St. Pope John XXIII Parish in Niles represents the rich history of two communities—St. Stephen the Martyr and Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
The presence of Catholicism in Niles goes back to 1853 when various priests—at the request of a group of Irish immigrants—began celebrating Mass in the homes of local iron workers. Out of these pastoral efforts emerged St. Stephen the Martyr Parish. In 1864, property was purchased for a frame church. A few years later, St. Stephen established its parish school. Over the next two decades, St. Stephen experienced major growth due to the iron and steel mill boom. Plans for expansion were announced in 1888, and the new church was dedicated May 8, 1892.
Various pastors over the decades tended to the spiritual needs of parishioners and the financial and physical needs of the parish facilities. Over time, St. Stephen School faced pressures with falling enrollment and rising costs. It closed in June 2014.
In 1906 Bishop Ignatius Horstmann of Cleveland empowered the establishment of an Italian ethic parish in Niles—Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Priests of the Precious Blood Fathers were entrusted with the new parish and remained for most of the 20th century. On November 23, 1923, the parish broke ground for a new church. The resulting white brick and stone Gothic-Lombardo style church was built in stages and completed in 1929. Mount Carmel instituted its Summer Festival in 1933, which has remained a popular event.
In 1949, the parish constructed a school with the Adorers of the Blood of Christ Sisters staffing the school. The Precious Blood Fathers continued their ministry to Mount Carmel up until the 1990s, when Youngstown diocesan priests assumed responsibility for Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Mount Carmel School closed in 2007. Mount Carmel students had the option of continuing their Catholic education at Warren John F. Kennedy Catholic School.
In 2024, the two Niles communities merged to form St. John the XXIII Parish, honoring the pope who convened the Second Vatican Council and who is remembered lovingly for his efforts to help the Church better address the challenges and needs of the modern world. Today, the parish offers a vibrant youth ministry program and several large events throughout the year, including a Lenten fish fry and the popular Our Lady of Mt. Carmel festival.
Description from The March of the Eucharist, 2nd edition (2025) published by The Catholic Echo
