About St. Christine · Youngstown, Ohio
St. Christine is a Roman Catholic parish on Youngstown's southwest side, founded on March 19, 1953 by Bishop Emmet M. Walsh as a new parish to serve the post-World War II migration of young families off the city's older neighborhoods. Originally an independent parish at 3165 S. Schenley Avenue, St. Christine grew from a handful of founding families to roughly 3,000 households and developed its own elementary school, convent, and later a permanent contemporary church. On January 1, 2026, St. Christine merged with St. Brendan Church and Our Lady of Sorrows Parish (St. Matthias Church) to form the new St. Mary Magdalene Parish, with St. Christine's campus serving as the primary worship site of the combined parish. The parish is part of the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown and is pastored by Rev. John Jerek.
- Established
- 1953
- Patron
- Saint Christine (Saint Christina)
- Rector
- Rev. John Jerek
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Youngstown
Why belong here
St. Christine offers the rare combination of an active parish school (Pre-K through 8 with about 365 students and a strong arts and music program), a vibrant faith-formation program for parish children, weekday and weekend Masses, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, and a committed Society of St. Vincent de Paul outreach. Its 2,000+-household community spans Boardman, Canfield, Austintown and greater Youngstown, making it an ideal spiritual home for young families seeking Catholic schooling, sacramental life, and neighborly fellowship on the city's southwest side.
Mass times at St. Christine
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 9:00 AM
Adoration times
- Wednesday 5:30 PM Holy Hour — Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, with Benediction at 6:15 PM
Our Story
St. Christine Parish was created by Bishop Emmet M. Walsh on March 19, 1953 — the Feast of Saint Joseph — to serve the booming southwest-side neighborhoods that had grown from the post-World War II migration of young families. Local contractor Fred Shutrump donated seven acres and asked that the new parish honor his mother's patron, Saint Christine. Father Gordon G. Gutman was named founding pastor; on Easter Sunday 1953, about 300 people attended the parish's first Mass in Mill Creek Park's Pioneer Pavilion. Masses then moved through Idora Park and Princeton Junior High School before the combination church, school, rectory, and convent were dedicated on November 13, 1955. A new permanent sanctuary — designed by parishioner Leonard Friedman in a contemporary style that already embraced Vatican II reforms — was dedicated by Bishop Walsh on November 1, 1964. Membership grew from ~350 households at founding to roughly 3,000 by 2003.
- Established March 19, 1953 by Bishop Emmet M. Walsh
- Founding pastor: Fr. Gordon G. Gutman (served 20 years)
- First Mass: Easter Sunday, April 5, 1953 at Mill Creek Park Pioneer Pavilion
- Original complex dedicated November 13, 1955
- Contemporary sanctuary dedicated November 1, 1964
Becoming St. Mary Magdalene Parish
On January 1, 2026, St. Christine Parish merged with St. Brendan Church (established 1923) and Our Lady of Sorrows Parish / St. Matthias Church (established 1914) to create St. Mary Magdalene Parish. The St. Christine campus — 3165 S. Schenley Ave. — serves as the primary worship site, parish office, and mailing address of the combined parish of more than 2,000 households. Pastor Rev. John Jerek leads the merged community, with Rev. Msgr. David W. Rhodes serving as Pastor Emeritus.
- Merged parishes: St. Christine (1953) + St. Brendan (1923) + Our Lady of Sorrows / St. Matthias (1914)
- New name: St. Mary Magdalene Parish
- Effective January 1, 2026
- St. Christine campus = primary worship site, parish office, mailing address
St. Christine Catholic School (K-8)
St. Christine Catholic School, located at 3125 S. Schenley Avenue, has been part of the parish since 1955, when the original combination church-and-school opened. The school serves kindergarten through eighth grade with about 365 students (as of October 2025) and offers a long-standing arts program that includes Art Club, Choir (Grades 4–6), Cantor program (Grades 7–8), Musical Theatrical Productions, and SMARTS Theater for younger students. Mrs. Cara Pribula serves as principal, with Mary Ann Durkin heading the Early Childhood Learning Center (Pre-K) just next door.
- Grades K-8, ~365 students
- Principal: Mrs. Cara Pribula
- School phone: 330-792-4544
- Website: stchristineschoolyoungstown.org
- Arts: Art Club, Choir, Cantor, Musical Productions, SMARTS Theater
Early Childhood Learning Center (Pre-K)
Adjacent to the parish school, the Early Childhood Learning Center offers Pre-K for the youngest learners in the parish community, in partnership with the school.
