About St. Brendan · Youngstown, Ohio
St. Brendan Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Youngstown, located on the West Side of Youngstown, Ohio at 2800 Oakwood Avenue. Founded in 1923 by parishioners drawn from St. Columba and St. Patrick parishes, St. Brendan has long been described as the anchor of the city's West Side, serving generations of families with English and Spanish Masses, faith formation, and a strong tradition of parish dinners, bingo, and community events. The parish celebrated its 100th anniversary in May 2023 with Bishop David J. Bonnar. In March 2026, Bishop Bonnar accepted a recommendation of parish leadership to close St. Brendan Church; a closing Mass was scheduled for May 4, 2026, marking the end of more than a century of Catholic worship at the Oakwood Avenue site.
- Established
- 1923
- Patron
- St. Brendan the Navigator
- Rector
- Rev. John Jerek
- Diocese
- Diocese of Youngstown
Why belong here
St. Brendan offers a small, multigenerational Catholic community rooted in Youngstown's West Side for more than a century, with both English and Spanish weekend Masses and an active calendar of parish dinners, bingo nights, Bible studies, CCD faith formation for children, a Spanish choir, and groups such as the Altar & Rosary Society, Cursillo Ultreya, and a 60+ club. The parish is described by longtime members as 'the anchor of the West Side,' and the building itself — an English Gothic-style church with a 600-seat auditorium — has been the gathering place for everything from First Communions to fish dinners that have raised tens of thousands of dollars to repair parish facilities.
Mass times at St. Brendan
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 p.m. in the church (listed as 'Penance 3:00/Church' on the parish calendar)
Parish History
St. Brendan Parish was created in 1923 to serve Catholic families on the rapidly growing West Side of Youngstown. Drawn from St. Columba and St. Patrick parishes, the founding members gathered for their first Mass at the old Perkins Public School on May 6, 1923. Bishop Joseph Schrembs approved the name and laid the cornerstone on November 29, 1924. The church, rectory, and a school taught by the Sisters of the Holy Humility of Mary opened in 1925 at a combined cost of $225,000. In 1959 the parish added a new convent and a gymnasium/auditorium known today as Maxwell Hall. The parish marked its centennial in May 2023 and, in March 2026, Bishop David J. Bonnar accepted a recommendation to close the church, with a final Mass set for May 4, 2026.
- Plot on Mahoning Avenue purchased, February 1923
- First parish Mass at Perkins Public School, May 6, 1923 (125 families)
- Rectory construction began March 1, 1924
- Cornerstone laid by Bishop Joseph Schrembs, November 29, 1924
- School opened September 8, 1925 with 265 students
- First Mass in the new church, September 13, 1925
- Formal dedication of church, school, and rectory, November 29, 1925
- New convent and Maxwell Hall dedicated, February 1959
- Centennial Mass with Bishop Bonnar, May 14, 2023
- Closing Mass scheduled, May 4, 2026
Building & Architecture
The St. Brendan church-school building is described in parish histories as an adapted form of English Gothic architecture, with an auditorium that seats roughly 600 people. The large stained-glass window above the altar and the altar itself were donated by parishioners Owen and Mary White. Under Father James Daprile (pastor from 2000) the sanctuary was enhanced with a reredos behind the altar and new statues of St. Brendan and the crucifix.
- Style: adapted English Gothic
- Seating capacity: ~600
- Original stained-glass window above altar donated by Owen and Mary White
- Reredos, St. Brendan statue and crucifix added in the early 2000s
- Maxwell Hall gymnasium/auditorium dedicated February 1959
Clergy, Staff & Parish Leadership
St. Brendan is currently shepherded by Father John Jerek, who also serves as pastor of St. Christine in a diocesan collaborating-parishes model. The parish staff listed on the website includes a parish secretary, director of faith formation, director of music, and chairs of the Parish Pastoral Council and Finance Council.
