Our Story
 St.  Mary of the Mount Parish and Church



 Each of us can name real times in our lives when we have seen and realized the presence of God in our midst.  This brief story is to awaken some memories of those many people, some we have known, and others we have only heard about, who built this Church of St. Mary of the Mount; not only the building, but more the people who make St. Mary of the Mount a "Church".

St. Mary of the Mount Church (postcard around 1920) St. Mary of the Mount ca. 1920
 The land on which the church and school now sit was originally part of a farm purchased by Abraham Kirkpatrick from the Penn Family in 1794.  The land consisted of seven hundred sixteen acres atop Coal Hill for which Kirkpatrick paid five hundred sixty-eight pounds, four shillings and four pence.  Many other farms were bought and sold to prominent landowners at that time.  Coal was discovered on some of this land by a British soldier during Revolutionary War times.  This coal helped kindle fires that burned in Fort Pitt, and later supplied the coal needs of the city of Pittsburgh.  The name Coal Hill remained until the name was changed to honor the Father of our country, George Washington.  General Washington surveyed Fort Pitt in November of 1 753 from atop this plateau like land.

 The building and completion of the Monongahela Incline in 1870 and the Duquesne Incline in 1876, brought easy access to and from the lower areas and Mount Washington.  By 1871 there were 2,200 souls on Mount Washington, and so, the need of a church.

 St. Mary of the Mount parish was established as a mission of St. Malachy's on the South Side.  Fathers C.V. Neeson, Michael Murphy, and M.J. Mitchell set the basic foundation of the original church by purchasing land and supervising the construction of the new church during the years 1869 to 1871.  Fr.  James Cosgrove cared for the needs of the people of St. Malachy's Parish, but soon found the need to expand his parish by further development and growth, especially for his extended parish.Artist's sketch of first church located on Belonda Street   There, his concern was to build a chapel. On September 1, 1873, Fr.  Cosgrove purchased two lots on the corner of Belonda and Kearsarge Streets.  Here the first church of St. Mary of the Mount was erected.  St. Mary of the Mount was considered a mission from St. Malachy's until 1877.  Fr.  Peter McMahon was the first resident pastor appointed by Bishop Michael Domenec in October, 1877.  Fr.  McMahon served the parish for a year, and was succeeded by Fathers Edward Brennan until 1881, Thomas Devlin until 1883, J.F. Tobin until 1891, and Robert Kiernan until 1891. In April, 1891, Fr.  John W. O'Connell was appointed the new pastor by Bishop Richard Phelan and served here for twelve years.  During Fr.  O'Connell's tenure as pastor, the present church was erected on the site he purchased at the corner of Grandview Avenue and Ulysses Street. The building is an example of Gothic architecture and was erected atthe cost of seventy thousand dollars.Laying the cornerstone of St. Mary of the Mount Church The dedication of the new St. Mary of the Mount Church took place on Sunday, December 19, 1897.  Officials at the dedication included former pastors and others appointed by the diocese.

 The ten beautiful stained glass windows are a pictorial view of the life of Christ.  Over the main entrance is an immense window, representing the "Ascension." The tinted walls, altar railings, pews and confessionals provided a aura of prayer and devotion.

 Fr. O'Connell remained at the parish until October, 1903, when he was appointed to the pastorate at St. Peter's.  Bishop Phelan appointed Fr.  Edward Griffin as the next pastor.  The parish grew and developed into one of the finest parishes in the diocese.  Furthering the mission of the church to spread the teachings of Christ, St. Mary of the Mount Parish has the distinctive claim as the founding parish for the Missionary Confraternity of Christian Doctrine.

 Fr. Griffin considered the children to be one of the greatest strengths of the parish.  One of his greatest achievements was the building of St. Mary of the Mount School.

  Ground was broken for the school building at Grandview Avenue and Bigham Street on March 1, 1909.  The two story brickOriginal school building building was modified Romanesque in style, adorned with marble halls and stairways, helping to make it absolutely fireproof.  Including the purchase of the land, the building costs reached a total of one hundred fifteen thousand dollars.

 On January 23, 1910, Bishop J.F. Regis Canevin addressed many members of the parish, enlightening them of his concern about "Catholic Education", before dedicating the school and blessing each classroom.  The opening day of the new school was the next day, January 24.  An expected enrollment of four hundred turned into six hundred thirty-five students.

 The Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary comprised the faculty for the new and growing school. The organization of the grade school lasted only one year, before Fr. Griffin added a two year commercial high school, then increased this to a four year academic high school.  The first academic class graduated in 1918. St. Mary of the Mount High School has the national distinction of having the oldest active Alumni Association, and still continues its activities.  The Alumni Association even published their own newspaper into the 1940's.

