St. Ferdinand Parish, Cranberry Township

Infobox religious building
building_name=St. Ferdinand's
image_size=255px
caption=
location=2535 Rochester Road,
Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania
geo=
religious_affiliation=Roman Catholic Church
rite=Roman Rite
province=Archdiocese of Philadelphia
consecration_year=
leadership=Diocese of Pittsburgh
Bishop: David A. Zubik
Pastor: John P. Gallagher
website=http://www.stferd.org/
architect=Ross Schonder Sterzinger Cupcheck P.C. [http://www.rsscarch.com/religious/stferdinand.html]
architecture_type=
architecture_style=Practical Contemporary
architecture_attributes=radial configuration, sloping nave floor
facade_direction=North
year_completed=1990
construction_cost=$2.7 million (1990)
capacity=1,200 seats
area=19,810 square feet
length=
width=
width_nave=
height_max=
materials=Brick, laminated wood, stained glass

Saint Ferdinand Parish, known locally as, "St. Ferdinand Catholic Church," "St. Ferdinand's," or for short, "St. Ferd's," is a local parish (church) of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. The third-largest parish in the diocese [http://www.pittsburghcatholic.org/newsarticles_more.phtml?id=2068] , St. Ferdinand's is located in the relatively populated suburban Cranberry Township, where it serves more than ten thousand parishioners in the vicinity. Situated close to the geographic center of town, the church directly neighbors the Cranberry Township Municipal Center. The Cranberry satellite campus of Butler County Community College, as well as [http://www.sherwood-oaks.com/index.shtml Sherwood Oaks Retirement Community] , are close to the church. Haine Elementary & Middle Schools are within the distance of a short drive as well.

History

Bishop John J. Wright raised St. Ferdinand Mission to the status of parish on May 31, 1961 when Father William McAndrew was appointed as the first Pastor. The congregation was a mission of [http://www.stals.org/ St. Alphonsus Church] in neighboring Wexford, Pennsylvania. At that time, Cranberry Township was a rural farming community. At first, Mass was celebrated at Hartner’s Restaurant on Rt. 19, and afterwards at the Cranberry Fire Hall. Upon completion of the all-purpose rectory, Mass was celebrated in the rectory basement beginning on May 27, 1962. On June 5, 1962, Fr. McAndrew suddenly died and on July 3, 1962, Bishop Wright appointed Fr. James Biller as Pastor. March 8, 1964 was the groundbreaking ceremony for the transitional church, parish social hall and C.C.D. classrooms. The first Mass was celebrated in the new church on Easter Sunday, April 18, 1965. Bishop Wright officially dedicated the church on February 20, 1966. The statue of Jesus Christ at the church entrance was dedicated in memory of Fr. McAndrew.

Fr. Bartley Sorenson was named the first Parochial Vicar of St. Ferdinand in November 1976. He remained until July 1981 at which time Fr. Charles Speicher was appointed to minister at the parish. On December 31, 1980, the parish membership numbered 1,214 families and 4,398 members. In light of a rapidly growing suburban population, and correlating parish membership, 1986 saw planning and fund raising efforts aimed at building a new, larger worship facility. Groundbreaking for this new facility occurred on October 8, 1989. Completion of the new church was celebrated on December 23, 1990 with a ceremony of blessing and dedication by Bishop Donald W. Wuerl.

The turn of the century saw rapid, uneven population growth within the narrow geography of the township. St. Ferdinand's became overcrowded while the smaller, neighboring [http://www.saintkilian.org/ St. Kilian Parish] remained much less constrained. On January 6, 2002, Bishop Wuerl amended the boundaries of St. Ferdinand Parish, proclaiming those parishioners living east of Route 19 to be new members of St. Kilian Parish. This was a major controversy.

Today

St. Ferdinand Parish continues to grow at a relatively rapid place, and with ongoing plans to expand the on-campus facilities. The St. Ferdinand Parish sustains more than 50 ministies which serve the Parish and the greater community such as Adult Confirmation, Bible Study, Parish Seder Meal, Pilgrimage, R.C.I.A., Vacation Bible School, and many others.

