Lifestyles

Religion news

GUEST SPEAKER: First Baptist Church, 2640 S. Canal St. Newton Falls, will have Mariya Tatarin as guest speaker 10:45 a.m. March 30. Tatarin, who grew up in Ukraine, will share her story about receiving a Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child shoebox as a young child and how it changed her life.

SING NIGHT: New Covenant Baptist Church, 1606 Salt Springs Road, Lordstown, will host the Steel Valley Baptist Association's Sing Night 6 p.m. Sunday.

FINAL SERVICE: Girard First Baptist Church will host the final service of Pastor Burl Jernigan 10 a.m. Sunday. Jernigan has announced his retirement.

GORZKIE ZALE: Polish Youngstown, in collaboration with St. Columba Cathedral, will host Gorzkie Zale and Benediction Service, an ancient Polish Lenten tradition that offers a solemn reflection on the Passion of Christ. The bilingual service will take place at 6 p.m. Wednesdays during Lent: April 2 and 9 at St. Columba Cathedral's Sacred Heart Chapel, 154 W. Wood St. Youngstown. Accompanist Luke Politsky will provide musical support for the service.

A time-honored Polish tradition, Gorzkie Zale, translated as the Bitter Lamentation, is a 45-minute bilingual prayer service deeply rooted in Polish Catholic heritage.

RITE OF ELECTION: 191 men, women and children from 35 parishes in the six-county Catholic Diocese of Youngstown are preparing to become members of the Catholic Church at Easter. More than 85 persons will receive the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil on April 19; and 105 persons who have already been baptized in other Christian traditions will make a profession of faith and receive the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist.

For many months, these catechumens have been participating in parishes throughout the diocese in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, a process through which they become familiar with the teachings of the Catholic Church and the Catholic way of life. They also learn about and participate in the apostolic mission of the Church.

VIGIL FOR 40 DAYS: A spring vigil for 40 Days for Life will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through April 13. The group is seeking people to join them on the sidewalk in front of CVS on East Market Street in Warren to pray for an end to abortion. The drug store sells what is called the "abortion pill."

JUBILEE OF THE SICK: In observance of the Jubilee Year 2025, Bishop David J. Bonnar, Bishop of Youngstown, will celebrate a special Mass commemorating the "Jubilee of the Sick and Health Care Workers" 4 p.m. April 6 at St. Columba Cathedral, 154 W. Wood St. in Youngstown.

In addition to praying for those who are sick or suffering in mind, body, and spirit, the Mass also will celebrate those in various health care ministries throughout the Diocese of Youngstown. A reception co-sponsored by Mercy Health Foundation Mahoning Valley, St. Michael Parish (Canfield), and Church Budget Envelope Company will be in the St. Columba Parish Hall immediately after Mass.

CORE TRAINING: Villa Maria Education and Spirituality Center will offer Core Training at 2 p.m. April 6 in person and via Zoom. Core Training is a transformative program designed to help individuals develop self-mastery, emotional intelligence and mental strength through purposeful living.

The program features 12 practices -- 6 meditations and 6 mindfulness exercises -- that blend ancient wisdom with modern psychological insights. The cost is $20. Program information and registration are available at vmesc.org or by calling 724-964-8886.

Lifestyles

Religion news

CHURCH WELCOMES MINISTRY: Mckinley Community Church, 1524 Elm Road NE in Warren, will welcome Life with Christ Ministries at 10:30 a.m. Sunday with Chris and Coria Brock, who will share upcoming events, including the Joining Voices for Jesus to take place June 21 at Sebo Stadium in Salem. There will be several activities, including a prophetic artwork display, prayer walks, a motorcycle cruise, and praise and worship.

This event is joining churches from Columbiana County, Mahoning County and the surrounding counties to come together under one accord to exalt the name of Jesus Christ with prayer, praise and worship. Mckinley Church is registered in support of the event and many will be in attendance to celebrate.

TAIZE PRAYER: First Presbyterian Church of Youngstown, corner of Wick Avenue and Wood Street, will host a Lenten Taize Service at 7 p.m. March 27. Taize is a service that combines singing, scripture and silence. Simple tunes are sung repetitively to serve as prayer. The event is being held in honor of the founding of the church 225 years ago. Local pastors representing various Christian denominations will serve as readers. The musical ensemble includes Larry Harris, director; Daniel Laginya, organ; Zack Weese, violin; and Barb Zorn and Michael Black, cantors.

