The Diocese of Youngstown ordains two new priests—Father Kevin Bertleff and Father William Wainio
On June 1, the Diocese of Youngstown welcomed its two newest priests—Father Kevin Bertleff and Father William Wainio—in an ordination Mass celebrated by Bishop David Bonnar at St. Columba Cathedral.
The ordination Mass was the culmination of a long spiritual journey in which both men struggled to determine God’s plan for their lives. The new priests conveyed feelings of joy and hopefulness but acknowledged the occasion’s solemnity.
“I tried to be present during this remarkable two-hour ceremony, but my mind was racing,” Father Bertleff recalled. “I was especially moved during that part of the ceremony in which I was lying on the marble of the cathedral floor, dedicating my life to the service of the Lord.”
Father Wainio reflected on the moment when Cleveland Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost and Father Kevin Peters, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Canton and dean of Stark County West, vested him with the priest’s stole and chasuble. “It was a joy and a privilege to have two of the most influential figures in my life on hand to participate in my ordination,” he said.
During the Mass, the new priests received their respective assignments. Father Bertleff was appointed as administrator of the newly merged parishes of St. Joseph in Mogadore and St. Peter of the Fields in Rootstown, now known as St. John Neumann Parish. Father Wainio was named parochial vicar of St. Patrick Parish and University Parish Newman Center in Kent.
Each priest brings a unique perspective to his role. Father Bertleff worked for more than a decade in the business world before experiencing an urgent call to the priesthood, while Father Wainio sensed a vocation at a young age. Yet, both men explored possibilities outside priestly life as part of their discernment process.
Father Bertleff, son of John and Kathleen Bertleff, grew up as a parishioner of St. Robert Bellarmine Parish in Cortland, where he was struck by the example of then-pastor Father Carl Kish. “One of the things I admired most about him was that he knew everybody,” Father Bertleff stated. “He wanted a close connection with members of his parish community, and that’s something I would like to emulate.”
Father Bertleff added that many others were involved in his faith formation. “My parents regularly took me to Mass and introduced me to the gifts of the Church,” he said. “My grandparents, who had passed by the time I was in discernment, modeled their faith in a way that left a lasting impression on me.”
After graduating from Lakeview Schools, Father Bertleff attended Mount Union College in Alliance, where he majored in sports management and business. “I was active in my faith while in school, but I was also living a conventional college life,” he explained. “I was caught between worldliness and spirituality.”
A roommate’s decision to enter the seminary after graduating “nudged” Father Bertleff in the direction of a priestly vocation. “I had just completed an internship in the company where I would work for the next 11 years, so it was bad timing,” he noted. “But God never stops pursuing us. It just took me a while to sit in silence and listen to what God wanted me to do.”
Father Wainio considered a vocation while still in primary school. The son of Anthony and Cynthia Wainio, he attended St. Luke School in Boardman and Ursuline High School in Youngstown. He indicated that a key figure in his early spiritual development was his great-grandmother, Clotilde “Goldie” Rega, who introduced him to the devotions of the Church, such as praying the Rosary.
The Wainio family had generational connections to Immaculate Conception Parish, once located on Youngstown’s east side. After moving to Boardman, they joined St. Luke Parish, where young William was introduced to Father Joseph Fata, who served as pastor from 1990 until his death in 2016.
“I was a child then, so he was six times taller than I was,” Father Wainio recalled. He added that the priest loomed large during those formative years, supervising him as an altar server and encouraging his interest in a vocation. “Father Fata was a welcoming presence and genuinely loved the people entrusted to his care,” Father Wainio said. “His approach was in-line with Pope Francis’ advice: you meet people where they are and accompany them on their journey of faith.”
The future priest blossomed as a student at Ursuline High School, where he graduated in 2011. Role models there included Father Richard Murphy, who was appointed as the high school’s president in 2011, and Father Kenneth Miller, who was a faculty member.
