Regina Coeli Parish was established in 1958 , to serve the needs of the growing Catholic population in
Alliance. By the early 1950’s, it was apparent that Saint Joseph’s
Parish, the mother church of Alliance, could no longer minister
adequately to the post-war increase of families in the city.
Father later monsignor, John W. Cunningham, pastor of Saint
Joseph, was charged with establishing the new parish.
On July 11, 1952, the Coadjutor Bishop of Youngstown, Emmet M.
Walsh agreed to the purchase of a 51.92 acre tract of land from
Charlotte Galano Properties. The tract was named Marine Park
Allotment, with 35.18 acres being reserved for church and school
purposes, and the balance of 16.74 acres being divided into 46
residential lots.
The new parish was dedicated to the blessed Virgin and given the
name Regina Coeli, meaning Queen of Heaven. As a first priority
and in order to relieve the crowding at Saint Joseph’s, Monsignor
Cunningham began construction of the school in 1956.
The new parish was dedicated and blessed by Bishop Emmet M. Walsh
in 1958, and it numbered about 500 families. The boundaries
divided the city of Alliance at Union Avenue, with Regina Coeli
serving the West side; and Saint Joseph, the East. The Northern
boundary was the Portage-Stark County line; and the Southern,
Carrol-Stark County line.
The Altar-Rosary Society, Infant of Prague Guild, Saint Ann Study
Club and the Astro Booster Club were among the earliest parish
organizations. One of the first parish councils in the Diocese was
organized here in 1969 by Father John Turk. Between 1956 and 1965,
the present church hall was completed, along with two school
additions, one in 1930 and the other in 1965. The rectory was a
part of the original parish plan located on the East side of
Fernwood Boulevard. The present church was remodeled, and
dedicated by Bishop James W. Malone on April 13, 1975. A committee
of parishioners, spearheaded by Father Robert Sabatino, launched a
drive to eliminate parish debt and establish a permanent church of
gothic design, originally proposed by Monsignor Cunningham in
1958. Church members at two public meetings and at a vote taken at
two weekend mas, ses, decided to remodel the preexisting
structure. Once completed, a wing of the school was converted to
serve as the parish hall.
The shrine to honor the Blessed Virgin was constructed in
1980-1981. At the time, the black steel tower that had originally
adorned the top of the church was placed next to the brick edifice
surrounding the statue of the Madonna. A multi-colored stained
glass window illuminated after dark, forms the background for the
shrine.
The parish school began with only five grades in the fall of 1957,
almost a year before a Mass was celebrated at the new church. The
Sisters of Saint Dominic of Akron, already staffing saint
Joseph’s, agreed to serve at Alliance’s second parochial school.
Sister Dennis (Mary Fath) was the first principal, and the
original faculty consisted of five sisters and Mrs. Yvonne Welch.
In 1972 Regina Coeli School and saint Joseph School merged.
Today, Regina Coeli Parish provides a comprehensive religious
education program. There are weekly classes for children attending
public school, an active youth ministry program, as well as many
adult education programs.