About the former Saint Kilian Parish

From its inception in 1917, Saint Kilian Parish found its inspiration in the previous centuries of Catholic life and tradition. While rooted in that heritage, we continue to seek to meet the contemporary needs of its members.

100 Years and Counting...Our Origins (1917 - 1999)

In 1917, at the request of the Catholic people in the Mars area, a mission church was established. The first Mass was celebrated by Fr. Timothy O'Shea on March 18, 1917, in Robertson's Hall. Fifty-two adults and thirty-three children attended. The area was first served by the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine under the direction of Fr. Dan Lawless, assisted by Fr. Victor Majka and Fr. Edward Heinrich.

In the spring of 1920, the congregation purchased an abandoned Free Methodist Church. The building was renovated and repaired and was dedicated on December 5, 1920. This same building was remodeled, repaired many times, enlarged and served as St. Kilian Church until 2008.

On July 4, 1934, fire struck the church. Quick work by the local fire department saved the building, although heavily damaged. Masses were held at Mars High School during church repairs. The Mars church hall was started by Father Seibel and completed in 1949 under Father Schaughnessy. The Mars rectory was built during Fr. Hannon's years at St. Kilian. Following Vatican Council II, many physical changes within the church became apparent, yet some memories were preserved in unique and meaningful ways. The CCD program was established with an enrollment of 31 children.

From 1953 to 1973, the number of parishioners grew from 478 to 1,450 (more than 300%). The largest growth was experienced between 1983 to 2003 when the number of members grew to 7,016 (425%). The same growth was reflected in the children attending CCD, growing 1,000% from 81 to 900 children from 1953 to present. As the parish grew, many options were considered. In 1962, Saint Kilian’s pastor, Father Charles Schafer, petitioned the Diocese for permission to build a new parish center (including a new church) on thirty-three acres some outside of the Borough of Mars. That initiative was not received favorably by Diocesan officials at that time but it demonstrated the continuing desire of this parish to consider the needs of the parish and what could be done to meet them. Today, we find ourselves part of that tradition.

Saint Kilian - Second Century Campaign (2000 - 2013)

In June, 2001, the boundaries of Saint Kilian Parish in Mars, PA, and Saint Ferdinand Parish in Cranberry, PA, were realigned. The result of this was a significant change and dramatic growth for Saint Kilian Parish. On July 2, 2001, the Bishop appointed Father Charles Bober as Pastor of Saint Kilian with the specific responsibility of preparing the people for this change and initiating the Second Century Campaign to raise funds for a much needed building project as the original church could no longer accommodate parishioners.

During the planning sessions for the new building project, it became evident that the influx of parishioners created a need for additional meeting space and CCD classrooms. With one-third of the parishioners being 17 years old and younger, the idea of also using the new space for a Catholic grade school was introduced. A survey to assess interest in a school was completed in the Fall of 2002, resulting in an overwhelming positive response. The plans for the new school were initiated and construction began on the Franklin Road/Route 228 site in April, 2007. In September, 2008, Saint Kilian Parish School became the first, brand new Catholic grade school built in the Diocese of Pittsburgh in almost 40 years.

• Saint Kilian Parish is the 2nd largest (by a slim margin) parish in the Diocese of Pittsburgh with 13,093 parishioners.
• Saint Kilian Parish School is the largest Catholic Primary School and the 2nd largest Catholic school (2nd to Central Catholic High School) in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Our parish school is the 3rd largest private school, regardless of affiliation, in the Greater Pittsburgh Area.
• 1/3 of Saint Kilian Parishioners are under the age of 17 - representing the future of our parish and the need for our church.

Saint Kilian - To Build a Church, a Church Alive! Campaign (2014 - 2016)

In the summer of 2014, Saint Kilian Parish took part in the overall Diocese of Pittsburgh A Church Alive! campaign with our own To Build a Church, A Church Alive! campaign. This bold campaign sought to do three things:

1. Pay off our existing Parish Center construction debt of $10.38M
2. Fulfill our assigned Diocesan A Church Alive! goal of $2.1M
3. Raise a final $11M in cash and pledges in order to obtain permission to begin construction on our new church

Through the outpouring of generosity of parishioners, community members, friends, anonymous donors, and the pure grace of God, our existing debt of $10.38M was paid; our Diocesan A Church Alive! goal of $2.1M was fulfilled; and $8.1M was pledged to the required $11M for our new church - leaving only $2.9M to raise. After Vatican approval in the summer of 2015, construction began and concluded in the Fall of 2016.

