Mother of Sorrows Church was relegated to profane but not sordid use in November 2025
NEWS RELEASE
October 24, 2026
Contact: Dennis Biviano, PR & Media Specialist, (330) 744-8451, ext. 320; dbiviano@youngstowndiocese.org
YOUNGSTOWN, OH – The Dicastery for Clergy in Rome is upholding The Most Reverend David J. Bonnar’s decision regarding the relegation of Mother of Sorrows Church in Ashtabula. After a thorough review, the dicastery rejected an attempt by local parishioners seeking to overturn the bishop’s canonical decree. The dicastery concluded that Bishop Bonnar acted fully in accordance with the Code of Canon Law.
On October 2, 2025, Bishop Bonnar issued a decree approving a request by the pastoral and finance councils of Our Lady of Peace Parish to relegate Mother of Sorrows Church to profane but not sordid use effective November 30, 2025.
Mother of Sorrows Church sustained ceiling damage that could be remediated, however, that repair would only address a narrowly defined section of the ceiling and does not come with a guarantee that such work would be sufficient. Remediation of the entire ceiling of the church at the time was estimated to cost $4.75 million dollars. In addition, the decree notes other structural issues due to the settling of the church building. The Diocese of Youngstown has no further comment.
