Ss. Simon and Jude Church

1607 Greentree Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15220

On Thursday, June 16, 1955, Bishop John F. Dearden established Ss. Simon and Jude Parish for the faithful residing in the district of Charter Oaks (Scott Township), Green Tree Borough, and the City of Pittsburgh along Greentree Road. Fr. Ignatius Koller was the first pastor of the new parish. He took possession of a large field full of weeds, brambles, blackberry bushes, rocks, and stumps and dreamed of the parish he would help create.

Fr. Koller and about fifty men of the new parish rolled up their sleeves and dug in. Fr. Koller worked right along the parishioners, and they went from a weed patch to a parish church in less than eight months. Two hundred and eight families pulled together to plant the seeds of this new parish. 

Although Fr. Koller was the founder of the parish, in 1963 his health was failing. Bishop John J. Wright appointed Fr. Thomas F. Carey as the second Pastor of Ss. Simon and Jude. Fr. Carey continued the dream of Fr. Koller by the expansion of the church building. Each day of his twenty five-year tenure, he demostrated love and reverence for the Eucahristic Presence, his great devotion to the Rosary, his dedication to the sick, and his unceasing love for the congregation of his church.

In 1988, Fr. Richard Ward was appointed as a strong successor to lead the parish.  While Fr. Koller oversaw the initial building of the church and Fr. Carey its expansion, Fr. Ward would be responsible for its renovation. Centering everything on the Sacred Liturgy, Fr. Ward identified areas vital to the spiritual and social needs of his parishioners and believed that active participation in the Liturgy was key to forming an active and lively parish.

Also having a lasting impact on this active, lively parish were the next three pastors, Fr. Dennis Bradley, Fr. Daniel Maurer, and Fr. Jay Donahue. Though only at the parish for a short time, their tireless work transformed the parish into a shining symbol of the power of faith in God and in one another. 

So many wonderful parochial vicars, religious, lay teachers, visiting priests, and parishioners have also strengthened our faith and formed the community of faith we are today. Their sacrifices, dedication, talents, and God's abundant grace have united us as a family in Christ.