Congratulations to Father Edward Noga, retired diocesan priest and pastor emeritus of St. Patrick Parish in Youngstown, who is celebrating his 50th anniversary as a priest.
Father Noga was born in Youngstown in 1949 to Edward J. and Alice Koly Noga, one of nine children. He attended Immaculate Heart of Mary School in Austintown and Ursuline High School in Youngstown before enrolling in St. Gregory Seminary in Cincinnati, where he completed high school and began undergraduate study. He progressed to Mount St. Mary of West Seminary in Cincinnati for his master’s in divinity. While a seminarian, he served for six summers as a counselor at Father Kane Camp on Lake Milton—the last two as head counselor for boys. He also did field work from January to May of 1983 with the Maryknoll Fathers in Mexico and Central America.
Ordained by Bishop James Malone in February 1976, he initially served as pro-tem associate pastor for St. James in Warren (now part of St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish) before becoming associate pastor of St. Christine in Youngstown (now part of St. Mary Magdelene Parish).
In 1979, he was transferred as associate pastor to St. Joan of Arc in Canton (now part of Guardian Angels Parish). He remained there until he was assigned in 1981 to Immaculate Heart of Mary in Austintown (now part of St. Blaise Parish), first as associate pastor pro-tem and then as associate pastor.
Father Noga was named to the steering committee for the Diocesan Priorities Study in 1983 and to the diocesan planning committee.
In April of 1985, he was named to his first pastorate, St. Patrick Parish in Youngstown, where he would serve for more than three decades—overseeing renovations at the church and the parish’s various social ministries. For more than a decade he has been part of a team that ministers to inmates of the Ohio State Penitentiary on the East Side of Youngstown—often referred to as “the Supermax.” For a time he was involved in ministry at the Mahoning County Jail.
In addition, Father Noga has served as a member of the diocesan board of education, as a charter member of the Alliance for Congregational Transformation Influencing Our Community (ACTION), and in various community organizations. He has also served two two-year terms as a representative on the diocesan Priest Personnel Board.
Anyone interested in sending congratulations to Father Noga can do so at: 201 W Federal St – 204, Youngstown 44503.
