A brief history | St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church

A brief history | St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church

St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church, 356 S. Belle Vista Ave., Youngstown, is celebrating its 50th year at its current location and 110th year. It relocated to a new building on Belle Vista on July 12, 1960, and was dedicated June 4, 1961. The original church building on Florence Avenue, off of Salt Springs Road, was founded in December of 1899 and dedicated July 4, 1900.

1900s: Ruthenian-speaking people of the Carpathian Mountain Valley of Eastern Europe come to America and many settle in the industrial regions of the country including the Mahoning Valley. A group of devout Christians decides to form a Greek Catholic church in the Steelton area of Youngstown. They buy a lot on Florence Avenue near Salt Springs Road for $400. In the Youngstown Telegram on May 21, 1900, bids were solicited to build St. Mary’s Greek Catholic edifice. The cornerstone was laid July 4, 1900. The first baptism was for Michael Feher on Sept. 22, 1900; the first funeral for Mary Babay, Dec. 25, 1900; and the first marriage of John Bayus and Mary Kojnak on Feb. 1, 1901.

1910s: In 1911, Ukrainian-speaking members of St. Mary’s charter Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Church on West Rayen Avenue; in 1912, a Slavonic-speaking group organized St. Nicholas Church on Wilson Avenue; and in 1917, the Magyar-speaking group established St. George Church on Mahoning Avenue.

1940s: The interior of the church was renovated at a cost of $21,000 and included new paintings, refurbishment of pews and stained-glass windows installed.

1950s: St. Mary’s joins with four other Byzantine Rite churches to build and operate Our Lady of Perpetual Help School on Youngstown-Poland Road in Poland. A building fund is established to construct a new church. The church buys property on the west side of Belle Vista and a groundbreaking ceremony takes place July 12,1958.

1960s: The new church is dedicated June 4, 1961. It features 36 stained-glass windows and bells from the old church are installed in the belfry. In May 1963, the baldachino arrives from Italy and is installed in the sanctuary. A shrine to the patroness of the parish is built.

1980s: Assumption Social Center is built; the center is dedicated in February 1983.

2000s: The church celebrates is 100th anniversary.

2010: Linda Wibly and Dan Kovachik are cantors. Wibly also serves as church secretary and Assumption Social Center manager. The Golden Pillars, mostly seniors, meets the second Tuesday of the month with liturgy at 11 a.m. followed by a social in the center. The Rosary Society has spring and fall breakfasts. Bingo is Wednesdays and Saturdays and funds go to the church operating fund. Liturgy is at 5 p.m. Saturdays and 9 a.m. Sundays and weekdays.