About St. Mary Our Lady of Lourdes · Export, Pennsylvania
St. Mary, Our Lady of Lourdes is a Roman Catholic parish in Export, Pennsylvania, located at 5900 Kennedy Avenue in Westmoreland County. Originally founded in 1903 as the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the parish has served generations of Catholic faithful in the Export community for over 120 years. Since 2002 it has been partnered with St. John Baptist de La Salle Parish in nearby Delmont under the Diocese of Greensburg, sharing clergy and staff while retaining its own historic identity and location. The parish offers Sunday and weekday Masses, weekly Reconciliation, and regular Eucharistic Adoration.
- Established
- 1903
- Patron
- Our Lady of Lourdes (parish renamed in 1975 from Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Greensburg
Why belong here
St. Mary, Our Lady of Lourdes is a long-standing Catholic community with roots going back to 1903, now partnered with St. John Baptist de La Salle in Delmont to combine the resources of two parishes. It offers a full sacramental life — daily and Sunday Mass, weekly Reconciliation on Tuesdays, and Eucharistic Adoration every Tuesday and on First Fridays — together with faith formation for children and youth, RCIA, Vacation Bible School, and a wide range of outreach ministries including pro-life work, a prayer shawl ministry, food and clothing drives for the local foodbank and St. Vincent de Paul Society, and a presence at community festivals. Families of all backgrounds find a welcoming home here where the Eucharist remains the center of parish life.
Mass times at St. Mary Our Lady of Lourdes
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 5:00 p.m. (at St. Mary's)
Adoration times
- Tuesday 12:00 noon – 6:00 p.m. (at St. Mary's)
- First Friday of the month 12:00 noon – 6:30 p.m. (at St. Mary's)
Parish History
The first Mass in Export was held in 1892 in a private home and continued for several years by a priest from Irwin. As the Catholic immigrant population grew, the Bishop of Pittsburgh directed that a new church be built in Export. In 1903 the cornerstone was laid and the church was dedicated that same year under the name Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In 1975, Bishop Connare of the newly formed Diocese of Greensburg changed the name to St. Mary, Our Lady of Lourdes to avoid confusion with other parishes. The parish has remained on its original Kennedy Avenue location ever since and entered into a partnership with St. John Baptist de La Salle in Delmont in 2002.
- 1892 — First Mass celebrated in a private home in Export
- 1903 — Cornerstone laid; church dedicated as Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- 1975 — Parish renamed St. Mary, Our Lady of Lourdes by Bishop Connare
- 2002 — Becomes partner parish with St. John Baptist de La Salle, Delmont
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation is shared across the partner parishes and surrounding region. Elementary children use the 'Discover! Finding Faith in Life' series, while junior-high youth use 'Connect! Bringing Faith to Life,' both Bible-based and rooted in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The parishes also host a regional Vacation Bible School together with Mother of Sorrows, St. Barbara, and St. Regis parishes.
- Discover! — elementary faith formation
- Connect! — junior high faith formation
- Vacation Bible School (regional)
- Mother of Sorrows Family Faith Formation (monthly option)
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (hosted at St. Regis)
Evangelization & Faith Formation Ministry
Called by Christ as disciples, parishioners are invited to grow in their knowledge and relationship with God and share that faith with others. Volunteer opportunities span teaching, hospitality, communications, and vocations support.
- Catholic Men's Fellowship
- Social Media and Website Team
- Photographer / Archivist
- Faith Formation Committee
- RCIA Team
- Catechist and Catechist Aide
- Youth Ministry Aide
- Hot Mess Mom's Club
- Vocations Task Force
- Bible Study / Faith Formation small group host
- Sponsor Couple for Marriage Preparation
Community Outreach Ministries
As members of the Body of Christ, parishioners are called beyond the walls of the church into the surrounding community. The parishes organize collection drives and maintain a presence at local festivals to serve neighbors in need.
- Pro-Life Ministries
- Prayer Shawl Ministry
- Delmont Christmas Pilgrimage Volunteer
- Item Collection Drives (foodbank, St. Vincent de Paul clothing, toiletries, pet items for homeless shelter)
- Community Involvement Team — Apples & Arts Festival, Export Ethnic & Food Festival
Vocations & Religious Life
The parish community actively supports vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life. Two sons of the parish are currently studying for the priesthood, and Sunday worship is frequently enriched by the presence of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill and the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
- Ricky Bevington — studying with the Congregation of Holy Cross
- Stephen Wetzel — studying with the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter
- Historically staffed by Capuchin Franciscan priests
- Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill worship with the parish
- Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus worship with the parish
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. Preparation programs support couples preparing for marriage (with Sponsor Couples), adults entering the Church through RCIA, and families bringing children for Baptism and First Communion. Reconciliation is offered weekly on Tuesdays, and anointing of the sick is available upon request.
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- First Eucharist / Holy Communion
- Marriage (with Sponsor Couple preparation)
- Reconciliation — Tuesday 5:00 p.m.
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Orders — vocational discernment supported
- RCIA for adults
Parish Staff & Leadership
St. Mary's and partner parish St. John Baptist de La Salle share a common staff, including a Pastor, Parochial Vicar, Business Manager, Pastoral Associate for Faith Formation and Parish Life, Safe Environment Coordinator, Facilities Maintenance, and Parish Receptionist. Leadership is supported by a Pastoral Council and a Financial Council.
- Dee Caldwell — Parish Receptionist
- Pastor — shared with St. John Baptist de La Salle
- Parochial Vicar — shared with St. John Baptist de La Salle
- Pastoral Associate for Faith Formation and Parish Life
- Business Manager
- Safe Environment Coordinator
- Facilities Maintenance / Custodian
- Pastoral Council members: Charles Bell, Dennis Coffen, Katie Stevens, Shawn Lynch, Kirra Mediate, Nancy Trabucco, Dina Colangelo, Marie Telford
- Finance Council members: David Alderson, David Bowersox, Jerry Soles, Linda Livengood, Bill McHugh, Diana Tranchini
Visiting & Contact Information
St. Mary, Our Lady of Lourdes is located at 5900 Kennedy Avenue in Export, Pennsylvania. The parish office phone number is shared with partner parish St. John Baptist de La Salle in Delmont. Weekly bulletins and online giving are available through the parish website, and parishioners can subscribe to receive the bulletin by email through the parish Facebook page.
- Address: 5900 Kennedy Ave., Export, PA 15632
- Phone: 724-327-0647
- Fax: 724-325-3784
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.stjohnstmary.org/
- Weekly bulletin available online; subscribe via Facebook