About St. Mary and St. Joseph · Newton Falls, Ohio
St. Mary & St. Joseph Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Newton Falls, Ohio, in Trumbull County, belonging to the Diocese of Youngstown. It was formed on May 13, 2008, by the merger of two historically ethnic parishes: St. Mary (Polish) Parish, founded by Polish immigrants and originally known as Our Lady of Częstochowa (1928/1932), and St. Joseph Parish, founded by Slovak Catholics in 1923. Together the patrons represent the Holy Family and the parish's Polish and Slovak heritage. The parish now collaborates with neighboring Our Lady of the Lakes Parish (St. James, North Jackson, and St. Catherine, Lake Milton) in the Mahoning River Catholic Pastorate, sharing one pastor and pooling sacramental and formation resources.
- Established
- 2008 (merger); predecessor parishes 1923 (St. Joseph) and 1928/1932 (St. Mary / Our Lady of Częstochowa)
- Patron
- Saint Mary (venerated as Our Lady of Częstochowa, honoring Polish heritage) and Saint Joseph (honoring Slovak heritage); together representing the Holy Family
- Rector
- Rev. Zachary Coulter
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Youngstown (Trumbull Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Mary & St. Joseph is a small, heritage-rich parish where the Polish and Slovak roots of two older parishes now worship as one community of the Holy Family. The parish gathers for Sunday Mass at 11:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Church (131 W. Quarry St.) and is supported by an active Knights of Columbus council, works of Catholic Charities, the Rosary, small faith-sharing groups, and seasonal Advent and Lenten devotions. Because it collaborates with neighboring Our Lady of the Lakes Parish in the Mahoning River Catholic Pastorate, parishioners have access to a wider sacramental and formation life across three worship sites without losing the intimate, family-style character of Newton Falls.
Mass times at St. Mary and St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
History of the Parish
St. Mary & St. Joseph Parish is the 2008 merger of two Catholic communities that trace their roots to the Polish and Slovak immigrant waves of the early 20th century. St. Joseph Parish was organized by Slovak Catholics in 1922 and offered its first Mass on January 17, 1923. St. Mary Parish began in the late 1920s when Polish residents who had been gathering as an independent congregation asked Cleveland Archbishop Joseph Schrembs for communion with the Church; in 1928 he made them a mission called Our Lady of Częstochowa, and in 1932 it became a parish. After decades of growth and growing collaboration—including a common pastor under the diocesan 'Walking Together' plan in 1994—the two parishes formally merged on May 13, 2008, to form St. Mary & St. Joseph Parish.
- St. Joseph Parish founded 1923 (Slovak Catholic community)
- St. Mary Parish: Our Lady of Częstochowa mission 1928, parish 1932, renamed St. Mary (Polish) Parish 1944
- Bishop Emmet Walsh made St. Mary a territorial parish in 1964
- 1985 tornado in Newton Falls; both parishes helped with relief
- 1994: common pastor under diocesan 'Walking Together' plan
- May 13, 2008: St. Mary and St. Joseph formally merged
Parish Buildings and Campus
The parish's main worship site is St. Joseph Church at 131 W. Quarry St., Newton Falls, the 400-seat church whose cornerstone was blessed by Bishop Emmet Walsh in September 1957. The former St. Mary worship site is referenced in diocesan records; a 32-by-80-foot church for that community had been dedicated on April 2, 1939, after a decade of saving. The parish office and mailing address is 120 Maple Dr., Newton Falls, OH 44444-1905. St. Joseph Cemetery, purchased in 1924 on Quarry Street near Ravenna Road, serves as the parish cemetery.
- St. Joseph Church — 131 W. Quarry St., Newton Falls, OH 44444 (cornerstone 1957, 400 seats)
- Parish Office — 120 Maple Dr., Newton Falls, OH 44444-1905
- St. Joseph Cemetery — purchased 1924
- Rectory — 1254 Grandview Rd., Lake Milton, OH 44429
Our Patron and Charism
The parish's patrons honor the ethnic roots of the founding communities while expressing a shared devotion to the Holy Family. St. Mary is venerated as Our Lady of Częstochowa, the Black Madonna who is the patroness of Poland. St. Joseph is honored in tribute to the Slovak founders. Together they represent the Holy Family, who love God by serving one another. The parish's stated charism is that, 'united in the body of Christ,' it seeks both visual and spiritual unity, working and witnessing together to advance the mission of Christ.
