SFC History

St. Frances Cabrini Parish, Center Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, was established by the Most Reverend John J. Wright, Bishop of the Pittsburgh Diocese, on May 24, 1961. On the same day, Rev. Paul A. Holzer was appointed by Bishop Wright as the first pastor.

The territory of this new parish was formerly sections belonging to St. Titus Parish, Aliquippa, Pa. and St. John the Baptist, Monaca, Pa. Its boundaries include most of Center Township, and small sections of Hopewell and Potter Townships.

The property where the parish compound was to be built was given to the Diocese of Pittsburgh on August 2, 1960 by Mrs. Mary Hall. It comprises about ten and one-half acres of the Hall Farm on Chapel Road between what is now Trinity Avenue, Shadyside Drive and Lynnway Avenue.

A parish census which began June 25, 1961 revealed there were 480 families in the parish when it was established.

The first Mass was offered in the home of William Leasha, Hall Road on Sunday, June 4, 1961. Sunday and daily Masses were offered there for two weeks. Beginning Sunday, June 18, 1961, Sunday Masses were offered in the Center Bowling Lanes, North Brodhead Road. Sunday Mass continued to be offered there until the temporary church was completed.

On October 1, 1961 Father Holzer, with the help of some energetic parishioners, began the first of two building fund campaigns. By the end of 1964 these two campaigns had raised $76,819. Construction of the temporary church was completed in April, 1963.

The first Mass was offered on Sunday, December 22, 1963. The buildings were blessed by the Most Rev. John J. Wright on July 19, 1964. Rev. Walter Benz was appointed the second pastor of St. Frances Cabrini where he served until March 29, 1969.

Rev. Thomas O’Connell was appointed pastor in 1969 and faithfully served the parish community until his retirement in 1996. Under his direction, construction of seven classroom CCD center and social hall was completed in February 1971 and dedicated on August 8, 1971.

Rev. Joseph J. Kleppner was appointed pastor in 1996 and shepherded the congregation until his retirement on September 15, 2014.  Rev. Martin R. Bartel, O.S.B. began his service as parish administrator in June 15, 2013 and then became pastor on September 15, 2014, continuing until October 15, 2018 when he was named administrator of the MACH1 Parish Grouping.  Upon Fr. Bartel's election as Archabbot of St. Vincent Archabbey, Fr. Jean-Luc Zadroga, O.S.B. became the administrator pro-tem on July 6, 2020.

In November 2020, the process of gathering parish name suggestions from parishioners for submission to the diocese was completed. On May 29, 2021, Bishop David Zubik officially announced the name of the future parish, made up of the then parishes of St. John the Baptist (Monaca), St. Titus (Aliquippa), St. Frances Cabrini (Center Township), and Our Lady of Fatima (Hopewell Township) and to be established on July 1, 2021, to be ‘Mary, Queen of Saints’.  Each church would retain its original patronal name.