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Religion news

FIFTH ANNIVERSARY: Pastor Jeff Duty of First Church of God, 1951 Parkman Road, Warren, is marking his fifth year anniversary as senior pastor at the church. He has served as the church’s senior pastor and previously was associate pastor, interim pastor, leader of the children’s ministry and has driven the church van.

The church was established in 1930, with the current church built in 1951. He is an ordained pastor through the Church of God of Theology.

The church is planning a July 4 weekend service at 10:30 a.m. July 2 with an outside service in the parking lot. There will be a worship service, sing-along and refreshments.

PASTORAL ANNIVERSARY SET: The Rev. Jeffrey Stanford and First Lady Tiffany Hill Stanford will mark the pastoral anniversary 11 a.m. Sunday at Progressive Baptist Church, 2258 Colonial St. SE, Warren. Bishop Kenneth Paramore of Christ Centered Church in Youngstown will be guest speaker.

OUTDOOR WORSHIP: Mount Jackson Presbyterian Church, 129 Mount Air Road, New Castle, will host an outdoor worship at the chapel at 10 a.m. Sunday. Those attending can bring a lawn chair. Pastor Din Aull will be preaching on “Living Out Our Story.”

CONCERT: Hubbard Church of the Nazarene, 1815 Cherry Lane, will host a traditional Jewish music concert at 6 p.m. July 9. Admission is free.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: The Ursuline Sisters Mission is seeking volunteers for various summer programs, including camp counselors, adult tutors, nun “buddies,” crocheters and knitters for water filter covers and prayer shawls, and landscapers. For information, go to www.theursulines.org or call Sister Norma Raupple at 330-261-4729.

FIRST FRIDAY: The First Friday Club of Greater Youngstown speaker series will be July 6 with a luncheon and speaker Tracey Lamont, who will present “Gen Z: Young Adult Spiritual and Human Development,” at Avion on the Water Banquet Center, 2177 W. Western Reserve Road in Canfield.

Lamont is the director of the Loyola Institute for Ministry and an assistant professor of religious education at Loyola University in New Orleans

Luncheon will be served at 11:30 a.m. with the presentation beginning at noon. The cost is $20. Call by Friday at 330-720-4498. Reservations are limited.

PILGRIMAGE SET: SS. Mary and Joseph Parish in Warren is sponsoring a Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Windsor on July 23.

The cost is $35 and will include a box lunch, viewing of the Guadalupe apparition, Mass, praying of the rosary, visit to the gift shop and free time. Reservations are needed and can be made by calling the church office at 330-393-8721. All reservations must be made by Thursday. Departure is from St. Mary’s parking lot on High Street at noon with a return at 5 p.m.

Religion news

Submitted photo The Rev. James Korda won the 2023 Gabriel Award for Lifetime Achievement. Korda is the retired Catholic Television Network Youngstown president and a retired priest for the Diocese of Youngstown who recently was recognized at the annual Catholic Media Conference in Baltimore.

ORDINATION SET: Bishop David Bonnar of the Diocese of Youngstown will ordain three seminarians at 10:30 a.m. today at St. Columba Cathedral in Youngstown. The ordination of Deacon Robert England, Deacon John Rovnak and Deacon Frederick Schlueter to the priesthood will take place.

All three are serving as transitional deacons for the Diocese of Youngstown. The ordination liturgy will be available for viewing online at The Catholic Echo website at www.catholicecho.org/live/.

Upon ordination as priests, England, Rovnak and Schlueter will be assigned to serve as a parochial vicar (associate pastor) at a parish in the diocese. Their assignments will be announced during the ordination Mass.

40th ANNIVERSARY: Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, 4490 Norquest Blvd, in Austintown, will honor the 40th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood for the Rev. Greg Fedor following the 11 a.m. Mass on Sunday.

NEW BISHOP: St. John’s Episcopal Church, 323 Wick Ave., Youngstown, will welcome the new bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio, the Right Rev. Anne B. Jolly, at the 10:30 a.m. service Sunday. Jolly will be confirming and receiving several members of the St. John’s parish during the service.

