our staff
Very Rev. Msgr. Robert J. Siffrin
Pastor, Saint Edward Church
Monsignor Robert Siffrin was born and raised in Massillon, Ohio; he attended and graduated from Central High School in 1971. He attended St. Gregory College Seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio. There he majored in Philosophy and received a BA in Liberal Arts in 1975.
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Graduate studies at Mt. St. Mary Seminary began in 1975. He received an MA in Sacred Scripture Studies. During the years of Theology, he tutored and taught part-time at St. Rita School for the Deaf. He was ordained a priest on June 23, 1979, in Youngstown, by Bishop James W. Malone. His first assignment was at Ursuline High School. He was then appointed associate principal at John F. Kennedy High School in Warren. For many years he has served as chaplain for the hearing impaired.
He served the Diocese of Youngstown in a number of capacities: as the Director of Planning for the Diocese of Youngstown, and then Chancellor/Vicar for Clergy. In 1996, Bishop Tobin appointed him to the position of Vicar General/Moderator of the Curia.
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Msgr. Siffrin is currently Diocesan Vicar of External Affairs/Special Projects. He is also rector of St. Columba Cathedral Parish and pastor of Holy Apostles Parish.
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He is also involved in numerous Church and civic organizations: a past president of Youngstown Rotary, served on the Youngstown Symphony Board, and is one of the Youngstown Police Chaplains.
Fr. Edward Brienz
Associate Pastor, Saint Edward Church
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Fr. Brienz also serves as:
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Vice-Rector, St. Columba Cathedral (Youngstown)
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Parochial Vicar, Holy Apostles Parish (Youngstown)
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Diocesan Director of Propagation of the Faith and Missions
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Fr. Robert Lanterman
Associate Pastor, Saint Edward Church
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Fr. Lanterman also serves as:
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Vice-Rector, St. Columba Cathedral (Youngstown)
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Parochial Vicar, Holy Apostles Parish (Youngstown)
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Clerk, Diocesan Archives
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Diocesan Curator of the Patrimony
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Mr. James Smith
Permanent Deacon
Deacon Jim is a retired educator and administrator of several Diocesan elementary schools. A former cantor and choir member at St. Edward, he was ordained a deacon in 2000 and has served St. Edward Parish faithfully throughout his diaconal ministry. He has assisted with numerous committees and projects in the parish over the years, visited and served in local hospitals and nursing homes and parishioners who had been homebound. He also was the clergy representative for the parish in A.C.T.I.O.N. Jim and his late wife Kathy are the parents of 5 children and have 12 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.
Mr. Sylvester Frazzini
Permanent Deacon
Deacon Sylvester Frazzini and his wife Colleen, whom he married on January 10, 1991 at St. Edward, live in Hubbard, OH. They have 2 daughters, both of whom are married, and a have a total of 3 grandsons. Deacon Syl is a veteran of the United States Marines and serves the company he works for, American Business Center, Inc., as the VP of Sales. He was adopted and raised in a Catholic family, going to Catholic school his entire life, from pre-School at the Oblates, St. Patrick School in Hubbard, and graduating from Youngstown Ursuline High School.
He was ordained with the most recent Diocese of Youngstown Deacon Formation on August 31st, 2019. He serves on the Board of Regional Catholic Charities, as one of the MCs for the Bishop, and on the A.C.T.I.O.N board in Youngstown. He enjoys playing the guitar and participated in the music ministry of his home parish of St. Patrick, Hubbard. He says it was one of the many paths that led him to seek and become a Deacon. He enjoys all things outdoors. He also serves the local community as a Board Member for Leadership Mahoning Valley and an Ambassador for the Youngstown Warren Regional Chamber.
Mr. Michael Puhalla
Permanent Deacon
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Deacon Mike Puhalla and his wife Colleen, along with their pets, live in Poland. They have two children, Katie Cirillo, who resides in Northeast Ohio with her husband Dan. A son, Michael, resides in Northern Virginia. Deacon Mike grew up in Austintown where he attended public schools and is the oldest of six children. He previously served at Holy Family Parish in Poland. He actively works with youth and young adults serving as an adult leader and mentor for various ministry programs. He is a member of the Diaconate Formation team for the Diocese. He also serves as a Master of Ceremony for the Bishop. He was ordained a Deacon on August 31, 2019 at Saint Columba Cathedral.
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Sr. Regina Rogers, OSU
Pastoral Associate
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Sr. Regina joined the St. Edward Parish staff in 2018 as Pastoral Associate. She is a member of the Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown and serves as a Councilor on their Leadership Team. She worked for many years in educational roles in the Diocese of Youngstown Catholic schools, including as a teacher and assistant principal at Ursuline High School.
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