our staff
Very Rev. Msgr. Robert J. Siffrin
Pastor
Monsignor Robert Siffrin was born and raised in Massillon, Ohio. He graduated from Canton Central Catholic High School in 1971. He attended St. Gregory College Seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio. There he majored in Philosophy and received a BA in Liberal Arts in 1975.
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Graduate studies at Mt. St. Mary Seminary began in 1975. He received an MA in Sacred Scripture Studies. During the years of Theology, he tutored and taught part-time at St. Rita School for the Deaf. He was ordained a priest on June 23, 1979 in Youngstown by Bishop James W. Malone. His first assignment was at Ursuline High School. He was then appointed associate principal at John F. Kennedy High School in Warren. For many years he has served as chaplain for the hearing impaired.
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He served the Diocese of Youngstown in a number of capacities: as the Director of Planning for the Diocese of Youngstown, and then Chancellor/Vicar for Clergy. In 1996, Bishop Tobin appointed him to the position of Vicar General/Moderator of the Curia.
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Msgr. Siffrin is currently Diocesan Vicar of External Affairs/Special Projects. He is also rector of St. Columba Cathedral Parish and pastor of Holy Apostles Parish.
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He is also involved in numerous Church and civic organizations: a past president of Youngstown Rotary, served on the Youngstown Symphony Board, and is one of the Youngstown Police Chaplains.
Fr. Edward Brienz
Associate Pastor
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Fr. Brienz also serves as:
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Vice-Rector, St. Columba Cathedral (Youngstown)
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Parochial Vicar, Holy Apostles Parish (Youngstown)
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Diocesan Director of Propagation of the Faith and Missions
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Fr. Francis Muriithi
Associate Pastor
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Fr. Francis is a diocesan priest from the Catholic Diocese of Nakuru, Kenya. He arrived in the Diocese of Youngstown at the end of September of 2024 and will be serving in our diocese over the next five years.
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From 1989-1990, Father attended St. Augustine's Senior Seminary in Mabanga, Kenya and Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome and received a Bachelor of Philosophy degree. He then studied at St. Matthias Mulumba Senior Seminary in Tindinyo, Kenya where he received his Bachelor of Sacred Theology in 1994. He was ordained a priest on December 9, 1995. From January 2012-May 2014, he attended Christian Brothers University in Memphis, TN and received a Masters of Science degree in Educational Leadership with a minor in Instructional Leadership.
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His assignments in his home diocese of Nakuru have included Vice Rector of the Junior Seminary High School, parish priest in 4 parishes, assistant priest in 4 parishes, Assistant Cathedral Administrator, Visiting Spiritual Director at St. Mary's Major Seminary, Pastoral Coordinator at the Chancery, and Chaplain to the Diocesan Family Life Program. He has also been involved in ecumenical fellowship, prison apostolate, hospital visitation, and celebration of Mass for the sick.
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Fr. Francis has also traveled to the United States in 2000, 2003, 2009, and 2023 to preach for mission appeals for his diocese. He brought the message of the needs of AIDS orphans, physically and mentally challenged children in the diocesan Small Homes, and hunger-stricken persons in the East Pokot region of the Diocese of Nakuru to people in the Diocese of Syracuse, NY. He says this experience also gave him the joy and opportunity of learning about the rich culture of the American people.
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Fr. Francis currently serves as parochial vicar for St. Edward as well as St. Columba Cathedral and Holy Apostles Parish.
Mr. James Smith
Permanent Deacon
Deacon Jim is a retired educator and administrator of several Diocesan elementary schools. A former cantor and choir member at St. Edward, he was ordained a deacon in 2000 and has served St. Edward Parish faithfully throughout his diaconal ministry. He has assisted with numerous committees and projects in the parish over the years, visited and served local hospitals and nursing homes and parishioners who had been homebound. He also was the clergy representative for the parish in A.C.T.I.O.N. Jim and his late wife Kathy are the parents of 5 children and have 12 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.
Mr. Sylvester Frazzini
Permanent Deacon
Deacon Sylvester Frazzini and his wife Colleen, whom he married on January 10, 1991 at St. Edward, live in Hubbard, OH. They have 2 daughters, both of whom are married, and a have a total of 3 grandsons. Deacon Syl is a veteran of the United States Marines and serves the company he works for, American Business Center, Inc., as the VP of Sales. He was adopted and raised in a Catholic family, going to Catholic school his entire life, from pre-School at the Oblates, St. Patrick School in Hubbard, and graduating from Youngstown Ursuline High School.
He was ordained with the most recent Diocese of Youngstown Deacon Formation on August 31st, 2019. He serves on the Board of Regional Catholic Charities, as one of the MCs for the Bishop, and on the A.C.T.I.O.N board in Youngstown. He enjoys playing the guitar and participated in the music ministry of his home parish of St. Patrick, Hubbard. He says it was one of the many paths that led him to seek and become a Deacon. He enjoys all things outdoors. He also serves the local community as a Board Member for Leadership Mahoning Valley and an Ambassador for the Youngstown Warren Regional Chamber.
Mr. William Bancroft
Permanent Deacon
Deacon William Bancroft was ordained in 2019. He retired from the Ohio State Highway Patrol after serving 29 years in assignments as a pilot, plainclothes investigator, assistant post commander, and executive protection details. He is married to Debbie Bancroft and they have four daughters and live in Hubbard, OH.
Deacon Bill also serves as Permanent Diaconate Director as well as Director of Safety Services for the Diocese of Youngstown.
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Sr. Regina Rogers, OSU
Pastoral Associate
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Sr. Regina joined the St. Edward Parish staff in 2018 as Pastoral Associate. She is a member of the Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown and serves as a Councilor on their Leadership Team. She worked for many years in educational roles in the Diocese of Youngstown Catholic schools, including as a teacher and assistant principal at Ursuline High School.
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