Kirner’s Catholic Store was established in 1881 by Francis Maurice Kirner.  Prompted by his brother Fr. Thomas Kirner, Francis was requested to primarily service the Catholic school market with books and teaching supplies. His wife, Suzanne became involved with the store to build the sale of Religious articles for use by the Church and the Laity. Through her efforts, and under the leadership of Bishop Regis Canavin, a natural expansion of servicing Churches with statues, sanctuary appointments and general supplies, beginning with the then, new St. Paul’s Cathedral in Pittsburgh.

Their son, Frank Henry Kirner, entered the business as a printer. Establishing his own print shop in a garage located on the Kirner farm, he printed and distributed the Baltimore Catechism throughout the Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia area. During the depression, Frank and his wife Clara aided the Church by accepting payment for an order of school books, only what the Church could afford. This led the company into a severe financial position which, only by the graces of a few close friends, were they able to recover.

In those first 45 years of operations, the store changed location 11 different times due to changes in the development of Pittsburgh. In 1926, the store relocated to 309 Market St. (which now is the location of the Pittsburgh Plate Glass (PPG) towers) and was the known address to the generation of Catholics who lived through the depression, WWII, and the Vietnam War. At the development of PPG Plaza, Kirner’s moved across the street to the 219 4th Avenue location where it still resides today. During this period, Kirner’s Catholic Store was under the leadership of the third generation, Clara Mae Kirner, Louise Kirner, and Suzanne Ferris, daughters of Frank and Clara Kirner.

In 1990, the store changed ownership once again to the next generation of the Kirner family: Niece and husband David and Mary Heagy joined nephews James and John Ferris to take the helm of the long standing operation.  With the redevelopment of the downtown Pittsburgh underway, Kirner’s decided our central location would be the best facility to service the whole Pittsburgh region.

Continuing with the changes in retail marketing, Kirner’s Catholic Store launched their website to further service those looking for their Catholic resources. We will continue to develop this site as both an information service and an online store. Kirner’s is dedicated to servicing the greater Pittsburgh region with the Catholic resources needed by the Church and its laity. Your allowing us to serve you will help in that mission.