In-Person Masses Canceled at The Shrines of Pittsburgh Due to Potential Exposure to COVID-19

The spouse of an employee at The Shrines of Pittsburgh grouping has been tested for the COVID-19 coronavirus and is awaiting test results.  Because parish staff work closely with parish priests, out of an abundance of caution, in-person Masses scheduled for this weekend at all churches in the grouping are canceled.
 
In compliance with government health and safety guidelines, the employee is following voluntary quarantine procedures at home.
 
The Shrines of Pittsburgh grouping includes Immaculate Heart of Mary (Polish Hill), Most Holy Name of Jesus (Troy Hill), Saint Anthony Chapel (Troy Hill), Saint Nicholas (Millvale), Saint Patrick (Strip District), and Saint Stanislaus Kostka (Strip District).  Over the past week, the employee was present in only two of those locations:  Most Holy Name of Jesus, and Immaculate Heart of Mary.  The grouping is informing people the employee came in contact with to alert them of possible exposure to the virus.

The grouping has been, and continues to follow all local, state, and federal directives regarding stay-at-home orders, bringing employees back to work, and cleaning and sanitizing buildings; as well as liturgical guidelines from the Diocese of Pittsburgh.  
 
“We have been working hard to keep everyone in our parishes safe as the pandemic continues,” said Father Nicholas Vaskov, director of The Shrines of Pittsburgh. "We are praying for our employee and their family. While we were looking forward to gathering again in-person for Mass this Sunday, doing everything we can to protect the health and safety of our community is worth the wait.”
 
Parishioners were notified of the in-person Mass cancellations for this weekend.  New re-opening schedules for The Shrines of Pittsburgh will be forthcoming from the parishes.