Saint Robert Bellarmine

St. Robert Bellarmine was established in 1950 as a mission of St. Aloysius in Wilmerding.  The first Mass in East McKeesport was celebrated on April 12, 1950 in the Urban Theatre, a local movie theater.  A priest from St. Aloysius came to East McKeesport every Sunday to celebrate Mass at the theater.  The pastor of St. Aloysius made the decision to purchase the theater and convert it to a church.  The purchase took place in July of 1951.  On September 27, 1951, St. Robert Bellarmine was canonically established as an independent parish. 

Until 1954, the church retained the theater seats.  Instead of kneeling, the parishioners stood with their arms outstretched during the Canon of the Mass.  In March of 1954, the theater seats were finally replaced with pews.

By 1970, the congregation had outgrown the church.  Work began on a building that would contain the church, rectory and administrative offices.  The completed building was dedicated on August 19, 1972.