Catholic Diocese reveals new parish names of ten churches merging in Mahoning, Ashtabula Counties

Several Catholic parishes in Mahoning and Ashtabula Counties will have new names such as Saint Blaise and Saint Catherine of Siena after are merging into new parishes effective January 1, 2025, as part of the ongoing implementation of the Diocesan Pastoral Plan.
The Diocese of Youngstown announced Friday that the former Immaculate Heart of Mary and St. Joseph Parishes in Youngstown will become the Saint Blaise Parish.
Boardman’s St. Charles and St. Luke Parishes will be renamed Saint Catherine of Siena Parish.
St. Columba Cathedral Parish, St. Edward Parish, and Holy Apostles Parish are being combined into the Saint Columba Cathedral Parish.
In Ashtabula County, St. Mary Parish in Orwell and Sacred Heart Parish in Rock Creek are being renamed Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque Parish.
Under the new structure, most parishes will become part of multi-site parishes, with Masses and other activities continuing at existing church locations.
Under the Pastoral Plan, announced by the late Bishop George Murry in 2019 and further developed by Bishop David Bonnar since his installation in 2021, the Diocese says the mergers are expected to improve operational efficiency and ensure the continued availability of pastoral services for Catholic communities.
The mergers, approved by the Diocesan Presbyteral Council on November 4, aim to create more effective ministries and support missionary activity in the face of declining parishioners, clergy, and financial resources. The plan follows a regional approach for the six-county Diocese of Youngstown and aligns with similar efforts undertaken through the Diocesan Regionalization Plan in recent years.
This year, a total of 20 parishes across the diocese are merging. More information on the patron saints of the newly merged parishes will be shared in 2025.