New Pastor to serve four parishes in Ashtabula County
Apr. 27—Father John Keehner will be leaving Saint Paul Parish in North Canton and Holy Spirit in Uniontown to pastor four different Catholic parishes in Ashtabula County.
Keehner expressed interest in coming to Ashtabula County five years ago when Father Miller was retiring from Conneaut, according to a press release. He was instead sent to North Canton.
After the pronouncement of Pastor Raymond Thomas retiring, Diocese of Youngstown Bishop David Bonnar called Keehner to ask him if he would consider becoming the new pastor for Our Lady of Peace Parish, according to the release.
"Bishop J. Bonnar consulted with the diocese personnel board before coming up with a decision to assign Father Keehner as pastor of Our Lady of Peace Parish," said Diocese of Youngstown Spokesperson Dennis Biviano. "He brings new energy to Ashtabula County."
Current Pastor Raymond Thomas will be retiring. He said that he is eight years beyond the retirement age for priests, which is 70.
"I believe my energy level and my bones are telling me this is time," Thomas said. "I've enjoyed 52 years of active ministry in various settings as a parochial vicar, pastor, campus minister, hospital chaplaincy, as well as serving as dean for Ashtabula County for 16 years, along with terms as a member of the priest's council as a consulter for the bishop."
Keehner said that it is very time consuming being pastor of two parishes and that he's a bit overwhelmed at the thought of pastoring four parishes.
"I think Father Keehner will have the ability, energy, and vision to be able to work with all four parishes and work collaboratively with the ministries," said Corpus Christi Parish Diocesan Pastoral Associate Nick Perkoski.
An associate pastor, Connor Hetzel, will be arriving July first to help out, according to Perkoski.
"Please know how much I am looking forward to coming to Ashtabula County to serve as a pastor of Our Lady of Peace Parish in Ashtabula, Corpus Christi Parish in Conneaut, Saint Andrew Bobola Parish in North Kingsville and Assumption of the Blessed Parish in Geneva," Keehner said in the release. "Please know how happy I am to be coming to the North Coast parishes to serve as your pastor. I look forward to getting to know you all and working with you."