Jolly is the first woman to serve as Ohio’s diocesan bishop. She was ordained and consecrated bishop coadjutor of the Diocese of Ohio at The Public Auditorium and Conference Center in Cleveland on April 29.

Jolly will take over jurisdiction of the Ohio Diocese on July 1. She has been part of the Episcopal church for 18 years.

DRUMS AND YUMS: The Unity Spiritual Centre, 1226 Naylor Lloyd Road in Liberty, will host a drumming circle at its location at 7 p.m. Friday. “Drums & Yums” will be led by Dan and Pam Susany and the ingredients for making s’mores and the fire will be provided by the center. The Susanys have led drumming events regionally since 1997. Guests can bring their own drum, or some drums will be available if needed. In case of rain, the drumming will be moved inside. The event is free, but donations will be accepted. Call 330-539-0122.

CONCERT: Hubbard Church of the Nazarene, 1815 Cherry Lane, will host a traditional Jewish music concert 6 p.m. July 9. Admission is free. Holy Land souvenirs will be available for sale.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: The Ursuline Sisters Mission is seeking volunteers for various summer programs, including camp counselors, adult tutors, nun “buddies,” crocheters and knitters for water filter covers and prayer shawls, and landscapers. For information, go to www.theursulines.org or call Sister Norma Raupple at 330-261-4729.

HOST FAMILIES SOUGHT: The Mahoning Valley Ulster Project is looking for teens and families to host a teen from Northern Ireland in late June and July. The teens that are coming are 15, and American teens between the ages of 14 and 17 are needed. The dates of the project are from June 26 to July 17. Car pooling and rides are available to get both teens to the project’s events. The project has been described by past participants as the best month of their lives. For more information, call Greg Hartz at 330-770-1440.

FIRST FRIDAY: The First Friday Club of Greater Youngstown speaker series will be July 6 with a luncheon and speaker Tracey Lamont, who will present “Gen Z: Young Adult Spiritual and Human Development” at Avion on the Water Banquet Center, 2177 W. Western Reserve Road in Canfield.

Lamont is the director of the Loyola Institute for Ministry and an assistant professor of religious education at

Loyola University in New Orleans

Before coming to Loyola University, Lamont served in parishes as a youth and young adult minister and coordinated confirmation programs. While living in Florida, she taught religion, social studies and epistemology in high school and taught theology and religion courses at the undergraduate level.

There will be an opportunity for participants’ questions to follow. Luncheon will be served at 11:30 a.m. with the presentation beginning at noon. The cost is $20. Call by June 30 at 330-720-4498. Reservations are limited.

80TH ANNIVERSARY OF DIOCESE: The Diocese of Youngstown’s 80th anniversary Mass will take place at 4 p.m. June 25 at St. Columba Cathedral with a reception and historical exhibit afterward. Bishop David Bonnar will be the principal celebrant, with the diocese’s priests as concelebrants. After Mass, there will be an outdoor tented reception on the cathedral campus. The diocesan Archives Office also will present an indoor display of the history of the diocese. The display will open before Mass, at 2 p.m., and again after Mass, and will be located in the diocesan conference room and accessed via the main diocesan office entrance on Elm Street. The Diocese of Youngstown

was established May 15, 1943, when it was carved out from the Diocese of Cleveland.

MISSIONARY VISIT: Canfield Presbyterian Church will

host Bob and Kristi Rice, missionaries from Sudan,

at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the church, 140 W. Main St. in Canfield.

nenews

Religion news

NEW PASTOR: Third Baptist Church, 1177 Park Hill Drive, Youngstown, will host a pastoral installation at 4 p.m. Sunday for the church’s new pastor, the Rev. Sean Tucker of Hudson. The church was established in 1874.

FIRST FRIDAY: The First Friday Club of Greater Youngstown speaker series will be July 6 with a luncheon and speaker Tracey Lamont, who will present “Gen Z: Young Adult Spiritual and Human Development,” at Avion on the Water Banquet Center, 2177 W. Western Reserve Road in Canfield.

