Mission  |  Summary  |  History  |  Parish Facilities | Location/Map

Our Mission Statement:

We the Catholic family of St. Barbara in Penn Township, have grown from a small mission in a rural mining community, to a large suburban parish. Each member is a gifted child of God with unique talents and needs.

Our mission is to proclaim Christ to all people.

We are committed to continuing our spiritual formation, living our Christian values, building community and responding to membership in our parish family and to celebrate the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.

Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we will pursue this Mission faithfully as we continue on our lifelong journey.

Summary:

History

The Penn Township area began to flourish in the latter half of the nineteenth century. In 1891, a number of Catholic families approached the Bishop of Pittsburgh with their first request for Mass. The Bishop arranged for a priest to visit the area periodically to offer Mass and administer the sacraments.

In 1903 acquisition of a large frame building from a local Protestant congregation made possible the first permanent Catholic Church in the township. The congregation was established as a "Mission" and administered by the priest of the Blessed Virgin in Export. The community, whose livelihood depended upon mining coal from the earth, named their church in the honor of Saint Barbara, Patroness of miners.

In these early years, children received their religious instruction from their parents in their homes. Special classes were held at the parish for children preparing to receive their First Holy Communion and Confirmation. The parish was the center of social life in the area. Weddings and Baptisms were joyous events celebrated by nearly everyone in the community.

Disaster struck the parish early on the morning of December 8, 1937, when the church caught fire and burned to the ground. For the next three years, the people of the parish worked together to build a new church, using the German Hall (present site of the Claridge Volunteer Fire Department) for Sunday Mass until their church was completed.

In 1959, Bishop Hugh L. Lamb appointed Father John Garred as Administrator of Saint Barbara and within a few months, its first full-time pastor. Sisters from nearby Seton Hill College were called upon to conduct religious education classes for the children of the parish. Classes were held between Masses on Sunday mornings. As the number of parishioners grew, religious instruction of a larger number of children on Sunday morning was no longer feasible.

In the early 1960's, the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) Schools of Religion were organized to provide religious education for the young people of the parish. Men and women of the parish were trained as catechists. Classes for grade school students were held Saturday mornings from 9:00 until noon, utilizing the facilities of the Slovenian National Lodge and the Claridge Volunteer Fire Department.

As the size of the parish continued to increase, the small church building in Claridge was no longer adequate to provide for the needs of over 600 families. In 1961, a plot of land near the geographical center of the parish was purchased. By the end of 1963, a rectory, a new larger church, catechetical center, and parish hall had all been completed. The present church was dedicated on December 8, 1963. Father Garred remained as pastor until 1968. Since then, the following priests have been assigned as pastor of the parish:

Father John Stofcik	1968-1971
Father Joseph Tamilowski	1971-1977
Father James Petonic	1977-1981
Father John Regoli	1981-1986
Father Emil Payer	1986-1989
Father John Cindric	1989-1994
Msgr. V. Paul Fitzmaurice	1994-Present

From 1959 to 1974 one priest was able to meet the needs of the people of the parish. By 1974, the parish had grown to over 730 families. Father Tamilowski saw the need to hire a full-time Director of Religious Education. It was then that Mr. Ken Meyer was hired.

By 1975, it was no longer possible for one priest to meet the needs of over 820 families. Bishop Connare appointed Father Michael Matusak the first Parochial Vicar of the parish that year.

Today, Penn Township is a rapidly growing community. The tiny parish established in Claridge early in the 20th century has grown to over 2,300 families. Once again the parish facilities seem inadequate to accommodate the needs of the parishioners. The people of the parish must join together to write the next chapter in the history of the parish.

Saint Barbara

Saint Barbara was born to heathen parents in the early fourth century. Her father, jealous of her beauty, secluded her in a tower where she could live without being seen by men. In her forced solitude she gave herself to prayer and study. She was instructed and eventually baptized secretly. Two little windows in her prison were joined by a third, through Barbara's explicit direction, in honor of the Trinity. When her father eventually discovered her conversion, he was beside himself with rage. He denounced her before a civil tribunal and himself carried out her sentence of death by the sword. On his return from the place of execution, a flash of lightning struck and his soul was hurried before the judgment seat of God.

Because of her long entombment, Barbara is the patroness of miners. Through association with the manner of her executioner's death, she is evoked against lightning and storms and her direction to the builders of the tower makes her the patroness of builders.

Parish Facilities:

THE SOCIAL HALL is used primarily for parish social and education functions. It is available for the use of members of the parish and other organizations, according to guidelines established and published by the Parish Pastoral Council. Call the Parish Office to arrange rental of the hall.

The PARENT’S ALCOVE is available for families with small children. It is located through the door to the right of the NARTHEX.

THE LIBRARY is located in the Church’s lower level next to the Formation Office. It is stocked with over 2,000 books on subjects ranging from Scripture to Marriage and Family Life. A book lending service is available to parishioners. The library is also open weekdays from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

ST. BARBARA’s CEMETERY is located off Route 993 above the Claridge area. Arrangements for cemetery lots may be made by calling Mary Ann Phillips at (412) 372-7000.

Location/Map

DIRECTIONS TO ST. BARBARA CHURCH:

From Route 30:

1.      Take Route 30 EAST to GREENGATE ROAD (Gabriels will be on your left).

2.      Turn LEFT onto GREENGATE ROAD.

3.      Take GREENGATE ROAD to the TRAFFIC LIGHT (This is the intersection of Greengate Road and Route 130).

4.      Turn LEFT at the TRAFFIC LIGHT onto ROUTE 130 WEST.

5.      Take ROUTE 130 WEST through Jeannette, past ELLIOTT COMPANY, into Harrison City (approximately 6 miles from the intersection of Route 130 and Greengate Road).

6.      At the first TRAFFIC LIGHT in Harrison City, turn RIGHT on to HARRISON CITY - EXPORT ROAD (Janet's Restaurant is in front of you at that intersection).

7.      Take the HARRISON CITY - EXPORT ROAD for 1/2 mile to the second traffic light (PENN PLAZA sign will be on your right at the intersection).

8.      Turn LEFT at the TRAFFIC LIGHT on to WAUGAMAN ROAD and proceed up the hill to the STOP sign.

9.      At the STOP sign, turn LEFT and then make an immediate LEFT into the SAINT BARBARA CHURCH PARKING LOT.

From Route 22:

1.      Take Route 22 EAST (through Murrysville) to HARRISON CITY ROAD (there is a ‘CHOICE’ Service Station on your left).

2.      Turn RIGHT at the TRAFFIC LIGHT on to HARRISON CITY ROAD (HARRISON CITY ROAD becomes HARRISON CITY – EXPORT ROAD).

3.      Travel on HARRISON CITY - EXPORT ROAD for approximately 3.6 miles until you come to the second TRAFFIC LIGHT (PENN PLAZA sign will be on your left at the intersection).

4.      Turn RIGHT at the TRAFFIC  LIGHT on to WAUGAMAN ROAD and proceed up the hill to the STOP sign.

5.      At the STOP sign, turn LEFT and then make an immediate LEFT into the SAINT BARBARA CHURCH PARKING LOT.

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