YOUNGSTOWN — In a year that brought many changes to the way people worshipped in local churches, the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown also was challenged by the death of Bishop George Murry on June 5.

Five months later — and still in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic — area Catholics celebrated as Pope Francis named David Bonnar as Murry’s successor on Nov. 17.

Murry died at 71 at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York after battling acute leukemia for the past three years. He went into remission twice, but lost his battle on the third recurrence.

On May 26, the diocese announced Murry had submitted his resignation to Pope Francis. He died before the pope could approve his request.

Monsignor John Zuraw, chancellor of the Diocese and pastor of St. Rose Parish in Girard, said Murry was a very important part of the Diocese of Youngstown and visited all of the parishes throughout his nearly 13-year tenure. He was the first African-American and first minority bishop to hold the position.

“It was a year of both sadness and a year of joy. With the passing of Bishop Murry, we experienced the sadness os his death. On Nov. 17, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Bonnar as the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Youngstown and we experienced joy,” Zuraw said of the two major events of the Diocese this year.

Murry was initially diagnosed with leukemia in April 2018. He underwent a month of intensive chemotherapy treatment at the Cleveland Clinic, and was released in late May of that year. His doctors said he responded well to the treatment, and the leukemia cells had been suppressed, although he would need to return to the clinic weekly for monitoring.

In July 2019, he returned to the Cleveland Clinic for a recurrence of the leukemia.

He was said to be in remission again in the fall of 2019, but the leukemia returned this past April just as the COVID-19 pandemic was ramping up. The diocese said in May that Murry was no longer able to carry out his role as head of the diocese. Msgr. Robert Siffrin, vicar general and pastor of St. Edward Parish in Youngstown, took over the bishop’s role.

Youngstown Mayor Jamael Tito Brown said at Murry’s funeral Mass: “He decided this is where his roots are. This is where he called home. I think it’s a privilege to have him buried here.”

“For all of you who knew him, I invite you to consider how much the light of Christ echoed through Bishop Murry’s life,” Siffrin said at the Mass.

Shortly after Murry’s death, diocesan officials said the selection process to replace him could take a year or more. When former Bishop Thomas Tobin left, the Diocese went about 18 months before Murry was named.

In November, Bishop-elect David Bonnar, 58, was introduced as the sixth bishop for the Diocese. Bonnar will be installed officially at an event that will be held virtually due to the pandemic at 2 p.m. Jan. 12 during the celebration of Mass at St. Columba Cathedral in Youngstown.

“We are moving forward in the Diocese in 2021 because we have a new bishop who will be in place,” Zuraw said.

Bonnar said at his introduction that he will focus on unity and oneness among the parishes and community, welcoming both Catholics and non-Catholics.

“They have provided us with a very capable man who has a great love and compassion for the people. He has a great understanding of the church and how to help the church become a stronger community of faith,” Siffrin said of Bonnar.

Bonnar, who served mostly recently as pastor of St. Aidan Parish in Wexford, Pa., said “I am overwhelmed by the trust and confidence the Holy Father has placed in me in appointing me the Bishop of Youngstown,” Bonnar said previously.

For 12 years, Bonnar served as chaplain of the Pittsburgh Steelers. For more than four years, he also has been editor of “The Priest Magazine,” which is a national publication for priests.

Siffrin will continue to serve as diocesan administrator until Bonnar is ordained.

The Catholic Diocese of Youngstown is made up of nearly 200,000 Catholics in Mahoning, Trumbull, Columbiana, Stark, Portage and Ashtabula counties.

bcoupland@tribtoday.com