About Immaculate Conception · Kenton, Ohio
Immaculate Conception is a Roman Catholic parish in Kenton, Ohio, the county seat of Hardin County, serving Catholics across rural northwest Ohio as part of the Diocese of Columbus. Originally founded as a missionary church out of the Diocese of Cincinnati in the 1860s, the parish was formally dedicated on December 9, 1866 — first under the name St. Mary's Immaculata and later renamed Immaculate Conception — and for more than 150 years has provided Sunday and daily Mass, the sacraments, religious education (formerly through the St. Anthony Institute), and Catholic social outreach across Hardin County. Today's parish offers Mass in both English and Spanish, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, faith formation for children, Vacation Bible School, and a range of community outreach ministries including the Hardin County S.O.U.P. Kitchen, Christmas Food Baskets, and participation in Heartbeat of Hardin County.
- Established
- 1866
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of the Immaculate Conception
- Rector
- Fr. Ryan Schmit
- Diocese
- Diocese of Columbus
Why belong here
Immaculate Conception offers a rare combination in small-town Ohio: a centuries-old Catholic parish with a full sacramental schedule (including a monthly Spanish Mass), daily Mass twice a week, weekly Eucharistic Adoration with Benediction, and a robust lineup of parish and community ministries — RCIA for adults, First Communion preparation, PSR faith formation, Vacation Bible School, the Heartbeat of Hardin County pro-life partnership, Christmas Food Baskets, and active participation in the ecumenical Hardin County S.O.U.P. Kitchen. Pastor Fr. Ryan Schmit also shepherds nearby Our Lady of Lourdes in Ada, making the parish a hub of Catholic life across Hardin County and a welcoming entry point for returning Catholics, young families, and Spanish-speaking neighbors.
Mass times at Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 8:30 AM – 8:50 AM
- Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM (immediately following the 9:00 AM Mass)
- Saturday: 3:30 PM – 3:50 PM
- By appointment with Fr. Schmit ([email protected])
Adoration times
- Tuesdays: 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM (Holy Hour)
- Wednesdays: from the end of the 9:00 AM Mass until Benediction at 1:00 PM
History of Immaculate Conception Parish
Founded in 1866 under the Diocese of Cincinnati, the parish began as St. Mary's Immaculata and was formally dedicated on December 9, 1866. It grew into the institutional anchor of Catholic life in Hardin County, operating a grade-and-high school (the St. Anthony Institute), a convent for the Sisters of Charity (built 1880), and the San Antonio Hospital (dedicated 1907). In 1944 the parish became part of the newly created Diocese of Columbus. The parish counts twenty pastors and fourteen associate pastors in its recorded succession.
- 1866 — Parish formally dedicated as St. Mary's Immaculata; later renamed Immaculate Conception.
- 1880 — Convent built to house the Sisters of Charity (served until the 1970s).
- 1907 — San Antonio Hospital dedicated (operated until the 1960s).
- 1934 — High school classes at St. Anthony Institute end; grade school continues for ~40 more years.
- 1944 — Parish transfers from the Diocese of Cincinnati to the Diocese of Columbus.
- 2013 — Architect William Heyer completes a project at Immaculate Conception, Kenton.
Mass & Liturgical Schedule
The parish offers a full Sunday schedule with a Saturday Vigil and a monthly Spanish Mass, plus two weekday Masses. All Mass schedules and confession slots are posted clearly on the parish website, and the parish live-streams its liturgies so that homebound parishioners and visitors can participate remotely.
- Saturday Vigil — 4:00 PM (English)
- Sunday — 9:00 AM (English)
- Last Sunday of the month — 7:00 PM (Spanish)
- Wednesday — 9:00 AM (English)
- Thursday — 9:00 AM (English)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish continues the long tradition of Catholic education that historically flowed through the St. Anthony Institute, today expressed through Parish School of Religion (PSR) classes, First Communion and First Reconciliation preparation (typically in 2nd grade), and an annual Vacation Bible School open to preschool through 5th-grade children. Adult initiation is through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA).
- PSR / Faith Formation (parish office: 419-675-1162)
- First Reconciliation and First Eucharist preparation (typically 2nd grade)
- Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
- Vacation Bible School — preschool through 5th grade
- Director of Religious Education: Stacey Stacklin (937-354-0053)
Bible Study & Adult Faith Growth
Adult faith growth is supported through a regular weekly Bible Study that meets Tuesday mornings on parish grounds.
- Bible Study — Tuesdays, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Parish Life & Community Outreach
Beyond the sacraments, Immaculate Conception is active in parish life and Hardin County service. The parish participates in the ecumenical S.O.U.P. Kitchen (Some Of Us People) the last week of each month at First Christian Church (340 N. Main Street, Kenton), distributes Christmas Food Baskets through donations left in a cart at the back of church, and partners with Heartbeat of Hardin County — including the Baby Bottle Boom-a-rang — to support mothers and the pro-life mission.
- Hardin County S.O.U.P. Kitchen (last week of each month, ecumenical outreach)
- Christmas Food Baskets (parish-wide canned/boxed food drive)
- Heartbeat of Hardin County partnership (Baby Bottle Boom-a-rang, parenting support)
- Knights of Columbus
- Stewardship Committee
Parish Staff
Immaculate Conception is led by a small pastoral team responsible for worship, faith formation, and parish administration.
- Pastor: Fr. Ryan Schmit (also pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes, Ada) — [email protected]
- Director of Religious Education / Administrative Assistant: Stacey Stacklin — 937-354-0053 / officeoliccatholic.org
Visit, Contact & Connect
Newcomers, returning Catholics, and visitors are warmly welcomed. The parish publishes weekly bulletins, a Pastor's Update, online giving, and a live stream, and provides Flocknote email and social channels to keep parishioners connected throughout the week.
- Address: 215 East North Street, Kenton, OH 43326
- Phone: (419) 675-1162
- Email: officeoliccatholic.org
- Website: icckenton.org
- Online Giving, Bulletins, Live Stream, Pastor's Update available on the site
- Sister parish: Our Lady of Lourdes, Ada (lourdesada.org)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- First pastor / founding clergy1866–
St. Mary's Immaculata (later Immaculate Conception) is recorded on the parish website as its first parish beginning in 1866, in the Diocese of Cincinnati.