About St. Victor, Our Lady of the Lakes Parish · Bairdford, Pennsylvania
Our Lady of the Lakes Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Pittsburgh serving the communities of West Deer Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania — primarily the unincorporated villages of Bairdford and Russellton in the Pittsburgh suburbs. Formed on July 1, 2020 from the merger of the historic Transfiguration and St. Victor parishes, it operates across two worship sites: St. Victor Roman Catholic Church on Bairdford Road and Transfiguration Roman Catholic Church on McKrell Road in Russellton. The parish is led by Rev. James P. Holland, MDiv, RN, MSN — a priest with a medical/nursing background — assisted by Deacon Rick Sumrok. It serves a mix of long-rooted local Catholic families (many descending from the early-20th-century coal-mining immigrant communities) and newer residents of the suburban Deer Lakes area.
- Established
- 2020
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Lakes (Blessed Virgin Mary); the Bairdford worship site is dedicated to St. Victor
- Rector
- Rev. James P. Holland, MDiv, RN, MSN
- Diocese
- Diocese of Pittsburgh
Why belong here
Our Lady of the Lakes is a welcoming two-site parish where members can worship in two historic churches — the mission-built St. Victor in Bairdford (founded 1919) and Transfiguration in Russellton (founded 1914) — and still be one faith community. The parish offers daily and weekend Mass in English at both sites, weekly confession before Saturday Mass, weekly Wednesday Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament followed by the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, monthly Holy Hours, a Lenten Stations of the Cross devotion, faith-formation programs like the 'Faith and Reason' Summer Program and 'Church 101' Q&A series, and a wide range of volunteer ministries through its stewardship program ('God has no hands but yours'). For Catholics in West Deer Township it combines small-parish intimacy with the stability of an established diocesan parish.
Mass times at St. Victor, Our Lady of the Lakes Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 3:00 PM–3:50 PM at St. Victor Church (before the 4:00 PM Vigil Mass)
- First Wednesday of every month 6:00 PM–7:00 PM at St. Victor Church
- During Advent and Lent: immediately following the 6:00 PM Wednesday evening Mass
- By appointment — call the parish office at 724-265-2070
Adoration times
- Wednesdays 2:00 PM–3:00 PM at St. Victor Church, followed by the Chaplet of Divine Mercy
- During Advent and Lent: Wednesdays 7:00 PM–8:00 PM at St. Victor Church (immediately after the evening Mass, while confessions are heard)
- Monthly Holy Hour 7:00 PM–8:00 PM on the first Tuesday of every month — January, March, May, July, September, November at Transfiguration Church; February, April, June, August, October, December at St. Victor Church
- During Lent: Fridays 6:00 PM–7:00 PM at St. Victor Church before Stations of the Cross
About Our Lady of the Lakes Parish
Our Lady of the Lakes Parish is a Roman Catholic community in the Diocese of Pittsburgh serving West Deer Township in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania — primarily Bairdford and Russellton in the northern suburbs of Pittsburgh. The parish is uniquely organized around two active worship sites: St. Victor Roman Catholic Church on Bairdford Road and Transfiguration Roman Catholic Church on McKrell Road in Russellton. The parish office (Administrative Center) is at 527 Bairdford Road. According to the parish and the diocesan directory, the parish is led by pastor Rev. James P. Holland, MDiv, RN, MSN and Deacon Rick Sumrok.
History of the Parish
Our Lady of the Lakes Parish was canonically established on July 1, 2020 from the merger of the long-standing Transfiguration and St. Victor parishes, both in West Deer Township. Its roots, however, run more than a century deep.
St. Victor Church — Founded 1919
St. Victor was founded as a Catholic mission in 1919 to serve the immigrant families — many from Eastern Europe — who came to work the bituminous coal mines of the Berry Mine patch developed by Ford Collieries beginning in 1914. The original chapel was dedicated on October 7, 1923. The church was rededicated on September 21, 1952, and again on December 12, 1971, reflecting the changing demographics of West Deer Township as the mining community became a residential suburb after the Berry Mine closed in 1953.
- Mission established 1919
- Chapel dedicated October 7, 1923
- Rededicated September 21, 1952
- Rededicated December 12, 1971
- Located at 531 Bairdford Road, Bairdford, PA 15006
Transfiguration Parish — Founded 1914
Transfiguration Parish in Russellton was established in 1914, when the pastor of St. Mary Church, New Kensington began celebrating Mass in homes and commercial buildings in Russellton. A church committee petitioned the bishop on April 13, 1914; the original church was completed in 1916 and a resident pastor assigned the same year. It was enlarged in 1935 and 1950, and a new entranceway was added in 1993. On June 15, 2006 a fire destroyed the church; the school gym was converted into a permanent worship space that opened before the end of 2008.
