About St. Paul the Apostle · New Middletown, Ohio
St. Paul the Apostle Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the village of New Middletown, Mahoning County, Ohio, serving about 1,300 registered parishioners in Springfield Township. It was established June 19, 1952 by Bishop McFadden of the (then) Diocese of Youngstown to minister to roughly 90 Catholic families identified by the 1948 diocesan census. The parish belongs to the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown (Mahoning Deanery, parish code 133) and is currently led by Very Rev. Martin Celuch, J.C.L., with two permanent deacons and a large lay staff. St. Paul's is known for its strong community life, seasonal Pirohy sales, a 1998 church building set on lakeside grounds, and 26 active ministries including a Knights of Columbus council, St. Vincent de Paul conference, prison outreach, homebound and nursing-home ministries, and a vibrant Charismatic Prayer Group.
- Established
- 1952
- Patron
- Saint Paul the Apostle
- Rector
- Very Rev. Martin Celuch, J.C.L.
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Youngstown (Mahoning Deanery; Parish Code 133)
Why belong here
St. Paul the Apostle is a mid-sized Mahoning County parish where community and evangelization are explicitly named as the parish's two charisms — you feel it whether you're attending the 11:00 a.m. Sunday Mass, joining the Ecumenical Community Meals, or buying pirohy at the fall fundraiser. With 26 active ministries spanning a Knights of Columbus council, St. Vincent de Paul conference, homebound and nursing-home visitation, prison outreach, weekly prayer group, multiple Bible studies, a youth council, a Giving Tree, and a strong music program, newcomers of any age can plug in quickly. Monthly Eucharistic Adoration (Second Tuesday), a yearly parish mission, and easy Sunday confession (10:00–10:45 a.m.) make it a place where both long-time Catholics and returning visitors can grow.
Mass times at St. Paul the Apostle
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 10:00–10:45 AM (Confession Room)
Adoration times
- Second Tuesday of each month: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Parish History
St. Paul the Apostle was created by Bishop McFadden on June 19, 1952 to serve the 90 Catholic families identified in Springfield Township by the 1948 diocesan census. From 1952 humble beginnings in the New Middletown School, through a 1953 church, decades of growth, and the construction of the present church in 1998, St. Paul's has grown into a 1,300-parishioner community.
- Founded June 19, 1952 by Bishop McFadden
- First Masses at New Middletown School on July 6, 1952
- Cornerstone laid September 20, 1953; first church Mass at Christmas Midnight 1953
- Present church building first used May 16, 1998; dedicated by Bishop Tobin that October
- Time capsule buried October 1997 (south side of hall, wooden cross marker; to be opened 2022)
- 70th anniversary celebrated in 2022–2023
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation has been central to the parish since the Sisters of the Humility of Mary began teaching in the church basement in the early 1950s. The Sisters of the Humility of Mary served until 1964, when the Ursuline Sisters took over; a dedicated Religious Education Center was blessed in 1969 and the last Ursuline Sister left in 1993. Today the Total Parish Religious Education program (launched 2004) and CCD classes serve children and youth under DRE Al Pompeo, with offices in the Religious Education Center.
- Director of Religious Education: Al Pompeo
- Religious Education Secretary: JoAnn Yaskulka
- Total Parish Religious Education program (since 2004)
- Religious Education Center dedicated October 1969
- Bible Study — Monday evenings 6:30 PM in the rectory
- Women's Scripture Study — Wednesday 9:00 AM in the day chapel
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Very Rev. Martin Celuch, J.C.L., as pastor, with two permanent deacons, a director of music, director of religious education, sacristan, parish secretary/bulletin editor, business manager, bookkeeper, property manager, compliance officer and website coordinator forming a sizable lay staff.
- Pastor: Very Rev. Martin Celuch, J.C.L.
- Deacon Andy McDonald
- Deacon Bill McMahon, Jr.
- Director of Music: Katrina Hayes
- Director of Religious Education: Al Pompeo
- Sacristan: Tom Penwell
- Parish Secretary / Bulletin Editor: Christie Sweder
- Business Manager: Grant Williams
- Administrative Assistant: Stephanie Markey
- Religious Education: JoAnn Yaskulka
- Property Manager: Eric Weeden
- Website Coordinator: Mary Lisovitch
Music & Liturgical Ministries
Liturgical music at St. Paul's is supported by a Music Ministry under Director of Music Katrina Hayes and a Cantor Program that began in 2006. The church is still served by the Allen Organ purchased during Fr. William O'Neil's tenure in the 1970s, and Mass-coordinator teams rotate through Lectors, Altar Servers, Eucharistic Ministers and Hospitality rosters published on the Ministry Schedules page.
