Roman Catholic Diocese of Greensburg
Diocese of Greensburg Dioecesis Greensburgensis | |
|---|---|
 Coat of arms | |
 Flag | |
| Location | |
| Country |  United States |
| Territory | Armstrong, Fayette, Indiana, and Westmoreland counties in Western Pennsylvania |
| Ecclesiastical province | Philadelphia |
| Metropolitan | Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 3,334 sq mi (8,640 km2) |
| Population - Total - Catholics | (as of 2017) 645,602 141,041 (21.8%) |
| Parishes | 78 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Catholic Church |
| Rite | Roman Rite |
| Established | March 10, 1951 |
| Cathedral | Blessed Sacrament Cathedral |
| Secular priests | 96 |
| Current leadership | |
| Bishop | Edward C. Malesic |
| Bishops emeritus | Lawrence Eugene Brandt |
| Map | |
 | |
| Website | |
| dioceseofgreensburg.org | |
The Diocese of Greensburg is a Roman Catholic diocese centered in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, with 78 parishes in Armstrong, Fayette, Indiana, and Westmoreland counties in Western Pennsylvania in the United States. The diocese was founded on March 10, 1951. Edward C. Malesic was named its bishop on April 24, 2015.
Bishops
Bishops of the diocese and their tenures of service:
Bishops of Greensburg
- Hugh L. Lamb (1951-1960)
- William G. Connare (1960-1987)
- Anthony G. Bosco (1987-2004)
- Lawrence E. Brandt (2004-2015)
- Edward C. Malesic (2015-present)
Auxiliary Bishops
- Norbert F. Gaughan (1975–1984), appointed Bishop of Gary
Priests of the diocese who became bishops
- Giuseppe De Andrea, appointed Apostolic Nuncio and Titular Archbishop and later Assessor of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre
- Cyril John Vogel, appointed Bishop of Salina
- Lawrence T. Persico, appointed Bishop of Erie
Parish directory
As of 2017, there are seventy-eight operating parishes within the Diocese of Greensburg; thirty-eight of these operate in a partnered configuration.[1] A diocesan strategic planning process began in 2006, which has resulted in closures of parishes and chapels, as well as partnering of parishes that have remained open, with the last of these changes occurring in 2013.[2]
| Parish Name | County | Nearest Town |
|---|---|---|
| Ascension | Westmoreland | Jeannette |
| Blessed Sacrement Cathedral | Westmoreland | Greensburg |
| Christ the King | Armstrong | Leechburg |
| Christ, Prince of Peace | Armstrong | Ford City |
| Church of the Good Sheperd | Indiana | Kent |
| Church of the Resurrection | Indiana | 5 Sites: Clymer Ernest Glen Campbell Heilwood Rossitier |
| Holy Cross | Westmoreland | Youngwood |
| Holy Family | Westmoreland | Latrobe |
| Holy Family | Westmoreland | Seward |
| Holy Family | Westmoreland | West Newton |
| Holy Trinity | Westmoreland | Ligonier |
| Immaculate Conception | Fayette | Connellsville |
| Immaculate Conception | Westmoreland | Irwin |
| Mother of Sorrows | Westmoreland | Murrysville |
| Mount Saint Peter | Westmoreland | New Kensington |
| Our Lady of Grace | Westmoreland | Greensburg |
| Our Lady of the Assumption | Indiana | 2 Sites Coral Lucernemines |
| Our Lady, Queen of Peace | Westmoreland | East Vandergrift |
| Sacred Heart | Westmoreland | Jeannette |
| Sacred Heart | Westmoreland | Youngstown |
| Seven Dolors | Westmoreland | Yukon |
| Saints Cyril and Methodius | Fayette | Fairchance |
| Saints Simon and Jude | Indiana | Blairsville |
| Saint Agnes | Westmoreland | North Huntingdon Township |
| Saint Aloysius | Fayette | Dunbar |
| Saint Ambrose | Westmoreland | Avonmore |
| Saint Anne | Westmoreland | Rostraver Township |
| Saint Barbara | Westmoreland | Harrison City |
| Saint Bartholomew | Westmoreland | Crabtree |
| Saint Benedict | Westmoreland | Marguerite |
| Saint Bernard of Clairvaux | Indiana | Indiana |
| Saint Bruno | Westmoreland | Greensburg |
| Saint Cecilia | Fayette | Grindstone |
| Saint Cecilia | Westmoreland | Whitney |
| Saint Edward | Westmoreland | Herminie |
| Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton | Westmoreland | North Huntingdon Township |
| Saint Florian | Westmoreland | United |
| Saint Francis | Fayette | 2 Sites: Masontown Footedale |
