holy name of jesus church

The 100th anniversary of Holy Name of Jesus Church will be marked at a Mass at 4 p.m. Oct. 1 at the church, 613 N. Lakeview Ave., Youngstown, with Bishop George V. Murry and Monsignor Peter M. Polando. Dinner will follow at Father Snock Center at St. Matthias Church, 915 Cornell St., Youngstown.

The beginning: In the early 1900s, the West Side of Youngstown was known as Steelton area because of its proximity to steel mills, where work attracted Slovak immigrants. As more Slovaks arrived, they organized a new church Jan. 18, 1914, at the home of Joseph Sopkovic. The name Holy Name of Jesus was suggested. The group bought land on North Lakeview Avenue. Ground was broken for a new church and rectory on Sept. 13, 1916; dedication was June 2, 1918.

1920s-1950s: In 1920, a parish school is organized with the help of Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown; construction begins in 1926; dedication is Sept. 18, 1927. During the Depression, St. Vincent de Paul Society was formed. Holy Name Society and Ladies Guild were organized. Church bought nearby property; it became Kocis Field, named for Rev. Stephen G. Kocis, pastor.

1960s-1980s: The Rev. George M. Franko, assistant pastor 1951-1963, returned as pastor in 1968 and served to July 1989 when he retired. A parish council formed in 1968. Improvements were made to church and grounds. Mosaics of Our Sorrowful Mother and Sts. Cyril and Methodius were installed in the sanctuary. A senior citizens group began in 1970. Slovak liturgies were featured. Father Franko was Group 17 chaplain of Slovak Catholic Sokols and spiritual adviser of Slovak Catholic Federation Youngstown Region.

1990s to present: School closed. Monsignor Peter Polando, administrator, and saw merger of Holy Name, St. Matthias and Sts. Cyril and Methodius as Our Lady of Sorrows Parish. The Rev. Martin Celuch was pastor in 2013; in 2016, the Rev. John Jerek is pastor.