7 churches within the Diocese of Pittsburgh to permanently close

St. Maurice Church in Forest Hills will be the only church left open in the St. Joseph the Worker Parish by mid-March, following an announcement made during mass this weekend by Father Michael Stumpf.”I have a letter from our bishop. He has made decisions about our church buildings,” Father Michael Stumpf said from the altar.”Through careful study of current realities, it has become abundantly clear that the parish cannot sustain all of its current church buildings,” he added.St. Maurice Church will be the only building left open after the announcement that seven others in the parish will close. Parishioner Gib Miller expressed his sadness over the closure. “It’s just we will, we’ll miss Saint Anselm,” Miller said. Miller has attended Saint Anselm in Swissvale for thirty years, one of two Swissvale churches, along with Madonna del Castello, that will close.”I just remember walking our kids to school for years, and stuff. Again, we’re going to be very sad,” Miller said.In addition to the Swissvale churches, Good Shepherd in Braddock, Sacred Heart in Braddock Hills, St. Jude the Apostle in Wilmerding, St. John Fisher in Churchill, and St. Coleman in Turtle Creek will also close permanently. Father Stumpf explained to the congregation that they had little choice “in light of the declining trends, declining mass attendance, and because of financial constraints”.”I just think it’s a shame,” said another parishioner.”And look at the beautiful building,” they added.Despite understanding the reasons, parishioners are disappointed by the decision. “We’re gonna remember all the great times we had here,” Miller said.The church buildings will close permanently on March 12.

PITTSBURGH —

St. Maurice Church in Forest Hills will be the only church left open in the St. Joseph the Worker Parish by mid-March, following an announcement made during mass this weekend by Father Michael Stumpf.

“I have a letter from our bishop. He has made decisions about our church buildings,” Father Michael Stumpf said from the altar.

“Through careful study of current realities, it has become abundantly clear that the parish cannot sustain all of its current church buildings,” he added.

St. Maurice Church will be the only building left open after the announcement that seven others in the parish will close.

Parishioner Gib Miller expressed his sadness over the closure.

“It’s just we will, we’ll miss Saint Anselm,” Miller said.

Miller has attended Saint Anselm in Swissvale for thirty years, one of two Swissvale churches, along with Madonna del Castello, that will close.

“I just remember walking our kids to school for years, and stuff. Again, we’re going to be very sad,” Miller said.

In addition to the Swissvale churches, Good Shepherd in Braddock, Sacred Heart in Braddock Hills, St. Jude the Apostle in Wilmerding, St. John Fisher in Churchill, and St. Coleman in Turtle Creek will also close permanently.

Father Stumpf explained to the congregation that they had little choice “in light of the declining trends, declining mass attendance, and because of financial constraints”.

“I just think it’s a shame,” said another parishioner.

“And look at the beautiful building,” they added.

Despite understanding the reasons, parishioners are disappointed by the decision.

“We’re gonna remember all the great times we had here,” Miller said.

The church buildings will close permanently on March 12.