| Saint Gertrude | Westmoreland | Vandergrift |
| Saint Hubert | Fayette | Point Marion |
| Saint James | Westmoreland | New Alexandria |
| Saint James the Greater | Armstrong | Apollo |
| Saint Joan of Arc | Fayette | Farmington |
| Saint John the Baptist, de la salle | Westmoreland | Delmont |
| Saint John the Baptist | Fayette | Perryopolis |
| Saint John the Baptist | Westmoreland | Scottdale |
| Saint John the Evangelist | Fayette | Connellsville |
| Saint John the Evangelist | Westmoreland | Latrobe |
| Saint John the Evangelist | Fayette | Uniontown |
| Saint Joseph | Westmoreland | Derry |
| Saint Joseph | Fayette | Everson |
| Saint Joseph | Westmoreland | New Kensington |
| St. Joseph | Fayette | Uniontown |
| Saint Lawrence | Armstrong | Cadogan |
| Saint Margret Mary | Westmoreland | Lower Burrell |
| Saint Martin | Westmoreland | New Derry |
| Saint Mary (Nativity) | Fayette | Uniontown |
| Saint Mary of Czestochowa | Westmoreland | New Kensington |
| Saint Mary | Westmoreland | Freeport |
| Saint Mary, Mother of God | Armstrong | Yatesboro |
| Saint Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe | Armstrong | Kittanning |
| Saint Mary, Our Lady of Lourdes | Westmoreland | Export |
| Saint Matthew | Indiana | Saltsburg |
| Saint Patrick | Armstrong | Brady's Bend |
| Saint Paul | Westmoreland | Greensburg |
| Saint Peter | Fayette | Brownsville |
| Saint Pius X | Westmoreland | Mount Pleasant |
| Saint Raymond of the Mountains | Westmoreland | Donegal |
| Saint Regis | Westmoreland | Trafford |
| Saint Rita | Fayette | Connellsville |
| Saint Rose | Westmoreland | Latrobe |
| Saint Sebastian | Westmoreland | Belle Vernon |
| Saint Sylvester | Westmoreland | Slickville |
| Saint Terese, Little Flower of Jesus | Fayette | Uniontown |
| Saint Thomas More University Parish | Indiana | Indiana |
| Saint Vincent Basilica | Westmoreland | Latrobe |
| The Epiphany of Our Lord | Westmoreland | Monessen |
| Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary | Westmoreland | Mount Pleasant |
Schools
There are 18 educational facilities spread throughout the geographical terrain of the diocesan limits. There are 2 junior-senior high schools, 12 diocesan elementary schools and 3 non-diocesan Catholic schools[4]
High schools
- Geibel Catholic Junior-Senior High School is located in Connellsville Township in northern Fayette County and serves the southern half of the diocesan territory. A Middle School concept was added at the beginning of the 2007-08 School Term, bringing the grade levels served at this facility 7-12.
- Greensburg Central Catholic Junior-Senior High School is located in Hempfield Township in central Westmoreland County and serves the central and northern sections of the diocesan territory. This school serves grades 7-12.
Diocesan elementary schools
| School Name | County | Nearest Town |
|---|---|---|
| Aquinas Academy | Westmoreland | Greensburg |
| Christ, the Divine Teacher | Westmoreland | Latrobe |
| Conn-Area Catholic* | Fayette | Connellsville |
| Divine Redeemer | Armstrong | Ford City |
| Mary, Queen of Apostles | Westmoreland | New Kensington |
| Mother of Sorrows | Westmoreland | Murrysville |
| Queen of Angels | Westmoreland | North Huntingdon Township |
| Saint Bernard | Indiana | Indiana |
| Saint John the Evangelist Regional* | Fayette | Uniontown |
| Saint Sebastian | Westmoreland | Belle Vernon |
| The Cardinal Maida Academy | Westmoreland | Vandergrift |
* - denotes school only operates up to Grade 6, Grades 7-8 attend Geibel Catholic High School, if they wish.
Non-diocesan facilities
There are three non-diocesan facilities under the Educational Office.
- Clelian Heights School for Exceptional Children is located near Greensburg and is a school/residential complex for children ages 5–21 with intellectual/developmental disabilities. The Clelian Center is also on campus and provides adult services to the developemntally disabled. The school[5] is a ministry of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
- Elizabeth Seton Montessori School is located near Greensburg and offers Montessori-Philosophy Education[6] that is auspiced by the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill.
