Three parishes in Columbiana County will be merging on January 1, 2026, according to a news release from the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown.

According to the release, Saint Jude, Our Lady of Lourdes in Columbiana and Saint Patrick in Leetonia will be merging into one parish.

The reason for the merger is described to be an "acute shortage of priests" and a declining number of parishioners attending weekend Mass.

On November 17, 2025, a petition was presented ot the Diocesan Presbyteral Council by three pastoral and financial councils citing the issues, requesting to be merged into one parish.

According to the release, the council unanimously recommended that Bishop David Bonnar approve the merger.

A name for the newly merged parish has not been released at this time.

"Change is never

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