

75 Years: Our Foundation, Our Future
Catholic Schools
Catholic schools in the Diocese of Greensburg have been a cornerstone of faith and learning. These classrooms, which were often led by religious sisters, were built on strong parish and clergy support, a commitment that continues today. Now serving more than 2,400 students in 10 elementary and two secondary schools, our mission remains constant: forming future disciples of Christ through robust faith formation, academic excellence, and service to our communities. Your gift to the Diocesan Lenten Appeal helps continue this proud legacy – forming leaders for our Church, our faith, and our communities, today and for generations to come.
Vocations & Retired Priests
For 75 years, our Diocese has been built on the faithful service of priests, religious orders, and laity who answered God’s call. Father Alexander Pleban, now 95, has served our Diocese since its earliest days. Living at Neumann House for retired priests, he continues to celebrate Mass, share wisdom, and inspire with his deep love for the people he served. Father Pleban reminds us that although times change, the heart of the priesthood remains the same – being present to God’s people. Through your gift to the Diocesan Lenten Appeal, you help care for our senior priests in retirement while also forming the next generation of seminarians who will faithfully lead our parishes into the future.
Catholic Charities
Since its founding, our Diocese has answered Christ’s call to care for those most in need. Today, rising costs for food, fuel, utilities, and housing place an even greater burden on families, seniors, and individuals struggling to make ends meet. Your gift to the Diocesan Lenten Appeal ensures that Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Greensburg is there when help is needed most. Catholic Charities provides hope and stability – regardless of religious affiliation. By giving, you put Christ’s compassion and mercy into action, strengthening our four-county community today and building a more hopeful future for those who need it most.
Faith, Family & Discipleship
Seventy-five years ago, our grandparents, many of the immigrants, built our parishes after long days in mines, mills, and factories. From their sacrifice and faith came churches that became the foundation of our communities. These sacred spaces are where families gathered, sacraments were celebrated, and faith was passed from one generation to the next. Through your generosity to the Diocesan Lenten Appeal, the Office of Faith, Family, and Discipleship continues this legacy by providing essential faith formation for children, adults, and seniors. Your gift helps ensure our parishes remain holy places where future generations of your family will gather – in joy, in sorrow, and in faith – just as our ancestors once did.
How Your Gifts Are Utilized
| 49.0% | PARISH SHARE |
| 11.2% | DIOCESAN MINISTRIES |
| 19.1% | CATHOLIC SCHOOLS |
| 8.5% | ORDAINED MINISTRY |
| 5.0% | CATHOLIC CHARITIES |
| 5.3% | APPEAL EXPENSES |
| 1.9% | DIOCESAN ADMINISTRATION |
Our Foundation
The first Mass in what would become the Diocese of Greensburg was held in 1754 on the banks of the Monongahela River near Brownsville by French troops marching east to confront George Washington at Fort Necessity, east of Uniontown. But growth of the Catholic population was limited to the area east of the Allegheny Mountains until the 1840s, when German immigrants began to settle on vast farmlands in Western Pennsylvania. Immigration boomed between the end of the Civil War in 1865 and the beginning of World War I in 1914 as Europeans, carrying their Catholic faith with them, poured into Western Pennsylvania to work in the coal, steel, and coke industries. After World War II, an economic and population boom boosted the Catholic population. Pope Pius XII responded to that growth by canonically erecting the Diocese of Greensburg on March 10, 1951. The vibrancy in our clergy, our religious, our parishes, our schools – it remains after 75 years!

Additional Ways To Give
Qualified Charitable Distributions
- If you are 70 1/2 years or older, the IRS permits you to transfer up to $111,000 from your IRA to charity tax-free each year with a QCD.
- If you are at least 73 years old, QCDs count toward the IRA owner’s required minimum distribution for the year
Appreciated Securities
- You can give your appreciated securities, such as stocks, bonds, or mutual funds, directly to charity.
- You may avoid paying capital gains tax on the sale of appreciated stock and receive a charitable income tax deduction.
Leave a Legacy
- Remember your Parish or a Diocesan Mission in your estate plans. Visit DG.GiftLegacy.com
For more information, please contact us at [email protected]
