The Shrines of Pittsburgh are among the most unique, beautiful and holy churches in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. We are excited to offer our parish 8th graders and high schoolers the opportunity to travel into the city and visit two of the Shrines. We will leave the St. Thomas More gym parking lot at 1:00PM and head for Saint Patrick's Church in the Strip District, the first Catholic Church in the diocese. There, we will ascend the Holy Stairs, a replica of the originals at St. John Lateran Basilica in Rome and one of only three sets in the United States. These stairs are only climbed by kneeling - a symbolic and prayerful practice. We will head to Troy Hill next for a tour and the 3:00PM Stations of the Cross led by Fr. Nick Vaskov at Saint Anthony's Chapel. The Chapel contains the greatest collection of Catholic relics outside of the the Vatican, and the Stations are life-sized. This time promises to be both contemplative and engaging. We will end the day with pizza and pop in the Most Holy Name school hall and return to the St Thomas More Parking Lot for pick up by 5:00PM.