st. jude church

st. jude church

Background

Celebration: A special Mass is planned at 4 p.m. May 7 with Bishop George V. Murry of the Diocese of Youngstown. A banquet will follow in the parish activity center.

The groundwork: The parish was established March 4, 1966. The Columbiana Council of Catholic Men, formed in January 1958, voted on a committee for the possibility of establishing a church. The committee met with Bishop Emmet M. Walsh of Youngstown in July 1959.

The beginning: Land was purchased at 180 Seventh St. in Columbiana. The first Mass was said in the Joshua Dixon School on Nov. 6, 1960. Groundbreaking for the church was in September 1969. The Rev. Paul Petrick officiated at the first Catholic Mass in the 157-year history of the village of Columbiana. It was first known as St. Patrick Mission. In September 1965, the Rev. Frank Lehnerd was appointed administrator of the mission and the name was changed to St. Jude Mission.

Pastors: In March 1966, Monsignor P. Breen Malone was appointed first pastor and St. Jude Mission was elevated to parish status. The first Mass and Communion were celebrated in the new church May 2, 1970. Between 1970 and 1995, five pastors served the church. The Rev. Thomas Ziegler was pastor in August 1995 and the Rev. Christopher Cicero became pastor Feb. 1, 2014.

Membership: The first Mass in November 1970 was attended by 75 people. St. Jude Church has grown to 750 families and has one of the largest congregations in Columbiana.