Lamont is the director of the Loyola Institute for Ministry and an assistant professor of religious education at Loyola University in New Orleans

Before coming to Loyola University, Lamont served in parishes as a youth and young adult minister and coordinated confirmation programs. While living in Florida, she taught religion, social studies and epistemology in high school and taught theology and religion courses at the undergraduate level.

She is a member of the Religious Education Association and also serves as member of the board of directors for the National Institute for Ministry with Young Adults.

There will be an opportunity for participants’ questions to follow. Luncheon will be served at 11:30 a.m., with the presentation beginning at noon. The cost is $20. Call by June 30 at 330-720-4498. Reservations are limited.

MISSIONARY VISIT: Canfield Presbyterian Church will host Bob and Kristi Rice, missionaries from Sudan, at 7 p.m. June 20 at the church, 140 W. Main St., Canfield.

CONCERT SET: Girard First Christian Church, 140 Broadway St., will host the Girard Community Swingtime Band at 6:30 p.m. Sunday. The concert is free.

RETIREMENTS SET: A retirement party for the Rev. Carl Kish, pastor of St. Robert Bellarmine Church in Cortland is set for June 25 with 11 a.m. Mass at the church followed by a reception from 12:30 to 4 p.m.

Kish’s former parishioners in Newton Falls and Ravenna and friends will be invited for Kish’s 61 years of ministry and pastoral service. His retirement is effective July 1.

Kish, a native of Youngstown, was an Ursuline High School graduate and was a former parks director at Tod Park in the Brier Hill neighborhood of Youngstown.

The Rev. Joseph Rudjak, pastor of Holy Apostles Parish in Youngstown, is also retiring on July 1. A retirement dinner reception is being planned for him on June 18 at Ciminero’s Banquet Center, 123 N. Main St. Niles.

The reception will follow two farewell Masses at 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. June 18 at Holy Apostles Parish-SS. Peter and Paul Church, 421 Covington St. in Youngstown.

Reservations are required for the dinner, which costs $25 per person or $200 per table of eight. RSVP with payment sent to Holy Apostles Parish. Rudjak has been pastor at Holy Apostles for more than 20 years.

DRUMS AND YUMS: The Unity Spiritual Centre, 1226 Naylor Lloyd Road in Liberty, will host a drumming circle at their location at 7 p.m. June 23. “Drums & Yums” will be led by Dan and Pam Susany and the ingredients for making S’mores and the fire will be provided by the Centre. The Susanys have been leading drumming events regionally since 1997. Bring your own drum or some drums will be available if you need one. In case of rain, the drumming will be moved inside. The event is free, but donations will be accepted. Call 330-539-0122.

ORDINATION SET: Bishop David Bonnar of the Diocese of Youngstown will ordain three seminarians at 10:30 a.m. June 17 at St. Columba Cathedral in Youngstown. The ordinations of Deacon Robert England, Deacon John Rovnak and Deacon Frederick Schlueter to the priesthood will take place.

All three are serving as transitional deacons for the Diocese of Youngstown. The ordination liturgy will be available for viewing online at The Catholic Echo website at www.catholicecho.org/live/

Upon ordination as priests, England, Rovnak and Schlueter will be assigned to serve as a parochial vicar (associate pastor) at a parish in the Diocese of Youngstown. Their assignments will be announced during the ordination Mass.

• England is from Christ Our Savior Parish in Struthers. Before entering seminary, he worked professionally in the water treatment industry for about 20 years. As a transitional deacon, while completing his seminary formation, England was assigned to St. Christine Parish and Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Youngstown.

• Rovnak is from Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Youngstown. He worked for several companies before entering seminary. As a transitional deacon, while completing his seminary formation, Rovnak was assigned to St. Michael Parish in Canfield.

• Schlueter is from St. Paul Parish in Salem. As a transitional deacon, while completing his seminary formation, Schlueter was assigned to St. Anthony/All Saints Parish in Canton.

