Contributed NEW ADMINISTRATOR – The Rev. Luke Iyengar will be installed as the new administrator of Assumption of the Mother of God Byzantine Catholic Church, also known as St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church, in Weirton Sunday.

WEIRTON — Assumption of the Mother of God Byzantine Catholic Church in Weirton, also known as St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church, will welcome the Rev. Luke Iyengar as its new administrator during an installation service on Sunday.

The installation will be conducted at 11 a.m. by Very Rev. Joseph Raptosh, dean of the Tri-State Protopresbyterate in the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh. This marks Iyengar’s first pastoral assignment following his ordination, and it represents a homecoming to the community where his vocation was nurtured.

A native of Holy Ghost Byzantine Catholic Church in McKees Rocks, Pa., Iyengar is a 2015 graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville with a bachelor’s degree in theology. He went on to earn his master’s degree in theology in 2018, also at Franciscan, while participating in the university’s priestly discernment program. During his time in Steubenville, he founded the Byzantine Club on campus and regularly attended Divine Liturgy at St. Mary.

After graduate studies, Iyengar entered the Byzantine Catholic Seminary of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Pittsburgh, completing his formation in 2023. He also shared his love of the faith locally, teaching at Madonna High School in Weirton from 2023 to 2025.

“St. Mary’s was my second home while I was in graduate school, and I have fond memories of teaching here in Weirton,” he said. “I am humbled and thrilled to be serving both Weirton and our sister parish in Avella, and excited to get to work.”

In addition to his pastoral duties at St. Mary’s, Iyengar will also serve as pastor of St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church in Avella, Pa.

The congregation of Assumption of the Mother of God began to form in 1920, as Byzantine Catholic immigrants settled in Weirton to work in the steel industry. Initially, the faithful traveled to churches in Mingo Junction and Toronto for services. To keep worship closer to home, they formed a fraternal society under the patronage of St. Nicholas of Myra, with Divine Liturgy first celebrated monthly at the Finnish Hall in North Weirton. The parish was formally established in November 1924, and its first church building was dedicated the following year.

The church is now located at 3116 Elm St.