On September 25, 2016, Bishop Zubik concelebrated with Father Bober and many other brother priests in a standing room only Solemn Dedication Mass for Saint Kilian Parish Church and our new home was officially opened to all.

On July 1, 2023, Holy Sepulcher Parish and Saint Kilian Parish merged to become Saint Mark the Evangelist Parish. Fr. Charles Bober was appointed as pastor of the new parish.

The coat of arms was designed in the summer of 2008 to commemorate the opening of the new Parish Center.

Saint Kilian Parish Crest

Left Half

The left half of the shield contains the arms of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (of which Saint Kilian Parish is a part). The black color of the field reflects the arms of the City of Pittsburgh in which the checkered bar depicts a counting board from the arms granted to William Pitt who was chancellor of the Exchequer of England and for whom the City of Pittsburgh is named. The colors of the bar in the original Pitt grant were changed to silver and blue; and the coins of the treasury were transformed into crosses. The sword was added in honor of Saint Paul, the patron saint of the Cathedral of the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
Right Half

The right half of the shield is distinct to Saint Kilian Parish. The field colors, blue and gold, are those of the arms of County Cavan, Ireland, the land of Saint Kilian's birth. The red and white checkered bar are the colors of the arms of Wurzburg, Germany, the geographic area in which Saint Kilian preached and where he was martyred. The cross (also taken from the arms of Wurzburg) is an enduring Christian symbol. It reminds each disciple that Christ calls us to take up the cross (Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me." Matthew 16:24). The plow represents the historic agricultural heritage of the communities the make up the parish. It also represents the work of the parish at the present time in plowing new fields. Finally it recalls the words of Jesus: "No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62).

O Lord God, you called Kilian and his companions from Ireland to preach the Gospel to the peoples of Southern Germany. Grant that your people may draw strength from their example and never fail to proclaim you truth and your love in our day, as we ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Saint Kilian

Saint Kilian was born in Cloughballybeg near Mullagh, County Cavan, Ireland around the year 640 A.D. He began his education in Roscarberry, County Cork and completed it in Touist in County Kerry. Embracing the monastic life he associated with himself a group of missionary minded monks who made plans for a great pilgrimage. From Kilmakilogue harbor, Saint Kilian and two companions (Coleman and Totnan) set sail in a hide-covered boat. They arrived at Rome in 686 and Pope Conon commissioned them to preach the gospel to the German peoples of Franconia (Baden and Bavaria). These three missionaries arrived in that region in the Fall of 686. Their work covered large areas but the center of the mission was in and around Würzburg. It was there that they converted Gosbert, Duke of that region. Gosbert had earlier married his brother's wife, Geilana. At the preaching of Kilian and his companions, Gosbert learned that such an act was unlawful for a Christian so he prepared to dismiss her. Geilana learned of Gosbert's plan and was filled with rage. While Gosbert was absent from his territory on a military expedition, Geilana had Kilian and his companions murdered and their bodies and sacred belongings buried. The date of their death was July 8, 689 A.D.

The work of the three missionaries did not survive after their deaths. A generation later, St. Boniface found only evidence of their preaching but no established Christian faith community. Saint Burchard, appointed by Boniface as the first bishop of Würzburg, built a cathedral on the spot where the martyrs were said to have met their deaths and had their relics unearthed and buried within a vault of that cathedral church.

Saint Kilian is one of many Irish missionaries to Europe in the sixth and seventh centuries. His memory is recalled today in both Ireland and Germany. He is not only the patron of the city Würzburg and region of Bavaria but also of many Catholic youth groups throughout Germany. His feast is observed on July 8. In Würzburg, his feast is marked by a week-long festival.

In Ireland, his memory is preserved in the village of Mullagh at the Saint Kilian Heritage Centre. This center holds records and celebrates St. Kilian's life. There one can hear of Christianity as an alternative world view which provided the unique vision which motivated heros such as St. Kilian. Visitors are in contact not with some mystic past but rather the spiritual and cultural energy upon which modern Europe was built. This unique center was built by the cooperative efforts of the local community and the Diocese of Würzburg in southern Germany.

The Church's universal calendar celebrates the feast of Saint Kilian on July 8.