Very Reverend Michael D. Balash currently serves as pastor of Saint Patrick Parish and as Vicar for Clergy and Religious Services, Director of the Office of Worship, and Director of Seminarians for the Diocese of Youngstown.
A native of Gary, Indiana, Father Balash was raised in Hubbard and attended St. Patrick Parish Grade School and Hubbard High School. He entered Saint Gregory Seminary of the Athenaeum of Ohio in Cincinnati in 1978 and two years later transferred to the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio. In 1982, he graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English. Later that year, he entered Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary of the Athenaeum of Ohio where he pursued his graduate studies. He graduated with honors in October 1987 with a Master of Divinity Degree and a Master of Arts Degree in Biblical Studies from the Athenaeum of Ohio. On December 27, 1986, he was ordained to the Diaconate by Auxiliary Bishop Benedict C. Franzetta at Saint Columba Cathedral and six months later, on June 20, 1987, he was ordained to the Priesthood by Bishop James W. Malone at Saint Columba Cathedral. After ordination, Father Balash served as parochial vicar at Saint Michael Parish in Canton (1978-1992) and at Saint Patrick Parish in Kent (1992-1995). In 1995, he attended the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana, where he earned a Master of Theology Degree in Liturgy. He returned to the diocese and served as pastor at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Ashtabula, (1996-2003) and Saint Joseph Parish in Mantua, (2003-2008). In 2008 he became pastor of Saint William Parish in Champion until 2023 and became pastor of Saint Patrick Parish in 2024.
In addition to his current duties at Saint Patrick Parish and the Diocese of Youngstown, Father Balash has also served as Dean of Ashtabula County, Vice-Chair of the Youngstown Diocese Priests’ Council, and has been a board member of the Board of Religious Education, Catholic Charities of Portage County, Priest Advisory Council for Diocesan Capital Campaign, and the Youngstown Diocese Pastoral Council. He has also served on the Board of Directors for the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions and as Treasurer of the FDLC. Fr. Balash has been an adjunct faculty member of the Ursuline College Religious Studies Extension Program and Walsh University and been an invited presenter for numerous parishes and events throughout the Diocese of Youngstown and at national meetings and conferences in area of liturgical theology and worship.