St. Gertrude Church overlooks the Kiskiminetas River on the border of northern Westmoreland and southern Armstrong Counties. It is a parish of the
Roman Catholic Diocese of Greensburg, and is a partner parish with
Christ the King Church in Leechburg. Our parish continues the rich history of Catholic faith in the Vandergrift area that dates back more than 100 years.
It was in August 1885, when the first pastor was sent from
Saint Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe, to serve the church, which was originally located in Apollo. The parish continues to be served by the priests from Saint Vincent to this day.
The small congregation of Catholics moved from Apollo to Vandergrift becoming St. Gertrude Church in 1898. As the parish family grew with the town, the need for a new church was apparent. Our present building was completed at a cost of $60,000. The late Bishop Regis Canevin, bishop of Pittsburgh, blessed the church on March 11, 1911.
We, the parish community of St. Gertrude Parish in Vandergrift, Pa., are proud of our long tradition of family, faith and fellowship. Called into Christ as priest, prophet and king, by our baptism, we seek to strengthen and deepen our love of him and one another. We are committed to "building up the body of Christ: through word, worship, evangelization, leadership, service, stewardship and community. May that commitment extend to all parishioners from birth to eternity, to all we are called to service, and to all we seek and welcome into our parish community. For we are each called to be the light of the world.