The Parish Begins

Resurrection Roman Catholic Parish was established by Bishop J.F. Regis Canevin D.D. in 1909. It was carved out of territories which had been a part of St. Canices Parish, Knoxville (1892), to the north; St. Anne Parish, Castle Shannon (1889), to the south; St. wendelin Parish, Carrick (1874), to the east; and St. Catherine Parish, Banksville (1902) - later moved to Beechview, to the west. At this time, the community of Brookline was growing exponentially, and the resident Catholic population was growing with it.

Bishop Canevin and his aides recognized the need for a new parish. As Catholics continued to build homes in Brookline, it became evident that a new parish was needed to help meet their spiritual needs. May 3, 1909, the diocese bought 12 lots from the West Liberty Development Company. The old school building and the current rectory now stand on that property.

Sixteen days later, Father James L. Quinn received his assignment Bishop Canevin. By May 25, 1909, the boundary lines had been drawn and the parish had been named. The new pastor used his own birthday as inspiration for naming the Church of the Resurrection. Father Quinn had been born Easter Sunday, 1869.

As Father Quinn made his rounds, introducing himself to members of his flock and making arrangements for liturgical services and other activities, he met a would-be tavern owner who wanted to open a new business in the storeroom of a building at 1057 Brookline Boulevard. Father Quinn was looking for a place to celebrate the first Mass in Resurrection Parish. The businessman had difficulty obtaining a license to open the tavern.

The chance meeting solved the problems for both men. Father Quinn offered to pay for the use of the storeroom as a temporary church, and on May 30, 1909, Memorial Day and Pentecost Sunday, a handful of parishioners crowded into the room for the Eucharistic Liturgy. At that time it was called the Reed Building. The building has since been demolished, and the property serves as a parking lot for DeBor Funeral Home.

The Congregation Goes To Work

The Reed Building remained Resurrection's "church" for a full year. It also served as Father Quinn's living quarters, the parish office, and classroom for religious instructions. During that first year a church committee was elected and the parish established the St. Vincent DePaul Society, the Holy Name Society and the Sodality.

It was also a year of feverish construction up the street on Creedmoor Avenue. Toward the end of June, 1909, Father Quinn hired a contractor to build two stories of the front portion of the school building (see Growth Diagram). While workingmen poured concrete and stacked bricks, parishioners went about the difficult task of raising $22,000 to cover the construction costs. At the time, Resurrection had $350 on hand and a debt of $250.

During the next few months neighbors organized a host of fund-raising activities. There was a euchre card party and a dance; a piece of property and a gold watch were raffled. These efforts netted a total of $3,682.86.

Parish records preserve the memory of a fascinating footnote to Resurrection's history: a Tea Party held early in 1910. Various sections of the neighborhood were represented by the tables at the event. There was the "Woodward Table" seating people living west of Pioneer Avenue, the "Fleming Table" named for the Fleming stop on the streetcar line, the "Sherwood Table" for families south of Brookline Boulevard (Sherwood Avenue later became Stebbins), the "Edgebrook Table" for parishioners in northeast Brookline, and the "Fair Haven Table" which is the old name for the Overbrook area. The Tea Party and related activities raised an additional $4,000.

The hard work and vision of Father Quinn and the parishioners bore fruit. September 19. 1909, the cornerstone of the church was laid in a ceremony conducted by Bishop J.F. Regis Canevin. Father Hugh C. Boyle, who was to later succeed Bishop Canevin as the Bishop of Pittsburgh, was the master of ceremonies.

Church And Hall

Easter Sunday, May 27, 1910, the first in Resurrection's history, Father Quinn celebrated the first Mass in the new building with an overflow congregation standing on the sidewalk outside, unable to squeeze in.

The body of the church occupied the ground floor of the new building. Many years later, as the parish expanded, the same space became a gymnasium, then was divided into four classrooms (1953), and finally became the site of the grade school learning center, the pre-first grade and a first grade classroom.

The second floor of the building served as a large hall for meetings and social events.

Within the space of a year, Resurrection Parish was able to create a home of its own and the Reed Building was returned to its place on the local commercial scene.

The parish added another building to its acquisitions almost immediately. Father Quinn needed office space and a place to live. He rented a house across the street from the new church at 1115 Creedmoor Avenue. His new rectory stood on the site that would one day be occupied by the new Convent.

As busy as he was with his duties at Resurrection, Father Quinn took on other responsibilities as chaplain when DePaul Institute moved to Brookline from Troy Hill in the latter months of 1909. About two years later the bishop sent help in the form of Father Denis N. Murphy. He became the parish's first assistant pastor October 19, 1911.

Another interesting footnote in the history of Father Quinn and Resurrection Church is the pouring of the cement floor in the church. After the church was built, it was noted that the wood flooring would buckle when their was too much rain. This caused mild consternation among the congregation.

Soon, a solution was proposed. The parishioners raised funding, and along with donated time and labor, the old wooden floor was removed and a new cement floor was laid. Parishioners never forgot the sight of Father Quinn, working alongside the laborers, hauling in one load of cement after another with a wheelbarrow.

