History

Our story began in 1853, in the mountain valley town of Tyrone, Pennsylvania, when a group of faithful Catholics—many of them Irish and German immigrants—came together to lay the foundation of what would become St. Matthew Catholic Church.

In those early days, Mass was celebrated in homes, where dressers and tables served as makeshift altars. But the dream of a true church home took shape when land was purchased at the corner of Washington Avenue and 11th Street for just one dollar. On May 29, 1853, the cornerstone was laid, and by September 24, 1854, the doors of our first church opened. Just a few years later, in 1858, Rev. Patrick Sheehan arrived as our first resident pastor, ready to guide a growing flock.

But the story of our Catholic faith here goes back even further. As early as 1760, Rev. Louis Sibourd celebrated Mass in this region. One of our spiritual trailblazers, Demetrius Gallitzin—a Russian nobleman turned missionary—visited nearby Sinking Valley in the late 1700s, offering sacraments and spiritual care. Thanks to Peter McMullen, who donated land in 1809, we even had a Catholic cemetery—now known as St. Luke’s Cemetery—before we had a parish.

As the railroad expanded and Tyrone’s industries flourished in the mid-19th century, our community grew rapidly. Immigrant families brought with them a strong Catholic identity and a determination to build a better life, despite facing hardship and prejudice. In 1869, Rev. John Farren opened our first parish school in a single-room building. A few years later, in the 1870s, we were blessed by the arrival of the Sisters of Mercy, who took the school under their care and moved it to a larger home, the beloved Mathias Home.

Education was, and still is, a cornerstone of our parish life. By 1881, we had purchased land on Cameron Avenue and, five years later, opened a new school and convent. For a time, the second floor of that school building served as our church, while we constructed a new rectory next door to care for our growing family of faith.

And then came the dream that still stands today. Between 1889 and 1896, our parishioners—men and women of grit and grace—hauled stones from their farms and gave what little they had to raise our beautiful stone church. Rev. Ferdinand Kittell began the fundraising, and Rev. Dennis Gallagher oversaw the construction. On June 30, 1895, the cornerstone was laid, and on February 9, 1896, our new church was dedicated—a sacred space that has remained the heart of our parish ever since.

In the early 1900s, new waves of immigrants—Italians, Slovaks, and Croatians—joined our parish family. They brought their languages, their foods, their customs, and most importantly, their deep devotion to the Catholic faith. Life in Tyrone was not always easy, but our parish helped create a sense of unity and belonging. The stories from that time—of parish dances, card games, and delightful characters—still make us smile.

Through it all, we’ve been guided by dedicated pastors like Rev. Thomas Rosensteel, who arrived in 1894 and was known for visiting parishioners in person and inspiring generosity. In 1901, we became part of the newly created Diocese of Altoona, under Bishop Eugene Garvey. Then, in 1912, our parish was blessed by a special gift—Anna Cullen donated a Tellers Summerhoff pipe organ, which still fills our sanctuary with music to this day.

That same year, Rev. Jeremiah Looney became our pastor, just in time to lead us through the trials of World War I and the flu epidemic of 1918. In 1919, he helped establish Saint Matthew High School in the upper rooms of our grade school, with Sisters Mary of Nazareth and Mary Geraldine guiding students in both academic and commercial studies. Though the high school closed in 1925, its legacy lives on through our commitment to Catholic education.

Our parish has always believed in the power of lay leadership. In 1907, Knights of Columbus Council 1218 was established to support families and care for our cemeteries. The Daughters of Isabella formed in 1920 as Court St. Rita #523, later becoming the Catholic Daughters of America. Their generosity helped provide our church with a new altar rail in 1926 and renovated the rectory in 1930.

For more than 150 years, St. Matthew Catholic Church has been a spiritual home for generations of believers. From homemade altars to sacred stone walls, from immigrant struggles to vibrant parish life, our story is one of perseverance, prayer, and community.

In 2023, Fr. Michael Pleva began his ministry as our pastor, continuing a long line of shepherds devoted to guiding our faith family into the future. As we reflect on our past, we give thanks for all those who helped build the foundation we now stand on—and we look forward, with faith, to all that lies ahead.