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O’Hara parish dedicates its new home
archived from: 2009-11-02
by: Pittsburgh Catholic Staff

Some 48 years after moving into its “temporary” church, St. Joseph in O’Hara Township finally has a permanent home.

Bishop David Zubik presided at a joyful dedication Mass for the new church Oct. 18.

The structure, which seats some 600 people, was built adjacent to the old church/school building and includes a parish hall named in honor of Pope John Paul II.

The cost of the project was some $6 million. The architecture firm that created the design is Brenenborg Brown Group, and the building contractor was Nello Construction.

Father Thomas Miller, pastor of St. Joseph since 2003, saw a need for more space soon after arriving at the parish.

He first expressed his desire for a comprehensive plan for the future in 2005.

“It is time that we look boldly into the future and create a future now that will enhance the faith life for us, our children and grandchildren,” he wrote in a letter to the parish.

“I am ready to move to make the future a reality today. Change will be necessary; we must move ahead.”

St. Joseph was founded in 1845 and was originally located in Sharspburg. The founding pastor was Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos.

According to records, following a February 1960 fire at neighboring Madonna of Jerusalem Church, St. Joseph Church was used by Madonna of Jerusalem.

Taking into consideration the declining population of Sharspburg, Bishop John Wright decided to relocate St. Joseph Parish to O’Hara Township.

The first Mass in O’Hara was celebrated in a fire hall in August 1960, and the liturgies moved to a temporary chapel the next month.

Ground was broken for a new church/school building on Dec. 10, 1960. The school opened Sept. 5, 1961, and the building was dedicated Oct. 31, 1961.

The parish is the home to nearly 900 families. Father Miller is the 21st pastor of the parish.

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