 As the years progressed many organizations and societies were fostered in the parish.  The Holy Name Society, St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Altar and Rosary Society, Junior and Senior Blessed Virgin Sodalities were vivid expressions of the deep spirituality that gave glory to God and His Mother and were growing within the congregation.

 The parish flourished.  Despite the expenditures of the school, convent, rectory, and the property bought for further expansion, the parish was free of debt when Fr.  Griffin died unexpectedly on December 21, 1930.  Fr. Griffin had served the parishioners of St. Mary of the Mount for 27 of his 42 years as a priestRev. Thomas O'Regan Rea

 In July, 1931, Rev.  Thomas O'Regan Rea was appointed by Bishop Hugh C. Boyle to the parish as its seventh pastor.  During his years shepherding St. Mary of the Mount, Fr.  O'Regan Rea set to expanding the school building by adding a third floor to the school.  Work was completed by the beginning of the fall 1933 term.
  The parish and school continued to grow.  In later years, World War II dawned across the sea.  Many men and women from the parish stood for freedom and liberty and fought to preserve that freedom.

 In 1948, Fr.  Rea set to work to redecorate the church.  Having stood for 52 years, the church was in need of repairs and redecorating.  The main altar was enhanced by red velvet drapes which were hung reaching to the floor to merge with deep red carpet covering the sanctuary floor.  Statuary was changed to gave an appearance of stone-sculpture.  The wooden altar rail was replaced by one of marble.  The walls and ceiling were painted.  Symbols and ornamentation gave a new look to the sanctuary and body of the church

 Due to Fr.  Rea's deteriorating health, Bishop John Dearden appointed Fr. Thomas Sullivan as the pastor in 1952, and named Fr.  Rea, Pastor Emeritus.  Fr.  Rea required medical care, so by his wish, he moved to a nursing home.

Rev. Thomas Sullivan
 During his tenure as pastor, Fr.  Sullivan was quick to recognize the needs of the students.  Space was shrinking because of the greater volume of students attending the school.  His plans for renovation were expanded to include a new school building for the high school, with a new convent for the sisters being part of the plans.  The new high school was dedicated in September, 1956.  The new building had several advantages included in the original grade school building, but had the added hallmark of the view overlooking the Golden Triangle.

 In later years, Fr.  Sullivan added the Baptistery and side entrance to the church building.  After serving the parish for eighteen years, Fr.  Sullivan stepped aside for Monsignor Joseph Knorr to become the new pastor in October, 1970, assigned by Bishop Vincent Leonard.

 Monsignor Knorr set to repaint and repair sections of the parish property that were beginning to show their age.  Repairs and repainting in the church and school were major projects taken on by the pastor and the men in the parish.  Many tasks were completed because the dedicated parishioners saw the needs, and cooperatively, worked together to beautify their worship space.  The rectory was expanded and enlarged during the years Monsignor Knorr spent at St. Mary's.

  Father Hugh McCormley was assigned to St. Mary of the Mount in February of 1981 by Bishop Leonard.  By this time some local industries were closing, causing many people to look elsewhere for jobs and move to other areas in Pittsburgh, and beyond its boundaries.  This, in turn, caused the enrollment in both schools to drop.  During his term, the high school was closed.  Fr.  McCormley remained until May, 1993.

 Until this day, Father Louis Vallone serves as the pastor to St. Mary of the Mount, appointed by Bishop Donald Wuerl.  The church has taken on a "new look" in the past few years.  New carpeting, paint, and other alterations can be seen inside the church.  Many other developments are presently in process.  The plaza at the entrance from Grandview Avenue has greatly enhanced the looks of the church, even before one enters, either the Prayer Chapel or the main apse.

View of the altar at St. Mary of the Mount The renovation of the stained glass windows took place over a period of ten years, since each window was very expensive to repair.  The Bell Tower at the main entrance was constructed in 1999 and sits atop the section of the church originally designed for that purpose but which never had the tower until now. The original bell resides in the tower, but has been superceeded by the electronic carillon which calls the people to church.

 The growth and the building projects were made possible by the generosity of the people of the parish.  Many of these same folks could see these needs, and stood behind their parish priests, with more than ample support.

 These walls and pews could tell many stories of those who have worshiped in this Church of St. Mary of the Mount. . Here sat a future bishop who took the parish motto of "Keeping spiritual watch over Pittsburgh" by now using his "Shepherd's Staff".  Here, too, several other religious and priestly vocations were nurtured and strengthened, and some were even empowered to become Superior Generals in their respective congregations.

 Many people have sat where we now sit.  Their spirit still remains within these walls.  Maybe many of their dreams for the parish have been met, maybe not.  These people are the "People of God" we may call saints.  They are the people who "ARE the CHURCH," and built this church building we call ST.  MARY OF THE MOUNT CHURCH.


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