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800TH FEAST DAY: The Shrine of Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted, 517 S. Belle Vista Ave., Youngstown, will celebrate the 800th Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi at 5:30 p.m. Mass Oct. 3. Bishop David Bonnar of the Diocese of Youngstown will lead the worship. Music will begin at 5 p.m. In honor of the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi, Pope Leo XIV has declared the year through Jan. 7 as the Jubilee Year of St. Francis. The Franciscan religious communities and St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Canton are planning opportunities to fall more deeply in love with God through Franciscan spiritual practices. The church also will host a Blessing of the Animals at 2 p.m. Oct. 4 in the parking lot. St. Francis is the patron saint of pets.
PET BLESSING: Calvary Cemetery, 248 S. Belle Vista Ave., Youngstown, is inviting the public to a St. Francis of Assisi pet blessing at 11 a.m. Oct. 3 Those bringing their pets are asked to bring a donation for All About the Pawz. Each donation brings a chance to win a pet-themed gift basket.
ANNIVERSARY MARKED: Central Christian Church on East Market Street in Warren, recently celebrated the 10-year anniversary of Pastor Marc Runyon. The event included a worship service and a luncheon. Runyon, a Cuyahoga Falls native, served in ministry in the St. Louis area, where he pastored at three churches before returning to Ohio. Runyon received his bachelor’s degree from Bethany College in West Virginia and seminary training at Brite Divinity School, which is part of Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. He has said Central Christian sits on what is referred to as ”The Holy Corners” at Belvedere and East Market streets, along with Temple Beth Israel, Warren Baptist Temple and St. Peter and Paul Church.
FOURTH ANNIVERSARY: Zion Hill Baptist Church, 220 Jefferson St., Youngstown, will host the fourth anniversary celebration with Pastor Edward Korneagay and Lady Joyce Korneagay at 11 a.m. Sept. 27. Guest speaker is Pastor Joseph Gwayne Heard of Elizabeth Missionary Baptist Church.
35-YEAR ANNIVERSARY: Paynes Corners Christian Church, 277 Warner Road, Brookfield, will celebrate the 35th year of pastor Steve Linamen at the 11 a.m. worship service on Sunday. The independent church was founded in 1858 and has operated since then in its original building.
FIRST FRIDAY SPEAKER: The First Friday Club of Greater Youngstown will host its second luncheon speaker of the 2026-27 season Oct. 1 with Sister Colleen Gibson, SSJ, who will present "Wandering in Wonder: Cultivating Awe in an Age of Uncertainty."
The luncheon will take place at 11:30 a.m., followed by the speaker at noon, at Avion on the Water Banquet Center, 2177 W. Western Reserve Road, Canfield.
There will be an opportunity for audience questions following the talk. Reservations are $25 and must be made by Sept. 24 by calling 330-720-4498.
PACKING PARTY: Southington Christian Church, 3285 state Route 534, will host an Operation Christian Child party at 12:15 p.m. Sept. 27. The congregation will pack 120 shoeboxes for girls for Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan's Purse that sends gift-filled shoeboxes to children in need around the world. All are welcome to come and pack a shoebox. A potluck lunch will be at the church before the packing.
GRIEF SHARE: Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 550 N. Broad St., Canfield, will offer a grief share support group 1 to 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Dec. 8. Help and encouragement will be offered following the death of a loved one.
OBLATE SISTERS EVENT: The Oblate Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Auxiliary in Hubbard will host the annual Bella Sera Dinner Dance 6 to 11 p.m. Sept. 26 at Leo’s Banquet Hall, 7042 E. Market St., Warren. The charity event benefits the Oblate Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Tickets for Bella Sera are $80 per person. For information, call Sister Shiny Soosayya at 330-619-9189 or Alexis Jones at 330-518-0321
RED MASS: Youngstown Bishop David J. Bonnar will preside at the annual Red Mass at 12:10 p.m. Oct. 1 at St. Columba Cathedral in Youngstown. A luncheon and program will follow at St. Columba Hall. The annual event is for all men and women involved in legal and judicial professions in the six counties of the Diocese of Youngstown and is sponsored by the Thomas More Society. The event highlights how essential the vocations of those in the legal profession are for the common good. The cost of the luncheon is $30 and registration is required. Make checks payable to the Diocese of Youngstown and note if you have special dietary needs. For additional information and to RSVP, contact Mary Fioramonti at 330-744-8451, Ext. 225.
ROSARY GROUP: St. Mary Church in Warren's Blessed Mother's Rosary Makers shipped 558 World Mission Rosaries to Peoria, Illinois, for Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen's Mass and Beatification Sept. 24, at the Dome at America's Center in St. Louis, Missouri. This event will be televised by both EWTN and the Catholic TV channels.
The World Mission Rosary was created by Archbishop Sheen in 1951 to encourage Catholics to pray for world missions and peace. Each decade is color-coded to represent five continents: green for Africa, blue for the Pacific Islands, white for Europe, red for the Americas and yellow for Asia.
The Dominican Sisters of Mary requested all rosary makers to voluntarily make as many as possible to hand out to the attendees to meet a demand of more than 75,000. The 558 was St. Mary Church’s contribution toward that goal. Anyone interested in being part of this ministry can come 10 to 11:30 a.m. any Tuesday morning at the church's social hall.
TAIZE PRAYER: Villa Maria Education and Spirituality Center will offer Taize Prayer at 7 p.m. Sept. 29. The theme is "Ordinary Time."
A service of prayer, song and contemplation by candlelight, Taize is a form a Christian prayer originating from the ecumenical Christian community of Taize in France. One is invited to rest in God through the singing of psalm verses and other simple chants, alternating with periods of silent reflection. It is a time to come away and rest for a while through experience of the simplicity and depth of the Word of God. Music ministers are Daniel Laginya and Barb
Zorn. For information, call 724-964-8886 or visit vmesc.org.