Holy Rosary Church

Parish Identity and Location

Holy Rosary Catholic Church is the historic Italian-heritage parish of Cleveland's Little Italy neighborhood, located at 12021 Mayfield Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, on the corner of Mayfield and Coltman Roads in the heart of the University Circle area. Founded in 1892 by the Diocese of Cleveland to serve Italian immigrants who had settled east of Madison Avenue near Lake View Cemetery, the parish has remained a continuous Catholic presence in the community for more than 130 years. The parish shares jurisdiction in the Diocese of Cleveland's Suburban East Deanery and its pastor currently serves as dean of that deanery.

History of Holy Rosary Parish

In 1891 Fr. Joseph Strumio began offering Mass for Italian immigrants in East Cleveland, and on January 5, 1892 the Diocese of Cleveland formally established the parish. Within a month the community raised $2,000, the cornerstone was laid on August 14, 1892, and the first church was completed by year's end. Fr. Antonio Gibelli opened an adult-citizenship school in 1895, and from 1896 the Ursuline Sisters of Greater Cleveland taught religion classes because the parish could not yet afford a parochial school. The current Baroque Revival church, designed by architect W.W. Hodges, was begun in 1905 and dedicated on November 9, 1909. It was extensively renovated under Fr. Joseph Trivisonno (1929–1939), who also brought the Maestre Pie Filippini sisters to minister in the parish.

• Jan. 5, 1892 — Diocese of Cleveland forms the parish.
• Aug. 14, 1892 — Cornerstone of the first church laid.
• 1895 — Fr. Antonio Gibelli opens a school for adult parishioners.
• 1896 — Ursuline Sisters of Greater Cleveland begin teaching religion to parish children.
• 1905–1909 — Present Baroque Revival church built by architect W.W. Hodges; dedicated Nov. 9, 1909.
• 1929–1939 — Pastorate of Fr. Joseph Trivisonno; major renovation and arrival of the Maestre Pie Filippini sisters.
• 1954 — Parochial school opens; peaks at about 400 students in the late 1950s–early 1960s.
• 1977 — Priests of the Congregation of St. Joseph given pastoral charge of the parish.
• June 16, 1976 — Holy Rosary Church listed on the National Register of Historic Places (#76001397).
• 1989 — Fr. Philip Racco installed as pastor.
• June 1993 — Parish school closes (only ~70 students remaining).
• 1995 — Former school building re-opens as the Montessori School at Holy Rosary (preschool–8th grade).

Architecture and Historic Status

The present church is a Baroque Revival landmark built from 1905 to 1909 to a design by Cleveland architect W.W. Hodges. Although many of the original Italian parishioners were stone cutters by trade, the visible walls of the church were built of brick on a stone foundation, with copper used for various external details. Stairs lead up to the double-doored main entrance, above which two large arched windows pierce the facade; brick-filled bays flank the entrance, accented with small arched windows and oculi, and the parapet is topped by numerous statues. A domed cupola crowns the eastern corner. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 16, 1976, under NRHP reference number 76001397, qualifying on both its architecture and its role in the Italian-American community's history.

• Style: Baroque Revival
• Architect: W.W. Hodges
• Built: 1905 (begun) — 1909 (dedicated Nov. 9)
• Exterior: brick walls on a stone foundation, with copper and stone detailing
• Notable features: central double-door entrance with steps, large arched windows above, statues across the parapet, domed cupola on the eastern corner
• NRHP listing: June 16, 1976 — Reference #76001397 (Architecture/Engineering + Religion/European heritage significance)

Clergy and Staff

Holy Rosary is pastored by Father Joseph Previte, who also serves as the dean of the Diocese of Cleveland's Suburban East Deanery (a role recognized by the diocese in 2024). Assisting him in diaconal ministry is Deacon Bruce Battista. Pastoral care of the parish has been entrusted to the Congregation of St. Joseph since 1977.