GORZKIE ŻALE: Polish Youngstown, in collaboration with St. Columba Cathedral, will host Gorzkie Żale and Benediction Service, an ancient Polish Lenten tradition that offers a solemn reflection on the Passion of Christ. The bilingual service will take place 6 p.m. Wednesdays during Lent: March 26, and April 2 and 9 at St. Columba Cathedral's Sacred Heart Chapel, 154 W. Wood St. Youngstown. Accompanist Luke Politsky will provide musical support for the service.

A time-honored Polish tradition, Gorzkie Żale, translated as the Bitter Lamentation, is a 45-minute bilingual prayer service deeply rooted in Polish Catholic heritage. The service consists of three parts, each featuring hymns and meditations on Christ's Passion and a dialogue between Christ and the sorrowful Blessed Mother as she grieves for her dying Son.

RITE OF ELECTION: 191 men, women and children from 35 parishes in the six-county Catholic Diocese of Youngstown are preparing to become members of the Catholic Church at Easter. More than 85 persons will receive the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil on April 19; and 105 persons who have already been baptized in other Christian traditions will make a profession of faith and receive the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist.

For many months, these persons have been participating in parishes throughout the diocese in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, a process through which they become familiar with the teachings of the Catholic Church and the Catholic way of life. They also learn about and participate in the apostolic mission of the Church.

COMMUNITY DISCUSSION: Voices of Micah will host a community discussion and workshop about mass incarceration and its effect on the community 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday at First Presbyterian Church, Mahoning Avenue NW, Warren. Facilitator is Michaela Write, mission officer for YWCA Mahoning Valley.

VIGIL FOR 40 DAYS: A spring vigil for 40 Days for Life will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through April 13. The group is seeking people to join them on the sidewalk in front of CVS on East Market Street in Warren to pray for an end to abortion.

JUBILEE OF THE SICK: In observance of the Jubilee Year 2025, Bishop David J. Bonnar, Bishop of Youngstown, will celebrate a special Mass commemorating the "Jubilee of the Sick and Health Care Workers" 4 p.m. April 6 at St. Columba Cathedral, 154 W. Wood St. in Youngstown.

In addition to praying for those who are sick or suffering in mind, body, and spirit, the Mass also will celebrate those in various health care ministries throughout the Diocese of Youngstown.

A reception co-sponsored by Mercy Health Foundation Mahoning Valley, St. Michael Parish (Canfield), and Church Budget Envelope Company will be at the St. Columba Parish Hall immediately after Mass.

FINAL SERVICE: Girard First Baptist Church will host the final service of Pastor Burl Jernigan at 10 a.m. on March 30. Jernigan has announced he will be retiring as pastor.

TAIZE PRAYER: Villa Maria Education and Spirituality Center, 225 Villa Maria Road, will offer Taize Prayer at 7 p.m. Tuesdays. The theme is Lent.

Taize is a form of Christian prayer originating from the ecumenical Christian community of Taize in France.

It is a service of prayer, song and contemplation by candlelight with music ministers Daniel Laginya and Barb Zorn. For information, call 724-964-8886 or visit vmesc.org.

FIRST FRIDAY SPEAKER: The First Friday Club of Greater Youngstown Speaker Series welcomes the Honorable Mahoning County Probate Judge Robert N. Rusu Jr. on April 3 at Avion on the Water Banquet Center, 2177 W. Western Reserve Road in Canfield.

Rusu will talk about what a probate judge is and what they do.

There will be an opportunity for participants' questions following the talk. Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. with the presentation beginning at noon.

The cost is $25. Call by March 27 at 330-720-4498 to make a reservation. Visit www.firstfridayclubofgreateryoungstown.org.

INTRO TO PSALMS: Villa Maria Education and Spirituality Center will offer Prayer Book with Rabbi Joseph Schonberger 7 p.m. April 2 via Zoom. The Zoom link will be available on the website.

The program will be reviewing the Ten Psalms unit that Rabbi Nachman of Bratzlav and many others in the Jewish world have found helpful for their lives. Registration is not required.

