About Immaculate Conception · Madison, Ohio
Immaculate Conception Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Madison, Ohio, part of the Diocese of Cleveland and serving the Lake County community since 1863. Located on Hubbard Road (Route 534) in the northeast corner of the diocese, the parish is dedicated to 'Loving Christ, Loving Others' and to creating mature disciples through prayer, education, and service. It offers a full sacramental life — daily and weekend Mass, Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration, Anointing of the Sick, Baptism, Marriage and Confirmation — along with faith formation for children, youth and adults, a Music Ministry, OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), a vibrant PSR program, and an active ICC Youth Group. The parish is led by Father Sean J. Donnelly (appointed November 24, 2003) and is supported by two deacons, a business manager, and a large network of lay ministries, prayer groups and outreach to the homebound.
- Established
- 1863
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of the Immaculate Conception (Mary Conceived Without Sin)
- Rector
- Rev. Sean J. Donnelly, MA, D. Min. (appointed November 24, 2003)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Cleveland
Why belong here
Immaculate Conception offers a complete Catholic life in one parish: weekday and weekend Mass (with Sunday Mass live-streamed on YouTube), frequent Confession, Wednesday Eucharistic Adoration, quarterly Anointing of the Sick, and a robust sacramental preparation program. Add to that OCIA for adults, Parish School of Religion (PSR) for grades 1–8 and Confirmation, the ICC Youth Group (6th–12th grade), Bible Study, Rosary for Life pilgrimages, a Music Ministry under directors Jim and Dawn Slike, and outreach to local nursing homes and the homebound. For 160+ years it has been a stable Catholic presence in Lake County — a place where families, returning Catholics, and inquirers can all find a spiritual home.
Mass times at Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
- Saturday 7:30 PM – 8:00 PM
- Sunday 9:45 AM – 10:45 AM
- First Saturday of each month: 8:30 AM at St. Andrew's Abbey (during the Rosary for Life Pilgrimage)
Adoration times
- Wednesday 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM in the church (per the parish website); the Diocese of Cleveland directory lists Wednesdays 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Sign up for an hour through the Parish Office.
Parish Story & History
Immaculate Conception traces its roots to 1863, when Rev. John Tracy celebrated the first Mass in Madison-area homes on July 15 of that year. For more than seven decades it functioned as a Mission supported by parishes in Painesville, South Thompson, Jefferson, Willoughby and Geneva, and worshipped first in a brick church on Lake Street (1868). In 1934 it was formally established as a parish under the patronage of Mary Conceived Without Sin. The parish has produced two diocesan priests (Fr. Kevin Estabrook, 2009; Fr. Christopher Stein, 2023) and counts Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost among those who began their ministry here.
- 1863 – Madison Mission begins; first Mass by Rev. John Tracy
- 1868 – Brick church built on Lake Street
- 1934 – Mission becomes a parish under patronage of Mary Conceived Without Sin; Rev. Ludwig Virant first resident pastor
- 1945 – Property purchased on Hubbard Road (current site)
- 1953 – Cornerstone laid for new church; 350 families at Christmas Mass in the unfinished building
- 1955 – Church dedicated October 18 by Bishop Edward F. Hoban
- 1978 – Groundbreaking for the Parish Center (April 9)
- 1980 – Parish Center dedicated by Bishop James Griffin
- 1982 – Mary's Shrine relocated from St. John's College, Cleveland
- 1988 – 125th Anniversary celebrated
- 1995 – Fagan Hall dedicated in honor of Pastor Emeritus Rev. Harry J. Fagan
- 2003 – Rev. Sean J. Donnelly appointed pastor (November 24)
- 2009 – First priestly vocation: ordination of Father Kevin Estabrook
- 2010 – New main altar installed
- 2011 – New chapel altar installed
- 2013 – 150th Anniversary celebrated July 21
- 2023 – Second priestly vocation: ordination of Father Christopher Stein
Pastor & Leadership
Father Sean J. Donnelly, MA, D. Min., has served as pastor since November 24, 2003, and is the spiritual director of the parish's Rosary for Life outreach. He is assisted on weekends by Father Conrad Wald, OSB, and supported by three deacons — Deacon Ken Meade, Deacon Tom Hupertz and Deacon Dick Kuhlman. The office team includes Parish Secretary Beth Martin (extension 102) and Business Manager Marianne Repinski.
