40 Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese parishes to merge into 14

Forty parishes in the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh will merge into 14 new groupings in January, Bishop David Zubik announced Saturday.

Changes will take place Jan. 4 and affect churches across the region, from Mt. Washington and Moon to South Hills and Shadyside.

Zubik said it is a pivotal time for future planning and that the mission is to strengthen the diocese.

“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,” he wrote in a letter to parishioners.

The move is part of the ongoing “On Mission for The Church Alive!” initiative, designed to help capitalize on resources of individual parishes before they are squandered.

The diocese spans Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Lawrence and Washington counties. It had 200 parishes in 2015 but has streamlined them dramatically over the years.

The January merger will cut the total of diocesan parishes from 107 to 81.

Each of the mergers was requested by the priest/administrator of the grouping, after talks with parishioners.

Zubik cited the region’s changing demographics, saying “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,” Zubik said.

The changes will position each new parish for effectiveness by addressing financial needs, sharing resources and allowing leaders to focus on spiritual work, he added.

The 14 new parishes are:

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