Father John Lody, a retired priest, was ordained for the Youngstown Diocese December 30, 1962, by Bishop Emmet Walsh in St. Columba Cathedral. He retired in 2006 having served in a range of assignments in various parts of the diocese.
A Warren native, he attended Garfield School in Warren for a while and later St. Mary Grade School and Warren St. Mary High School (the predecessor to John F. Kennedy (JFK) High School) and John Carroll Uiversity near Cleveland before pursuing studies for the priesthood at St. Gregory and Mount St. Mary of the West seminaries in Cincinnati. In addition to his master’s in divinity he holds a master’s in education from Xavier University in Cincinnati. He also pursued studies during summers the Catholic University of America in Washington, and the University of Notre Dame.
His first assignment following ordination was associate pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Alliance, where he served from 1963 to 1966. While in Alliance he also served as chaplain of the Knights of Columbus, chaplain for the Newman Club at Mount Union College, taught at Thomas Aquinas High School in St. Louisville, and was a member of their anti-poverty commission. That assignment was followed by several as associate pastor at St. Paul Parish in North Canton (1966-67), St. Joseph Parish in Maximo (1967), and St. Nicholas Parish in Struthers(1973-74). He also taught at John F. Kennedy High School (JFK) from 1967-71 and Ursuline High School from 1971-74.
Father Lody assumed his first pastorate, St. Pius X in Warren 1974. He served there until he was appointed pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Aurora in July 1982. He became pastor of St. Joan of Arc Parish in Canton in July 1986 and served there until he was appointed pastor of SS. Philip and James Parish in Canal Fulton in August 1995. He was named pastor of St. Bernadette Parish in Masury in August of 2001 and retired on July 1, 2006.
Father Lody has also served a six-year term as dean of Stark County and served on the diocesan Financial Advisory Board, the Priests Retirement Board and the Diocesan Liturgical Commission.
 In his retirement, Father Lody has assisted at numerous parishes as-needed in various parts of the diocese until a few years ago.Â