- St. Mary venerated as Our Lady of Częstochowa (Polish heritage)
- St. Joseph honored for Slovak heritage
- Together they represent the Holy Family
Devotions and Prayer Life
Beyond Mass, the parish community prays the Rosary together and gathers in small groups for faith discussions. The seasons of Advent and Lent are marked with special devotions, giving the small parish a rhythm of prayer throughout the liturgical year. Specific days and times of these devotions are published in the parish bulletin.
- Communal Rosary
- Small group faith discussions
- Special Advent devotions
- Special Lenten devotions
Ministries and Outreach
The parish's named ministries focus on fraternal service, charity, and the prayer life of the parish. The Knights of Columbus council is the principal lay organization, and the parish actively supports Catholic Charities. The collaborative Mahoning River Catholic Pastorate extends the parish's reach into formation and sacramental preparation across Newton Falls, North Jackson, and Lake Milton.
- Knights of Columbus
- Support of Catholic Charities
- Communal Rosary
- Small group faith discussions
- Advent and Lenten devotions
- Collaborative religious formation through the Mahoning River Catholic Pastorate
School and Faith Formation
St. Joseph and St. Mary School — first known as Catholic Elementary of Newton Falls when it opened in 1964 as a joint school of both parishes — operated for nearly five decades before closing in 2011. Religious education today is coordinated through the Mahoning River Catholic Pastorate, with catechetical programs shared across the three worship sites (St. Joseph, Newton Falls; St. Catherine, Lake Milton; St. James, North Jackson).
- Catholic Elementary of Newton Falls founded 1964 (joint school)
- Renamed St. Joseph and St. Mary School
- School closed 2011
- Religious formation now coordinated through the pastorate
The Mahoning River Catholic Pastorate
St. Mary & St. Joseph Parish is one of two parishes that make up the Mahoning River Catholic Pastorate, along with Our Lady of the Lakes Parish (St. Catherine, Lake Milton and St. James, North Jackson). The pastorate 'encompasses our 2 parishes and serves the greater regions of Newton Falls, North Jackson and Lake Milton,' operating three churches and coordinating religious formation, education, and the sacramental life of the community. The pastorate shares a single pastor — currently Rev. Zachary Coulter — and staff including music directors and a parish secretary.
- Two parishes, three worship sites, one pastorate
- Shared pastor: Rev. Zachary Coulter
- Coordinated religious formation and sacramental life
- Website referenced: ourladyotl.org
Clergy and Staff
The parish is served by its pastor, Rev. Zachary Coulter, who also serves as pastor of Our Lady of the Lakes Parish as part of the Mahoning River Catholic Pastorate. The Music Director for St. Mary & St. Joseph Parish is Eileen Petridis. The pastor's residence is at 1254 Grandview Rd., Lake Milton, OH 44429.
- Rev. Zachary Coulter — Pastor
- Eileen Petridis — Music Director
- Parish office reachable at 330-872-5742
Visit, Contact, and Practical Information
Visitors and parishioners can reach the parish office by phone at 330-872-5742 (fax 330-872-0038) or by email at [email protected]. The mailing address is 120 Maple Dr., Newton Falls, OH 44444-1905. The church is at 131 W. Quarry St., Newton Falls. Because Mass times, Holy Day schedules, and devotional opportunities can change, the parish encourages consulting the bulletin for the latest information.
- Parish office: 330-872-5742
- Email: [email protected]
- Mailing address: 120 Maple Dr., Newton Falls, OH 44444-1905
- Church: 131 W. Quarry St., Newton Falls, OH 44444
- Trumbull Deanery, Diocese of Youngstown, Parish Code 609
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Zachary Coultercurrent
Serves St. Mary & St. Joseph Parish in collaboration with Our Lady of the Lakes Parish as part of the Mahoning River Catholic Pastorate.