- Verna Montessori School is located near Mount Pleasant and offers Montessori-Philosophy Education[7] that is auspiced by the Sisters of Charity of the Immaculate Conception
Grand jury investigation of clergy sex abuse, and diocese's response
In early 2016, a grand jury investigation, led by Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, began an inquiry into sexual abuse by Catholic clergy in six Pennsylvania dioceses: Greensburg, Allentown, Scranton, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, and Erie.[8] The Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia were not included, as they had been the subjects of earlier investigations.[8]
According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, in 2017 the Diocese of Harrisburg and the Diocese of Greensburg attempted to shut down the grand jury investigation.[9][10]
On July 27, 2018, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ordered that a redacted copy of the grand jury report be released to the public; this release occurred in August 2018.[11][10]
On July 31, 2018, John T. Sweeney, a former priest in the Diocese of Greenburg, pleaded guilty to molesting a 4th grade boy at some point between September 1991 and June 1992.[12] Immediately following Sweeney's plea, the Diocese of Greensburg made a statement pledging future cooperation.[13] In the statement, which was reported by Crux on August 4,[13] the Diocese of Greensburg agreed to continue educating “both children and adults in parishes and schools of the Diocese of Greensburg on how to spot and report suspected abuse.”[13] The Diocese also agreed to recommend reporting incidents of sexual abuse to the PA ChildLine and report any alleged incident of sexual abuse to "PA Childline and the appropriate district attorney."[13]
On August 9, 2018, Greensburg Bishop Edward Malesic issued an apology on behalf the Diocese, acknowledged there were numerous reports of sex abuse of children between the 1950s and 1980s, and announced that the Diocese would release the names of the accused clergy when the grand jury report is published.[14][15][16] The grand jury report was published on August 14, 2018 and showed that of the 301 priests accused of sexual abuse in the six dioceses, only 20 clergy were from the Diocese of Greensburg.[17] The report also showed that one of the accused in the Diocese of Greensburg also impregnated a 17 year old girl.[17] The priest then covered up the pregnancy by marrying the girl after forging the head pastor's name on a marriage certificate and then filing for divorce months later.[17] Despite fathering a child with a minor and being married and divorced, the priest still remained in the ministry.[17]
See also
- Catholic Church by country
- Catholic Church in the United States
- Ecclesiastical Province of Philadelphia
- Global organisation of the Catholic Church
- List of Roman Catholic archdioceses (by country and continent)
- List of Roman Catholic dioceses (alphabetical) (including archdioceses)
- List of Roman Catholic dioceses (structured view) (including archdioceses)
- List of the Catholic dioceses of the United States
References
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-07-23. Retrieved 2015-07-23.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ http://www.dioceseofgreensburg.org/Pages/parishrestructuring.aspx
- ^ http://www.dioceseofgreensburg.org/parishes/pages/parishinformationdirectory.aspx?id=C01
- ^ Schools Retrieved 07-23-2015
- ^ Clelian Heights Retrieved 12-10-2010
- ^ E.S. Montessori Mission Page Retrieved 12-10-2010
- ^ Verna Montessori School Mission - Retrieved 12-10-2010
- ^ a b Couloumbis, Angela (June 17, 2018). "Pa. report to document child sexual abuse, cover-ups in six Catholic dioceses". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
- ^ Smith, Peter; Navratil, Liz; Couloumbis, Angela (June 29, 2018). "Two Pa. dioceses tried to block grand jury probe into clergy sex abuse, documents show". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
- ^ a b Navratil, Liz; Smith, Peter (August 1, 2018). "Harrisburg Diocese releases names of accused priests, removes bishops' names from buildings". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
- ^ Couloumbis, Angela; Navratil, Liz (July 27, 2018). "Pa. Supreme Court: Release redacted report that names more than 300 'predator priests'". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
- ^ https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2018/07/31/retired-greensburg-diocese-priest-pleads-guilty-child-sex-assault/
- ^ a b c d https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2018/08/04/greensburg-diocese-stands-ready-help-to-abuse-survivors-in-their-healing/
- ^ https://www.wtae.com/article/catholic-diocese-of-greensburg-releases-report-including-apology-for-past-failures/22685655
- ^ http://www.post-gazette.com/news/faith-religion/2018/08/09/Greensburg-diocese-Catholic-priests-sexual-abuse-grand-jury-report/stories/201808090121
- ^ https://www.wtae.com/article/catholic-diocese-of-greensburg-releases-report-including-apology-for-past-failures/22685655
- ^ a b c d https://www.pennlive.com/news/2018/08/greensburg_diocese_grand_jury.html
External links
| Ordinaries |
|  |
|---|---|---|
| Churches | ||
| Education | ||
| Priests | ||
Roman Catholic Ecclesiastical Province of Philadelphia | |
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