Christian Leaders Fellowship to Hold Prayer Service at Pittsburgh Crèche

The Christian Leaders Fellowship, an ecumenical group of local bishops and denominational leaders, will lead a prayer service at the annual dedication of the Pittsburgh Crèche, on Friday, November 21, 2025, at noon in the plaza in front of US Steel Tower on Grant Street, Downtown. At the Crèche blessing, the Blessed Trinity Academy band and children’s choir will be performing seasonal music from 11:30am to noon.
 
Erica Gamerro, director of the Diocesan Department for Liturgy and Worship and episcopal emcee for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, will MC the event. 
 
Participants in the prayer service include:  Reverend David Ackerman, United Church of Christ; Reverend Liddy Barlow, Christian Associates of Southwest Pennsylvania; Reverend Canon Bill Henry, Anglican Diocese; Reverend Brian Evans, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; Majors Joy and Marcus Jugenheimer, The Salvation Army; Reverend Jessica McClure Archer, Pittsburgh Presbytery; Archbishop William Skurla, Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy; Bishop Ketlen Solak, Episcopal Diocese; Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball, United Methodist Church, and Bishop Mark A. Eckman, Roman Catholic Diocese . (Bishop Eckman will be available to the media following the ceremony).
 
Many individuals, as well as business, labor and religious organizations have contributed financial support and services. Clothing for the figures has been designed, sewn, and maintained by two local communities of religious women – Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth and Sisters of the Holy Spirit. Volunteers also assist in preparing clothing and dressing the figures. Watch the construction of the Pittsburgh Crèche on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9drNUikRCcA
 
For many years, the Pittsburgh Crèche has stood as a visible sign of faith in Downtown Pittsburgh, but it costs nearly $90,000 each year to erect, maintain, and store the Crèche. To help preserve this tradition for future generations, the Roman Catholic Diocese invites everyone to make a difference by purchasing a 2026 Pittsburgh Crèche Fundraising Lottery Ticket (valid January 1, 2026 – June 30, 2026). Each ticket costs $25 and is based on the Pennsylvania Daily Evening Lottery Drawing at 7pm. In addition, there is a designated place for donations at the crèche. Donors may also send tax-deductible gifts designated to The Pittsburgh Crèche Fund in care of The Pittsburgh Foundation at Five PPG Place, Suite 250, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.  

For more information regarding the Pittsburgh Crèche, please email [email protected] or visit www.diopitt.org/advent.  
 
The crèche will remain open for viewing 24 hours daily through January 6, 2026.