Several historic Catholic churches in Ashtabula and Portage counties in Ohio will close permanently for all sacred and religious activities. The Diocese of Youngstown announced that both the Mother of Sorrows and Saint Joseph churches in Ashtabula will be “reduced to profane but not sordid use,” effective November 30, 2025. This closure is part of a broader trend of declining church attendance and aging church infrastructure affecting the region.
The decision follows a merger in 2011 that consolidated three churches into the Our Lady of Peace Parish, located within a two-mile radius. In Portage County, the Saint Peter of the Fields church in Rootstown will also close, primarily due to severe water damage that has rendered the building unusable for some time. According to diocese officials, the church had not hosted Mass services for several years.
Monsignor John Zuraw from the Diocese of Youngstown explained that the closures are driven by multiple factors, including the need for extensive repairs on aging buildings, decreasing parish populations, and a shortage of priests. “With the decline of population, we are doing our best effort to consolidate these parishes so that people continue to worship and continue to be a part of vibrant communities,” he stated. The diocese currently has 45 active priests serving 68 parishes, often leading multiple ministries.
The Mother of Sorrows church has sustained ceiling damage that could be repaired; however, the diocese noted that such work would only address a limited area and does not guarantee long-term viability. Saint Joseph church has several urgent needs, but due to the neighborhood’s decline, a sign-up procedure was instituted to safeguard parishioners and property for weekly prayer. The church has seen little participation in preserving its spiritual and historical heritage.
For longtime parishioners like Louie Parco, the news of the closures is a personal loss. Parco, who served as an altar boy at Mother of Sorrows, expressed deep concern. “It means a lot. It really does. It means a lot to the people around here. I hope they don’t tear it down,” he said. Community members share his sentiments, worrying about the inconvenience of traveling further for services when they have a “beautiful” church in their neighborhood.
The future of the church buildings is uncertain, with local church officials set to determine whether the properties will be sold or if they can remain standing given the extensive repairs required. Bishop David Bonnar of the Diocese of Youngstown acknowledged the challenges surrounding these decisions. He emphasized the need for the church to “live in reality” and adapt to the changing circumstances, even when such adjustments are painful.
“The Church is more than bricks and mortar,” Bonnar stated. “The Church is the people of God living out their faith as a community of believers in Jesus Christ continuing his mission of love and mercy.”
These closures align with the diocese’s ongoing Diocesan Pastoral Plan, originally developed in 2019 to address shifting demographics and to maintain a focus on ministry amidst operational challenges. This plan is a response to the realities faced by many religious institutions in today’s changing landscape.
