Mount St. Peter Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Mount Saint Peter Roman Catholic Church
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | 100 Freeport Road, New Kensington, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 3.1 acres (1.3 ha) |
| Built | 1942 |
| Architect | Enos Cooke |
| Architectural style | Art Deco, International style |
| MPS | Aluminum Industry Resources of Southwestern Pennsylvania MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 98000398 |
| Added to NRHP | May 5, 1998 |
Mount Saint Peter Church is a Catholic Church located at 100 Freeport Road in New Kensington, Pennsylvania. This church sits right along the Allegheny River. It's about 25 kilometers (15 miles) northeast of the big city of Pittsburgh. It belongs to the Greensburg Diocese.
The church community was started by Italian immigrants in the early 1900s. The building you see today was actually built by hand by church members during World War II. They used materials from a huge, old mansion in Pittsburgh that was being taken down. The church was officially opened on July 4, 1944. In 1998, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's a special historic site.
As of 2009, about 5,000 people were part of the church. Mount Saint Peter Church is well-known in the area for its yearly Festa Italiana. This festival has delicious homemade Italian food, dancing, and fun games for kids. Volunteers from the church organize this event. It happens on the church grounds during the first weekend of August. The church's main goal is to keep its Italian heritage alive.
Contents
The Church's Story: How It Began
The story of Mount St. Peter Church is connected to the history of Alcoa and how New Kensington became an industrial city. In 1890, a company called Burrell Improvement Company looked at the flat land south of their home. They decided to call this area New Kensington. They planned out streets that ran parallel to the Allegheny River and numbered streets that crossed them. Fourth and Fifth streets became the main shopping areas. After the land was planned, companies could buy parts of it. The first big company to buy land was the Pittsburgh Reduction Company. They bought a 3.5-acre property by the river. Other companies also bought land for businesses and factories.
The Pittsburgh Reduction Company (which later became Alcoa) helped the area grow a lot. In 1888, Charles Martin Hall created an experimental metal-making plant in Pittsburgh. In 1891, the company built its main production factory in New Kensington.
By 1910, New Kensington also had a car manufacturing company. Another car company, Pittsburg Motor Car Company, made its "Pittsburg Six" model there. By 1904, the American Tin Plate Company had built several factories in New Kensington.
The Greensburg Diocese Connection
Mount Saint Peter Church is part of the Diocese of Greensburg. This diocese was created on March 10, 1951, by Pope Pius XII. Records show that the first Catholic Mass in this region was held in 1749. It was celebrated by a French priest. Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin, one of the first priests ordained in the United States, arrived in Loretto, Pennsylvania in 1799. Later, Father Boniface Wimmer came from Germany and started the first Benedictine community in the area in 1846.
Before the American Civil War, Catholicism grew slowly in America. But after the war, it became more common. Many Catholic immigrants from Eastern Europe moved to the four counties in this area. They came to mine coal and make coke for steel mills in Pittsburgh. Because so many Catholic immigrants arrived, more than 80 churches and missions were created between 1865 and 1917.
Starting the St. Peter Parish
By 1900, New Kensington was a growing industrial town with 4,600 people. Two years later, Reverend Bonaventure Piscopo started a new church community in New Kensington. This church was for the many immigrant workers, especially Italian Catholics. The church was named after Saint Peter, who was the first pope. The people of this new church were Italians living in and around New Kensington, Arnold, and Parnassus. These areas later became part of New Kensington.
These immigrants needed a place to worship. In 1903, the St. Peter community began holding Mass with a resident pastor, Reverend Vincenzo Maselli. They met in a small building in downtown New Kensington. Soon after, in September 1903, the church moved to the basement of St. Mary's Polish Church. Here, the first church records were made. The first marriage in the new parish was recorded on December 27, 1903.
Later, the Burrell Improvement Company donated land for the church. On July 4, 1905, the first stone of St. Peter Church was laid. On September 25, 1905, Bishop Regis Canevin officially opened the new church.