- Pastor: Rev. John Jerek
- Parish Secretary: Fran Warino
- Director of Faith Formation: Joan Lawson
- Director of Music: Geri Jacquet
- Chair, Parish Pastoral Council: Debora Flora
- Chair, Finance Council: Pam Mihalik
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at St. Brendan is directed by Joan Lawson and is organized around CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) classes for children on Sundays. Adult faith growth includes a Tuesday-morning Bible Study in the Rectory, a Wednesday-morning Scripture Study, and a Saturday-morning Spanish Bible Study that meets at Plaza Azteca in Niles, giving the parish a bilingual formation program.
- Director of Faith Formation: Joan Lawson
- CCD classes for children on Sundays
- Bible Study — Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m., Rectory
- Scripture Study — Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m., Rectory
- Spanish Bible Study — Saturdays, 10:00 a.m., Plaza Azteca, Niles
Music & Liturgical Ministries
Music at St. Brendan is led by Director of Music Geri Jacquet and involves multiple choirs serving both English- and Spanish-speaking communities. The parish also trains lay liturgical ministers through its various prayer and devotional groups.
- Director of Music: Geri Jacquet
- Spanish Choir Practice — Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. in the Church
- Children's Choir Practice — Sundays at 9:30 a.m. in the Chapel
- Adult Choir Practice — Thursdays at 6:00 p.m. in the Chapel
- Rosary led before Sunday Mass
Parish Groups, Devotions & Community Life
St. Brendan is well known for its strong devotional life and active parish societies. The Altar & Rosary Society hosts an annual installation banquet and card-and-bingo parties. The parish is also a longtime center of the Cursillo movement in the Youngstown area, with regular Ultreya gatherings. Social events — parish dinners, auctions, pancake breakfasts, and Lenten fish dinners — are major fundraisers and community builders.
- Altar & Rosary Society
- Cursillo / Ultreya (Thursdays at 7:00 p.m.)
- School of Leaders (first Tuesdays, 7:00 p.m.)
- Families & Friends in Faith
- 60+ Club
- Parish Dinner & Auction (annual fundraiser)
- Lenten Fish Dinners — most recent year reported raised $11,714 toward the rectory boiler
- Pancake Breakfast
- Carnation Sale for Right to Life (Father's Day weekend)
- Bingo — Saturday evenings
Parish Pastoral & Finance Councils
Lay leadership at St. Brendan is organized through a Parish Pastoral Council and a Finance Council, which meet regularly and guide the parish's mission and stewardship. Meetings are listed on the parish calendar.
- Parish Pastoral Council — Chair: Debora Flora
- Finance Council — Chair: Pam Mihalik
- Joint Parish Pastoral Council / Finance Committee meeting — third Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.
- Parish Life, Faith Formation & Justice & Charity meeting — second Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.
A Look Ahead — Closing of St. Brendan Church (2026)
In a news release dated April 22, 2026, the Diocese of Youngstown announced that Bishop David J. Bonnar had accepted the recommendation of parish leadership to close St. Brendan and St. Matthias churches. The diocese explained that the eventual sale of the church buildings and other property would prevent the parish from incurring debt and enable it to carry out its apostolic mission. A closing Mass for St. Brendan was scheduled for Monday, May 4, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. at 2800 Oakwood Ave., Youngstown.
- Decree of closure accepted by Bishop David J. Bonnar, March 2026
- Diocesan news release issued April 22, 2026
- Closing Mass: Monday, May 4, 2026, 5:00 p.m., St. Brendan Church, 2800 Oakwood Ave., Youngstown
- Pastoral mission to continue beyond the closure of the church building
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James Daprile2000–
Appointed pastor in July 2000; oversaw renovations including the reredos and new statues of St. Brendan and the crucifix.
- Rev. William J. Loveless2011–2020
Pastor from 2011 until his death on April 28, 2020. Longtime Cursillo spiritual director for the Youngstown area.
- Rev. Steven Agostino2020–2023
Served until summer 2023, when he was assigned to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St. Stephen in Niles.
- Rev. John Jerek2023–
Became pastor in the summer of 2023, also serving as pastor of St. Christine in the diocesan collaborating-parishes model.