About St. Matthew Roman Catholic Church · Tyrone, Pennsylvania
Saint Matthew Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown serving the people of Tyrone, Pennsylvania, located on Cameron Avenue in Blair County. The Catholic community in Tyrone was founded in 1851 and grew around a small church first dedicated in 1854 under the invocation of St. Matthew the Apostle. The present church — the parish's third worship space — opened in 1896 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today the parish is home to an attached Catholic school that has served the community since 1869, and offers weekend and weekday Masses, sacramental preparation, RCIA, religious education for grades K–8, and a music and pastoral ministry program led by Father Michael Pleva.
- Established
- 1851
- Patron
- St. Matthew the Apostle
- Rector
- Reverend Father Michael Pleva
- Diocese
- Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown
Why belong here
St. Matthew welcomes visitors to register and become active members of a parish family rooted in Tyrone since 1851 and served continuously through the present pastor, Father Michael Pleva. The parish pairs traditional Catholic devotional life — a 5:30 PM Saturday vigil and Sunday morning Masses, weekday Mass on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and Saturday-evening Reconciliation — with strong formation for children in grades K–8 (Sunday-morning Religious Education), RCIA for adults discerning the faith, a music ministry under Director Leslie Estep, and a parish school that has served the community since 1869. Active Parish, Finance and School councils, a Cemetery Committee and a Ministry to the Homebound keep the parish closely knit across every stage of life.
Mass times at St. Matthew Roman Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday at 6:30 PM in the Reconciliation Room in the gathering space
- Anytime upon request — contact the Pastor to arrange a special celebration
About Saint Matthew Catholic Church
Saint Matthew Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Tyrone, Pennsylvania, belonging to the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown. It is served by Father Michael Pleva and welcomes visitors to register and become active members of the parish family. The parish combines a 19th-century historic church with an active Catholic school, religious education, RCIA, music ministry, and several parish councils that care for the worship, finances, school, and cemetery of the community.
- Parish type: Roman Catholic parish (Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown)
- Pastor: Rev. Father Michael Pleva
- Parish email: [email protected]
- Parish phone: (814) 684-1480 • Fax: (814) 684-7969
- Office hours: Monday 9:00 AM–12:00 PM; Wednesday and Friday 8:30 AM–3:30 PM
History of the Parish
The Catholic community of Tyrone traces its origins to 1851, when Rev. James Bradley of St. Patrick Parish in Newry celebrated Mass in a private Tyrone home. A lot at Washington Avenue and 11th Street was purchased in 1853 from Lyon, Shorb and Company for $1.00; the cornerstone was laid on May 29, 1853 by Rev. William Pollard and the first church was dedicated September 24, 1854 under the invocation of St. Matthew the Apostle. The parish was served as a mission of St. John's in Altoona until 1858, when Rev. Patrick Sheehan became its first resident pastor.
- 1851 — Catholic community founded; Mass celebrated in a private home
- 1853 — Cornerstone laid at Washington Avenue and 11th Street
- 1854 — First church dedicated under the invocation of St. Matthew the Apostle
- 1858 — Rev. Patrick Sheehan named first resident pastor
- 1861 — Part of church rebuilt after a dangerous land shift
- 1869 — First parish school opened at 10th Street and Lincoln Avenue
- 1881 — Cameron Avenue property purchased
- 1886 — New four-room school and convent built on Cameron Avenue
- 1891 — Foundation laid at current church site by William Lanners and Sons
- 1896 — Present St. Matthew Church opened (Feb. 9) and dedicated (Dec. 8)
- 1901 — St. Matthew moved into the new Diocese of Altoona
- 1907 — St. Gregory Knights of Columbus Council #1218 chartered
- 1912 — Tellers Summerhoff pipe organ dedicated on Easter Sunday
- 1919 — Parish high school opened
- 1925 — Parish high school closed at Bishop McCort's direction
- 1993 — Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
- 2003 — Parish celebrated 150 years
Architecture & Historic Building
The present St. Matthew Church officially opened February 9, 1896, with the Solemn Mass offered by Reverend M.J. Wertz of Carnegie and was dedicated December 8, 1896 by Right Reverend Bishop Richard Phelan of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. The foundation, laid in 1891 by parishioner William Lanners and Sons, used molded cement blocks finished to resemble rough stone — the same technique visible on many older Tyrone homes and on the intricate cornice stonework of the church. The historic slate roof was restored with copper specialty metals in 2026.
- Built: 1886 (older parish source) / current church opened 1896
- Address: 1105 Cameron Avenue, Tyrone, PA
- National Register of Historic Places since 1993
- Notable interior feature: Tellers Summerhoff pipe organ (1912), still in use
- 2026: Historic slate roof restoration with copper specialty metals
Faith Formation & School
Faith formation for children in grades K–8 is held on Sunday mornings from 9:00 AM to 10:15 AM, organized by Director of Religious Education Lauren Wright ([email protected], (814) 312-0969). Adults preparing to enter the Catholic Church or complete their initiation are served by the RCIA program under Susan Burkholder ((814) 684-0352, [email protected]). The parish also operates Saint Matthew Catholic School — 'serving our community since 1869' — under Principal Pauline Wiley, with its own phone line and website.
