First Friday Club of Greater Youngstown OH

07/20/2026

If you weren't able to join us—or if you'd like to experience the presentation again—we invite you to watch the July First Friday Club of Greater Youngstown program on our YouTube channel!

We were honored to welcome Steven Kramer, D.Min., who presented "Evangelization: Encouraging an Encounter with Jesus Christ."

Thank you to everyone who joined us at Avion on the Water for this special luncheon and program. We hope you'll enjoy watching and sharing this presentation with others.

We continued the First Friday Club of Greater Youngstown 2025-26 Sp...

07/20/2026

Don't forget to register for the August First Friday. Deadline to RSVP is July 30. Hope to see you there!

07/06/2026

We wanted to make sure this was on your radar this week for those attending due to the long holiday weekend! Hope to see you there!

07/06/2026

We’re pleased to continue the First Friday Club of Greater Youngstown 2025–26 Speaker Series with our June program!

On June 4, 2026, we gathered at Avion on the Water Banquet Center for a luncheon and presentation featuring David Gibson, Ph.D., who presented “American Pope, American Church: What Leo XIV Means for U.S. Catholicism.” Dr. Gibson, an award-winning journalist and Director of Fordham University’s Center on Religion and Culture, brought deep insight from decades of reporting on the Vatican and global Catholic life.

His distinguished career includes coverage for Vatican Radio during the papacies of John Paul II and Benedict XVI, along with bylines in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, America, and Commonweal. He is also the co-author of Finding Jesus: Faith, Fact, Forgery and has produced documentaries for CNN and The History Channel.

We invite you to watch the full presentation by clicking the YouTube link below and join us for this thoughtful exploration of the Church in today’s world.

We continued the First Friday Club of Greater Youngstown 2025-26 Sp...

07/06/2026

We’re excited to share a special evening from the First Friday Club of Greater Youngstown 2025–26 Speaker Series!

On May 7, 2026, we gathered at Avion on the Water Banquet Center for a dinner and evening program featuring Professor Mathew Schmalz, who presented “Global Catholicism and the Pope.” Professor Schmalz, a leading scholar of Religious Studies at the College of the Holy Cross and founding editor of The Journal of Global Catholicism, offered thoughtful insight into the global Church, drawing from his extensive academic work, international research, and wide-ranging media experience across outlets such as NPR, BBC, and The Washington Post.

We invite you to watch the full presentation and experience this engaging conversation by clicking the YouTube link below. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from one of the foremost voices in global Catholic studies.

We continued the First Friday Club of Greater Youngstown 2025-26 Sp...

05/23/2026

Join First Friday of Greater Youngstown for our June luncheon featuring David Gibson, Ph.D., Director of the Center on Religion and Culture at Fordham University.

He will present: “American Pope, American Church: What Leo XIV Means for U.S. Catholicism”—a timely and thought-provoking conversation from one of the nation’s leading religion journalists and Vatican commentators.

📅 Thursday, June 4, 2026 | 11:30 AM
📍 Avion on the Water Banquet Center
💲 $25 per person
📞 Reservations: 330-720-4498
⏳ RSVP by Thursday, May 28

Don’t miss this engaging luncheon—reserve your seat today!

05/23/2026

Missed our April First Friday gathering? You can still experience this inspiring presentation from Kerry Alys Robinson, President of Catholic Charities USA, as she reflects on “People of Hope: Reflections on the Power of Service and Encounter.”

Her message offers a meaningful reminder of the importance of hope, compassion, and serving others with love and purpose.

We invite you to watch the presentation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bqudl-Nm7mM

Please feel free to share with others who may enjoy this uplifting conversation!

We continued the First Friday Club of Greater Youngstown 2025-26 Sp...

05/23/2026

Article by David Gibson, our June 4th luncheon speaker. Come see him live at Avion Banquet Center. Cost $25pp. Call 330-720-4498 for reservations no later than May 28th.

The document will address A.I. and its impact on humanity. He’s also staying the course on Catholic social teaching.

05/04/2026

Reminder: This month is the return of our dinner program! Doors open at 5:30 pm. Dinner is served at 6:00 pm. Our speaker, Dr. Mathew Schmalz, will speak from 6:30 -7:30 pm. We look forward to seeing everyone on Thursday evening, May 7!

03/31/2026

🌟 Missed March First Friday? Watch it now! 🌟

A big thank you to Reverend John Jerek, Pastor of St. Mary Magdalene Parish, for leading a thought-provoking talk on “Wrestling With Our Cultural Myths”—exploring how faith can help us reflect on the stories our culture tells us.

📽️ Watch the full video below.

✨ Take a moment to be inspired, reflect, and grow in hope—right from home!

We continued the First Friday Club of Greater Youngstown 2025-26 Speaker Series season with a luncheon on March 5, 2026, the FIRST Thursday in March! We welc...