About St. Wendelin Church, Blessed Trinity Parish · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
St. Wendelin Church was a historic Catholic parish founded in 1873 on the Carrick–Baldwin border of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the brick-and-stone sanctuary that generations knew was constructed in 1896 (dedicated April 25, 1897). Long called the 'mother parish' of the South Hills Catholic community, St. Wendelin gave rise to St. Sylvester (Brentwood) in 1924 and helped anchor what is today Blessed Trinity Catholic Parish in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. The church building had not been used for Mass since 2020 due to mounting structural problems; a final Mass was celebrated there on November 26, 2023, and demolition began on June 6, 2024. Blessed Trinity Parish, which now unites St. Wendelin's former parishioners with those of St. Albert the Great, St. Basil, Holy Angels, and St. Sylvester, is pastored by Rev. Stephen A. Kresak from its administrative center at 3198 Schieck Street in the South Hills of Pittsburgh.
- Established
- 1873
- Patron
- St. Wendelin (7th-century Irish monk, patron of shepherds and cattle)
- Rector
- Rev. Stephen A. Kresak, MDiv
- Diocese
- Diocese of Pittsburgh (Bishop David Zubik)
Why belong here
Blessed Trinity Parish welcomes worshippers at four active church sites in the South Hills — St. Albert the Great (South Pittsburgh), St. Basil, Holy Angels (Hays), and St. Sylvester (Brentwood) — with daily Masses, weekend vigil Masses, Saturday confessions, and a robust sacramental life. Parishioners feed neighbors through the Brentwood Food Pantry, distribute diapers monthly at St. Basil, knit baptismal blankets and preemie afghans, and tend the gardens at all four worship sites; young families gather on the fourth Sunday for breakfast and 11 a.m. Mass at St. Albert, and First Friday Eucharistic Adoration is held at St. Sylvester. For former St. Wendelin parishioners and newcomers alike, the parish keeps the legacy of the 'mother parish of the South Hills' alive in its people, ministries, and cemeteries, even after the 2024 demolition of the historic church building.
Mass times at St. Wendelin Church, Blessed Trinity Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM at St. Sylvester
- Saturday 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM at St. Basil (cancelled when there is a funeral)
- Additional times are listed in the weekly bulletin on the parish website.
Adoration times
- First Friday Eucharistic Adoration, 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM at St. Sylvester (sign up for a prayer slot in advance).
About Blessed Trinity Parish and St. Wendelin Church
Blessed Trinity Catholic Parish is a South Hills Catholic community formed on July 1, 2020 under Bishop David Zubik's 'On Mission for The Church Alive!' initiative. It unites the former parishes of St. Wendelin (Carrick), Holy Angels (Hays), Holy Apostles (South Pittsburgh), and St. Sylvester (Brentwood), and worships at four active church sites — St. Albert the Great, St. Basil, Holy Angels, and St. Sylvester — under a single clergy team. The historic 1896 St. Wendelin Church was closed by the diocese, celebrated its final Mass on November 26, 2023, and was demolished in June 2024.
- Administrative Center: 3198 Schieck Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15227
- Phone: 412-884-7744 • Email: [email protected]
- Pastor: Rev. Stephen A. Kresak, MDiv
History of St. Wendelin Parish
St. Wendelin Parish was established in 1873 in the Carrick neighborhood of Pittsburgh, making it one of the oldest Catholic parishes in the South Hills. The brick-and-stone sanctuary that generations knew was built in 1896 and formally dedicated on April 25, 1897; its tall steeple — said to be the highest point in Allegheny County — became a Carrick landmark, and its three bells were among the first to ring in the area.
- 1873 — Parish founded
- 1896 — Sanctuary built; April 25, 1897 dedication
- 1880s–early 1900s — Steeple said to be the highest point in Allegheny County
- 1924 — Mission of St. Wendelin dedicated in Brentwood (later St. Sylvester, 1927)
- Early 20th century — On Sundays there were five Masses, including a 6 a.m. Mass with choir
- 2015 — Grouped under Bishop Zubik's 'On Mission for The Church Alive!'
- July 1, 2020 — Merged into Blessed Trinity Parish
- 2020 — St. Wendelin building last used for Mass due to structural issues
- November 26, 2023 — Final Mass celebrated
- June 6, 2024 — Demolition began
The Demolition of St. Wendelin Church
After Bishop David Zubik approved the parish's request to close the building, parishioners gathered for a final Mass on November 26, 2023, and demolition began on June 6, 2024. Fr. Kresak, who has been involved in the demolition of four churches, was present at the site to support grieving parishioners. The cornerstone and its time capsule are being preserved at St. Albert the Great, the three bells and cross are slated for a new bell tower there, and the Stations of the Cross — paid for by parishioners — were restored and donated to St. Sylvester.
- Repairs estimated at $1.5 million (roof, boiler, structure) were deemed unsustainable.
- Stained-glass windows and statues are being relocated to other parish sites.