Thinking Of School

A Catholic education for the children of the parishioners became Father Quinn's next priority. In the spring of 1912 construction began on an addition to the church building. It was to be the first of three additions that would form the old school building that we knew in later years.

The construction added a third floor to the existing structure, plus a short wing along side of the driveway into the courtyard. The second floor was partitioned into classrooms and the parish hall moved to the new third floor.

Work went swiftly, and Resurrection School was ready to accept new students September 9, 1912. Enrollment was 115 pupils. There were five Sisters of Charity on the faculty. Each was paid $20 a month.

While the new addition was under construction during the summer months of 1912, another contractor was building a new rectory at 1201 Creedmoor at the corner of Oakridge Avenue. The house, which still stands, served as the parish office and home to the priests for the next 27 years.

The old rented rectory at 1115 Creedmoor was turned over to the Sisters, who had been commuting back and forth from DePaul Institute.

With expansion continuing, living quarters for the Sisters underwent two major changes over the next 14 years. School enrollment swelled to 330 children by 1918, and in February of that year the parish bought a brick house at 1113 Creedmoor, next to the soon-to-be-vacated convent and former rectory. Men of the parish donated their time, skill and money to enlarge and remodel the building, creating additional living space for the Sisters. It was ready for occupancy by September.

In 1926, September enrollment was nearly 600, and still more sisters were assigned to teach them. Two lots next to 1113 Creedmoor were purchased and a new wing on the Clippert Avenue side of the convent was built, connecting it to the main building by a passageway.

The Sisters' house remained that way until 1957.

First Offspring Parishes

Toward the end of 1914, December 2, a new parish, St. Norbert's was established in Fairhaven (Overbrook). This was midway between Resurrection and St. Wendelin Parish and cut off property approximately two miles long and .3 miles deep. It is interesting to note that at this time Resurrection Parish had only one family on Milan Avenue, and only one on Whited Street. There were just two families each on Hobson and Seaton; and three each on Mayville and Wareman.

Another new parish, St. Bernard, was established August 11, 1919 in Dormont. Officials at the chancery didn't foresee the difficulty they would have finding a suitable piece of property in Dormont. After failing to purchase property in Dormont a site was acquired up the road in Mt. Lebanon. Along with this second offspring parish went the half of Dormont Borough that belonged to Resurrection Parish.

Resurrection's Growth Continues

February 18, 1915, Father Quinn acquired the first of four lots which in years to come would be the site of the new church. In 1919, two lots adjoining the church-school on the upper end of Creedmore were purchased. Then, July 24, 1922, Father Quinn purchased a second lot on Chelton Avenue. The 60' by 235' tract was to be the the foundation of the new church, to be built as soon as enough funding could be secured.

The school was to undergo a two-stage metamorphosis during the 1920s, boom years for many folks in Brookline. The heads of most families were gainfully employed, and newcomers continued to make their homes here and send their children to Resurrection School. Enrollment jumped above the 400 mark in 1923 and the parish hired a contractor to construct another wing on the school, making it U-shaped. The new space added three classrooms on the upper side of the building next to the current church.

But that expansion wasn't enough. Between 1924 and 1928 the Liberty Tubes and the Liberty Bridge were opened, making the trip between Brookline and downtown a short ride of less than 30 minutes. In 1926 the parish acquired two more lots across from the school. Meanwhile, the population of Brookline kept growing, and in 1926 there were 626 families in the parish and 596 children attending our school. The transportation improvements brought even more new neighbors, and nearly 800 children were receiving their education at Resurrection School by 1928.

The top floor of the school, two stories above the church, was still being used as a meeting hall but in 1927 it gave way to the need for additional classrooms. A year later the back section of the building was added to join the two wings into a rectangle. The open end of the U-shape building was closed in and six new classrooms were now available. Resurrection School made use of that space until the post-World War II baby boom.

Construction At A Standstill

Shortly after the final addition to the grade school had been completed in 1928, the nation fell into an economic depression that cast millions from the prosperity of the 1920's into the abject poverty of the 1930's. Resurrection Parish felt the effects of unemployment and food shortages. Father Quinn's dream of building a large church to replace the one on the ground floor of the school building had to be set aside.

But the dream of a new church was kindled anew in the mid-30's as Brookline and the nation struggled out of the depression. Although money and jobs had been in short supply over the previous decade, growth continued with the parish population doubling since 1928. There were more than 1516 families in Resurrection. A new and larger church was an absolute necessity.

The New Church

As parish leaders coordinated a massive fund-raising drive, Father Quinn hired an architect, then a contractor, to begin construction of the church where Resurrection parishioners continue to worship today.

The parish already owned the property on which the new church and rectory would sit. Father Quinn bought the land in small lots over a four year period between 1915 and 1919.

Construction took less than a year. Groundbreaking ceremonies were held April 25, 1938, and the cornerstone was laid September 11, 1938. Before work was completed inside the church, the very first mass was celebrated at midnight, Christmas, 1938. Finally, the official dedication and first Mass was celebrated February 13, 1939.

Simplicity And Symbolism

The exterior of the church is a modified Gothic design with deceiving simplicity. The clean lines and arches offer little hint at the lofty ceiling and complicated symbolism one finds inside. The two most prominent decorative features of the church are the rose window over the main entrance and the colorful mural behind the altar.

