PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Declining enrollment and high operating costs are forcing the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh to make more tough decisions.

Two Catholic schools in the East Hills, Word of God in Swissvale and Good Shepherd in Braddock, will close at the end of this school year.

Students there will be welcomed at the new East Catholic School, which will be housed in the current St. Maurice building.

Elsewhere, St. Angela Merici in White Oak and St. Joseph Regional in Port Vue will merge into one building at the St. Angela Merici site.

This is all part of a new “consortium model” that will substantially reduce tuition rates at these schools.

On Sunday, Bishop David Zubik also announced changes for churches in several communities.

First, he says St. Matthew in Lawrenceville doesn’t have the resources to remain a parish on its own. The congregation there will become part of St. Raphael in Morningside.

The St. Kiernan and St. Mary Assumption church buildings will also close in June.

Also, one new parish, St. Maria Goretti, will be established to serve Bloomfield, Garfield and Friendship.

The parish is being established from two former churches, St. Lawrence O’Toole in Garfield and Immaculate Conception-St. Joseph in Bloomfield. All of the existing churches of the two former parishes will remain open for now.

RELATED LINKS:
Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese Announces Closure Of 2 Schools (2/19/12)