- Director of Music: Katrina Hayes
- Music Ministry
- Cantor Program (since 2006)
- Allen Organ (acquired under Fr. William O'Neil)
- Mass Coordinators, Lectors, Altar Servers, Eucharistic Ministers, Hospitality
Outreach & Charity
The parish lives out an explicit charism of evangelization by reaching those on the 'fringes of society.' Active outreach includes prison ministry, a homebound ministry, a nursing-home ministry, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Giving Tree, the Blanket Ministry, the Bereavement Ministry, and Garden Angels who tend the parish grounds.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society (conference meets in Fr. Shori Hall)
- Prison Ministry (since 2007)
- Homebound Ministry
- Nursing Home Ministry
- Giving Tree (Christmas outreach)
- Blanket Ministry (since 2006)
- Bereavement Ministry (since 2006)
- Garden Angels (since 2004)
Community Life & Festivities
St. Paul's is known for warm parish gatherings and several signature events each year. The charism of community is felt in ecumenical meals, parish missions, and the Knights of Columbus Corn Roast, and it is also expressed through parish breakfasts/Donut Sundays, an Easter Egg Hunt, and a Thanksgiving Prayer Service.
- Ecumenical Community Meals
- Yearly Parish Missions
- Knights of Columbus Corn Roast (since 1999)
- Ecumenical Thanksgiving Prayer Service
- Yearly Easter Egg Hunt
- Donut / Breakfast Sundays
Pirohy Fundraiser
The parish's homemade Pirohy program began in 1984 under Fr. Richard Brobst and has become one of St. Paul's signature fall-through-spring fundraisers. Orders are taken on Tuesdays and Fridays at 8:00 AM on the dedicated Pirohy order line at (330) 542-3525.
- Pirohy Sales — fall through spring
- Phone orders Tuesdays & Fridays, 8:00 AM: (330) 542-3525
- Started in 1984 under Fr. Richard Brobst
Knights of Columbus & Youth
The parish's Knights of Columbus Council was chartered in 1995 and is one of the most visible lay organizations on campus, hosting the annual Corn Roast and other fundraisers. A Youth Council organizes activities for the parish's younger members, while the Bereavement Ministry (since 2006) and Bible studies (in the rectory on Monday evenings) round out adult formation.
- Knights of Columbus Council (founded 1995)
- Annual Knights of Columbus Corn Roast (since 1999)
- Youth Council
- Multiple Bible Studies
- Sisters in Grace (annual conference since 2004)
Buildings, Grounds & Cemetery
The St. Paul the Apostle campus stretches across Main Street and includes two churches (the 1953 original and the 1998 present church), a Religious Education Center (1969), a rectory (with 2006 addition), the parish hall dedicated to Fr. Nick Shori (2017), a CCLC preschool building, a bocce court, a pavilion built by parishioners in 1987, and a lake that hosts outdoor Masses and concerts. Memorial features on the grounds include the Memorial to the Born and Unborn (1999) and the Granite Cross near the lake (2004).
- 1998 church (first Mass May 16, 1998)
- 1953 original church
- Parish Hall ('Fr. Nick Shori Hall,' dedicated 2017)
- Religious Education Center (1969)
- Rectory (addition 2006)
- CCLC preschool building
- Bocce court and pavilion
- Lake used for outdoor Masses and concerts
- Granite Cross by the lake (2004)
- Memorial to the Born and Unborn (1999)
Visit, Contact & Getting Involved
Newcomers and visitors are warmly welcomed at any Mass — the parish's homepage invites guests to 'feel free to attend any of our Masses and be sure to greet us when you do!' The parish office can be reached at (330) 542-3466 or [email protected], and the St. Vincent de Paul conference, Pastoral Council, Financial Council, and the 26 ministries listed on the website are listed as ways to get involved.
- Parish Office: (330) 542-3466
- Email: [email protected]
- Pirohy line: (330) 542-3525
- Address: 10143 Main Street, New Middletown, OH 44442
- Mailing: P.O. Box 515, New Middletown, OH 44442
- Resource page lists Pastoral Council, Financial Council and Catholic Connection
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Pawlewicz1952–1965
Founding pastor; organized the first Parish Council and Altar Guild and brought the Sisters of the Humility of Mary to staff religious education. Died in office, January 1965.
- Fr. Haidet1965–1967
Succeeded founding pastor; served only about two and a half years.
- Fr. Bissler1967–1971
Tenure coincided with Bishop Malone's appointment as ordinary of Youngstown (1968).
- Fr. William O'Neil1971–1981
Reorganized Parish Council and oversaw purchase of the Allen Organ still used today.
- Fr. Richard Brobst1981–1987
Launched the parish's pirohy program in 1984 and began the church renovation that was completed during his successor's tenure.
- Fr. Tim O'Neill1987–1992
Men of the parish built the pavilion during his pastorate.
- Fr. Francis Hughes1992 (interim)
Served as interim after Fr. Kopunec's death.
- Fr. Nicholas "Nick" Shori1993–2010
Long-tenured pastor at a time of 750 parish families. The parish hall was dedicated to him in 2017.
- Fr. Stephen Popovich2010–2013
Suffered severe injuries in a 2013 car accident and resigned.
- Fr. John Trimbur2013–2014 (interim)
Served as interim pastor.
- Fr. Christopher Luoni2014–2016
After about two years, accepted the pastorate at St. Joan of Arc, Streetsboro.
- Fr. Lawrence Frient2016–
First Mass at St. Paul's December 3, 2016; installed as pastor May 2017.
- Fr. Martin Celuch, J.C.L.present
Current pastor (Diocese of Youngstown listing, last updated February 2026).