As one approaches the church entrance, he notices over the right side door a lighted candle representing Christ, the light of the world, whose mission is continued and perpetuated by His Church. Over the left side door an open bible signifying divine revelation completed by Jesus, our Saviour and promulgated by His Church.

The Windows

The window over the main entrance, best seen from inside the building on a sunny day, feature the risen Saviour. Above the Lord's head is shown the banner-bearing Lamb of God and the symbols of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, the four evangelists.

In the first panel to the Lord's right are St. Andrew's cross, the Keys of power and authority, the monogram of Christ and the bark of St. Peter. The second panel shows the money-bag of St. Matthew, who was a tax collector, the spear and square of St. Thomas, and the saw and bludgeon of St. James the Less. On the nearest panel to Jesus' left appears the open book and sword, emblems of St. Paul's preaching; the priestly robe of charity; the square enclosed cross, having in its four corners letters which stand for the Greek words "Iesous Christos nika" meaning "Jesus Christ Conquers"; and the episcopal cross with the holy oil stocks. The third symbol, still impressed upon the wafers or small Communion Squares of the Greek Church, is usually surrounded by a circle which represents the Lord's divinity, whilst the square signifies His humanity. In ancient symbolism the circle stands for the endless eternity and therefore for the Godhead, for the Kingdom of Heaven, and for eternal things; the square represents the finite world, and hence, humanity.

On the far left panel are seen an open book and ax, signifying martyrdom for what the book proclaims or Christian faith; the chalice and serpent recalling the attempt to kill St. John by forcing him to drink poisoned wine; and the closed book surmounted by a fish, which is the figure of Christ, the closed book refers to the Annunciation when the Blessed Virgin learned that she would become the mother of the Saviour but was uninformed of many things concerning Him, as was foretold by the Prophet Isaiah when he wrote: "And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed." Isaiah - Chapter __ Verse __.

In the right vestibule window is a monogram of the first and the last letter of the Greek alphabet, Alpha and Omega, signifying that God is the beginning and the end of all things. In the opposite window are the Roman letters I.H.S. surmounted by a crown, denoting that Jesus Saviour of Men has not only won the crown of victory for Himself but also merited for us the crown of eternal glory. In the two windows under the choir loft are portrayed at the left the days of creation and at the right, judgement. The days of creation are easily followed; the judgement is suggested by the Alpha and Omega indicating God's universal dominion, the two trumpeting angels, the scales of judgement and the sword of justice. In the middle panel of the first window on the left near the sanctuary are shown some of the instruments of the passion, namely the crown of thorns and the nails, and below, the pillar and the scourges.

The Roof Trusses

The roof trusses are decorated to symbolize the seven sacraments. The one immediately over the sanctuary represents Baptism. The central figure shows a vessel from which two doves sip water. These doves represent human souls. The water is the baptismal water of eternal life. The monogram over the vessel which looks to our eyes like a combination of P and X is actually composed of the three Greek letters X.P.I. which are the first three letters of the Saviour's name. We are baptized in Christ, from whom the efficacy of the sacrament proceeds. The burning candle is the baptismal candle which in turn signifies the state of grace, received through baptism and to be preserved until we are admitted to Christ's kingdom after judgement. The shell with water flowing from it signifies the act of baptizing and thus symbolizes the sacrament. Of the flowers which symbolize baptism the artist featured the water lily.

The second truss represents confirmation. The heads and imposed hands show the reception of the sacrament. The flaming fire and the dove remind us of the coming of the Holy Spirit to our Lord and to the Apostles. The oak leaves were selected as the confirmation symbol.

The third truss symbolizes the Holy Eucharist. Two chalices are each backed by a cross. The Lambs figure our Lord. The grapes his precious blood.

The fourth truss pictures the sacrament, penance. The cross and keys form the main symbol. The secondary figures are the cross and thorns, and the dove with an olive branch. Evergreen forms the decorative feature.

The fifth truss shows the sacrament of the sick by picturing its adminstration by the cross and candles, its effects by palms and crown, and the difficulties of life and death by cross and thorns. The floral emblem is tulip, symbolic of resurrection or of renewed life.

The sixth truss represents a picture of Holy Orders by combining in the central figure the gospel book, the stole, the keys, the chalice, and the host bearing the monogram of Christ. The open book signifies preaching the gospel and the cross-held-in-hand of the carrying of Christ's teaching to mankind. The symbolic flower is the orange blossom.

The seventh truss represents matrimony. In the central figure we have the clasped hands and ring. The star signifies hope and confidence. The cross represents the trials, struggles and sorrows of married life and the crown its joys, consolations and rewards. The artist chose the rose to symbolize marriage.

The mural behind the altar was not completed at the time of the 1939 dedication. But when it was finished later, first time visitors were struck by the colorful majesty of Jesus rising from the dead under the eye of his Father.

