Congratulations to Father David Merzweiler, who retired from active ministry earlier this year, on July 1.
Father Merzweiler was born in Akron on March 4, 1948, to parents William and Gwendolyn Merzweiler. He attended parish schools in his youth and later graduated from St. Vincent High School. He pursued seminary studies at Borromeo Seminary in Wickliffe, St. Mary Seminary in Cleveland and then at Mt. St. Mary of the West Seminary in Cincinnati, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and a Master of Divinity.After serving his diaconate internship at St. Patrick Parish in Kent, he was ordained on June 18, 1977, at St. Columba Cathedral by Bishop James Malone.
Fater Merzweiler served as associate pastor of Blessed Sacrament (now St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish) in Warren from 1977 to 1980, briefly as associate pastor at Holy Family Parish in Poland and at St. Joseph (now St. Blaise Parish) in Austintown. He also served as associate pastor at St. Charles (now St. Catherine of Siena Parish) in Boardman from 1981 to 1987, Our Lady of Peace (now Christ the Servant Parish) in Canton from 1987 to 1988 and at St. Paul Parish in Salem from 1988 to 1989.
While at Blessed Sacrament, he served as Trumbull Deanery representative to coordinate youth ministry for high school students.
In 1989, he was appointed part-time pastor of St. Mary (now St. Mary & St. Joseph Parish) in Newton Falls and St. Catherine in Lake Milton. In 1994, he was named pastor of St. James in North Jackson, while retaining his pastorate at St. Catherine. In 2010, the two parishes were merged to become Our Lady of the Lakes Parish, with Father Merzweiler as pastor. He retired from his pastorates at Our Lady of the Lakes and St. Mary and St. Joseph parishes on July 1, 2025.
Father Merzweiler’s additional special assignments include service as the dean of Mahoning County North, on the diocesan priests council and on the advisory board for the diocesan planning process.
Send your congratulations to Father Merzweiler at: 17968 Avondale Ave, Lake Milton, Ohio 44429.
