top of page
HISTORY OF HOLY FAMILY PARISH - McKEESPORT, PA - FOUNDED 1921
  • On September 16, 1921 following several meetings of the fledgling congregation, Bishop Francis Hodur (Prime Bishop of the PNCC) put the question to the assembly:  “Do you want a (PNCC) parish in McKeesport?”  The gathered assembly responded with a resounding “yes” after which motions were made to affiliate with the PNCC and secure a charter to that effect.

  •  

  • A complete parish historical sketch is available in the Diamond Jubilee Journal published in 1996.  Some highlights include:

  •  

  • Christmas 1921 – First Mass celebrated in the recently purchased and remodeled church at the corner of Market and Buena Vista Streets (presently the site is now the Kane Regional Hospital)

  • March 4, 1923 – The Holy Family Cemetery is established with purchase of seven acres of land at the corner of Foster and Naysmith Roads, North Versailles, Pennsylvania; Bishop Leon Grochowski, Western Diocesan Ordinary blessed the land in 1924

  • 1928 – Holy Family Parish is assigned to the new Buffalo-Pittsburgh Diocese

  • 1942 – The last mortgage payment was made and remaining notes of $7,650 in the hands of parishioners were paid or debt forgiven by holders

  • 1942 – A building fund was established with a $500 deposit

  • 1951 – The School of Christian Living is organized by Father Charles Kawalkowski

  • 1954 – The “Dollar Sunday Club” is formed to boost building fund donations

  • 1958 – The Parish purchases a 1.6 acre tract on Eden Park Boulevard, the site of the present church

  • October 15, 1962 – A building committee is elected to plan for a new church facility

  • February 26, 1964 – Charles Pepine is named architect for the new parish facility

  • October 17, 1965 – The congregation approves the plan and assumes a $125,000 building loan

  • January 4, 1966 – The Justin Brown Construction Company is awarded the building contract

  • January 23, 1966 – Bishop Thaddeus Zielinski, D.D., blesses and breaks ground for the church complex (near blizzard conditions prevailed)

  • November 13, 1966 – Bishop Zielinski blesses and sets the cornerstone of the new church

  • May 4, 1967 (Ascension Day) – The old church at Market and Buena Vista Streets is de-sanctified and the Blessed Sacrament is taken in a motorcade to the new church on Eden Park Boulevard

  • July 2, 1967 – Bishop Zielinski blesses the new church

  • June 18, 1968 – Bishop Zielinski blesses new bells and bell tower (the baptism names of the bells are Stephan [520 lbs.], Franciszek named after Prime Bishop Franciszek Hodur [290 lbs.] and Thaddeus names after Bishop Zielinski [198 lbs.])

  • March 14, 1971 – Parish liquidates $100,000 mortgage and marks the start of the run-up to its 50th Anniversary

  • April 18, 1971 – Ground is broken for a new rectory wing; the Dowling Construction Company is named general contractor

  • February 13, 1972 – Father Leonard Koshinski blesses the new rectory

  • 1972 – 25th Anniversary of parish organist and choir director Donald F. Mushalko

  • 1973 – New outdoor bulletin board is dedicated, a donation of the Joseph Pilsudski Association

  • 1975 – Parking area lights are installed and lot is paved

  • December 1972 – Frederic Chopin Choir kicks off new organ drive

  • June 6, 1976 – Father Koshinski blesses the new organ and dedicatory recital of the new Allen Digital (computer) Organ is held – recitalist was Richard Clark Nussbaumer

  • July 1976 – Parish celebrates United States Bicentennial with special observances throughout the year

  • May 29, 1983 – The Shrine Altar of the Resurrection is dedicated by Father Koshinski at Holy Family Cemetery

  • September 12, 1983 – A time capsule is buried in the front planter of the church to opened in 2021 – the Parish’s centennial

  • January 13, 1990 – First Diocesan Deacons ordained at Holy Family Parish (James M. Flynn and Vincent P. Cieslewicz)

  • May 17, 1991 – Father Flynn ordained to the Priesthood at Holy Family Parish

  • September 13, 1994 – Father Cieslewicz ordained to the Priesthood at Holy Family Parish

  • 1995 – New handicapped access ramp dedicated – designed by Daniel Taimuty and constructed by George Jugan

  • November 1996 – Chair-glide installed to choir gallery for handicapped

  • 1996 – Parish begins an Endowment Fund – a Living Tree memorial is placed in the parish narthex

  • June 1997 – Chair-glide installed to parish auditorium for handicapped

  • 1997 – Parish begins Lector program

  • 2000 – Frank Pociask is appointed director of the Lajkoniki Dance Ensemble

  • October 2001 – Parish begins the Ministry of Greeting

  • November 23, 2004 – Lajkoniki Dance Ensemble performs in Rotunda of the Pennsylvania State Capitol building

  • July 2006 – Planning begins for 85th Anniversary celebration

  • October 7, 2006 – 20th Anniversary of the Blessing of Animals service in honor of St. Francis of Assisi

  • September 1, 2007 Fr. Bruce Sleczkowski named Parish administrator

  • February 1, 2008 Fr. Bruce is appointed Pastor

  • October 19, 2008, Sacrament of Confirmation is bestowed upon 15 members by Bishop Peplowski; also on the same day the SAMBS hosted the annual Religious Forum attended by women of the diocese. The women presented the Program “Back to Basics”.

  • The Tri-County Village Singers presented an Advent Concert on December 21, 2008 followed by the annual Parish Wigilia.

  • March 11 & 18, 2009 a historic joint Bitter Lamentation Services (Gorzkie Zale) were celebrated between St Mary of Czestochowa Roman Catholic Church and Holy Family PNC Church which was recorded by local radios stations.  

  • Sunday, March 15, 2009 a Passion play presented by the Tri-County Youth Ensemble was presented in Holy Family Parish for the McKeesport community.

  • Sunday, May 3, 2009 Six children of the parish received First Holy Communion

  • Sunday, August 2, 2009 Prime Bishop Robert Nemkovich visited Holy Family Parish for a Canonical Visit and Mass Celebration.  He was presented a check for $25 Thousand Dollars to the National Church Center Campaign by the parish.

  • Christmas 2021 -- Holy Family celebrates 100 years as a parish in the PNCC

  • June 6, 2022 -- Fr. Bruce Sleczkowski celebrates the 50th anniversary of his ordination.

  • Sunday, July 16, 2023 -- Fr. Bruce Sleczkowski retires and celebrates his last Mass as Pastor of Holy Family after 51 years of ordained ministry.

  • Sunday, July 30, 2023 --Fr. Mariusz Mularczyk celebrates his first Mass at Holy Family Parish

  • Sunday August 6, 2023 --Fr. Mularczyk is installed as the 19th Pastory of Holy Family by Very Rev. Robert Pleczkowski, the Senior Priest of the Southern Deanery.

Holy Family 

Polish National Catholic Church

1921 Eden Park Boulevard, McKeesport, PA 15132

Rectory:  412-678-0566    

Auditorium:  412-664-7009

info@hfpncc. org

Like us on Facebook

Rev. Mariusz Mularczyk, PhD, Pastor

Phone:  412.678.0566 

E-mail:  Pastor@hfpncc. org

Office Hours:  by Appointment

bottom of page