Beginning Labor Day weekend, September 6, 2026, the Sunday Mass at Saint Malachy Church will move from 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM. 

Please see the message below from AGP Pastor Fr. Ken Marlovits from the August 2, 2026, bulletin for more details. If you have any questions, please contact the Parish Office at 412-787-2140.

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An Important Update to Our Sunday Schedule:
A Change at Saint Malachy Beginning Labor Day Weekend
Last week, I shared the news about the transformation of the former Saint Malachy school into our new Family Life Center, which will house our Family Catechesis, OCIA, OCIC, and Middle School and High School Ministries starting this fall.

To best serve our growing parish and align our faith formation schedules with our Sunday liturgy, beginning Labor Day Weekend (Sunday, September 6, 2026), the Sunday Mass at Saint Malachy will move from 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM.

I recognize that changes to our Mass schedule—and to the routines we hold dear—are never easy. For many of us, the 8:00 AM Mass at Saint Malachy has been a sacred part of Sunday mornings, woven into the fabric of our personal prayer lives and family traditions. Moving a Mass time, even by an hour, requires an adjustment for everyone. It will also add a new strain to the clergy team and our ability to cover Masses; however, it is what is best for our parish family at this time.

This shift was decided after long, prayerful discernment and thorough logistical planning. By moving Mass to 9:00 AM, we sync our Sunday worship directly with the incoming Family Catechesis and youth formation schedules taking place at the Family Life Center. This unified schedule allows parents, children, catechists, and volunteers to participate fully in both Mass and faith formation without rushing between locations or navigating conflicting times. It gives our families the opportunity to celebrate Mass together and step right into a vibrant community of learning to deepen their faith.

Key Details at a Glance

• What is changing: The Sunday Mass at Saint Malachy moves from 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM.
• Effective Date: Labor Day Weekend (Sunday, September 6, 2026).
• Location: Saint Malachy Church.
• Why: To align worship times with centralized Family Catechesis, Christian Initiation, and youth formation programs at the new Family Life Center.

Why Only This Change Right Now?
Please know that this decision was not made lightly. Together with our clergy, parish staff, Pastoral Council, Finance Council, and our Diocesan Parish Services consultant, we took a deep, prayerful look at what is truly best for our parish community.

My governing principles were:

• Provide maximum stability for our parish family.
• Change only what strictly needs to be changed right now.
• Avoid frequent, piecemeal changes to our Mass and sacramental schedule.

When reviewing our schedule against Diocesan Mass Schedule Guidelines, several important facts came into focus:

• Historical Context: When Archangel Gabriel Parish was established in 2020, the foundation was set for seven weekend Masses, not eight. The Saturday 6:00 PM Mass was added as a temporary measure; however, we will continue to offer that Mass for now.
• Vigil Mass Recommendations: Diocesan guidelines state a preference for only one (1) Saturday anticipatory (Vigil) Mass per parish (we currently offer three).
• Attendance & Seating: Guidelines suggest evaluating or consolidating Masses that routinely operate under 50% seating capacity.
• Liturgical Ministries: Every Sunday Mass requires a full complement of ministers to ensure active worship. We frequently struggle to fill all volunteer roles—particularly Altar Servers and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion—which is why we cannot always offer the Precious Blood.
• Time Between Masses: Diocesan policy recommends 90 minutes between Masses. Our stacked schedule currently creates scheduling issues, especially when baptisms, faith formation presentations, or special events are on the schedule.

Looking Ahead with Transparency
As we navigate this transition, it is important to be open about our parish's future context:

• Priest Availability: Across the Diocese of Pittsburgh, priest numbers are declining. While we are currently blessed with active, resident, and retired priests, covering eight weekend Masses, baptisms, and special parish events is already a significant challenge.
• Diocesan Limits: Guidelines state that full-time priests should celebrate no more than three weekend Masses. When our assignment shifts to two assigned priests in the future, our schedule will need to move from eight Masses down to six. When that time comes, a broader, parish-wide evaluation will take place.
• Avoiding Unnecessary Disruptions: We considered other potential schedule changes—such as adjusting Vigil Masses, weekday Mass times, or confession hours, or adding an earlier Sunday Mass time—but decided against them. Knowing a larger revision will eventually be necessary, making this single move allows us to support our families while maintaining parish stability for as long as possible.

I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your continued patience, understanding, grace, and prayers as we navigate these positive growing pains together.