In a heart-wrenching turn of events for parishioners in the Pittsburgh area, the Catholic Diocese has announced the impending closure of seven churches within the St. Joseph the Worker Parish, effective March 12, 2026. The announcement came during a solemn Sunday Mass last week, when newly installed Bishop Mark Eckman delivered a letter to congregants detailing the closures, spurring a wave of emotion and loss throughout the community.
A Personal Loss
Ryan McCartney, a long-time parishioner of Swissvale’s St. Anselm Church, expressed a shared sentiment of disbelief and sorrow. “It’s a numbing feeling,” McCartney said, reflecting on the memories associated with the church where he was baptized, received his First Communion, and arranged burials for family members. For many like him, these churches were not merely places of worship but institutions that held decades of familial history and community camaraderie.
The closures affect not only the physical spaces but the emotional and spiritual lifeblood of the neighborhoods they served. St. Anselm is one of several churches being closed, including Good Shepherd in Braddock, Madonna del Castello in Swissvale, Sacred Heart in Braddock Hills, St. Colman in Turtle Creek, St. John Fisher in Churchill, and St. Jude the Apostle in Wilmerding. Only St. Maurice in Forest Hills will remain open, a revelation that has left hundreds of parishioners disenfranchised and uncertain of their next steps.
Timing Intensifies Heartache
The timing of these closures, coinciding with the Lenten season, adds a poignant layer of emotional weight for many parishioners. Lent is traditionally a period of reflection and preparation for the upcoming Easter celebrations, and this year, it takes on a mournful tone for many. Father Bill Christy, Duquesne University chaplain, highlighted the significance of the closures during this critical spiritual season. “Not giving up our churches … It’s a painful reality,” McCartney lamented, emphasizing the personal loss felt by the community as they approach this time of year.
Discussions about church closures have been ongoing for months, but the shocking reality was brought to light as parishioners gathered in faith. In his letter, Bishop Eckman cited “declining trends in mass attendance” and “financial constraints” as justifications for the closures, noting, “it has become abundantly clear that the parish cannot sustain all of its church buildings.”
Community Impact
The loss of these churches reverberates beyond faith; it affects the community’s social and economic fabric. Mayor Deneen Swartzwelder of Swissvale, who has her own lifelong connections to Madonna del Castello, remarked, “They’re ripping apart our family.” She warned that without church gatherings, the local economy would suffer, impacting local businesses once frequented by parishioners after mass on Sundays.
“It creates a ghost town on Sunday mornings,” Swartzwelder stressed, underscoring the deep-rooted connections that extend beyond worship to community bonding and local commerce.
In a community steeped in tradition, the demise of longstanding institutions like Madonna del Castello and St. Anselm marks a significant societal change. “You take away the main house, and it slowly devastates these small mill towns,” Swartzwelder added, articulating concerns for the socio-economic ripple effects following the church closures.
Navigating a New Path
As the final Masses at the closing churches approach—scheduled between March 2 and 10—many congregants are left pondering their futures. Nadine Uziel, a 68-year-old parishioner from Madonna del Castello, voiced her uncertainty, stating, “It’s an emotional decision … It affects people in different ways.” Many, like Uziel, are searching for new places of worship or even contemplating stepping away from organized church life altogether.
The emotional weight of these closures has left numerous parishioners feeling disillusioned about their faith. McCartney shared, “The sting of this decision … it’s just making me go in circles,” illustrating the deep feelings of confusion and sorrow.
A Time to Remember
The St. Joseph the Worker Parish plans to hold open houses at each church on February 22, intended as a farewell to the spaces that had become integral to the lives of many. The letter to parishioners encourages members to “remember and give thanks for the life of faith lived there,” a reminder of the vibrant life that once flourished within these walls.
As Lent draws near, many parishioners, who once anticipated gathering in their beloved churches for Easter, now face the reality of new beginnings elsewhere. Jennie Lucarelli, a 55-year attendee of St. Anselm, poignantly stated, “I really would like to be at my church for Easter, but it looks like it's not going to happen. It won’t be the same.”
With these closures, the Catholic community of Pittsburgh finds itself at a significant crossroads—left to navigate the complexities of grief, faith, and the search for new spiritual homes.
In an era where fewer congregants fill church pews, the heart of the matter remains clear: communities are losing more than just buildings—they are losing the comforting tradition of shared faith and the cherished bonds that have been forged within them.
[Lindsay Shachnow is a reporter for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, covering community stories and trending news in the area. You can follow her on Twitter @lpshachnow or reach her via email at [email protected].]
