Assignments will help support the diocese’s regional approach to parish ministry
PRESS RELEASE
March 20, 2023
CONTACT: Justin Huyck, Director of Communications; (330) 744-8451, ext. 320; jhuyck@youngstowndiocese.org
On the weekends of March 11/12 and March 18/19, The Most Rev. David J. Bonnar, Bishop of Youngstown, announced various clergy assignments for parishes throughout the six-county diocese. In the parishes that will be receiving new priests or deacons, letters were read from Bishop Bonnar. Most of the new assignments will take effect on July 1, 2023, with some taking effect in May.
Consistent with many current assignments throughout the diocese, the new assignments reflect the Diocese of Youngstown’s regional model for ministry, with priests, deacons, and diocesan pastoral associates serving multiple parishes. Bishop Bonnar comments, “Through the hard work of our personnel board, who I consult with on assignments, we continue to navigate the shortage of priests while desiring to support parishes as they live missionary discipleship in new ways. Just as importantly, this approach allows for a more vibrant experience of parish life as we share our strengths across parishes.”
One of the features of the diocese’s regional approach to ministry and personnel assignments is the grouping of parishes who share not only priests as pastors, parochial vicars, or sacramental ministers, but also deacons and, where applicable, diocesan pastoral associates assigned to the same grouping of parishes. A diocesan pastoral associate is a lay person or deacon assigned by the bishop to the leadership team for one or more parishes. The consistent assignment of clergy and diocesan pastoral associates allows for mutual support.
Below are the assignments made in March 2023. They are effective July 1, 2023 unless otherwise noted. Previous and future assignments can be found at www.doy.org/official/
Priests:
Rev. Steve Agostino, from administrator of Saint Brendan Parish, and sacramental minister at Saint Christine Parish, Youngstown, to pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish and Saint Stephen Parish in Niles.
Very Rev. Michael D. Balash, from Pastor of Saint William Parish, Champion, to full-time ministry at the Central Office, remaining as Vicar for Clergy and Director of the Office of Worship, effective May 15, 2023, and remaining pro-tem Administrator of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Niles, until July 1, 2023.
Rev. David Bridling, from administrator of Saint Mary Parish, Orwell and Sacred Heart Parish, Rock Creek, to pastor of Saint Patrick Parish and University Parish Newman Center in Kent.
Rev. Edward Brienz, from administrator of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, McDonald, to vice-rector Saint Columba Cathedral and parochial vicar of Saint Edward Parish and Holy Apostles Parish in Youngstown, in addition to his current responsibility as Diocesan Director of Missions and Propagation of the Faith.
Rev. Thomas Cebula, from pro-tem administrator of Saint Louis Parish, Louisville, and Sacred Heart of Mary Parish, Harrisburg, to pro-tem administrator of Saints Philip and James Parish, Canal Fulton.
Rev. Christopher Cicero, as pastor of Saint Mary and Saint Joseph Parish, Warren, in addition to his current responsibilities as pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish and Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Warren and chaplain of John F. Kennedy School (Lower Campus) effective May 1, 2023.
Rev. Shawn Conoboy, from pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Aurora; Saint Joseph Parish, Mantua; and Saint Ambrose Parish, Garrettsville, to a ministerial assignment outside the Diocese effective May 1, 2023.
Rev. Ryan Furlong, as Pastor of Saint William Parish, Champion effective May 15, 2023, and Pastor of Saint Robert Bellarmine Parish, Cortland, effective July 1, 2023, in addition to current responsibilities as Pastor of Saint Thomas the Apostle Parish, Vienna, Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, and Chaplain at John F. Kennedy Catholic School, Warren (Upper Campus).
Rev. Matthew Humerickhouse, from parochial vicar of Saint Charles Borromeo Parish and Saint Luke Parish in Boardman, and chaplain at Cardinal Mooney High School, to pastor of Saint Louis Parish, Louisville; Sacred Heart Parish, Harrisburg; Saint James Parish, Waynesburg, and chaplain of Saint Thomas Aquinas High School, Louisville.
Rev. John Jerek, as pastor of Saint Brendan Parish, Youngstown, in addition to his current responsibilities as pastor of Saint Christine Parish and Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, in Youngstown and Director of Formation for the Permanent Diaconate.
