About St. Tobias · Brockway, Pennsylvania
St. Tobias Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Brockway, Pennsylvania, part of the Diocese of Erie. The community's Catholic roots go back to 1896, when Mass was first celebrated in the home of Roger Welsh by a visiting priest from St. Boniface in Kersey. Today the parish is served by Very Rev. John J. Detisch, V.F., and a small lay staff, and worships in a church dedicated and blessed on October 27, 1968, whose faceted-glass nave windows were designed by H. Peter Brahm and crafted by the Pittsburgh Glass Studios. St. Tobias also maintains a parish cemetery (established 1901), a School of Religion, a parish center, and a food pantry, and it live-streams its Masses on YouTube for the homebound.
- Established
- 1896
- Patron
- St. Tobias
- Rector
- Rev. John J. Detisch, V.F.
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie
Why belong here
St. Tobias is a generational, small-town Catholic parish that has served the Brockway area since 1896 and continues to combine traditional parish life with modern outreach. Active ministries include the Care and Comfort Tuesday meal program, a St. Vincent de Paul Society food pantry (open the 1st Wednesday of every month), a St. Rita Dinner gathering for parishioners who live and eat alone, funeral brunches, visitation of personal-care and nursing facilities, and a full slate of liturgical ministries (altar servers, cantors, lectors, greeters, ushers, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion). With daily Mass Tuesday through Friday, Saturday Vigil and Sunday Masses live-streamed on YouTube, a School of Religion, and a parish-run cemetery, it is a community where members know one another and put their faith into concrete works of mercy.
Mass times at St. Tobias
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 3:30 pm – 4:15 pm
About Our Parish
St. Tobias Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Brockway, Pennsylvania, belonging to the Diocese of Erie. The parish's story begins in 1896 when Mass was first celebrated in the home of Roger Welsh by the Rev. B.J. Raycroft of St. Boniface, Kersey. The community has worshipped on the Main Street / Hewitt Street corridor ever since, and the present church was dedicated and blessed on October 27, 1968. The parish also explains the symbolism of its stained-glass windows on a dedicated page of its website.
- Parish traces its origin to a 1896 Mass in the Roger Welsh home
- Earlier regional Catholic church — St. Anastasius, Brockport — dedicated in 1890 by Bishop Tobias Mullen
- Present church dedicated and blessed October 27, 1968
- Faceted glass in Nave and Chapel designed by H. Peter Brahm, created by Pittsburgh Glass Studios
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Pastor Very Rev. John J. Detisch, V.F., supported by a small team of lay staff handling faith formation, finances, facilities, liturgical music, and parish administration. The Diocese of Erie's parish directory confirms the same roles.
- Rev. John J. Detisch, V.F. — Pastor
- Travis Marnati — Director of Faith Formation (School of Religion)
- Tara Starr — Director of Finances (and Religious Education Leader per Diocese directory)
- Kevin Rush — Director of Music Ministry / Liturgical Music
- George Smithro — Director of Facilities
- Kristin Moore — Administrative Assistant / Support Staff
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners serve the Mass in a variety of liturgical roles. Schedules for liturgical ministers are posted on the parish website.
- Altar Servers — boys and girls assist the priest and serve at Mass
- Cantors — lead the congregation in hymns and acclamations
- Lectors — guide the assembly by reading Sacred Scripture
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion — assist clergy in distributing the Body and Blood of Christ
- Greeters — welcome those arriving for Mass
- Ushers — provide collection services and hand out bulletins
Outreach & Works of Mercy
St. Tobias describes its outreach ministries as 'meaningful works of mercy' sustained by parishioners who give their time, talent, and treasure. Volunteers for any of these ministries can sign up via an online form on the parish website.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society Food Pantry — distributes food to those in need from the parish and community; open the 1st Wednesday of every month, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm
- Care and Comfort — prepares and delivers home-cooked meals every Tuesday to those in need
- St. Rita Dinner — social gathering with a sit-down meal for parishioners who live and eat alone
- Funeral Brunch — volunteers prepare and serve a brunch after a Funeral Mass
- Visitation of Personal Care / Nursing Facilities — volunteers visit parishioners in care facilities
Faith Formation — School of Religion
The parish operates a School of Religion (parish religious education program) under its Director of Faith Formation, providing Catholic instruction for the children of the parish. A separate phone line is dedicated to the School of Religion.
- Director of Faith Formation: Travis Marnati
- School of Religion phone: 814-265-1590
- Email: [email protected]
St. Tobias Cemetery
St. Tobias Cemetery, established in 1901, is maintained by the parish and is located at the parish address on Hewitt Street. Inquiries about the cemetery can be directed to the parish office or via a dedicated email.
- Established 1901
- Address: 1135 Hewitt St., Brockway, PA 15824
- Phone: 814-268-3655
- Email: [email protected]
How to Reach Us & Visiting
Visitors and parishioners can reach St. Tobias by phone, email, or in person during office hours. The church is on Hewitt Street off US Route 219 in Brockway.
- Church Office: 814-268-3655 — hours 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Monday through Friday
- Fax: 814-268-1147
- School of Religion: 814-265-1590
- Parish Center: 814-265-8064
- Cemetery email: [email protected]
- General email: [email protected]
- Directions: 1135 Hewitt Street, off US Route 219, Brockway, PA 15824