PRIESTS’ Assignments \ Diocese of Youngstown

Bishop George V. Murry has made these assignments for priests in the Diocese of Youngstown.

Monsignor John Zuraw: Appointed vicar for administration and will head the new Diocesan Study of Parishes and Schools, effective July 1. He will continue as administrator of Immaculate Conception Church and as director of the Permanent Diaconate and promoter of justice in the Diocesan Tribunal. He was ordained June 20, 1987. His previous assignments include associate pastor at St. Louis Church in Louisville and St. Rose Church in Girard. He served as diocesan vocation director and most recently as executive director of Clergy and Religious Services.

Rev. Michael Garvey: Appointed pastor of St. Joseph Church in Mantua, effective July 1. Father Garvey was ordained May 29, 1971. He was associate pastor at St. Joan of Arc Church in Canton, on the faculty of Ursuline High School, in pastoral ministry at the former St. John High School in Ashtabula and as administrator of Mother of Sorrows Church in Ashtabula. Father Garvey served for 20 years in the Navy, Marines and Coast Guard. He is associate pastor at St. Rose.

Rev. Joseph Ruggieri: Was named pastor of Mother of Sorrows Church in Ashtabula, effective May 24, in addition to his pastorate at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Ashtabula. Father Ruggieri served as associate pastor at St. Patrick Church in Kent after his ordination on May 20, 1995. He also served as associate pastor at St. Joan of Arc Church in Canton.

Rev. James Walker: Will become pastor of Christ Our King Church in Warren, effective Aug. 1, in addition to his pastorate at Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church in Warren. Father Walker, ordained June 18, 1977, served as associate pastor at St. Aloysius Church in East Liverpool, St. Mary Church in Warren, St. Edward Church in Youngstown, St. Rose Church in Girard and St. James Church in Warren. He served as chaplain at Trumbull Memorial Hospital in Warren and is chaplain at St. Elizabeth Health Center, a position he will keep in addition to his pastorate of Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church in Warren.

Monsignor Kenneth Miller: Was appointed associate principal at Ursuline High School, effective Aug. 4. Monsignor Miller was ordained June 18, 1977. His previous assignments include associate pastor at St. Joan of Arc Church in Canton, and faculty member at Central Catholic High School in Canton and Ursuline High School. He served as diocesan director of Vocations and the Permanent Diaconate, executive director of the diocesan Department of Educational Services, then executive director of the Department of Pastoral and Educational Services. He serves as pastor of St. Louis Church.

Rev. John Jerek: Appointed vicar for Clergy and Religious Services and administrator of St. John the Baptist Church in Campbell, effective July 1. Father Jerek, ordained June 18, 1988, served as associate pastor at St. Nicholas Church in Struthers and associate principal at John F. Kennedy High School in Warren. He iss pastor at University Parish Newman Center in Kent and diocesan director of Campus Ministry.

Rev. David Menegay: Appointed pastor of St. Louis Church in Louisville, effective Aug. 4. Father Menegay, a priest of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, was ordained May 21, 1988. He served parishes and was a member of college and high school faculties in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. He is associate pastor at St. Paul Parish in North Canton.

Rev. Christopher Luoni: Appointed pastor of University Parish Newman Center in Kent, and diocesan director of campus ministry, effective July 1. Father Luoni, ordained May 28, 2005, is associate pastor at Holy Family Church in Poland.

Rev. Kevin Peters: Named associate pastor at St. Nicholas Church in Struthers, effective July 1. Father Peters, ordained June 9, 1990, was associate pastor at St. Joan of Arc Church in Canton and St. Paul Church in North Canton. He was pastor at Mother of Sorrows Church in Ashtabula prior to taking a leave of absence.

Rev. Richard Whetstone: Named associate pastor at Holy Family Church in Poland, effective July 1. Father Whetstone was ordained May 1, 1983, as a bi-ritual priest in the Byzantine and Latin rites. He served several parishes of the Byzantine Diocese in Ohio and Pennsylvania. He also served as judicial vicar for the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh and Ukrainian Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma, Ohio.

Rev. Robert Miller: Appointed associate pastor at St. Mary Church in Massillon, effective Aug. 4. Father Miller, ordained May 25, 2002, served as associate pastor at St. Patrick Church in Hubbard, administrator at St. James Church in Waynesburg and most recently as associate pastor at St. Patrick Parish in Kent.

Rev. Christopher Henyk: Received his first priestly assignment as associate pastor at St. Paul Church in North Canton, effective Aug. 4. Rev. Henyk was ordained May 31, 2008.

Rev. Gerald DeLucia:Appointed diocesan director of Hispanic Ministry, effective May 5, in addition to his pastorate at St. Rose of Lima Church in Campbell. Father DeLucia, who was ordained June 16, 1978, was on the faculty of Cardinal Mooney High School in Youngstown, and was associate pastor at St. Paul Church in Salem, St. Columba Cathedral in Youngstown, Holy Family Church in Poland and St. Nicholas Church in Struthers, and was pastoral director at Catholic Television Network of Youngstown. He was pastor at Holy Rosary Parish in Lowellville.

Rev. Frederick Lukehart: Bishop Murry has accepted the retirement of the pastor of Christ the King Parish, effective Aug. 1. Father Lukehart was ordained April 21, 1963. He was associate pastor at St. Brendan Church in Youngstown, and on the faculties of Ursuline High School in Youngstown, St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Louisville and Central Catholic High School in Canton, where he also served as principal. He also was pastor of St. Frances Cabrini Church in Conneaut and St. Joseph Church in Austintown.