About Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary · Lorain, Ohio
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a Roman Catholic parish in Lorain, Ohio, founded in 1898 to serve the city's growing Polish immigrant community. Belonging to the Diocese of Cleveland, the parish worships in a historic church dedicated on Thanksgiving Day 1915 at the corner of Lexington Avenue and West 15th Street. The parish takes its name from the Nativity of Mary (celebrated September 8) and today welcomes a culturally diverse congregation while cherishing its Polish-American roots. Its current pastor, Father Craig M. Hovanec — the parish's 17th — also serves St. Peter Parish in Lorain.
- Established
- 1898
- Patron
- The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Father Craig M. Hovanec
- Diocese
- Diocese of Cleveland
Why belong here
Nativity BVM is a deeply rooted Lorain parish that has welcomed Catholics of every background for more than 125 years, while remaining proud of its Polish-American heritage and its Marian identity. Visitors encounter a historic 1915 church, a vibrant Music Ministry that has taken part in the International Heritage of Sacred Music Concert for nearly thirty years, weekly Sunday Mass livestreamed on Facebook, and easy Saturday Confessions and Eucharistic Adoration before the Vigil Mass. As one diocesan account put it, the parish has been 'a prophetic presence, not only for those of Polish heritage, but for the Diocese of Cleveland,' welcoming everyone who desires to grow in the Catholic faith.
Mass times at Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:30–3:00 PM (before the 4:00 PM Vigil Mass)
Adoration times
- Saturday 2:30–3:30 PM (before the Vigil Mass)
Welcome & Mission
The parish's welcome statement reads: 'We, the parishioners of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish of Lorain, Ohio, with 125 years of faith and foundation in a Catholic Polish-American heritage, under the patronage of our Blessed Mother and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, assume the responsibility of welcoming all cultures of our Catholic and non-Catholic community by fostering the Kingdom of God. Amen.' The parish reaches out through Flocknote text alerts (text STOLAT to 84576), electronic giving, and a livestreamed Sunday Mass on Facebook for those unable to attend in person.
- 125 years of Polish-American Catholic heritage
- Open to all cultures and faith backgrounds
- Flocknote alerts: text STOLAT to 84576
- Electronic donations accepted online
Parish History
Nativity was established in 1898 to serve Polish immigrants in Lorain's growing industrial community. The first Mass was January 16, 1898, celebrated by Father Adolph Swierczynski, and the parish was originally placed under the patronage of St. John Kanty before Bishop Horstmann renamed it Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Early worship was held in a schoolroom at St. Joseph Church, then the basement of St. Joseph Hospital, before the parish built its own buildings.
- 1898: Parish founded; first Mass January 16, 1898 by Father Adolph Swierczynski
- 1899: Six lots purchased at Lexington Avenue and 15th Street; groundbreaking July 6, 1899
- 1900: Original wood-framed church and school completed; first Mass in new church on Easter, April 15, 1900
- 1914–1915: Current church built by parishioners; dedicated Thanksgiving Day 1915 by Bishop John Farrelly
- 1987: Parish school closes due to declining enrollment and rising tuition
- 2004: Nativity Manor residential complex dedicated in the former school building
- 2023: 125th anniversary year opens; Father Craig Hovanec installed as 17th pastor
- 2024: 125th anniversary year closes with Mass celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost
Clergy & Staff
Father Craig M. Hovanec was installed as the parish's 17th pastor on January 28, 2023, by Bishop Edward Malesic. He simultaneously serves as pastor of St. Peter Parish in Lorain. Retired priests regularly assist, including Father Robert Sanson as a weekend associate and Father Gerald Keller, a son of Nativity Parish and retired pastor of St. Adalbert in Berea. Deacon Robert Dybo, a retired deacon of the parish, also assists liturgically.
- Pastor: Father Craig M. Hovanec (17th pastor, installed Jan. 28, 2023)
- Weekend Associate: Father Robert (Bob) Sanson (retired)
- Father Gerald Keller — son of Nativity Parish, retired pastor of St. Adalbert, Berea
- Deacon Robert Dybo — retired deacon of the parish
- Past parochial vicars remembered include Father Joseph Hilinski (now pastor of St. Barbara, Cleveland) and Father Gary Chmura (now pastor of Our Lady of Peace and St. Adalbert, Cleveland)
Mass & Sacraments
Nativity offers a Saturday Vigil Mass, one Sunday morning Mass (livestreamed on Facebook), and four weekday Masses spread across the week. Saturday afternoons combine Eucharistic Adoration and the Sacrament of Confession in a half-hour window before the Vigil Mass, giving the parish a regular rhythm of reconciliation and Eucharistic devotion.
