About St. Agnes Church · Mingo Junction, Ohio
St. Agnes Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of Steubenville located in Mingo Junction, Ohio, on the Ohio River just south of Steubenville. Founded in 1885 by Father A. M. Leyden to serve the Catholic steelworkers of the area, it has worshipped in its present church building since 1923. Today the parish is led by Father James M. Dunfee, who has served as its ninth pastor since 2003, and offers Saturday Vigil, Sunday, and weekday Masses along with Friday adoration and a robust Catholic Women's Club, Knights of Columbus council, Youth Group, and choir. The parish welcomes families, singles, and the elderly to come and experience Jesus Christ in a community it describes as a 'hidden gem' on the river.
- Established
- 1885
- Patron
- St. Agnes (of Rome)
- Rector
- Father James M. Dunfee, S.T.L.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Steubenville
Why belong here
St. Agnes is a welcoming, family-friendly Catholic parish in the Ohio River valley that lives out its faith through daily and Sunday Mass, Friday adoration and benediction, and a strong network of lay ministries — the Catholic Women's Club, Knights of Columbus Council #4361, Youth Group, choir, rosary ministry, altar servers, lectors, and extraordinary ministers. With a pastor who doubles as Vicar-General of the Diocese of Steubenville and a parish secretary and deacon who pride themselves on personal warmth, the parish is small enough to know you by name and rooted enough in 140 years of local Catholic tradition to feel like home.
Mass times at St. Agnes Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays at 3:00 pm
Adoration times
- Every Friday morning following 8:00 am Mass
- Holy Hour 8:30–9:30 am
- Benediction 9:30 am
Welcome to St. Agnes Catholic Church
The parish describes itself as 'just south of Steubenville, a hidden gem parish on the Ohio River.' Its stated mission is open: 'Our community welcomes anyone to come and experience Jesus Christ. Families with children, single people, and the elderly are all welcome.' The parish is rooted in the industrial heritage of Mingo Junction and remains a small but active Catholic community serving the Ohio Valley.
- Welcoming families, singles, and elderly
- Rooted in the Catholic steelworking tradition of Mingo Junction
- Located on the Ohio River just south of Steubenville
Parish History
Founded in 1885 by Father A. M. Leyden as a mission of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Toronto, St. Agnes grew around the Catholic steelworkers of Mingo Junction. A small church was built in 1889, the first resident pastor (Father Walter Ross, a convert and former lawyer) arrived in 1892, and Father John Meade opened the first school in 1898. The Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity of Manitowoc, Wisconsin, took over the school in 1902. The cornerstone of the present church was laid in November 1916 and it was dedicated by Bishop Hartley in 1923, built almost entirely with volunteer labor and mortgaged pledges of parish families. The church was redecorated and consecrated by Bishop Mussio in 1964 to align with Vatican II, and between 1949 and 1950 three daughter parishes — St. Bernadette, Our Lady of Fatima, and Annunciation — were formed from St. Agnes.
- 1885: Founded by Father A. M. Leyden
- 1889: Small church erected
- 1892: Father Walter Ross, first resident pastor
- 1898: First St. Agnes School opened
- 1902: Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity arrive
- 1923: Present church dedicated by Bishop Hartley
- 1964: Church redecorated and consecrated by Bishop Mussio after Vatican II
Sacraments
Information on the sacraments is provided through the parish office and rectory. Couples are asked to call at least six months in advance of a wedding, and families seeking baptism are encouraged to call for information.
- Confessions: Saturdays at 3:00 pm
- Marriage: call rectory at least six months in advance (740-535-1491)
- Baptism: call rectory for information (740-535-1491)
Parish Staff
The parish is led by its pastor, with support from a deacon and a parish secretary. Father James M. Dunfee has been pastor since 2003 and serves simultaneously as Vicar-General of the Diocese of Steubenville and Head of the Diocesan Parish Share Campaign. Deacon Paul D. Ward has served St. Agnes since 2017. JoAnn Babela, originally from Weirton, WV, became parish secretary in 2019.
- Father James M. Dunfee, S.T.L. — Pastor (since 2003); Vicar-General, Diocese of Steubenville
- Deacon Paul D. Ward — Deacon (since 2017)
- Mrs. JoAnn Babela — Parish Secretary (since 2019)
Ministries and Clubs
Lay ministry is central to life at St. Agnes. The Parish Council advises the pastor and coordinates ministries. The Catholic Women's Club provides most of the parish's food ministry, the Knights of Columbus Council #4361 runs out of its own hall on Legion Drive, and a youth group, choir, and rosary ministry round out parish life.
