Three Catholic Charities agencies serving six Northeast Ohio counties will merge into a single organization on Jan. 1, 2027, the Diocese of Youngstown announced in a release reported by Business Journal Daily.
The boards of directors for Catholic Charities of Ashtabula County, Catholic Charities Regional Agency, which serves Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties, and Catholic Charities Serving Portage and Stark counties voted unanimously to merge into the Diocese of Youngstown Catholic Charities Corporation, according to Business Journal Daily. The merged organization will be renamed Catholic Charities, Diocese of Youngstown.
The unification is intended to strengthen the charities’ mission, enhance collaboration and ensure the continuation of services to individuals and families across the six counties of the Diocese of Youngstown, the release states, as reported by Business Journal Daily. The six counties are Ashtabula, Columbiana, Mahoning, Portage, Stark and Trumbull.
“By coming together under my episcopal motto, ‘That All May Be One’ [John 17:21], we unite three Catholic Charities agencies into one stronger organization – enhancing our ability to deliver compassionate care and support across all six of our counties,” Bishop David J. Bonnar said in the statement carried by Business Journal Daily.
The merger has received the necessary canonical approval from Bishop Bonnar, following the recommendation of the Diocesan College of Consultors, and work continues to complete all required civil legal processes, the release states, according to Business Journal Daily.
Beginning Jan. 1, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Youngstown will be led by Rachel Hrbolich as president and CEO, Nancy Voitus as senior vice president of programs and services, James Herschel as vice president of finance, Rick Squier as vice president of operations, and Jill Valentic as vice president of communications and engagement, according to Business Journal Daily.
A new Catholic Charities administrative office has been established in the former St. Mary Rectory at 232 Seneca Ave. NE in Warren, the release states. What happens next is the completion of the remaining civil legal steps ahead of the Jan. 1, 2027 effective date, when the three agencies begin operating as one organization for families across the diocese.