Miracles of Pittsburgh

What is a miracle? How can an artist connect with mysteries that reveal extraordinary moments of surprising truth and beauty in everyday life?

Whether you’re a long-time believer or a professional skeptic, the Miracles of Pittsburgh tour invites you to encounter secret spaces that spark contemplation, reflection, and acts of witness. The morning includes three creative prompts during a silent walking tour with stops at Holy Spirit Byzantine Church; Friends Quaker Meeting House; and St. Paul’s Cathedral.

These three houses of worship are situated inside a single 1-mile route in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood, and demonstrate some of the rich and diverse religious identities of our city.

These faith communities welcome those of all faiths (or no faith) into their spaces for contemplation and reflection. At each stop, participants will complete creative activities focused on secrets, mysteries, beauty, truth, and grief in an attempt to make the invisible power surrounding us visible.

Participants should bring a writing utensil and a notebook. All other creative supplies will be provided.

About Sarah Shotland

Sarah Shotland is the author of the novel Junkette and the artbook Abolition is Everything. Her work has been published in The Iowa Review, North American Review, Creative Nonfiction, and Gulf Coast. Her work has been funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, The Pittsburgh Foundation, and the Heinz Endowments. She co-founded Words Without Walls and is the Program Director of Madwomen in the Attic at Carlow University where she is also Chair of the Art, Communications, and English Department.

Tour Meeting Location

Participants will meet at the corner of Fifth Avenue and North Craig Street, along the East entrance of St. Paul’s Cathedral.

We ask that participants arrive by 9:45 AM so that there is time to check people in and to start the tour promptly at 10:00 AM.

Parking and Transportation

Metered parking is available on North Craig Street alongside the east entrance of St. Paul’s Cathedral.

If taking public transportation, the closest Pittsburgh Regional Transit stops are:

• Craig Street and Park Plaza serving routes 54, 71A, 71C, and 93
• Fifth Avenue and Craig Street serving routes 71B, 71D, 75, and P3

For more information, please visit the Pittsburgh Regional Transit website at: https://www.rideprt.org/.

There is a POGOH Bike Share station located at Ellsworth Avenue and N. Neville Street. For more information on POGOH Bike Share, please visit: https://pogoh.com/system-map/.

Access and Accommodations

This event will take place outdoors and will occur rain or shine. Please dress accordingly and wear comfortable shoes. The total distance of the tour is 1.2 miles on concrete sidewalks with curb ramps and marked crossings along the tour route. This tour does include stairs. Seating is available at St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Public restrooms are available at St. Paul’s Cathedral, one of the stops along the tour route.

To request additional accommodations for this event, please submit your request in writing on the event registration form. A Shiftworks staff member will follow up with you directly about your request. We will attempt to implement requests for reasonable accommodations to the best of our ability, but cannot guarantee that all requests will be met. Alternate accommodations may be suggested by staff. All requests must be made by Monday, August 31, 2026.

Questions should be directed to ashley@shiftworkspgh.org.

Photography, Videography, and Other Documentation

Participants should be aware that photography, video recording, and/or other documentation of the event by Shiftworks, other attendees, or the media may take place during the event. Participants will have an opportunity to indicate if they choose to opt out of being included in event documentation, and our team will make reasonable efforts to accommodate these preferences.

Registration

This tour is free and open to the public; advance registration is required. The button below will redirect you to Eventbrite where you will complete your registration.