- Parish Council — Father Dunfee, President Kevin Nelles, Secretary Carrie Libetti, members Vincent Byers, Pat Cramblett, Leanne Hutton, Janet Pavlov, Janine Sawon
- Catholic Women's Club — President Pat Cramblet; monthly Tuesday meetings; cooks funeral luncheons, parish dinners, diocesan events; annual pumpkin roll fundraiser
- St. Agnes Youth Group — teens, led by Monica Wetherell and Joseph Wnek; meets most Wednesdays
- St. Agnes Choir — contact Catherine Walters (740) 353-1976
- Rosary Ministry — contact Theresa Madden (740) 346-5424
- Mass Servers — Altar Servers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Lectors, Ushers
- Knights of Columbus Council #4361 — Grand Knight Shawn Zarych
Knights of Columbus — Council #4361
The Mingo Junction Knights of Columbus Council #4361 operates out of its own hall at 117 Legion Drive in Mingo Junction. The hall is available for rental, and bookings and catering are coordinated through the contacts listed on the parish website.
- Mingo Knights of Columbus Hall, 117 Legion Drive, P.O. Box 217, Mingo Junction, OH 43938
- Hall Phone: 740-535-8037
- Hall email: [email protected]
- Grand Knight: Shawn Zarych (740-381-1385)
- Hall Rental — Large Hall $500, Small Hall $125 (contact Leigh Johnson 740-543-3978)
- Official caterer: OH Catering (ohcatering.com)
Parish Life and Events
Beyond the regular liturgical calendar, St. Agnes maintains a steady rhythm of parish events. Coffee and doughnuts follow most Sunday morning Masses, the Catholic Women's Club meets monthly on Tuesday evenings, the Youth Group meets most Wednesdays, and the parish hosts dinners and an annual pumpkin roll fundraiser each fall.
- Coffee and doughnuts after most Sunday Masses
- CWC monthly Tuesday evening meetings
- Youth Group most Wednesdays
- Annual pumpkin roll fundraiser (fall)
Contact and Visiting
The parish office and rectory are open Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 to 4:00 pm. Visitors can reach the office by phone, by email, or in person at 204 St. Clair Avenue in Mingo Junction. A separate line serves the parish hall, and the parish website provides full contact details and online giving information.
- Parish office and rectory: 740-535-1491
- Parish hall: 740-535-0098
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Fri, 9:00 am–12:00 pm and 1:00–4:00 pm
- Address: 204 St. Clair Avenue, Mingo Junction, OH 43938
Diocese of Steubenville
St. Agnes is part of the Diocese of Steubenville, which was established in the fall of 1944 with Bishop John King Mussio as its first bishop. The parish belongs to the Mother of Hope Deanery. Father Dunfee, the pastor, also serves the diocese as Vicar-General, Censor Librorum, and Director of the Diocesan Parish Share Campaign.
- Diocese: Diocese of Steubenville
- Deanery: Mother of Hope
- Diocese established 1944; first bishop John King Mussio (1945)
- Pastor serves as Vicar-General of the diocese
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father A. M. Leyden1885 (founder)
Founded the parish in 1885 as a mission of St. Francis of Assisi, Toronto; erected a small church in 1889.
- Father Walter Ross1892
First resident pastor; convert to the faith and former lawyer.
- Father John Meade1896
Established the first St. Agnes School in 1898.
- Father Daniel A. Coffey1904
Known as the beloved 'Mill Town Pastor.'
- Father Joseph F. Dooley (later Msgr. Dooley)1916–1960
Formidable community leader for 37 years; oversaw the building and 1923 dedication of the present church. Officially retired in 1960.
- Father William M. Young1960–1973
Major renovation of church and sanctuary; redecorated church consecrated by Bishop Mussio in 1964 with Mass facing the congregation after Vatican II. Died March 1973.
- Father Edward J. Kakascik1973–1987
A 'son of the parish'; directed 'Christ Renews His Parish' and 'Renew' programs; in 1976 volunteers built a connector between the church and parish house/offices.
- Father Lewis Gaetano1987–1998
Appointed 1987; left in 1998.
- Father William Cross1998–2003
Had been parochial vicar at St. Agnes seven years earlier.
- Father James M. Dunfee, S.T.L.2003–present
Ninth pastor; a Steubenville native and Vicar-General of the diocese since 2018. St. Agnes is his longest priestly assignment.