Immaculate Heart of Mary

History of Immaculate Heart of Mary

Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish was established on January 8, 1954 by Bishop Emmet M. Walsh of the Diocese of Youngstown to serve the Catholic families who had moved to Austintown, which had previously been served from St. Brendan Parish in Youngstown. The diocese had already purchased a ten-acre site on Norquest Boulevard for the new church, school, and convent, and Bishop Walsh appointed Monsignor Andrew A. Prokop the founding pastor effective January 15, 1954. The first parish Masses were celebrated on January 17, 1954 in the auditorium of Fitch High School, with more than 2,000 people attending the three Sunday Masses. Monsignor Prokop and Bishop Walsh made the unusual choice to build the school before the church, believing education was the surest foundation for parish life. The Sisters of Notre Dame were invited to staff the school, and the first Mass in the partially completed school/church complex was offered on December 8, 1954, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. By September 1955, 740 students in grades 1–8 were enrolled. Msgr. Prokop offered the first Mass in the completed worship space in the lower part of the complex on Palm Sunday in March 1955, and the first Mass in the present standalone church was celebrated on April 23, 1959. Bishop Walsh dedicated the finished church on the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in September 1959, and the former worship space in the school was converted into additional classrooms. In 2009 IHM's school merged with that of St. Joseph Parish; the combined school ultimately closed in 2014. On January 1, 2025, IHM merged with St. Joseph Parish to become the new Saint Blaise Parish, with IHM continuing as one of its two worship campuses under Fr. Gregory Fedor.

• January 8, 1954 — Parish established by Bishop Emmet M. Walsh
• January 17, 1954 — First Masses in Fitch High School auditorium (2,000+ attend three Masses)
• December 8, 1954 — First Mass in the school auditorium
• Palm Sunday, March 1955 — First Mass in the completed lower church
• September 1955 — IHM School opens with 740 students, staffed by Sisters of Notre Dame
• April 23, 1959 — First Mass in the present standalone church
• September 1959 — Bishop Walsh dedicates the church on the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
• 2009 — IHM and St. Joseph schools merge
• 2014 — Combined school closes
• January 1, 2025 — IHM merges with St. Joseph Parish to form Saint Blaise Parish

Our Patron: Immaculate Heart of Mary

The parish takes its name from the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the Catholic devotional title for the heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is observed in the Roman calendar on the Saturday after the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Fittingly, Bishop Emmet M. Walsh chose the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in September 1959 to dedicate the completed IHM church.

Pastor & Staff

Fr. Gregory Fedor has served as pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary since 2021, when he was additionally named to lead IHM while continuing as fifth pastor of St. Joseph, Austintown (since 2009). He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Youngstown on June 18, 1983 in St. Columba Cathedral by Bishop James W. Malone, and his first assignment was as Associate Pastor at St. Paul, North Canton. In 1989 he began teaching at Cardinal Mooney High School in Youngstown, later becoming Associate Principal in 1991, and has also served as Administrator or Pastor of parishes in Vienna, Orwell, and Rock Creek between 1998 and 2009. Following the January 1, 2025 merger, Fr. Fedor now leads the combined Saint Blaise Parish from the St. Joseph campus office (330-792-1919). His office address is the merged parish mailing address, 4545 New Road, Austintown 44515.

• Pastor: Rev. Gregory F. Fedor
• Custodian: Lisa Eicher
• Grounds and Maintenance: Matt Hlebak
• CCD Co-Coordinator: Nick Moliterno
• Parish Center Manager: Angela Smith

Mass & Worship Schedule (IHM Campus)

As the IHM campus of Saint Blaise Parish, Immaculate Heart of Mary Church offers Sunday Mass at 11:00 AM and weekday Mass on Wednesday and Friday mornings at 9:00 AM, plus a Monday morning Liturgy of the Word with Communion at 9:00 AM. The neighboring St. Joseph campus offers the Saturday Vigil at 4:30 PM, a Sunday morning Mass at 8:30 AM, and weekday Masses on Tuesday and Thursday at 9:00 AM. All are welcome to worship at either campus.

• Sunday Mass at IHM: 11:00 AM
• Wednesday Mass at IHM: 9:00 AM
• Friday Mass at IHM: 9:00 AM
• Monday Communion Service: 9:00 AM
• Saturday Vigil at St. Joseph: 4:30 PM
• Sunday Mass at St. Joseph: 8:30 AM
• Tuesday & Thursday Mass at St. Joseph: 9:00 AM

Parish Outreach & Charities

Outreach is a defining mark of the Immaculate Heart of Mary / Saint Blaise community, with ministries caring for the poor, the homebound, the imprisoned, and neighbors in crisis. Two flagship programs are the IHM Campus Food Pantry and the St. Vincent de Paul Society on the St. Joseph Campus, which together embody the parish's stated charism of caring for the poor. Members also volunteer at the Community Kitchen of Youngstown and the SVDP Dining Hall Ministry.