Notable is the Comfort Blanket Ministry, a ministry that began in 2002 and continues to grow and progress. The Comfort Blanket is a hug from the entire parish, embracing the recipient with love and support. Nearly 4,000 blankets have been completed and given to date, given to parishioners of the parish as well as to persons throughout the country and abroad, hugs to persons with struggle or in need of support in the Armed Forces.

Also, present in the parish is a notable and significant music program, including Adult Choir, Children's Choir, Folk Choir, Life Teen Band, Brass Ensemble, Handbell Choir, and many Cantors, all under the direction of Music Minister Cynthia Plazek. Installed in the church is an II/13 pipe organ, built by the Wicks Organ Company of Highland, Illinois.

Notable Attributes

Additionally, St. Ferdinand's is famous for events outstanding to the larger, regional community:

Living Stations of the Cross

The long-held, popular Catholic devotional known as the Stations of the Cross is widely known about and practiced during the season of Lent by members of the faith. St. Ferdinand's, however, has put a special touch on the Stations by ritually reenacting them in a quasi-theatrical idiom. Led by the Youth Minister [http://www.stferdym.org/staff.aspx?pID=4351 Andrea Wheeler] , adolescent parishioners, including most members of the youth ministry, clad in first-century costumes and utilizing props, come together as living "statues" (hence, "Living" Stations" [http://www.stferdym.org/article4.aspx?pID=12545] ) to depict each of the fourteen scenes of the Stations. Accompanying the breath-taking scenes are a select group of "readers" who dramatically and prayerfully lead the congregation in the devotional, reading from a script that essentially narrates the Catholic interpretation of the Stations of the Cross. Each Sunday amid the Lenten season leading up to Easter, this wonderful event travels around western Pennsylvania in order to take place in churches throughout the diocese, the tour finally concluding at the beloved Good Friday service at St. Ferdinand's. Catholics and non-Catholics alike come to participate in this heartfelt prayer service each year. Lent 2008 marks the 25th anniversary of this sacred tradition.

Annual St. Ferdinand Family Festival

The festival [http://www.stferd.org/Organizations/OFestival.htm] , held during the second weekend of August each year, draws parishioners, family and other visitors from all around western Pennsylvania and the tri-state area. A well-welcomed carnival celebrating the winding down of summer as well as the coming fall harvest, notable attractions include massive dinners, charitable games including a bingo hall, a kiddie tent, and the gigantic White Elephant Tent. Massive quantities of donated items and daily work hours, over a four week period, are volunteered by the community to sort and prepare for the tent sale. More volunteers work a full week, 2 shifts, to set up the tent sale and festival activities, all for a fantastic three-day weekend to celebrate a festival. Proceeds largely benefit various local and regional charities.

Recent Events

-On April 4, 2007, Parochial Vicar Joseph P. Newell (b. 1922) passed away [http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07096/775621-122.stm] after many years of continuing active service despite failing health.

-North Catholic High School of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is scheduled to relocate to Cranberry Township in time for the 2010-11 school year [http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07274/822065-100.stm] . The new campus will be located within a few minutes' drive of St. Ferdinand Parish.

-This year on Holy Saturday, March 22, 2008, an event will take place to celebrate the 25-year anniversary of the Living Stations Ministry. The Stations Reunion banquet [http://www.stferdym.org/group4.aspx?pID=59505] will comprise alumni from the quarter-century-long span of the program.

References

* [http://www.stferd.org/General%20Information/GIHistoryofStFerd.htm History of St. Ferdinand Church]
* [http://www.rsscarch.com/home.html RSSC Architecture]

External links

* [http://www.stferd.org/index.html St. Ferdinand Parish]
* [http://www.diopitt.org/ Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh]
* [http://www.north-catholic.org/ North Catholic High School]