- Parish established 1914; church completed 1916
- Enlarged 1935 and 1950; new entrance 1993
- Destroyed by fire June 15, 2006
- Current worship space (former school gym) opened 2008
- Located at 100 McKrell Road, Russellton, PA 15076
The 2020 Merger — 'On Mission for The Church Alive!'
In April 2015, Bishop David Zubik of the Diocese of Pittsburgh launched the diocesan-wide strategic planning initiative 'On Mission for The Church Alive!' to address declining Mass attendance, fewer sacramental celebrations and a shrinking priest pool. Transfiguration and St. Victor were grouped together, sharing clergy and staff and publishing a joint bulletin. On July 1, 2020 the merger was formalized into Our Lady of the Lakes Parish, with Rev. James P. Holland — previously administrator of both parishes — appointed as the first pastor.
- Bishop Zubik's 'On Mission for The Church Alive!' initiative launched April 12, 2015
- Transfiguration & St. Victor grouped; shared clergy and joint bulletin
- Merged parish canonically erected July 1, 2020
- Rev. James P. Holland appointed first pastor
Other Liturgical Services and Devotions
The parish maintains the traditional devotional rhythm of the Catholic year. Featured devotions include the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, Stations of the Cross in Lent, the Divine Mercy Novena leading into Divine Mercy Sunday, and the special liturgies of Holy Week and Easter (Easter Vigil at St. Victor; Holy Thursday Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper at Transfiguration, with the church open until 10:00 PM for prayer at the Altar of Repose).
- Chaplet of Divine Mercy — Wednesdays 3:00 PM at St. Victor
- Stations of the Cross — Friday evenings in Lent at St. Victor
- Divine Mercy Novena (annual)
- Easter Vigil at St. Victor Church
- Holy Thursday 7:00 PM at Transfiguration Church (church open until 10:00 PM)
- Easter Blessing of Families
Parish Leadership and Staff
The parish is pastored by Rev. James P. Holland, MDiv, RN, MSN, who brings both theological and medical/nursing credentials to his ministry, assisted by Deacon Rick Sumrok. Parishioners with special needs or concerns may contact Father Jim directly at 412-977-6589. The parish also credits liturgy coordinators and religious-education staff on its 'Church 101' page, and a broader staff supports the parish office at 527 Bairdford Road.
- Pastor: Rev. James P. Holland, MDiv, RN, MSN ([email protected])
- Deacon: Deacon Rick Sumrok ([email protected])
- Liturgy coordinators
- Religious Education staff
- Pastoral line for special needs: 412-977-6589
Ministries, Stewardship and Volunteer Opportunities
Under the banner 'God has no hands but yours,' Our Lady of the Lakes runs a parish-wide stewardship and volunteer program inviting parishioners to share their time and talent. Volunteer opportunities are coordinated through the parish office. The parish also notes that it welcomes gifts and skills not explicitly listed and asks parishioners to pray about where the Spirit is leading them.
- Parish-wide Stewardship & Volunteer program
- Women's Guild (flower sale, Mother's Day cookie sale and other fundraisers)
- Liturgical ministries (coordinated by liturgy team)
- Safe Environment / VIRTUS volunteer screening
Faith Formation and 'Church 101'
Faith formation is offered through ongoing programs for adults and children. The 'Faith and Reason' Summer Program (announced for June 21–27, 2026) is a multi-day formation event. 'Church 101' is a parish Q&A feature in which parishioners can anonymously submit questions about the Mass and the Catholic faith, with answers drawn from the parish priests, deacons, liturgy coordinators and religious-education staff.
- Faith and Reason Summer Program
- Church 101 — anonymous Q&A (email [email protected])
- Religious Education for children and youth
- Liturgy coordinators as formation resources
Sacraments and Parish Registration
The parish celebrates the standard seven sacraments. For Baptism and Confirmation, Catholic sponsors must be registered, contributing members 'in good standing' of the parish; the parish notes it has at times been unable to provide sponsor letters for individuals not registered. Registration forms are available in the back of the church, at the parish office, or on the parish website at www.ollakes.org.
- Baptism — sponsor verification required
- Confirmation — sponsor verification required
- Marriage — contact the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — pastoral line 412-977-6589
- Parish registration forms in church, office, or online at ollakes.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James P. Holland, MDiv, RN, MSN2020–present
First pastor of Our Lady of the Lakes Parish; had previously served as administrator of Transfiguration and St. Victor parishes during the 'On Mission for The Church Alive!' merger process.