About Visitation of the B.V.M · Johnstown, Pennsylvania
The Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown serving the Eighth Ward (Osborne and Roxbury neighborhoods) of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Founded on January 10, 1927, by Bishop John J. McCort after Catholic laymen petitioned for a new parish to be carved out of St. Patrick in Moxham, it has ministered on McKinley Avenue for nearly a century. The current parish plant includes the present-day church, the 1953 grade school (now a Parish Activities Center), and the rectory/administration building at 1127 McKinley Avenue. The parish is led by Rev. John J. Slovikovski, Ph.D., and lives out a mission centered on Word, Sacrament, and Acts of Justice in the spirit of Vatican II.
- Established
- 1927
- Patron
- The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. John J. Slovikovski, Ph.D.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown
Why belong here
Visitation Parish is a close-knit Catholic community in Johnstown's Eighth Ward that has welcomed families for nearly a century and continues to invite new members into Word, Sacrament, and Acts of Justice in the spirit of Vatican II. Worshippers gather for a Vigil Mass on Saturday at 4:00 PM and Sunday Mass at 9:00 AM, share fellowship through the annual Lenten Fish Fry, Feast of the Visitation dinner, Finance and Parish Council meetings, and travel together on pilgrimage — most recently to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. The parish explicitly welcomes all people regardless of race, gender, nationality, social status, or sexuality, and seeks to integrate younger generations alongside its more mature members.
Mass times at Visitation of the B.V.M
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Scheduled seasonally and at any available time by appointment
Parish History & Heritage
The parish traces its origins to the rapid growth of Johnstown's Eighth Ward (Osborne and Roxbury neighborhoods) in the early 1920s, when Catholics in the area were served from St. Patrick Parish in Moxham. In 1926 a group of Catholic laymen petitioned Bishop John J. McCort, and on January 10, 1927, he formally established the parish, naming it under the patronage of the Blessed Mother and appointing Father James B. Hebron, S.T.B., as its founding pastor. The first Mass was celebrated in the basement of Catholic High School on Osborne Street on January 26, 1927.
- 1926 — Laymen petition Bishop McCort for a new parish
- January 10, 1927 — Parish formally established; Father James B. Hebron named first pastor
- January 26, 1927 — First Mass in the basement of Catholic High School on Osborne Street
- October 16, 1927 — Frame church on McKinley Avenue consecrated by Bishop McCort
- 1938–39 — Brick exterior, two side wings, and bell tower added (architect Raymond M. Marlier)
- October 1943 — Parish debt retired in only sixteen years
- January 12, 1968 — Catastrophic fire destroys original church
- June 21, 1970 — Present modern-style church dedicated by Bishop James J. Hogan
Mission Statement & Parish Identity
The Church of the Visitation describes itself as a Catholic community rooted in God's ongoing presence in Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, with the gathered assembly celebrating the Eucharist as the source from which it goes forth to instruct all persons in the faith and engage in the work of justice. The parish embraces the universal call to holiness in the spirit of Vatican II and under the special intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Visitation. It explicitly welcomes all people regardless of race, gender, nationality, social status, or sexuality, and seeks to integrate younger generations alongside its more mature members.
- Triad: WORD, SACRAMENT, and ACTS OF JUSTICE
- Rooted in the universal call to holiness (Vatican II)
- Under the special intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Visitation
- Welcoming to all, with intentional outreach to millennials and centennials
Pastor & Staff
The parish is led by Rev. John J. Slovikovski, Ph.D., whose pastor's column 'From the Pastor's Desk' appears in the weekly bulletin. The lay staff includes Catherine Bennett as Executive Assistant, Christine Houghton as Director of Liturgy / Parish Organist, and Maureen Clark as Director of Religious Education. The parish and finance councils are chaired by named lay leaders, with Steve Myers and Joseph Martella among the council leaders listed on the staff page.
