About St. Michael · West Salisbury, Pennsylvania
St. Michael Parish (also called St. Michael's Catholic Church) is a small Roman Catholic mission parish in West Salisbury, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, within the Diocese of Altoona–Johnstown. The parish was founded in 1887 by immigrant Catholic families drawn to southern Somerset County by the coal mines and railroads, and today offers one Sunday Mass each week at 9:00 AM along with confessions before Mass. It is currently pastored by Rev. Michael Wolfe, who also serves Saint Gregory Parish in MacDonaldton and Saint Mary Parish in Pocahontas.
- Established
- 1887
- Patron
- St. Michael (the Archangel)
- Rector
- Rev. Michael Wolfe
- Diocese
- Diocese of Altoona–Johnstown
Why belong here
St. Michael's is a small, rooted rural parish where the Catholic families of southern Somerset County have worshipped together since 1887. Visitors and parishioners are welcomed to one Sunday Mass each week at 9:00 AM and to Confession at 8:40 AM just before Mass. Because the parish is small and the community is close-knit, it is an easy place to know your neighbors, share in the life of a parish with deep Appalachian Catholic roots, and be served by a pastor (Rev. Michael Wolfe) who is a sacramental minister in addition to pastor of neighboring parishes.
Mass times at St. Michael
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 8:40 AM (before Mass)
Parish Identity and Location
St. Michael Parish sits at 1316 St. Paul Road in West Salisbury, a small Appalachian community in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. The parish is part of the Diocese of Altoona–Johnstown, one of whose eight counties is Somerset County, and is identified on the diocese directory as 'Saint Michael Parish, Salisbury.' The parish is a small, rural faith community whose Catholic roots trace back to the immigrant families drawn to the area by the railroads and the coal mines in the 19th century.
- Diocese of Altoona–Johnstown
- Somerset County, Pennsylvania
- 1316 St. Paul Road, West Salisbury, PA 15558
- Patron: St. Michael the Archangel
History of St. Michael's
St. Michael's was founded in 1887 by a Church Committee of four Catholic laymen who faced resistance when trying to buy land, because at that time Catholics were considered undesirable residents. John Anspach, a former West Salisbury Station Agent, ultimately deeded the site of the present church and rectory to the committee. The church was completed and dedicated in 1887; its altar, bell, and original pews were transferred from the older Saints Philip and James Church in Meyersdale. The parish's Baptismal Records include entries as far back as December 6, 1847, when at least two baptisms were celebrated by St. John Neumann during his missionary work in the region.
- 1887 Church Committee: Michael Knecht, Michael Riley, John Weimer, Michael Smith
- Land donated by John Anspach
- Pre-church Masses held in homes of Michael Knecht and Michael Murray, and in the local public school
- Mother church: Saints Philip and James, Meyersdale
Catholic Life in Southern Somerset County
The Catholic presence in southern Somerset County grew because of the Baltimore & Ohio and Western Maryland Railroads, the opening of coal mines and coke fields, and the area's fertile farmland. Originally ministered to by priests of the (now) Archdiocese of Baltimore (established 1790), the region was transferred to the Diocese of Pittsburgh in 1843 and to the Diocese of Altoona–Johnstown when it was erected in 1901.
- Pre-1790: ministry by (now) Archdiocese of Baltimore
- 1843: transferred to the Diocese of Pittsburgh
- 1901: became part of the newly created Diocese of Altoona–Johnstown
St. John Neumann Connection
St. Michael's holds in its Baptismal Records the entries of at least two baptisms celebrated at Salisbury on December 6, 1847 by Father John Neumann. Neumann later served as the fourth Bishop of Philadelphia and was declared Venerable in 1921, Beatified in 1963, and canonized a saint by Pope Paul VI in 1977.
