About Corpus Christi Church / Our Lady of Grace Parish · Dayton, Ohio
Our Lady of Grace Parish in Dayton, Ohio is a Roman Catholic parish of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati uniting two historic northwest-side worship sites: Corpus Christi Church, a 1911 Mission Revival landmark at 527 Forest Avenue in the Five Oaks neighborhood, and Our Lady of Mercy Church at 533 Odlin Avenue. Since January 2010 the parish has been served by the Congregation of the Holy Spirit Fathers (Spiritans/C.S.Sp.), whose work among African American Catholics in Dayton began in 1928 at the invitation of the Archbishop of Cincinnati. The parish is part of a regional Spiritan family that also includes Queen of Martyrs, St. Benedict the Moor, St. Mary, and St. Augustine parishes.
- Established
- 1911
- Patron
- Corpus Christi (Body of Christ)
- Rector
- Rev. Francis Tandoh, C.S.Sp.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Why belong here
Our Lady of Grace Parish is a welcoming Spiritan community with deep historic roots and an active commitment to African American Catholic ministry, evangelization, justice and peace, advocacy for refugees and immigrants, education, and youth ministry. Worshippers alternate between two celebrated Dayton churches — the 1911 Mission Revival landmark Corpus Christi and Our Lady of Mercy — with weekday Masses, Sunday Masses in a rotation between the two sites, RCIA, music ministry, and a Bereavement Committee that accompanies families through funeral planning. The parish is a good fit for anyone seeking a Spiritan-charism parish grounded in gospel outreach, urban ministry, and a century of Dayton heritage.
Mass times at Corpus Christi Church / Our Lady of Grace Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Parish History
Our Lady of Grace Parish traces its origins to 1907, when Catholics in Dayton's growing northwest 'suburbs' of Riverdale and Dayton View began organizing for a new parish. Archbishop Henry Moeller sanctioned the effort in 1909; the parish was canonically established on March 19, 1911, with Rev. John T. Gallagher as first pastor. The landmark Corpus Christi Church at Forest and Homewood Avenues was designed by William E. Russ, built in five months, and dedicated on Christmas Eve 1911. The parish has remained an anchor of northwest Dayton for more than a century, joining with Our Lady of Mercy Church in January 2010 under the Spiritans to form the present-day Our Lady of Grace Parish.
- 1907 — Catholics in Riverdale/Dayton View begin organizing
- 1909 — Archbishop Moeller sanctions new parish; property site selected in 1911
- March 19, 1911 — Parish established; Rev. John T. Gallagher appointed first pastor
- April 16, 1911 (Easter Sunday) — First Mass in Smith's Hall
- July 10, 1911 — Ground broken for permanent church
- December 24, 1911 — Corpus Christi Church dedicated by Archbishop Moeller
- January 2010 — Corpus Christi merged with Our Lady of Mercy into Our Lady of Grace Parish (Spiritan-led)
- 2023 — Major exterior renovation including pressed-metal replica tile roof
Worship Locations
The parish celebrates Mass at two Dayton worship sites plus four associated Spiritan parishes in the region. The Sunday schedule rotates between Corpus Christi Church and Our Lady of Mercy Church; weekday Masses are held at each church on alternating days.
- Corpus Christi Church — 527 Forest Avenue, Dayton, OH 45405 (the 1911 Mission Revival landmark)
- Our Lady of Mercy Church — 533 Odlin Avenue, Dayton, OH 45405 (also parish office address)
- Queen of Martyrs Parish — 4134 Cedar Ridge Road, Dayton, OH 45414 (Sun 11:00 AM; Thu 8:30 AM)
- St. Benedict the Moor Parish — 519 Liscum Dr., Dayton, OH 45417 (Sat 4:00 PM, Sun 10:30 AM)
- St. Augustine Parish — 6939 Weaver Rd., Germantown, OH 45327 (Sun 8:30 AM)
- St. Mary Parish (Spiritan Dayton family)
Parish Staff & Pastoral Leadership
Our Lady of Grace Parish is led by the Congregation of the Holy Spirit Fathers (Spiritans / C.S.Sp.). The staff includes a pastor, parochial vicar, two deacons, and a team of lay staff handling music, facilities, finances, and office administration.
