The mergers and new parish names take effect on January 1, 2026
NEWS RELEASE
October 4, 2025
Contact: Dennis Biviano, PR & Media Specialist, (330) 744-8451, ext. 320; dbiviano@youngstowndiocese.org
YOUNGSTOWN, OH– The Most Reverend David J. Bonnar, Bishop of Youngstown announces the names of parish mergers in the Trumbull and Mahoning Deanery. They take effect January 1, 2026. On September 15, 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. At the meeting, the Diocesan Presbyteral Council formally recommended that Bishop Bonnar merge additional parishes that are already working together in ministry partnerships—sharing priests, deacons, diocesan pastoral associates, additional personnel, Mass schedules, and various parish programs and activities. After an administrative parish merger, church buildings retain their canonical names. This recommendation continues the strategic efforts of the Diocesan Pastoral Plan to maintain a focus on ministry as demographics change.
Bishop Bonnar reminds us that, “As a Diocese we must live in reality. That is, we must embrace our time with its challenges and difficulties and adjust to the realities before us even as painful as they may be. The Church is more than bricks and mortar. The Church is the people of God living out their faith as a community of believers in Jesus Christ continuing his mission of love and mercy.”
Parish mergers effective January 1, 2026:
Trumbull Deanery
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help (McDonald) and Saint Mary (Mineral Ridge). New merger name: Queen of Heaven Parish.
Mahoning Deanery
- Saint Brendan, Saint Christine and Our Lady of Sorrows (Youngstown). New merger name: Saint Mary Magdalene Parish.
Secondary site designation and building closures
Mahoning Deanery
- In the newly merged Saint Mary Magdalene Parish (Youngstown), Saint Brendan Church and Saint Matthias Church will become secondary worship sites, with all weekly Masses held at Saint Christine Church as the primary worship site, effective January 1, 2026. The sites can still be used for Baptisms, Weddings, Funerals, the Patronal Feast and Day of Dedication.
- Also in Youngstown, upon petition by the pastoral and finance councils of Saint Columba Cathedral Parish, the Presbyteral Council recommended that Saints Peter and Paul Church building be relegated to a secondary site within the parish due to decreased attendance. The site can still be used for Baptisms, Weddings, Funerals, the Patronal Feast and Day of Dedication. Sunday and weekday Mass will cease as of Sunday, November 2, 2025.
Ashtabula Deanery
- Upon a petition presented by the pastoral and finance councils of Our Lady of Peace Parish, the Presbyteral Council unanimously recommended that Our Lady of Peace Parish churches of Mother of Sorrows and Saint Joseph be reduced to profane but not sordid use, effective November 30, 2025. Mother of Sorrows Church had ceiling damage that could be remediated, however that repair was only addressing a narrowly defined section of the ceiling and does not come with a guarantee that such work would be sufficient. Saint Joseph Church has several needs to be addressed, however, due to the decline of the neighborhood, it was necessary to institute a sign-up procedure to safeguard parishioners and parish property for weekly prayer. Since the Octave of Easter, no one has been participating in the preservation of the spiritual and historical heritage of the church.
Portage Deanery
- In July, the parish and finance councils of Saint John Neumann Parish (Mogadore & Rootstown) requested the relegation of the (original) Saint Peter of the Fields Church in Rootstown to profane but not sordid use. The petition was presented due to severe water damage to the church and basement. The Presbyteral Council unanimously agreed that the original building of Saint Peter of the Fields Church can no longer be used for sacred functions, effective immediately.
All official decrees can be found at doy.org/official.
