Saint Frances Cabrini Parish

Parish History
Saint Frances Cabrini Stained Glass Window from the Mother Cabrini Shrine in Colorado St. Frances Cabrini Parish, Center Township, Pa., was established by the Most Reverend John J. Wright, Bishop of the Pittsburgh Diocese on May 24, 1961. On the same day Rev. Paul A. Holzer was appointed by Bishop Wright as the first pastor.
The territory of this new parish was formerly sections belonging to St. Titus Parish, Aliquippa, Pa. and St. John the Baptist, Monaca, Pa. Its boundaries include most of Center Township, and small sections of Hopewell and Potter Townships.
The property where the parish compound was to be built was given to the Diocese of Pittsburgh on August 2, 1960 by Mrs. Mary Hall. It comprises about ten and one-half acres of the Hall Farm on Chapel Road between what is now Trinity Avenue, Shadyside Drive and Lynnway Avenue.
A parish census which began June 25, 1961 revealed there were 480 families in the parish when it was established.
The first Mass was offered in the home of William Leasha, Hall Road on Sunday, June 4, 1961. Sunday and daily Masses were offered there for two weeks. Beginning Sunday, June 18, 1961 Sunday Masses were offered in the Center Bowling Lanes, North Brodhead Road. Sunday Mass continued to be offered there until the temporary church was completed.
On October 1, 1961 Father Holzer, with the help of some energetic parishioners, began the first of two Building Fund Campaigns. These two campaigns by the end of 1964 had raised $76,818.65. Construction of the temporary Church was completed April 1963.
The first Mass was offered on Sunday, December 22, 1963. The buildings were dedicated and blessed by the Most Rev.John J. Wright on July 19, 1964. Fr. Walter Benz was appointed the second pastor of St. Frances Cabrini where he served until March 29, 1969.
Fr. Thomas O'Connell was appointed pastor in 1969 and faithfully served the parish community until his retirement in 1996. Under his direction, construction of seven classrooms and the social hall were completed in February 1971.
Fr. Joseph Kleppner was appointed pastor in 1996 and continues to faithfully shepherd our community as we live our mission of prayer, worship and service bound together as the Body of Christ in the celebration of the Eucharist.

Important Parish Statistics

Year
1961
1971
1981
1991
2001
2006 Families
480
920
1365
1482
1786
1806 Baptisms
36
66
73
54
54
66 Marriages
6
29
32
21
23
16 Burials
1
15
21
28
39
45 First Comm.

47
58
49
66
68
Confirmed

109
95
57
61
61

Plans for a Permanent Church Building
St. Frances Cabrini was canonically established by the Most Reverend John J. Wright, Bishop of Pittsburgh on May 24, 1961. Bishop Wright appointed the Reverend Paul A. Holzer as the first pastor. The ten and a half acres where the parish compound was to be built was donated in 1960 by Mrs. Mary Hall. The first Mass was offered in the home of William Leasha, Hall Road on June 4. Sunday Masses moved to Center Bowling Lanes until a temporary church was completed. Work was completed in December 1963. The first Mass was offered in the temporary worship site on Sunday, December 22, 1963. The school building and the C.C.D. Center were completed in February 1971. Our current worship site has been blessed by Bishop Wright, but never dedicated permanently or meant to serve as more than a temporary worship site until the Church is constructed. It is hoped that when we celebrate our 50th anniversary as a parish in 2011 we will do so in a dedicated permanent church.

It is projected that the Diocese of Pittsburgh will have
100 priests in the year 2020 to serve 214 parishes.

A Pennsylvania Charitable Trust

115 Trinity Drive
Center Twp., Aliquippa, PA 15001 724-775-6363 Phone
724-775-3848 Fax