- Pastor: Rev. Sean J. Donnelly, MA, D. Min.
- Weekend Assistant: Rev. Conrad Wald, OSB
- Deacon Ken Meade
- Deacon Tom Hupertz
- Deacon Dick Kuhlman
- Parish Secretary: Beth Martin (ext. 102)
- Business Manager: Marianne Repinski
Mass, Sacraments & Devotions
The parish offers daily Mass Monday through Friday, weekend Mass on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, frequent Confession, and Wednesday Eucharistic Adoration. Beyond the Mass schedule, the parish cultivates a deep devotional life: communal Rosary before every Mass, monthly Rosary for Life pilgrimages to St. Andrew's Abbey, Stations of the Cross on Fridays in Lent, quarterly Ritual Masses for Anointing of the Sick, the Avilas vocations prayer group, Legion of Mary and Neocatechumenal Way.
- Saturday Vigil Mass: 4:00 PM
- Sunday Masses: 8:30 AM (live-streamed) and 11:00 AM
- Weekday Masses: Mon/Wed/Fri 8:30 AM; Tue/Thu 7:00 PM
- Confessions: Sat 3:00–3:45 PM and 7:30–8:00 PM; Sun 9:45–10:45 AM
- Eucharistic Adoration: Wednesdays 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Rosary: 30 minutes before every Mass
- Stations of the Cross: Fridays in Lent at 9:00 AM and 7:00 PM
- Anointing of the Sick Ritual Masses: March 22, June 28, September 27 at 4:00 PM
Sacraments
The parish walks families and individuals through all seven sacraments. Infant Baptism is arranged through the parish office for children under seven; OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) forms adults entering the Church; Reconciliation is available three times each weekend; First Eucharist and Confirmation are prepared through PSR; Marriage is arranged with the pastor; and Anointing of the Sick is celebrated at quarterly Ritual Masses and on request.
- Infant Baptism (under age 7) — contact Parish Office
- OCIA / Catholic Inquiry Class (adults) — Wednesdays 6:00–7:45 PM, September–May
- Reconciliation — see confession times
- First Eucharist & Confirmation — through PSR
- Marriage — contact Parish Office
- Anointing of the Sick — quarterly Ritual Masses and on request
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Immaculate Conception runs a Parish School of Religion (PSR) supporting parents as primary educators of the faith. Grades 1–4 meet Sunday mornings from 9:30 to 10:45 AM; Grades 5–8 meet Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 7:45 PM; and Confirmation preparation meets monthly on Sundays from 9:30 AM to noon. Adult faith is nourished through OCIA and the parish Bible Study, currently held by Zoom on Monday evenings at 7:00 PM.
- PSR Grades 1–4 — Sundays 9:30–10:45 AM
- PSR Grades 5–8 — Wednesdays 6:30–7:45 PM
- Confirmation — monthly Sundays 9:30 AM – 12:00 noon
- OCIA — Wednesdays 6:00–7:45 PM, September–May
- Bible Study by Zoom — Mondays 7:00 PM
Youth & Young Adult Ministry
The ICC Youth Group welcomes students in grades 6 through 12. Meetings are held on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month during the school year, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM in the Parish Center, beginning with the Rosary in church at 5:30 PM. The youth group is an ongoing program; registration and information are available through the parish office and website.
- Grades 6–12
- 2nd & 4th Sundays, 6:00–8:00 PM
- Rosary at 5:30 PM in church before meetings
- Meets in the Parish Center
Music & Liturgical Arts
The parish Music Ministry enriches worship through vocal music under the direction of Choir Director/Cantor Jim Slike and Music Director Dawn Slike, with rehearsals on Tuesday evenings at 7:30 PM after Mass. A separate Guitar Group rehearses Wednesdays from 7:00 to 9:00 PM, September through May, providing music for Mass and other parish services. Liturgical service is supported by a corps of Ushers and trained Altar Servers.
