Department of Clergy and Religious Services Office of Continuing Formation of Clergy | Office of Vowed Religious Services | Office of Church Vocations | Deacon Program Rev. John Jerek 144 W. Wood Street Youngstown, Ohio (330) 744-8451 The Executive Director of Clergy and Religious Services is responsible for all matters pertaining to clergy. These include assignments, retirements, clergy serving as outside the diocese and clergy on leave of absence or on sick leave. He serves the bishop in his relationships to the priests of the diocese. Offices under the direction of the Executive Director of Clergy Services include Continuing Formation of Clergy, Priest Personnel, Permanent Diaconate, Vocations and vowed religion. Clergy being incardinated into, or excardinated from, the diocese work with the Executive Director to complete these processes. The Executive Director assists in the administration of the retired priests program and policy and attends to the needs of senior priests. OFFICE OF CONTINUING FORMATION OF CLERGY Rev. Stephen Popovich 4490 Norquest Blvd. Youngstown, Ohio (330) 793-9988 The director of Continuing Formation of clergy presents opportunities for clergy to develop holistically. He offers opportunities to celebrate and develop together, and affirms and encourages clergy to continue to grow in their ministry. The office provides opportunities such as the diocesan celebration of ordination anniversaries, days of recollection, retreats and convocations. OFFICE OF VOWED RELIGIOUS SERVICES Sister Joyce Candidi, OSHJ 144 W. Wood Street Youngstown, Ohio (330) 744-8451 The Director of the Office of Religious Services is responsible for vowed religious persons living and/or working within the diocese. The department seeks to integrate religious into the pastoral activity of the diocese. The Director serves as liaison between the bishop and the major superiors of religious communities, and between individual religious and the bishop. The Director is responsible for the diocesan Conference of Religious (DCR), which is a representative body of all religious congregations serving in the diocese. The department initiates programs for better collaboration among clergy, religious and laity; and is responsible for implementing increased awareness among the people of the role of religious life in the church. The department promotes activities such as the annual Religious Conference Day , meetings of major superiors with the bishop and the annual appeal for the retirement fund for religious (RFR). Through this department records are kept of the numbers, placement and ministries of congregations of Men and Women serving in the Youngstown Diocese. OFFICE OF CHURCH VOCATIONS The Office of Church Vocations shares responsibility for educating the people of the Diocese about their baptismal call to minister to others for Christ. This office directs and supervises activities aimed at fostering priestly and religious vocations in the diocese. It provides counseling and referral services for men and women inquiring about religious life, the diocesan priesthood or the permanent diaconate. The Office of Church Vocation conducts vocation awareness programs for adult groups, on college campuses, and for high school and elementary school students. The office also sponsors "seminary live-ins" for high school age men considering a church vocation. For information contact: Rev. Leo Wehrlin 330-744-8451 DEACON PROGRAM The fundamental goals of the permanent diaconate program of the Diocese of Youngstown are: (1) to train and form by study and prayer men who have demonstrated active Church service and leadership for diaconal ministry; and (2) to direct and support the ministry of permanent deacons in the diocese. To accomplish these goals, the bishop established an Office for the Permanent Diaconate and a Deacon Formation Program. The program strives to put particular emphasis on the notion of the deacon "as one who serves." For information contact: Rev. Msgr John Zuraw or Deacon Ray Hatala 330-744-8451 Web sites For Congregations of Men and Women Serving in the Youngstown Diocese. MEN Congregation of The Apostles of Jesus, AJ www.rc.net/africa/kenyacatholic/index.html Dominican Province of St. Joseph, OP www.op-stjoseph.org Franciscan Friars, OFM Immaculate Conception Province www.franciscanvoc.org Franciscans Province of St. John the Baptist, OFM www.franciscan.org Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, MSC www.misacor-usa.org Servants of the Paraclete, sP www.theservants.org Society of St. Paul, SSP www.albahouse.org Broghers of Christian Instruction, FIC www.ficbrothers.org Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, FSSP www.ewtn.com/fssp/fsp_html.htm WOMEN Adorers of the Precious Blood, ASC www.adorers.org Congregation of the Divine Spirit, CDS www.cmswr.org/membercommunities/congdivinespirit.htm Congregation of St. Joseph of Cleveland, CSJ www.sistersofstjoseph.com Congregation of the Third Order of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate www.jolietfranciscans.org Mission Helpers of the Sacred Heart, MHSH www.missionhelpers.org Oblate Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, OSHJ www.oblatesistersofshj.com Poor Clare Nuns of Perpetual Adoration, PCPA www.poorclares.org Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine, CSA www.srsofcharity.org Sisters of Divine Providence, CDP www.sistersofdivineprovidence.org Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, RSM www.sistersofmercy.org Sisters of Notre Dame, SND www.sndchardon.org Sisters of St. Dominic of Akron, OP www.op.org/domcentral/people/sisters.htm Sisters of St. Francis of Millvale, OSF www.millvalefranciscans.org Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Mark, SJSM-YD Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis, SSJ-TOSF www.ssj-tosf.org Sisters of the Humility of Mary, HM www.humilityofmary.org Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield, SSJ www.ssjspringfield.com Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland, OSU www.ursulinesisters.org Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown, OSU www.theursulines.org Vincentian Sisters of Charity, VSC www.vincentiansrspgh.org Benedictine Sisters of the Byzantine Rite, OSB www.benedictinebyzantine.org/mission.htm Sisters of the Order of St. Basil the Great, OSBM www.byzcath.org/ssb/index.htm Antonine Sisters, AS www.eparchyla.org/sisters.htm Additional Links: "A Future Full of Hope" US Bishops' National Vocation Strategy