About St. Mary [Ruthenian] · Hannastown, Pennsylvania
Saint Mary Byzantine Catholic Church is a small Ruthenian (Byzantine) Catholic parish in the historic village of Hannastown, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania — once the colonial seat of government for the county. Founded in 1906 by Slavic immigrants from the Austro-Hungarian Empire who had settled the coal fields of Western Pennsylvania, the parish is today administered as a mission of Saint Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church in Greensburg. Worship is celebrated according to the Byzantine (Ruthenian) rite under the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh, and the parish remains an active, devoted community with a special love for the Divine Liturgy and the Mother of God.
- Established
- 1906
- Patron
- Annunciation of the Most Holy Virgin Mary (Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. Vasyl Banyk (Administrator; pastor of Saint Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church, Greensburg)
- Diocese
- Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh (Ruthenian Metropolitanate of Pittsburgh); located geographically within the territory of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Greensburg
Why belong here
St. Mary's is a small, warmly-rooted Byzantine Catholic community where the Divine Liturgy is sung by an enthusiastic congregation with deep love for the Mother of God. As a mission of Saint Nicholas in Greensburg, it offers the full spiritual and pastoral care of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh — including regular Divine Liturgy on Sundays, the Lenten Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, Holy Mysteries (Confession, Marriage, Anointing) and Eastern Christian Formation — while retaining the intimate, family character of a historic immigrant-era parish.
Mass times at St. Mary [Ruthenian]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Before and after services
History of Saint Mary Byzantine Catholic Church, Hannastown
St. Mary's was incorporated on November 23, 1906 by immigrants from the Austro-Hungarian Empire who had come to work in the coal fields of Western Pennsylvania and wanted a Byzantine-rite worship space in Hannastown, the colonial seat of Westmoreland County. The cornerstone, dated 1907, identifies the church as dedicated to the Annunciation of the Most Holy Virgin Mary. It was blessed in 1909 by Rt. Rev. Archabbot Leander of the Benedictine St. Vincent Archabbey, with Father Stephen Gulovich as first pastor.
Early pastoral care from Trauger
From its founding until 1961, St. Mary's Hannastown was served as a mission of St. Mary Byzantine Church in Trauger (Latrobe), with priests traveling to celebrate the Divine Liturgy for the small faithful community.
Transition to a mission of Saint Nicholas, Greensburg
In 1961 St. Mary's was transferred to become a mission of St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church in Greensburg, which has supplied pastoral care to the present day — most recently through Father Regis J. Dusecina and, since August 1, 2024, Father Vasyl Banyk.
Holy Mysteries (Sacraments)
Pastoral care for the Holy Mysteries is provided through the mission relationship with Saint Nicholas in Greensburg. The faithful are encouraged to call the rectory to schedule sacraments that are not tied to the regular service schedule.
- Confession — before and after services
- Marriage — by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick — by appointment
Faith Formation — Eastern Christian Formation (ECF)
Since the parish's earliest decades, Eastern Christian Formation (ECF) classes have been taught to children and adults by priests and lay catechists. ECF remains a living part of parish life, passing on the Byzantine Catholic faith to new generations in the Hannastown community.
Clergy and Pastoral Leadership
Saint Mary Hannastown is administered by a priest appointed by Metropolitan Archbishop William of the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh. The current administrator, Father Vasyl Banyk, also serves as pastor of the sister parish Saint Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church in Greensburg.
- Reverend Vasyl Banyk — Administrator (appointed August 1, 2024); also pastor of Saint Nicholas, Greensburg
- Reverend Regis J. Dusecina — previous Administrator; retired from active ministry August 1, 2024
- Father Stephen Gulovich — first pastor, present at the church's blessing in 1909
Jurisdiction and Catholic Identity
St. Mary's is part of the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh — the cathedral see of the Ruthenian Metropolitanate sui juris, an Eastern Catholic church in full communion with Rome that uses the Byzantine liturgical rite. Although the church sits geographically within the territory of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Greensburg, parishioners belong to the Ruthenian (Byzantine) Catholic Church and are served by Byzantine Catholic priests.
Visiting and Contacting the Parish
St. Mary's is located on Pollins Avenue in the historic village of Hannastown, Pennsylvania. Those wishing to arrange a Marriage, Anointing, or to speak with the priest about Confession or other needs are encouraged to use the rectory contact listed below.
- Address: Pollins Avenue, Hannastown, PA 15635
- Rectory telephone: 724-837-0295
- Email: [email protected]
- Website (Archeparchy listing): https://archpitt.org/place/hannastownpa-2/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Stephen Gulovich1909 (first pastor)
First pastor when the church was blessed in 1909; served faithful assisted by priests from St. Mary Byzantine Church in Trauger (Latrobe).
- Father Regis J. Dusecinauntil August 1, 2024
Served as pastor of Saint Nicholas, Greensburg and Administrator of Saint Mary, Hannastown; retired from active ministry on August 1, 2024. A son of the sister Trauger parish, ordained May 20, 1973.
- Father Vasyl BanykEffective August 1, 2024
Appointed by Metropolitan Archbishop William as pastor of Saint Nicholas, Greensburg and Administrator of Saint Mary, Hannastown; previously pastor of Holy Trinity, Sykesville and administrator of Nativity of the Mother of God, Du Bois.