaborates with other churches and organizations in Indiana County in local outreach.

History of the Parish

Saint Jude Thaddeus was established in 1949 as a mission of Saint Mary Holy Protection in Homer City, when Father John Bajcura received permission to build the church alongside Holy Cross in Coal Run. After the missions were built, Father Bajcura celebrated the Divine Liturgy one Sunday a month at each. The first resident pastor, Father George Laskey, arrived while the parish had no rectory and lived with a parishioner; under his care, the community grew through picnics, dinners, and the now-iconic pirohy and donut sales, and four Byzantine-style mosaics were commissioned from Rudy Roin Studios of Pittsburgh. Father Josaphat Popovich, who succeeded him, served for twenty years, led the parish's relief effort during the 1977 Johnstown Flood, established a food bank and a college scholarship fund, and oversaw a major interior remodel. A succession of priestly administrators — Fathers Pyo, Ragan, Schlosser, Sibenik, and Lascelles — later cared for the parish amid regional economic change, often while simultaneously serving sister Byzantine parishes in Sagamore, Clymer, and Coal Run.

• 1949 — Mission established by Father John Bajcura from Saint Mary, Homer City
• 1961 — Limestone rectory built; Ladies' Guild paid off the mortgage
• 1960s — Four Byzantine mosaics installed (Saint Nicholas, BVM, Christ the Teacher, Saint Jude)
• 1977 — Church serves as donation site during the Johnstown Flood
• Late 20th c. — Interior remodel, breezeway, kitchen, and outdoor Saint Jude statue
• 2010 — Major Byzantine-liturgical renovation: icon screen, Pantocrator icon, new Holy Table, Diaconic, Tetrapod, Mother of Perpetual Help mosaic

Divine Liturgy & Schedule

The parish celebrates the Byzantine Catholic Divine Liturgy — the Liturgy of either Saint John Chrysostom or Saint Basil (depending on the time of year) — sung in plainchant as a dialog of prayer between priest and congregation. Sunday Divine Liturgy is at 11:00 a.m., with Holy Days at 10:00 a.m. Confessions are heard prior to Divine Liturgy. The parish also follows the full Great Lent and Pascha cycle, including the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts with Anointing, Good Friday Vespers (Strict Fast), Resurrection Matins with the Blessing of Easter Baskets, and Bright Monday/Bright Tuesday Divine Liturgies during Bright Week.

• Sunday Divine Liturgy: 11:00 a.m.
• Holy Day Divine Liturgy: 10:00 a.m.
• Confession: prior to Divine Liturgy

2010 Liturgical Renovation

In 2010, the church was remodeled to bring the sanctuary into conformity with Byzantine liturgical practice. The project included interior painting and new carpeting, the construction of an icon screen that re-uses the four 1960s mosaics, the mounting of a Christ Pantocrator icon in the apse, and the installation of a new Holy Table, Table of Preparation, Diaconic, and Tetrapod. The oak for these furnishings was recycled from pews salvaged from the now-closed Saint Mary Church in Sagamore. Additional icons were added, including a mosaic of the Mother of Perpetual Help, and the former rectory was converted into a parish community center.

Clergy

Saint Jude Thaddeus is currently served by Father Vasyl Kadar, who also serves as pastor of Saints Peter and Paul Byzantine Catholic Church in Punxsutawney, PA. Father Jerome G. Botsko previously served as administrator of the parish while remaining resident pastor of Saint Mary Holy Protection in Homer City. (Earlier in the parish's history a number of priest-administrators also served multiple Byzantine parishes in the region, including Sagamore, Clymer, and Coal Run.)

• Reverend Vasyl Kadar — Pastor
• Reverend Jerome G. Botsko — former administrator; also pastor of Saint Mary Holy Protection (Homer City) and Saints Peter and Paul (Punxsutawney)

Formation & Education

The parish supports Eastern Christian Formation (ECF) and Adult Education programs, and hosts a Byzantine Catholic Book Discussion on Mondays at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Christian Formation classes for the parish are held at Saint Mary Protection Byzantine Catholic Church in Homer City, PA. Adult parishioners are encouraged to continue learning about the Byzantine Catholic faith through the parish's book discussions and ongoing education offerings.

• Eastern Christian Formation (ECF) — held at Saint Mary Protection, Homer City, PA
• Adult Education programs
• Byzantine Catholic Book Discussion — Mondays at 6:00 p.m.

Ministries, Outreach & Community Life

Saint Jude Thaddeus has a long tradition of active parish life and charitable outreach. Liturgical ministries include Altar Servers, Lectors, and a team of cantors noted as 'very proficient.' Pastoral ministries include a Bethany Ministry and a Parish Advisory Council. Charitable activities are a hallmark of the parish: in the late 1970s the church served as a flood-relief donation site during the Johnstown Flood, and a local food bank was established to help Ernest-area families affected by mine closures. The parish continues to collect nonperishable food items and used clothing, and works with other Indiana County churches and organizations. A long-running college scholarship fund, sustained through pirohy sales, awards yearly scholarships to high-school seniors heading to college or trade school. Fundraising hallmarks include yearly pirohy and donut sales and parish dinners prepared in the kitchen below the breezeway.

• Altar Servers, Lectors, Cantors
• Bethany Ministry
• Parish Advisory Council
• Food and clothing drives (ongoing)
• Food bank (established during Father Popovich's tenure)
• College scholarship fund for high-school seniors (pirohy-funded)
• Pirohy and donut sales, parish picnics and dinners

Holy Mysteries (Sacraments)

The parish celebrates the Byzantine Holy Mysteries. Confessions are heard prior to the Divine Liturgy. Marriages are arranged in advance, with at least six months' notice before the wedding date. Anointing of the Sick is offered by pastoral consideration and need. Those interested in learning more about becoming Catholic or about the Byzantine Catholic tradition are warmly invited to attend Sunday Liturgy and to speak with the pastor.

• Confession: prior to Divine Liturgy; contact Father
• Marriage: at least 6 months' advance arrangement
• Anointing of the Sick: by pastoral consideration/need

Contact & Visit

The parish church is located at 320 Main Street in Ernest, Pennsylvania, with a postal address of PO Box 130, Ernest, PA 15739-0130. The parish's own contact line is 724-465-6738, with a secondary listing of 814-938-4244. The community/contact address used by the parish website is 330 Main Street, Ernest, PA 15739. The parish website is https://www.stjudebyzantinecatholic.org/, and the parish is also listed on the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh's directory at https://archpitt.org/place/ernestpa-2/. The former rectory serves as a parish community center for meetings and socials.

• Church address: 320 Main Street, Ernest, PA 15739-0130
• Phone: 724-465-6738 (also listed: 814-938-4244)
• Website: https://www.stjudebyzantinecatholic.org/
• Archeparchy listing: https://archpitt.org/place/ernestpa-2/