• Food Pantry (IHM Campus)
• St. Vincent de Paul Society (St. Joseph Campus)
• Community Kitchen of Youngstown Ministry
• SVDP Dining Hall Ministry
• Homebound Ministry
• Hope Letters Prison Ministry
• Habitat Partnership
• Domestic Violence outreach
• Caring Neighbors
• Social Concerns

Parish Life, Fellowship & Fundraisers

Beyond weekly worship, the IHM campus hosts a lively calendar of community-building events and fundraisers that bring both campuses together. Annual favorites include Donut Sundays, Pancake Breakfasts, the Chili Cookoff, Lenten Fish Dinners, the Palm Sunday Spaghetti Dinner, the SS. Cyril & Methodius Dinner, the St. Joseph Dinner, and a Volunteer Appreciation Dinner.

• Donut Sundays
• Pancake Breakfasts
• Chili Cookoff
• Lenten Fish Dinners
• Palm Sunday Spaghetti Dinner
• SS. Cyril & Methodius Dinner
• St. Joseph Dinner
• Volunteer Appreciation Dinner
• IHM Garden Club
• Blueberry Patch
• Men's Mile Marker

Faith Formation: CCD, OCIA & Bible Study

Religious education remains a core part of the parish's identity, honoring Monsignor Prokop's founding vision of building the parish on a foundation of education. The parish's CCD program (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) for children is coordinated by Nick Moliterno and can be reached at 330-799-4202. For adults considering becoming Catholic, the parish offers OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults). A parish Bible Study, led by Dr. Tom Sauline, includes presentation, video materials, a book, refreshments, and lively discussion.

• CCD (Religious Education for children) — 330-799-4202
• OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
• Bible Study with Dr. Tom Sauline
• First Friday Club
• My Spiritual Journey
• Parenting Resources

Prayer, Spiritual Growth & Support Groups

A wide range of small groups support parishioners' spiritual journeys and life circumstances, including a Prayer Chain, Lay Leaders of Prayer, Bereavement Ministry, Divorce Care, and a Seniors Group. Men's spirituality is supported through the Men's Mile Marker group, and a Stewardship Committee helps parishioners discern how to share their time, talent, and treasure.

• Prayer Chain
• Lay Leaders of Prayer
• Bereavement Ministry
• Divorce Care
• Senior Citizens Group
• Men's Mile Marker
• Stewardship Committee
• Calling-Finding Purpose

Vacation Bible School

Saint Blaise Parish hosts an annual Vacation Bible School for children age 4 through grade 5, with both the IHM and St. Joseph communities invited. The 2026 VBS (theme: Pray – Sing – Learn – Play!) is scheduled for June 22–26 and will be held on the St. Joseph campus; non-parishioners may also enroll.

• Annual Vacation Bible School for ages 4 through grade 5
• 2026 VBS: June 22–26 on the St. Joseph campus
• Theme: Pray – Sing – Learn – Play!
• Open to non-parishioners

Msgr. Prokop Parish Center

The Msgr. Prokop Parish Center on the IHM campus (named for founding pastor Monsignor Andrew A. Prokop) is the hub for many parish activities, including CCD classes, the Food Pantry, the Garden Club, and parish meetings. The Parish Center can be reached at 330-270-0650, with email [email protected].

• Parish Center Phone: 330-270-0650
• Parish Center Email: [email protected]
• Parish Center Fax: 330-270-0734
• Hosts CCD, Food Pantry, Garden Club and parish meetings

Becoming Catholic & Joining the Parish

Saint Blaise Parish — which includes the IHM campus — welcomes new members from both the Austintown area and beyond. Anyone interested in formally joining the parish, becoming Catholic through OCIA, or simply learning more about a particular ministry can register through the parish website. As a member, you are welcome to worship at either campus and participate in any of the ministries across the combined parish.

• Parish registration via stblaiseaustintown.org/join-the-parish/
• Worship at either the IHM or St. Joseph campus
• OCIA (becoming Catholic) available
• Get involved in any ministry across both campuses

Visiting & Contact

Immaculate Heart of Mary Church is located at 4490 Norquest Blvd., Austintown, OH 44515. The Rectory can be reached at 330-793-9988 (fax 330-799-9269); the Msgr. Prokop Parish Center at 330-270-0650 (fax 330-270-0734); and the Religious Education Department at 330-799-4202. Pastor Fr. Gregory Fedor's office is at the St. Joseph campus and can be reached at 330-792-1919.

• Address: 4490 Norquest Blvd., Austintown, OH 44515
• Rectory: 330-793-9988
• Parish Center: 330-270-0650
• Religious Education: 330-799-4202
• Fr. Fedor's office (St. Joseph campus): 330-792-1919