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St. Dominic marks 90th year
By LINDA M. LINONIS
YOUNGSTOWN
St. Dominic Church, established in 1923, celebrated its 90th year with the dedication of its new parish center Aug. 8, the Feast Day of its patron saint.
The Rev. Greg Maturi, pastor, said the congregation saw the opening of the parish center as “one big celebration” for the 90th anniversary. Bishop George V. Murry of the Diocese of Youngstown said Mass for some 400 members and guests, who then walked over to the $1.4 million parish center for the dedication. The center is directly accessible from the church at 77 E. Lucius Ave.
The bishop blessed the center, noting it will be used by the parish and community. “It will be a place to get to know one another and give witness to faith,” he said at the time.
Father Maturi said the dedication of the center “was an emotional time.”
He said the 8,000-square-foot center with reception hall, full commercial kitchen, resetrooms and vestibule will be used for church and community events. Funding came from church members and the community at large. But, he noted, the center is more than a building to the church and community. He said it represents “an investment in the neighborhood” and “a sign of hope” in the South Side neighborhood.
One of the upcoming community uses for the center will be a voting site Nov. 5.
Father Maturi said the church is active in various ways. A “soup group” gathers Monday mornings to make soup for St. Vincent de Paul dining hall. Its Knights of Columbus council supoorts projects dealing with children’s welfare and organizes Thanksgiving food baskets and Christmas gifts.
Members of the Legion of Mary visit the sick, and the St. Dominic men’s group also provides service to the church.
The church collaborates with ICU Block Watch on the Neighbhood Harvest, which is planned from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday in the gated lot at the corner of Cottage Grove and Auburndale Avenue in Youngstown. The free event, a Halloween alternative, will feature food, music and displays by police and fire departments.