YOUNGSTOWN — The Diocese of Youngstown has announced three churches in Columbiana County will be merging effective Jan. 1.

Bishop David J. Bonnar said the merger of St. Jude and Our Lady of Lourdes, both in Columbiana, and St. Patrick in Leetonia will merge with the new parish name forthcoming. Bonnar said on Nov. 17, a petition from three pastoral and financial councils was presented to the Diocesan Presbyteral Council requesting a merger into “one vibrant parish.”

He said the petition cited the acute shortage of priests as well as the declining number of parishioners participating at the weekend Masses. The Presbyteral Council unanimously recommended to Bonnar that the three parishes become one.

Officials said Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Patrick will be used as sites for the celebration of feast days and date of dedication, baptisms, marriages and Masses of Christian Burial and one weekday mass per site.

The Rev. Chad Johnson has been appointed as pastor. Deacon Christopher Evans and Deacon Lawrence Pasko will serve as deacons.

“Change is never easy, but these changes are necessitated by our lack of clergy resources and financial challenges. I believe we are always stronger when we are together. This new arrangement will allow for an even more vibrant faith community for years to come. The church is a living organism and more than just bricks and mortar. I invite the faithful of the newly merged parish to work with their pastor in bringing life and unity to this portion of the Lord’s vineyard,” Bonnar said in a statement.