The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, which oversees parishes in six counties including Butler, revealed its plan over the weekend to reorganize and consolidate churches.
Bishop David Zubik announced that the 188 parishes will eventually be consolidated into 57 multi-site parishes over the next few years. No churches will close immediately. Every Catholic church in Butler County will be affected by the changes, which will take effect in October.
The bishop said the massive reorganization was due to decline in mass attendance, the shortage of clergy and population shifts.
In Butler, the following existing parishes will be grouped together:
- St. Paul, St. Peter and St. Michael the Archangel in Butler, St. Andrew in Center Township and St. Fidelis in Meridian;
- Mater Dolorosa and St. Joseph in Chicora and St. Wendelin near East Butler;
- St. John in Coylesville, St. Joseph in Cabot and St. Mary of the Assumption in Herman;
- St. Alphonsus in West Sunbury, St. Christopher on the Lake in Prospect and St. Peter in Slippery Rock;
- St. Ferdinand in Cranberry Township, St. Gregory in Zelienople and Holy Redeemer in Ellwood City;
- Holy Sepulcher in Middlesex Township and St. Kilian in Adams Township
“No matter how the Church is structured, it is the responsibility of all the faithful – bishops and priests included – to make faith, hope and love remain alive in the world around us,” Bishop David Zubik said in a press release. “Our churches will continue to be places where local Catholics gather to be nurtured and nourished by the God who loves us. Yet, On Mission! gives us a new context and new opportunities to make ever more alive a faith that abides both within and outside of our church walls.”
Launched on April 12, 2015, On Mission for The Church Alive! invites all Catholics to envision how parishes, schools and ministries can best respond to changes in their communities. Since 2000, Mass attendance in the diocese has decreased more than 40 percent and sacramental participation has declined nearly 50 percent. The number of diocesan priests available for active ministry is expected to decline from about 200 today to 112 by 2025.
A complete listing of parish groupings, categories, maximum number of weekend Masses and clergy assignments is available at onmissionchurchalive.org.
The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, founded in 1843, serves 632,138 Catholics in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Lawrence and Washington counties.