- Choir — Tuesday practice 7:30 PM (Jim Slike, Choir Director/Cantor; Dawn Slike, Music Director)
- Guitar Group — Wednesdays 7:00–9:00 PM
- Ushers — serve same Mass each week and Holy Days
- Altar Servers — training as scheduled
Outreach & Charity
Immaculate Conception lives its call to service through several outreach ministries. IC Charities provides material, financial and spiritual help to local people in need. The Nursing Home & Homebound Reach Out brings Communion and the Word of God to residents of Madison Health Care, Cardinal Woods and Lateran. Prayerful Shawlers knit and crochet shawls that are blessed by Fr. Donnelly and given to those in need of comfort, while the Consolation Ministry supports parishioners experiencing loss or illness.
- IC Charities — 1st Monday, 6:30 PM
- Nursing Home & Homebound Reach Out — Madison Health Care, Cardinal Woods, Lateran
- Rosary for Life Pilgrimage — 1st Saturday monthly, St. Andrew's Abbey
- Prayerful Shawlers — Thursdays 5:00–7:00 PM
- Consolation Ministry — bereavement support
Prayer Groups & Devotions
The parish supports a wide range of prayer and devotional communities. The Avilas (under the patronage of St. Theresa of Avila) prays for priestly and religious vocations on the 1st Friday of the month and after Monday Masses. The Legion of Mary and a Neocatechumenal Way Community deepen Marian devotion and adult faith formation. The ICC Prayer Ministry offers monthly prayer-team support after select Masses and assists with the Anointing of the Sick Ritual Masses.
- Avilas — 1st Friday before Mass; Mondays after Mass for Prayers for Priests
- Legion of Mary
- Neocatechumenal Way Community — Word celebrations 1st and 3rd Tuesdays
- ICC Prayer Ministry
- Communal Rosary — before every Mass
Parish Fellowship & Community Life
Parish Fellowship promotes community growth through events such as the Meager Meal, St. Joseph Table, Christmas for the Elderly, the 55+ Valentine Lunch, and Friday Fellowship, generally meeting on the last Monday of the month, September through May, at 5:30 PM. These gatherings knit together longtime families, returning Catholics, and newcomers in the life of the parish.
- Meager Meal
- St. Joseph Table
- Christmas for the Elderly
- 55+ Valentine Lunch
- Friday Fellowship
- Meetings: last Monday of the month, September–May, 5:30 PM
Visit, Contact & Location
The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 AM to 12:00 noon and 1:00 to 4:30 PM. Visitors are warmly welcomed — new parishioners are asked to register at the Parish Office or via the online form on the parish website. Immaculate Conception sits in the northeast corner of the Diocese of Cleveland, about eight miles past the Perry nuclear power plant, just south of Route 20 on Hubbard Road (Route 534).
- Office: Mon–Fri, 9:30 AM – 12:00 noon and 1:00 – 4:30 PM
- Phone: (440) 428-5164
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: 2846 Hubbard Rd., Madison, OH 44057
- Location: on Hubbard Rd. (Rt. 534), south of Route 20
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John Tracy1863
Celebrated the first Mass in Madison on July 15, 1863, in private homes; mission priest from Ashtabula.
- Rev. Gerald Bergen1898
Served the Mission under Willoughby parish.
- Rev. K. P. Banks1902
Succeeded Rev. Bergen; led a congregation of 10 families.
- Rev. Leo Collins1915
From St. Mary's in Painesville, assisted the Mission as it grew to about 75 people.
- Rev. Ludwig Virant1934–1950
First resident pastor when the Mission was formally established as the Church of the Immaculate Conception.
- Rev. John Mulholland1950–approx. 1974
Appointed pastor in 1950; served 24 years and led construction of the present Hubbard Road church (cornerstone 1953, dedicated 1955).
- Rev. Harry J. Fagan
Pastor Emeritus; Fagan Hall was dedicated in his honor in 1995.
- Rev. Sean J. Donnelly, MA, D. Min.2003–present
Appointed November 24, 2003; led the 150th anniversary in 2013, new altar installations in 2010 and 2011, and the parish's two priestly vocations (Estabrook 2009, Stein 2023).