About St. Mary [Ruthenian] · Youngstown, Ohio
St. Mary's Byzantine Catholic Church is a Ruthenian (Greek Catholic) parish on the west side (Steelton) of Youngstown, Ohio, founded in 1900 by immigrants from the Austro-Hungarian Empire who came to work in the local steel mills. It belongs to the Ruthenian Metropolitanate sui juris of Pittsburgh (Archeparchy of Pittsburgh) and worships in the Byzantine liturgical tradition. The parish built its present large church on South Belle Vista Avenue in 1960, added a mosaic sanctuary and handicapped-accessible entrance in 1987, and completed the Assumption Social Center in 1983 — a landmark Mahoning Valley hall still run by parish women for wedding receptions, funeral luncheons, bingo, and community events.
- Established
- 1900
- Patron
- The Mother of God (Theotokos) — icon of the Mother of God, patroness of the church, installed in the sanctuary mosaic
- Rector
- Father John J. Welch (Administrator, appointed May 18, 2024)
- Diocese
- Archeparchy of Pittsburgh (Ruthenian Metropolitanate sui juris of Pittsburgh); geographically within the territory of the Roman Diocese of Youngstown
Why belong here
St. Mary's is a living Ruthenian Byzantine community with deep Steel Valley roots and a worship tradition reaching back to the early 1900s. Parishioners celebrate the Divine Liturgy in the Byzantine rite, gather around the Rosary Society, Golden Pillar seniors group, monthly Adult Education, and an annual Indoor Picnic, and are welcomed into the church's signature Assumption Social Center — the hub of wedding receptions, funeral luncheons, bingo, and GCU Lodge gatherings. Its clergy, cantors, and lifelong parish vocations (including Very Rev. Richard Lambert and Fr. James Ragan) reflect a parish where families stay connected for generations.
Mass times at St. Mary [Ruthenian]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:45–4:15 PM
- Sunday 9:45–10:15 AM
- Or by calling the Rectory during the week
Parish History
St. Mary's was founded in 1900 by Ruthenian Greek Catholic immigrants from the Austro-Hungarian Empire who settled on Youngstown's west side to work the steel mills. From its modest wood-frame beginning on Florence Avenue, the parish grew rapidly and gave rise to several other Ruthenian churches across the Mahoning Valley. In 1960 Father John Pohorlak led the construction of the present large church on South Belle Vista Avenue; later pastors added the rectory, bus garage, Byzantine Catholic Central School, and the Assumption Social Center. The parish marked 125 years in 2025.
- December 1899 — Florence Avenue property purchased
- July 4, 1900 — first wood-frame church dedicated; Father Anthony Mhley celebrates first services
- September 13, 1902 — South Schenley Avenue land bought for parish cemetery
- 1956 — relocation project begins under Father John Pohorlak
- July 1960 — present church on South Belle Vista Avenue dedicated
- 1963 — Father John Ycoback begins pastorate; four-bay bus garage built
- 1965 — rectory and car garage completed
- 1983 — Assumption Social Center completed (built by the 'Gratis Construction Company')
- 1987 — sanctuary mosaic and handicapped-accessible entrance added
- 2001 — Very Rev. Richard Lambert becomes pastor; 50th-anniversary renovation by Eikona Studios follows
- 2008–2009 — Byzantine Catholic Central School closes
- 2024 — Father John J. Welch appointed Administrator
- 2025 — parish marks 125 years
Byzantine Catholic Identity
St. Mary's is a Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic parish in full communion with Rome, served by the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh (the Ruthenian Metropolitanate sui juris of Pittsburgh). Liturgy is celebrated in the Byzantine tradition — the Divine Liturgy, the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts during Great Lent, and traditional Byzantine chant led by parish cantors.
- Jurisdiction: Ruthenian Metropolitanate of Pittsburgh
- Geographic location within the Roman Diocese of Youngstown
- Divine Liturgy is the principal Sunday and Holy Day service
- Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts celebrated Wednesdays and Fridays of Great Lent
- Cantors lead the congregation's sung responses
Clergy & Staff
Father John J. Welch was appointed Administrator of St. Mary's on May 18, 2024, succeeding Very Rev. Richard I. Lambert, who had shepherded the parish since 2001. The parish counts three priestly vocations from among its members: Msgr. Alexis Mihalik (retired), Very Rev. Richard Lambert, and Father James Ragan (pastor of Holy Ghost Church, Charleroi, PA). Two cantors, Ms. Linda Wibly and Mr. Daniel Kovachik, lead the liturgical singing; Linda also serves as full-time parish secretary and manager of the Assumption Social Center, and Daniel (with Mr. William Allison) serves as full-time custodian.