Program information is available at vmesc.org or call

Lifestyles

Religion news

104TH CHURCH ANNIVERSARY: Friendship Baptist Church, 1954 Brier St. SE, Warren, will celebrate its 104th anniversary at 10:30 a.m. Sunday. The Rev. Shane Floyd, pastor of Grace AME Church, Warren, will be the guest preacher. The theme of the anniversary is "Jesus Christ: The Church's Foundation." Host pastor is the Rev. AM Odom.

MISSION WEEKEND: Second Baptist Church "A House of Hope" in Warren and New Bethel Baptist Church in Youngstown are partnering to host the Lott Carey Mahoning Valley Missions Weekend on Saturday. This event is designed to bring together churches and believers from across the Mahoning Valley to increase awareness of global mission work and provide opportunities for greater engagement in international outreach efforts.

The Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Missions Convention, founded in 1897 and named after Rev. Lott Carey, the first African-American missionary to Africa, has been a leader in advancing missions beyond the United States. The event will highlight the importance of this work and how churches and individuals can contribute to its ongoing impact.

On Saturday, a Leaders Luncheon will be at 12:30 p.m. at New Bethel Baptist Church, 1507 Hillman St, Youngstown. The Rev. Victor M. Davis, senior pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in Columbus, will serve as the keynote presenter, offering insight into how churches can strengthen their involvement in global missions. This luncheon is specifically intended for senior pastors, associate ministers, church leaders and those who lead mission ministries.

LIGHT IS ON: Parishes in the Diocese of Youngstown will host the annual "The Light is On for You- An Evening of Reconciliation" Wednesday. While the Sacrament of Reconciliation is celebrated throughout the Lenten season and the entire year in local parishes. the Diocese of Youngstown has identified March 19 as a common date when the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available in parishes throughout the diocese through a variety of services or individually. All parishioners are encouraged to participate in these special events at their parish or at a neighboring parish.

During Lent, Catholics are reminded to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation as part of their Lenten observance in preparation for Easter.

COMMUNITY DISCUSSION: Voices of Micah will host a community discussion and workshop about mass incarceration and its effect on the community 3 to 6 p.m. March 23 at First Presbyterian Church, Mahoning Avenue NW, Warren. Facilitator is Michaela Write, mission officer for YWCA Mahoning Valley.

VIGIL FOR 40 DAYS: A spring vigil for 40 Days for Life will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through April 13. The group is seeking people to join them on the sidewalk in front of CVS on East Market Street in Warren to pray for an end to abortion.

JUBILEE OF THE SICK: In observance of the Jubilee Year 2025, Bishop David J. Bonnar, Bishop of Youngstown, will celebrate a special Mass commemorating the "Jubilee of the Sick and Health Care Workers" 4 p.m. April 6 at St. Columba Cathedral, 154 W. Wood St. in Youngstown.

In addition to praying for those who are sick or suffering in mind, body, and spirit, the Mass also will celebrate those in various health care ministries throughout the Diocese of Youngstown. A reception co-sponsored by Mercy Health Foundation Mahoning Valley, St. Michael Parish (Canfield), and Church Budget Envelope Company will be at the St. Columba Parish Hall immediately after Mass.

FINAL SERVICE: Girard First Baptist Church will host the final service of Pastor Burl Jernigan at 10 a.m. on March 30. Jernigan has announced he will be retiring as pastor.

TAIZE PRAYER: Villa Maria Education and Spirituality Center, 225 Villa Marie Road, will offer Taize Prayer at 7 p.m. March 25. The theme is Lent.

Taize is a form of Christian prayer originating from the ecumenical Christian community of Taize in France. It is a service of prayer, song and contemplation by candlelight with music ministers Daniel Laginya and Barb Zorn. For information, call 724-964-8886 or visit vmesc.org.

FIRST FRIDAY SPEAKER: The First Friday Club of Greater Youngstown Speaker Series welcomes the Honorable Robert N. Rusu Jr., judge of Mahoning County Probate Court, on April 3 at Avion on the Water Banquet Center, 2177 W. Western Reserve Road in Canfield. Rusu will talk about what a probate judge is and what they do.

Rusu is the 20th probate judge of Mahoning County. Prior to becoming judge, Rusu practiced law in the areas of probate administration, guardianships, estate planning, Medicaid and aging issues.

There will be an opportunity for participants' questions following the talk. Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. with the presentation beginning at noon. The cost is $25. Call by March 27 at 330-720-4498 to make a reservation. Visit www.firstfridayclubofgreatery