- The adjacent St. Wendelin Cemetery remains in the parish's care.
- The site is under a sales contract for non-commercial redevelopment.
Clergy & Staff
Blessed Trinity Parish is served by a three-priest team and five permanent deacons, supported by parish-office staff, a music-and-liturgy team, faith-formation staff, youth ministry, social ministry, and a maintenance crew.
- Rev. Stephen A. Kresak, MDiv — Pastor
- Rev. Kenneth A. Sparks — Senior Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Zachary A. Galiyas — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Michael J. Babcock (Baptism coordination)
- Deacon James R. Grab
- Deacon Daniel E. Nizan — Pastoral Associate
- Deacon Andrew J. White, Sr. — Business Manager
- Deacon Timothy B. Zenchak
- Sister Theresa Bealer, SC — Coordinator of Social Ministry Services & Community Action
- Tommy Hoffman — Director of Music & Liturgy; Assistant Directors Eileen Hite and Paul White
- Lou Ann Shannon — Safe Environment & Ministry Coordinator
- Carolyn Eisenbarth & Elaine Garfold — Religious Education
- Nicholas Wolf & Anthony Bradley — Youth Ministry
- Jeff Jenney, Len Lis, Gene Werner — Maintenance Team
Worship Sites of Blessed Trinity Parish
Although St. Wendelin Church itself is closed, the parish continues to celebrate Mass and the sacraments at four worship sites across the South Hills. Each site retains its own weekday Mass schedule and Sunday services, allowing parishioners from Carrick, Baldwin, Brentwood, Hays, and South Pittsburgh to worship close to home.
- St. Albert the Great — 3198 Schieck Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15227 (parish administrative center; established 1956, current church dedicated 1991)
- St. Basil — 1735 Brownsville Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15210
- Holy Angels — 408 Baldwin Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15207 (parish founded January 11, 1903, originally under the patronage of St. Michael the Archangel)
- St. Sylvester — 3754 Brownsville Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15227 (established 1927; a former mission of St. Wendelin)
Parish Ministries & Outreach
Blessed Trinity Parish runs an unusually broad outreach network rooted in its South Hills neighborhoods. Food and material assistance is distributed monthly through the Brentwood Food Pantry and the Diaper Bank; Meals on Wheels operates out of St. Sylvester Hall; crafters crochet baptismal blankets and preemie afghans; and gardeners tend flowers at all four worship sites from spring through fall.
- Brentwood Food Pantry — 3rd Saturday, 9:30–11:00 AM, 3725 Brownsville Road, Brentwood (412-882-6035)
- Diaper Bank — 2nd Saturday, 9:00–10:45 AM at St. Basil
- Meals on Wheels — St. Sylvester Hall (412-881-6888)
- Crochet & Prayer Shawl Ministry — Thursdays 9:00 AM, Holy Angels School
- Parish Gardeners — spring–fall at all four worship sites
- Young Families Group — 4th Sunday breakfast + 11:00 AM Mass at St. Albert
Faith Formation, Youth & Religious Education
Religious Education for parish children, youth ministry for teens, and OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) for adults preparing to enter the Catholic Church are coordinated through the Parish Office at St. Albert. The youth ministry team plans retreats, service projects, and gatherings at St. Paul's Retreat Center and around the parish.
- Religious Education: Carolyn Eisenbarth (ext. 222) and Elaine Garfold (ext. 221)
- Youth Ministry: Nicholas Wolf (ext. 220) and Anthony Bradley
- OCIA (formerly RCIA) — inquiry, formation, and Easter initiation
- Pre-Baptism classes coordinated by Deacon Mike Babcock
Music & Liturgy
Music ministry across the four worship sites is led by Director of Music & Liturgy Tommy Hoffman, assisted by Eileen Hite and Paul White. Cantors, choirs, and instrumentalists serve weekend Masses, holy days, funerals, weddings, and the parish festival.
- Director of Music & Liturgy: Tommy Hoffman
- Assistant Music Directors: Eileen Hite and Paul White
- Contact: 412-884-7744 (Parish Office)
St. Wendelin Cemetery
The parish has confirmed that the historic cemetery adjacent to the former St. Wendelin Church site remains in the parish's possession and care, even after the 2024 demolition of the church building. Burial records and cemetery business continue to be handled through the parish administrative office.
- Location: adjacent to the former 2728 Custer Avenue church site (Carrick/Baldwin border)
- Records and inquiries: 412-884-7744 (Parish Office)
Getting Involved & Contact
Parish Office hours are Monday–Friday 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM (closed daily 12 noon – 1 PM for lunch). Visitors and returning parishioners are warmly invited to attend Mass at any of the four worship sites, sign up for First Friday Adoration, or join one of the parish's many ministries. The weekly bulletin is the best source for the latest Mass intentions, schedules, and announcements.
- Phone: 412-884-7744
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.blessedtrinitypgh.org
- Diocese of Pittsburgh parish page: diopitt.org/blessed-trinity-parish