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Town hall held as merger plans move forward for three Youngstown parishes

Three Catholic parishes in Youngstown are one step closer to merging under a single name and leadership team. On Tuesday night, members of St. Christine, St. Brendan, and Our Lady of Sorrows gathered at St. Christine’s Parish Center for a town hall meeting to discuss what the future holds.

Although no churches are closing at this time, parish leaders say the merger is a response to a steep decline in both Mass attendance and available clergy. Cameras were not permitted inside the meeting, but 21 News was in attendance as Father John Jerek, who pastors all three parishes, explained the process and answered questions from the community.

“We're here today because our parish is beginning a process of merger, which requires input from our people,” Jerek said. “There can often be a lot of confusion about the process and what lies ahead of us.”

According to Jerek, the next step will involve parish councils formally drafting a letter to petition the Bishop of the Diocese of Youngstown for a merger. That request will then be reviewed by the Presbyteral Council, a body of priests from across the diocese. Once approved, the bishop will formally announce the new parish, including its name and effective date.

Jerek noted that this merger is largely driven by practicality. “Since 2019, we've lost about a third of our active priests,” he said, adding that many church buildings are now only partially filled for weekend services.

St. Christine’s is expected to become the primary worship site, while the other churches—St. Brendan and St. Matthias—will serve as satellite sites. These buildings would still host events such as weddings, funerals, and feast day celebrations, but not weekly or Holy Day Masses.

Parishioners in attendance expressed a mix of hope and hesitation.

“Every merger brings both excitement but also some sadness,” said Maureen Walsh, a parishioner at St. Christine’s. “It’s kind of like a marriage. You leave one family behind, but you have an opportunity to create a new family.”

She added that the opportunity to blend parish cultures could strengthen the Catholic presence in the area: “I think together, we’re stronger... and it’s an opportunity for God to breathe a new breath into our community.”

Church leaders expect to submit their merger petition by the end of summer. While the process isn’t finalized, leaders noted that no parish merger has ever been denied once it reaches the diocesan level. The merger could take effect as early as January 2026.


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