- Father John J. Welch — Administrator
- Very Rev. Richard I. Lambert — Pastor Emeritus (parish vocation)
- Monsignor Alexis Mihalik — Retired (parish vocation)
- Father James Ragan — Pastor of Holy Ghost Church, Charleroi, PA (parish vocation)
- Ms. Linda Wibly — Cantor, Parish Secretary, Manager of Assumption Social Center
- Mr. Daniel Kovachik — Cantor, Parish Custodian
- Mr. William Allison — Parish Custodian
Divine Liturgy & Sacraments Schedule
The parish celebrates the Divine Liturgy on Saturday afternoons, Sunday mornings, and on Holy Days, with daily services per the bulletin. The Byzantine Mystery of Reconciliation (Confession) is heard before both weekend liturgies and by appointment, and the other Mysteries — Baptism/Chrismation/Eucharist, Marriage (Holy Crowning), and Anointing of the Sick — are arranged through the rectory.
- Saturday — Divine Liturgy 4:30 PM
- Sunday — Divine Liturgy 10:30 AM
- Holy Days — 10:30 AM and 5:00 PM (per bulletin)
- Daily — 10:30 AM (see bulletin)
- Great Fast Wednesdays & Fridays — 10:30 AM Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts
- Confessions: Saturday 3:45–4:15 PM and Sunday 9:45–10:15 AM (or by calling the Rectory)
- Marriage and Anointing — by arrangement with the Rectory
- Baptism / Chrismation / Eucharist — contact the Rectory
Parish Ministries & Organizations
Adult faith formation is offered monthly, and lay organizations knit the parish together across generations. The Rosary Society meets twice a year with communion breakfasts; the Golden Pillar seniors group meets the second Tuesday of every month; and the annual Indoor Picnic in August is a signature summer gathering. The parish also draws on a long musical heritage: Professor Michael Vuksta founded the choir, later directed by Mr. George Hress and Mr. Thomas Hritzo, and now led by cantors Linda Wibly and Daniel Kovachik.
- Adult Education — last Monday of each month, 7:00 PM
- Rosary Society — May and October meetings/breakfast
- Golden Pillar Society — second Tuesday of every month
- Annual Indoor Picnic — August
- Parish choir and cantors
- Parish vocations program
Assumption Social Center
The Assumption Social Center, completed in 1983 on land purchased from the Wick Estate, is one of the largest and most-used parish halls in the Mahoning Valley. It was largely built by unemployed steelworkers organized as the 'Gratis Construction Company' under Father John Ycoback. Parish women have catered weddings, funeral luncheons, and high school proms there for more than fifty years, and the Center also hosts weekly bingo (200+ players), Golden Pillar meetings, monthly Adult Enrichment, quarterly GCU Lodge gatherings, and two precincts of polling in May and November.
- Completed 1983; built by 'Gratis Construction Company'
- Hosts wedding receptions for 300–500 guests
- Funeral luncheons catered by parish women (50+ years)
- Bingo two evenings per week (200+ players)
- Golden Pillar senior gatherings
- Monthly Adult Enrichment sessions
- Quarterly GCU Lodge gatherings
- Two annual communion breakfasts for the Rosary Society
- Polling place for eight precincts in May and November elections
- Companion website: www.assumptionsocialcenter.com
Cemetery
On September 13, 1902 the parish purchased land on South Schenley Avenue for use as a cemetery. It continues to serve as a final resting place for parishioners more than 120 years later.
- Established September 13, 1902
- Located on South Schenley Avenue, Youngstown
- Still in use as the parish cemetery
Facilities & Accessibility
The parish plant includes the 1960 brick church, the 1965 rectory and car garage, the 1963 four-bay bus garage (originally used to transport children to the parochial school), the 1983 Assumption Social Center, and the South Schenley Avenue cemetery. A 1987 renovation replaced the original steps with a ground-level entrance, making the church fully handicapped-accessible.
- 1960 church edifice
- 1965 rectory and car garage
- 1963 four-bay bus garage
- 1983 Assumption Social Center
- Parish cemetery on South Schenley Avenue
- Handicapped-accessible entrance (added 1987)
Visit & Contact
St. Mary's welcomes visitors to its Byzantine Catholic worship and its many parish activities. The Rectory and Church Office can be reached by phone, and Father Welch can be emailed directly. Mass times, the weekly bulletin, and parish events are posted on the parish website.
- Address: 356 S Belle Vista Ave., Youngstown, OH 44509
- Rectory: (330) 799-8163
- Church office: (330) 792-1578
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://saintmarysbyz.com/
- Facebook: facebook.com/St.MarysYoungstownOhio/
- Archeparchy listing: archpitt.org/place/youngstownoh-saintmary-2/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Anthony Mhley1900–
Conducted the first church services after the July 4, 1900 dedication of the Florence Avenue church.
- Father John Pohorlak1956–c.1963
Led the planning, financing, and construction of the present large church on South Belle Vista Avenue, dedicated July 1960.
- Father John Ycoback1963–
Guided construction of the four-bay bus garage (1963), the spacious rectory and car garage (1965), and the Assumption Social Center (completed 1983) using the 'Gratis Construction Company' of unemployed steelworkers.
- Very Rev. Richard I. Lambert2001–2024
Parish vocation; led the Eikona Studios renovation for the 50th anniversary of the 1960 church; also served as Protopresbyter of the Youngstown Protopresbyterate. Retired in 2024.
- Father John J. Welch2024–
Appointed Administrator of St. Mary Church effective May 18, 2024.