- Pastor — Rev. Francis Tandoh, C.S.Sp. ([email protected])
- Parochial Vicar — Rev. Benoit Mukamba, C.S.Sp. ([email protected])
- Deacon Ken Stewart
- Deacon Osagie Victor Obasuyi
- Facilities Manager / Sacristan — Natinka Siwecki
- Regional Assistant — Liz Gadola
- Music Director — Michael Kastner
- Bookkeeper — Marty Phillips
- Office Volunteer — Wanda Hollinger
Spiritan Heritage
The Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans / C.S.Sp.) was founded in France in 1703 by Claude Poullart des Places; today nearly 3,000 Spiritans serve in more than 65 countries. The Spiritans have worked in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati since the late 1800s and have ministered to African American Catholics in Dayton since 1928 at the Archbishop's request. Their Dayton works are rooted in evangelization, advocacy for refugees and immigrants, education and youth ministry, parish ministry, and the promotion of justice and peace.
- Spiritans arrived in Ohio in the 1870s (Troy and Piqua)
- Took over African American ministry in Cincinnati (St. John the Baptist) in 1928
- Came to Dayton in 1928 at Archbishop's request
- Currently serve five Dayton-area parishes
- Founded by Claude Poullart des Places (1703, France)
Ministries & Outreach
The parish runs a variety of ministries that flow from the Spiritan charism. The Evangelization Ministry creates opportunities to discover, renew, or strengthen faith in Christ and to share the Gospel. A Bereavement Committee comforts bereaved families and assists with funeral planning. Other long-standing ministries include the Holy Name Society (founded 1912) and historic youth programs like the CYO and Tri-Chi Club.
- Evangelization Ministry — led by Fr. Benoit Mukamba
- Music Ministry — Michael Kastner, Director
- Bereavement Committee — funeral planning
- Holy Name Society — est. 1912
- CYO — parish youth organization
- Tri-Chi Club — teen ministry
- SafeParish™ child protection training sessions
- Spiritan outreach: refugee/immigrant advocacy, education, justice and peace
Sacraments & Devotions
Baptisms, marriages, and other sacraments are arranged through the parish office at 937-274-2107. The Bereavement Committee helps families plan funeral liturgies and accompanies them through bereavement. RCIA and faith formation inquiries may also be directed to the parish office.
- Baptism — call the parish office
- Marriage — call the parish office to schedule
- Anointing of the Sick — by request through the parish office
- Funeral planning — Bereavement Committee (937-274-2107 ext. 3002)
- RCIA — inquire at the parish office
Parish Office & Visiting
The Parish Center (regional office) is in the same building as Our Lady of Mercy Church at 533 Odlin Avenue, Dayton, OH 45405. The office is open Monday and Tuesday, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, and is closed on many national holidays. Callers can reach individual staff voicemails at any time via the main number; for emergencies follow the phone-system prompts.
- Mailing/Office Address — 533 Odlin Avenue, Dayton, OH 45405
- Phone — 937-274-2107
- Office Hours — Mon & Tue 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- General email — [email protected]
- To make a priest appointment, call 937-274-2107 ext. 3001
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John T. Gallagher1911–1918
First pastor; appointed March 19, 1911 by Archbishop Moeller. Oversaw construction and Christmas Eve 1911 dedication of the church. Launched the Corpus Christi Record newsletter and built the school. Died Nov. 5, 1918.
- Rev. James W. Fogarty1918–1924
Second pastor; began around Dec. 15, 1918; resigned March 1924.
- Rev. Albert A. Burke1924–1928
Appointed March 27, 1924; left Nov. 6, 1928.
- Rev. Francis Reardon1928–1935
Appointed Nov. 7, 1928; transferred to St. William Parish, Cincinnati, in November 1935.
- Rev. Harry J. Ansbury1935–
Appointed Nov. 20, 1935; first native Daytonian to serve as pastor; led the parish into the Spiritan era.
- Spiritans (C.PP.S.)1939 onward as assistants
Congregation of the Holy Spirit Fathers began serving as assistant pastors in 1939 (Rev. William Staudt, C.PP.S.) and increasingly staffed the parish.
- Spiritans (C.S.Sp.)January 2010–present
Full pastoral leadership of Our Lady of Grace Parish under the Spiritans since the 2010 merger. Current pastor: Rev. Francis Tandoh, C.S.Sp.