Dozens of Catholic churches merging to create 14 new ones in the Diocese of Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH — Fourteen new merged parishes will be created in the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh on Jan. 4, the diocese announced Saturday.

Forty parishes will be part of the mergers and will bring the number of parishes in the diocese from 107 to 81, the release states.

“For two years, you have journeyed together on a road that is intended to unite you on the mission to bring the Good News of Jesus to your neighbors and to strengthen all of you in faith,” Bishop David Zubik said.

In a letter to parishioners Bishop Zubik wrote, “This has not been a simple task. Jesus never promised that it would be easy to carry his message of love and mercy to others. He was clear that sacrifice would be necessary. However, you are positioning your new parish for more effective ministry by addressing financial needs, sharing resources and allowing your clergy to focus on the spiritual work for which they were ordained. With your faith in Jesus and empowered by the Holy Spirit, I invite you to warmly welcome and serve each other as you become one parish family.”

The fourteen new parishes are:

• Mary, Queen of Peace (Mount Washington/South Side), which brings together the parishes of Saint Mary of the Mount (Mount Washington) and Prince of Peace (South Side);
• Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (Coraopolis/Crescent/Moon), which brings together the parishes of Saint Catherine of Siena (Crescent), Saint Joseph (Coraopolis) and Saint Margaret Mary (Moon Township);
• Our Lady of Hope (Bethel Park/South Park/Whitehall), which brings together the parishes of Saint Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin (Whitehall), Saint Germaine (Bethel Park), Nativity (South Park) and Saint Valentine (Bethel Park);
• Our Lady of the Valley (Beaver/Freedom/New Brighton/Rochester), which brings together the parishes of Saint Cecilia (Rochester), Saint Felix (Freedom), Holy Family (New Brighton) and Saints Peter and Paul (Beaver);
• Resurrection (Bethel Park/Upper Saint Clair), which brings together the parishes of Saint John Capistran (Upper Saint Clair) and Saint Thomas More (Bethel Park);
• Saint Catherine Laboure (South Park/Upper Saint Clair), which brings together the parishes of Saint Joan of Arc (South Park) and Saint Louise de Marillac (Upper Saint Clair);
• Saint Clare of Assisi (Carbon Center/Chicora/North Oakland), which brings together the parishes of Saint Joseph (North Oakland), Mater Dolorosa (Chicora) and Saint Wendelin (Carbon Center);
• Saint Faustina (Northern Butler County), which brings together the parishes of Saint Alphonsus (Boyers/Murrinsville/West Sunbury), Saint Christopher (Prospect) and Saint Peter (Slippery Rock);
• Saint Francis of Assisi (Cabot/Coylesville/Herman), which brings together the parishes of Saint John (Coylesville), Saint Joseph (Cabot) and Saint Mary of the Assumption (Herman);
• Saints Joachim and Anne (Elizabeth/Glassport/South Allegheny Area), which brings together the parishes of Saint Mark (Liberty Borough/Port Vue), Saint Michael (Elizabeth) and Queen of the Rosary (Glassport);
• Saint Jude (Morningside/Shadyside/Stanton Heights), which brings together the parishes of Saint Raphael (Morningside/Stanton Heights/Upper Lawrenceville) and Sacred Heart (Shadyside);
• Saints Martha and Mary (Hampton/Richland), which brings together the parishes of Saint Catherine of Sweden (Hampton Township) and Saint Richard (Richland Township);
• Saint Matthew (Etna/Glenshaw/Millvale/Reserve), which brings together the parishes of All Saints (Etna), Saint Aloysius (Reserve Township), Saint Bonaventure (Glenshaw) and Holy Spirit (Millvale);
• Saint Raphael the Archangel (Carnegie/Green Tree/Scott), which brings together the parishes of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton (Carnegie), Saint Margaret of Scotland (Green Tree) and Saints Simon and Jude (Scott Township).

Each of the mergers was requested by the priest-administrator of the grouping, after extensive consultation with parishioners. Bishop Zubik consulted with and received consent from the diocesan Priest Council and Vicars General before approving each request.

The mergers are part of the ongoing On Mission for The Church Alive! strategic planning initiative, which is designed to help parishes mobilize their resources to prioritize mission over maintenance. Its goal is to help Catholics have a deeper relationship with Jesus and empower them to reach out to others with His love and mercy.

“This is a pivotal time for our diocese as we plan for the future of the Church of Pittsburgh,” Bishop Zubik said. “Southwestern Pennsylvania is radically different than it was 100, 50, 20, even 10 years ago, yet the work of the Church and our call from God to bring His love to everyone continues as strong as ever. As we address the challenges we face in the Church today, the witness of working and growing together reflects the unity of the Body of Christ that is essential to our mission.”

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