St. Gerard Majella History

• • May 19, 1964
    • the Most Reverend John J. Wright, Bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, appointed Reverend Francis J.X. Lackner to the pastorate of the newly-founded parish of St. Gerard Majella.
  • May 27, 1964
    • St. Gerard Majella was established.
  • May 28, 1964
    • Fr. Lackner celebrated the first Mass of the parish. There were 51 parishioners who attended in a little house at 704 Hamil RoaSt. Gerard Majella Parish was comprised of 350 families (325 from St. Joseph's, in Verona and 25 from St. John the Baptist in
  • 1964-1967
    • The North Bessemer Community Volunteer Firemen offered their fire hall facility for the parish's first Sunday Mass and subsequent masses for more than the next 3 years.
  • Summer of 1964
    • The Confraternity of Christian Doctrine was organized for the religious education of over 400 parish child
  • August of 1964
    • An architect was selected to design a master building plan for the parish.
  • January 29, 1966
    • Groundbreaking ceremony for the new Church-Catechetical Center.
  • April 1966
    • Construction began on St. Gerard Majella Parish.
  • June 25, 1967
    • The first Mass was celebrated in the new Church.
  • January 28, 1968
    • The dedication of St. Gerard Majella Church-Catechetical Center by the Most Reverend John J. Wright D.D.
  • 1974
    • Reverend Richard J. Czapinski was appointed pastor
  • 1978
    • The church was renovated
  • 2000
    • Reverend John D. Brennan was appointed pastor.
  • 2004
    • The parish celebrated their 40th Anniversary mass with the Most Reverend Bishop William J. Winter presiding.  Celebrants were Reverend Francis J.X. Lackner, Reverend Richard J. Czapinski, and Reverend John D. Brennan.
  • 2005
    • Reverend Martin F. Barkin was appointed pastor.
  • October 19, 2014
    • The parish celebrated their 50th Anniversary mass with The Most Reverend David A. Zubik, D.D. Concelebrants were Reverend Martin F. Barkin and Reverend John D. Brennan. A parish brunch followed at Three Lakes Golf Course.
  • October 2018
    • The start of Church Alive Grouping #451 MPH which is Monroeville and Penn Hills Churches
      • St. Bartholomew, St. Bernadette, St. Gerard Majella, St. Susanna, and North American Martyrs.
  • January 4, 2020
    • Parish Grouping now called Christ The Divine Shepherd Parish