Sewickley pastor set to lead Catholic church in Point Breeze
After serving as pastor at St. James Catholic Church in Sewickley for the last six years, Rev. Thomas Burke will relocate to St. Bede Church in Pittsburgh's Point Breeze neighborhood.
Burke made the announcement Sunday.
He will take over in June for Rev. Edward Bryce, who served as pastor of St. Bede for nearly 30 years.
“While I'm sad to leave St. James and Sewickley, (Bishop David Zubik) asked me to go on into a new journey and I graciously said yes. And I'm really excited, because Point Breeze and the East End, Bakery Square; that whole area is really changing,” Burke said.
Burke's announcement comes ahead of the Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese's consolidation the church has planned for later this year. He said his appointment was hastened by Bryce's decision to retire.
Burke came to St. James in late 2012, having previously served as pastor at Good Sheppard Catholic Church in Braddock for four years. He has served in other clerical capacities at St. Ferdinand Church in Cranberry, St. Alphonsus Church in Pine and St. Paul Cathedral in Oakland.
“It's difficult,” Burke said. “You're there for baptisms and weddings and funerals and counseling, you go into peoples' homes and have dinners with them. It's like the priest becomes part of the family. And to leave, it's like your leaving your family to go onto a new chapter.”
Patte Grey, a parishioner who serves as Burke's pastoral council facilitator, credited Burke with shaping a fresh vision for the St. James, bringing to it Bible studies, small group meetings and other programs. She said St. Bede will be “blessed” to have him as their pastor.
“He was a gift of a shepherd to us,” Grey said. “He cares about everyone in the parish and outside of the parish.”
In his time at St. James, Burke said he prioritized capital improvements to the church campus. He credited the “active, loving” parish for making updates to the parking lot, cafeteria, rectory, roof and children's chapel a reality.
Burke said he is looking forward to growing the St. Bede congregation and working with the St. Bede school.
Burke said he plans on staying in touch with St. James parishioners after his departure, as he has done when leaving other churches.
“Even though I'm leaving Sewickley, I'm carrying with me a lot of good friends,” he said.
Matthew Guerry is a Tribune-Review contributing writer.
