Parishioners Organize To Prevent Church Closure

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A parish that covers 10 Pittsburgh neighborhoods plans to close for financial reasons in April, but a group of parishioners is trying to keep the church open.

Saint John Viannery Parish and its church are set to close on April 3, but parishioners are trying to raise funds and find an alternative plan for the church.

According to a release from the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, the parish is a little more than $3 million in debt, and repairs to the church would cost more than $1 million. Additionally, parish membership has dropped severely in the past decade from around 5,800 to less than 1,500. In late 2014, there were discussions about Saint John Vianney's financial state, and in late summer of 2015, the decision was made to dissolve the parish and close the church.

Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter

A group of parishioners have been meeting with Bishop David Zubik and his staff to try to find a way to keep the church open. The group formed a St. George Church Preservation Society and has created a GoFundMe page to raise money for the church repairs and restoration.

If the parish continues with its current plan to close in April, the parish territory will be split between Saint Basil in Carrick, Saint Mary of the Mount in Mount Washington and Prince of Peace in South Side. Allentown, Arlington Heights, Beltzhoover, Knoxville and Mount Oliver are all included in the parish territory.