A proposed consolidation within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh could have an effect on several local churches.
A diocese commission has grouped the 188 parishes into 48 “parish groupings.” A parish grouping is defined as a collection of individual parishes that are located near each other that will become one new parish over time.
In Butler County, St. Andrew, St. Fidelis, St. Michael, St. Paul and St. Peter are in one grouping.
St. Alphonsus in Boyers, St. Christopher in Prospect and St. Peter in Slippery Rock is in one grouping.
St. Joseph in Cabot, St. Mary of the Assumption in Herman, Mater Dolorosa in Chicora and St. Wendelin in Butler are a grouping.
These groupings are not yet final. Final decisions are expected by the diocese in April.
If passed, the parish groupings would take effect in the fall of 2018. The diocese says when the parish groupings first take effect, there will be no immediate parish mergers and no church buildings closed.
For a full list of church groupings, click here.
