Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church - Youngwood, Pennsylvania - Roman Catholic Churches on Waymarking.com

While Sunday Mass was celebrated in Youngwood as early as 1908, it was not until 1917 that it was celebrated for the first time in the original building of Holy Cross Church.
In 1908, Benedicting Father Edward Andelfinger, then pastor of Most Holy Sacrament Church in Greensburg, received permissions from Bishop Regis Canevin of Pittsburgh to celebrate Mass every Sunday in Youngwood. However, because of the small number of Catholics at the time, he gave up the project after a year.
Seven years later, people started asking for a church in the community and in 1914, Bishop Canevin gave permission for a mission to be established.
Interest in establishing a church grew and resulted in an organized fundraising effort for a church building. Two and one-half lots were purchased in August 1916 from the Youngwood Land Company. The contract was let for a 35' x 65' building and Benedictine Fr. Germain Ball celebrated Mass for the first time in the new church on the corner of Eighth and Depot Streets the following year.
In March 1918, Father Germain died and Benedictine Father Gilbert Straub become pastor, serving until 1952. Three months later, in June, Bishop Canevin blessed and dedicated the new church under the title of Holy Cross.
The second and last Benedictine pastor was Fr. Hubert Macko, assigned in 1953. Two years later, Bishop Hugh L. Lamb, the first Bishop of the Diocese of Greensburg, made Holy Cross a separate parish on June 30, 1955, with St. Gilbert in Hunker its mission.
Bishop Lamb appointed Father Joseph A. Pernatozzi its first residential pastor, and in July, the parish purchased a house at the corner of Eighth and Chestnut Streets for the rectory. The rectory was laster moved to what had been the convent.
With the original church too small to meet its needs, the parish announced plans for an addition in May 1961. On March 19, 1962, Bishop William Connare, the second Bishop of Greensburg, broke ground for the addition.
The first Mass in the almost-completed church was concelebrated by Bishop Connare, Father Pernatozzi, and Benedictine Father Method Mraz, pastor of St. Bruno Church in South Greensburg, on December 22, 1962. The new addition seating 500 persons was dedicated on April 21, 1963.

Type of Church: Church Status of Building: Actively in use for worship Date of organization: 06/30/1955 Date of building construction: 06/01/1918 Archdiocese: Philadelphia Diocese: Diocese of Greensburg Address/Location: 711 Depot Street Youngwood, PA USA 15697 Relvant Web Site: [Web Link] Dominant Architectural Style: Not listed Associated Shrines, Art, etc.: Not listed

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