There was shock and sadness in the community when a popular pastor resigned in the middle of the investigation in the late 1980s.

For parishioners who have been baptized, attended Mass, received Holy Communion, attended funerals for loved ones, or been married by Father Mike at Saint Patrick Church in Hubbard, this is a sad day.

For three years, beloved Pastor Mike Swierz helped members of his congregation through the challenges of a fire that destroyed the sanctuary and ground floor conference rooms.

As membership numbers continued to grow, masses were held next door in the parish center for three years.

In March, the newly restored church opened its doors to a new sanctuary.

But just three months later, church members are facing a new challenge.

Father Mike resigned as pastor of Saint Patrick Parish in Hubbard.

The Catholic Diocese of Youngstown released a statement.

June 17, 2024: Bishop J. Bonnar accepted the resignation of Father Michael A. Swierz as pastor of Saint Patrick Parish in Hubbard, as president of Saint Joseph the Provider School, and as dean of Trumbull County.

The Catholic diocese says Father Swierz is on leave due to admitted actions that violate diocesan policies.

The acts in question occurred in the late 1980s while he was at St. Rose Parish in Girard, Ohio.

This means that the events must have taken place over forty years ago, when Father Mike was serving at Saint Rose Parish in the late 1980s. Father Mike must have been in his late 20s at the time.

Investigations into these matters are ongoing and Father Swierz is cooperating with the investigation.

At this time, the diocese does not wish to make any further comments on the investigation or the father’s situation.

No decision has been made yet as to who will be pastor of Saint Patrick Church in Hubbard.

Father Michael Swierz was ordained in 1985 and served at St. Peters in Canton. He served at St. Rose in Girard until 1992.

He was then called by Bishop James W. Malone to build a new church in his home parish of Holy Family in Poland and remained there until 1998.

Father Mike was subsequently assigned to St. Christine Parish in Youngstown, where he also served as fire chaplain for the Youngstown Fire Department.

In 2000, Bishop Thomas J. Tobin asked Father Mike to become pastor of St. Joseph the Provider Church in Campbell.

Soon after, he took on additional duties at St. Elizabeth and St. John the Baptist churches in Campbell.

In 2012, Father Mike was appointed president of St. Joseph the Provider School in Youngstown by Bishop George V. Murry.

In 2015, Bishop Murry asked Father Mike to become pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Hubbard.