About St. Mary Holy Protection Byzantine Church · Latrobe, Pennsylvania
St. Mary Holy Protection Byzantine Church (formally 'St. Mary's Byzantine Ruthenian Catholic Parish') is a small Byzantine (Greek) Catholic parish in the village of Trauger, just outside Latrobe in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Founded on January 1, 1894 by Rev. Stephen Dzubay to serve Carpatho-Rusyn immigrants who worked in the coal and coke fields of western Pennsylvania, the parish belongs to the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh and is one of the oldest Byzantine Catholic communities in the region. The current brick church, built in the Spanish Renaissance style with its cornerstone blessed August 16, 1914, was thoroughly restored to authentic Byzantine appointment in 1998–99 with an iconostasis and full iconographic program. The parish continues to celebrate the Divine Liturgy in the Byzantine tradition and is currently served by Father Paul Alexander Shutt, OSB.
- Established
- 1894
- Patron
- The Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary (the Pokrov)
- Rector
- Rev. Paul Alexander Shutt, OSB (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh
Why belong here
St. Mary's is a small, multigenerational Byzantine Catholic community with deep roots among the Carpatho-Rusyn faithful of the western Pennsylvania coal country — a parish that has worshipped together continuously since 1894. Visitors are welcomed to the Byzantine-Rite Divine Liturgy celebrated on Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings, to the beautiful festal iconography and restored iconostasis, and to the life of the parish hub, St. Mary Center, which still hosts religious-education classes, the annual festival, and community gatherings.
Mass times at St. Mary Holy Protection Byzantine Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 – 4:30 PM
- Sunday 9:30 – 10:00 AM
- By appointment
Parish History
St. Mary Holy Protection Byzantine Church was founded January 1, 1894 by Rev. Stephen Dzubay for the Carpatho-Rusyn Byzantine Catholic immigrants who settled in the coal and coke country around Trauger, just outside Latrobe. After first gathering for worship in a hall in nearby Calumet, the community was chartered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1896, built its first wooden church in 1897, and in 1914 broke ground on the present brick church in the Spanish Renaissance style. The parish even ran a full-time school in the early 1900s and laid out its own cemetery on the hill above the church.
- Founded January 1, 1894 by Rev. Stephen Dzubay
- Pennsylvania charter granted April 8, 1896 as the Greek Catholic Church in Trauger
- First wooden church completed 1897
- Cornerstone of the present brick church blessed August 16, 1914
- Full-time parish school operated in the early 1900s
- Cemetery established on the hill above the church
Building, Restoration & St. Mary Center
After decades of hard weather the original high entrance steps had to be replaced in 1960 with a new retaining wall, side steps, and a tunnel into the basement. In 1962–63 the parish built St. Mary Center across the road — an educational and recreational hall dedicated in 1964 that still anchors parish and community life. The most dramatic change came in 1998–99, when Father Christopher R. Burke led a thorough restoration of the church interior to authentic Byzantine appointment: a new iconostasis, twelve large festal icons, Old Testament prophets and the four evangelists on the ceiling around Christ the Pantocrator, a three-tier apsidal program, and stained-glass doors crafted by Father Alan Kapron.
- 1960 exterior renovation: new retaining wall, side steps, basement tunnel entrance
- 1962–1963 construction of St. Mary Center; dedicated April 12, 1964
- 1965 fundraisers paid off the Center mortgage and funded a new roof and interior repaint
- 1998–99 Byzantine interior restoration under Father Christopher R. Burke
- Iconostasis (icon screen) installed; twelve festal icons painted
- Stained-glass doors added by Father Alan Kapron
Architecture & Iconography
The 1914 brick church is built in the Spanish Renaissance style, but its interior has been deliberately returned to its Byzantine heritage. Visitors see an iconostasis separating nave from sanctuary, twelve large festal icons of the liturgical year on the outer walls, a ceiling portraying Old Testament prophets and the four evangelists gathered around Christ the Pantocrator, and a three-tier apsidal icon program: the Theotokos of the Sign above, the angelic Great Entrance in the middle, and Christ at the Mystical Supper below.
Clergy & Pastoral Succession
The parish has been served by a succession of Byzantine Catholic priests since its founding in 1894. It is currently administered by Rev. Paul Alexander Shutt, OSB. The best-documented recent succession includes Father Bachkovsky (until 1988), Rev. Edward J. Pyo (administrator from September 1988), and Rev. Christopher R. Burke (full-time administrator from January 1991), under whose leadership the 1998–99 restoration took place.
- Rev. Stephen Dzubay — founder (1894)
- Father Bachkovsky — pastor until 1988; reposed October 24, 1988
- Rev. Edward J. Pyo — administrator from September 1988
- Rev. Christopher R. Burke — full-time administrator from January 1991
- Rev. Paul Alexander Shutt, OSB — current administrator
Holy Mysteries (Sacraments)
Confessions are heard before each weekend Liturgy, and the other Mysteries are arranged by calling the rectory. Eastern Christian Formation classes prepare children for First Confession and First Holy Communion.
- Confession: Saturday 4:00–4:30 PM, Sunday 9:30–10:00 AM, or by appointment
- Marriage: contact the rectory
- Anointing: contact the rectory
- Baptism: contact the rectory
- First Holy Communion & First Confession preparation through ECF
Faith Formation & Youth
The parish's Eastern Christian Formation (ECF) program, taught in the classrooms of St. Mary Center, prepares the parish's children for the sacraments. The young people also take an active role in the liturgical processions of Easter, Christmas, the Dormition, and First Holy Communion, and have participated in ecumenical youth rallies organized by the resident pastor together with several local clergy.
- Eastern Christian Formation (ECF) classes in St. Mary Center
- Participation in processions for Easter, Christmas, Dormition, and First Holy Communion
- Ecumenical youth rally with local clergy
Parish Life, Festival & Fundraising
St. Mary's has long been sustained by a lively schedule of parish events held in St. Mary Center. The parish hosts bingos, dinners, card parties, bake sales, craft shows, hall rentals, and an annual festival, and members travel together to the annual Byzantine Catholic pilgrimage. These traditions — many of them continuous since the 1960s — have paid off mortgages, funded restorations, and kept the parish community close-knit across generations.
- Annual parish festival
- Bingo nights
- Parish dinners, bake sales, craft shows, card parties
- Hall rentals and catering
- Annual Byzantine Catholic pilgrimage
Visiting & Contact
St. Mary's is located at 4480 Route 981 in Trauger (Latrobe), PA 15650, with the church and St. Mary Center directly across from one another. The rectory can be reached at (724) 423-3673 and the parish hall at (724) 423-8838; the parish email is [email protected]. The Archeparchy of Pittsburgh also lists the parish among its communities.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Stephen Dzubay1894–
Founder of the parish; led the community in Calumet and then Trauger.
- Father Bachkovsky
Pastor during the 1980s; became unable to return to the parish in September 1988 and reposed October 24, 1988.
- Rev. Edward J. Pyo1988–
Assigned by Metropolitan Archbishop Stephen J. Kocisko as administrator in September 1988; served Divine Liturgy on Sundays and holy days while the parish was a mission with no pastor in residence.
- Rev. Christopher R. Burke1991–
Appointed full-time administrator in January 1991 by Metropolitan Archbishop Thomas V. Dolinay; oversaw the major 1998–99 Byzantine interior restoration, rectory remodel, air-conditioning of hall and church, stained-glass doors by Father Alan Kapron, and many fundraising projects (bingo, dinners, festival, bake sales).
- Rev. Paul Alexander Shutt, OSB
Current administrator of the parish (listed as Pastor/Administrator on bulletins and the Archeparchy directory).