- Religious Education (K–8): Sundays, 9:00 AM–10:15 AM — Lauren Wright
- RCIA: Susan Burkholder, (814) 684-0352
- Saint Matthew Catholic School (since 1869): Principal Pauline Wiley
- School phone: (814) 684-3510
- School website: stmatthew-school.org
Music Ministry
The parish music program is led by Director of Music Leslie Estep, supported by the historic Tellers Summerhoff pipe organ dedicated on Easter Sunday 1912 and still in regular use. Parishioners interested in joining the music ministry are encouraged to contact the Director of Music.
- Director of Music: Leslie Estep
- Contact: (814) 684-4899 • [email protected]
- Instrument: Tellers Summerhoff pipe organ (donated by Anna Cullen of Villa Maria, dedicated Easter 1912)
Parish Councils & Organizations
Saint Matthew's lay leadership includes a Pastoral Council, a Finance Council, a School Council, and a Cemetery Committee that together steward the life, finances, school and burial grounds of the parish. The parish is also home to St. Gregory Knights of Columbus Council #1218, which has met at St. Matthew since its charter on April 28, 1907 during the pastorate of Rev. Gregory M. Kelly.
- Pastoral Council — Jason Terosky, (814) 692-4222
- Finance Council — Dennis Rozick, (814) 684-5511
- School Council — TBA
- Cemetery Committee — Shirley Hall, (814) 931-0657
- St. Gregory Knights of Columbus Council #1218 (since April 28, 1907)
Pastoral Staff & Lay Ministers
The pastoral team is led by Father Michael Pleva and includes a Financial and Administrative Assistant, Director of Music, Director of Religious Education, RCIA coordinator and lay leaders of the parish's councils. A Ministry to the Homebound is listed on the parish website (contact TBA at the time of publication).
- Pastor: Rev. Father Michael Pleva
- Financial and Administrative Assistant: Debbie Zakrzwski — [email protected]
- Director of Music: Leslie Estep — (814) 684-4899, [email protected]
- Director of Religious Education: Lauren Wright — (814) 312-0969, [email protected]
- RCIA Coordinator: Susan Burkholder — (814) 684-0352, [email protected]
- Ministry to the Homebound: TBA
- Principal, Saint Matthew Catholic School: Pauline Wiley — [email protected]
Becoming a Member, Catholic or Sponsor
The parish welcomes new members, inquirers preparing to become Catholic, and Catholics needing Certificates of Eligibility (for sacraments such as marriage or as a godparent/sponsor). Visitors are invited to call the parish office to register and become an active member of the parish family.
- Become a Member — contact the parish office to register
- Become a Catholic — see RCIA under Faith Formation
- Certificates of Eligibility — for sacraments and sponsorships; contact the Pastor
Contact & Visit
The parish office is open Monday 9:00 AM–12:00 PM and Wednesday and Friday 8:30 AM–3:30 PM, with phone (814) 684-1480, fax (814) 684-7969, and email [email protected]. The church stands at 1105 Cameron Avenue in Tyrone, Pennsylvania, listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1993.
- Address: 1105 Cameron Avenue, Tyrone, PA 16686
- Phone: (814) 684-1480
- Fax: (814) 684-7969
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday 9:00 AM–12:00 PM; Wednesday and Friday 8:30 AM–3:30 PM
- Website: www.stmatthewtyrone.org
- Facebook: facebook.com/SaintMatthewTyrone
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James Bradley1840s–1850s
Pastor of St. Patrick Parish, Newry; ministered to Tyrone Catholics starting in 1851, celebrating Mass in a private home.
- Rev. John Tuigg and Rev. William Pollard1850s
Of St. John's Parish, Altoona, shared priestly duties at St. Matthew's. Pollard laid the cornerstone on May 29, 1853.
- Rev. Patrick Sheehan1858–
Named St. Matthew's first resident pastor.
- Rev. John FarrenCivil War era
Noted musician; congregation grew past 500; opened the parish's first school in 1869.
- Rev. Ferdinand Kittell1889–1891
Handled fundraising for the new church; ground broken under his supervision.
- Rev. Dennis Gallagher1891–
Spearheaded construction of the present church; rallied farmers to haul stone for the foundation.
- Rev. Thomas Rosensteel1894–
Traveled by horse and carriage to visit scattered Catholics and solicit funds.
- Rev. Philip Bohan1901–1904
First pastor after the 1901 creation of the Altoona Diocese.
- Rev. Gregory M. Kelly1904–
Chartered St. Gregory Knights of Columbus Council #1218 (April 28, 1907); dedicated the Tellers Summerhoff pipe organ on Easter 1912.
- Rev. Jeremiah Looney1912–
Welcomed Italian, Slovak and Croatian immigrants; opened parish high school in 1919; led parish through WWI and the flu epidemic.
- Rev. Jozef KovacikOrdained 1998; pastor prior to current
Listed as Pastor, Saint Matthew Parish, Tyrone in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown directory (ordained May 30, 1998).