Around 1908, fewer people were attending St. Peter Church. Many of the priests who had served the church had been moved to other places. In 1908, a popular priest, Father Sacchi, was sent to another church. People from St. Peter's tried to get him back, but he wasn't allowed to return. However, Reverend James Vocca, another priest who had been at St. Peter's before, was brought back.
At this time, the priests worked hard to keep the faith strong. Many priests had studied in Italy but couldn't speak English well. Many Italian immigrants wanted to fit into American life. So, going to an Italian-speaking church wasn't always their first choice. Some even changed their religion. Priests were paid very little and often slept in the church. They also traveled long distances to say Mass at several churches in one day.
Challenges and Growth
Around 1918, some Italian political leaders who were against the church settled in New Kensington. They made it difficult for people to attend Catholic Church services. Many Italians felt afraid to go to church. At St. Peter's, one priest was threatened. By 1918, only thirteen families attended Mass on Sundays. This continued for several years.
By 1929, St. Peter Church was very crowded for all Sunday Masses. So many people came that the balcony and other areas were used for seating. Hundreds of people even stood outside to hear Mass. Even with all these efforts, many people were turned away because there wasn't enough room. About a thousand families belonged to St. Peter parish, but the church only had about two hundred seats. In 1933, Bishop Hugh Boyle suggested building a bigger church. The community decided to build a larger building.
The new church building was constructed by the church members themselves. They started building in May 1941. Three years later, the new building was officially opened.
World War II and the Church Community
By May 1944, the church members had helped with the war effort. They gave thousands of pints of blood and money to war relief. They were active at home and sent 808 men and women to the Armed Forces. A group prepared and sent a weekly newsletter to church members in the military. These members were happy to hear news about their new church. Many of them sent money home to help with the building fund. During the war, hundreds of dollars came from these members fighting overseas. Of the 808 members who went to war, seven died. Their names are carved on a piece of granite outside the church.
Building the Church by Hand
The old church location was too small. The community needed a bigger building. People from Arnold wanted the new church in their town. Those from Parnassus wanted it closer to them. But people from New Kensington wanted it to stay near its current spot. A new location was found on Freeport Road and Seventh Street. This spot was about 100 yards from the old church. It was on top of a hill. The land was 4 acres and had a large mansion and some smaller buildings.
This land once belonged to Stephen M. Young, a General in the United States Army during the American Civil War. He was a friend of Abraham Lincoln. Young sold the property in 1902. After a few more sales, the church community bought the land for $20,000 in 1938. On December 1, 1938, they made a down payment. A few days later, the Building Fund Campaign started. A committee of one hundred volunteers helped. Each working church member was asked to promise $60 over five years to help build the church. Volunteers went door-to-door almost every day for five years to collect enough money.
On April 1, 1939, St. Peter's community took over the land and mansion. That day, they decided the new church would be called "Mount St. Peter." By May 1, they had collected $23,500 in cash and had promises for another $75,200.
Getting Materials from the Mellon Mansion
Architect Enos Cooke designed the new church. In 1940, a friend of the church, John Stanish, told the community that the Mellon mansion in Pittsburgh was going to be torn down. This mansion was huge, with 65 rooms and 11 bathrooms. It was built with Michigan sandstone and had marble from all over the world. It also had bronze doors and steel beams. The mansion had cost millions of dollars to build.
Many valuable items from the mansion were being sold for very low prices. For example, furniture worth half a million dollars was sold for only $3,800. The building had many things that could be used in a church, like mantles that could become altars and angel statues. In 1940, St. Peter's community bought all the stone, granite, marble, bronze doors, and railings from the mansion. They also bought 30 tons of steel beams, 65 oak doors, chandeliers, and other items. Church members transported all the marble 27 miles from Pittsburgh to New Kensington. The land where the mansion stood is now Mellon Park.
