Fourteen groupings of parishes in the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, including three groupings in Butler County, will merge Jan. 4 to create 14 new parishes, Bishop David Zubik announced Saturday in a letter to parishioners. Forty parishes will be part of the mergers.

The 14 new parishes include:

- Saint Clare of Assisi (Carbon Center/Chicora/North Oakland), which brings together the parishes of Saint Joseph (North Oakland), Mater Dolorosa (Chicora) and Saint Wendelin (Carbon Center);

- Saint Faustina (Northern Butler County), which brings together the parishes of Saint Alphonsus (Boyers/Murrinsville/West Sunbury), Saint Christopher (Prospect) and Saint Peter (Slippery Rock);

- Saint Francis of Assisi (Cabot/Coylesville/Herman), which brings together the parishes of Saint John (Coylesville), Saint Joseph (Cabot) and Saint Mary of the Assumption (Herman).

The mergers are part of the ongoing On Mission for The Church Alive! strategic planning initiative, which is designed to help parishes mobilize their resources to prioritize mission over maintenance.

The mergers of Jan. 4. will bring the number of parishes in the Diocese of Pittsburgh from 107 to 81.