Monsignor Zuraw Celebrates 25 Years as Clergyman

GIRARD – Monsignor John Zuraw will celebrate 25 years as a clergyman with a Mass of thanksgiving at 11:30 a.m., July 1, at St. Rose Church in Girard. A reception, by invitation only, will follow at Leo’s Ristorante in Warren.

Zuraw, a native of Campbell, was born July 4, 1960, a son of John and Jean (Konopka) Zuraw. He attended St. Joseph the Provider School, Ursuline High School (1978 graduate) and Youngstown State University.

His seminary studies included the Pontifical College Josephinum, Columbus, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in History; the Athenaeum of Ohio, Cincinnati, earning a Master’s of Divinity degree; and Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., earning a Licentiate in Canon law. He was ordained June 20, 1987, by Bishop James W. Malone in St. Columba Cathedral, Youngstown.

Following ordination, Zuraw served as Parochical Vicar at Louisville, St. Louis Parish (1987-1993) and Girard, St. Rose (July 1993-96) before being named executive director of the Diocesan Department of Clergy and Religious Services (1996-2008).

He was named administrator of Youngstown, Immaculate Conception Parish (1999-2010). In July 2004, he began serving as the director of the Permanent Diaconate Program, a position in which he currently serves. He served as vicar for administration from July 2008 to July 2010, before being named pastor of Girard, St. Rose, the position in which he currently serves.

Currently, he serves as the Presbyteral Council chair, a member of the Diocesan Review Board, and a member of the Ursuline High School Board of Directors and a Regional Catholic Charities Board member, as well as a presiding judge for the Appellate Court of the Marriage Tribunal.

In 2000 he was named promoter of justice for the diocese. He has biritual faculties in the Maronite Rite. He was named chaplain of His Holiness with the title of monsignor in March 1997.
Monsignor Zuraw’s additional pastoral assignments have included the Diocesan Board of Education, Priests Retirement Board, Cleveland Ursuline College Faculty (Canon Law), Friar for the Knights of Columbus, Girard Assembly, Adjunct Spiritual Director, Pontifical College Josephinum and the Diocesan College of Consultors.