Many men from the church volunteered to move the materials. A contractor, Mr. Charles Camarata, directed the volunteers. He had built many roads, homes, and churches. In December 1940, he split the volunteers into three groups. One group removed the marble from the Mellon Mansion. The second group moved it to New Kensington. The third group placed the materials on the Mount St. Peter grounds. This project lasted from December 13, 1940, to May 26, 1941. It was hard work, especially during the cold winter of 1940–1941.
Building Mount St. Peter Church
On Sunday, May 25, 1941, construction officially began for Mount St. Peter Church. About two thousand people came to watch. The cornerstone was blessed on Sunday, September 7, 1941. Many priests were there. The large red cornerstone was made of granite and held an iron box. Inside the box were church reports, newspapers, coins, and church medals. The cornerstone can be seen inside the church, near the altar of the Sacred Heart.
Raising Money for Construction
At the time, only about $15,000 was left in the building fund. More money was needed. The church received 1,200 promises for donations, and 95 percent of these promises were kept. About 60 percent of the money came from only 10 percent of the church members. About 10 percent of the people did not contribute. During this time, ladies from the St. Peter's Cenacle kept all the financial records. They recorded all pledges and collections. They also kept notes from their meetings.
The Cenacle was supervised by Dom C. Shiarella, who was the treasurer of the First National Bank in New Kensington. He was in charge of collecting all the money. This work kept him at the bank for one or two hours longer than other employees almost every evening for five years. Mr. Shiarella also made sure there was enough money for payroll every two weeks. The funds were always collected on time.
By October 1941, there was little money left. The church sold a house it owned for $7,000. This paid off a $3,000 debt and covered some ongoing construction costs.
Finishing the Roof
Winter was coming, and the roof needed to be built quickly to protect the church walls from snow. More workers were needed, but the church didn't have enough money to pay them. The committee of 100 asked for help. They found 30 church members who were each willing to lend another $500. These members had already given a lot but were still willing to help. This gave the church an extra $15,000 for the roof. For about two months, over fifty church members worked on the roof every day. In December 1941, the roof was finished. One of the men who helped build the roof read about the attack on Pearl Harbor in the newspaper. He decided to stop working on the church and join the United States Air Force. James DiMuzio was the first church member to die in the war. There is a plaque with his name and death date at the church.
The winter of 1941–1942 was mild. Workers could continue until January 27, 1942. On January 4, 1941, a blizzard brought strong winds and 3 feet of snow. This forced workers inside the church. Mr. Camarata became the director for all construction work. John Stanish became his assistant. Stanish built special machines for marble and worked with bulldozers and steam-shovels. He collected marble, iron, bronze, electrical equipment, lumber, and other materials from Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New York. He put in a lot of effort. To thank him, an inscription was placed in the main entrance of Mount St. Peter Church. It says in Latin, Joannes Stanish Res Procuravit, which means "John Stanish procured the material."
Much of the work inside the church was done by volunteers. Paid plumbers, electricians, and craftsmen directed them. All the pattern-makers and mechanics worked for free. A group of women also shined the marble and granite until it was sparkling.
The dome over the altar was built by Alex Guadagno. He was an Italian immigrant who came to the US in 1921. He owned his own business and built the iron and bronze dome.
Opening of Mount St. Peter Church
By mid-summer 1942, Mount St. Peter Parish ran out of money again. Most of the new church was finished. So, the community decided to sell the old St. Peter Church to get funds for the new one. The General Electric Company offered $16,000 for the old church. On July 16, 1942, the old church became their property.
Sunday, August 9, 1942, was a day of mixed feelings. At noon, the very last Mass was held in the old St. Peter Church. This had been the church's home for 38 years. People cried as the Blessed Sacrament was carried out by the pastor. The community followed the pastor up to the new church.
Mount Saint Peter Church was beautiful and stood tall on the hill. It felt very grand. If so many church members hadn't worked on it, they might not have felt it truly belonged to them. But because so much hard work, love, and faith went into building this place of worship, members were proud to attend Mass there every Sunday.