The Church Organ

An organ was installed when the church was built, but it was by no means new. It had been in use at the Carnegie Music Hall, the North Side, for more than 50 years, and was among the largest in use in a diocesan church. Resurrection got many years of service from the organ, despite its age. It wasn't until 1980 that Father John H. McMahon decided the 2,581-pipe organ was pumping its final notes. Fund-raising efforts began, and November 30, 1980, the parish dedicated an Allen Digital Computer Organ System 1203, a high-tech wonder designed to withstand the ravages of time and weather.

As the new church was being dedicated February 13, 1939, newspaper accounts were detailing the latest political and military upheavals in Eastern Europe. Before long the U.S. was involved in a world war and many Resurrection parishioners sent their sons overseas, some never to return.

War And Peace

But WWII came to a close and a new era meant renewed growth. Even before the effects of the baby-boom were felt, the parish bought the Greenwald house on Creedmoor, next to the school driveway, and used it as additional housing for the Sisters of Charity.

By 1951, school enrollment reached 1,171 and 1,000 more families were enrolled in the parish than in 1939 when the new church was dedicated. The race to provide additional space for the grade school was on. In 1951 the new church basement was partitioned into four classrooms and an assembly hall. The classrooms were filled to capacity when the new term began in September.

Two years later in 1953, more classrooms were added. With the completion of the "new" church in 1939, the old church, on the ground floor of the original school building, had been turned over to use as a gym. In 1953, some remodeling work transformed the gym into four classrooms, accomodating 175 students. Enrollment was now beyond thirteen hundred.

It was at this point that Bishop John Dearden established another parish. The formal decree of erection was issued June 9, 1954 and the third offspring parish from Resurrection was established, and was dedicated as Saint Pius X Parish. Some 30 families from Resurrection were merged with an equal number each from St. Bernard and from St. Catherine to form the new congregation.

Father Quinn's Passing

Parishioners seemed paralyzed on the cold afternoon January 21, 1955, when they learned that their pastor had died while battling pneumonia. The announcement was made in school that morning, and children ran home with the news during their lunch break. Father Quinn had been the only pastor they had known, and many still carried with them the memory of his first Mass inside the Brookline Boulevard storeroom in 1909. Resurrection paid tribute to Father Quinn and his long years of faithful service, unveiling and dedicating a bas-relief bronze memorial plaque November 27, 1955. The plaque still hangs in the church.

Father Keefer' New Era of Expansion

Resurrection's second pastor came to Brookline March 3, 1955, from Our Lady of Grace Parish, Bower Hill Road, Scott Township. Father Oliver D. Keefer wasted little time making preparations for the parish's still-growing population. He immediately launched a very extensive improvement campaign in the summer of 1955 that included repairs and renovations to the school and church. The cost was approximately $70,000.

One year later, Father Keefer announced plans for the construction of a school annex and a new convent at a cost of about $500,000. During the 1956-'57 school year, when construction began, the sisters moved to the rectory, in some cases sleeping three to a room, while the priests moved to 1111 Creedmoor, the part of the convent that was built in 1926. Plans called for the demolition of the old King house at 1115 (which once served as a rectory and then a convent) and the building which was, in 1956, the oldest part of the convent (1113 Creedmoor). The building at 1111 Creedmoor would be incorporated in the new construction.

The annex, located next to the old school building, was completed in time for the beginning of the school year in September, 1957, providing six additional classrooms which were occupied by the 7th and 8th grades. Unfortunately the convent wasn't ready until late November. So, with the priests already moved back into the rectory, the sisters had to commute from various locations around the southern and western sections of the city.

The new convent and school annex were dedicated November 24, 1957, in a ceremony led by Auxiliary Bishop Coleman Carroll who had been an assistant at Resurrection from 1930 to 1934.

The parish's building program of the late '50s and its continuation into the mid-60's, coincided with the Renaissance of Pittsburgh's Golden Triangle, a coincidence symbolic of Resurrection's close ties with the civic affairs of the city. Prominent and active members of the parish over its long history have included former Pittsburgh Mayor Thomas Gallagher, former County Commissioner John J. Kane, former City Councilman Patrick Fagan, Register of Wills Rita Wilson Kane, and the former head of the United Steelworkers Union Phillip Murray.

Despite the best efforts of the parish to keep up with the rising school enrollment (about 2,000 by 1959), unusual measures were necessary to provide the children of Resurrection a Catholic education. In order to get more use out of limited space, seventh graders were divided into two groups and during the '59-'60 school year the first group attended classes from 8:00am to 12:30pm five days a week and the second group attended afternoon sessions in the same classrooms from 12:30-5:00pm.

The following year sixth and seventh graders participated in the half-day arrangement, and fifth and sixth graders during the '61-'62 school year.

Activities Center, Garden Room, Library,
Gym and Even More Classrooms

Over-population in the school was partially relieved in 1962 when Our Lady of Loreto Parish, founded in 1959, opened a school with facilities for four grades. However the necessity remained for additional construction at Resurrection. Work began in the summer of 1964 on an Activities Center that would cost nearly a million dollars.

