About Holy Angels Dayton · Dayton, Ohio
Holy Angels Church is a Roman Catholic parish in the South Park neighborhood of Dayton, Ohio, established on December 17, 1901 by Archbishop William Elder to serve the Catholic workers and families near the National Cash Register Company. The parish has been in continuous ministry for more than 120 years and sits on Brown Street, in the shadow of the University of Dayton, with which it shares a formal partnership for liturgy and faith formation. Today Holy Angels is a member of the Bread of Life / Pan de Vida Family of Parishes in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and offers Saturday evening and Sunday morning Masses, weekly Reconciliation, a parish school, Knights of Columbus council, and outreach such as a food pantry, Christmas Giving Tree, and a twinning relationship with a community in Rwanda.
- Established
- 1901
- Patron
- Holy Angels (the Angels)
- Rector
- Father Satish Joseph
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Why belong here
Holy Angels offers a historic South Park parish home with deep Marianist roots, a vibrant partnership with the University of Dayton, and a strong sense of intergenerational Catholic community. Parishioners can worship at a Saturday 5:00 p.m. or Sunday 10:45 a.m. Mass in English, send their children to the parish school, join the Knights of Columbus council, and put faith into action through a food pantry, Christmas Giving Tree, and a twinning relationship with a community in Rwanda. As part of the new Bread of Life / Pan de Vida Family of Parishes, it also gives worshippers ready access to Spanish-language Masses, weekday Masses, and bilingual Reconciliation at sister parishes.
Mass times at Holy Angels Dayton
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00–4:45 p.m. (English) at Holy Angels
History of Holy Angels Parish
Holy Angels was canonically established on December 17, 1901 by Archbishop William Elder, with Father Martin P. Neville appointed as its founding pastor. The first Mass was celebrated on October 19, 1902 in a modest church built on Stewart Street after a fundraising campaign launched in January 1902. By 1906 the parish had outgrown its first home and relocated to South Brown Street on land donated by the Society of Mary (Marianist Brothers and Priests), adjacent to what is now the University of Dayton. The present church building was completed in 1927 and continues to serve as the parish's spiritual home. The parish's heritage is documented in the 1994 publication 'Church of the Holy Angels, Dayton, Ohio,' preserved by the University of Dayton's Parish Histories Collection.
- Founded: December 17, 1901 by Archbishop William Elder
- Founding pastor: Rev. Martin P. Neville
- First Mass: October 19, 1902
- Original location: Stewart Street, Dayton
- Relocation to Brown Street: 1906 (land donated by the Marianists)
- Present church completed: 1927
Marianist Partnership with the University of Dayton
From its earliest days Holy Angels has been intertwined with the Marianist community that founded and staffs the University of Dayton. In 2008 the parish and university signed a formal Memorandum of Understanding — described as 'a multifaceted and unique collaboration, not a merger' — under which UD provides the parish with office space, networking and phone services, lawn care, snow removal, and access to university parking lots for weekend Masses, funerals, and parish events. In return, UD Campus Ministry uses Holy Angels Church for larger liturgies such as the annual Christmas on Campus celebration, and some UD Chapel of the Immaculate Conception Masses are held at Holy Angels during chapel renovations.
- Memorandum of Understanding between Holy Angels Parish and the University of Dayton
- University provides office space, parking, maintenance, networking, and phone services
- Campus Ministry uses Holy Angels for larger liturgies (e.g. Christmas on Campus)
- Originally reported by the Dayton Daily News
Family of Parishes — Bread of Life / Pan de Vida
Holy Angels belongs to the Bread of Life / Pan de Vida Family of Parishes in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati's 'Beacons of Light' pastoral planning initiative. The family brings together five Dayton parishes — Holy Angels, St. Anthony, St. Mary, St. Helen, and Immaculate Conception — under shared pastoral leadership and coordinated sacramental schedules so that the faithful can more easily attend Mass in either English or Spanish, weekday or weekend.
