About St. Mary Nativity · Uniontown, Pennsylvania
St. Mary (Nativity) Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, part of the Diocese of Greensburg and one of the founding Slovak-heritage churches of the area. Founded in 1903 by Slavic immigrants, the parish has worshiped on North Mt. Vernon Avenue for over a century, now in a handsome Romanesque brick church built in 1911–1912 and beautifully restored for its 2003 centennial. Today it is clustered with the other Roman Catholic Churches of Southern Fayette (the 'faysouth.org' family) under pastor Very Rev. Anthony J. Klimko, V.F., and offers daily Mass, Eucharistic adoration, weekly confession, a vibrant music ministry, and a long list of parish organizations serving every age and stage of life.
- Established
- 1903
- Patron
- Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Very Reverend Anthony J. Klimko, V.F.
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Greensburg
Why belong here
St. Mary Nativity is a century-old Slovak-rooted Catholic parish with a stunning restored Romanesque church and a deeply lived liturgical and devotional life — daily Mass, weekly Eucharistic adoration on Tuesdays, and the sacrament of reconciliation every Tuesday afternoon. Its parish community offers an unusually broad menu of ministries (altar servers, lectors, music, homebound ministry, Bereavement Lazarus Group, St. Vincent de Paul, Ladies of Charity, Secular Franciscan Order, Catholic Men's Group, Rosary Society, Christian Mothers, Golden Club, youth and Vacation Bible School, and more), so newcomers of any age can find a way to serve. As one of four Uniontown parishes in the Roman Catholic Churches of Southern Fayette cluster, it combines the warmth of a neighborhood church with the resources of a regional pastoral team.
Mass times at St. Mary Nativity
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday, 5:00 p.m. – 5:45 p.m.
- By appointment (call the parish office at 724-437-4441)
Adoration times
- Tuesday, 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. (Adoration / Private Prayer)
Parish Identity and Heritage
St. Mary (Nativity) Parish is a Roman Catholic parish at 61 North Mt. Vernon Avenue in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, in the Diocese of Greensburg. Its full name honors the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and its patron feast is celebrated on September 8. The parish was founded in 1903 by immigrants of Slavic heritage and remains the spiritual home of a community shaped by that Slovak Catholic heritage — most visibly today in organizations like St. Wendelin Branch #162 of the Slovak Union and the Christian Mothers and Rosary Society sodalities. As one of the four Roman Catholic Churches of Southern Fayette that make up the Uniontown cluster, it operates as a parish family together with Ss. Cyril and Methodius (Fairchance), St. John the Evangelist (Uniontown), and the others listed on faysouth.org.
- Patron: Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Feast day: September 8
- Founded 1903 by Slavic-heritage parishioners
- One of four parishes of the Uniontown cluster (Roman Catholic Churches of Southern Fayette)
History of St. Mary (Nativity)
Slavic Catholic families in Uniontown organized the parish in 1903 and immediately erected a wooden-frame church on the corner of Stockton Street and North Mt. Vernon Avenue under founding pastor Fr. L. Laush. Within eight years the parish had grown to about 3,500 members, and a more substantial brick church was designed. Its cornerstone was laid on July 30, 1911 by Bishop Joseph Maria Koudelka, then-auxiliary bishop of Cleveland and the first U.S. auxiliary bishop with special jurisdiction over Slavic Catholics. Rev. Frank G. Sebik saw the project through to completion at a cost of $40,000; the three bells were consecrated on May 5, 1912, and Bishop Regis Canevin of Pittsburgh consecrated the finished church on August 25, 1912.
- 1903 — Parish founded; first wooden church built (Stockton St. & N. Mt. Vernon Ave.)
- July 30, 1911 — Cornerstone laid by Bishop Joseph Maria Koudelka
- May 5, 1912 — Three bells consecrated
- August 25, 1912 — Church consecrated by Bishop Regis Canevin of Pittsburgh
- 1912 onward — Original wooden church repurposed as the first parish school
- 2003 — Centennial celebration with full restoration under Rev. Dr. Micah E. Kozoil
2003 Centennial Restoration
In preparation for the parish's 100th anniversary, then-pastor Rev. Dr. Micah E. Kozoil led a comprehensive restoration of the church building. The work included new heating and air conditioning, new altars, new chandeliers, restoration of the historic pipe organ, fresh painting, new carpeting, and new furnishings. A generous gift from local philanthropist Joseph A. Hardy III underwrote the painting of the twin towers in gold, the illumination of the façade, and an upgrade to the electrical system — giving the church its distinctive gleaming-tower appearance that parishioners and visitors see today.
- New HVAC system
- New altars and chandeliers
- Pipe organ restored
- Painting, carpeting, new furnishings
- Towers painted gold, façade illuminated, electrical system upgraded (gift of Joseph A. Hardy III)
The Church Building
The present church is a Romanesque-style brick building designed in 1911 and consecrated in 1912. It retains its original footprint on N. Mt. Vernon Avenue and was thoroughly refreshed in the 2003 centennial restoration. The three original bells (consecrated May 5, 1912) remain a notable feature of the building's history.
- Style: Romanesque
- Years built: 1911–1912
- Construction cost (1911): $41,100 (church + bells)
- Three original bells consecrated May 5, 1912
Parish School (Historic)
After the present brick church opened in 1912, the original 1903 wooden church on Stockton Street was converted into a parochial school. The school later moved into a larger building behind the current church on Gilmore Street, where it served area Catholic families for close to 100 years. Declining enrollment and a budget deficit expected to reach roughly $300,000 led Bishop Lawrence E. Brandt of Greensburg, on the recommendation of the Boards of Trust Administrators, to accept the school's closure. June 7, 2011 was the last scheduled day of classes; students and teachers were folded into the Saint John the Evangelist Regional Catholic School, also in Uniontown.
