Since the early days following the American Revolution, Catholics in Greene County have sought to know and serve Jesus. Today they are working together again to strengthen their faith with support from their sisters and brothers across the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
Sacrificial gifts to Our Campaign for The Church Alive! are funding a new grant for five parishes to reach out to youth and seniors in what is historically one of the poorest counties in Pennsylvania.
The assistance comes from a diocesan campaign fund that helps struggling parishes in areas of the diocese where the Church must remain present. If a parish disappears, the presence of the Church is gone as well.
“We want our church community to be the center of activity as we witness our faith,” said Deacon Tom Raymond, deacon administrator of the parishes in Greene County. “We are focused on outreach and collaboration.”
Greene County was named for Major General Nathanael Greene of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War. Two years after the war ended in 1783, Greene County’s first Catholic settlers appealed to the Bishop of Philadelphia to have a priest visit them at least once a year. It would be until 1839, when St. Ann Parish was established in Waynesburg, before the first priest was assigned.
Today, three priests, Fathers John Bauer, J. Francis Frazier and Lawrence Holpp, serve eight worship sites in five parishes in Greene County.
“Reaching out to our youth is one of the most difficult challenges because life mostly centers around their schools,” Father Bauer said. “Young people are busy with extracurricular activities, especially sports.”
The Church Alive! campaign grant will support religious education, including confirmation, youth development and retreats at all five parishes, with outreach to seniors, the poor and homeless, a countywide program to promote the sanctity of life, and the Catholic Men’s Fellowship.
Emergency warming centers will be built at St. Ann, St. Ignatius of Antioch and St. Thomas (St. Marcellus Social Hall) to serve as storm shelters, similar to one at St. Hugh parish.
Deacon Raymond said they want to build unity, focusing on middle school confirmation curriculum and social events, such as the recent Pittsburgh Pirates Faith Night.
Programs will be geared toward developing young leaders. “It’s a great way to make an impact in their lives year round,” Deacon Raymond said.
Linette Kerr, catechetical program manager at St. Hugh and Our Lady of Consolation parishes, was pleased to learn of the campaign grant.
“We have about 100 young people in faith formation programs and they have a lot of service opportunities,” Kerr said. “They want to live their faith, but it’s not easy.”
Another big challenge is to bring people together in a rural area where the parishes are far apart.
“We are reaching out and witnessing our faith,” Deacon Raymond said. “We want to know the loving presence of Christ in our lives.”
