St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church

The previous Catholic church in Vienna was St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, which closed in 1902. In 1932, the St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Rose parish in Girard decided to restart a parish mission in Vienna, because of the growing number of Catholic families that had to travel to Girard for church services. Reverend Michael Coan of St. Rose Parish in Girard, Ohio, organized the movement. A committee from Vienna, believed to include John Governor, Mrs. Eli Taiclet, Mr. J. Billock, and Mark Arnal, surveyed the township to determine the number of families who may be interested in reestablishing a Catholic Church in Vienna. William and Eva McQuade responded to the great interest and gave a parcel of land (next to their own property) for the church building. The parish was named St. Vincent de Paul, after the Society in Girard who rekindled the desire to take care of the spiritual needs of the Catholics in Vienna.

The mission church building was a one-room school that was purchased in Niles and moved to Vienna in 1934 to the western corner of Swift Drive and Warren-Sharon Road (Old Route #82), east of Vienna Center. Thirty feet wide and sixty feet long, this structure was heated with two coal and wood burning stoves. Folding chairs substituted for pews. A pump organ was located at the back of the church. Some pews were later acquired from St. George’s Church in Lisbon, Ohio.

The first benefit dinner for the welfare of the parish was held at the John Governor home and farm serving 450 people. Thereafter, the dinners were held on the side yard of the parish house on rows of picnic tables. The home cooked country dinners were the main fundraisers. Parishoners raised their own chickens and vegetables for the dinners. Due to increased popularity, the dinners were eventually held at the Vienna Centralized School building.

The original parish consisted of approximately 35 families. Reverend James Richard Gaffney was appointed the first pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish on August 22, 1934, by Auxiliary Bishop James A. McFadden of the Diocese of Cleveland. Father Gaffney remained in Vienna for eight years, before going on to a new parish in Salem, Ohio.

Reverend Ferris J. Petros served from January of 1943 until June of 1944. He was followed in the pulpit by Reverend John F. Roach who began his service on July 7, 1944. Under Father Roach’s pastorate, a new church building was erected. St. Vincent de Paul Church was dedicated on October 28, 1951.

The old church building was torn down and the property sold to the Viets Motor Company. The old rectory, formerly the home of the Frost family, was occupied by Father Roach until 1967. A new rectory of matching yellow brick was then built on the west side of the church. A new parish hall was built in 1970.

Reverend Frank Carfagna was appointed as the new pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Church after Father Roach’s “retirement” in November 1977. Father Carfagna served the congregation until 1984. Once appointed, Father Carfagna quickly remodeled the church interior, beginning with a permanent altar that faced the people. Other remodeling included papering the walls, removing the iron communion rail, adding new carpeting and changing the sanctuary wall by bringing a section forward, where the new risen Christ was hung. New statues, new stations of the cross, light fixtures, air conditioning, and stained glass windows gave the church a complete new look. Carfagna was followed by Father John F. Warner, who served from July 30, 1984 to 1992. Father Thomas Murphy took over as pastor in August of 1992. Under his direction, a Worship Committee to help with music, environment, and worship was instituted. During the season of Lent in 1993, three successful fish dinners were held, which are still a Lenten tradition to this day (2025). Four classrooms were also added during his tenure. Father Murphy retired on September 1, 1998. Father Frank Zanni began to serve the parish on September 8, 1998.

In 2008, the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown ordered consolidation of churches.  As a result, St. Vincent de Paul was consolidated with another church and renamed St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in 2010. Father Zanni served the parish through the consolidation process.