Meagen Farrell appointed as Communications and Social Concerns Director
NEWS RELEASE
May 26, 2026
Contact: Dennis Biviano, PR & Media Specialist, (330) 744-8451, ext. 320; dbiviano@youngstowndiocese.org
YOUNGSTOWN, OH – The Most Reverend Bishop David J. Bonnar has appointed Meagen Farrell as Communications and Social Concerns Director at the Diocese. In the Office of Peace and Justice, Farrell replaces the departing director R.J. Mangan. In addition to supervising diocesan multimedia productions, she will take on the responsibilities of supporting diocesan prison ministry and parish respect life initiatives. She becomes the diocesan contact for legislative advocacy, Catholic Relief Services, and the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.
Farrell is currently working towards a Doctorate of Philosophy at Kent State University, researching the application of Catholic ethics to AI literacy. She previously earned a Master of Arts in Theology and Religious Studies from John Carroll University with a focus on women in Christian ministry.
Farrell says, “My goal in this new role is to work closely with the efforts in our parishes and schools to nurture active and faithful citizenship. I am honored and blessed to highlight local opportunities for social action on issues of human dignity and other principles of Catholic Social Teaching.”
The Very Rev. Monsignor John Zuraw says, “Meagen’s ability to integrate our multimedia communications with social action will beautifully advance Bishop Bonnar’s vision of a unified, evangelizing Church. I am confident that our priests, parishes, and local media partners will find her to be an invaluable collaborator as we continue to share the story of our faith in action.”
Programming Updates
The Communications Department is diversifying its multimedia productions available on YouTube, Facebook and CatholicEcho.org:
- The twice monthly Catholic Echo Podcast, hosted by Public Relations and Media Specialist Dennis Biviano, will add video highlights to the existing podcast format starting in July. See upcoming topics or recent episodes at CatholicEcho.org/podcast & video feature stories here.
- Paulina Montaldo, Spanish and broadcast journalism teacher at Ursuline High School and translator for the Diocese of Youngstown, is producing a monthly video series on Hispanic Ministry in our diocese. Follow this and other Spanish-language content at The Catholic Echo en español. See more of her videos on her YouTube page Somos Youngstown.
- Diocese of Youngstown–Office of Church Vocations is launching a new monthly video podcast to start August 4th, the Feast of St John Vianney. Vocations Director and host Rev. William Wainio will feature vocation stories in both video and audio formats. More details will be announced closer to the launch at the Office of Church Vocations website.
About the Communications Department
Bishop David Bonnar formed the Communications Department in June 2022 as part of his mission to bring all the diocese communication tools (TV, social media, print and internal communications) together into one department. Meagen Farrell started as Communications Specialist then served as Communications Manager for the past two years with Very Rev. John-Michael Lavelle in the role of Communications Director until his appointment as Vicar of Clergy and Religious. Very Rev. Monsignor John Zuraw continues to oversee diocesan communications as Vicar General.
The Department continues to produce its award-winning legacy programs including the Wineskins radio show & podcast with host Rev. James Korda as well as Our Sunday Mass from Saint Columba Cathedral supporting outreach to homebound Catholics. Diocesan content is available free for parishes and schools to share on their own social media pages through the Catholic Social Media platform. In addition, the diocese partners with national station CatholicTV to provide Catholic television programming to all six counties in the Diocese of Youngstown.
