Parishioners, former parishioners, and even Bishop David Bonnar gathered at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Aurora, Portage County, on April 29, to bid farewell to Father Shawn Conoboy.
Father Conoboy—who had been pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help since 2019 and later assumed the additional responsibilities of pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Mantua and St. Ambrose parish in Garrettsville, as well as adjunct theology professor at Walsh University and various diocesan positions—has been released from diocesan service for service to the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development beginning June 1.
The Dicastery “promotes the integral development of the person in light of the Gospel” and the social doctrine of the Church—particularly in fostering justice, peace, the safeguarding of creation, disarmament, recognition of human dignity and human rights for the vulnerable, marginalized and refugees, according to a dicastery statement. Father Conoboy now works for the section of the Dicastery which interacts with local Bishops’ Conferences around the world to help identify the material needs of the local church and to support their action plans.
At the farewell Mass, the departing pastor thanked his parishioners, noting that “our time together has been too short,” but praised their efforts and encouraged them to “continue to be the Church and to lead the Church” in positive directions.
Father Conoboy also thanked family members and friends who came in from his hometown of Jefferson, Ashtabula County, quipping that they should “feel free not to share stories” of his growing up, which drew laughter from the congregation. He also praised former parishioners from various parts of the diocese for driving to the Portage County parish, “practically Cleveland” he said.
In his homily, Bishop Bonnar said, “I come here this evening to personally thank Father Shawn Conoboy for his life and ministry for the Diocese of Youngstown,” eliciting applause from the congregation. He also thanked Father Conoboy’s family for their role in his formation.
He praised Father Conoboy as a true shepherd for the parishes that he has served and for taking on such diocesan assignments as director of ecumenical and interreligious affairs, adjunct professor at Walsh and theological consultant for the bishop.
“Your absence will create a huge void in our diocese,” Bishop Bonnar told Father Conoboy, but he agreed to the request by Cardinal Michael Czerny, head of the Dicastery, “for the greater good of the universal Church,” with confidence that “in our loss God will provide.”
Bishop Bonnar also reiterated that Father Conoboy will continue as a priest of the Youngstown Diocese and will go forth “with our prayers” and with confidence that “God, who has begun this good work in you, will bring it to completion.”
Ordained in 2006, Father Conoboy has served as associate pastor for St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Boardman and Christ the Good Shepherd Parish in Campbell—later becoming pastor. He served as sacramental minister for Holy Family Parish in Navarre and Brewster and administrator of St. Mary and St. Joseph Parish in Newtown Falls. He also worked with the Hartville Migrant Ministry, including celebrating Mass in Spanish.
He has been pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Aurora since 2019, taking on the additional duties of pastor of Mantua St. Joseph and Garrettsville St. Ambrose in 2022. He simultaneously completed his doctorate in theology at Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, in 2021.
In addition, Father Conoboy has served as chairman of the diocesan presbyteral council. His ecumenical work has included membership in the Youngstown-Warren Chapter of the Society of St. John Chrysostom, an ecumenical association of clergy and laity working to promote appreciation of Eastern Christianity, and on the local Lutheran-Catholic Covenant Commission.
Father Conoboy said that service “to the most vulnerable has been a consistent focus throughout my life and ministry … I look forward to serving God’s people and Christ’s Church in this new way at the dicastery.”
Present and former parishioners who came for the Mass and a reception afterwards in the parish hall expressed gratitude for Father Conoboy’s ministry and offered prayers and good wishes for his new assignment.
Hanna and Chris Sloe, Our Lady of Perpetual Help parishioners who were recently married in the parish, praised Father Conoboy for his dedication. “He is selfless,” said Chris, noting that Father Conoboy officiated at their wedding and worked with them to prepare for married life.
“With all that he had going on, he met with us regularly,” Hanna added.
“Father Shawn is a holy priest who is dedicated to his parishioners,” said John Melich. “We’re sorry to see him go, but happy for his opportunity for him.”
“He is going to be missed,” said Marcy Sebest, a parishioner at Christ the Good Shepherd in Campbell, who came in to bid farewell and express appreciation for her former pastor. “It will be interesting to see where this takes him.”