The original idea for the center was suggested in 1956 when the annex was in the planning stages. As the years went by Father Keefer and the church committee decided to dedicate the use of the center to the entire parish as well as the school. The new building, attached to the annex and extending to Chelton Avenue, provided six additional classrooms, a large school library, a school assembly room, and a gym with locker and showers. The center's main link with the rest of the parish was to be the Garden Room, named after the garden where Jesus' Resurrection took place. It was designed as a meeting room for parish organizations, a place for dances and parties, and a hall for public performances. Father Keefer envisioned an air of elegance and "a perfect setting for a new series of cultural programs which will open doors to a deep appreciation of beauty in all its forms."

About a year after the groundbreaking, the Activities Center was dedicated September 6, 1965, in a ceremony led by Bishop John Wright. (Immediately following the dedication, Bishop Wright flew to Rome for the final session of Vatican II.)

Vatican II Brings Changes

The 1960's and 1970's were exciting and sometimes difficult times for Catholics as the Church adjusted to liturgical changes decreed by the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council. During those two decades, parishioners gradually changed their focus at Mass from private prayer and meditiation to community participation in the eucharistic liturgy.

The first manifestation of that change came to Resurrection Sunday, January 10, 1960, with the introduction of the "Dialogue Mass". At the Sunday 12:15 Mass the congregation recited in Latin the responses and prayers previously recited or sung by the altar boys and choir.

As other changes took place in the liturgy a new class of participants became familiar assistants at Mass: commentators. The Resurrection liturgy took its most startling and bewildering turn November 29, 1964, with the introduction of English to some parts of the Mass. A few months later, March 7, 1965, the Last Gospel disappeared completely, the prayers at the foot of the altar were shortened, and the Liturgy of the Word was moved away from the altar and proclaimed at the pulpit. Eventually the main altar against the backwall of the santuary was not used at all, and the Mass was celebrated on an altar (a table at first) facing the people. Folk Masses became a tradition at Resurrection with "The Brotherhood" singing each Saturday night beginning September 26, 1970. Shortly thereafter, Resurrection formed its own Folk Group called "The Peacemakers."

In the early 1970's the liturgical emphasis on community participation brought the laity into certain ministerial services. Three members of the parish became "Ministers of the Eucharist" and, later, in 1974, Richard Very was ordained to the diaconate conferring on him certain privileges and duties in administering the sacraments of Baptism, preaching at Mass and officiating at weddings and funerals.

Resurrection's Third Pastor, Father John McMahon

When Monsignor Keefer retired and Father John McMahon became the parish's third pastor in June, 1970, efforts were made to increase the responsibilities of parishioners in important functions of administration. Father McMahon established the Resurrection parish council and school board. Members of the congregation were elected to these offices. Although the parish previously had similar committees, they were not elected by the parish-at-large. For example, the parish council, during 1983 and 1984, recommended an extensive $75,000 renovation project in the church and made arrangements to raise funds to cover the costs. Two members of the parish council, Regis Block and Jim Brown, represented Resurrection in a coalition with six other local churches to develop "Parkside Manor," a $3,700,000 senior citizen apartment building next to the Brookline Community Center.

The next fourteen years in the Church's history were busy times. Two events stand out above the others: the canonization of Mother Elizabeth Ann Seton and the parish's observance of the Bicentennial of the U.S.A. in 1976.

The Sisters of Charity have been serving Resurrection since the beginning of our Parish school, almost 75 years ago, and so members of the parish shared with them the special joy they experienced when the Pope announced in January, 1975, that their foundress, Mother Elizabeth Ann Seton, had been named to the Communion of Saints. January 9 of that year, children of the school and parishioners jammed the church for a Mass of Thanksgiving.

Almost 19 months later, the members of Resurrection led the Brookline community in celebrating the 200th anniversary of our country's independence. The Fourth of July, 1976, fell on a Sunday and hundreds of parishioners gathered in the church courtyard that morning, then marched to the Brookline Community Center for an outdoor Mass. A cascade of 1500 helium-filled balloons was released at the start of the liturgy. The colorful pageantry was further accented by a "Dance of Thanksgiving" performed by the fourth graders.

The Fun Flair (1971-present)
Family Fun For Everyone!

In 1971, the parish sponsored the 1st annual Resurrection Fun Flair, a week-long carnival full of fun and games for people of all ages. There are bingo, raffles and many small games of chance. The gymnasium is packed with activities and the Garden Room is the site of a parish garage sale. Food is served in the school cafeteria and in the early years their were several small amusement park rides in the courtyard to excite the little ones. The Fun Flair tradition continues today, with the 38th fundraiser scheduled for the summer of 2008.

Of the many innovations ushered in during the 14 year pastorship of Father McMahon, the annual Fun Flair may be the most memorable. The summer carnival has brought millions of dollars into the church coffers over the years. Other parish fundraisers include Monday night Bingo, and the Fish Fry, every first Friday of each month, and every Friday during Lent. Most importantly are the individual contributions of families who support our parish through the offortery collection at Mass each Sunday.

