The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, which includes Butler County, officially turns 180 years old this weekend.

To celebrate the occasion, the diocese will honor the most distinguished of its laity and clergy at the Manifesting the Kingdom Awards on Sunday, Aug. 13, at St. Paul Cathedral in Pittsburgh.

Bishop David Zubik, who has served in the role since 2007, will oversee the ceremony.

On Friday, Zubik distributed a “Church Forward" letter to all parishioners in the diocese outlining the diocese’s plans for the future.

“This letter calls on the Catholics of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Lawrence and Washington counties to follow in the footsteps of St. John Neumann, St. Katharine Drexel and many others who found creative ways to bring God’s love to our streets, workplaces and homes,” Zubik said.

After outlining the past, present and future, the newsletter addresses the “Forward.”

“This diocese will soon announce efforts to improve our pastoral outreach to those who have not felt welcomed in the Church. It is important for me to hear from them, and to listen to them,” Zubik said in the letter. “My intention is to build upon the synodal model that Pope Francis has given to us, so that they can help me to effectively discern the way forward.”

A part of this plan is to improve outreach to those who may not feel welcome in the church, such as the immigrant community, the LGBTQ population, the incarcerated and those who have divorced or left the church, among others.

“We must expand our horizons and hearts so that we can welcome the Christ who is the face of everyone we meet,” he said. “If we are serious about being the face of Christ to others, if we are to be ‘The Church Forward,’ we cannot limit when and with whom we ‘put out the welcome mat.’”