VIENNA — Varied facts and statistics relating to the Diocese of Youngstown were shared at a recent program hosted by the Vienna Historical Society.

Joan Lawson, chancellor/archivist for the Diocese, led the program, which included Vienna’s connections to the Diocese including St. Joseph Church — an early Catholic church located in Vienna — to the present day St. Vincent de Paul Church, which is now known as St. Thomas the Apostle Church after it merged with St. Bernadette in Masury.

Lawson, whose career includes public history, archiving and church ministry, said in 1943, Youngstown was

selected as the location for the Diocese of Youngstown headquarters, noting that the city at the time was the largest of the six counties represented by the Diocese — Ashtabula, Columbiana, Trumbull, Mahoning, Portage and Stark.

“Even though it was not a central location for the six counties, Youngstown was the biggest city at that time,” Lawson said.

She said the first bishop for the Diocese of Youngstown was Bishop James McFadden of Cleveland starting in 1943.

He was active as an assistant bishop in Cleveland and had done some work in the Youngstown area. McFadden was installed as bishop at St. Columba Cathedral

Lawson said in the 1940s, many Catholic families had victory gardens in which they grew their own vegetables.

With America celebrating its 250th anniversary this year, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence was Charles Carroll of Carrolltown. He later became the first bishop of the United States in 1789.

Over the years, many churches and parishes were established throughout the Diocese.

In the 1800s, St. Columba in Youngstown and St. Mary in Warren were established.

In 1853, Niles St. Stephens began and in 1864, Hubbard St. Patrick began.

VIENNA CHURCH

Lawson said a Catholic church was established in Vienna in 1871 and was organized under the direction of Rev. JT Shaffeld. It was dedicated in 1878, but by the turn of the century, only six families remained,

Rev. Michael Coan, a pastor from Girard, organized and had a small parish built in Vienna known as St. Vincent de Paul, which was dedicated in 1934. This was Coan’s second undertaking in having a church built with another church built in McDonald.

Father Richard Gaffney was the first pastor of St. Vincent de Paul. She said there were many people who attended that church because the community had a lot of men working in coal mining in Vienna.

She said many of the parishes were language based, with many Slovak and Polish families.

STATISTICS

Lawson said during World War II, the Diocese of Youngstown had 145,000 Catholics, 86 parishes and 54 Catholic elementary schools. By 1968, the parishes had increased to 112 with Catholics totaling 287,000.

Today, there are 115,000 Catholics and 60 parishes in the Diocese.

Lawson said over the years, the number of priests had declined from 130 in 1943 to 45 in 2026.

Following Bishop McFadden was Bishop Emmett Walsh from 1952 to 1968 and then Bishop James Malone from 1968 to 1993. Bishop Thomas Tobin served next starting in the 1990s followed by Bishop Gerorge Murry and then Bishop David Bonnar.

Lawson said during Walsh’s time as bishop, the cathedral was struck by lightning and caught fire in September 1954.

She said while no one died in the fire, the cathedral had to be rebuilt and is known for its large columns..

Lawson said the Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown have been very active in their service to the Diocese of Youngstown with work in health care and education.