The Diocese of Pittsburgh has announced that seven church buildings within St. Joseph the Worker Parish will permanently close on March 12, marking another significant moment in the ongoing restructuring of parishes across western Pennsylvania.
According to EWTN News, parishioners were informed of the decision during Masses on Feb. 8, when a letter from Bishop Mark A. Eckman was read aloud.
St. Joseph the Worker Parish was formed on July 1, 2020, through the merger of seven communities serving Braddock, Churchill, Forest Hills, Swissvale, Turtle Creek, Wilmerding, and nearby areas. While all eight church buildings initially remained open following the merger, attendance patterns and financial realities gradually made that arrangement unsustainable.
After what EWTN News described as a yearlong review process in 2025 — which included consultation with clergy, parish advisory councils, a facilities mission team, and parish senate sessions — leadership determined that maintaining all existing buildings was no longer feasible. Parishioners offered feedback through emails, phone calls, and meetings, many acknowledging the difficult circumstances facing the parish.
At the request of Father Michael Stumpf and parish leadership, Bishop Eckman approved decrees closing the churches of Good Shepherd, Madonna del Castello, Sacred Heart, St. Anselm, St. Colman, St. John Fisher, and St. Jude the Apostle. St. Maurice Church in Forest Hills will remain open as the parish’s sole worship site.
In his letter to the faithful, Bishop Eckman acknowledged the emotional weight of the moment.
“I recognize that this news brings a time of significant change and a sense of loss,” he said, according to EWTN News. “For many years, you have poured your lives into these sacred buildings, strengthening your communities with holy faith, fervent prayer, and tireless service.”
Yet the bishop also placed the decision in the light of Easter hope.
“We are a people of the Resurrection,” he said. “And even in seasons of pruning, there is promise for new life. This decision is made with prayerful intent to better resource your parish, ensuring that the corporal and spiritual works of mercy may continue to reach the hearts of Braddock, Churchill, Forest Hills, Swissville, Turtle Creek, and Wilmerding for generations to come,” according to EWTN News.
The closures come amid broader diocesan efforts to address long-term demographic shifts, declining Mass attendance, and mounting financial pressures — challenges facing many dioceses across the United States.
A Call to Rebuild, Not Retreat
While the closing of church buildings is painful, it does not signal the end of Catholic life. The Church is not merely brick and mortar; it is the living Body of Christ.
As parishes consolidate and communities adapt, the mission of evangelization must not slow. In a world that is increasingly digital — where young people seek answers online before they ever step into a church — Catholics are called to proclaim the Gospel boldly in new spaces.
At Your Catholic Voice Foundation (YCVF), we are working to keep the faith alive and accessible for future generations through digital catechesis, daily readings, Catholic news, and online formation resources. When physical doors close in one place, new doors must open in another — especially in the digital continent where millions search for truth every day.
This moment in Pittsburgh is not simply a story of loss. It is a summons.
A summons to pray for affected parishioners.
A summons to support struggling dioceses.
A summons to invest in evangelization.
A summons to ensure that the next generation encounters Christ — whether in a parish pew or on a screen.
The Church has endured pruning before. Each time, the Holy Spirit has raised up new life.
Now is our time to respond.
