About Sts. Peter and Paul [Ukrainian] · Ambridge, Pennsylvania
Saints Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church is a Byzantine-rite Ukrainian Catholic parish serving the Ambridge, Pennsylvania community in Beaver County, about 20 miles northwest of Pittsburgh. Founded in 1907 by Ukrainian immigrants who had settled in Ambridge seeking work and a better life, the parish preserves its heritage through liturgies celebrated in both Church Slavonic and English, and through beloved community traditions like homemade pirohi. The parish falls under the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma, Ohio, and is currently served by Fr. Michael Polosky, pastor of more than two decades, with Canon Walter J. Wysochansky in residence and Deacon Mark Prokopovich.
- Established
- 1907
- Patron
- Saints Peter and Paul
- Rector
- Fr. Michael Polosky
- Diocese
- Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma (geographically within the Roman Diocese of Pittsburgh)
Why belong here
Saints Peter & Paul offers a rare and living witness to Byzantine Ukrainian Catholic tradition right in the Beaver County valley, with Divine Liturgies celebrated in both Church Slavonic and English to serve both heritage-rooted and English-speaking parishioners. The parish combines reverent Byzantine worship with a warm, multigenerational community life — including the beloved homemade-pirohi tradition and a parish school hall — under a pastor who has served for more than twenty years. Visitors are welcomed as family, and the parish actively reaches beyond itself, from supporting Ukrainian refugees in 2022 to keeping the church open daily for personal prayer.
Mass times at Sts. Peter and Paul [Ukrainian]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:45 PM (per Catholic Mass Time directory)
Parish History and Heritage
Saints Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church was founded in 1907 by Ukrainian immigrants who had settled in Ambridge, Pennsylvania in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Their first general meeting was held in Kristufek's Hall in the spring of 1907 under Father Nicholas Stefanowych, and within months they had purchased three lots and a brick church from the Methodists for $6,000 — on the very site where the present church now stands. Father Myron Danylwych became the first resident pastor in May 1908, and the community built a new sanctuary that was blessed by Father Peter Yezersky on Labor Day 1917.
- Founded in 1907 by Ukrainian immigrants in Ambridge, Beaver County, PA
- First resident pastor: Father Myron Danylwych (May 1908)
- New altar and sanctuary blessed Labor Day 1917 by Father Peter Yezersky
- Nine-acre cemetery tract acquired in 1926 from Wagner and Kerr for $6,000
- Three new bells installed June 1927 for $1,115.77
- Sister Servants of Mary Immaculate arrived to teach at the school in 1939
- Father Consultor Alexander Krochmalny arrived September 1940
Clergy and Pastoral Leadership
The parish is led today by Fr. Michael Polosky, who has served as pastor for more than two decades and whose own grandparents emigrated from Ukraine and met in America over a century ago. Canon Walter J. Wysochansky serves in residence, and Deacon Mark Prokopovich assists in ministry.
- Fr. Michael Polosky — Pastor (20+ years)
- Canon Walter J. Wysochansky — In Residence
- Deacon Mark Prokopovich
Byzantine Ukrainian Catholic Worship
As a parish of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Saints Peter & Paul celebrates the Divine Liturgy in the Byzantine tradition. Weekend liturgies are offered in both Church Slavonic and English to serve the heritage-rooted and English-speaking members of the community. The parish's patron saints are Peter and Paul, and the pastor has transferred the great Feast of Saints Peter & Paul from June 29 to the closest weekend so that more of the community can gather to celebrate together.
- Saturday Vigil Divine Liturgy — 6:00 PM (English)
- Sunday Divine Liturgy — 8:00 AM (Church Slavonic)
- Sunday Divine Liturgy — 11:00 AM (English)
- Confessions — Saturday 4:45 PM
- Patronal Feast of Saints Peter & Paul (transferred from June 29 to the nearest weekend)
Contact, Address, and Practical Information
The parish is located at 404 6th Street, Ambridge, PA 15003, in Beaver County about 20 miles northwest of Pittsburgh. The rectory phone is 724-266-2262, and the pirohi/school hall can be reached at 724-266-5059. Parishioners and friends can reach the parish office by email at [email protected] or through the parish website at sspeter-paul.com.
- Address: 404 6th Street, Ambridge, PA 15003
- Rectory phone: 724-266-2262
- Pirohi/School Hall phone: 724-266-5059
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://sspeter-paul.com/
Eparchy and Wider Catholic Identity
Although the parish is geographically within the territory of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, it belongs canonically to the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma, Ohio, under Bishop Bohdan John Danylo. Worldwide, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church is led by Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, whose seat is in Kyiv, Ukraine — a reality Pastor Polosky emphasized during the parish's 2022 prayer vigils for peace.
- Ecclesiastical jurisdiction: Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma
- Geographic location: within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh
- Part of the worldwide Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church centered in Kyiv
- Bishop: Bohdan John Danylo (Eparchy of Parma)
Community Life and Outreach
Saints Peter & Paul has long been known for its warm community life — including a beloved pirohi tradition tied to the parish school hall — and for the active parish organizations listed in its early history: the Apostleship of Prayer, Ushers Club, Sodality of the Blessed Virgin, Altar Boys' Society, League of Ukrainian Catholics, Marian Mothers' Club, Providence Association, and the Choir. In 2022, after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the parish kept the church open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily for personal prayer and forwarded donations (made payable to 'Saints Peter and Paul Church' with 'Ukraine' on the memo line) through Bishop Danylo to a bishop in Poland for distribution to Ukrainian refugees.
- Beloved homemade-pirohi tradition tied to the parish school hall
- Longstanding parish organizations: Apostleship of Prayer, Ushers Club, Sodality of the Blessed Virgin, Altar Boys' Society, League of Ukrainian Catholics, Marian Mothers' Club, Providence Association, and the Choir
- Church open 9 a.m.–9 p.m. daily for personal prayer (since 2022)
- Active fundraising for Ukrainian refugees through the Eparchy of Parma
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Nicholas Stefanowych1907 (founding meeting, presided)
Presided at the first general meeting of the Greek Catholic faithful in Kristufek's Hall, spring 1907.
- Father Myron Danylwych1908 onward
First resident pastor; received by the parish in May 1908.
- Father Peter Yezerskythrough at least 1917
Blessed the altar and sanctuary of the new church on Labor Day 1917.
- Father Consultor Alexander Krochmalnyfrom September 1940
Arrived to enrich the parish during the difficult World War II years.
- Fr. Michael Poloskymore than two decades (past 2000s–present)
Long-serving current pastor; led the 2022 fundraising effort for Ukrainian refugees.