Fr. Christopher Cicero

Born in April, 1954, Fr. Edward Stafford is a native of Youngstown where he attended Sacred Heart School, Ursuline High School and Youngstown State University. His mother was a teacher at Sacred Heart School for 20 years and his father worked in advertising at The Catholic Exponent for over 25 years. He is the youngest of four children.

Fr. Stafford also attended Kent State University earning a Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling. From 1982 to 1994 he worked for the State of Ohio Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation as a counselor and case manager for the rehabilitation division of the Bureau of Worker’s Compensation.

Fr. Stafford was ordained November 20, 1999 as a Franciscan priest serving in a variety of assignments in West Virginia and Pennsylvania from 1999 until 2012.  In 2012, Fr. Stafford left the Franciscan Order and sought incardination to the Diocese of Youngstown (process by which clergy from one ecclesiastical jurisdiction are brought under the authority of another jurisdiction). Since his return to the Diocese of Youngstown, he has served at Parishes in Canton, Girard, McDonald and on the Ursuline High School Board.  He was also a committee member of the Human Rights Council of Youngstown Developmental Center until the center closed and he was involved with prison ministry at the Trumbull Correctional Institution. 

In August, 2019, Fr. Stafford began serving Saint Joseph, Saint Ambrose as well as Saint Michael Parishes. Each parish remained its own entity with staffs, programs, ministries and organizations. Saint Michael’s was designated an oratory (open only for feast day celebrations, weddings, funerals and other prayer opportunities) and in December 2021, Saint Michael’s was permanently closed merging with Saint Ambrose. On May 27, 2022, Fr. Ed was granted a medical health leave.  In January 2023, he returned from medical leave to serve as parochial vicar of Blessed Sacrament and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parishes.

Deacon Bob Simmerly has been a member at SEAS for over 30 years. He was born and raised in Fairview Park, Ohio in the Cleveland Diocese and was a member of St. Angela Merici Parish. He is one of eight children, 5 boys and 3 girls to Herb and Carol Simmerly. All of them went to catholic school from grade school through high school. As you can see, handing on the faith was important. Mom and Dad had a deep faith and love for the Catholic Church. He graduated from St. Edward High School in 1977. He wrestled in high school, was in the high school play and was a member of the same religious retreat team throughout high school. After graduation he coached C.Y.O. wrestling at our parish for 4 years. College did not start for him until 1983. He graduated from Borromeo Seminary College in 1987, then attended St. Mary’s Major Seminary in Cleveland for one year, leaving in 1988. Eight months later, he was working as a medical courier and his job brought him to the Warren area. One of his clients is now the love of his life for 30 years. Deb and her two girls and himself became a family on May 18, 1991. The Church was always important to him and with Fr. Crumbley’s guidance and blessings and his wife’s support, he entered the permanent diaconate program in 2004. On September 13, 2020, he celebrated 12 years as a permanent deacon. His first love is his family. He feels very lucky to have both.

Mary Kay Krisman worked for state government for 37 years in different positions, until she retired in 2010. During the time that she was working, she earned her Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Kent State University. After retiring, she wanted to do some volunteering. This was around the same time when the two churches merged; she started volunteering at the St. Cyril's kitchen in helping to make pirohy, kolachi and Easter bread. The comradery with all the workers is an experience she will always treasure and never forget  and she urges  anyone who  h  as  some extra time to come and participate. You won't regret  it. Through the recommendation of a parishioner, she applied for and got a temporary job that was available in the parish office; filling in and helping out where needed for a couple of months. That was nine years ago. She is currently the Administrative Assistant/Bookkeeper at the parish office. It has truly been a great learning experience working in several different capacities as well as very rewarding; mostly due from the great support of the members of this parish.

As a lifelong member of the St. James site I began to play the organ in church in 1963 while as a student at St. James School. I continued to occasionally play for a variety of services and Sunday Mass through grade school and high school. After returning to Warren from the Ohio State University in 1971, I was asked by the director of the newly formed St. James Cantate Choir, Ron Karrenbauer, to be the organist. I have continued in that position off and on for a number of years, taking over as director and organist in the mid 1980s. After an international assignment with my main employer, my family and I returned to Warren where I returned to the choir as organist and director in the early 2000s and have been there since. With the creation of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, I assumed these duties at that site as well. It has been a pleasure and an honor to be associated with such fine people and pastors as I have with our parish.

Julana has been a member at St. James (now St. EAS) since 1962, when she  was baptized. She started teaching CCD in 1992.  Julana began working at the parish in 1997 for Father Crumbley as his cook. Then housekeeping was added to her job. Julana loves her my job and feels blessed to have a job that allows her to always be available her family's needs. Her entire family including herself have played music for mass, have been Eucharistic ministers, readers and volunteers for whatever the church was doing at that time. She LOVES music and everyone knows where  she is at by following the sound of her voice singing to the music.  Her favorite saying "All IS GOOD!"

Jim as born May 18, 1953 in Warren Ohio. His parents were Joseph and Pauline Gorse. He is a lifelong Catholic and attended Catholic schools through eighth grade. He graduated from Howland High school. Following graduation, he worked at Copperweld Steel and Kmart Distribution Center.

Jim has been married for 38 years and they  have 3 daughters and 4 grandchildren.

Marie Therese has  been the  sacristan at  St. Elizabeth Ann Seton for 15 years. She enjoys the job and the parishioners she has gotten to know over the years. Marie Therese is thankful for all the parishioners who volunteered to help decorate the church during the different liturgical seasons; as  “we all look forward to working together.”