7 Catholic Churches in Pittsburgh Diocese to Close in March

Declining attendance and financial struggles cited as reasons for shuttering the places of worship.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh has announced that seven churches within the diocese will be closing next month. The affected churches are located in areas like Swissvale, Turtle Creek, and Braddock, and include St. Maurice Church, Good Shepherd Church, Madonna del Castello Church, Sacred Heart Church, St. Anselm Church, St. Colman Church, St. John Fisher Church, and St. Jude the Apostle Church. The closures are due to declining attendance and financial struggles facing the parish.

Why it matters

The closure of these seven churches will significantly impact the Catholic community in the Pittsburgh area, as parishioners will need to find new places to worship. The decision highlights the broader challenges facing many Catholic dioceses, including declining membership and the need to consolidate resources.

The details

The announcement of the church closures came during Sunday mass at St. Maurice Church, which will be the only remaining church in the affected parish. In a letter read to the congregation, Bishop Mark Eckman acknowledged the news would bring a sense of loss, but stated the parish's mission remains unchanged and the move will help better resource the parish.

  • The church closures will take effect on March 12, 2026.
  • The potential for the closures was first reported by KDKA-TV in October 2025.

The players

Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh

The Catholic diocese that oversees the churches slated for closure.

Bishop Mark Eckman

The bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh who announced the church closures in a letter to the congregation.

Sandi Hartman

A parishioner who expressed concerns about the potential for church closures due to declining attendance and a lack of priests.

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What they’re saying

“We've been expecting this, unfortunately, due to many things: population decrease, coming to church, and not enough priests. So, we have those issues that we've been dealing with.”

— Sandi Hartman, Parishioner (KDKA-TV)

“We recognize this news brings a time of big changes, along with a sense of loss, too.”

— Bishop Mark Eckman (Diocese of Pittsburgh)

What’s next

The church plans to take time to honor the churches that will be closing, as stated during the Sunday livestream.

The takeaway

The closure of these seven Catholic churches in the Pittsburgh diocese highlights the broader challenges facing many religious institutions, including declining membership and the need to consolidate resources. This decision will significantly impact the local Catholic community, who must now find new places to worship.