Our History

Where It All Began

Saint Paul of the Cross Parish was established on July 1, 2019, as the result of the diocesan initiative, On Mission for the Church Alive! Announced on April 12, 2015 by Bishop David Zubik, this initiative was created to address the challenges of declining Mass attendance and a shortage of priests in the Pittsburgh Diocese. Its goal was to utilized a consultative strategic planning process to help foster viable, sustainable, and vibrant parishes.

As part of this process, the diocese merged the parishes of St. Anne in Castle Shannon and St. Winifred in Mount Lebanon to create Saint Paul of the Cross Parish. This new name was inspired by the Passionist priests who established Catholic churches in and around the South Hills of Pittsburgh.

St. Anne in Castle Shannon

The original Saint Anne Parish was one of the earliest congregations of any denomination in the South Hills of Pittsburgh. Founded in 1889, Saint Anne Parish was formed from a group of German Catholic farming families. The parish's first Mass was celebrated on September 15, 1889, in the chapel of a private home. A few years later, work on a permanent church began, and the original building was dedicated in 1892. It served the parish for seven decades until the congregation outgrew the space, leading to the construction of the current church building in 1962. The church has since been beautifully renovated in 2023. Check out the end result of the renovation by watching this video HERE. 

There is a lot of meaning behind the beauty of St. Anne Church. Learn more about the different parts of our beautiful church through the links below:

St. Winifred in Mount Lebanon

St. Winifred Parish was established on December 8, 1960, by the Most Reverend John J. Wright, to serve the growing number of Catholics in Mount Lebanon, Castle Shannon, and Baldwin Township following World War II. Construction on the church began in 1963.

The church was constructed simultaneously alongside a rectory, convent, and school. All of the buildings were completed within 34 months, and the first Mass in the newly erected Saint Winifred Church was offered on Sunday, October 13, 1963. The church was formally dedicated on April 26, 1964.

 

Bulletins

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