About St. Mary [Ruthenian] · Beaverdale, Pennsylvania
Saint Mary Byzantine Catholic Church is a small Ruthenian (Byzantine) Catholic parish in Beaverdale, Pennsylvania, in the mountain coal-region of Cambria County. It is served from the parish rectory in Portage together with Ss. Peter & Paul Byzantine Catholic Church (Portage and Dunlo), under the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh. The faithful were originally Eastern European immigrants — mostly Rusyn/Slovak miners and their families — who settled the ridges between South Fork and Portage and built their own church in 1906 so they could pray in the Byzantine tradition they had brought from the old country.
- Established
- 1921
- Patron
- Patronage of the Mother of God (Theotokos)
- Rector
- Very Reverend James A. Spontak
- Diocese
- Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh (Ruthenian Metropolitanate of Pittsburgh sui juris); geographically within the Roman Diocese of Altoona–Johnstown
Why belong here
Saint Mary is a small, family-sized Ruthenian Catholic community rooted in Carpathian-Rusyn and Slovak immigrant faith and sustained for over a century in the coal country of Cambria County. Visitors and parishioners are welcomed into the Byzantine liturgical tradition — celebrated in English — with the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, the Holy Mysteries (sacraments), and a Catholic cemetery still serving local families. Today the parish is linked with Ss. Peter & Paul in Portage and Dunlo under one pastor, with Saturday evening Divine Liturgy alternating weekly between Beaverdale and Dunlo, making it easy for Byzantine Catholics across the southern Portage area to find a Sunday-obligation Mass close to home.
Mass times at St. Mary [Ruthenian]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 pm (alternating weekly between Beaverdale and Dunlo — see the bulletin)
- ½ hour before services other than Sunday
- By appointment
Parish History
Saint Mary Byzantine Catholic Church in Beaverdale traces its origins to the wave of Eastern European immigrants — primarily Rusyns and Slovaks — who settled the mountain coal country of Cambria County in the early 1900s. Lacking a Byzantine Catholic church of their own, the faithful walked roughly nine miles to St. Michael in South Fork until they could build their own. The cornerstone was laid in December 1906, and the completed church was dedicated to the Patronage of the Mother of God. It remained a mission to St. Michael until 1919, then to SS. Peter & Paul in Portage, before becoming an independent parish in 1921 under Father Elmer Berecky and, from 1924, Father Igor M. Mackov. The parish has been served by many priests in the years since and today continues as a living expression of Carpathian-Rusyn Catholic faith in western Pennsylvania.
- 1906 — cornerstone laid for the original wooden church
- 1919 — transferred as a mission to SS. Peter & Paul, Portage
- 1921 — becomes a separate parish under Father Elmer Berecky
- 1924 — Father Igor M. Mackov appointed by Bishop Basil Takach; parish house and cemetery purchased
- 1947–1957 — major renovations, extension, altars, murals and stained-glass windows installed
Architecture and Building
The original Byzantine Catholic church in Beaverdale was built in the Carpathian-Rusyn immigrant style of the period. After decades of use it was substantially expanded and renewed between 1947 and 1957, when a 20-foot extension, new heating, new pews and full interior renovation transformed the building. A new main altar and side altars were installed, Byzantine-style murals were added to the interior, the exterior was covered in aluminum siding, and stained glass windows depicting various Byzantine saints replaced the original panes.
- 1947–1957: 20-foot extension added
- New main altar and side altars installed
- Byzantine-style interior murals
- Stained-glass windows depicting Byzantine saints
- Exterior re-clad in aluminum siding
Clergy and Staff
Saint Mary's is served today together with Ss. Peter & Paul Byzantine Catholic Church in Portage and Dunlo. The pastor and deacon can be reached through the rectory line in Portage.
- Pastor: Very Reverend James A. Spontak
- Deacon: Deacon Daniel F. Perich
- Rectory phone: (814) 736-9780
- Email: [email protected]
Holy Mysteries (Sacraments)
Saint Mary's offers the full range of Byzantine-Ruthenian Holy Mysteries, following the practice of the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh. Preparation catechesis and a six-month process are required for marriage; pastoral care of the sick and Holy Anointing are available on request and on Great and Holy Wednesday. The Mystery of Repentance (Confession) is heard before services and by appointment.
- Baptism / Chrismation / Eucharist — pre-baptism catechesis required
- Crowning in Marriage — 6-month preparation; Pre-Cana program required
- Holy Anointing — on request and at the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts on Great and Holy Wednesday
- Confession — Saturday 3:30 pm (Beaverdale/Dunlo, alternating), ½ hour before non-Sunday services, and by appointment
Cemetery
St. Mary's maintains a parish cemetery in Beaverdale, purchased in 1924 under Father Igor M. Mackov. It is recorded as Saint Mary's Byzantine Catholic Cemetery (Find a Grave cemetery #46166) and continues to serve local Byzantine Catholic families.
Jurisdiction and Identity
St. Mary's is a Ruthenian (Byzantine) Catholic parish in full communion with Rome, under the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh — the U.S. metropolitan see of the Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church. Although the building stands geographically within the territory of the Roman Diocese of Altoona–Johnstown, the parish canonically belongs to the Pittsburgh Archeparchy.
- Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh (Ruthenian)
- Ruthenian Metropolitanate of Pittsburgh sui juris
- Geographically within the Roman Diocese of Altoona–Johnstown
Contact and Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach Saint Mary's through the Portage rectory, by phone or by email. Current bulletins, the schedule and parish information are posted on the linked parish website.
- Address: 214 Stewart Street, Beaverdale, PA 15921-0619
- Phone: (814) 736-9780
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.byzantinecatholic.net/
- Archeparchy listing: https://archpitt.org/place/beaverdalepa/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Elmer Berecky1921–
Pastored St. Mary's as its first independent pastor after it became a separate parish in 1921.
- Father Igor M. Mackov1924–
Appointed by Bishop Basil Takach in 1924; under his direction a parish house and cemetery were purchased.