The mission of St. Louise Parish is to be a sign of Christ’s presence in the community. To that end, we have a wide array of sacramental, spiritual, educational and social programs that seek to make present the ministry of Jesus Christ.
Our mission as members of the Parish of St. Louise de Marillac is to create a faith-filled community responding to the call of Christ to:
- Proclaim the Word of the Gospel
- Celebrate in Sacrament and Prayers
- Serve Others in a Spirit of Love
We are called in Baptism and nourished by the Eucharist to bear witness to the redemptive mission of Christ, which is the cornerstone of our parish mission.
We are committed to unifying our community through worship, education, service, evangelization and stewardship so that we may grow together in the love of Christ, and discern how the Spirit challenges us to build the Kingdom of God in our time. It is our hope that you and your family will join us for Mass, devotions or any of the activities contained herein. For more information on our parish, please click on the links below:
History of the Parish
In the late 1800’s, the wooded knoll located near the present intersection of Johnston and McMurray Roads in Upper St. Clair was the center of an enormous farm owned by the Michael Baldesberger family. While today the area surrounding this site is virtually dominated by suburbia, it was once beautiful rolling farmland interspersed with apple orchards, grazing herds of cattle and fields of wheat and corn.
During these early years, Mrs. Martha Baldesberger, a dedicated Catholic with great devotion to St. Francis of Assisi, had frequently expressed the hope that one day a Catholic Church would be erected on this very site. So strong were these feelings, that even during the final moments of her life, Mrs. Baldesberger uttered a prayer that someday her profound wish and lifelong dream would come true.
With God’s help, this wish was fulfilled on May 25, 1961. It was on this day that Bishop John Wright announced the establishment of St. Louise de Marillac Parish. The boundaries of this new parish were to include the same wooded knoll which once formed the center of activity on the old Baldesberger farm. Also of interest is the fact that the Sisters, who were to eventually teach at St. Louise, and reside in the same Baldesberger home, are the Felician Sisters, an Order of St. Francis.
On May 31, 1961, six days after establishment of the parish, Father John Schonhardt was assigned to St. Louise as pastor. Following Father’s arrival, a conscientious and dedicated congregation joined him in the difficult job of organizing the new parish.
The Upper St. Clair Municipal Building was used for the first Mass on June 3rd. However, this building proved inadequate for the nearly 400 families within the parish, and arrangements were made to hold future Sunday Masses at Fontbonne Academy, a new girls’ high school located on Highland Road near Route 19.
A tremendous spirit of cooperation became quite evident at the very beginning. Groups of volunteer workers answered Father Schonhardt’s plea for assistance, and set to work renovating the old farm equipment building on the property. This building, later named LeGras Hall in honor of St. Louise de Marillac’s married name, was to serve as a center for meetings and social activities. The old farmhouse was likewise remodeled, and was utilized as a convent for the Sisters.
The Parish engaged the services of architect Lucian Caste to design a building (the original portion of the present day school). Contractors Sawyer and Smith were retained to erect the new building. The first Mass was said in the all purpose room of this building on September 15, 1963, and the first Mass was said in the ‘new church’ (present Fr. Schonhardt Hall and gym) on Christmas Day, 1963.
The next vital phase was the opening of the school. The first three grades of St. Louise de Marillac School were completed and opened in September, 1963. The school later expanded to include the eight elementary grades and expanded again in 1992 to include kindergarten.
All these projects – LeGras Hall, the convent, the school, the church – were completed without difficulty or delay. Wherever there was a job to be done, loyal parishioners were willing and eager to help. St. Louise parish has literally been built by the people for the people, but most importantly…for God. As Father Schonhardt had so often said, “God has been good to St. Louise de Marillac Parish, because the people of the parish have been good to God.”
St. Louise Parish continued its rapid growth during the late sixties and early seventies. However, the parish suffered its first real setback in July, 1973 with the untimely death of Father Schonhardt. A short time later, Father Raymond Vollmer succeeded Father Schonhardt as pastor.
During the seventies, St. Louise de Marillac School also continued to gain recognition throughout the diocese for the depth and quality of its educational programs under the Felician Sisters. In addition, greater emphasis was placed on strengthening the Religious Education program, and expanding the opportunities for Adult Religious Education.
On October 2, 1978, Father Vollmer was transferred from St. Louise to become pastor of St. Clare Parish in Clairton, PA. Seven days later, Father Robert Reardon was appointed as the new pastor.
By early 1979, it became readily apparent that St. Louise de Marillac Parish was experiencing tremendous growth. In fact, in just eighteen years, the congregation had grown from less than 400 families to well over 1500 families. The need for larger facilities, especially for Sunday Mass, became apparent. Consequently, the parish began to take a serious look at not only its present needs, but its future requirements based on projected growth.
In light of these needs, a resolution was passed advising Father Reardon, the Temporalities Committee and the Building Committee to request approval from Bishop Leonard and the Diocese of Pittsburgh to secure plans, specifications, drawings, and estimates for construction of a new building. This building was to include a church, rectory and meeting rooms, with provisions for converting the existing temporary church into a gymnasium/auditorium.
Following an enthusiastic and successful fund drive in the fall of 1979, the parish once again engaged the services of architect Lucian Caste to develop initial plans for the new structure.
