Holy Trinity

About Holy Trinity Parish

Holy Trinity Catholic Parish serves the faithful of East Liverpool and southern Columbiana County as part of the Diocese of Youngstown (Parish Code 303, Columbiana Deanery). Although the parish was canonically established on July 2, 2011, it carries on a Catholic tradition in East Liverpool that began in 1834, when Rev. James Conlan of Steubenville first gathered the area's Catholic families for worship. The parish is administered by Rev. Bala Prasad Marneni and currently served alongside Rev. Robert Lanterman, Parochial Vicar of the Columbiana County parishes.

Mission Statement

The parish's mission statement reads: 'We, the faithful of Holy Trinity Parish, are committed to safeguarding the spiritual well-being of our community, educational opportunities, and financial integrity in every area of parish life. Appreciating our past, and well aware of our present potential challenges, we are determined to continue the mission of Jesus Christ in His Church in Southern Columbiana County.'

Parish History

Catholic life in East Liverpool began in 1834 with Mass in the home of John Blakely. A first church was completed in 1845 and burned on Palm Sunday that same year, but the community rebuilt, and the present St. Aloysius Church was dedicated October 5, 1890. In nearby Wellsville, five Catholic families began gathering in 1835 in the homes of Patrick Butler and Mrs. J. W. Reilly; their Immaculate Conception Church was completed in 1867 on land donated by General J. W. Reilly. A third community, St. Ann, was founded in 1915 as a mission of St. Aloysius. In 2011 the three communities merged to form Holy Trinity Parish, with St. Ann being suppressed and its final Mass celebrated at Christmastime.

• 1834 — Rev. James Conlan begins visiting Catholic families in East Liverpool; Mass is held in John Blakely's home for 11 years.
• 1845 — First church completed and destroyed by fire on Palm Sunday.
• 1874 — Rev. James Cullen named first pastor of St. Aloysius.
• 1889–1890 — Present St. Aloysius Church built and dedicated October 5, 1890.
• 1835 — Wellsville Catholics begin gathering in homes of Patrick Butler and Mrs. J. W. Reilly.
• 1867 — Immaculate Conception Church completed in Wellsville.
• 1885 — St. Aloysius School opens (later staffed by Humility of Mary and Notre Dame Sisters).
• 1891 — Immaculate Conception School opens (Ursuline Sisters teach for a time).
• 1915 — St. Ann mission founded from St. Aloysius.
• 1970 — Immaculate Conception School closes.
• July 2, 2011 — St. Aloysius, Immaculate Conception, and St. Ann merge as Holy Trinity Parish; St. Ann is suppressed.
• 2013 — The former school building is converted into the James J. Hocking Center.
• 2015 — St. Aloysius School closes due to declining enrollment.
• 2016 — Capital campaign restores the 1890 brick facade, undoing the 1913 cement cladding.

Meet the Staff

The parish is led day-to-day by an administrator-priest with the help of a small staff and two lay-led councils. The staff handles parish administration, religious education, finances, reception, and maintenance.

• Rev. Bala Prasad Marneni — Administrator / Extern Priest ([email protected])
• Bob Barto — Director of Religious Education
• Charlie Brown — Bookkeeper
• Marion Kusajtys — (parish staff)
• Julie Kreefer — Receptionist (330 385-7131, ext. 1)
• Maintenance — (parish staff)
• Rev. Robert Lanterman — Parochial Vicar of the Columbiana County Parishes (residence at St. George, Lisbon)

Parish Pastoral Council & Finance Council

The Parish Pastoral Council serves as a visionary, consultative, planning and evaluative voice for Holy Trinity, advising the pastor in accord with Canon 536. Members may be appointed by the pastor or by a discernment process and typically serve two- or three-year terms; the council meets every other month and occasionally joins the Finance Council. The Finance Council, appointed by the pastor, assists with monitoring income and expenditures, developing annual budgets, addressing unexpected developments, communicating the parish's financial state, and overseeing long-range financial planning. It meets at least once per quarter.

• Parish Pastoral Council — meets every other month; two- or three-year terms.
• Finance Council — meets at least quarterly; three-year terms (max two consecutive terms); one-third of terms staggered each year.
• Both councils occasionally meet jointly to collaborate on spiritual and financial well-being.

Faith Formation & CCD

The Holy Trinity Parish CCD Program ministers to children from kindergarten through eighth grade through instruction, prayer experiences, service projects, and the sacraments of Holy Eucharist, Reconciliation, and Confirmation. The catechetical staff works as assistants to parents, who are recognized as the primary catechists of their children. The program prepares children for First Communion, Reconciliation, and Confirmation as they journey with their families.

• Grades K–5 — Wednesday evenings, 6:00–7:30 p.m. in the church
• Grades 6–8 — Scheduled Sundays after the 9 a.m. Mass (check with Mr. Barto for the schedule)
• Director of Religious Education: Bob Barto
• Sacramental preparation for First Eucharist, Reconciliation, and Confirmation

Outreach & Community Life

Holy Trinity describes itself as a 'prayerful community that gathers to be strengthened in word and united in action for the people of southern Columbiana County.' Outreach to the poor and needy — through food pantries, community meals, and fundraising — has been a hallmark of all three predecessor communities. The parish coordinates St. Vincent de Paul fund distribution through Catholic Charities Regional Agency and hosts seasonal fellowship events that build community across the wider parish family.

• St. Vincent de Paul fund distribution (via Catholic Charities Regional Agency)
• Soup, salad & discussion gatherings during Lent and in the fall
• Annual St. Nick breakfast
• Annual parish picnic
• Annual Giving Tree

Facilities & Buildings

The parish's principal worship site is the historic St. Aloysius Church at 235 W. Fifth Street. Originally built of brick in 1889 and dedicated October 5, 1890, the church received a cement facade in 1913 that gave it a 'castle-like stone' look. In 2016, parishioners funded a major capital campaign — budgeted at $675,000 — that included restoring the original brick facade ($290,000) and several other interior and exterior projects. The former St. Aloysius School (1885–2015), which had been staffed by the Humility of Mary Sisters, then the Notre Dame Sisters, then lay teachers, was repurposed as the James J. Hocking Center for community functions after the school's closure.

• St. Aloysius Church — built 1889, dedicated 1890; brick facade restored 2016.
• James J. Hocking Center — converted from the former St. Aloysius School; available for community functions.
• Parish Office / Religious Education Office — 235 W. 5th Street, East Liverpool, OH 43920.
• Parish Cemetery — Saint Aloysius in East Liverpool and Saint Elizabeth in Wellsville (per diocesan listing).

Diocese of Youngstown

Holy Trinity Parish belongs to the Diocese of Youngstown, which encompasses Columbiana, Mahoning, Trumbull, Ashtabula, Stark, Portage, Geauga, and Carroll counties in northeastern Ohio. The diocese is led by Bishop David J. Bonnar. Holy Trinity sits in the Columbiana Deanery and carries Parish Code 303.

• Diocese of Youngstown
• Parish Code 303
• Columbiana Deanery
• Bishop David J. Bonnar (Diocesan Bishop)
• Parish Mailing Address: 235 W Fifth St, East Liverpool, OH 43920-2833

Visit & Contact

Parishioners and visitors can reach Holy Trinity by phone, email, or in person at the parish office on West Fifth Street. The parish shares news through its website, online bulletins, calendar, and online giving portal.

• Address: 235 W. Fifth Street, East Liverpool, OH 43920
• Phone: (330) 385-7131 (Receptionist ext. 1)
• Fax: (330) 385-3025
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: http://holytrinityelo.org/
• Online Giving, Calendar, and Bulletins available via the parish website