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The Parish Community of St. Joseph is a very busy place with dozens of groups using the facilities year round. Please check with the Parish Office to confirm a date whenever you are planning a meeting, event, fundraiser, etc. Don’t assume that a space or date is available before you check the master calendar through the Parish Office staff (330-274-2253 or [email protected]). They should always know what is going on throughout the buildings and on the grounds not only for organizational purposes but also for safety and security concerns. Our pastor has final approval on everything. We also take pride in accurately publicizing the many activities in the bulletin and on the parish website and Facebook pages. We appreciate your assistance in helping to keep the parish running smoothly and efficiently by following good rules of communication: clear, concise, complete, correct, and courteous.
The deadline for submitting information to our bulletin editor, Kathi Trares ([email protected] or 330-274-2253), is 10 days prior to the weekend it is to appear.
To advertise in our bulletin, please contact, Diocesan, at 1-800-997-4986 or [email protected]. We thank you for your support of our parish.
Fr. Ed Stafford, Pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Mantua, and St. Ambrose Parish, Garrettsville, was granted a medical health leave.
Fr. Shawn Conoboy, Pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Aurora, was appointed Pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Mantua, and St. Ambrose Parish, Garrettsville, maintaining his responsibilities as Pastor of Our Lady, Ecumenical and Interfaith Officer, and part-time professor at Walsh University. He will be assisted by a parochial vicar (to be named).
Fr. Chris Luoni, Pastor of St. Joan of Arc, Streetsboro, will work with Fr. Conoboy to serve the needs of the faithful of all four parishes of Portage North.
Fr. Joseph Ruggieri was appointed parochial vicar at St. Joseph Parish in Mantua, St. Ambrose Parish in Garrettsville, Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Aurora, and St. Joan of Arc Parish in Streetsboro.
Deacon Steven Gies was assigned to St. Ambrose Parish, Garrettsville, St. Joseph Parish, Mantua, and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Aurora, in addition to his current responsibilities at St. Joan of Arc Parish, Streetsboro.
Deacon Gerolome "Gerry" Scopolliti, was assigned to St. Joan of Arc Parish, Streetsboro, and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Aurora, in addition to current responsibilities at St. Joseph Parish, Mantua, and St. Ambrose Parish, Garrettsville.
As an official welcome to our parishes, a reception was held for Fr. Shawn Conoboy and Fr. Joe Ruggieri on Saturday, November 5, after St. Joe's 5 p.m. Mass for both St. Joseph Parish and St. Ambrose Parish. Thank you to everyone who helped make this a great collaborative effort and special celebration.
The Most Reverend David Bonnar, Bishop of the Diocese of Youngstown, came for a pastoral visit on Sunday, November 6, at St. Joseph Church's and St. Ambrose Church's Sunday Masses.
Dear Parishioners,
Thank you! The reception on Saturday was wonderful! Parishioners from both St. Ambrose and St. Joseph came together to plan and execute the reception. Everything was beautiful. Fr. Joe and I truly appreciated this welcome to the parishes. And, the participation during the Bishop's visit on Sunday was also uplifting. Be assured of my prayers!
God bless you,
Fr. Conoboy
Welcome Reception Photos
Bishop Bonnar's Visit Photos
Fr. Ed Stafford returning from medical leave has been assigned as parochial vicar of Blessed Sacrament Parish and Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Warren, effective January 1, 2023. In addition, he has been assigned as parochial vicar of St. Mary and St. Joseph Parish, Warren effective May 1, 2023.
As of May 1, 2023, Fr. Shawn Conoboy is being assigned to ministry outside the Diocese of Youngstown (details yet to be made public). Fr. Chris Luoni will become a Sacramental Minister for all of Portage County with residence at St. Joseph Parish in Mantua.
Bishop Bonnar has appointed Rev. Frantisek Katrinak as pastor of the Portage North parishes. Rev. Joseph Ruggieri will be the parochial vicar. Fr. Francis and Fr. Ruggieri will reside at St. Joan of Arc Parish in Streetsboro. To read the Bishop's letter that was read at Masses throughout the region the weekend of March 18/19, click here.
Rev. Frantisek “Francis” Katrinak was born in Kosice, Slovakia on October 18, 1971 and was ordained in the Archdiocese of Kosice, Slovakia on June 22, 1996. He served in a variety of ministries including rector of the archdiocesan seminary there and as pastor of a parish in Cana, Slovakia. He came to the United States at the request of the Diocese of Youngstown to serve at St. Mary Parish, Warren in August of 2018, his first time pastoring a church in the United States. He visited the United States several times before his placement at St. Mary's and is fluent in English. In December of 2021, the Youngstown Diocese announced a new name for the recently merged Warren parishes of St. Mary and St. John Paul II (merger of St. Joseph, Christ Our King, and St. Pius X parishes in 2011), now named St. Mary and St. Joseph Parish, reflecting the history of both parishes. Fr. Francis was named Dean of Trumbull County Deanery August 15, 2022, in addition to current responsibilities as pastor of St. Mary and St. Joseph Parish, Warren.
Effective May 1, 2023 Fr. Francis will be
the pastor of the parishes of Portage North
The Synod on Synodality is a two-year process of listening and dialogue that Pope Francis began with a solemn opening in Rome on October 9 and 10, 2021. Officially known as “Synod 2021-2023: For a Synodal Church,” it is a process that allows bishops to consult with Catholics — from parishioners all the way up to priests — in a spirit of collaboration and openness.
Learn more by visiting our links section.
In late October, 2022, Fr. James-Peter Trares, OP, received the License in Theology, which prepared him for his current doctoral program at the Angelicum in Rome. The degree certifies him to teach at the graduate level in seminaries. He continues on for the next two years with in-depth research to complete a doctorate, opening up opportunities to be a full-time professor. Congratulations and God bless.
On September 15, 2020, Fr. James-Peter Trares, OP moved to Rome to begin studies in October at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (commonly known as "the Angelicum")! He'll be pursuing a Doctorate in Spirituality, which should take about four years, after which he'll be qualified to teach full time, to work in seminaries, to do spiritual counseling, and assist with the formation of the order's younger brothers. Since his priesthood ordination on May 20, 2017 (Dominican Friars Province of St. Albert the Great), he was assigned as a campus minister and theology professor at the University of St. Thomas based in the twin cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, MN. We congratulate him and wish him well in his new adventure.