Mission Statement
Our mission is to invite people into a relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church. We seek to echo the Catholic faith in the six counties of the Diocese of Youngstown. We amplify the voice, plans and priorities of the diocese by utilizing multimedia and a wide range of communication strategies. We proclaim the Gospel, build up the Body of Christ, practice authentic dialogue and support the work of the Church, in a spirit of truth, transparency and consistency.
The Catholic Echo is the official media group of the Diocese of Youngstown.
Announcements
SAVE-THE-DATE: Diocesan Communications Retreat on 11/18
Catholic Communications Professionals in the Diocese of Youngstown are invited to a special day on November 18, 2025 at St. Columba Cathedral (Youngstown). Invites coming soon!
Contacted by the Press? Let the Communications Department Know!
Have you been contacted by a member of the press or media about happenings in your parish, school or diocesan office? Contact Dennis Biviano, Media Relations & Multimedia Specialist at dbiviano@youngstowndiocese.org.
Reporting Scams or Fraud
If you have been the target of a scam, whether attempted or successful, here are some steps you can take to report it.
Additional Content Partners Through Catholic Social Media Platform
The creators of the Catholic Social Media platform are now making suggested content available from Catholic Charities Diocese of Youngstown, The Pontifical Mission Societies, OSV News and #iGiveCatholic.
The Catholic Echo Magazine Advertising Deadlines
Stay connected with The Catholic Echo magazine’s advertising schedule to ensure your ad reaches our vibrant Catholic community across the Diocese of Youngstown. Discounts are available for multiple insertions and Catholic organizations.
The Catholic Echo Podcast Topics: September & October 2025
Join us for a weekly discussion of your burning spiritual questions. For more information about the Catholic Echo Podcast topics, visit catholicecho.org/podcast.
Wineskins Schedule: September & October 2025
“Wineskins” features reflections on the lives of the saints and the sacred scriptures, along with thoughts on a variety of topics and issues from a Catholic perspective.
SERVICES OF THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT
MEDIA RELATIONS
This office is the primary point of contact with news media throughout the six-county Diocese of Youngstown. Parishes and schools that receive media inquiries are also asked to consult with the Department of Communications.
Please contact Dennis Biviano, Public Relations and Media Specialist, at dbiviano@youngstowndiocese.org or (330) 744-8451 x320.
Social Media
The Diocese’s Social Media Minister accompanies the faithful, and all people of good will, through our Diocese’s social media presence. This office manages all social media posts, moderates interaction and conversations, and provides social media consulting services to the Diocese’s parishes. In this way, this office helps fulfill Bishop Bonnar’s pastoral priority of Communications, using social media as the “front door of the Church.”
Please contact Michael Houy, Social Media Minister, at mhouy@youngstowndiocese.org or (330) 744-8451 x365.
Internal Communications
The Department of Communications provides publications and support for diocesan offices, parishes, Catholic schools, and affiliated lay organizations in the Diocese of Youngstown. Our diocesan affiliates receive benefits such as:
- Subscription to The Communique, a monthly publication of diocesan announcements
- Listing in our official Diocesan Directory
- Invitation to join the Catholic Communications Professionals email list
- Catholic discounts on advertising opportunities
To inquire about these and other services provided by the Department of Communications, please contact Meagen Farrell, Communications Manager, at mfarrell@youngstowndiocese.org or (330) 744-8451 x275.
Our Sunday Mass
The Diocese continues to produce the award-winning Our Sunday Mass, previously called Mass for Shut-ins, filmed at St. Columba Cathedral in Youngstown. As early as 1954, the diocese was broadcasting Sunday Mass on radio with the help of a local AM station. Later, in the early 1960s, the first televised Mass was broadcast in partnership with local stations. Our Sunday Mass may now be viewed online at catholicecho.org, Facebook or YouTube starting at 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays.
In Youngstown, Warren, Mahoning Valley, watch on WFMJ TV-21: Sundays at 6 a.m.
In Stark County, watch on Sundays at 9:30 a.m.: Spectrum Cable in Canton – Channel 989: Massillon Cable Channel 128; or WIVM TV-39.