Building the church had some dangers. On September 28, 1941, a group of teenage boys were making concrete flooring. A large crane dropped its heavy bucket near them. All their tools were destroyed, but none of the boys were hurt. Another time, the bronze front door fell on a worker. Everyone thought he was crushed, but when ten men lifted the door, they found him unharmed underneath. In another case, an 18-year-old fell from the church tower while working. He managed to grab onto a pulley and was saved.
Even though much time has passed, Mount St. Peter Church still stands as a Roman Catholic church at 100 Freeport Road in New Kensington, Pennsylvania. It is located along the Allegheny River and is about 25 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. It is part of the Diocese of Greensburg. The church community was started by Italian immigrants in the early 1900s. The building was built by its members. In 1998, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
New Parts Added to the Church
The Marble Hall
The Marble Hall is the basement of Mount St. Peter's. It is 125 feet long and 55 feet wide. Before the church was finished, this area was filled with valuable materials from the Mellon Mansion. By winter 1944, the basement was empty. During this time, men were working on the Rectory (the priest's house). But because of heavy snow, they couldn't work on the Rectory until spring. Nicholas Givens donated a lot of marble for the basement. So, they started working on the basement instead.
The workers covered the floor with black asphalt tile. They covered the walls and pillars with white Carrara marble. Two marble altars were built. A large kitchen was also built to feed up to 400 people. They also built a furnace room and a large workshop.
While the Marble Hall was being built (from 1944 to 1948), Father George Goralka was the assistant pastor. He wrote an inscription around the main ceiling of the Marble Hall. It's a quote from Christ about Peter: "Blessed art thou Simon Son of Jona and I say to thee, thou art Peter and upon this Rock I will build my Church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it, and I will give thee the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven and whatever thou shall bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven and whatever thou shall loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven." The basement was called the Marble Hall after it was finished, and the name stuck. The Marble Hall is mostly used for special meals and for fish fry fundraisers during Lent. It also becomes the church's Italian Restaurant during the Festa Italiana in August. On special holidays like Christmas and Easter, Mass is held both upstairs and downstairs in the Marble Hall.
The Rectory (Priests' House)
According to church rules, every Catholic church needs a pastor living nearby. Before the rectory was built in 1944, the three priests and their housekeeper lived in the old Leslie Mansion on the property. This mansion was over a hundred years old and not in good condition.
So, the church really needed a new rectory. The new project started in 1944. An engineer, Frank H. Recco, was the technical advisor. Church members borrowed a bulldozer and a steam shovel. They dug the foundation for a two-level building.
Cinder blocks were bought for eight cents each. Flexicore slabs (special concrete pieces for floors and roofs) were made by young men from the church. They were made under the direction of Charles Cammarata. John Stanish gathered free flexicore forms, free cement, and free bricks from an abandoned brickyard.
The three-story rectory took three years to complete. On the first floor, there is a dining room, a breakfast room, a kitchen, a pantry, archives space, a laundry room, and a three-car garage. There are four separate stairways to the second floor. The second floor has three offices, a community room, a large library, and a spacious veranda (porch). In the hallway, there is a large stained glass window from Germany, which was moved from the Mellon Mansion. The third floor has ten rooms divided into four apartments and two guestrooms. This floor also has an open veranda.
The house also has nine bathrooms and one elevator, which were taken from the Mellon Mansion. Two fireplaces were also taken from the mansion. One was carved in Italy from lava of Mount Vesuvius and is in the community room. The other, in the dining room, was carved from red Michigan sandstone.
The Mount Saint Peter Oval
After the church and rectory were finished, workers wanted to build a plaza. The area for the oval was still occupied by the old mansion on the church grounds. With permission, the mansion was torn down. Only a few items were saved by the church before it was demolished.
