Meet the Staff | St. Edward Parish

 

Father John J. Harrold, pastor 

 

Father John J. Harrold, was born Nov. 9, 1963. He is the son of the late Charles R. & Dorothy A. Harrold. Father John has one brother, David, and three sisters, Mary Joyce, Jane and Peggy.

 

A native of Greensburg, Father John grew up as a parishioner of Blessed Sacrament Cathedral Parish. He attended grade school at the cathedral, and graduated from Greensburg Salem High School. He went on to attend Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) where he earned a bachelor’s degree in food service management.

 

While a student at IUP, he was active at the Newman Center (now St. Thomas More University Parish, Indiana), where he recognized his call to the priesthood.

 

Father Harrold earned a master of divinity degree from Christ the King Seminary, East Aurora, N.Y., in 1992. He was ordained May 16, 1992 at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral.

 

Father John served the parish of St. Rose, Latrobe as a deacon, and St. Agnes Parish, North Huntingdon (1992-93); Mother of Sorrows Parish, Murrysville (1993-96); St. John the Evangelist Parish, Uniontown (1996-98); and St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish, Indiana (1998-99) as a parochial vicar.

 

Father John's first pastorate was St. Raymond of the Mountains Parish, Donegal, where he served from 1999 until this present assignment in July, 2007. St. Edward Parish is Father John’s second pastorate.

 

Father John enjoys bowling, skiing, golf, volleyball, woodworking, Renaissance festivals, cards and computers.

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Glenda Sekerchak, parish business manager and administrative secretary

 

Glenda has been the parish business manager and administrative secretary since November 1987. She resides in Irwin with her husband, Ron. She has two children, Melissa and Ron Jr. Melissa, is an attorney for a Pittsburgh law firm. She and her husband, Jim, along with their daughter, Jemma resides in West Mifflin.  Ron Jr., is an elementary school teacher for the Southmoreland School District, and he and his wife Kelly, along with their children, Reese and twins Carter and Carmen live in Youngwood.

Glenda serves on the parish finance council, pastoral council and is an adult advisor for youth ministry.  In addition to her parish duties, Glenda serves as the secretary for scouting in the Diocese of Greensburg. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren along with camping.

 

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Kitty Topolosky, director of faith formation 

 

Kitty resides in Monroeville with her husband Paul.  She has her undergraduate degree from IUP and her master's from Penn State University, State College. Upon graduation she taught in Penn Hills until she had her three children, Lynn, Kristin and Mark. She chose to be a stay at home mom, substitute teaching at her convenience.

 

In 1989, she returned to full-time teaching at St. Edward School until it closing in 2004. At that time, she was hired as director of faith formation for the church.

 

Kitty truly enjoys visiting her children: Lynn, Barry and their family, Samuel, Meredith and Benjamin who reside in Philadelphia; Kristin, Scott and their children, Jake and Max, in D.C., and Mark, who resides in Atlanta, Ga., and travels extensively with his job.

 

She also enjoys playing bridge, 500 Bid, reading and biking.  Kitty serves as a lector at her parish, North American Martyrs in Monroeville.

 

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Ben Murray, director of music ministry

Benjamin Murray began as director of music ministries at St. Edward Parish in August 2011. Originally from northeastern Pennsylvania, Ben attended college at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA and graduated in May 2009 with of Bachelor of Science in Music Education. While at Duquesne, he served as a director/accompanist for one of Duquesne’s Chapel Choirs, sung in Duquesne’s touring choral ensemble, the Voices of Spirit, and accompanied the Children’s Festival Chorus of Pittsburgh. He also studied in Rome, Italy for three months during his time at Duquesne. Currently, Ben is a music teacher at Greater Latrobe Senior High School where he conducts 9-12 choral ensembles, teaches piano courses, music appreciation, and serves as the musical director for the spring musical production.

 

 

 

 

 

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   Lisa Arch, faith formation secretary

 
Lisa served as the secretary for St. Edward School from 1982 until its closure in 2004. In September 2004, she was hired part-time as the secretary for faith formation at the parish. 

She and her husband Larry moved to Madison in 1966, and then in 1969 to their present home in Herminie where they raised their three children.

Lori and her husband, Paul, and their two children, Laurel and Lily Kate reside in Texas; Larry, who serves as manager of Herminie Auto Parts, lives in Herminie; and Lynsey and her husband, Patrick, reside in Pittsburgh. Presently Lisa serves as a lector and member of the finance council.

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Faith Rich, parish pastoral minister

No biography available.

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