On May 25, 1961, Bishop Wright decreed the existence of a new parish, St. Alexis, and in June the Reverend Francis M. Rodgers arrived to serve as first pastor of Saint Alexis. Still without a worship site, the first Sunday Masses were held at the Pine Valley Roller Rink, through the kindness of the Shemaka family. Weekday Masses, baptisms and marriages were held at other area churches until a chicken coop on the new grounds could be converted into a chapel. The men of the parish worked many evenings on the old coop turning it into a beautiful chapel, with daily Mass, confessions and other parish celebrations held there.

From the very beginning, the people of St. Alexis joined forces in forming parish groups. There was the St. Alexis Marian Guild, the Choir, the Men's Club and several others all functioning in that first year. The groups have since grown in strength and number with 60 various ministries serving the people of St. Alexis today.

The original plans called for the construction of a multi-purpose building that would serve as a temporary church building, a cafeteria/social hall, and three separate school buildings with parking for 200 cars. The parish grounds were designed to be a campus type complex. In the fall of 1961 ground was broken and construction began on the new buildings of St. Alexis. The first Sunday Mass was celebrated on December 23, 1962, and on August 11, 1963, Bishop Wright officially dedicated the new buildings of St. Alexis. In the months following dedication, the school was opened and the Sisters of the Holy Ghost - now known as the Sisters of the Holy Spirit - accepted the responsibility of staffing the new school.

…and it is people who cultivate growth

The fledgling parish that Father Rodgers started in a skating rink and a chicken coop is now large, healthy, and strong. As the parish grew over the years, more structures were added:

• in 1966 a convent was built
• the school buildings have been expanded and enclosed passageways united the buildings
• a rectory was built in 1979
• Alexis Manor was built in 1986

Father Richard Wesoloski arrived in 1987 to continue the vision of St. Alexis, and was instrumental in the establishment of the P.T.G. as well as many other innovative projects. In 1993 the convent, no longer in use, was converted into a Parish Center where the administrative offices and rooms for various parish meetings are now located. In that same year, St. Alexis had its first Parish Festival and it has continued to be the best in the North Hills.

Father Wesoloski resigned as pastor in 1995, and Father Steven Palsa was installed as the new pastor. With no parochial vicar assigned, Father Ben Vaghetto was in residence for a short time to help with mass and other services. When Father Ben departed Father Harry Petrie, who had just retired as pastor of neighboring St. Ursula Parish, Allison Park, took up residence at St. Alexis to help with pastoral duties. In June of 1998, Father Paul Zywan was assigned as the fourth pastor of St. Alexis.

With the expanding needs of a growing parish, Father Zywan commissioned several enhancements to the school to accommodate the growing enroll- ment. In the continuing effort to shape the true character of the parish he sought and found the help of generous parish benefactors to build a bell tower on the church grounds, which is used to call the faithful to Masses and funerals. A youth minister has been added to the staff as well as a full-time music minister, and Director of Religious Education/Faith Formation

Although St. Alexis has tried to keep pace, much has yet to be accomplished in order to strengthen the pillars of parish life:

• worship
• education/religious formation
• community life and outreach programs

It is with confidence and pride that we look to the future, and you, as we think of Our Church...
St. Alexis.