More than two months after the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh announced plans to consolidate into 57 multi-site parishes by the end of 2023, some of the details are becoming clearer.

In Butler County, the following existing parishes will be grouped together to form a new parish:

St. Paul, St. Peter and St. Michael the Archangel in Butler, plus St. Andrew in Center Township and St. Fidelis in Meridian by 2021

Mater Dolorosa in Chicora, St. Joseph in North Oakland and St. Wendelin by 2021

St. John in Coylesville, St. Joseph in Cabot and St. Mary of the Assumption in Herman by 2021

St. Alphonsus in West Sunbury, St. Christopher on the Lake in Prospect and St. Peter in Slippery Rock by 2021

St. Ferdinand in Cranberry Township, St. Gregory in Zelienople and Holy Redeemer in Ellwood City by 2023

Holy Sepulcher in Middlesex Township and St. Kilian in Cranberry Township by 2023.

In addition to grouping parishes together, many priests will be reassigned to lead new parishes by Oct. 15. The diocese has also set a maximum number of services for each parish grouping and the new schedules will also go into effect in October.

The Rev. Harry Bielewicz, pastor of St. Paul, St. Peter and St. Michael the Archangel in Butler, has been reassigned to parishes in the West Allegeny Area grouping.

The Rev. Charles Bober, pastor of St. Killian Parish in Adams/Cranberry townships will become administrator of the parishes in the Adams/Cranberry/Glade Mills grouping, namely St. Killian and Holy Sepulcher.

The Rev. Robert Cedolia, pastor of Holy Sepulcher will become administrator of the parishes in the Clairton/Jefferson Hills/Pleasant Hiills grouping.

The Rev. Kevin Fazio, pastor of St. Alphonus Parish in Wexford will become administrator of the Butler/Center Township/Lyndora parishes.

The Rev. Matthew McClain will move from pastor of parishes in Carbon Center and Coylesville to administrator of the Mater Dolorosa and St. Joseph in Chicora and St. Wendelin Near East Butler

The Rev. Steven Nuff will become senior parochial vicar of the parishes in northern Butler County: St. Alphonsus in Boyers, St. Christopher in Prospect and St. Peter Parish in Slippery Rock.

The Rev. Anthony Sciarappa will go from parochial vicar of St. Paul, St. Peter and St. Michael the Archangel parishes in Butler to parochial vicar of parishes in the New Castle grouping.

The Rev. Robert Seeman, administrator of the St. Peter parish and the campus ministry in Slippery Rock, goes to senior parochial vicar in the Finleyville/Jefferson Hills/Peters grouping.

The Rev. Ward Stakem OFM Cap. will administer the parishes of St. John in Coylesville, St. Joseph in Cabot and St. Mary of the Assumption in Herman.

The Rev. Richard Thompson will move from pastor of Mater Dolorosa in Chicora, and St. Joseph in North Oakland to chaplain of the parishes in the Monroeville/Penn Hills grouping.

The Rev. James Torquato becomes the senior parochial vicar of St. Ferdinand Parish in Cranberry Township, St. Gregory Parish in Evans City and Holy Redeemer Parish in Elwood City.

The Rev. James Young, administrator of St. Gregory Parish in Zelienople, will become parish chaplain of St. Ferdinand in Cranberry Township, St. Gregory in Zelienople and Holy Redeemer in Ellwood City.

The reorganization plan, known as “On Mission for the Church Alive!” will affect every Catholic church in Butler County.

The Episcopal Vicar Philip Farrell, leader of Region 4 of the Pittsburgh Diocese, which includes Butler, Lawrence and northern Allegheny counties, said, “To be very honest with you, I have not heard any major grumbling.

“There's sadness, but I have not seen people rising up and being angry,” said Farrell.

“In August, the new Mass schedules will be published,” said the vicar. “Priests are working on that right now. We will have to see how that plays out.”

The maximum number of weekend Masses will be determined based on the number of priests, according to the diocese.

Bishop David Zubik did not order any churches to close, though leadership at each parish over the next several years must decide how to best use their buildings and what they will call themselves.

The process of studying changes in the diocese, which serves 632,138 Catholics in Butler, Lawrence, Allegheny, Beaver, Washington and Greene counties, started in 2015.

Zubik told the Pittsburgh Catholic newspaper, “On Mission invites Catholics to envision how our parishes, schools, ministries and institutions can best respond to changes in our communities in ways that deepen people's relationship with Jesus and each other.

“We seek more vibrant liturgies, inspirational faith formation, stronger school and parish partnerships, to increase participation in the life of the church, and for all Catholics to boldly proclaim Christ in word and action,” he said.

He said parishioners response to the plan showed “that many of the faithful understand the challenges. They are concerned about the increasing demands on clergy. They recognize the need for fewer, more vibrant liturgies. Their greatest hope is that more young people will come to know Jesus and rekindle their relationship with the church.”