Congratulations to Very Reverend Father John-Michael Lavelle, as he celebrates 25 years in the priesthood! Today, Father Lavelle serves as the vicar for missionary discipleship for the Diocese of Youngstown, as well as the director of diocesan communications, the diocesan director of development and stewardship and the curator of the patrimony. He is also pastor at St. Michael Parish in Canfield.
A native of Hubbard, Father Lavelle attended Saint Patrick Elementary School and Hubbard High School. He graduated from Youngstown State University with a degree in Elementary Education, working in area schools prior to entering the seminary in 1995. He obtained a Master’s in Divinity degree and a Master’s degree in Religious Education from Saint Vincent Seminary, Latrobe, Pennsylvania. He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Thomas Tobin in 2000, the year of the Great Jubilee. He served as an associate pastor at Saint Mary (now Divine Mercy Parish) in Massillon and Saint Christine Parish in Youngstown, and was appointed to his first pastorate in April of 2003 at Immaculate Conception Parish in Ravenna. In 2008, he received a Doctorate in Ministry degree from Saint Mary Seminary, Cleveland. His doctoral dissertation was on the physical and spiritual restoration of parish communities. In 2012, He was appointed Pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Niles.
Along with his role as pastor, he has also served the diocese as Pastoral Director CTNY (Catholic Television Network of Youngstown), Director of Advancement for Catholic Charities, Director of the Annual Bishop’s Appeal and Director of Faith Formation at John F. Kennedy Catholic School in Warren. Father Lavelle currently serves on the Presbyteral Council, the Diocese of Youngstown Foundation Board and Priests’ Retirement Board, as well as the College of Consultors.
Father Lavelle’s family (mother Nancy; sister Kristin, her husband Josh, and their children: Michael, Brayden, and Abigail) all reside in Hubbard. His father, Jack, and sister, Wendy are deceased. Father’s favorite line from Sacred Scripture is “The Lord loves a cheerful giver!” (2 Corinthians 9:7). Send your congratulations to Father Lavelle at: St. Michael Parish, 300 North Broad Street, Canfield, OH 44406.
