St. Paul of the Cross Monastery

Welcome to St. Paul of the Cross Monastery

The monastery extends a warm welcome to Pittsburgh's South Side and to all who come up Monastery Avenue in search of God's love. As St. Paul of the Cross, founder of the Passionists, intended every one of his houses to be a place of hospitality, the Pittsburgh community keeps that legacy alive through daily Mass, six days of confessions, the Monday Novena, a Food Bank, and a retreat center open to men, women, mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, and many day events. The Passionists live an active community life of prayer while serving the sacramental and pastoral needs of those who come through their doors.

History of the Monastery

Founded in 1852 at the petition of Pittsburgh's first bishop Michael O'Connor, the monastery was built by four pioneer Passionists from Italy who chose a ridge above the confluence of the three rivers — a symbolic gateway for their American mission. The cornerstone was laid August 7, 1853 and the building was occupied in June 1854; the church followed in 1858. From these walls the first Passionist retreat in the New World was preached in 1855, diocesan synods were held, new parishes were founded on the South Side, and parish missions were launched throughout the East. The retreat center, opened in 1920, was the first Passionist laymen's retreat house in the U.S.

• 1852 — four Passionists arrive from Italy at Bishop O'Connor's request
• 1853 — cornerstone laid August 7
• 1854 — monastery occupied in June
• 1855 — first Passionist retreat in the New World preached by Fr. Gaudentius Rossi
• 1858 — church erected on the ridge
• 1860 — Pennsylvania Charter of Incorporation granted
• 1920 — first Passionist retreat house for lay men in the U.S. opens
• 1925 — Monday Novena to the Passionist Saints begins
• 1950 — full complex rededicated after major renovation
• 1961 — retreat center addition brings capacity to 100 rooms

The Passionists in Pittsburgh

The community belongs to the Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ (C.P.), founded in 1720 by St. Paul of the Cross to proclaim the love of Jesus Crucified through prayer, poverty, penance, solitude, and apostolic preaching. Pittsburgh's house is the first Passionist foundation in the New World and has sent forth missionaries to Mexico, South America, China, and many other places; by 1965 the eastern province numbered over 600 men serving in multiple states and two overseas missions.

The Monday Novena in Honor of the Passionist Saints

Since 1925 the monastery has gathered crowds on Mondays for the perpetual Novena in honor of the Passionist Saints — St. Paul of the Cross, St. Gabriel Possenti, and St. Gemma Galgani. What began by popular request as a single novena to the young Passionist St. Gabriel quickly drew such devotion that four services are now celebrated, and confessions are heard after the 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM Masses. Over the decades many have brought their intentions to God through the powerful novena prayers.

St. Paul of the Cross Retreat Center

First opened in 1920 as the first Passionist retreat house for lay men in the United States and expanded in 1961, the Retreat Center hosts approximately 40 weekend retreats each year for up to 120 retreatants, plus days of recollection, evenings of recollection, specialized programs, workshops, and hosted events. Following the renovation of the original monastery wing, the Retreat Center now offers 47 guest rooms with private bathrooms (3 ADA-accessible), 27 guest rooms with communal bathrooms, a chapel (capacity ~100), the Saint Gemma Conference Room (capacity 80), the Saint Gabriel Room (capacity 40), a library (capacity 25), the Saint Maria Goretti Garden Room (capacity 12), and the St. Paul of the Cross Dining Room (capacity 100 for dinner).

• Retreats for men and women
• Mothers and daughters retreats
• Fathers and sons retreats
• Days of recollection and evening programs
• Hosted events for outside groups
• Spiritual workshops and specialized programs

How We Serve

The Passionists' ministry radiates from the monastery hill to the wider Pittsburgh community. In addition to daily liturgy and the sacraments, the community offers preaching, counseling and spiritual direction, aid for the recovering alcoholic (including "Fifth Step" sponsorship), the Monastery Food Bank, Christian enrichment through the retreat center, and meeting space for groups such as the local Peace & Justice coalition and Alcoholics Anonymous.

• Daily liturgy
• Sacrament of Reconciliation
• Preaching
• Counseling and spiritual direction
• Fifth Step aid for the recovering alcoholic
• Food for the needy (Monastery Food Bank)
• Christian enrichment at the retreat center
• Meeting place for Peace & Justice and AA groups

The Monastery Food Bank

From the very beginning of the Passionists in Pittsburgh in the 1850s the monastery has sought to help the poor in its neighborhood. The weekly food distribution begun during the Great Depression continues today as the Monastery Food Bank — staffed entirely by volunteers and always in need of non-perishable donations (especially mid- to late-month) and monetary gifts.

• Volunteer-staffed since the Great Depression
• Accepts non-perishable food and monetary donations
• Contact the monastery at (412) 381-1188 to volunteer or donate

The Monastery Crypt

Beneath the sanctuary lies a large vaulted room containing the burial vaults of the earliest Passionists in America — twenty bodies in all, including those of two Passionist bishops. The crypt served as a burial place until 1893 and also preserves remarkable artifacts: the death mask of St. Paul of the Cross, his skull cap, fragments of his handwritten letters, relics of saints, photographs of the pioneer Passionists, and 18th-century sacred vestments woven with silver threads that originally belonged to the Russian Czar's chapel in St. Petersburg.

Servant of God Fr. Theodore Foley, C.P.

Among the Rectors of St. Paul of the Cross Monastery was Fr. Theodore Foley, C.P., now declared a Servant of God. His body rests in the monastery church, making the building a place of pilgrimage for those devoted to his memory and to his cause for canonization. Fr. Foley's legacy continues to shape the community's identity as the first Passionist foundation in the New World.

Fr. Justin's Column

Fr. Justin Kerber, C.P., Rector of the monastery, writes a regular column sharing news of the Provincial Chapter, the community, staff transitions, vocations, and reflections on the Sacred Heart of Jesus and other devotions dear to the Passionist charism. Recent columns have reported on the election of Fr. Jim Price as Provincial Superior, the election of Fr. Michael Green to the Provincial Council, the retirement of long-time staff members Rusty Wilcox and Chris Tripoli, and the celebration of the Monday Holy Hour for Vocations.

Fr. Don's Desk

Fr. Don, C.P., shares reflections on the everyday rhythm of monastery life, his nearly 30 years of retreat house ministry (15 of them directing three Passionist retreat centers), his role as director of the international Pittsburgh Confraternity of the Passion (350+ members), and his work with the Passionist Associates — lay men and women who gather monthly to deepen their walk with the Lord alongside the religious community.

Weekly Bulletin

The monastery publishes a weekly bulletin with the current Mass and confession schedule, parish announcements, second-collection notices (such as the periodic Food Bank appeal), and other community news. Bulletins are available through the monastery's website.

Visiting the Monastery

St. Paul of the Cross Monastery is located at 148 Monastery Avenue on Pittsburgh's South Side, perched on a ridge overlooking the point where the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers meet to form the Ohio River. The retreat facility lists three ADA-accessible guest rooms. For Mass and confession times, retreat bookings, Food Bank donations, or general inquiries, contact the monastery at (412) 381-1188.