Bishop Bonnar accepts recommendations for sharing resources and staff
NEWS RELEASE
March 9, 2024
Contact: Dennis Biviano, Public Relations and Media Specialist, (330) 744-8451, ext. 320; dbiviano@youngstowndiocese.org
The Most Reverend David J. Bonnar, Bishop of Youngstown announces a new stage in the diocese’s pastoral planning process for its parishes, which comes after ongoing consultation with the Diocesan Presbyteral Council as well as the Clergy Personnel Board, Diocesan Pastoral Council, the Diocesan Finance Council, and Regional Priest Dean.
Earlier this year, the Diocesan Presbyteral Council met to review the progress of the Diocesan Pastoral Plan, which was promulgated by the late Bishop George Murry in 2019 and has continued to be developed since the 2021 installation of Bishop David Bonnar. The regional plan for the six-county Diocese of Youngstown has resulted in structural changes aimed at developing effective ministries and supporting missionary activity. Criteria include the number of parishioners and worshipers, parish finances, population shifts within the region, effective use of buildings and effective use of a limited number of priests and lay ecclesial ministers. As a result of the pastoral plan, almost all of the diocese’s 80 parishes are now part of a collaborative unit or exist as a multi-site parish.
Bishop Bonnar accepted the recommendation of the Diocese’s Personnel Board and Diocesan Presbyteral Council to form several new parish collaborative units, in which parishes will continue to function as distinct entities, but share priests and other personnel. These collaborative units will also foster collaboration through coordinated Mass times and in a select number of additional ways, some of which are already occurring.
Bishop Bonnar comments, “Even when parishes have their own identity, parish partnerships remind us that we all share in a common mission as the Church and help us be intentional about staffing our parishes and responding to the shortage of priests. We have come a long way on the diocesan pastoral plan, and we will make refinements and additional steps as needed. I want to express my gratitude to the clergy and faithful for their work and prayer for many years.”
The following parishes will remain distinct but form collaborative parish units:
Mahoning Deanery:
- Struthers, Christ Our Savior Parish, and Lowellville, Holy Rosary Parish, effective July 1, 2024
- Poland, Holy Family Parish, and New Middletown, St. Paul Parish, effective May 1, 2024
- Youngstown, St. Angela Merici Parish and St. Patrick Parish, and Campbell, Christ the Good Shepherd Parish, effective May 1, 2024
Trumbull Deanery:
- Girard, St. Rose Parish and St. Patrick Hubbard Parish, effective May 1, 2024
Portage Deanery:
- Kent, Kent State University Parish and St. Patrick Parish, and Ravenna, Immaculate Conception Parish, effective July 1, 2024
Stark Deanery:
- Canton, Christ the Servant Parish and Little Flower Parish, effective July 1, 2024
- Canton, St. Michael the Archangel Parish and Canal Fulton, SS. Philip and James Parish, effective July 1, 2024