After Father McMahon's retirement in 1984, a new pastor, Father Edward Trzeciakowski was assigned to the parish. Father Ed led the congregation until 1991, followed by the five-year pastorship of Father John Kozar. Father John was followed, in 1996, by Father Joseph Grosko, a former Navy Chaplain with strong ties to the Brookline community. Father Grosko had served from 1978 through 1981 as the former pastor of Ressurection's sister parish, Our Lady of Loreto, located on Pioneer Avenue. Having just returned from missionary work in the Phillipines, Father Grosko began a six-year tenure as our spiritual leader, a pastorship that oversaw many changes that positioned the church and the congregation for the coming of a new century.

Brookline Regional Catholic

The year 1996 was a sad year for the parish, the Sisters of Charity, and all of the lay teachers who had worked for so long educating the children of Brookline. After over 80 years as a neighborhood parochial school, the much revered Resurrection School buildings were closed due to financial necessity.

The burden of supporting several aging school buildings was stressing the resources of the parish. Also, the student enrollment, which had grown unabated for so many years was now on the decline.

A decision was made to merge Brookline's three Catholic schools into one. St. Pius X School was the chosen as the main location, and Our Lady of Loreto held classes for the lower grades. The new combined school was christened Brookline Regional Catholic. Classes at Our Lady of Loreto ended after the 2003 school year and BRC is now located solely at the former St. Pius X School.

Proud Resurrection School now stood vacant. Brookline Regional Catholic continued to use the gymnasium, and the cafeteria still buzzed with local activities like the bingo and neighborhood fund-raising events, but the once noisy and crowded schoolrooms now stood empty and unused. Recent lease agreements with the Pittsburgh Public School System has brought limited classroom activity back to the halls with the Pittsburgh Public Schools Early Childhood Development Program.

Changing Times

In 19__, the convent building on Creedmoor Avenue was leased to St. Joseph's House of Hospitality and served as a residence for low income women until 19__. The Sisters of Charity, who served as teachers and mentors at Resurrection, now live at and operate the Elizabeth Seton Center on Pioneer Avenue. Sister Mary Joseph McElhinney, the principal at Resurrection during from 1972 though 1975, moved into a new position as head of the Seton Senior Center. Sister Barbara Ann Boss ran the Child Care Center. In 2002, Sister Mary Joseph retired and Sister Barbara now heads the entire operation.

The Seton Center

In 2002, Father Grosko was reassigned to ________ Parish and Father Frank A. Mitolo was appointed our new pastor. Under Father Mitolo's leadership the Church of the Resurrection continues to serve the Brookline Catholic community. The congregation is as strong as ever, although not quite as numerous as in the boom years of the late 1950's and early 1960's.

Always looking forward, and with an eye on the community's growing Senior population, the Parish and the Diocese of Pittsburgh, in cooperation with Christian Housing Inc. and HUD, began a project to renovate the old school building into a 26-unit apartment building for income eligible senior citizens.

Groundbreaking, or "wall smashing," dedications for the new "Creedmoor Court" apartments were held October 29, 2003. Father Grosko was on hand for the ceremony, as well as representatives of the various agencies involved and local civic leaders. The new building was ready for occupancy in the fall of 2004.

The parish has retained the newer school building and gymnasium. The renovations done to the older school building have completely transformed the inside, yet the outer appearance remains basically the same. For the many thousands of students who once tred these sacred halls, it is comforting to know that these hallowed halls are once again in use making the Brookline community a better place to live.

Resurrection's 100th Anniversary Draws Near

After nearly one hundred years of service to the Brookline community, Resurrection Church continues to meet the spiritual needs of the parish. In 2009 the parish will celebrate it's 100th Anniversary. The heritage and tradition built up over that century of service will always be a storied chapter in Brookline's past, and Resurrection is poised to remain a vital and integral part of Brookline's future. Let it be.

For some class photos and other pictures of some of the school activities, click here.

The Pastors of Resurrection Church

Father James L. Quinn
1909-1955

When Father James L. Quinn came to Brookline to establish a new parish in 1909 neither he nor his contemporaries could envision the magnitude of the projects that lie ahead, or the thousands who would be affected during the next century by his pioneering efforts.

Born on a farm near Fostoria in Blair County in 1869, James Quinn got his earliest education in a tiny country school near his home. Later, private lessons in math led to a brief preparatory teaching course at Bellwood High School near State College.

In his mid-teens he enrolled in the International Business College of Altoona, not realizing how well his training in commercial law would serve him in the real estate and construction efforts that would bring the Resurrection Parish to life.

In September, 1886, he began attending classes at St. Charles College in Ellicott City, Maryland.

It wasn't until he was 23-years old that he decided to enter the priesthood. He began his theological training in the fall of 1892 at St. Vincent Seminary, Latrobe, and was ordained in the St. Vincent Archabbey church five years later.

His life as priest took him from his rural surroundings to the urban environs of Pittsburgh. After serving only one month as an assistant at St. Peters on the North Side, he moved into the Strip for the next four years as an assistant at Old St. Patrick's at the corner of 17th Street and Liberty Avenue.

From 1901 to 1903 he was chaplain at St. Joseph's Protectory, Morganza Reform School and Western Penitentary; and for the next six years was a member of the Diocesan Mission Band, a group of priests appointed by Bishop Canevin to serve Catholics in outlying areas of the diocese.