A 10-foot wide road was built around the area that would become the oval. John Stanish decided to pave the oval with small pieces of marble. He collected marble left over from building the church and other pieces. The pieces were all different types, colors, and sizes. Mr. Stanish told John Martorana to lay them.
Martorana placed the marble pieces in an artistic way. In 1947, a granite pedestal from the Mellon Mansion was put up on the north end of the oval. On top of it was a life-size bronze statue of Christ with open arms. On Armistice Day, November 11, 1951, the monument was dedicated to the defenders of the United States.
A tall flagpole was given to the oval by Alcoa. The American flag was raised on it for the first time by Joseph Iozzi, a disabled veteran of World War II. Many community groups were at the dedication. A special priest from Italy blessed the statue of Christ and the American flag.
Convent School
The next thing built was an eight-foot arch that connected the rectory to the next new building. A statue of Saint Peter was placed in a special spot over the arch. From the arch, a large stairway goes down to the lower part of the grounds.
For two years (1948 to 1950), work was done on the new building connected to the rectory by the arch. This three-story building was made of flexicore slabs. The outside was made from a mix of new and old bricks in the back. The front was made of Michigan red sandstone, so it matched the other buildings. The inside of the building was plastered by Dom Graziano, a skilled plasterer and son of a church member. He did all the plastering for free.
When the building was finished, it had two classrooms, a kitchen, a laundry room, a pantry, and a main entrance on the first floor. On the second floor, there were three classrooms and a chapel. The third floor was a living area for the teaching sisters. It had eight small rooms, a kitchen, a dining room, and a community room. This building served as a permanent convent (home for the sisters) and a temporary school.
Parochial School
Since the convent school was small and temporary, the next step was to build the actual school. The parochial school took ten years to build (1950–1960). This building also has three floors. The front is covered with red sandstone, and the back is made of white Pennsylvania sandstone. There is a bell tower on the building. It has three heavy, bronze bells that were saved from three Protestant churches in Pittsburgh.
The walls inside the building are covered with blue tiles from Kittanning. Mr. Clifford McNees, the president of the Kittanning Tile and Brick Company, sold the tiles for a much lower price than usual. He felt it wasn't fair to charge a church high prices. Another man who helped save money was Luigi Valle, a church member. He advised workers on how to set the tiles for many days without pay. Valle died before the tile laying was finished. Bruno Regoli and his two sons, Bruno, Jr. and John, took his place. (John later became a priest at Mount St. Peter Parish.) These three men tiled the entire third floor, which took them over a month.
Two huge granite lions, taken from the gardens of the Mellon Mansion, stand guard at the main entrance of the school. Above the door is a terracotta Madonna statue. Inside the school, there are nine classrooms, two auditoriums, a library, a cafeteria, and a utility kitchen. When the school was finished in 1960, it opened for children in grades 1–8. Later, a kindergarten and preschool were added.
In September 2002, Mount Saint Peter School joined with Saint Joseph and Saint Margaret Mary Schools to form Mary Queen of Apostles School. Now, the school at Mount St. Peter's teaches children from preschool through third grade.
Pastors of Mount St. Peter
| Year Appointed | Name |
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| 1902 | Fr. Bonaventure Piscopo |
| 1903 | Fr Vincenzo Masselli |
| 1903 | Fr. Joseph DiSabato |
| 1905 – 1906 | Fr. Charles Galassi |
| 1907 | Father F. Pozukanis Father L. Pastorius |
| 1914 | Father Fortunato Sacchi |
| 1915 | Father James Vocca |
| 1923 | Monsignor Nicola Fusco |
| 1968 | Father Francis L. Ginocchi |
| 1983 | Father Leonard T. Sanesi |
| 1992 | Father Richard G. Curci |
| 2005 | Monsignor Michael Begolly |
The pastor of Mount St. Peter Parish is chosen by the Bishop. The pastor is the leader of the church community. When a pastor leaves or retires, another is appointed. The pastor makes sure everything runs smoothly with the priests and church staff. The pastor works with the Parish Staff and other church councils. Their main goal is to help the church members grow in their faith.
