HISTORY AT A GLANCE

YEAR PASTOR* IMPORTANT EVENTS

1915 Fr. William Gallena Provisional Pastor. Membership was at 20 families. A Mission
Church was established, meeting a the Knight of Pythias Hall
on North Broadway, later moved to the Munger Building
(southwest corner of town center). Under Pope Benedict XV O.F.S.
1915 Fr. Leo Collins
1918 Fr. M.J . Ready World War I
1919 Fr. Daniel Gallagher Membership was at 25 families.
1922 Fr. Gallagher, the first "resident pastor". Membership now at
35 families. Land was purchased at West Main Street at
Lockwood for the site of a new church. Under Pope Pius XI
O.F.S.
1924 Ground was broken for the new church on April 14. On May
25, the cornerstone for the new church was laid. J uly 20, the
first Mass was held.
1927 September 25, the first Mass was held in the new completed
church. It was dedicated under the patronage of the Blessed
Virgin Mary's Assumption into Heaven. There were 60
families in the congregation.
1929 Fr. Raymond Kathe Interior of the church was redecorated and landscaping
begun. Membership was 75 families.
1939 Under Pope Ven. Pius XII O.F.S
1943 Fr. Thomas Gallagher Assumption becomes part of the Youngstown Diocese under
Bishop James A. McFadden. World War II (1941-1945)
1951 Assistant Fr. Fred Anzivino
1952 Assistant Fr. Dan Reidy. Diocese under Bishop Emmett M. Walsh
1953 Fr. John Rath Fr. Rath makes a motion to expand the facilities.
1956 Ground is broken for Assumption School and convent.
1957 Assistant Fr. Donald Oser.
Assumption School opens to five grades, staffed by the
Sisters of the Divine Spirit.
HISTORY AT A GLANCE
1958 Under Pope Bl. J ohn XXIII O.F.S.
1959 Assistant Fr. Robert Sfara
1963 Under Pope Paul VI
1965 Assistant Fr. J oseph Werner joins Assumption.
Congregation is up to 450 families. Parish celebrates its
Golden Jubilee.
Assumption Hall was built.
Festival grounds were obtained and the annual festival
began.
The charter class of Assumption School graduates from
eighth grade.
1968 Fr. John Cassidy Diocese under Bishop J ames W. Malone
1972 Fr. J oseph Bennett
1973 Fr. Francis Zapitelli
1974 In Residence Fr. Carl Kish
1975 In Residence Fr. Bill Bantz
1976 In Residence Fr. John Mulqueen
1977 Fr. Robert Hill Church interior was redecorated. New buildings were
constructed on the festival grounds, and with the help of Fr.
Howard Ziemba, our Parish Renewal Program was begun.
1978 Under Pope J ohn Paul I and Ven. J ohn Paul II
1981 In Residence Fr. Phil Miller
1983 In Residence Fr. Howard Ziemba
1987 In Residence Ronald Nuzzi
1991 Fr. Homer Oliver Interim Pastor
1991 Fr. Steven Popovich
1992 Fr. Paul Tobin Fr. Tobin former principal of St. J ohn High School in
Ashtabula joins Assumption.
HISTORY AT A GLANCE
1993 Mrs. Lipphardt School principal.
Kindergarten classes were added to the Assumption School.
1995 Diocese under Thomas J . Tobin
1996 School Principal Sr. Mary Gloria Auer R.S.M.
Congregation currently at 449 families
2002 School Principal Michael Cahil
2004 DRE Sr. Joyce Schreiber S.N.D. joins the Parish
2004 Mrs. Cheryl Woodward named Assumption School's new
principal.
2004 Fr. Melvin Rusnak September 4, Fr. Rusnak joins Assumption.
2005 Church Under Pope Benedict XVIII
2005 Fr. Robert Obol September - Student, Fr. Robert Kyeko-Obol from the
Archdiocese of Gulu, Uganda performs his first Mass.
2010 Fr. Robert Obol May - Fr. Obol receives his doctorate from St. Mary
Seminary in Cleveland. He is now; Fr. Robert Nyeko-Obol,
D. Min (Doctor of Ministry) and is head chaplin in a Toledo
hospital. Book Published "The life and Lessons from a
warzone" Assigned to parish in Kansas 2012.
2010 Leaving-Aug Principal Cheryl Woodward moves on to be Principal of Sts.
J ohn & Paul-Ashtabula
2010 School Principal Mrs. Charlotte Brafford moves into the role of School
principal.
2010 Leaving-Aug Sr. Joyce Schreiber moves on to a new calling in Manua,
Ohio.
2010 Rel. Edu Teams are assembled for CCD, Confirmation, and Youth
Ministry. Fr. Mel takes over RCIA
2010 Fr. Thomas Ayepa J oins us from Uganda to help say Sunday Mass. In 2011 he
is assigned to Colorado.
2011 Lay DRE Mrs. Brenda J ohnson, to take over as lay director for CCD,
Confirmation, and Youth Ministry.
HISTORY AT A GLANCE
2013 Leaving-J une Mrs. Charlotte Brafford retires as principal
2013 School Principal Mrs. Karen Fletcher-Roth
2014 Retirement Father Melvin Rusnak
2014 Fr. Robert Lanterman New Pastor; first Mass 07/05/2014