History of our Church

(Early History)

The earliest known inhabitants of this area were the Seneca, Shawnee and Delaware (or Lenape) Indian tribes. The Allegheny River, which flows through the town, was known originally to the Delaware Indians as "Ch-He-Hu" which translates as "beautiful". As the area was settled, the Indians referred to it as, "Kit-han-ne" which translates as "village at the Great River" and their village was named Attique. Their name for the region has only been slightly modified to its current name, Kittanning.

The French explorer Sieur de la Salle along with three priests of the Culpician community and some Franciscans journeyed through the area around "Kit-han-ne" in the years 1669-1670. They were probably the first Europeans to travel through this area.

In 1727, French explorers and traders traveled into the Indian town of "Kit-han-ne" from Canada to trade with the Delaware Indians. Father Joseph Peter Bonnecamps celebrated the first known Mass for the area just a few miles north of "Kit-han-ne" in August of 1749. Father Bonnecamps accompanied a French expedition down the Allegheny in an effort to take formal possession of the territory for the French.

On September 8, 1756 Lieutenant Colonel John Armstrong of the British Army (of whom the county is named) marched into "kit-han-ne". After a savage fight Lieut. Col. Armstrong routed the Delaware Indians and a few French and acquired the town for the English.

When the town came under English rule in 1758, anti-Catholic laws prohibited Catholics from voting and purchasing property. The town remained under these anti-Catholic laws until the Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War gave religious freedom to practice one's faith without persecution.

Sugar Creek Settlement

The first Catholics of what is now southwestern were without priests and churches. Missionary priests irregularly passed through the region and their occasional visits helped the early settlers keep their faith. One of the first missionary priests for the people of this area was Father (Prince) Dimitri Gallitzin. Prince Gallitzin traveled to the New World from Russia specifically to become a missionary priest in the New World and he was ordained be Archbishop john Carroll of the Diocese of Baltimore. Father Galitzin was the second priest ordained in the United States and Archbishop John Carroll appointed him as a missionary priest for this entire surrounding area.

The town, Sugar Creek, 12 miles west of Kittanning, was one of the original English settlements. In 1803, Father Helbron visited Sugar Creek and baptized 51 people in one day. In 1805, Father Richard Phelan became the first parish priest of Sugar Creek and Saint Patrick's Church building was erected in 1806 [this log cabin church still stands and is still used today]. Father Phelan later became the fourth Bishop of Pittsburgh (1889-1904). The parish of Saint Patrick's Church included the area of Kittanning.

In 1811, Bishop Egan of the Diocese of Philadelphia visited Sugar Creek. His visit marked the first visit by a Bishop to this area. He traveled to Sugar Creek to confer the Sacrament of Confirmation upon the faithful. During this time period, there were only three priests in Western Pennsylvania and only 13 priests in the entire diocese of Philadelphia. The parish at Sugar Creek remained in the Diocese of Philadelphia until 1843 when it then became part of the newly created Diocese of Pittsburgh.

The Church In Kittanning

Father Cody celebrated the first Mass offered in the town of Kittanning in 1847. This Mass was celebrated in the home of Colonel William Siwell. Colonel Sirwell continued to be a benefactor of visiting priests as he offered his home as a sanctuary for visiting priests and also for the celebration of the Mass.

In 1847 - 1848 a steel rolling mill was built in Kittanning and the completion of the Allegheny Valley Railroad connected Kittanning with Pittsburgh. Population growths of the Kittanning area paralleled and the industrial growth and by 1851 there were 21 Catholic families in Kittanning. Mass was celebrated from 1847 - 1851 in the old Academy, the old court house and the homes of Henry Rush and Colonel Sirwell. The parish of St. Mary's in Kittanning was established in 1851 from St. Mary's Parish in Freeport.

Because of the growing Catholic Community, it became necessary to build a permanent church structure and the first church building became a reality in 1853. [The site of the original church is the same as where the current church is erected.] Ten years later Father John O. G. Scanlon became the first resident pastor and Bishop Michael Domenec of the Diocese of Pittsburgh dedicated the St. Mary's Church building on October 23, 1864. With an increase in the number of Catholics in the community came the first priest ordained from the parish: Father A. A. Lambing on August 4, 1869. He celebrated his First Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Mary Parish on August 15 of the same year.

In 1906, the Sisters of Saint Joseph from Baden, Pennsylvania and Father L. A. Carroll established a parochial school for the Catholic community of Kittanning. The School was a mainstay in the community until it was regretfully closed in 1996. The Sisters of Saint Joseph from Baden sustained and taught at the school until its closing. The Sisters of Saint Joseph continue to serve the parish through other functions.

Because the Catholic Community was flourishing, Fr. Carroll proposed to build a new church in 1911 to accommodate the increasing needs. This proposal was not carried out due to various circumstances.

More Recent History

In 1951 the Catholic Parish of Saint Mary became part of the newly created Diocese of Greensburg. The first pastor for the parish as part of the new diocese was Father Francis X. Foley. He launched a building program that resulted in a new convent in 1953, a new rectory in 1955, and a new school in 1960.

Father Foley began plans for a new church structure in 1961 and demolition of the original St. Mary's Church began July 2, 1962. Father Foley went to our Lord through death on October 3 of the same year. The Church building was completed under the guidance of Monsignor Charles B. Guth with the assistance of Francis "Smiley" Benson.

The cornerstone was set on August 18, 1963 and the first Mass was celebrated in the new church building on Palm Sunday, March 22, 1964. The Church was then dedicated on August 16, 1964 and consecrated October 11, 1970 by Bishop William G. Connare of the Diocese of Greensburg. With the building of the new church, the parish was rededicated not only as "Saint Mary", but also under the title and patronage of one of her apparitions, "Our Lady of Guadalupe".

In 1970 when Bishop Connare was preparing to consecrate the church, he wrote a letter in which he said:

"As you and your people well know, your Church is dedicated to Our Blessed Mother under the title of Our Lady of Guadalupe. No designation of any church is more American. The discovery of the continent by Columbus was still vivid and fresh when she chose to visit this continent in the hallowed spot of Guadalupe. We are grateful to you and your people for providing the Diocese with this memorial to the blessed experience which brought Our Blessed Mother to us so long ago."