Mergers can bring both challenges and opportunities. One of the bright spots of our four churches becoming St. Matthew Parish has been the diverse team of volunteers that are continuing in a rich tradition.  In God’s infinite wisdom, He created the topography of the Pittsburgh area with rivers, valleys and hills. As time progressed, railroads crossed the land bringing towns and people together. One of those routes was the riverside area of Etna, Shaler and Millvale while Reserve Township looked on from the hills above. 
     Fast forward to 1998 when Frank Perman brought his idea for a fundraiser to the Principal of All Saints Grade School in Etna, and it soon grew into a yearly holiday train display over Christmas break. Each year the 24x16 foot display was constructed in the Music Room of the school for people to see. At the end of the fundraiser, the display was taken down and stored away, while plans were being worked on for the next year. Every year was a different design, some of which included an underground subway, tropical fish tank and even a replica of the parish’s Festival in miniature. On Friday, September 17, 2004, Hurricane Ivan flooded the parish. Muck and mire devastated the region presenting an insurmountable task to already salvaged train supplies for the annual display and fundraiser. Through the grace of God, word of mouth and a newspaper article, help in the form of trains, tracks and supplies trickled in. A man from Ohio reached out donating his collection of trains, tracks and scenery to the parish. With little time to spare, a truck and several parishioners were dispatched to bring home the gift. Another helping hand was extended when St. Bonaventure Parish in Shaler volunteered a place to set up the display in their school’s basement, far from the still-recovering flood zone. Successful in their endeavor following the flood, the train display was once again returned as a part of All Saints Parish the next year.
     In November 2009, St. Aloysius parishioner Rich Luksik presented an idea to pastor, Fr. Larry Smith to create a train display of museum-caliber for the children to enjoy and to possibly draw more attention to the parish. To make it more accessible to everyone, there would be no admission charged but donations would be accepted. The first public viewing was at the Children’s Christmas Party in 2010 with a single 4x8 foot train layout in an upstairs classroom. After receiving good reviews and encouragement, a second sheet of plywood was donated the next year, and the display grew to half of the classroom which had now been renamed as the Train Room. Deemed another success, a third sheet was added, and the display took on a more bone shape utilizing most of the Train Room space. Every Monday, Rich and his band of railroad engineers would work tirelessly to stay true to their dream. With meticulous care, platforms, track and detailed scenery grew until there was a need for additional supplies. Their answer was a donation of unwanted railroad equipment from All Saints Parish after the bulk of their trains were sold off in 2016. The train display continued to grow until it became a casualty of the COVID-19 virus in 2020, when nearly everything was shut down, including the churches. With the passing of Rick Luksik on August 28, 2020, John Alioto made a promise to keep Rick’s dream alive.
     The Diocese of Pittsburgh officially established the newly named St. Matthew Parish on January 4, 2021, merging the congregations of All Saints-Etna, Holy Spirit-Millvale, St. Aloysius-Reserve Township, and St. Bonaventure-Shaler Township. Together as one, St. Matthew Parish’s dedicated railroad enthusiasts look forward to this year’s Holiday Train Display of St. Matthew Parish Express Railroad at SA campus.  Who knows, maybe there will even be a few more devotees to welcome aboard after seeing this latest labor of love.
    With tracks ahead and trains behind, all of them bring us to this point in time.