BISHOP’S LETTER: The Catholic Diocese of Youngstown announces the second pastoral letter written by Bishop David J. Bonnar is available in parishes. Entitled “Practicing Faith, Hope and Love: Living the Virtues Together in Tough Times,” the pastoral letter has been sent to registered parishioners, and can be found online at www.doy.org/faith-hope-love/

A pastoral letter is an official letter a bishop writes to the faithful of his diocese and to the wider community.

“Practicing Faith, Hope and Love begins by acknowledging the tough times being experienced in the northeast Ohio region and the Diocese of Youngstown, including a declining population, unemployment, violence, poverty, addiction and natural and man-made disasters that have threatened our health and well-being, affecting the poor and vulnerable in disproportionate ways.

They also include pressures on Church life, such as the shortage of priests and lay ecclesial ministers, declining Mass attendance, financial challenges and the impact on strained priests and on the faithful as parish life changes,” his letter states.

Religion news

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The Vindicator wants your religion news. Religion news publishes each Saturday and includes information on special events, speakers, house of worship milestones and programs for all denominations.

Please email your information to religion@vindy.com, or go to www.vindy.com and click “submit news” at the top of the page.

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For questions, call religion writer Bob Coupland at 330-841-1773.

Deadline is Wednesday for inclusion in the Saturday edition.

ANNIVERSARY: First Baptist Church, 26 E. Church St., Niles, will mark its 133rd anniversary at 10:45 a.m. Sunday. Niah and Allisha Merill will be in concert for the event.

ORDINATION SET: Bishop David Bonnar of Diocese of Youngstown will ordain two seminarians, Kevin Bertleff and William Wainio, as transitional deacons for the Diocese of Youngstown. The ordination liturgy will take place at St. Columba Cathedral in Youngstown at 10:30 a.m. today and also can be viewed online at The Catholic Echo website at www.catholicecho.org/live/

On June 17 at 10:30 a.m., also at St. Columba, the Diocese of Youngstown will celebrate the ordination of Deacon Robert England, Deacon John Rovnak and Deacon Frederick Schlueter to the priesthood.

HONOR GRADUATES: Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Niles will recognize high school graduates who are members at the 11 a.m. Mass on Sunday. Graduates are asked to wear their graduation gowns and cords for the service. The Blessed Mother Society will host a lunch for the graduates in Holy Family Hall.

ORDINATION: The Rev. Robin Woodberry, a Youngstown native and deacon-in charge of St. Paul Episcopal Church in Canton, will be ordained as a priest at 10 a.m. today at the church. The Rev. Mark Hollingsworth Jr., bishop of the Episcopal church in Youngstown, will officiate.

NEW PASTOR: Third Baptist Church, 1177 Park Hill Drive, Youngstown, will host a pastoral installation at 4 p.m. June 11 for the church’s new pastor, the Rev. Sean Tucker of Hudson. The church was established in 1874.

DONATION: Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley will deliver 70 air purifiers to the First Church of Christ, 20 W. Martin St., East Palestine, at noon Monday. Distribution will begin with families who are on a waiting list. The distribution will be ongoing throughout the week. This donation was made possible by Home Depot.

SPIRITUAL JOURNEY: Villa Maria Education and Spirituality Center, 2067 Evergreen Road, Villa Maria, Pa., will offer “A Spiritual Journey Through the Jewish Calendar” with Rabbi Joseph Schonberger and co-host the Rev. George Balasko at 7 p.m. Wednesday via Zoom. The Zoom link will be available on the center’s website. This month’s topic is Giving Positive Meaning to Life.

A free-will offering will be accepted. Registration is not required. Program information is available at vmesc.org or call 724-964-8886.

PANTRY EMPTY: Harriet’s Cupboard in Trumbull County is critically low on personal hygiene items and cleaning supplies. Donations can be dropped off at the Catholic Charities office at 185 Laird Ave. NE in Warren.

ANNIVERSARY SET: First Baptist Church, 1300 Cedar St. SW, Braceville, will celebrate its 100th anniversary Aug. 26 and 27 with a celebratory banquet at Aulizio’s Banquet Center on Aug. 26. Tickets are $35 for adults and $20 for children under 12. Tickets can be purchased at the church on Sundays from 2 to 3 p.m. or from any First Baptist member.

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