- Baptismal entries dated December 6, 1847
- Celebrant: Father John Neumann (later St. John Neumann)
Clergy and Pastoral Succession
St. Michael's has been served by a long succession of pastors since the late 19th and early 20th centuries, drawn from the published parish history on salisburypa.com. Father Garrett B. Welch (1903–1905) drew plans for the rectory that his successor Father William A. McDonald carried out in late 1905–early 1906 at a cost of $4,000. The parish is currently pastored by Rev. Michael Wolfe, who also serves as pastor of Saint Gregory Parish in MacDonaldton and Saint Mary Parish in Pocahontas.
- Father Garrett B. Welch, 1903–1905
- Father William A. McDonald, c. 1905–1906 (built the rectory)
- Father John J. Brady, until March 1911
- Father George C. Quinn, March 1911 – June 1915
- Father Salvatore Pasquale Caprio, from June 1915
- Father John E. Dravetsky, from May 1943 (re-opened rectory 1945)
- Father Robert J. McCoy, from June 1961 (16th pastor; new church steps)
- Rev. Michael Wolfe, current (also pastor of St. Gregory, MacDonaldton, and St. Mary, Pocahontas)
Sacraments and Records
St. Michael's is a regular Roman-Latin Rite parish offering at least the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Sunday mornings before Mass. The parish also keeps historic baptismal records, including entries dating to 1847 from St. John Neumann's ministry.
- Reconciliation (Sunday 8:40 AM)
- Baptism (records kept on site)
Buildings and Property
The original 1887 church was built on land deeded by John Anspach. The altar, bell, and first pews came from the older Saints Philip and James Church in Meyersdale, and replacement pews funded around 1902 by James Connelly and Joseph Knecht are still in use. The present rectory was built in late 1905 and early 1906 under Father William A. McDonald. In 1961 Father Robert J. McCoy built new steps into the church.
- 1887 church building
- Rectory built 1905–1906 under Father McDonald
- Current pews funded c. 1902 by Connelly and Knecht
- New church steps built 1961 by Father McCoy
Visiting and Contact
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. Michael's by phone at (814) 662-2958 or by email at [email protected]. Driving directions published by the parish: from I-68 take North 219 to Salisbury; turn left at the light onto Rt. 669 to the 'T', then turn right onto St. Paul Road; the church is at 1316 St. Paul Road.
- Phone: (814) 662-2958
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: 1316 St. Paul Road, West Salisbury, PA 15558
- Driving directions via I-68 → N 219 → Rt. 669 → St. Paul Rd.
Clustered Pastoral Ministry
Rev. Michael Wolfe is pastor of three rural Somerset County parishes — Saint Michael (West Salisbury), Saint Gregory (MacDonaldton), and Saint Mary (Pocahontas) — and is listed as Sacramental Minister for St. Michael on the diocese clergy roster, reflecting a clustered model of ministry common in small rural dioceses.
- St. Michael, West Salisbury
- St. Gregory, MacDonaldton
- St. Mary, Pocahontas
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Garrett B. Welch1903–1905
Drew plans for the present rectory that were never built under his watch.
- Father William A. McDonaldc. 1905–c. 1906
Succeeded Father Welch; immediately built the present rectory at a cost of $4,000.
- Father John J. Bradyuntil March 1911
Preceded Father Quinn.
- Father George C. QuinnMarch 1911 – June 1915
First entry in Baptismal Records dated Annunciation Day, March 25, 1911.
- Father Salvatore Pasquale Capriofrom June 1915
Late Reverend; succeeded Father Quinn.
- Father John E. Dravetskyfrom May 1943
Re-opened the rectory in 1945 after an 18-month period when it had been rented to the Bruce Fisher family.
- Father Robert J. McCoyfrom June 1961
Sixteenth pastor of St. Michael's; built new steps into the church; in October 1961 he commemorated the Golden Jubilee of St. Gregory Parish in MacDonaldton.
- Rev. Michael Wolfepresent
Current pastor; also serves Saint Gregory Parish (MacDonaldton) and Saint Mary Parish (Pocahontas).