On Mission for The Church Alive! is the diocesan-wide planning initiative involving all the clergy, religious and laity of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Our goal is to make our parishes, our schools, our religious education programs — in a word, every aspect of the life of The Church — ever more vibrant in worship and service! Ever more The Church Alive!
The On Mission Commission studied catholic population, aging clergy, sacramental trends and finances and evaluated — parish by parish — trends five to ten years from now so as to have a clearer picture of where The Church needs to be. The On Mission Commission presented Parish Grouping Recommendations to Bishop Zubik on September 7, 2017. A Parish Grouping is a collection of individual parishes in a common geographic area proposed to become one new parish over time.
The On Mission Commission presented Parish Grouping Recommendations to Bishop Zubik on September 7, 2017. A Parish Grouping is a collection of individual parishes in a common geographic area proposed to become one new parish over time. After three years of prayer, study and consultation, Bishop David Zubik has announced his decisions related to the On Mission for The Church Alive! strategic planning initiative. The Parish Groupings will take effect in the fall of 2018. When the Parish Groupings first take effect there will be no immediate parish mergers and no church buildings closing.
(click here for more information regarding Oakmont / Plum / Verona Parish Grouping)
This grouping is designated in Category B, which defines the timeline in which it should work toward becoming a new parish. Those in Category B will have until the end of 2021.
Over the summer of 2018, each incoming priest-administrator will work with the current pastors to create an interim Mass and Confession schedule that will go into effect on October 15, 2018. These interim Mass schedules will be publicized beginning in mid-August 2018 in parish bulletins, the Pittsburgh Catholic and at www.diopitt.org. Within six months these interim schedules will be reviewed and, if needed, adapted.
Parish groupings, clergy assignments and interim Mass schedules will take effect on October 15, 2018. Clergy teams and parishioners will begin their work together to create vibrant parishes and effective ministries.