YOUNGSTOWN The Catholic Diocese of Youngstown announced that it will consolidate several parishes and change the use of some church buildings under a new decree issued on Saturday by Bishop David J. Bonnar. The changes, intended to reshape the diocesan structure, will take effect in two stages over the next year.

Two major Parish mergers are scheduled to be finalized on Jan. 1, 2026. The parishes of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in McDonald and Saint Mary in Mineral Ridge will combine to form Queen of Heaven Parish.

Similarly, in Youngstown, three parishes—Saint Brendan, Saint Christine, and Our Lady of Sorrows—will merge to create Saint Mary Magdalene Parish, with all weekly Masses held at Saint Christine Church as the primary worship site, effective January 1, 2026.

The existing Saint

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