About St. William · Warren, Ohio
St. William Parish is a Roman Catholic parish located in the northwest portion of Trumbull County in northeastern Ohio, in the village of Champion (Warren mailing address). Founded on May 21, 1963 by Bishop Emmet M. Walsh of the Diocese of Youngstown, it was originally established as a mission church in 1961 to serve the Catholic families of Champion, Southington, Bristol, Bloomfield, Farmington and Bazetta-West townships. The parish formally takes its patron from Saint William of Vercelli, the 12th-century Italian missionary founder of the Congregation of Monte Vergine, while also honoring its founding priest Father William Dunn. Today it collaborates with nearby St. Thomas the Apostle (Vienna) and St. Robert Bellarmine (Cortland) parishes within the Trumbull Deanery, and is well known for its welcoming hospitality, vibrant liturgy, and the popular annual Lenten Fish Dinners that began in 1986.
- Established
- 1963
- Patron
- Saint William of Vercelli (William of Montevergine)
- Rector
- Rev. Brian Cline
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Youngstown (Trumbull Deanery, Parish Code 601)
Why belong here
St. William offers the warmth of a small, well-established parish with the active ministries of a much larger one — more than 60 ministries grouped under Liturgy & Worship, Education & Faith Formation, Stewardship & Service, and Parish Family Life. The parish is known for its 'charism of hospitality and celebration,' with vibrant liturgy and a stream of parish traditions that span generations, most famously its 40-year-old Lenten Fish Fry. Members put faith into action through the St. William Quilters (foster-child blankets), Notre Dame Associates at St. Vincent de Paul, parish food drives supporting Second Harvest Food Bank and the St. Teresa of Calcutta Food Pantry sites, and the Women's Guild's regular donations to charities like Someplace Safe and Bella Women's Center.
Mass times at St. William
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–3:35 p.m.
- Anytime by appointment
Adoration times
- Tuesday 9:00–10:00 a.m.
Our Story & History
In the mid-1900s the Catholic community of greater Warren was served largely by St. Mary Parish, but population growth led Bishop Emmet Walsh to purchase 75 acres in Champion Township in 1958. In 1961 Bishop Walsh established St. William as a mission church, and its first Mass was celebrated in Champion Elementary School's cafeteria for roughly 450 Catholic families from Champion, Southington, Bristol, Bloomfield, Farmington and Bazetta-West. CCD classes, a Women's Guild and a Men's Club were organized immediately, and ground was broken on a church building in 1962. On May 21, 1963, the mission was formally elevated to a parish by Bishop Walsh; the building was completed the following month, though Mass continued in the school until the church was fully furnished. Originally named for founding priest Father William Dunn, the parish was, upon achieving parish status, formally dedicated to Saint William of Vercelli for his work establishing missions across Italy.
- Founded May 21, 1963 (mission established 1961) by Bishop Emmet M. Walsh
- Named for first pastor Father William Dunn; dedicated to Saint William of Vercelli at parish status
- New Resurrection-themed church completed July 1984
- 60th anniversary celebrated in 2023
Parish Mission & Charism
St. William describes itself as 'an engaged parish connected in Christ and moved by the Holy Spirit,' with a charism of hospitality and celebration. The parish is rooted in vibrant liturgical celebration that, in its own words, leads to active participation in parish ministries. Stewardship of time, talent and treasure is a pillar of parish life, expressed through more than 60 ministries.
- Charism: hospitality and celebration
- Liturgy leads to ministry involvement
- Focus on stewardship of time, talent and treasure
Worship & Sacraments
Weekly Mass is offered Saturday at 4:00 p.m., Sunday at 10:30 a.m., and Tuesday and Thursday at 8:30 a.m.; Holy Day schedules are listed in the weekly bulletin. The Sacrament of Penance is heard Saturdays from 3:00 to 3:35 p.m. and by appointment, and Eucharistic Adoration is held Tuesdays from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. Arrangements for baptisms, marriages, anointing of the sick and other sacraments are made through the parish office.
- Saturday Vigil Mass: 4:00 p.m.
- Sunday Mass: 10:30 a.m.
- Weekday Mass: Tue./Thu. 8:30 a.m.
- Confession: Sat. 3:00–3:35 p.m. or by appointment
- Adoration: Tue. 9:00–10:00 a.m.
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is currently led by pastor Rev. Brian Cline (since 2025), assisted by parochial vicar Rev. Steven Agostino and permanent deacons Bill Bone and Bob Mintus. The lay staff includes Tina McCue (Diocesan Pastoral Associate & Safe Environment Compliance Officer), Bette Lloyd (Coordinator/Director of Religious Education), Therese Tuttle (Business Manager), Patricia Maciejewski (Music Director), Dr. Daniel Robinson (Office Manager/Director of Communications & Technology), Linda Horm (Secretary/Finance), and Brian Wilson (Maintenance Manager).
