Deacons of the DOY

03/03/2026

From Fr. Lavelle:
Please keep in prayer the repose of the soul of Deacon James Smith, who passed away on February 28, 2026.

Calling hours will be on March 5, 2026, from 4-7pm at McCauley Funeral Home, 230 Broadway Avenue, Youngstown, OH 44504

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on March 6, 2026 at 11am at Saint Edward Church (Saint Columba Cathedral Parish) in Youngstown.

Pictured are Deacon Jim and his late wife Kathleen.

02/23/2026

From Very Reverend John-Michael Lavelle:

With sadness, I am writing to inform you of the passing of Kathy Kocjancic, the wife of Deacon Michael Kocjancic, after a short battle with cancer.

Calling hours will be from 9:00am - 11:00am on Thursday, February 26, 2026 at the Higgins Reardon Funeral Home, 3701 Starr's Center Drive, Canfield, OH 44406.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30am on Thursday, February 26, 2026 at Saint Charles Church (Saint Catherine of Siena Parish), 7345 Westview Drive, Boardman, OH 44512.

February 21, 2026

02/15/2026

Please keep in prayer the repose of the soul of Deacon Gerald Savo, Sr., who passed away on February 12, 2026.

Calling hours will be on Wednesday, February 18, 2026 from 4-7pm at the Higgins Reardon Funeral Home at 4303 Mahoning Ave. in Austintown.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am on February 19, 2026 at Saint Joseph Church (Saint Blaise Parish) on New Road in Austintown.

View Gerald L. Savo Sr.'s obituary, send flowers and sign the guestbook.

02/13/2026

Please keep in prayer the repose of the soul of Deacon Donald Molinari, retired Permanent Deacon of Saint Joseph Church, now part of Divine Mercy Parish, who passed away on Tuesday, February 10, 2026.

Calling Hours will be on Wednesday, February 25, 2026 from 5-8pm at
The Paquelet Funeral Home,
1100 Wales Road NE,
Massillon, OH 44646.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be on
Thursday, February 26, 2026 at
Saint Joseph Church (Divine Mercy Parish in Massillon).
322 Third Street, S. E.
Massillon, OH 44646

https://www.paquelet.com/obituaries/deacon-donald-molinari

02/08/2026

From Deacon Bill Bancroft:
PLEASE SAVE THE DATES- AUGUST 21 AND 22, 2026

We have been in contact with Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers to be our retreat leader this year!!! I am currently working on the schedule for the weekend, but Deacon Harold will be presenting five (5) talks for us. The topics (tentative) are as follows;

1. The Diaconate
2. Rich in Mercy
3. Eucharist / Evangelization
4. The Marian Heart of Suffering
5. Prayer-Holy Spirit

I will be finalizing the Schedule and Registration Form and will get it out as soon as possible. The Registration Form will be due back to me by July 31st.

Videos for Dynamic Catholic Speaker, Author, and TV & Radio personality Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers. Deacon Harold one of the the most sought-after Catholic speakers in the Church today. He is a powerful and passionate evangelist and preacher, whose no-nonsense approach to living and proclaiming the....

01/22/2026

Calling all Youngstown Diocese Deacons. This Saturday morning, January 24 at 10:30 AM, is our day to shine as Bishop Bonnar adds two brand new deacons to our diaconate community. Plan to vest and welcome these new brother deacons, Rick Hull and Matt Richards, to our joyful community.

11/25/2025

Calling hours for Deacon Russ O'Neill will be held at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Uniontown on Tuesday from 4:30-7:00 pm. His funeral Mass will be Wednesday at Holy Spirit at 11:00 am with a meal to follow. We hope you can join us to celebrate his life.

View Russell J. O'Neill's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

11/24/2025

We lost another brother deacon this morning. Pat O'Neil posted about the death of Deacon Russ O'Neil today.

This morning, we had to say goodbye to the love of my life. I held his hand till his last breath. We were blessed with 49 years of marriage, 3 amazing children and our 5 grandchildren. He loved all of us and got us through the rough times and the joyous times. We traveled, we stood by each other in every messy part of life and learned to enjoy all the small moments of being each other's soul mate.
I will miss him, but he is living a pain free life now, with all of the family that have gone before him to heaven. Hope they are having a grand party tonight!

11/10/2025

Our brother deacon Paul Milligan has lost his sweetheart. Calling hours are Thursday, November 13 from 4-6pm at Kinnick Funeral Home at 222 S. State St, Girard, OH 44420. Her funeral is Friday, November 14, at 11 am at St. Rose Church, 48 East Main St. Girard, OH 44420.

08/23/2025

Thank you for a great retreat at the Villa this year. Bishop Bonnar surprised us with news of the start of gathering a new ordination class of deacons for our diocese. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUcuQ-ifAuI

07/13/2025

Retreat Registration Form.