• Fr. Joseph Previte — Pastor; Dean of the Suburban East Deanery
• Deacon Bruce Battista — currently assigned to the parish
• Pastoral care entrusted to the priests of the Congregation of St. Joseph since 1977

The Feast of the Assumption — Italian Street Festival in Little Italy

Each August Holy Rosary hosts its most famous tradition — the Feast of the Assumption, a multi-day Italian street festival and prayer celebration running from the evening of August 14 through August 17. The parish counts the tradition back to 1898/1899; 2025 marked the 126th Feast and 2026 the 127th. The centerpiece is a solemn Mass at 10:00 AM on August 15 followed by the procession of the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary through the streets of Little Italy (the procession begins at Holy Rosary, travels along E. 120th, Coltman, Mayfield, E. 124th, Alexander Ct, E. 123rd, and back via Murray Hill, Cornell, Random, Paul, and Fairview to return to the church).

• Solemn Mass at 10:00 AM on the Feast Day (Aug. 15), with additional Masses at 8 AM, noon, and 8 PM
• Solemn Procession through the streets of Little Italy beginning at approximately 11:15 AM on Aug. 15
• Outdoor Rosary at 6:00 PM each evening at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Assumption (piazza on the Coltman Road side of the church)
• Cavatelli dinner in the air-conditioned church hall
• Churchyard food stands, inflatables, and games open noon to 10/11 PM throughout the festival
• Live music on Mayfield Road and in the churchyard, including the Italian Band of Cleveland and the Primavera Band
• Casino night in the lower-level church hall (Fridays and Saturdays of the Feast)
• Candlelight procession at 9:00 PM on the final evening (Aug. 17) honoring the Blessed Virgin, followed by closing prayer service and raffle

Monte School and Parish Education

Although the parochial school closed in 1993, the school building was re-opened in 1995 as the Montessori School at Holy Rosary, a Catholic Montessori program serving preschool through 8th grade. Using the Montessori method of teaching within a Catholic environment, Holy Rosary students participate in community service projects with neighboring organizations including Abington Arms housing, Ronald McDonald House, Hope Lodge for cancer patients, and the Cleveland Foodbank.

• 1993: Parish school closes.
• 1995: Montessori School at Holy Rosary opens in the former school building.
• Grades: Preschool through 8th grade.
• Method: Catholic Montessori.
• Community service partners: Abington Arms, Ronald McDonald House, Hope Lodge, Cleveland Foodbank.

Parish Outreach, Stewardship and Catholic Resources

Holy Rosary's outreach identity is deeply tied to its Feast of the Assumption, whose stated mission is to support the Catholic elementary-school education of parish children and the ongoing maintenance of the church buildings and grounds. The parish provides a free parish-wide subscription to FORMED (the Catholic streaming/formation platform) and offers online giving through ParishSoft Giving for one-time and recurring gifts. The parish also partners with the Newman Catholic Campus Ministry serving the many university students in nearby University Circle, and maintains close links to the Little Italy Redevelopment Corporation and the wider University Circle community.

• Online giving via ParishSoft Giving
• Free parish subscription to FORMED
• Feast of the Assumption supports parish children's Catholic school education and church maintenance
• Newman Catholic Campus Ministry partnership (cwrunewman.org)
• Affiliate links: Diocese of Cleveland, USCCB, Vatican, University Circle Inc., Little Italy Redevelopment Corporation

Visitor Information and Contacts

The parish office can be reached by phone at (216) 421-2995, with a fax line at (216) 421-2258, and by email at [email protected]. The mailing and physical address is 12021 Mayfield Road, Cleveland, OH 44106-1996. The parish shares its community on Facebook and X (Twitter); both are linked directly from holy-rosary.org.

• Address: 12021 Mayfield Road, Cleveland, OH 44106-1996
• Phone: (216) 421-2995
• Fax: (216) 421-2258
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.holy-rosary.org/
• Social: Facebook and X (Twitter) accounts linked from the parish website