Grace Thompson
The Diocese of Pittsburgh, established on 11 August 1843, is a Latin Church ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Western Pennsylvania, United States. The diocese includes 61 parish groupings (107 churches) in the counties of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Lawrence, and Washington, covering an area of 3,786 square miles. As of 2022, the Diocese of Pittsburgh had a Catholic population of 625,490, with 194 active priests. However, the number of people attending mass and donating has been declining, and there is a shortage of priests, leading to the diocese's largest consolidation of parishes in decades.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of establishment | 11 August 1843 |
| Bishop | David Zubik |
| Number of parish groupings | 61 |
| Number of churches | 107 |
| Area covered (sq mi) | 3,786 |
| Area covered (km2) | 9,810 |
| Counties covered | Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Lawrence, and Washington |
| Catholic population (as of 2022) | 625,490 |
| Number of active priests (as of July 2021) | 194 |
| Number of attendees (around 1990) | 300,000 |
| Number of attendees (recent) | *<co: 13>140,000 |
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What You'll Learn
- The Catholic population of the Diocese of Pittsburgh was 625,490 as of 2022
- The diocese covers 3,786 square miles and includes 107 churches
- The diocese has faced a decline in attendance and donations
- Bishop David Zubik led an initiative to reorganise parishes in 2018
- The diocese has been involved in legal cases regarding the Affordable Care Act
The Catholic population of the Diocese of Pittsburgh was 625,490 as of 2022
The presence of Western Pennsylvania's Catholic population can be traced back to French fur trappers who converged at Fort Duquesne in the 18th century. By 1843, a significant number of Irish and German Catholics had immigrated to the city, leading to the Vatican's establishment of the Pittsburgh Diocese. It was among the first dioceses in the United States.
Over the years, the Catholic population in the Diocese of Pittsburgh has fluctuated. In the 1990s, Bishop Donald Wuerl reduced the number of parishes by about 100. More recently, in 2015, Bishop David Zubik announced "On Mission for the Church Alive!", an initiative to start reorganizing parishes in 2018. This reorganization has included the closure of churches, schools, and the consolidation of parishes.
The decline in Catholic populations and attendance has been observed across the country and is attributed to various factors, including a decrease in families attending mass and donating, a shortage of priests, and changing societal values. Despite these challenges, the Diocese of Pittsburgh continues to serve its community and adapt to the needs of its faithful.
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The diocese covers 3,786 square miles and includes 107 churches
The Diocese of Pittsburgh is a Latin Church ecclesiastical jurisdiction, or diocese, of the Catholic Church in Western Pennsylvania in the United States. It was established on 11 August 1843 and currently covers 3,786 square miles. The diocese includes 107 churches, organised into 61 parish groupings, in the counties of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Lawrence, and Washington.
The cathedral church of the diocese is Saint Paul Cathedral in Pittsburgh. The diocese had a Catholic population of 625,490 as of 2022, with some sources placing the number at 628,000. As of July 2021, the diocese had 194 active priests.
The first mass within the present-day Diocese of Pittsburgh was celebrated at Fort Duquesne in 1754 by a French Franciscan chaplain. A chapel was built at the fort, dedicated to the Virgin Mary under the title of "The Assumption of Our Lady of the Beautiful River." When the French destroyed the fort in 1758, the mission became a ruin. The region passed into British rule in 1763 and became part of the Province of Pennsylvania. Unlike the other British colonies in North America, Pennsylvania did not ban Catholics or threaten priests with imprisonment.
The current bishop of Pittsburgh is David Zubik, appointed in 2007. In 2015, Zubik acknowledged the need for transformation within the diocese, stating:
> "Transformation is rarely easy, especially in the heartfelt matters of faith and parish life. I know that this change will require us – the faithful, the clergy, and myself – to let go of some things that are precious and familiar. I also am convinced that our clergy and faithful have what it takes to form deep and lasting relationships within their groupings and to create welcoming communities."
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The diocese has faced a decline in attendance and donations
The Diocese of Pittsburgh, established in 1843, is facing a decline in attendance and donations. The diocese, which includes 61 parish groupings (107 churches) across six counties, had a Catholic population of 625,490 as of 2022.
Over the years, there has been a noticeable decrease in the number of families attending mass and contributing financially to the diocese. This decline in attendance has also been accompanied by a reduction in the number of individuals pursuing the priesthood, resulting in a shortage of priests. The diocese has struggled to retain clergy, with many older priests retiring.
