South Hills churches among diocesan mergers creating new parishes
Fourteen groupings of parishes in the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh will merge Jan. 4 to create 14 new parishes. Forty parishes will be part of the mergers.
“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,” Bishop David Zubik wrote in a letter to parishioners.
“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 new parishes include:
- Mary, Queen of Peace, which brings together the parishes of St. Mary of the Mount (Mt. Washington) and Prince of Peace (South Side);
- Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, which brings together the parishes of St. Catherine of Siena (Crescent Township), St. Joseph (Coraopolis) and St. Margaret Mary (Moon Township);
- Our Lady of Hope, which brings together the parishes of St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin (Whitehall), St. Germaine (Bethel Park), Nativity (South Park Township) and St. Valentine (Bethel Park);
- Resurrection, which brings together the parishes of St. John Capistran (Upper St. Clair) and St. Thomas More (Bethel Park);
- St. Catherine Laboure, which brings together the parishes of St. Joan of Arc (South Park Township) and St. Louise de Marillac (Upper St. Clair);
- Ss. Joachim and Anne, which brings together the parishes of St. Mark (Liberty and Port Vue boroughs), St. Michael (Elizabeth) and Queen of the Rosary (Glassport);
- St. Raphael the Archangel, which brings together the parishes of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (Carnegie), St. Margaret of Scotland (Green Tree) and Ss. Simon and Jude (Scott Township).
Each of the mergers was requested by the priest-administrator of the grouping, after extensive consultation with parishioners. 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.