About Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary · Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania
Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a Roman Catholic parish in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, founded in 1893 as a Slovak national parish by Catholics from St. Joseph Church. It belongs to the Diocese of Greensburg and today is partnered with neighboring St. Pius X Parish under a single pastor and pastoral team, sharing clergy, staff, faith-formation programs and ministries. The parish community numbers more than 1,400 households across the two partner churches and worships at 740 West Walnut Street in Mount Pleasant.
- Established
- 1893
- Patron
- Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Very Rev. Paul A. Lisik, V.F.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Greensburg
Why belong here
Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the spiritual home of more than 1,400 households in the Mount Pleasant area, sharing a pastor, parochial vicars, staff, faith-formation program and ministries with neighboring St. Pius X Parish. The parish offers daily and weekend Mass, weekly Confession, a Religious Education program on Sundays, a Middle School Youth Ministry (Companions of St. George and St. Joan of Arc), a High School Youth Ministry (Frassati Fellowship), liturgical ministries (Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Altar Servers, Ushers) and outreach such as the St. Vincent de Paul Society. New members can register online or through the parish office, making it easy to join this active faith community.
Mass times at Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday at 3:15 p.m. (at Visitation)
- First Saturday of each month at 12:00 p.m. (at St. Pius X)
Welcome to Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a Roman Catholic parish in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, and a partner parish with neighboring St. Pius X Parish. Together the parishes form an active faith community of more than 1,400 households, served by a single pastor, parochial vicars and pastoral staff. The parish website describes its life as 'the source and summit of our faith,' centering the community on the celebration of the liturgy while offering ministries for every age.
- Over 1,400 households served across the partner parishes
- Liturgy as 'the life blood of our parish'
- Open invitation to register as a new member
History of the Parish
The parish traces its origin to April 16, 1893, when a small group of Catholics from St. Joseph Church met to organize a Slovak parish in Mount Pleasant. The first Mass was celebrated the following November on land they had purchased near Eagle and Walnut Streets. Through fires, building campaigns, renovations and a partnership with St. Pius X, the parish has grown from these humble beginnings into a Mount Pleasant landmark.
- 1893 — parish organized; first Mass celebrated in November
- 1898 — cemetery established on four acres on South Diamond Street
- 1901 — rectory built at Eagle and Walnut Streets
- 1904 — Methodist Episcopal parsonage converted into a parish school
- 1908 — present two-and-a-half-story brick school completed (with apartments and auditorium)
- January 3, 1915 — fire destroys the church and guts the school
- July 2, 1916 — new brick church dedicated on the original site
- 1921 — grotto added to the church
- 1923 — interior of the church completed
- 1958–1962 — parish complex remodeled
- 1964 — additional land purchased to expand the cemetery
- 1968 — new organ installed
- 1971 — church refurbished
- Late 1970s — school cafeteria and parking lot added
- 2002 — church repointed, new sidewalk on Eagle Street, new choir loft railing
- 2003 — Transfiguration Church closed; its statue of the Blessed Mother brought to Visitation
- 2008 — Father Richard J. Kosisko becomes administrator
Architecture and Buildings
The present Visitation church is a brick building erected on the original Walnut Street site after the 1915 fire and dedicated July 2, 1916. A grotto was added on the grounds in 1921, and the interior decoration was completed in 1923. The complex also includes a rectory (1901) on the northwest corner of Eagle and Walnut Streets, a brick school (1908), and the parish cemetery on South Diamond Street.
- Brick church dedicated July 2, 1916
- Grotto added 1921
- Interior completed 1923
- Refurbished 1971
- Repointed in 2002
- 1901 rectory at Eagle and Walnut
- 1908 brick school
Clergy and Staff
The parish is led by Very Rev. Paul A. Lisik, V.F., who serves as pastor of both Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Pius X parishes. He is assisted by four parochial vicars. The lay pastoral staff handles administration, finances, liturgical music and facilities.
- Very Rev. Paul A. Lisik, V.F. — Pastor
- Rev. Peter Guardiano — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Edwin Rubido — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Tomas Avila, Jr. — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Julius Capongpongan — Parochial Vicar
- Erin Knizner — Administrative Assistant (bulletin, baptisms, Mass and candle intentions, ministers, funerals)
- Joy Wallace — Facilities & Business Manager
- Melissa Swift — Director of Liturgical Music (cantors and choir)
- Joe Bauer — Maintenance Supervisor
- Theresa Turner — Office Assistant
Parish Office and Accessibility
The parish office is located at 740 West Walnut Street, Mt. Pleasant, PA 15666, and is open Monday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Phone 724-547-1911; fax 724-547-2630.
- Office hours Mon–Thu 9:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
- Parish Office Phone: 724-547-1911
- Parish Office Fax: 724-547-2630
- Handicap-accessible restroom in church
- Visitation Community Center and St. Pius X School building are handicap accessible
- Handicap parking in rear lot of Visitation church
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners can take part in the celebration of Mass and other liturgies through a range of liturgical and musical ministries. Openings are available for adults, teens and children (where appropriate).
- Altar Servers — adults and children assist the celebrant at daily and weekend liturgies
- Eucharistic Ministers — assist with sharing the Body and Blood of Christ
- Eucharistic Ministers to the Homebound — bring Communion to those unable to attend
- Lectors — proclaim the Word of God at liturgies
- Ushers — direct the orderly flow of people and collect the offerings
Music Ministries
Music is coordinated by Melissa Swift, Director of Liturgical Music, who recruits and directs the cantors and choir for the partner parishes. Rehearsals are scheduled bi-weekly.
- Cantor Program — leads the assembly in prayerful song during the liturgy (open to those 16 years of age and older)
- Adult Choir
- Instrumental Music Ministry — for high school youth and adults
Faith Formation and Youth Ministry
Faith formation for children and youth is offered through a Sunday Religious Education program and two Youth Ministry programs. Sacramental preparation registration must be completed in person at a Parent Meeting; paper forms and bulletin announcements provide details.
- Religious Education Program — meets on Sundays; comprehensive, faith-based programming for children
- Registration fee: $10 per child (cash, check, or online)
- Online registration available; sacramental prep in person at a Parent Meeting
Youth Ministry Programs
Two Youth Ministry programs accompany the Religious Education program, both meeting once a month on Saturdays at St. Rita's school. They form young people into faithful Catholics, responsible citizens, and strong leaders.
- Companions of St. George and St. Joan of Arc — Middle Youth Ministry for grades 6–8; focused on virtue-building and Scripture
- Frassati Fellowship — High School Youth Ministry for grades 9–12; studies the lives of the saints and offers service opportunities
Organizations and Outreach
Beyond liturgical ministries, the parish community supports outreach to those in need through parish organizations.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — outreach to the needy
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for and celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments. Reconciliation is offered weekly, and sacramental preparation for Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage and others is arranged through the parish office.
- Reconciliation — Saturday 3:15 p.m. at Visitation; first Saturday 12:00 p.m. at St. Pius X
- Baptism — scheduled through the parish office
- Confirmation — sacramental preparation through the parish
- Marriage — arranged through the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — through the parish office
- Funerals — coordinated through the parish office
Becoming a Member
Newcomers and visitors are warmly invited to register as members of the parish. Membership can be completed by submitting the new member registration form (available online and in the churches/office) to the parish office, which is part of the Diocese of Greensburg.
- New member registration form available online and in the churches/office
- Parish Office open Mon–Thu, 9:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
- Part of the Diocese of Greensburg
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Richard J. Kosisko2008–
Became administrator of Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish and pastor of St. Pius X Parish in 2008.