- Parish school operated from 1912 through end of 2010–2011 school year
- Decision accepted by Bishop Lawrence E. Brandt, May 25, 2010
- Merged into Saint John the Evangelist Regional Catholic School, Uniontown
Clergy and Pastoral Staff
The parish is led by pastor Very Rev. Anthony J. Klimko, V.F., and is served by a team of four parochial vicars. Pastoral and administrative staff include the Pastoral Assistant, Business Manager, Business Secretary, Administrative Assistant, Secretary, and the Regional Directors of Faith Formation and Youth Ministry, plus a Faith Formation Coordinator. Many of the staff are shared across the Roman Catholic Churches of Southern Fayette cluster.
- Very Rev. Anthony J. Klimko, V.F. — Pastor
- Rev. Alien Z. Rocamora — Parochial Vicar and Hospital Chaplain
- Rev. Teodoro Abner Cortezano — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Vincent Yee Concepcion — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Innocent Noronm Orduah — Parochial Vicar
- Theresa Mazur — Regional Director of Faith Formation
- Joseph Onesi — Regional Director of Youth Ministry
- Lee Ann Moccal — Faith Formation Coordinator
- Nancy Blake — Pastoral Assistant
- Brenda Sabatini — Business Manager
- Marilee Barnhart — Business Manager
- Karen Inks — Administrative Assistant
- Rita Rae — Business Secretary
- Dianne Sutton — Secretary
Parish Ministries and Organizations
The 2022 Annual Report lists more than thirty active ministries, organized as liturgical, devotional, service, social, and formation groups. Liturgical roles include Altar Servers, Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Music Ministry, Ushers, and Art & Environment. Pastoral-care ministries include Hospitality, Homebound Ministry, and the Bereavement (Lazarus) Group. Heritage and devotional societies include Christian Mothers, Rosary Society, Golden Club, and St. Wendelin Branch #162 Slovak Union. Outreach and formation ministries include Saint Vincent de Paul, Ladies of Charity, Catholic Men's Group, Prayer Blanket Makers, Secular Franciscan Order, Vocation Ministry, Youth Ministry, Vacation Bible School, Adult Bible Studies, Catechists, Children's Liturgy of the Word, Graduate Ministry, New Family Ministry, Senior Update Ministry, Social Ministry, Library Ministry, and Video Ministry. The parish also maintains both a Pastoral Council and a Finance Council.
- Liturgical: Altar Servers, Lectors, EMHCs, Music, Ushers, Art & Environment
- Pastoral care: Hospitality, Homebound, Bereavement (Lazarus Group)
- Heritage/devotional: Christian Mothers, Rosary Society, Golden Club, St. Wendelin Branch #162 Slovak Union
- Outreach: St. Vincent de Paul, Ladies of Charity, Catholic Men's Group, Prayer Blanket Makers
- Formation: Catechists, Adult Bible Studies, VBS, Youth Ministry, Children's Liturgy of the Word
- Order: Secular Franciscan Order
- Governance: Pastoral Council, Finance Council
Outreach and Parish Life
St. Mary Nativity joins the rest of the Roman Catholic Churches of Southern Fayette in supporting the annual Diocesan Lenten Appeal and in hosting cluster-wide events such as the Roman Catholic Churches of Uniontown Ministry Fair, the Annual Spaghetti Dinner at St. Therese, the Thanksgiving Basket Project, the Children's Christmas Outreach Project, and Christmas Concerts and Christmas Masses. The parish 2022 Annual Report highlights support for outreach to seniors, infants and expectant mothers, and the sick and homebound, and ties the parish's participation in the National Eucharistic Revival to its weekly adoration and reconciliation offerings at St. Mary on Tuesdays.
- Annual Diocesan Lenten Appeal participation
- Cluster Ministry Fair
- Thanksgiving Basket Project
- Children's Christmas Outreach Project
- Christmas Concerts and Christmas Masses
- National Eucharistic Revival — Tuesday adoration and reconciliation
Contact, Office Hours, and Visiting
Parishioners and visitors can reach the St. Mary (Nativity) parish office at 724-437-4441 (fax 724-437-0111). The main office, located at the church at 61 North Mt. Vernon Avenue, Uniontown, PA 15401, is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and on Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Bulletin items must be submitted by Monday at noon. Online giving is available through faysouth.org/about/online-giving/.
- Phone: 724-437-4441
- Fax: 724-437-0111
- Address: 61 North Mt. Vernon Avenue, Uniontown, PA 15401
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; Fri 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
- Bulletin deadline: Monday at noon
- Online giving available via faysouth.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. L. Laush1903 (founding pastor)
Guided the founding Slavic-heritage parish and built the original wooden-frame church on Stockton Street and N. Mt. Vernon Avenue.
- Rev. Frank G. Sebik
Supervised completion of the present Romanesque brick church (consecrated August 25, 1912) at a cost of $40,000.
- Rev. Dr. Micah E. Kozoil
Led the parish's centennial restoration in 2003 (new HVAC, altars, chandeliers, pipe organ restored, painting, carpet, furnishings, gold towers and façade illumination through the gift of Joseph A. Hardy III). Oversaw closure of parish school and 2011 merger into St. John the Evangelist Regional Catholic School.