In response to these challenges, the Diocese of Pittsburgh has undergone significant changes and reorganizations. In 2015, Bishop David Zubik announced the "On Mission for the Church ALIVE!" initiative, which aimed to start reorganizing parishes in 2018. This initiative was met with mixed feelings, with some parishioners expressing anger at the closing of churches they had attended for years, while others recognized the need for transformative changes to ensure the diocese's long-term health.
The decline in attendance and donations has had a tangible impact on the diocese's operations. Between 2005 and 2010, 16 elementary schools were closed, and in 2018, Saint Rosalia Academy in Greenfield also closed its doors. Additionally, North American Martyrs School and Saint Bernadette School in Monroeville merged to form the new Divine Mercy Academy.
The diocese's financial constraints have also affected its ability to maintain costly features such as stained-glass windows and organ pipes. These challenges reflect broader societal shifts, including increased assimilation and affluence within immigrant communities, leading to reduced involvement in parish life. Despite these difficulties, there are still young adults like Marguerite Haldin, a member of St. Therese Parish in Munhall, who actively volunteer and participate in fundraisers and events, striving to revitalize the church and maintain its presence in the community.
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Bishop David Zubik led an initiative to reorganise parishes in 2018
The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, led by Bishop David Zubik, announced plans to reorganise its parishes in 2015. The initiative, called "On Mission for the Church Alive!", aimed to address the diocese's dwindling resources and financial difficulties. By 2020, the diocese had merged 61 parishes into 15 newly created parishes across Allegheny and Washington counties. While some mergers resulted in church building closures, others shared resources, administration, and leaders. This reorganisation was part of a broader restructuring effort to ensure the diocese's sustainability and enable more effective ministry.
Bishop Zubik acknowledged the challenges of transformation, particularly in matters of faith and parish life. He recognised the need to balance change with preserving the precious and familiar aspects of parish communities. Despite opposition from some parishioners, Zubik maintained that the reorganisation would strengthen relationships and create welcoming communities.
The mergers reduced the total number of parishes in the diocese to 106 in 2020, a significant decrease from 200 parishes in 2015. The diocese covers a six-county region in southwestern Pennsylvania, including Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Lawrence, and Washington counties. As of 2022, the Catholic population within the diocese was approximately 625,490, though another source places this figure at 628,000.
In 2025, Bishop Zubik retired, and Pope Leo XIV appointed Auxiliary Bishop Mark A. Eckman to succeed him. Zubik expressed his satisfaction with the appointment, highlighting Bishop Eckman's exceptional pastoral and administrative skills. Bishop Eckman emphasised the diocese's commitment to serving the community and engaging young people in their faith.
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The diocese has been involved in legal cases regarding the Affordable Care Act
The Diocese of Pittsburgh is a Latin Church ecclesiastical jurisdiction, or diocese, of the Catholic Church in Western Pennsylvania, United States. It was established on August 11, 1843, and is a community of 628,000 Catholics, with 625,490 Catholics as of 2022. The diocese has 107 churches and 194 active priests as of July 2021.
The diocese's case, along with similar lawsuits, was consolidated into Zubik v. Burwell, which reached the Supreme Court. The court vacated a lower court ruling and sent the case back to the lower courts. In 2019, the diocese announced that its five-year challenge to the HHS mandate provisions of the ACA had been successfully resolved. The settlement included new federal regulations that provided religious organizations with a full exemption from covering items that violated their core beliefs. This permanent injunction ensured that the diocese and other religious institutions' religious and moral beliefs were supported by the fundamental right of religious freedom.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 2022, there were 625,490 Catholics in the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
No, Catholic dioceses across the country have been shrinking for years. When the diocese started tracking attendance around 1990, 300,000 people attended mass. Now, that number is down to fewer than 140,000 worshippers.
There are several reasons for the decline, including fewer families attending mass and donating, a decrease in men pursuing the priesthood, and increased assimilation of immigrant communities into parish life.
The Diocese of Pittsburgh was established on August 11, 1843, making it one of the first dioceses in the United States.
The Diocese of Pittsburgh covers 3,786 square miles (9,810 square kilometres) and includes 61 parish groupings and 107 churches in the counties of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Lawrence, and Washington.