Rev. Chad Johnson, from Parochial Vicar of Saint Patrick Parish, and University Parish Newman Center, Kent, to Parochial Vicar of Saint William Parish, Champion, Saint Robert Bellarmine Parish, Cortland, and Saint Thomas the Apostle Parish, Vienna, in addition to current responsibilities as Diocesan Vocations Director.
Rev. Frantisek Katrinak, from pastor of Saint Mary and Saint Joseph Parish, Warren, to pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Aurora; Saint Joan of Arc Parish, Streetsboro; Saint Joseph Parish, Mantua; and Saint Ambrose Parish, Garrettsville effective May 1, 2023.
Rev. Robert Lanterman, returning from leave of absence to Archives Clerk with residence at the Oblates Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Hubbard effective April 17, 2023.
Rev. Chris Luoni, from pastor of Saint Joan of Arc Parish, Streetsboro to sacramental minister for Portage County parishes with residence at Saint Joseph Parish, Mantua, effective May 1, 2023.
Rev. Michael Marcelli, returning from service as chaplain in the United States Navy to sacramental minister pro-tem at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Niles, (April 10-July 1, 2023), and then as parochial vicar at Saint Patrick Parish and University Parish Newman Center in Kent effective July 1, 2023.
Rev. Kevin McCaffrey, from pastor of Saints Philip and James Parish, Canal Fulton, to pastor of Saint Mary Parish, Orwell, and Sacred Heart Parish, Rock Creek.
Rev. Richard Murphy, from pastor of Saint Stephen Parish, Niles, to pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, McDonald, in addition to his current responsibilities as pastor of Saint Mary Parish, Mineral Ridge, and President of Ursuline High School.
Very Rev. Monsignor Robert Siffrin, from Vicar General to Diocesan Vicar of External Affairs/Special Projects and Pastor of Holy Apostles Parish, Youngstown, in addition to current responsibilities as Rector of Saint Columba Cathedral and Pastor of Saint Edward Parish, Youngstown.
Rev. Brian Smith, from Director of Hispanic Ministry and Coordinator of Continuing Education to graduate studies in Moral Theology at the Angelicum University, Rome effective September 1, 2023.
Rev. Edward Stafford, as parochial vicar of Saint Mary and Saint Joseph Parish, Warren, in addition to his current responsibilities as parochial vicar of Blessed Sacrament Parish and Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Warren effective May 1, 2023.
Rev. Stephen Zeigler, from pastor of Saint Paul the Apostle Parish, New Middletown and sacramental minister at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, Lowellville, to parochial vicar at Saint Charles Borromeo Parish and Saint Luke Parish in Boardman.
Rev. Matthew Zwilling, from vice-rector of Saint Columba Cathedral and parochial vicar of Saint Edward Parish, Youngstown, to administrator of Saint Paul the Apostle Parish, New Middletown, in addition to his current responsibilities as administrator of Christ the Good Shepherd Parish, Campbell, and online studies in Church Management at Villanova University.
Permanent Deacons:
Mr. Sylvester Frazzini III, to Holy Apostles Parish, Youngstown in addition to his current responsibilities at Saint Columba Cathedral and Saint Edward Parish, Youngstown.
Mr. Michael Hanshaw, to Saint Stephen Parish, Niles in addition to his current responsibilities at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Niles.
Mr. Ed Kleese, to Saint Mary and Saint Joseph Parish, Warren in addition to his current responsibilities at Blessed Sacrament Parish and Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Warren effective May 1, 2023.
Mr. Michael Puhalla, to Holy Apostles Parish, Youngstown in addition to his current responsibilities at Saint Columba Cathedral and Saint Edward Parish, Youngstown.
Mr. Robert Simmerly, to Saint Mary and Saint Joseph Parish, Warren in addition to his current responsibilities at Blessed Sacrament Parish and Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Warren, effective May 1, 2023.
Mr. Joseph Toth, to Saint Mary and Saint Joseph Parish, Warren in addition to his current responsibilities at Blessed Sacrament Parish and Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Warren, effective May 1, 2023.