About The Pittsburgh Oratory & Ryan Catholic Newman Center · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
The Pittsburgh Oratory of Saint Philip Neri is a Catholic society-of-apostolic-life community and Newman Center serving the students of the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, and Chatham University, as well as the wider Pittsburgh faithful. Founded in 1961 by then-Bishop (later Cardinal) John Wright, it was the first Oratorian community in the world invited into a diocese specifically to serve as campus ministers to secular universities. Today, seven Oratorian priests live in community at 4450 Bayard Street in Oakland, collaborating with two teams of FOCUS missionaries to minister to students, run the campus apostolate, and sustain Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in the Oratory chapel, daily Masses, an extensive confession schedule, retreats at the Oratory's Rednal retreat house in Ligonier, and parish programming rooted in the spirit of St. Philip Neri and St. John Henry Newman.
- Established
- 1961
- Patron
- Saint Philip Neri
- Rector
- Father Michael Darcy, Provost
- Diocese
- Diocese of Pittsburgh
Why belong here
Members and visitors come for daily and Sunday Mass (including a student-focused 9 p.m. Mass during the academic year), a robust schedule of confessions seven days a week, and Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration exposed around the clock in the Oratory chapel. The Oratory is uniquely integrated with campus ministry at Pitt, CMU, and Chatham: weekly FOCUS Bible studies, Newman Nights, First Friday feasts, on-campus Masses at Heinz Chapel (Pitt) and Wright-Rogal Chapel (CMU), and weekend retreats at the Rednal retreat house in Ligonier make it a vibrant hub for Catholic students. Forged in the Oratorian tradition of St. Philip Neri, the community welcomes students, faculty, and local lay faithful into a life centered on the sacraments, devotion to the Word, and intentional Catholic community.
Mass times at The Pittsburgh Oratory & Ryan Catholic Newman Center
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Friday: 12:00pm–1:00pm and 4:00pm–5:00pm
- Saturday: 12:00pm–1:00pm and 3:00pm–4:00pm
- Sunday: 3:00pm–4:00pm (2 priests available)
Adoration times
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration around the clock in the Oratory chapel (Blessed Sacrament exposed at all hours except during Mass and Tuesday morning chapel cleaning); adorers commit to one hour on the same day each week.
The Pittsburgh Oratory at a Glance
The Pittsburgh Oratory of St. Philip Neri is a community of secular priests and brothers living in the Oratorian tradition founded by St. Philip Neri in 16th-century Rome. Since 1961 it has served as the Catholic Newman Center for students at the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, and Chatham University, while also welcoming the wider Pittsburgh faithful to its daily Masses, seven-day-a-week confessions, Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, and retreat ministry.
- Founded 1961
- Diocese of Pittsburgh
- 4450 Bayard Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
- Currently 7 Oratorian priests
- First Oratorian house invited into a diocese to serve secular universities
History of the Pittsburgh Oratory
Bishop (later Cardinal) John Wright founded the Oratory in 1961 as the first community of Oratorians in the world invited into a diocese to serve as campus ministers at secular universities. Inspired by John Henry Newman's writings, Wright worked with Fr. John Walsh (Archdiocese of Chicago) and two priests from the Rock Hill, SC Oratory — Fathers John Greene and John Ryan — who agreed to the new foundation after meeting Wright at a pub in Oxford, England.
First House and Early Years
The first home was a large house at 4040 Bigelow Boulevard in Oakland that had originally been designed for the president of Carnegie Mellon University by architect Henry Hornbostel. Mrs. Howard Hanna helped Bishop Wright secure the property. Cardinal Wright ordained Fr. William Clancy in 1964 at Heinz Chapel on the Pitt campus. The community weathered significant turnover (including Greene and Ryan's departure from the community and priesthood) before stabilizing in 1968.
- First address: 4040 Bigelow Boulevard
- Architect: Henry Hornbostel
- 1964 ordination of Fr. William Clancy at Heinz Chapel
Becoming a Pontifical House
In 1968 the Holy See granted Pittsburgh permission to be established as an autonomous pontifical house of the Confederation of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri. At the first internal election, Fr. William Clancy was chosen as Provost and led the community until his death in 1982. The 50th anniversary of this pontifical status (1968–2018) was marked with a renewed mission to serve the local universities and the lay faithful attracted by the charism of St. Philip Neri and Blessed John Henry Newman.