- Pastor: Rev. Brian Cline (2025 – Present)
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Steven Agostino
- Deacons: Bill Bone, Bob Mintus
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious education has been part of St. William since the mission years; CCD classes were in place as early as 1962 and from 1964 to 1969 were taught by Notre Dame Sisters from St. Mary convent. The current program is coordinated by Bette Lloyd, Director of Religious Education, in keeping with the parish's broader Education & Faith Formation ministry category.
- Director of Religious Education: Bette Lloyd
- CCD program dates to founding mission
Music & Liturgical Ministries
Liturgical music at St. William is directed by Music Director Patricia Maciejewski. The parish identifies the vibrant celebration of the liturgy as its strongest attribute, with music ministry forming a core part of parish life under the Liturgy & Worship ministry umbrella.
- Music Director: Patricia Maciejewski
Outreach, Charity & Service
St. William's Stewardship & Service ministries put faith into action for the wider Trumbull County community. The St. William Quilters make blankets distributed to agencies providing comfort bags to foster children. Notre Dame Associates volunteer monthly at the local St. Vincent de Paul dining hall preparing meals. The parish supports the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantries at the St. Teresa of Calcutta: Saint Mary and Saint James sites, hosts annual food drives for Second Harvest Food Bank, and channels monthly Women's Guild donations to charities such as Someplace Safe, Bella Women's Center, Animal Welfare League, and Inspiring Minds.
- St. William Quilters (foster-child blankets)
- Notre Dame Associates (St. Vincent de Paul dining hall)
- Food pantry support: St. Teresa of Calcutta – St. Mary and St. James sites
- Second Harvest Food Bank annual food drives
- Women's Guild donations: Someplace Safe, Bella Women's Center, Animal Welfare League, Inspiring Minds
Parish Family Life & Community
The parish's Parish Family Life ministry category fosters fellowship and intergenerational connection. The Women's Guild (founded with the parish in 1961–62) and Men's Club (likewise) have been part of parish life since the very beginning and continue to organize social and charitable activities for members of all ages.
- Women's Guild (since 1961–62)
- Men's Club (since 1961–62)
The Lenten Fish Dinners
The Saint William Fish Fry began in 1986 and has run every Lent since, drawing volunteers and guests from across Trumbull County. A volunteer-run community event (with volunteers ranging from age 4 to age 98), the Friday fish fry features baked or fried fish, hand-made coleslaw or applesauce, sides such as french fries, green beans, macaroni & cheese, or haluski, dessert and beverages — all freshly prepared each week with fish fried in peanut oil. In 2020 the parish 'went green,' transitioning to recyclable and compostable materials in partnership with local Champion businesses, whose sponsorships underwrite the eco-friendly supplies.
- Annual Lenten Fish Fry began in 1986 (celebrating 40 years in 2026)
- Meals served every Friday in Lent, 4:00–6:30 p.m.
- Dine-in or to-go options; volunteer-run, multi-generational
- Went green with compostable/recyclable materials in 2020
- Sponsored by Champion-area local businesses
Parish Architecture & Worship Space
The current church building was completed in July 1984 and is unified by a single artistic theme: the Resurrection. Art and architecture work together to convey that mystery — a mosaic of the risen Christ is the focal point, stained-glass windows tell the Resurrection story, and the baptistry window uses inverted arched shapes and colors to symbolize the dying-and-rising pattern of Christian initiation. The previous (1963) church building had been upgraded in the early 1970s with new carpeting, stained glass windows and new seating before the larger worship space was erected.
- 1984 church designed around the Resurrection
- Risen-Christ mosaic and Resurrection-story stained glass
- Baptistry window symbolizing death and rebirth
Visit, Contact & Practical Information
The parish office is located at 5411 Mahoning Avenue NW, Warren, OH 44483-1133 (the same building is shared as offices for St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Vienna and St. Robert Bellarmine Parish in Cortland). Office hours are Monday–Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; the office is closed on Fridays. The parish phone line is 330-847-8677 (also the pastor's residence line), and email is [email protected]. The parish hall is available for rental by arrangement with the parish office. Online giving is available through the parish website.
- Address: 5411 Mahoning Ave. NW, Warren, OH 44483-1133
- Phone: 330-847-8677
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon.–Thu. 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. (closed Fri.)
- Hall available for rent (contact office)
- Online giving available on website
Diocese of Youngstown & Deanery
St. William Parish (Parish Code 601) belongs to the Trumbull Deanery of the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown. It collaborates with neighboring parishes St. Thomas the Apostle (Vienna) and St. Robert Bellarmine (Cortland) and shares office resources with them.
- Diocese: Youngstown
- Deanery: Trumbull
- Parish Code: 601
- Collaborating parishes: St. Thomas the Apostle (Vienna), St. Robert Bellarmine (Cortland)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. William (Father William) Dunn1961 – (early)
First priest to serve the mission community that became St. William Parish; the mission was named in his honor before being formally dedicated to St. William of Vercelli at parish status.