Communications updates
Bishop Bonnar has appointed Meagen Farrell as communications and social concerns director of the diocese. In the Office of Peace and Justice, Farrell has taken on the responsibilities of supporting diocesan Prison Ministry and parish Respect Life initiatives, in addition to supervising diocesan multimedia productions. She has also become the diocesan contact for legislative advocacy, Catholic Relief Services and the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. Farrell is working toward a doctorate of philosophy at Kent State University, researching the application of Catholic ethics to AI literacy. She previously earned a master of arts in theology and religious studies from John Carroll University, with a focus on women in Christian ministry.
Other Communication Department updates include: 1) The twice-monthly Catholic Echo Podcast, hosted by public relations and media specialist Dennis Biviano, has added video highlights to the existing podcast format; 2) Paulina Montaldo, Spanish and broadcast journalism teacher at Ursuline High School and translator for the diocese, is producing a monthly video series on Hispanic Ministry available at www.catholicecho.org; 3) the diocesan Office of Church Vocations is launching a new monthly video podcast on August 4, the Feast of St John Vianney. Vocations Director and host Father William Wainio will feature vocation stories in both video and audio formats. Visit www.doy.org/vocations/.
Remaining county fair Masses this year are: the Columbiana County Fair (Lisbon) on Sunday, August 9, at 8 a.m. in the Arts and Crafts Building, with Father Kevin Peters celebrating; the Ashtabula County Fair (Jefferson) on Sunday, August 16, at 7:30 a.m. in the Bernard Pavilion, with Father John Ettinger celebrating; the Portage County Fair (Randolph) on Sunday, August 30, at 8 a.m. in the Hubbard Building, with Father Jim Lang celebrating; the Stark County Fair (Canton) on Sunday, September 6, at 8 a.m. in the pavilion, with Father Jim Lang celebrating; and the Mahoning County Fair (Canfield) on Sunday, September 6, at 8 a.m. in the 4-H Show Coliseum, with Father Kevin Peters celebrating. In the photo above, Father Jim Lang greets the faithful after the Stark County Fair Mass in 2025.
Congratulations, Deacon Arthur!
Seminarian Arthur Bodenschatz was ordained a transitional deacon on Saturday, June 6, at St. Paul Parish in North Canton (Stark County). Deacon Bodenschatz will return to Saint Mary Seminary and Graduate School of Theology in Wickliffe, Ohio, this month, to complete his priestly studies. He is expected to be ordained to the priesthood in the summer of 2027. Deacon Bodenschatz is the son of Gary and Nicole Bodenschatz and a parishioner of Saint Paul Parish in North Canton, and he is a 2018 graduate of Hoover High School.
