Bishop Bonnar is announcing the following Clergy and Personnel Assignments: “As we await the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, I wish you his peace and joy. I also extend to you my sincere and heartfelt gratitude for all that you do for the good of this local Church. I want to share with you some personnel updates.”
Clergy Assignments
With great joy, I am happy to announce that Father Michael Balash will be returning to active ministry on January 1, 2026, to continue his role as Pastor of Saint Patrick Parish, Hubbard. I am sure that you will join me welcoming Father Balash back to active ministry. I am relieving him effective immediately of his responsibilities as Vicar of Clergy, Director of Seminarians, Director of Vowed Religious, and Director of the Office of Worship. I want to personally thank Father Balash for his exemplary work in these areas.
I also want to express my sincere gratitude to Father James Korda for his presence at Saint Patrick Parish as Administrator Pro-Tern during Father Balash’s absence. Father James Korda is relieved of his temporary duties as of January 1, 2026. I also want to thank the other priests who supported this parish during this time.
At the same time, effective immediately, I am appointing the Very Reverend John Michael Lavelle, D.Min. as Vicar of Clergy, Director of Seminarians, and Director of Vowed Religious. Father Lavelle will continue his responsibilities as Pastor of Saint Michael Parish, Canfield as well as Vicar of Missionary Discipleship and Development and Curator of the Patrimony. I am relieving Father Lavelle of his responsibilities as Diocesan Director of Communications.
Monsignor John A. Zuraw, JCL, VF will now, effective immediately, assume as Vicar General leadership over all Diocesan Communication efforts in addition to his duties as Pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica/Saint Anthony Parish, Youngstown and Administrator Pro Tern of Saint Catherine of Siena Parish, Boardman. Monsignor Zuraw maintains his role as Promoter of Justice for the Diocese.
I am appointing the Very Reverend John E. Sheridan, JCL, VF as Director of the Office of Worship effective immediately. This is in addition to his responsibilities as Pastor of Divine Mercy Parish, Massillon and Saint Philip and James Parish, Canal Fulton. Father Sheridan continues his role as Adjunct Judicial Vicar.
Father Stephen Zeigler, who was originally assigned to begin Sacramental Ministry for Mahoning and Trumbull Counties, will now instead become Parochial Vicar at Saint Catherine of Siena Parish, Boardman.
Personnel Assignments
Effective July 1, 2026, following the completion of a degree in theology, Mr. Craig Ziobert will become part-time Associate Director of the Office of Worship.
I am grateful to Sister Mary Stephany Rose, OSHJ who will assist Fr. Lavelle on an ad-hoc basis with some of the diocesan events sponsored by the diocese for the vowed religious.
