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Home > About Us > History
Saint Malachy Parish History
In 1946, Dorothy Morgan, on behalf of Catholic Christians
living in the Kennedy Township area, consulted with Father Phillip Moore,
Pastor of St Francis DeSales Church in McKees Rocks about forming a
new faith community. As a result of this meeting, a committee
was formed at the home of Valentine and Martin Wajert to lay the foundation
for the creation of Saint Malachy Parish. In the fall of 1946,
the committee made a formal request to Father Daniel A. Lawless, Director
of the Missionary Confraternity of Christian Doctrine at St. Mary of
Mercy at the Point in Pittsburgh to obtain a priest to serve their new
community.
The historic first Mass of the Kenmawr Mission was
held on April 13, 1947 at the home of Carolyn and John Paczan with over
150 in attendance. During the time the community waited to be
named a parish and for the installation of a permanent priest, Fr. Lawless
celebrated Mass every Sunday at a site owned by Sophia and Joseph Werner
located at 1813 Pine Hollow Road in McKees Rocks. The Kenmawr
Mission became known as St. Malachy Catholic Church and the parish grew
in conjunction with the post-World War II migration to the suburbs.
In 1953, seven years after the initial meeting with
Fr. Moore, the Most Reverend John J. Dearden, Bishop of the Diocese
of Pittsburgh, declared St. Malachy a parish and a member of the Diocese.
From this point, milestones in the life of St. Malachy came swiftly.
On February 26, 1953, Fr. William P. Weirauch was installed as St. Malachy's
first pastor and under his leadership, the first permanent church and
school were constructed. On May 9, 1953, in recognition of his
assistance in creating this new faith community, Fr. Phillip Moore laid
the cornerstone for the new St. Malachy Church. In September 1954,
the Parish School opened under the direction of the Sisters of the Holy
Family of Nazareth. At this time, the sisters resided at the convent
at the Ohio Valley General Hospital.
In 1959, in response to the community's needs, Fr.
Weirauch led a second capital campaign for funding the construction
of a larger school and an on-site convent for the sisters. Both
structures were dedicated in 1961. As Kennedy Township continued
to grow, so did the need for a larger church. Thus, in May 1968,
ground was broken for the current church. Designed by Architect
Joseph J. Balobeck as a testimony to the community's faith and to give
Glory to God, the new St. Malachy Church was dedicated on April 22,
1972.
Over the years, St. Malachy parishioners have been
blessed by the presence of pastoral leaders. In 1982, Fr. Nicholas
M. Masterangelo was installed as second pastor of St. Malachy Church
and the current rectory was built under his guidance. Fr. John
D. Brennan was named the third pastor of the parish on September 16,
1991 and is largely credited for the sound financial state of St. Malachy
today. Fr. Richard S. Jones join the parish family on January
14, 2000 as the fourth pastor of the Church. Fr. Rich brought
a wealth of strategic and spiritual vision to his first appointment
as pastor and coordinated efforts in blending the historic past to meet
the challenges of faith in the third millennium. The grace of
each generation of people of faith here in this place exists to give
greater honor and glory to God as well as service to our neighbor.
Today, under the leadership of our current pastor,
Fr. Michael Maranowski, St. Malachy Church and Parish School continue
to serve Kennedy Township and the surrounding communities as a central
place to work, to worship, and to live as we carry out the teaching
of Jesus Christ - our teacher, servant, and Savior. This church
is the home and the heart of our Eucharistic community who gather with
Christ as our Head. May this sacred ground be a place of welcome
and blessing to all.
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