Pope Francis Appoints Rev. David Bonnar as Sixth Bishop of the Diocese of Youngstown

Father David Bonnar, pastor of Saint Aidan Parish in Wexford, PA will become the new Bishop of the Diocese of Youngstown.  The announcement was made today, Tuesday, November 17, 2020, at 6:00 AM Eastern Time (12 NOON Vatican time).

“I am overwhelmed by the trust and confidence the Holy Father has placed in me in appointing me the Bishop of Youngstown.  It is humbling following a long line of Pittsburgh priests that include Cardinal Maida, Cardinal Wuerl, Cardinal DiNardo, Archbishop Hebda, Bishop Bosco, Bishop Tobin, Bishop Zubik, Bishop Burns, and Bishop Bradley, who have been called to shepherd and serve the Church beyond our diocese,” said Father Bonnar.

The Diocese of Youngstown has been without a bishop since June 5, 2020, when Bishop George V. Murry died of acute leukemia, just a short time after submitting his resignation to Pope Francis. He was 71.

The College of Consultors in the Diocese of Youngstown elected Monsignor Robert Siffrin as Diocesan Administrator following Bishop Murry’s death.  Monsignor Siffrin will continue to serve in that capacity until Tuesday, January 12 at 2:00 PM when Bishop-elect Bonnar is ordained as a bishop and will be installed as the sixth Bishop of the Diocese of Youngstown during the celebration of Holy Mass at Saint Columba Cathedral in Youngstown, Ohio. 

The Catholic Diocese of Youngstown is made up of nearly 200,000 Catholics in six northeast Ohio counties.

“There is no question in my mind that Bishop-elect Bonnar is most qualified to take on his new responsibilities.  For the vast majority of his 32 years as a priest, he has served in parish ministry. The faithful of Youngstown can look forward to very strong pastoral leadership on the part of their new bishop,” said Bishop David Zubik. 

The appointment by Pope Francis transfers Father Bonnar from his position of pastor of the newly established Saint Aidan Parish in Wexford, PA.   Previous to that, Father Bonnar served as pastor of Saint Bernard Church in Mount Lebanon, PA for 11 years. 

“Father Dave,” as he is typically called, is one of five children. Both of his parents are deceased.  He graduated from Duquesne University with a B.A. in Social Communications.
 
During his senior year of college, Father Bonnar entered the formation program at Saint Paul Seminary and subsequently was sent to the North American College in Rome where he received an S.T.B. from the Pontifical Gregorian University.

He was ordained a transitional deacon on April 14, 1988 in Saint Peter’s Basilica, Rome, and ordained a priest in his home parish of Saint Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin (Whitehall, PA) on July 23, 1988.

Father Bonnar served as a parochial vicar at Saint Vitus, New Castle, Saint Rosalia, Greenfield, and Saint Thomas More, Bethel Park.  He also served as Rector of Saint Paul Seminary, Director of Pre-Ordination Formation, Director of Vocations and Director of the Permanent Diaconate, Secretary of Parish and Ministerial Leadership for the Diocese of Pittsburgh, and Vicar for Clergy. 

In addition, Father Bonnar was a part-time chaplain at Central Catholic High School (Pittsburgh, PA), and was pastor of Saint Bartholomew, Penn Hills.

For 12 years Father Bonnar was honored to serve as chaplain of the Pittsburgh Steelers.  For more than four years, he has also been editor of The Priest Magazine which is a national publication for priests published by Our Sunday Visitor.  He continues in that role.

Bishop-elect Bonnar will participate in a news conference in Youngstown this morning at 11:00 AM.  It will be livestreamed through this link:  https://youtu.be/Bu4bO_43DVg.