The Intinerant nature of his work changed in 1909 when the Bishop gave Father Quinn instructions to start a new parish in Brookline. But he was still in "the sticks," a sparsely populated area that was in the first days of growth into an urban neighborhood.

Father Quinn made certain the Catholic community was an important part of that growth. And he didn't waste much time. Less than two weeks after receiving his assignment he celebrated Resurrection's first Mass in a Brookline Boulevard storeroom, and a year later he celebrated Mass in what was Resurrection's first church (currently the first level of the old school building on Creedmoor Avenue.)

During the next 20 years the parish's first pastor directed a flurry of construction culminated by the dedication of Resurrection's current church and rectory in 1939.

Father Quinn's last years were spent wrestling with the post-war baby boom which resulted in huge increases in school enrollment and necessitated renovations and innovations to accomodate them.

Although he was 85-years old, parishioners were stunned when word spread around Brookline January 21, 1955, that Father Quinn had died early that morning. He was their first and only pastor, a man whose strength and certitude guided Resurrection from a small outpost of Catholicism to a position as one of the largest and most important parishes in the diocese.

Monsignor Oliver D. Keefer
1955-1970

Our second pastor, Father Oliver D. Keefer gained his pastoral experience the hard way: founding Our Lady of Grace Parish on Bower Hill Road, Scott Township in 1947.

When he took charge at Resurrection March 3, 1955, he soon discovered his building days were not over. Post-war growth made school expansion mandatory, and the first ten years of his pastorate saw construction on church property reach its fullest bloom.

Father Keefer was born in Emsworth November 21, 1903. Following study at Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland, he was ordained to the priesthood June 12, 1928, and he spent the next 19 years as an assistant at Holy Innocents Church, Sheraden and at St. Paul's Cathedral in Oakland.

In 1943 Bishop Hugh Boyle appointed him chaplain of the Serra Club of Pittsburgh. And he served for several years as head of the St. John's Capistran Mission at Beadling.

The burgeoning enrollment at Resurrection grade school was probably Father Keefer's biggest challenge upon arriving here in Brookline.

Although Bishop John Dearden saw fit in 1959 to form a new parish in the northern section of Brookline, Our Lady of Loreto Parish did not provide school facilities until three years later, in 1962. During the interim Father Keefer had to improvise, dividing the two thousand students into two groups, one attending classes in the morning, the other attending during the afternoon.

Even when that practice was no longer necessary, it was obvious that more room was needed for the grade school. And so Resurrection's pastor launched yet another fund-raising and construction project that saw the creation of the activities building. Completion came in 1965.

Earlier, during the first five years of his pastorate, he guided construction of the new convent and school annex.

Father Keefer's fifteen years in Brookline brought Resurrection parishioners through some exciting yet difficult times. The fruits of Vatican II were first tasted in the mid-60's with gradual changes in the liturgy. The changes were resisted by some, but through his instruction Resurrection parishioners grew to understand and cherish the new meaning those changes brought to their worship.

Bishop John Wright made public recognition of Father Keefer's accomplishments by recommending to the Vatican that he be conferred with the title "Monsignor." In May, 1968, Father Keefer became Monsignor Oliver D. Keefer in honor of his pastoral accomplishments, his position as dean of the South Deanery, and chaplain of the Serra Club of Pittsburgh.

Father Keefer retired in June, 1970. For the next eight years he served at Marian Manor as chaplain, and beginning in 1978 he was the infirmary chaplain at the Felician Sisters Provincial House in Moon Township.

Father John H. McMahon
1970-1984

Resurrection's new pastor came in the summer of 1970. He was to usher in an entirely new era in the parish's history. The full impact of Vatican II was being felt in Brookline, and Father John H. McMahon was charged with the responsibility of fulfilling the transition from old to new.

Father McMahon was born April 5, 1914, of James A. McMahon and Mary Ann Hallissey in St. Lawrence parish in Garfield. He attended school in East Liberty at Corpus Christi, Duquesne University Prep School and Duquesne University.

His studies for the priesthood led him to ordination by Bishop Hugh C. Boyle at the St. Vincent Archabbey Church June 16, 1940.

His next 44 years saw service in a variety of areas under the leadership of five bishops: Hugh C. Boyle, John F. Dearden, John Wright, Vincent Leonard and Anthony Bevilacqua.

During that time he was assistant at Holy Family in Latrobe, St. Mary of Mercy Downtown, St. John the Baptist in Lawrenceville, St. Sylvester in Brentwood, St. Peter on the North Side, and St. Catherine in Beechview.

While at St. Mary of Mercy Downtown Father McMahon was involved in important work with the Missionary Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. In fact, he was very active at two missions that eventually became important parishes in the diocese: Guardian Angels in Southview (near Cecil, Pa), and Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, Meadowlands, Washington County.

A milestone in his career was the appointment by Bishop John J. Wright of Father McMahon as the first Pastor of North American Martyrs Church in Monroeville June 1, 1960. With this Pastorship, he was instrumental in making this Suburban Parish a vital part of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh. His service to N.A.M. concluded on June 1, 1970, with his transfer to the Church of the Resurrection.

Among the many accomplishments of Father McMahon at Resurrection, perhaps the most important was the transition to a parish management style that involved parishioners in more decision making.

