In-person Masses at the Shrines of Pittsburgh canceled this weekend due to potential covid-19 exposure

In-person Masses at the the Shrines of Pittsburgh churches have been canceled due to potential covid-19 exposure, Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh officials announced Friday night.

Diocese officials said the spouse of an employee at the Shrines of Pittsburgh grouping has been tested for the coronavirus and is awaiting test results.

In-person Masses scheduled for this weekend at all churches in the grouping were canceled out of an abundance of caution because parish staff work closely with parish priests.

The church grouping includes Immaculate Heart of Mary at Polish Hill; Most Holy Name of Jesus in Troy Hill; St. Anthony Chapel in Troy Hill; St. Nicholas in Millvale; St. Patrick and St. Stanislaus Kostka in the Strip District.

Officials said the employee was present in only two of those locations the past week, Most Holy Name of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary. They are following voluntary quarantine procedures at home in compliance with government health and safety guidelines.

People who the employee came in contact were also alerted of possible exposure to the virus.

Officials said the grouping 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 the Rev. 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. It’s unclear when new re-opening schedules for The Shrines of Pittsburgh will be announced.