LIFTING MOMS OUT OF POVERTY
Catholic Charities Serving Portage and Stark Counties has been selected to participate in a national pilot program called Lifting Moms Out of Poverty (LMOP), developed by Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA). This initiative is designed to help young families overcome barriers to success by building on the existing First Step program. Through LMOP, Catholic Charities is able to offer enhanced case management and expanded material assistance to qualifying families. This includes help with non-traditional expenses, such as court costs, driver’s license reinstatement and educational fees, and access to job skill training, and employment connections, through partnering agencies in Portage and Stark Counties. To learn more, call the Canton office at 330-491-0896 or the Ravenna office at 330-297-7745.
SOMOS YOUNGSTOWN
Paulina Montaldo, Spanish and broadcast journalism teacher at Ursuline High School and parishioner at St. Dominic Parish in Youngstown, has launched a new Spanish-language YouTube program dedicated to both highlighting the contributions of the Hispanic community in the region and providing valuable information about available services for Spanish speakers. Somos Youngstown is broadcast almost completely in Spanish and airs every Sunday, highlighting events like the Our Lady of Gaudalupe Mass, Las Posadas and more. Visit www.SomosYoungstown.com for more information.
Two Diocese of Youngstown women were elected to the 2025-2027 Ohio State board of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians. Cindee Case, of St. Blaise Parish in Austintown, consultant for the diocesan office of Faith Formation and Lay Ecclesial Ministry, was elected president. Michelle Neal of St. Christine Parish in Youngstown was elected missions & charities officer. Above are the board members elected on June 27, from left, standing: Michelle Neal, Colleen Griffin, Lisa O’Connell-Paccioretti, Nicky Parks-Norris. Seated: Judy Leddy, Marie Rizzo, Cindee Case and Lynette McMullen
LIFELONG LEARNING
The diocese offers faith formation opportunities to any adult who belongs to a diocesan parish. A new lineup of courses—both for core hours and general hours—is available for the fall season. Offerings include: Introduction to Catholic Morality, starting online on September 8; Catholic Belief and Tradition, starting online on September 15; Mysteries of the Rosary, starting online on September 22; and “Saints and Sinners: A Survey of the History of the Catholic Church,” presented by Father John Sheridan at the Divine Mercy Parish Life Center in Massillon. Please visit Catechist Cafe, https://catechistcafe.weebly.com/catechist-courses.html for details on these classes, to see additional courses and to learn how to enroll. Contact Margie Hynes at 330-744-8451 ext. 296 or mhynes@youngstowndiocese.org with any questions.
CATECHETICAL SUNDAY
“Always be ready to give an explanation … for a reason for your hope” is the theme for the 2025 Catechetical Sunday, observed on September 21. All parishes in the United States will recognize the Ministry of the Word and those who have dedicated themselves to passing on the faith. Some parishes may mark this event with a commissioning of catechists—including catechists of children in parish faith formation and the school and facilitators of OCIA, Bible studies and other small faith sharing groups—during Sunday liturgies. Parishes may also have a blessing for parents, since they are the first catechists of their children. Check your parish’s bulletin for more details.
DIOCESAN CEMETERY EVENTS
Our four diocesan cemeteries—Calvary in Youngstown, Resurrection in Austintown, Calvary in Massillon and All Souls in Cortland—offer monthly events. First, you can pray the Rosary on the first Wednesday of the month at 10 a.m. in the chapels of any of the four Diocesan Cemeteries. Catholic Funeral and Cemetery Services also offers the Chaplet of Divine Mercy Prayer Service in the chapels of the cemeteries at 3 p.m. every Friday, at alternating locations. Visit www.doy.org/cemeteries/ to learn more.
