St. James Welcomes New Assistant Pastor in Sewickley

St. James Parish in Sewickley has welcomed a new assistant pastor. 

The Rev. Frederick W. Gruber has been assigned as parochial vicar to St. James, and chaplain to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School in Coraopolis.

Gruber, 29,  grew up in Whitehall, attended St. Sylvester School and Baldwin High School, and is a graduate of Christendom College in Virginia. 

During his years in college his sense of a vocation to the priesthood developed as he became involved in various activities of campus ministry and pro-life work. 

He entered St. Paul Seminary and earned a master’s degree in philosophy from Duquesne University. For his theological studies for priesthood ordination, he studied at the North American College in Rome where he specialized in Mariology, the study of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

During his summers in Pittsburgh he did a summer internship at St. Joseph Parish in Coraopolis and St. Louise de Marillac Parish in Upper St. Clair.

On June 30, 2012, he was ordained a priest by Pittsburgh Catholic Bishop David Zubik and served for two months at St. Maurice Parish in Forest Hills before returning to Rome to complete his theology studies.

He is the son of Tom and Mimi Gruber and is fourth in his large family of 15. Gruber has 14 nieces and nephews. His brother Peter is a novice in the Oratorians of St. Philip Neri--an an apostolic community following the way of the 16th century priest and patron saint of joy--for their house in Pittsburgh. He also enjoys jogging, hiking and reading.

Gruber will provide help to the Rev. Thomas J. Burke, pastor of St. James. 

The parish has 1,800 registered families, 190 students at St. James Catholic School and 400 students in its Sunday Religious Education Program.

The Rev. Matthew Tosello, who is a retired priest in residence at St. James, will continue to help out at Masses on an as needed basis.

Information provided by St. James Parish