SIX PARISHES ANNOUNCE BUILDING CLOSINGS;
EACH PARISH TO BE CONSOLIDATED INTO ONE CHURCH BUILDING

PITTSBURGH – Six parishes in the Diocese of Pittsburgh announced to parishioners at weekend Masses that Most Reverend Paul J. Bradley, Diocesan Administrator / Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh had accepted their petitions to close unused church buildings. Following the wishes of the six parishes, a total of nine buildings will be closed.

The decrees for the closings all have effective dates of midnight, September 8, 2007, the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Mass was no longer celebrated in any of the buildings that are being closed by the decrees. All parish names will remain the same. The affected parishes and buildings are as follows:

• Saint Agnes Parish, Richeyville will close Saint Mary Church in Daisytown.
• Holy Redeemer Parish, Ellwood City will close Saint Agatha Church. The name of Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church will change to Holy Redeemer Church.
• Saint Vincent de Paul Parish, New Castle will close Saint Michael, Saints Philip and James and Holy Cross churches. The name of Saint Lucy Church will change to Saint Vincent de Paul Church.
• Saint Martin de Porres Parish, McKeesport will close Sacred Heart and Saint Peter churches. The name of Holy Trinity Church will change to Saint Martin de Porres Church.
• Holy Child Parish, Bridgeville will close Saint Anthony Church. The name of Saint Agatha Church will change to Holy Child Church.
• Saint Clare of Assisi Parish, Clairton will close Saint Paulinus Church. The name of Saint Joseph Church will change to Saint Clare of Assisi Church.

While many of these parishes had initiated their reviews of building use two years ago and longer, there was a year-long delay imposed by the absence of a diocesan bishop. After twelve months under a diocesan administrator, dioceses can then resume the parish alteration process.

All the parishes involved followed the diocesan policy for alteration of parishes. This process involves months of parish listening sessions, meetings and consultation with diocesan officials, with parish pastoral councils and the parish finance councils. All six parishes shared the same concerns, after extensive study and consultation:

• The liturgical, spiritual and pastoral unity of each parish would be enhanced by being united in the celebration of the Eucharist and other sacraments around one altar.
• The sharp and continual decline in the number of parishioners and Sunday Mass attendance due to ongoing population loss in the diocese does not warrant the need for keeping the other church buildings.
• The parishes possess adequate facilities in one location to carry on the Church’s mission.
• The parishes do not have the financial resources to maintain the other buildings.
• Continued maintenance of the buildings being closed would diminish the parishes’ ability to provide for the care of souls.

“This entire alteration process has revolved around the oneness of our Catholic faith as the way to bind these parish communities together, to preserve the Catholic community of faith in each of their respective communities,” said Father David J. Bonnar, Secretary for Parish Life and Ministerial Leadership and Delegate for Clergy. “Our focus is on gathering around one altar in unity, to reach out and serve the world in the name of Jesus Christ.”

Father Bonnar continued, “At the same time, I know that it is hard for the faithful of our parishes to close church buildings which have nourished their faith and marked important moments in their lives for decades. But in the equally treasured buildings that remain, we hope to rejuvenate a warm and welcoming environment in which all parishioners, old and young, can pray together.”