Our Campaign for The Church Alive! has reached a significant milestone in addressing extraordinary needs across the Diocese of Pittsburgh—more than $20 million now has been distributed to parishes for projects and programs.
The goal of the campaign is to help sustain and strengthen parishes, invigorate evangelization, revitalize sacramental life, support education and formation in the faith, train clergy and lay leaders, and serve the poor and marginalized.
Campaign funds are being invested in ministry at St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin Parish in Whitehall. Father John Haney said gifts will be used to help support the Christ’s Life program.
Sacrificial gifts are helping to pay for adult faith formation at St. Blaise Parish in Midland, according to Father Michael Yaksick.
Donations are allowing parishes to complete long-deferred maintenance projects, especially to repair or replace roofs, boilers, lighting, parking lots, and to provide handicapped accessibility.
Father Kevin Poecking, pastor of St. Peter Parish in Slippery Rock reports they have used campaign funds for expanded parking, converting restrooms for handicapped access, improved their kitchen to commercial grade, and are developing a new parish web site.
A larger parking lot has been built at Holy Sepulcher Parish in Glade Mills, Butler County, two more acres of adjoining land are being purchased for further expansion, and the church construction debt has been paid off.
The church roof at Mary Mother of Hope Parish is being repaired, according to Father Frank Almade, pastor of four parishes in New Castle. The 52-year old roof at St. Joseph the Worker Parish is being replaced. New, energy-efficient lighting is being installed this summer in St. Vitus church, and parishioners at St. Vincent de Paul are enjoying new pews and carpeting.
Father Dan Whalen reports they have replaced a roof on an extension of the old school building at Holy Spirit Parish in Millvale, tore down an old garage at St. Nicholas Parish and are completing a handicap access ramp on the side of the church.
All Saints Parish in Etna has new altar cloths and refinished communion vessels, according to their pastor, Father Jim Gretz. The parish is now refurbishing the church’s stained glass windows.
A new boiler is being installed in newly-renamed Mary of Nazareth Catholic School at St. Angela Merici Parish in White Oak, and the parking lot will be repaired.
Our Lady of Joy Parish in Holiday Park has a new boiler for their church and hall. Father Al Zapf said they are now getting bids on remodeling restrooms and the front doors of the rectory. Other improvements were made earlier, including new roofs.
Father Nick Argentieri, pastor of St. Andrew Parish in Center Township, Butler County reports they are repointing the exterior brick walls of the church and CCD hall, lowering a chimney for safety and restoring brick to its original color. Plans call for a handicap-accessible ramp at the front church entrance, then replacing carpeting and tile in the church sanctuary.
A new electrical grid is being completed at Our Lady of Victory Parish in Harwick. Father Alan Morris said they’ve also made repairs to their parking lot.
