SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church 
                   100th Anniversary 1911-2011
Proclaiming the Future...
            Celebrating the Past and the Present

Many Croatian immigrants settled in the Youngstown area in the late 1800's and early 1900's. The area Croatians attended the Slovak parish of SS.Cyril and Methodius and although closely related to the Slovak people, the Croatians wanted to hear Mass in their native language and in their own church. The Croatian Association collected money to purchase land, build a church and to bring a priest from Croatia. Two lots and frame houses at what is now the corner of Covington and Arlington streets were purchased for $85,000.00. These were the original structures used as a church and a parish house. Mijo(Michael) Domladovac, a young seminarian asked to be sent to America and arrived in Cleveland in 1910. He was ordained on June 10, 1911 and celebrated his first Mass on June 11, 1911 and became pastor of SS.Peter and Paul that same day. The first Mass was said in the little church on July 2, 1911. The second house became a modest parish house which had no plumbing facilities other than running water in the kitchen. The present house was built in 1916. The cornerstone of the new church building was dedicated on August 24, 1913 and Mass was first said in the basement on Palm Sunday, 1914. The new church was dedicated on July 11,1915. The basement housed the parish school until the school building was completed in 1929. In 1917 Reverend John A. Stipanovic was appointed pastor until his death in 1970. Reverend Branimir Radetic, long time associate, was appointed pastor in 1970.  He retired in 1999.  Msgr. Robert Reidy administered the parish for six months in 1999.  Happily he encouraged ther people to see their strengths and look to the future.  This future hope was taken up by Rev. John F. Warner, pastor from 2000 to 2003.

 In 2003 Reverend Joseph S. Rudjak was installed as the 5th and present pastor of SS. Peter and Paul. Under his guidance a capital campaign was initiated and a new elevator and gathering area was added. This was the first step in the process for the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the church in 2011. Importantly a pastoral associate, Sister Rose Huber, HM  and Deacon George Paulicivic joined the parish team in the summer of  2007.