Mount St. Peter Today
As of 2009, the church community had about 5,209 members. The church's motto, chosen in 2004, is: "to restore all things in Christ...with the fire of love."
Mass is held every day from Monday to Friday at 8:30 am. On Saturday evenings, Mass is at 4:00 pm. Sunday Masses are held weekly at 8:30 am and 10:30 am.
Festa Italiana: A Fun Tradition
As part of its ongoing mission, the church hosts an annual Festa Italiana every August. The festival is full of activities, but the food is a major highlight! The menu usually includes lasagna with homemade noodles, spaghetti and meatballs, hot sausage sandwiches, pasta e fagiole, Italian rice balls, and other items like pulled pork and baked chicken. Desserts include cannoli, frappe, pizelles, biscotti, and gelato. One church member said, "I like seeing everyone from town, but the food is always an attraction."
Church Groups and Activities
Here are some of the groups that are active at Mount St. Peter Church today. In the past, there were many other groups, like the Committee of a Hundred (mentioned in the history section), but they no longer exist.
Addolorata Society
This group attends funeral Masses and collects money to buy altar linens, special robes for priests, and altar lights. The presidents of the society since 1903 have included Mrs. Rose Spinelli, Mrs. Michelina Fragale, and Mrs. Sandy Laney.
Saint Anthony Guild
In 1939, Mrs. Angela Costanza Bongiovanni, with help from Monsignor Fusco, started the Saint Anthony Guild. Thirty-two women joined this new group. The guild's goal was to help the church with special needs and to help the poor in the area. They also volunteered at the St. Anthony Orphanage in Oakmont, which is how they got their name. All members of the Saint Anthony Guild are women. They aim to support each other and grow spiritually by helping the church and community.
As of 2010, there are 47 active members. The group meets on the third Tuesday of February, April, May, August, September, October, and November in the Marble Hall. Meetings involve discussing projects and praying together. The St. Anthony Guild is known for visiting home-bound church members at Christmas and Easter. They also have a "Tree of Angels Campaign." This campaign lets people buy angel ornaments in memory of loved ones. The money raised from these angels goes to children in need. The guild also holds fun fundraisers like dances, bingo nights, and selling coupons for special shopping days at Macy's.
Altar Servers
Altar servers wear long, white robes. They help the priest during Mass. At Mount St. Peter Church, four altar servers are present at every Mass. One is the book bearer, who brings the Bible to the priest. The cross bearer holds a large wooden cross and leads the procession when the priest enters and leaves the church. The other two altar servers are acolytes. They light the candles before Mass and put them out afterward.
Confraternity of Christian Doctrine
Members of this group teach in the church's Sunday Schools. There are seven different Sunday Schools connected to Mount St. Peter's. Most children who attend are between 6 and 12 years old.
Holy Name Society
Members of this group host a Mass and breakfast on the Sunday before Palm Sunday each year. They also have an annual Golf Outing in the summer. The money raised from these events is given to the church to help with projects.
Ushers' Club
The Ushers' Club has up to thirty men from the church. They are chosen by the church leadership. Their job is to help people find seats during Mass. They also tell people when to stand and go for communion. They collect the money offerings from church members. Members of the Ushers' Club also volunteer their time and help at church social events.
St. Vincent De Paul Society
Mount St. Peter Parish has a local branch of the Saint Vincent De Paul Society. The goal of this group, like all other branches, is to help the poor, the sick, and those who are suffering. Members of this group work to help people in the local area. They collect food and deliver it to food banks in and around New Kensington.
Mount Saint Peter Parish Council
The Mount Saint Peter Parish Council was first elected in March 1972. This group has eighteen elected members. They advise and help the pastor with important decisions about church matters. The main purpose of the council is to let the pastor know what the church community thinks and feels about different issues. All church activities must go through four main committees: Liturgy, Education, Apostolic Work, and Temporalities.