- Website: eclcpreschools.com
- Phone: 330-792-5322
- Head Teacher: Miss Mary Ann Durkin
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at St. Christine / St. Mary Magdalene Parish uses the Blest Are We — Faith in Action series (RCL Benzinger) organized around the four pillars of the Catechism (What Catholics believe, How Catholics worship, How Catholics live, How Catholics pray). The program provides 36 hours of instructional catechesis with message, community, service, and worship components, and follows the Diocesan Guidelines for Catechesis promulgated by Bishop Tobin in 1999. Public-school students are enrolled in CCD / Continuing Christian Development; religious-ed classes meet Sunday mornings 9:15–10:45 AM. The Religious Education Office is on the lower floor of Saint Christine School.
- Curriculum: Blest Are We — Faith in Action (RCL Benzinger)
- Classes meet Sundays 9:15–10:45 AM
- Director of Faith Formation: Mrs. Carmen Roebke
- Office: 330-931-7734
- Located in the lower level of St. Christine School
Music & Liturgy
Music is central to liturgical life at St. Christine. The parish maintains a choir and is led by Director of Music Mr. Robert 'Rob' Chismar. The parish school also cultivates young voices through its Cantor program (Grades 7–8) and school Choir (Grades 4–6).
- Director of Music: Mr. Robert Chismar
- Parish Choir
- School Cantor & Choir programs (Grades 4–8)
Outreach: Society of St. Vincent de Paul
St. Christine is home to a local conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the Catholic lay organization devoted to person-to-person service to neighbors in need. The conference is listed among the parish's active ministries on the Diocese of Youngstown parish page.
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul (active conference at the parish)
Youth Ministry
Youth Ministry at the parish is led by Kathy Nemergut and is dedicated to accompanying the spiritual, catechetical, and sacramental life of the parish's young people.
- Coordinator: Kathy Nemergut
- Phone: 330-261-6800
Parish Staff & Contacts
The pastoral team of St. Christine / St. Mary Magdalene Parish includes the pastor, a pastor emeritus, two permanent deacons, and a full complement of faith-formation, music, finance, and administrative staff. The parish office is reached at 330-792-3829, fax 330-792-6587, and at [email protected]. The Faith Formation Office is at 330-931-7734.
- Pastor: Rev. John Jerek
- Pastor Emeritus: Rev. Msgr. David W. Rhodes
- Deacons: Mark Kiraly, Ronald Layko
- Director of Faith Formation: Mrs. Carmen Roebke
- Music Director: Mr. Robert Chismar
- Director of Finance & Operations: Mary Ann Dulay
- Administrative Assistants: Cyndi Babnic (main office); Patti Willis & Chrissy Wilcox (receptionists)
- Bulletin Editor: Sally Turek
- Youth Ministry: Kathy Nemergut
- Compliance Officer: Carmen Roebke
- St. Christine Parish Hall: [email protected]
Facilities: Parish Center & School Campus
The St. Christine campus on South Schenley Avenue includes the church, the K-8 school, the Early Childhood Learning Center, the rectory, the former convent, and an 'attractive Parish Center' that can be rented for meetings, receptions, and other events. The Parish Hall can be reserved through Colleen Ross ([email protected]).
- Parish Center available for rent
- Hall rentals: [email protected]
- School (3125 S. Schenley) adjacent to church (3165 S. Schenley)
Deanery & Diocesan Information
St. Christine is part of the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown, in the Mahoning Deanery, Parish Code 105. As of January 1, 2026, it sits within the new St. Mary Magdalene Parish structure that also encompasses the former St. Brendan and Our Lady of Sorrows (St. Matthias) parishes.
- Diocese: Catholic Diocese of Youngstown
- Deanery: Mahoning
- Parish Code: 105
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Gordon G. Gutman (later Monsignor)1953–1973
Founding pastor appointed by Bishop Walsh; led parish from 300 people at the first Easter Mass in 1953 through the 1955 dedication of the combination church-and-school and the 1964 dedication of the permanent contemporary church; organized parishioner-driven fundraising and building.
- Rev. Thomas F. Kelly1973
Named second pastor after Monsignor Gutman's retirement after 20 years; in 1973 instituted a parish renewal program.