Father Wainio went on to attend Youngstown State University, where he found himself drawn to other vocations. He considered a military career and explored the options of working as a funeral director or an emergency medical technician (EMT). “I didn’t complete EMT training, but my interest in the field led me to work as a 911 operator between October 2013 and July 2017,” he explained. He worked as a part-time operator for Beaver and Springfield townships and full-time operator for Boardman Township. In 2019, Father Wainio earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from John Carroll University near Cleveland.
Both men described turning points that pushed them decisively in the direction of a vocation.
Father Bertleff’s call took place in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where he was working for a small business that provided signage, graphics and interior hospitality items for clients, including the PGA Tour. “I was doing a lot of traveling, and it became clear to me that my faith was no longer central to my life,” he recalled.
His situation improved when he joined neighboring St. Leo Parish and became involved in a men’s Bible study group. “We met on Thursday mornings at 6:30 a.m., shortly before we went to work,” he explained. “A few of those men inspired me with their faith. So, I found myself praying more and asking God what he wanted me to do with my life. That was the question that changed everything.”
This question often arose in the context of prayer, and he began to discuss his plans with others, including one member of the study group who had emerged as a “father figure.” “He was very excited when I told him that I was moving back to Ohio to enter the seminary,” Father Bertleff said. “Sadly, he passed away not long after my departure, so I traveled back down to North Carolina for his funeral shortly before entering the seminary. I still feel his presence at times.”
Father Bertleff’s relationships with some members of the men’s study group remain strong, and several of them traveled from North Carolina to Ohio for his ordination.
Upon entering Saint Mary Seminary and Graduate School of Theology in Wickliffe, Father Bertleff benefited from additional support. “Some of the people that were extraordinarily impactful in the discernment process were members of the seminary community,” he said. “Apart from my brother seminarians, the faculty and staff members were incredibly supportive.”
For Father Wainio, the void created by the death of his longtime mentor, Father Fata, in 2016, was eventually filled by Father Kevin Peters, pastor of St. Angela Merici Parish.
“Father Fata taught me so much about being a good priest,” Father Wainio said. “But Father Peters helped me to understand the importance of the discernment process—that is, discerning what God wants for you. This involves knowing how to pray, what to ask for and what to listen for. You also need to be sensitive to the ways in which God’s response is manifested.”
Meanwhile, Father Peters helped broaden the younger man’s horizons by introducing him to new ministries. “He provided opportunities to work with people who were then outside my experience,” Father Wainio explained. “He exposed me to prison ministry, where I learned to appreciate people who were dealing with unimaginable challenges.”
This past spring, Father Wainio earned a Master of Arts in Theology and a Master of Divinity from St. Mary Seminary and Graduate School of Theology. During his studies, he was strongly influenced by Bishop Michael Woost, who continued to teach at the seminary after his episcopal ordination in August 2022.
Throughout their respective journeys, both priests have benefited from the support of their families. Shortly after his ordination, Father Bertleff joined relatives in Ocean City, Maryland, where his family members have vacationed for years. “It was a special experience to say Mass for them,” he said. “My youngest nephew, who just had his First Communion, served at the altar for the first time. I was touched by how excited they were to have a priest in the family.”
Father Wainio pointed out that while his relatives supported his vocation, they did not harbor any expectations. “I never felt pressured to pursue a vocation,” he explained. “Everyone was supportive, but they didn’t necessarily pray that I would become a priest. They prayed that I would pursue the path that God intended for me.”
While neither man suggested he had second thoughts about the chain of events that led him to the priesthood, both indicated they learned lessons from their experiences.
“I have no regrets about the way my life has unfolded, but I tend to advise young men who are considering the priesthood to examine other options while they’re in high school,” Father Wainio explained. “Even though I was drawn to a vocation early on, I didn’t start to explore other possibilities until I was a young adult. I think others can learn from my experience.”
“One thing I might have done during the early stages of the discernment process was to share with others,” Father Bertleff acknowledged. “I kept my feelings close to the vest, as though discernment were between me and God. We’re all made for community. It’s never ‘me and Jesus.’ It’s ‘we and Jesus.’”
