St. Lucy Parish History

On Jan. 30, 1964, Bishop John King Mussio, Steubenville’s first bishop, decreed the establishment of St. Lucy Parish, Yorkville, effective Jan. 31, 1964.

Father Tullio Blasi was appointed the first pastor of St. Lucy Parish. When Father Blasi came to Yorkville, he did not know anyone or have a church or rectory and was expected to celebrate Mass in two weeks for the beginning of Lent. He and the Hellenic Community Organization came to an agreement to use the Hellenic Hall, located on Martha Street, as a temporary church until a permanent church was built. A rectory was purchased at 107 Maude Avenue (later named St. Lucy Avenue).
          
The first Mass was celebrated Feb. 16, 1964.

In the beginning of 1965, St. Lucy Catholic Community Center was opened on William Street, Yorkville, in the Teteris Building. The community center was used for primary parish activities, social gatherings, bingo, dances, dinners, and receptions.

In 1966, a building campaign, “With Faith, Prayer and Sacrifice ... We Build” was established. Father Blasi opened the campaign with these words: “The necessity for the church in Yorkville is unquestionable; its feasibility is more than evident. We must get together – put aside any egoistic way of thinking or doing – close the ranks, work as a solid, compact organization. Time has come to show God our love for him.”

On May 26, 1968, ground was broken for the new St. Lucy Church. Plans were made for a round, concrete church with the altar in the center of the building and a skylight dome above the altar. The pews would be situated 360 degrees around the altar with a seating capacity of 300 people. The design was modern, adapted from the Second Vatican Council’s revisions to liturgy. The building also included a basement, with a full kitchen and dining hall. The church was designed by P. Arthur D’Orazio, a nationally award-winning architect from Youngstown, Ohio, and built by Mellon-Stuart Company.

The people of Yorkville said, “It can’t be done.” Father Blasi replied, “It will be done.”

In August 1968, excavating began. In September, the foundation of the church was poured and the church was finished by the spring of 1969.

On March 23, 1969, Father Blasi celebrated the first Mass in the new church. In May 1969, a bell tower was constructed on the church lawn. In August 1969, a new altar – made of black marble with four pillars covered with gold Italian mosaic – as well as marble Holy Water Fonts, a Baptismal Font, and an altar cross arrived from Italy.

Weekly fish fries began at St. Lucy’s July 11, 1969. The fish fries helped pay off the debt and were held every week throughout the years on Fridays.

On Oct. 5, 1969, Bishop Mussio dedicated and consecrated St. Lucy Church. The relics of St. Lucy, St. Jude, St. Paul, and St. Peter were carried to the altar by Father Blasi and placed inside by Bishop Mussio.

In 1970, a new altar of reposition, ambo, lectern, and credence table arrived from Italy.

In the end of April 1970, the village of Yorkville renamed Maude Avenue to St. Lucy Avenue.

On Oct. 9, 1973, 63 children and adults were confirmed at St. Lucy Church.

On Oct. 13, 1973, Father Blasi, who was working in the church at the time, died at the age of 51 when he received a fatal electric shock from the electronic sound system. A funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Lucy Church Oct. 17 by Bishop Mussio.

In November 1973, Father Phillip E. Baroni was named pastor. In November 1980, Msgr. Joseph P. Malara succeeded him. In February 1981, Msgr. Malara took a three-month medical leave of absence. Father Bernard A. Krajcovic served as temporary administrator of St. Lucy’s.

On March 18, 1982, Father Krajcovic was named pastor of St. Lucy Parish. He was very instrumental in revitalizing St. Lucy Parish and put a plan in motion for paying off parish obligations. On Aug. 31, 2001, Father Krajcovic retired from active parish ministry. He moved to Florida for a short time, but returned to Yorkville and lived in the parish rectory.

Msgr. George R. Coyne was named pastor of St. Lucy Parish while remaining pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Tiltonsville. The parishes were clustered and shared a pastor and some ministries.

In November 2001, St. Lucy Church was damage by water. Msgr. Coyne oversaw a complete renovation of the church, rearranging it back to the original blueprints.

On July 7, 2002, St. Lucy Church reopened for Sunday Masses.

On July 1, 2008, Msgr. Coyne retired from active parish ministry. Father Daniel Heusel succeeded him as pastor.

Father Heusel began a new parish tradition for the Feast of St. Lucy by lighting luminaries outside the church.

On July 1, 2010, Msgr. Gene W. Mullett was named pastor.

In 2011, Father Krajcovic moved to Louisville, Ohio, and the rectory was sold.

In May 2012, the weekly fish fries at the church ended.

On Jan. 17, 2015, Father William D. Cross, judicial vicar for the Diocese of Steubenville, was appointed pastor.

On Oct. 14, 2015, Father Krajcovic died. Bishop Jeffrey M. Monforton celebrated his funeral Mass Oct. 19 at St. Lucy Church.

In 2016, Father Cross and a group of parishioners began creating fundraising projects to help offset parish deficits.

On Oct. 5, 2019, Bishop Monforton celebrated the 50th anniversary of the dedication of the church. A reception followed in the church hall.

On Sept. 30, 2020, Father Cross reported that after a meeting Sept. 29 with the combined Parish and Finance Councils of St. Joseph and St. Lucy, during which the financial viability of St. Lucy’s was discussed, seven members of the council voted to close the parish. Two members abstained from voting.

On Oct. 19, 2020, Bishop Monforton decreed the closure of St. Lucy’s.

On Nov. 21, 2020, Bishop Monforton celebrated the final Mass at St. Lucy Church, on the Feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.

Bishop Monforton said in his homily at the final Mass, “Here at St. Lucy’s, we recognize an end here in this building, not in our faith. We are meant to go out and to share the fruits of all who were here at St. Lucy’s over the years. From Father Tullio (Blasi) to Father Bill (Cross), and everybody in between, it’s all about Christ in the end. No matter the design of the church or the age of the parish, it’s all about Jesus because he completes us. So, we are called to continue to be active in our faith, to share the goodness, that hope we have celebrated over the years.”

The bishop added, “St. Lucy’s is a blessing to the church, a blessing to my work as your bishop, and for that, I am eternally grateful. St. Lucy in herself, that young martyr in the ancient world, continues to be a blessing to us as well.”

St. Lucy Parish was absorbed into St. Joseph Parish.

On Jan. 6, 2021, Bishop Monforton relegated St. Lucy Church and the church's altar to profane but not sordid use. The property was sold weeks later.