About St. Michael the Archangel · Emlenton, Pennsylvania
St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church is a historic parish in the small oil-town community of Emlenton, Pennsylvania, in the scenic Allegheny River Valley. Founded in 1871 by Father Patrick Smith and incorporated into the Diocese of Erie by Bishop Tobias Mullen, it has ministered to the Catholics of southern Venango County and surrounding Clarion County communities for over 150 years. Since January 1, 2024, St. Michael the Archangel has operated as a secondary mission church of Beloved Disciple Parish in Grove City, sharing clergy and resources while preserving Sunday Mass and the Sacrament of Penance on site. Father V. David Foradori, EV serves as pastor of the merged parish, with Deacon Nick Cirell serving at the Emlenton mission.
- Established
- 1871
- Patron
- St. Michael the Archangel
- Rector
- Very Rev. V. David Foradori, EV
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie
Why belong here
St. Michael the Archangel remains a small, family-sized Catholic community with deep roots in the Allegheny River Valley — a place where, as the parish puts it, 'we become God's Presence to one another and to the larger community.' Worshippers who live in Emlenton, Parker, Foxburg, Knox, St. Petersburg, Clintonville, Clarion, Cranberry Township, Petrolia, or who summer locally find Sunday Mass, the Sacrament of Penance, multi-generational Faith Formation, RCIA preparation, and ongoing adult faith opportunities here. As a mission church of Beloved Disciple Parish since 2024, St. Michael's combines the intimacy of a rural parish with the wider sacramental, educational, and pastoral resources of a larger combined parish.
Mass times at St. Michael the Archangel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 8:00–8:40 AM at St. Michael's (Emlenton)
- By appointment
About St. Michael the Archangel
St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Parish in Emlenton was founded in 1871 by Father Patrick Smith, whose sacramental records of parishioners still sit in the rectory safe written in Latin cursive. Before Father Smith, the booming little oil town of Emlenton was shepherded by Father John Koch, who traveled to Emlenton on horseback. The Parish was incorporated into the Diocese of Erie by Bishop Tobias Mullen. St. Michael's is situated in the beautiful Allegheny River Valley as it heads towards its confluence with the Clarion River.
- Parishioners come from Emlenton, Parker, Foxburg, Knox, St. Petersburg, Clintonville, Clarion, Cranberry Township, and Petrolia
- Acts as a faith 'home away from home' for part-time summer residents
- Vision: 'Together we make up the Body of Christ, we become God's Presence to one another and to the larger community!'
Our History
Catholic life in the Emlenton area predates the parish itself. Father John Koch served the oil-boom town on horseback before Father Patrick Smith formally organized St. Michael the Archangel Parish in 1871. The parish grew for more than a century under successive pastors before demographic decline — average weekend Mass attendance fell from 182 in 2014 to 77 in 2022 — and a reduced number of priests led Bishop Lawrence Persico to merge St. Michael the Archangel Parish into Beloved Disciple Parish in Grove City, effective January 1, 2024. St. Michael the Archangel church was retained as a secondary mission church, with Sunday and holy-day Masses permitted to continue.
- 1867: Pastor of Immaculate Conception, Clarion begins visiting Emlenton
- 1871: Church built and parish organized under Father Patrick Smith
- 2017: Parish begins being served by a non-resident administrator
- June 22, 2023: Presbyteral Council unanimously approves merger plan
- January 1, 2024: Merger into Beloved Disciple Parish takes effect; St. Michael's becomes secondary mission church
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Very Rev. V. David Foradori, EV, who serves as pastor of Beloved Disciple Parish (including St. Michael the Archangel as mission) and as Episcopal Vicar of the Western Vicariate of the Diocese of Erie. Father Foradori's appointment runs from July 6, 2022 to July 30, 2028. Rev. Mr. Nick Cirell serves as Permanent Deacon assigned to St. Michael's, and he and his family host the parish's weekly Monday-night adult faith gathering. Support staff include Amy Kaufman (office) and Dr. Jennifer May (Liturgical Music contact).
- Pastor: Very Rev. V. David Foradori, EV
- Permanent Deacon: Rev. Mr. Nick Cirell
- Support Staff: Amy Kaufman
- Liturgical Music Contact: Dr. Jennifer May
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at St. Michael's is intentionally multi-generational, serving children, youth, and adults throughout the religious-education school year. Families register annually and walk together through sacramental preparation; remote-learning materials are offered for child-protection and faith-formation needs. Adult Faith Formation gathers under the banner of 'Faith and Fellowship' every Monday night with Deacon Nick Cirell and his family.
- Family Faith Formation (registration each school year)
- First Holy Communion preparation
- Multi-generational monthly Faith Formation gatherings
- Adult Faith Formation — 'Faith and Fellowship' every Monday night with the Cirell family
- Remote Learning materials for Child Protection
Sacraments
St. Michael's celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments — Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Marriage, and Holy Orders — most now coordinated through the combined parish staff at Beloved Disciple. Infant baptism requires a preparation class for first-time parents; marriage arrangements must be made at least six months in advance; the Anointing of the Sick is offered several times a year during Masses and on request.
- Baptism — infant preparation class required; contact the parish office
- Eucharist — First Communion preparation through Faith Formation
- Confirmation — children's prep via Marialyce Garvis; adult prep via Deacon Owen
- Reconciliation — Sunday 8:00–8:40 AM or by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick — celebrated during Mass several times a year, or on request
- Marriage — arrangements at least six months in advance
- Holy Orders — inquiry welcome
Online Giving & Parish Support
Parishioners and visitors can support St. Michael's through traditional envelope giving (mailed to PO Box 177, Emlenton, PA 16373) or through the parish's online giving platform. The parish also live-streams Mass on Facebook each Sunday at 9:00 AM for those unable to attend in person, and publishes a current bulletin online for prayer intentions, announcements, and liturgical schedules.
- Online Giving (link on the parish website)
- Envelope giving mailed to PO Box 177, Emlenton, PA 16373
- Live Mass stream on Facebook each Sunday at 9:00 AM
- Current parish bulletin published online
Visit & Contact
St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church sits at 807 Chestnut Street in Emlenton, Pennsylvania. The parish office can be reached at (724) 867-2422 or by email at [email protected]. The mail address is PO Box 177, Emlenton, PA 16373. Visitors are warmly welcomed to join the Sunday 9:00 AM Mass, stay for fellowship, and explore the parish's faith-formation and sacramental programs.
- Address: 807 Chestnut Street, Emlenton, PA 16373
- Mailing: PO Box 177, Emlenton, PA 16373
- Phone: (724) 867-2422
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://stmichaelrcchurch.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father John Kochpre-1871
Traveled to Emlenton on horseback to minister the booming oil town before the parish was organized.
- Father Patrick Smith1871
Founder of the parish; his Latin-cursive sacramental records are still preserved in the rectory safe.
- Monsignor Edward J. Zeitler
As pastor of nearby Beloved Disciple Parish, he was also involved with the Emlenton Area Fish/Food Cupboard and Emlenton Ministerial Association.
- Very Rev. V. David Foradori, EV2022–present
Appointed pastor of Beloved Disciple Parish (Grove City) effective July 6, 2022, until July 30, 2028; became pastor of the merged parish including St. Michael's following the 2024 merger.