About Old St. Mary · Cincinnati, Ohio
Old St. Mary's Church is the oldest continually-used house of worship in Cincinnati, founded in 1840 by German immigrants in what is now Cincinnati's historic Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. Since 2017, it has served as the oratory church and principal home of the Cincinnati Oratory (Congregation of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri). The parish is renowned for celebrating Mass in Latin, English, and German each Sunday, with a schola of professional singers providing sacred music from the Church's treasury, particularly October through June. The Oratorians also have care of Sacred Heart Church in Camp Washington.
- Established
- 1840 (parish organized); cornerstone laid 1841; dedicated July 3, 1842
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (church dedicated under the title of the Annunciation)
- Rector
- Very Rev. Jon-Paul Bevak, C.O. (Pastor, since 2016)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Why belong here
Old St. Mary offers an unusually rich liturgical life for Cincinnati Catholics: four Sunday Masses in three languages (Latin Low Mass, Sung Latin Mass with a professional schola, a German Mass, and an English Mass), plus daily Latin and English Masses and two all-night Eucharistic vigils a month. The parish combines deep historic roots — it is the oldest continually-used house of worship in Cincinnati — with a young, vibrant Oratorian community centered on the spirituality of St. Philip Neri, daily and perpetual-style adoration, an on-site Pregnancy Center, a Children's Schola and St. Philip Neri Choristers, an active secular Oratory for men and a Women's Oratory, plus a flourishing catechism program run by a Carmelite sister.
Mass times at Old St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 8:30 – 9:15 a.m.
- Sunday: 12:30 – 12:45 p.m.
- Monday – Friday: 11:15 – 11:45 a.m.
- Tuesday: 7:15 – 8:00 p.m. (evening)
- Saturday: 8:15 – 8:45 a.m.
- Evening Masses: 45 minutes before Mass
- All confessions end 15 minutes before the start of Mass
Adoration times
- Tuesday: 8:00 a.m. – noon (Eucharistic Exposition)
- Tuesday: 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. — Holy Hour with Benediction beginning at 7:30 p.m., followed by the Miraculous Medal Novena
- First Friday: All-Night Vigil following the 6:30 p.m. Mass until Saturday morning Mass at 7:15 a.m.
A History of Old St. Mary's
The parish was organized in 1840 by German immigrants during a wave of Catholic migration to Cincinnati. The cornerstone was laid by Bishop John B. Purcell on March 25, 1841 (Feast of the Annunciation), on land acquired from the Arthur St. Clair estate. The Greek Revival church, designed by Franz Ignatz Erd, was dedicated on July 3, 1842 — and at 142 by 66 feet with a 170-foot steeple, it was the largest church in the Ohio Valley at the time. The parish school opened in 1844; the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur arrived to teach in 1846, and a boys' school staffed by Marianist brothers opened in 1852. The parish endured a devastating 1849 cholera epidemic that claimed 796 parishioners, and the church was enlarged in 1865 and remodeled in 1890. The "Old" prefix was added in 1904 after another St. Mary's was founded in Hyde Park.
- Parish organized 1840
- Cornerstone laid March 25, 1841 (Feast of the Annunciation)
- Dedicated July 3, 1842
- Enlarged 1865; remodeled 1890
- Renamed "Old" St. Mary's in 1904
- Parish school opened 1844; Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur arrived 1846
- Boys' school staffed by Marianist brothers opened 1852
- 1849 cholera epidemic — 796 parishioners died, 345 funerals in July
- Steeple clock installed 1842; first bell blessed 1843
- Second organ (Austin Organs) donated 1929
The Cincinnati Oratory
Since 2017, Old St. Mary's has been home to the Cincinnati Oratory, a society of secular priests and brothers of the Congregation of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri (the same congregation founded by St. Philip Neri in Rome in the 16th century). The Oratorians took pastoral responsibility for Old St. Mary's and for Sacred Heart Church in Camp Washington, breathing new life into the parish and expanding its liturgical, musical, catechetical, and pro-life apostolates.
- Home of the Cincinnati Oratory since 2017
- Pastored by Very Rev. Jon-Paul Bevak, C.O., the first Oratorian pastor (2016–present)
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Adrian Hilton, C.O. (also Chaplain of Christ Hospital & Hamilton County Jail)
- Catechism Director: Mother Marie-Cécile, O.C.D.
- Sister parish: Sacred Heart Church, 2733 Massachusetts Avenue, Cincinnati 45225
Parish Staff
Old St. Mary's is staffed by two Oratorian priests, a Carmelite sister directing faith formation, and a dedicated team of lay staff and volunteers. The parish office is open Monday–Thursday 9:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m. and Friday 9:00 a.m.–noon.
