From the Pastor's Desk (7/6/25)

From the Pastor's Desk

7/6/25


Praised be Jesus Christ! Greetings to you, my brothers and sisters in Christ.

I am so very blessed to have been assigned by Bishop Zubik as Pastor of Mary, Queen of Saints Parish. I am honored to have been entrusted with the pastoral leadership of this beautiful parish, under the intercession of our dear Blessed Mother.

I am most grateful to Fr. Canice McMullen, O.S.B., my predecessor, for his love and care of this faith community since he was installed as Pastor in November 2022. As he returns to the Archabbey of Saint Vincent, may we continue to raise him up in prayer and ask the Holy Spirit to continue to guide him and envelop him with God’s countless blessings and graces.

Ordained for the Diocese of Pittsburgh in 2002, I arrive at this new priestly assignment from Holy Spirit Parish in New Castle, Lawrence County, where I was Senior Parochial Vicar since July 2024. Prior to my ministry in Lawrence County, I served as Episcopal Regional Vicar of the North Vicariate, where I worked closely with Bishop Zubik, overseeing thirty parishes and parish groupings as they navigated the waters of the On Mission for the Church Alive initiative. Prior to my role as Episcopal Regional Vicar, I served as Pastor of St. Philip Parish (Crafton, 2014-2020), Holy Sepulcher Parish (Middlesex Township, 2010-2014), and St. Martin de Porres Parish (McKeesport 2008-2010). Prior to my assignments as Pastor, I served as Parochial Vicar at Assumption Parish (Bellevue), St. Patrick (Canonsburg), and St. Charles Lwanga Parish (Pittsburgh).

I am very much looking forward to working alongside my brother priests, Fr. Celestine Xu, O.S.B. and Fr. Gilbert Heater, O.S.B. (who officially starts his assignment on July 14), and our Permanent Deacons Rev. Mr. Bob Bittner and Rev. Mr. Joseph Samchuck, as we minister to the faithful of this wonderful parish. We are blessed with not only a superb Clergy Team, but we are also blessed with an outstanding Pastoral Staff here at Mary, Queen of Saints.

In the coming weeks, I will be introducing myself at the Sunday liturgies as well as various parish events already scheduled throughout the months of July and August. Please be sure to introduce yourself to me after each Mass. In the meantime, please be assured of my daily prayers for each of you as we continue to walk together as brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. I also humbly ask for your prayers so that the Holy Spirit will continue to guide and bless me with the necessary strength and wisdom needed to shepherd our parish. May each of us seek to build the kingdom of the Lord here in our area of Beaver County through our worship together, prayer for one another and fellowship in Christ.

If you should need to contact me or simply wish to share any thoughts or concerns, feel free to contact me at either of my email addresses: [email protected] or [email protected]. I can also be reached at the Parish Office: (724) 775-6363 x116.


Blessings on your week!
Fr. John B. Gizler, III
Pastor of Mary, Queen of Saints Parish