Congratulations to Father John Madden, retired diocesan priest and pastor emeritus of St. Margaret Mary Alocoque Parish in Orwell, on 40 years in the priesthood.
Father Madden was born in East Palestine in1950 to Hugh and Kathleen Madden—one of nine children. He graduated from East Palestine High School, where he first experienced a sense of a calling to the priesthood, in 1969.
He began his college studies at Youngstown State University (YSU) studying political science, but later transferred to Walsh College, now Walsh University, graduating in 1973 with a degree in history.
After graduating, he pursued various jobs before returning to YSU to earn a bachelor’s in business with a concentration in public administration. After earning that degree, he worked for two years in insurance sales before again feeling the call to the priesthood. After applying for and being accepted into the Youngstown diocesan priestly formation program, he began priestly studies in 1981 at Mount St. Mary Seminary in Cincinnati.
He graduated in 1986 and was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop James Malone in St. Columba Cathedra. He was first assigned as associate pastor at Blessed Sacrament in Warren (now part of St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish). After five years, he was transferred to St. Nicholas in Struthers (now part of Christ Our Savior Parish), where he served for six years.
In 1997, Father Madden was appointed to his first pastorate—being named pastor of two parishes in Newton Falls—St. Mary and St. Joseph. The two parishes were merged in 2008.
In 2006, he was assigned as administrator for Our Lady of Perpetual Help in McDonald (now part of Queen of Heaven Parish). The next year, he was named pastor.
From 2012 to 2013, he served as pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Ravenna (now part of St. Katherine Drexel Parish).
In 2013, he received another joint assignment as pastor of St. Mary in Orwell and Sacred Heart in Rock Creek, where he continued to serve until his retirement in 2021. Those two parishes were consolidated into one community, St. Margaret Mary Alocoque Parish in 2025.
In retirement, Father Madden for a time assisted at diocesan parishes and was in residence at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in McDonald.
In 2026, he was appointed sacramental minister at St. Columba Cathedral with residence there.
Anyone wishing to send congratulations to Father Madden can do so at St. Columba: 154 W. Wood St., Youngstown, Ohio 44503.