- Rev. John J. Slovikovski, Ph.D. — Pastor (ext. 2)
- Catherine Bennett — Executive Assistant (ext. 1)
- Christine Houghton — Director of Liturgy / Parish Organist
- Maureen Clark — Director of Religious Education
- Parish Council, Finance Council chairs and vice-chairs named on staff page
Religious Education & Sacraments
The parish Religious Education program for 2024–2025 meets on Sunday mornings from 9:15 to 10:15 AM at St. Andrew Parish School, 1621 Ferndale Avenue, directed by Maureen Clark (814-255-4531). The parish reminds families that all candidates approaching the sacraments, and their families, need to worship regularly with the parish to be put forward as candidates. Memorandums for sacramental eligibility are signed only for students who attend Mass regularly at Visitation and participate as volunteers.
- Religious Education classes held Sundays 9:15–10:15 AM at St. Andrew Parish School
- Director: Maureen Clark
- First Communion celebrated at 9:00 AM Sunday Mass (e.g., April 14 candidates)
- Confirmation celebrated with other parishes at St. Benedict Catholic Church
- Regular worship with the parish is required for sacramental candidacy
Parish Activities & Fellowship
Visitation maintains an active parish life centered on the Eucharist and on traditions that bind the community across generations. Annual events include the Feast of the Visitation dinner, the Lenten Fish Fry, and council meetings. The parish also organizes pilgrimages — most recently a Jubilee 2025 trip by charter bus to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.
- Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary — parish dinner in the school cafeteria
- Annual Lenten Fish Fry — Ash Wednesday and Fridays of Lent (except Good Friday), 11:00 AM–6:00 PM, take-out or delivery within 5 miles
- Parish Finance Council meetings (e.g., Monday, August 25 at 6:00 PM in the Elizabethan Suite)
- Jubilee 2025 Pilgrimage to the National Shrine, October 17, 2025 — buses departed from Home Depot, Galleria Extension Drive
Facilities & Parish Plant
The parish plant on McKinley Avenue includes the present-day church (1969–70), the 1953 grade school now repurposed as the Parish Activities Center, and the rectory-administration building at 1127 McKinley Avenue (a converted six-unit apartment with quarters for four priests). The Parish Activities Center houses the Visitation Preschool (begun September 1990), the ministries room, music room, card room, and a terrazo-floored auditorium/gym with a kitchen-equipped dining hall.
- Church (1969–70) — Alfred D. Reid and Associates, Pittsburgh
- Parish Activities Center (former 1953 grade school) — preschool, ministries, music, card rooms
- Rectory-Administration Building at 1127 McKinley Avenue
- Elizabethan Suite (council meeting room)
Contact & Visiting
The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, closed on national and religious holidays. Visitors and parishioners can reach the rectory at 814-536-6110, dialing extension 1 for the secretary (Catherine Bennett) and extension 2 for Father John, with fax 814-536-3709. The parish email is [email protected], and the parish maintains a Facebook page under 'Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish.'
- Rectory Phone: 814-536-6110 (ext. 1 secretary, ext. 2 Fr. John)
- Fax: 814-536-3709
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday 9:00 AM–3:00 PM
- Website: https://visitationbvmchurch.com/
- Facebook: Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James B. Hebron, S.T.B.1927–1951
Founding pastor; appointed by Bishop McCort; oversaw construction of the original frame church; died January 15, 1951 in an automobile accident at age 63.
- Rev. Faber Malloy1951 (interim)
Served as administrator for about two months between Father Hebron's death and Father Cawley's appointment.
- Rev. Thomas T. Cawley (later Monsignor)1951–1980
Second pastor; previously principal of Johnstown Catholic High School for 28+ years; built the grade school (1953–54) and the present church (1969–70) after the 1968 fire; died in early 1980.
- Rev. A.J. Bechtold1980–1987
Third pastor; retired $133,000 parish debt in June 1985; resigned November 1987 due to illness.
- Rev. Michael Becker1987–1988 (interim)
Served as administrator until the appointment of the fourth pastor.
- Rev. Martin D. McCamley1988–1995
Fourth pastor; appointed June 9, 1988.
- Rev. Martin Cingle1995–2000
Fifth pastor; appointed July 9, 1995.
- Rev. Richard Clark2000–2004
Sixth pastor; appointed July 9, 2000.
- Rev. Barry J. Baroni2004–
Seventh pastor; appointed July 14, 2004.