Three Rivers Mass

Pittsburgh Chapter Knights of Columbus – Three Rivers Mass

Well before the American Revolution—and even before an expedition led by General Edward Braddock and an aide named George Washington ended in disaster in the Monongahela Valley—the first Catholic Mass in this area was celebrated by Father Denys Baron a few days after Easter in 1754 for a group of French soldiers. The anniversary of this Mass has for decades been marked by the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Knights of Columbus with the Three Rivers Mass, commemorating the first known example of Catholic practice in this part of the New World. As with so many things, the pandemic made it impossible to sustain this tradition in 2020 and 2021.  We are very pleased that the Three Rivers Mass will return this year, fittingly just a few days after Easter, on Saturday, April 23, 2022, at Most Holy Name of Jesus Parish at 1700 Harpster Street, Pittsburgh, in Troy Hill at 10:00 am. This is an important link to Pittsburgh’s rich Catholic tradition, and something central to the mission of the Knights of Columbus as we put into action our conviction that “Jesus Christ remains the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” It cannot succeed without your involvement. We               hope—and in truth, depend—on a strong turnout not only to revive this important tradition but to show that the Knights of Columbus remain a central part of the life of the Church here in Pittsburgh.

Rev. Kenneth W. Marlovits will be conducting the Three Rivers Mass in place of Rev. William D. Wuenschel, our Knights of Columbus, Pittsburgh Chaplain.

We will be serving continental breakfast style refreshments after the Mass, so please RSVP to Nathan Sudie at nathan.sudie@gmail.com, so that we can appropriately prepare. Please don’t forget to bring your family and friends because they are invited.