- 1968: established as a pontifical house
- Fr. William Clancy — first Provost, served until 1982
- 50th anniversary celebrated 2018
The Oratorians (Our Priests & Brothers)
Seven Oratorian priests currently live in community at the Oratory, supported by men in formation and two teams of FOCUS missionaries. The community follows the secular Oratorian model: members are bound by fraternal charity and common purpose rather than formal vows, with the promise of obedience to the elected Provost.
Current Priests and Staff
The community is led by Fr. Michael Darcy as Provost (ordained 2002, doctorate in Theology from Duquesne University, also teaches senior Religion at Central Catholic High School). Fr. Joshua Kibler serves as Vice-Provost, and Fr. Peter Gruber — who has lived at the Oratory since his college days at Pitt in 2010 and was ordained in 2017 — is Director of Campus Ministry and Minister of Rednal retreat house.
- Father Michael Darcy — Provost
- Father Joshua Kibler — Vice-Provost
- Father Peter Gruber — Director of Campus Ministry; Minister of Rednal
- Additional Oratorian priests (Fr. Thomas, Fr. Leo, others) listed on the website
What is an Oratory?
An 'Oratory' is both a house of prayer and a community of priests living together. St. Philip Neri founded the first Oratory in 16th-century Rome from a small group of laymen who met for prayer, spiritual reading, and discussion. The Pittsburgh Oratory of St. Philip Neri was founded in 1961 to be the Newman Center for Pitt, CMU, and Chatham students. There are now more than ninety Oratories worldwide.
- Founded by St. Philip Neri in Rome in the 1500s
- Over 90 Oratories worldwide today
- Bound by charity rather than formal vows
Campus Ministry & the Newman Center
Newman Centers serve Catholic students at secular universities by fostering Christ-centered friendships, faith formation, and pastoral care. The Pittsburgh Newman Center is unique in being fully integrated into the Oratory, giving students direct access to Oratorian priests and the sacraments. The Oratory partners with two FOCUS teams and a lay Campus Minister (Hannah Naylor) to minister at Pitt, CMU, and Chatham.
- Blessed by 7 Oratorian priests and 10 FOCUS missionaries
- Pitt Newman Club
- CMU Newman Club
On-Campus Masses
During the academic year, Mass is celebrated on the campuses of the universities the Oratory serves.
- Sunday 11:00am at Heinz Chapel (University of Pittsburgh)
- Monday 5:15pm at Wright-Rogal Chapel (Carnegie Mellon University)
FOCUS Missionaries
FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) missionaries conduct relational ministry through Bible studies, discipleship, campus outreach, and personal investment in students.
- FOCUS Team at Pitt — Director: Dan Tully
- Members: Joseph Heaney, John Wang, Constance Viollet, Lily Bernero, Maddy Fischahs
- FOCUS Team at CMU — Director: Abbie Hedglen
- Members: Ian McCarron, Corinne Gorski, Morgan Gillis
- Campus Minister: Hannah Naylor
Holy Days & Holiday Schedule
On Memorial Day, Independence Day (July 4), Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and the day after Thanksgiving, only one Mass is celebrated at 10:00am and there are no regularly scheduled confessions.
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day (July 4)
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving Day and the day after
Retreats at Rednal
The Oratory maintains Rednal, an 87-acre retreat house in the Laurel Highlands near Ligonier, Pennsylvania. Several retreat weekends are offered each semester for prayer and reflection; Fr. Peter Gruber serves as Minister of Rednal.
- 87 acres in the Laurel Highlands
- Located near Ligonier, PA
- Multiple student retreats each semester
Visit, Contact & Getting Involved
Parishioners and visitors can reach the Oratory by phone, email, or in person. Students can connect through the Oratory's Catholic Newman Discord, by stopping by the Newman Center, finding a FOCUS Bible study, or attending Newman Night on Sundays.
- Address: 4450 Bayard Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
- Phone: 412-681-3181
- Email: [email protected]
- Fax: 412-681-2922
- Facebook: pittsburghoratory
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father John Walsh1961–
Co-founder with Bishop (later Cardinal) John Wright; came from the Archdiocese of Chicago; learned of the new foundation while at the Birmingham Oratory in England.
- Father William Clancy1964–1982
Ordained by Cardinal Wright in 1964 at Heinz Chapel; first Provost of the Oratory after 1968 election as a pontifical house; served as Provost until his death in 1982.