At parishes, tears, relief and hope

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Before Mass began at St. Peter Parish in Allegheny Center Saturday afternoon, parishioners received the news that Catholic worshipers throughout the Diocese of Pittsburgh are getting this weekend — on the future of their own parish.

The first part wasn’t surprising. St. Peter’s will be grouped with five others in and around Pittsburgh’s North Side, with up to eight Sunday Masses spread across their churches.

But then came the announcement that the Rev. Vincent Zidek would be reassigned by his Benedictine order outside the diocese. Parishioners have credited him with rejuvenating the parish spiritually and, through sheer enthusiasm, willing into being a major restoration of the historic sanctuary.

More than one parishioner teared up. One cried right through communion.

Different parishes, meanwhile, were hearing different news.

Parishioners at St. Mary of the Mount Parish on Mount Washington learned it will be grouped with Prince of Peace Parish on the South Side. Their pastor, the Rev. Michael Stumpf, will remain as administrator.

During Mass, Father Stumpf read an assigned gospel reading in which Jesus describes himself as a vine and the church as branches that may need pruning.

“I don’t think you could choose a better gospel for what’s happening right now,” he said.

“In many ways, there’s some pruning that needs to happen in the Catholic Church,” he said. “We know it’s necessary for us to bear much fruit, but it doesn’t make it any easier.”

The North Side merger involves St. Aloysius in Reserve, St. Cyril of Alexandria in Brighton Heights, Holy Wisdom in Spring Hill, St. Peter in Allegheny Center, Risen Lord in Marshall/ Shadeland and Most Holy Name of Jesus in Troy Hill.

At St. Peter’s, Father Zidek was on vacation this week and the Rev. Tom Hart was dispatched from Latrobe to fill in.

“There’s a lot we don’t know,” he said. “So, all we can do is pray that anyone involved in decision making is listening to the Holy Spirit.”

In a post-Mass huddle, long-time parishioners bemoaned the upcoming changes but understood the forces behind them.

Charity Rechtorik has a head start on the consolidation process. Last spring, her daughter’s school, St. Sebastian in Ross, was absorbed into Holy Cross Academy.

“No single parish can support a school,” she said.

A couple who has been coming from Ross to the Saturday Mass said they likely won’t return without Father Zidek at the pulpit, but Barbara Palmer of West View and her sister Maureen Boyle of Brighton Heights vowed to be back.

The sisters were baptized in this church, they said, and so was their mother.

“We’ll be buried here,” Ms. Boyle said.

“I’m leaving here feet first,” Ms. Palmer agreed.