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| The first St. Catherine Church, 2002 | Altar of the first church, 2002 | The second St. Catherine Church, 2005 |
St. Catherine of Sweden, Wildwood
St. Catherine was established in 1953. However, the origin of the parish stretched back to 1934. In that year, the Missionary Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (MCCD) opened a Sunday School for local children on September 30, 1934. The diocese formed the MCCD to bring religious instruction to Catholics living in small, isolated communities who lacked access to an existing church. In 1943, the local Catholics petitioned the bishop for permission to build their own church. Permission was granted to build a church when possible.
Up until this time, Catholics in Wildwood had to travel to St. Ursula in Allison Park to attend Mass. In late 1943, a room in an old public school was rented to use for catechetical instruction and celebrating Mass. The first Mass was celebrated on December 12, 1943. In 1947, work began on a new church. The cornerstone was laid on September 28, 1947, and the completed church was dedicated on September 12, 1948. The parish's status was changed from a mission to an independent parish on June 18, 1953, with the appointment of a resident pastor.
As the century progressed, the population of the area continued to grow. Despite part of the parish territory being transferred to the new parish of St. Richard in 1992, the congregation had outgrown its church by the end of the century. Fund raising for a new church began in the late 1990's. Ground was broken for a new church on July 20, 2003 and the new church was dedicated on October 2, 2004.
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| The first St. Catherine Church, 2002 | Altar of the first church, 2002 | The second St. Catherine Church, 2005 |
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