About Mother of Sorrows · Peninsula, Ohio
Mother of Sorrows Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the small village of Peninsula, Ohio, nestled near the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Established in 1882, it belongs to the Diocese of Cleveland and serves a tight-knit community in Summit County. The parish is currently led by Presbyteral Moderator Father Michael P. McCandless and Parish Life Coordinator Deacon William J. Yoho. Weekend Mass is celebrated Saturday at 5:00 pm (Sunday Vigil) and Sunday at 9:30 am, with the liturgy livestreamed on the parish's YouTube channel.
- Established
- 1882
- Patron
- Our Lady of Sorrows (Mater Dolorosa)
- Rector
- Father Michael P. McCandless (Presbyteral Moderator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Cleveland
Why belong here
Mother of Sorrows offers the warmth of a small, community-sized parish with the spiritual depth of a church that has served the Cuyahoga Valley for more than a century. Parishioners can join a lively calendar of devotions — monthly Seven Sorrows Rosary, weekday Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Faith and Fiction Book Club, and the Sunday Mass babysitting ministry — along with hands-on outreach like the Sandwich Ministry, volunteering at Gennesaret, and the St. Vincent de Paul Ozanam Center. With Mass livestreamed on YouTube and an active Parish Council and Facilities Committee, it's a parish where members are welcomed, known, and invited into service.
Mass times at Mother of Sorrows
Weekly Mass schedule
Adoration times
- Wednesday, May 27 — 7:00 pm
- Wednesday, June 24 — 7:00 pm
About Mother of Sorrows Parish
Mother of Sorrows is a Catholic parish conveniently located near the Cuyahoga Valley National Park in the village of Peninsula, Ohio. It is part of the Diocese of Cleveland and serves a tight-knit community of parishioners and visitors. The parish identifies its patron simply as Our Mother of Sorrows and gathers each weekend to celebrate the Eucharist in the historic church on South Locust Street.
- Located at 6034 South Locust Street, Peninsula, OH 44264
- Diocese of Cleveland parish (Summit County – North)
- Established in 1882
- Near the Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Clergy & Parish Leadership
Day-to-day pastoral life is coordinated by Deacon William J. Yoho, the parish's Parish Life Coordinator, with priestly oversight provided by Father Michael P. McCandless as Presbyteral Moderator. This is a common configuration for small parishes in the Diocese of Cleveland where a resident priest is not assigned but sacramental life and preaching are provided by a moderator priest.
- Father Michael P. McCandless — Presbyteral Moderator
- Deacon William J. Yoho — Parish Life Coordinator
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the principal sacraments of initiation and Christian marriage. Families should contact the parish office to arrange Baptisms, First Communion, Confirmation, and weddings. Specific preparation programs and scheduling details are arranged through the parish office.
- Baptism — call the parish office
- First Communion — call the parish office
- Confirmation — call the parish office
- Marriage — call the parish office
- Office phone: (330) 657-2631
Parish Ministries & Outreach
Mother of Sorrows is known for its hands-on outreach and community life. Parishioners serve through the Sandwich Ministry, volunteer at Gennesaret (a Catholic outreach to those experiencing homelessness), and help at the St. Vincent de Paul Ozanam Center in nearby Akron. Inside the parish, members gather for the Faith and Fiction Book Club — open to men and women of the parish, with the option to listen to an audiobook rather than read — and a Facilities Committee that cares for the historic property. A welcoming Sunday Mass babysitting ministry in the Parish Life Center lets parents come to Mass without worry about smaller children.
- Parish Council
- Facilities Committee
- Sandwich Ministry
- Volunteer at Gennesaret
- Volunteer at St. Vincent de Paul Ozanam Center
- Faith and Fiction Book Club (audiobook option available)
- Sunday Mass Babysitting in the Parish Life Center
Parish Life & Getting Involved
Beyond liturgies and outreach, the parish offers multiple entry points for engagement — book club, parish council, facilities, and rotating sandwich ministry — making it easy for newcomers or returnees to plug in alongside other parishioners. The bulletin is the main source for upcoming events; recent announcements have included Eucharistic Adoration evenings, devotions, Book Club meetings, and Council gatherings.
- Read the weekly Parish Bulletin for schedule changes and devotions
- Join the Parish Council, Facilities Committee, or book club
- Sign up for the Sandwich Ministry or service at Gennesaret / SVdP Ozanam Center
- Use the Parish Life Center babysitting ministry for the Sunday 9:30 am Mass
Contact & Visiting
The parish office can be reached by phone or email for inquiries about Mass, sacraments, anointing of the sick, or pastoral needs. Visitors will find the church one block south of Route 303 (Akron-Peninsula Road) on South Locust Street, in the village of Peninsula, near the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
- Address: 6034 South Locust Street, Peninsula, OH 44264
- Phone: (330) 657-2631
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.motherofsorrowspeninsula.org/
- Alternate/fax: (330) 657-2423
- Directions: 1 block south of Route 303 on S. Locust St. (Akron-Peninsula Rd.)