In nursing homes and prisons: The diocese continues to make Our Sunday Mass available in 10 nursing homes and 3 prisons, and mails Missalettes to homebound Catholics. For more information, contact Bob Gavalier at rgavalier@youngstowndiocese.org or 330-744-8451 x211.
Listen on Youngstown radio stations WHOT-FM 101, WYFM-FM 102.9, WQXK-FM 105.1 Sundays at 6:30 a.m.
Watch online on Facebook, YouTube or CatholicEcho.org:
The Catholic Echo Podcast
The Catholic Echo Podcast informs and entertains the faithful of the Diocese of Youngstown by discussing various topics that are relevant in the church today. Bishop David J. Bonnar begins the podcast with your host Dennis Biviano on the topic of the day. Various guests continue to inform us on timely topics relevant to our local Diocese.
Subscribe to The Catholic Echo Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or any major podcasting platform. The Catholic Echo Podcast is produced by the Communications Department of the Diocese of Youngstown with the support of the Annual Diocesan Appeal.
Wineskins
Wineskins is now available as a podcast! Subscribe to Wineskins on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or any major podcasting platform to follow along with your host, Fr. Jim Korda.
Wineskins airs every Sunday at 6:00 a.m. on WHOT-FM 101, WYFM-FM 102.9 & WQXK-FM 105.1 in Youngstown; 7:30 a.m. on WKBN 570 AM in Youngstown and WRQX 600 AM in Salem; 9:30 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. on WILB AM Canton 1060, WILB FM 89.5 Youngstown & WILB FM 94.5 Canton.
The award-winning “Wineskins” radio program has been airing on local radio stations in the Youngstown, Ohio, area since the 1980s. “Wineskins” features reflections on the lives of the saints and the sacred scriptures, along with thoughts on a variety of topics and issues from a Catholic perspective. “Wineskins” is produced by the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown. Wineskins is brought to you by the Annual Diocesan Appeal, the Catholic Communication Campaign and St. Paul’s Catholic Books and gifts, a division of The Society of St. Paul.
Communiqué: Diocesan Office Announcements
The Communique is a monthly internal publications offering important information from diocesan offices for parish ministry leaders. It also includes promotional materials for diocesan events and programs, where applicable.
Resources
Diocese of Youngstown YouTube Channel URL Change
Please be aware of the tag change on our YouTube channel from @thecatholicecho to @DOYoungstown.
Guarding Against Phishing Attacks
If you receive an email that is an invitation for an event or offering to share a file/folder with you and it is not something that you were 100% expecting do not click on any link provided.
2025 Mass Intentions for “Our Sunday Mass” filmed at St. Columba Cathedral
“Our Sunday Mass” filmed at St. Columba Cathedral airs online every Saturday at 4 PM EST. Join us in prayer for these Mass intentions.
Parish Directory Updates
Please note recent changes to merged parish web addresses, offices, and other directory updates.
Resources to Support Your Parish Transitions
Here are some resources & reminders to support your parish transitions: Bookmark online Diocesan Directory; Update your parish website; Send us any changes for job postings, Mass time updates, and personal directory listings.
FULL Printable Directory Now Available
THANK YOU for your immense patience this year as we created a fully interactive, online directory! The printable edition is now available at: doy.org/diocesan-directory
Parishes: Where to send parishioner updates for Echo mailing
Please send updated parishioner household contact information to The Catholic Echo by email at catholicecho@youngstowndiocese.org.
Pray the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary with Bishop Bonnar
Our partners at CatholicTV visited St. Columba Cathedral to film Bishop Bonnar’s reflections on the Glorious Mysteries. Watch online any time, or watch The Rosary on CatholicTV Youngstown at 10am weekdays and Saturdays.
Seasonal Missalettes: Submit New Addresses
The Communications Department mails free missalettes to homebound parishioners to pray along with Our Sunday Mass from St. Columba Cathedral. Please send names and addresses to Bob Gavalier at rgavalier@youngstowndiocese.org.