- Holy Angels (English weekend Mass)
- St. Anthony (English Sunday)
- St. Helen (English Sunday)
- Immaculate Conception (English and Spanish weekend Masses; Rock Mass)
- St. Mary (English and Spanish weekend Masses)
- Pastor: Father Satish Joseph
- Parochial Vicars assigned across the family
Parish Staff and Leadership
Holy Angels is served by a pastor, two parochial vicars, and a small lay staff responsible for business operations, faith formation, music, sacramental records, SafeParish coordination, and family communications. A Parish Council with elected officers and members provides lay governance and direction.
- Fr. Satish Joseph — Pastor
- Fr. R. Patrick Combs — Parochial Vicar
- Fr. Jose Benitez — Parochial Vicar
- Denise Young — Parish Business Manager
- Sue Jenkins — Administrative Assistant
- Katy Dalrymple — Family Faith Formation Coordinator
- Amy Gray — Music Coordinator
- Laurie Chappars — Sacramental Records & SafeParish Coordinator
- Sr. Emily Sandoval, FMI — Bread of Life Family Coordinator of Communications
- Parish Council Chair: Mary-Kate Sableski; Vice Chair: Kurt Horner
Ministries and Service
Parishioners have many ways to live out their faith through service, fellowship, and formation at Holy Angels. The Family Faith in Action Commission hosts coffee and donuts after select Masses alongside service projects throughout the year. The Knights of Columbus council supports fundraising and parish service projects, and the parish reaches beyond its walls through a local food pantry, a Christmas Giving Tree, and a twinning relationship with a community in Rwanda.
- Family Faith in Action Commission — fellowship & service
- Knights of Columbus — fundraising & service
- Food Pantry
- Christmas Giving Tree
- Parish Twinning with a community in Rwanda
- Music Ministry (adult choir and contemporary ensemble)
Parish School
Holy Angels operates a parish school that has long served the South Park neighborhood. From the parish's early years a 'model schoolhouse' stood at the rear of the church, and Catholic education remains an important part of the parish's identity. The parish school participates in the parish-university partnership with UD, and registration is coordinated through the parish office.
- Parish school on the Brown Street campus
- Shared networking, phone, and maintenance services via the University of Dayton partnership
Pilgrimage of Faith — Central Trail
Holy Angels is featured on the Archdiocese of Cincinnati's Pilgrimage of Faith Central Trail, which links historic and devotional Catholic sites across the archdiocese. The parish's listing highlights both the exterior and interior of the 1927 church and notes its long Marianist heritage.
- Featured as 'Church of the Holy Angels' on the Central Trail
- Recognized for its Marianist heritage and South Park history
Getting Involved
Newcomers and visitors are warmly welcomed. Those wishing to register as parishioners may complete a registration form available on the parish website and return it to the parish office, place it in the Sunday offering plate, or email it to Nancy Anderson. Opportunities to participate include joining the Parish Council, volunteering with the Family Faith in Action Commission, becoming a Knight of Columbus member (contact Chris McCall), or helping with service ministries such as the food pantry and Christmas Giving Tree.
- Parish registration via online form
- Parish Council involvement
- Family Faith in Action Commission
- Knights of Columbus
- Service ministries (food pantry, Christmas Giving Tree, Rwanda twinning)
Visiting and Contact
Holy Angels welcomes all who wish to attend Mass, receive the sacraments, or learn more about the Catholic faith. The parish office can be reached at (937) 229-5911; the Bread of Life Family of Parishes shared line is 937-252-9919. The parish shares University of Dayton parking for weekend Masses and events.
- Address: 1322 Brown St., Dayton, OH 45409
- Phone: (937) 229-5911
- Family of Parishes line: 937-252-9919
- Website: https://www.holyangelschurchdayton.org (also https://www.hasadayton.org)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Martin P. (Neville)1901–?
First pastor; appointed by Archbishop William Elder at the canonical establishment of the parish on December 17, 1901. Had served fourteen years as chaplain at Notre Dame Academy; gave his full energy to Holy Angels from fall 1904. Celebrated the parish's first Mass on October 19, 1902.