Funeral Mass Livestream

With sorrow, the Most Rev. David J. Bonnar, Bishop of Youngstown, has announced the death of Reverend Frederick Lukehart on Wednesday, December 29, 2021.

Father Lukehart’s funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, January 5, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. at Saint Columba Cathedral with viewing from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. It is requested that all those in attendance observe social distancing and proper health protocols.

Father Lukehart was 85 years old and is survived by his nephews:  Robert (Jeanne) White, Jeffrey (Sharon) White, Douglas (Kelly) White, David (Kara) White and John (Jenifer) White.

Father Lukehart was born on December 28, 1936, in Erie Pa., the son of George and Katherine Thompson.  He attended Harding School in Erie, Pa., and Strong Vincent and Cathedral Prep High School, prior to entering Gannon College.  He attended St. Bonaventure College in Olean, N.Y., earning a bachelor of arts degree.  He continued his studies at Saint Mark’s Seminary in Erie Pa., and completed his theology studies at Christ the King Seminary in Olean, N.Y.  He also earned a master’s degree from Catholic University in Washington D.C.

He was ordained on April 21, 1963, by Bishop James W. Malone at Saint Columba Cathedral.

Following ordination, Father Lukehart served as associate pastor at Youngstown Saint Brendan Parish.  In June 1964 he joined the faculty of Ursuline High School in Youngstown.  In 1966 he was assigned to the faculty of Central Catholic High School in Canton and in 1971, he joined the faculty of Saint Thomas Aquinas High School in Louisville.  In 1972, he returned to Central Catholic High School as principal.  In 1976, Father Lukehart became pastor of Saint Francis Cabrini Parish in Conneaut.  He served there for fourteen years before being named pastor of Saint Joseph Parish in Austintown in July 1990.  In November 1998, he was named pastor of Christ Our King Parish in Warren. He retired on August 1, 2008.

Father Lukehart was 4^th degree member of the Knights of Columbus.  He served as Defender of the Bond for the Diocesan Marriage Tribunal; a member of the Priests’ Personnel Board; Dean of Trumbull County Deanery; and Board Member for Saint Joseph Hospice in Louisville.  He also served as chaplain for the Serra Club of Youngstown and was member of the Youngstown Vocation Society.

Catholic Funeral and Cemetery Services of the Diocese of Youngstown offers The Chaplet of Divine Mercy Prayer Service in the chapels of our 4 Cemeteries at 3:00 every Friday at alternating locations.

First Friday of the month at Calvary Cemetery Chapel in Youngstown.
Second Friday of the month at Resurrection Cemetery Chapel in Austintown.
Third Friday of the month at All Souls Cemetery Chapel in Cortland.
Fourth Friday of the month at Calvary Cemetery Chapel in Massillon.

With sorrow, the Most Rev. David J. Bonnar, Bishop of Youngstown, has announced the death of Reverend William Rock, O.P., on Thursday, January 13, 2022.

Father Rock will be received into Saint Dominic Church on Monday, January 17, 2022, followed by the celebration of the Office of the Dead at 5:00 p.m.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, January 18, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. with Reverend Vincent DeLucia, O.P., prior and pastor of Saint Dominic Church as celebrant. It is requested that all those in attendance observe social distancing and proper health protocols.

Burial will be at the Dominican Friar’s plot at Calvary Cemetery in Youngstown.

Father Rock was born on January 5, 1932, in Chicago IL, the son of William and Helen Rock.  He attended Catholic schools in the Chicago area until 1941 when the family moved to Rocky River, OH, where he attended Saint Christopher School and Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland, OH.  He attended John Carroll University until he was received into the novitiate of the Dominican Province of Saint Albert the Great in Winona, MN, in 1951.  He studied philosophy at Saint Thomas Aquinas Priory in River Forest, IL, and theology at Saint Rose Priory in Dubuque, IA.  He was solemnly professed on August 31, 1955 and ordained to the Priesthood on May 24, 1958 by the Most Reverend Celestine Daly O.P., Bishop of Des Moines, IA.

Following ordination, Father Rock served as associate pastor at Saint Dominic Parish in New Orleans, LA, and Mater Dolorosa Church in Independence, LA.  He was chaplain of the Catholic Student Center at the University of Wichita, KS, from 1962-64.  He was an instructor in philosophy at Loras College in Dubuque, IA, from 1964-65 and chaplain at Saint Mary Dominican High School in New Orleans from 1965-67.

In 1970, Fr. Rock applied for transfiliation to the Province of Saint Joseph and assigned to Saint Dominic Priory in Youngstown.  His requested was granted and he was assigned to Holy Name Parish in Valhalla, NY in 1973.  In 1975, Fr. Rock was assigned as hospital chaplain at Saint Catherine of Siena Priory in New York City and in 1979 he joined the parochial staff of Saint Rose of Lima Church in Cleveland, OH.  He worked in various parishes in the Diocese of Cleveland before returning to Saint Dominic Priory in Youngstown in 1994.  He remained at Saint Dominic Church until his passing.

Each year in January we recall the infamous Supreme Court decisions Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton that effectively legalized abortion on demand throughout the United States. Our diocese hosts two Masses for Life as a prayerful reminder that we “must protect and nurture human life at every stage of its existence.”

Bishop Bonnar will preside at the Masses for Life on:
– Tuesday, January 18, at 6:30 p.m. in the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Chapel at Walsh University, North Canton (2020 E. Maple St.), and
– Sunday, January 23, at 4:00 pm at St. Columba Cathedral, Youngstown (154 W. Wood St.).

Each Mass for Life will include a Blessing of Children in the Womb. For more information contact dschmidt@youngstowndiocese.org or 330-744-8451 ext.272.

Catholic Funeral and Cemetery Services of the Diocese of Youngstown offers The Chaplet of Divine Mercy Prayer Service in the chapels of our 4 Cemeteries at 3:00 every Friday at alternating locations.

First Friday of the month at Calvary Cemetery Chapel in Youngstown.
Second Friday of the month at Resurrection Cemetery Chapel in Austintown.
Third Friday of the month at All Souls Cemetery Chapel in Cortland.
Fourth Friday of the month at Calvary Cemetery Chapel in Massillon.

Flyer – Chaplet of Divine Mercy | Cemetery Prayer Service