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Official Decree | November 22, 2024
The Most Reverend David J. Bonnar, Bishop of the Diocese of Youngstown is announcing the merger of Saint Columba Cathedral Parish, Saint Edward Parish and Holy Apostles Parish.
Official Decree | November 22, 2024
The Most Reverend David J. Bonnar, Bishop of the Diocese of Youngstown is announcing the merger of Saint Charles Borromeo Parish and Saint Luke Parish.
Official Decree | November 22, 2024
The Most Reverend David J. Bonnar, Bishop of the Diocese of Youngstown is announcing the merger of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish and St. Joseph Parish.
Official Appointment | October 28, 2024
Bishop David Bonnar accepts the retirement of Barbara Walko effective January 10, 2025 and appoints Margie Hynes as Director of Faith Formation and Lay Ecclesial Ministry, effective January 11, 2025.
Clergy Official | October 11, 2024
Bishop David Bonnar assigned Rev. Francis Muriithi to ministry effective September 30, 2024 starting a five-year term of service in the diocese.
Official Decree | September 21, 2024
The Most Reverend David J. Bonnar, Bishop of the Diocese of Youngstown is announcing the merger of Sacred Heart of Mary Parish and Saint Louis Parish.
Memorandum | September 11, 2024
This letter advises parish and school leaders of actions taken by the Diocese with respect to Scouting organizations.
Clergy Official | August 24, 2024
The following Clergy Assignments are effective September 2, 2024 unless otherwise noted. Priests: Agostino, Balash, Lavelle, Marneni, Rovnak. Deacons: Smith.
Official Decree | July 28, 2024
Bishop David J. Bonnar is pleased to announce new spiritual benefits of a bond between Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Basilica in Youngstown with the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome.
Clergy Official | June 30, 2024
Bishop David J. Bonnar is announcing new clergy and pastoral assignments in the Diocese of Youngstown. Priests: Balash, Kozlowski, Rovnak. Pastoral: Colucy.
Official Appointment | June 25, 2024
Bishop Bonnar appoints Mr. Dominic Colucy as Vice-Chancellor.
Clergy Official | June 17, 2024
Bishop Bonnar accepted the resignation of Reverend Michael A. Swierz. An investigation is ongoing.
Clergy Official | November 1, 2025
Bishop Bonnar is announcing the following Clergy Assignments effective with the dates included.
Clergy Assignments
Reverend Robert Lanterman from parochial vicar for all the parishes in the Columbiana Deanery, (consisting of Saint Jude Parish in Columbiana, Saint Philip Neri in Dungannon, Holy Trinity in East Liverpool, Our Lady of Lourdes in East Palestine, Saint Patrick in Leetonia, Saint George in Lisbon, Saint Paul in Salem, Saint John in Summitville, and Saint Agatha in West Point) to Sacramental Minister for the Mahoning and Trumbull County Nursing Homes, with residence at the Oblate Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Priests Retirement Home in Hubbard, Ohio, effective November 24, 2025
Reverend Silvestre Robinol, RCJ, at the presentation of Reverend Orville Cajigal, RCJ, Provincial Superior of the Rogationists of the Heart of Jesus, Saint Matthew Province, is appointed Parochial Vicar of Guardian Angels, Canton (consisting of Saint Joan of Arc and Saint Joseph Churches), effective October 28, 2025.
Reverend Bryan Tutas, RCJ, at the presentation of Reverend Orville Cajigal, RCJ, Provincial Superior of the Rogationists of the Heart of Jesus, Saint Matthew Province, is appointed Parochial Vicar of Guardian Angels, Canton (consisting of Saint Joan of Arc and Saint Joseph Churches), effective September 23, 2025.
As previously announced
Reverend Benson Okpara serves as the Administrator of Guardian Angels, Canton, in addition to Pastor of Saint Michael, Canton, and Diocesan Director of Extern Priests.
Decree | October 28, 2025
DECREE
The Most Reverend David J. Bonnar, Bishop of the Diocese of Youngstown, has released the following Decree:
Decree | October 4, 2025
DECREE
The Most Reverend David J. Bonnar, Bishop of the Diocese of Youngstown, has released the following Decrees:
Merger of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (McDonald) and Saint Mary (Mineral Ridge) into Queen of Heaven Parish, effective January 1, 2026
Merger of Saint Brendan, Saint Christine and Our Lady of Sorrows (Youngstown) into Saint Mary Magdalene Parish, effective January 1, 2026
Saint Brendan Church and Saint Matthias Church (Youngstown) designated as secondary sites for Saint Mary Magdalene Parish, effective January 1, 2026
Saints Peter and Paul Church (Youngstown) designated as secondary site for Saint Columba Cathedral Parish, effective November 3, 2025
Saint Peter of the Fields Church original location (Rootstown) relegated to profane but not sordid use, effective immediately
Mother of Sorrows Church and Saint Joseph Church (Ashtabula) relegated to profane but not sordid use, effective November 30, 2025
Download the full text of the decrees with signatures as a PDF document.