His aim was to make the Resurrection community more cooperative, collective and collegial.

One of the most significant developments toward that end was his creation of the Resurrection School Board in 1971. Since that time parents and other members of the parish have had a representative voice in the administration of school affairs.

A year later, in 1972, Father McMahon established the Parish Campaign, an annual fund-raising effort designed as a low-keyed approach to making people aware of their parish and their responsibility to support it.

The "Fun Flair," started by Father McMahon in 1971, became a summertime institution. The carnival raised more than half a million dollars in its first ten years.

One of the most spectacular events in the history of Resurrection was organized in 1976 by parishioners under the direction of Father McMahon. It was an outdoor Mass at the Brookline Community Center on the morning of the Fourth of July, celebrated in conjunction with local and national events marking the country's bicentennial.

It is somehow fitting that 1984, the 75th anniversary of the Resurrection parish, also marked another milestone in our history: Father McMahon's retirement from duties as our pastor. Like Father Quinn and Father Keefer before him, Father McMahon's efforts will have a lasting effect on our lives far beyond the years he has spent with us.

Resurrection's Pastors of the Last Quarter Century
(We will update these bios as part of the 100th anniversary preparations)

Father Edward Trzeciakowski
1984-1991

Father John Kozar
1991-1996

Father Joseph Grosko
1996-2002

Father Frank A. Mitolo
2002-2008

Associate Pastors at Resurrection Church
(1911-2008)

Denis N. Murphy (1911-1917), John R. McKavney (1917-1919), Charles G. Lindeman (1917-1918), Micael Galvin (1918-1919), Henry R. Connelly (1919-1921), Francis R. Shields (1921-1927), Francis J. Mueller (1927-1930), Edward H. Kelly (1927-1930), Joseph Keener (1930), Alvin W. Forney (1930-1938), Coleman F. Carroll (1930-1934), William P. Shaughnessy (1934-1942), Robert J. Gray (1935-1948), Regis Hannon (1938), Thomas F. Carey (1938-1945), George J. Bock (1942-1943), Andrew J. King (1943-1944), Thomas R. Bartley (1944-1952), Charles B. Roach (1945-1952), William P Weirauch (1948-1953), Paul A. Holzer (1952-1956), Joseph P. Newell (1952-1956), Francis A. Glenn (1953-1955), Edward F. McSweeney (1956-1958), William M. Miller (1956-1960), Anthony G. DeLuca (1958-1963), Donald w. McIlvane (1960-1962), Walter J. Gleason, MM (1961-1962), James C. Biller (1962-1963), James P. O'Connor (1963-1964), Bernard M. Harcarik (1963-1968), Ferdinand B. Demsher (1963-1966), Jeremiah T. O'Shea (1964-1969), Ralph V. Stack (1964-1967), Henry A. Szarnicki (1967), Roman Groszkiewicz (1967-1968), David C. Dixon (1968), Ernest J. Strzelinski (1968), Francis H. Gallagher (1968-1984), John L. Michaels (1968-1969), William R. Terza (1969-1974), John Ayoob (1969-1970), Stanley Gregorek (1970-1975), Phillip Pribonic (1974-1979), George Newmeyer (1975-1981), John Marcucci (1978-1986), George Zirwas (1979-1980), John Moran (1980-1990), Marck Eckman (1987-1990), David Weirczowski (1986-1989), Joseph Verardi (1986), James Dolan (1990-1994), James Seeger (1990-1994, 2001-2005), James P. McDonough (1993-1994), Louis DeNinno (1994-1995), William Hutnik (1994-1996), Victor Rocha (1995-1998, 2005-2008 in residence), George Chortas (1998-1999), Joe Luizi (2000-2001).

Past Principals at Resurrection School

The Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill
who taught at Resurrection School

* Thanks to Sister Vivien Linkhauer, S.C., for providing this information *

Resurrection School (1912-1996)
Past and Present

Resurrection School opened its doors to the children of the Brookline Community in 1912. The school continued in operation for the next 84 years, closing its doors after the completion of the 1996 school year. At that time, Resurretion's student population was merged with those of Our Lady of Loreto and St. Pius X to form Brookline Regional Catholic, located on the grounds of St. Pius X parish.

Over those 84 years, Resurrection School underwent many changes, and for many years until the mid-1960s, there was unprecedented growth in its student population. The school buildings were expanded several times over the years, with Resurrection student enrollment peaking at 1983 pupils during the 1961-1962 school term. By 1996, this number had dwindled to 600, with corresponding declines at both Loreto and Pius. At this time, our Parish and the Diocese or Pittsburgh worked together to consolidate the student populations of the three local parishes into one in a major cost saving move.

Today, the once proud school buildings have been modified significantly. The old school building is now a Senior Citizen Apartment Complex known as Creedmoor Court. The annex is still used for C.C.D. classes, which prepare the Parish's youngsters First Communion and Confirmation. The expansion wing is still used as classroom space, administered by the Pittsburgh Public School System as an Early Childhood Learning Center. The activities building is still used by Brookline Regional Catholic for sporting events and other parish-related activities.

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