- Saturday Vigil: 4:00 PM
- Sunday: 10:30 AM (livestreamed on Facebook)
- Monday: 8:15 AM
- Tuesday: No Mass
- Wednesday: 6:30 PM
- Thursday: 8:15 AM
- Friday: 8:15 AM
- Confession: Saturday 2:30–3:00 PM
- Adoration: Saturday 2:30–3:30 PM
- Holy Days: consult the bulletin
Music & Liturgy
Music Ministry at Nativity is led by Angela Bak, who also directs the music program at neighboring parishes. The Music Ministry has represented Nativity at the International Heritage of Sacred Music Concert — hosted at St. Peter Church — for nearly 30 years, and Marian hymns in Polish remain part of the parish's liturgical repertoire, reflecting its heritage.
- Music Director: Angela Bak
- Annual International Heritage of Sacred Music Concert participation (~30 years)
- Polish Marian hymns sung at major liturgies
- Senior recitals by parish musicians such as violinist Dane Robert Janis hosted at the church
Parish Life & Fellowship
Beyond Mass, Nativity builds community through an annual summer picnic with raffle, parish-wide social events tied to feast days and anniversaries, and volunteer-led committees. During the 125th anniversary year, about 400 people gathered at The Shipyards on the Black River — a former Cleveland Shipbuilding Co. building of the same vintage as the parish — for a dinner of videos, photos, music and storytelling.
- Annual picnic with raffle (donations of water, Pepsi, Diet Coke, Sprite)
- 125th anniversary gala at The Shipyards on the Black River
- 125th anniversary committee chaired by John Malanowski
- Visits from Bishop Edward Malesic and Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost
- City of Lorain proclamation presented by Mayor Jack Bradley
- Theology on the Rocks West pilgrimage hosted at the parish in September 2025
Buildings & Grounds
The parish campus sits at the corner of West 15th Street and Lexington Avenue. The present-day church was constructed in 1914 and dedicated Thanksgiving Day 1915; the historic 1900 wooden combination church-and-school that preceded it is long gone. The parish school building, closed in 1987, was creatively repurposed and reopened in 2004 as Nativity Manor, a residential complex that is now part of the parish's footprint.
- Current church built 1914, dedicated Thanksgiving Day 1915 by Bishop John Farrelly
- Original 1900 wood-framed church and school (now replaced)
- Parish school operated until 1987
- Nativity Manor residential complex dedicated in 2004 in the former school
- Weekday Mass entrance via the 14th Street door with adjacent accessibility ramp
- Buildings and Grounds Committee oversees safety, maintenance, snow removal and repairs
Heritage & Polish-American Identity
Nativity is one of the most visible expressions of Lorain's Polish-American Catholic heritage. At major liturgies, parishioners process wearing traditional Polish dress, a Polish-language welcome of bread and salt is offered to visiting bishops, and Marian hymns are sung in Polish. The parish has nevertheless grown into a multicultural community; as Father Hovanec has said, the founders' gifts must be carried forward to welcome every new generation and nationality.
- Founded 1898 by Polish immigrants working in Lorain's steel mills
- Polish bread-and-salt welcome for visiting clergy
- Native Polish dress at anniversary liturgies
- Polish Marian hymns retained in the liturgical repertoire
- Welcoming statement names all cultures of the Catholic and non-Catholic community
Communications & Giving
Parishioners and visitors can stay connected through several channels. The Sunday 10:30 AM Mass is livestreamed on the parish Facebook page. Flocknote text alerts (text STOLAT to 84576) share last-minute changes, cancellations and event news. Electronic donations are accepted online through the parish website, and the bulletin carries ongoing announcements and Holy Day schedules.
- Livestreamed Sunday Mass on Facebook: facebook.com/NativityLorain/
- Flocknote alerts: text STOLAT to 84576
- Electronic donations via the parish website
- Weekly bulletin with Holy Day and event information
- Direct contact: [email protected], (440) 244-9090
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Adolph Swierczynski1898–
First pastor; Polish-speaking priest assigned by Bishop Ignatius Horstmann; began the Polish-language ministry and parish identity (originally under the patronage of St. John Kanty).
- Father Charles Ruszkowski
Built the original wood-framed church/school in 1900 and purchased property at Lexington Avenue and 15th Street.
- Father Robert Glepko
Previous pastor; died summer 2022 after retirement. His chalice was bequeathed to the parish and used at Father Hovanec's installation Mass in 2023.
- Father Craig M. Hovanec2023–present
17th pastor; installed January 28, 2023 by Bishop Edward Malesic during the opening Mass of the parish's 125th anniversary year. Also serves as pastor of St. Peter Parish in Lorain.