A Brief History of Little Flower Catholic Parish
The story begins….. 1929 in Middlebranch, Ohio, a small village adjacent to the Diamond Portland Cement Company, with a large Italian immigrant population, many of whom were Roman Catholic. Mrs. Augustus M. Hickey of North Canton saw the need for a mission to serve the people of Middlebranch and the surrounding areas. The Most Reverend Joseph Schrembs, Bishop of Cleveland organized the new Mission called “Little Flower”. The old Middlebranch public school building was donated to the diocese by Nick Grant to be used as a chapel for the mission. Renovation began on the schoolhouse for the people to attend and worship. “Little Theresa” was chosen as the patron Saint of the new Church because of her affection for mission churches, and of favors granted through her intercession to the Eucharistic Lord. On December 15, 1929 the first Mass and dedication of the chapel was celebrated by the Most Reverend Joseph Schrembs. Initially, Little Flower Mission was attached to St. Paul Parish in North Canton with Rev. Ralph C. Kotheimer as pastor, later, in 1933, because of the large number of people of Italian descent Little Flower Mission was assigned to St. Anthony Parish in Canton.
On May 15, 1943 the Diocese of Youngstown was established from six counties in Northeastern Ohio (Ashtabula, Trumbull, Mahoning, Columbiana, Portage & Stark), originally part of the Cleveland Diocese. From 1929 through 1966 various new organizations began; Parish Council, Men’s Club & Altar & Rosary Society. On January 21, 1966 Reverend Edward F. Varble was appointed pastor of Little Flower by the Most Reverend James W. Malone, Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Youngstown.
In 1966-1967 thirty-two (32) acres of land on Diamond Street was purchased. The Church Rectory was built by the men of the parish in September 1967. Between the years 1968-1970 the Parish Hall, classrooms and temporary church were built in two phases. Preschool was started in 1974. Ground was broken for the new permanent church in the spring of 1976. The first Mass was celebrated in the new Church in May of 1977. New Stained Glass windows were installed in the Church in 1979 and the Bell Tower & Chimes were built in front of the Church in 1980. Between the years of 1983-1984 the Parish Picnic Pavilion was built. In 1998 the parish social hall was renovated and renamed “Varble Hall” in honor of the pastor who built the original church, Fr. Edward F. Varble.
In 2009, a one-of-a-kind Holy Trinity Mosaic was designed by Marchione Studios and installed on the back wall of the Sanctuary. Beautiful enhancements of mosaic were added to the Blessed Mother, St. Joseph statues and the Stations of the Cross which came from the original Mission Church. The Sanctuary Lamp, which was also from the original Mission Church, has been refurbished and is now hanging in the Sanctuary. Two beautiful white Angels with mosaic backgrounds were added to the East & West sides of the Sanctuary. New Stained-Glass Windows of the Apostles and Special Saints were installed at Christmas 2009.
On August 5, 2020 two stained-glass windows from the first Little Flower Church were blessed by Canon Christopher Henyk. Both windows, one depicting St. Anthony and the second one St. Joan of Arc, were sponsored in Loving Memory of Anthony DeGioralmo. The windows came back to us after 54 years of separation. Thank you to Flo DeGioralmo and family for this beautiful gift to our parish. The stained-glass windows were purchased from the Studio Arts & Glass in Canton.
On September 1 of 2021 the long-awaited church expansion commenced. This major addition includes an additional 4,500 square feet of space and was designed by Rick Ziska of Ziska Architects of Cleveland, Ohio, and was executed by Craig Cureton of Craven Construction of Akron, Ohio. The new construction includes a beautiful entrance with a grand canopy, spacious gathering area, Little Thérèse Chapel with a beautiful white Carrara marble high altar, Saint Cecilia Hall, new restrooms and storage spaces. The old west confessional was transformed into a cry room and the old east confessional was renovated. The glass partition and doors were removed so the church could be restored to its original size. The old gathering space was incorporated into the church area and a new baptismal space was created. The east entry was converted into the ushers’ room and the west entry was converted into the arts and environment room. The old altar servers’ room was converted into an additional storage space and the altar servers were moved into the old priests’ sacristy. The old storage room was converted into the new priests’ sacristy with its own restroom. The electric grid was updated, new carpet was placed in the church area, and a new sound system was installed featuring hearing impaired capabilities. Also installed were a new fire alarm system and new video surveillance system, and the existing alarm system was updated. On the west side of the front of the new addition to the church a shrine was added dedicated to our patroness – Saint Thérèse of the Little Flower. Renovations were overseen by Rhonda Turner, our business manager. Most Reverend David Bonnar, Bishop of Youngstown, blessed the new church addition on the First Sunday of Advent Mass - November 27, 2022.
The History of Little Flower Parish Pastors
+ Rev. Walter Edward Conley – May 2, 1937 to August 12, 1941
+ Rev. James J. Stevenson – August 13, 1941 to July 7, 1949
+ Rev. Bartley J. Kennedy – July 7, 1949 to January 21, 1966
+ Rev. Edward F. Varble – January 21, 1966 to February 27, 1995
+ Rev. Homer Oliver (Interim Pastor) – Feb. 27, 1995 to July 1, 1995
+ Rev. William A. Petrunak – July 1, 1995 to August 1, 1996
+ Rev. Kevin L. Fete – August 30, 1996 to July 23, 2006
Rev. Robert J. Hannon (Administrator) - August 1, 2006 to July 22, 2007
Rev. John E. Zuzik – July 23, 2007 to May 1, 2013
Rev. Donald L. Feicht (Administrator) - June 1, 2013 to January 31, 2014
Rev. Leo Wehrlin - February 1, 2014 to August 12, 2019
Very Rev. Canon Christopher Henyk, D.Min. - August 31, 2019 to November 10, 2023