- Fr. Jon-Paul Bevak, C.O. — Pastor ([email protected])
- Fr. Adrian Hilton, C.O. — Parochial Vicar ([email protected])
- Mother Marie-Cécile, O.C.D. — Catechism Director ([email protected])
- Sean Connolly — Director of Sacred Music ([email protected])
- Barbara Rose — Pregnancy Center Director ([email protected])
- David Wimmel — Facilities Manager ([email protected])
- Donna Kuglics — Parish Accountant ([email protected])
- Lisa Kindle — Parish Secretary ([email protected])
- Joann Dobler — Office Assistant ([email protected])
- Jacqueline Williams — Office Assistant ([email protected])
- Anthony Cunningham — Maintenance
- Charles Whelen — Maintenance
Devotions & Novenas
In addition to the regular Mass and adoration schedule, Old St. Mary's keeps several traditional devotions close to parish life — including weekly novenas, an all-night Sorrowful Mother vigil, a May Crowning, the Corpus Christi procession, and 40 Days for Life prayer vigils at the Auburn Avenue Planned Parenthood.
- Miraculous Medal Novena — Tuesday evenings after Benediction
- St. Joseph Novena — Wednesdays after 7:15 a.m. Mass and before 12:10 p.m. Mass (with veneration of a relic of St. Joseph)
- Sorrowful Mother Novena — 2nd–5th Fridays, during all-night Adoration
- May Crowning — annual Marian devotion
- Feast of Corpus Christi — Solemn Mass and Procession
- 40 Days for Life — sidewalk prayer vigils at Auburn Ave. Planned Parenthood
- Rosary before each 12:10 p.m. weekday Mass
Sacraments
Information on the standard sacraments is published in the parish bulletin. Baptisms, weddings, and Anointing of the Sick each have specific preparation requirements, and First Communion and Confirmation are celebrated annually (First Communion at Sacred Heart in May). Holy Day Mass schedules are listed in the bulletin.
- Baptisms — contact the parish office one month prior to due date if possible
- Weddings — contact at least six months in advance; must have been an active parishioner attending Mass for at least one year
- Anointing of the Sick — contact a parish priest as soon as possible
- First Communion — celebrated at Sacred Heart in May
- Confirmation — see bulletin for schedule
- Reconciliation — see confession schedule above
- Holy Day Masses — see bulletin
Faith Formation & Sacred Music
Catechism is directed by Mother Marie-Cécile, O.C.D., a Carmelite sister. The parish is also distinguished by its music apostolate, directed by Sean Connolly. A professional schola sings at the 9:30 a.m. Sunday Sung Latin Mass, October through June and on major feast days; a Children's Schola (founded by Sophia Decker) introduces young choristers to sacred polyphony, and a smaller subset — the St. Philip Neri Choristers — sings regularly with the adult schola at Sunday High Mass, tackling works such as Palestrina's Missa Papae Marcelli and Mozart's Laudate Dominum.
- Catechism Director: Mother Marie-Cécile, O.C.D. ([email protected])
- Director of Sacred Music: Sean Connolly
- Professional schola at the 9:30 a.m. Sung Latin Mass (Oct–June and major feasts)
- Children's Schola — for young choristers (founded by Sophia Decker)
- St. Philip Neri Choristers — youth subset singing with the adult schola
- Annual Advent Musical Oratory (carol service prior to Midnight Mass)
- First Friday High Mass sung by the Children's Schola
Pro-Life & Parish Apostolates
Old St. Mary's hosts an on-site Pregnancy Center directed by Barbara Rose, supported by Mother's Day flower sales and other parish fundraisers. The parish also participates in the 40 Days for Life campaign, holding prayer vigils on the sidewalk outside the Planned Parenthood on Auburn Avenue. Catholics United for the Faith (St. Francis of Assisi chapter) also meets in the area, with members drawn from both Old St. Mary's and Sacred Heart.
- Pregnancy Center on site — Barbara Rose, Director ([email protected])
- Mother's Day flower sales to benefit the Pregnancy Center
- 40 Days for Life vigils at 2314 Auburn Ave. Planned Parenthood
- Catholics United for the Faith — St. Francis of Assisi chapter (meets at Sacred Heart)
- Defend Life initiative
Secular Oratory Groups & Fellowship
Rooted in the spirituality of St. Philip Neri, Old St. Mary's hosts two flourishing secular Oratories: a Men's Secular Oratory that meets monthly in Fr. Felten Hall, and a Women's Oratory that gathers monthly for spiritual talks, fellowship, and an annual Tea Party. The parish also runs a Pray and Play group for parents and children during Tuesday morning Adoration.
- Men's Secular Oratory — monthly Saturday 8 a.m. meetings in Fr. Felten Hall
- Women's Oratory — monthly meetings with speakers; annual Tea Party
- Parents' Holy Hour Play and Pray Group — Tuesdays 9:30–11:30 a.m., Fr. Felten Hall
- Fr. Felten Hall — used as the main parish hall
The Building & Heritage
Old St. Mary's is Cincinnati's oldest continually-used house of worship and a contributing property of the Over-the-Rhine Historic District. The parish complex — church, school, and rectory — was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 13, 1976 (NRHP reference 76001439). The Greek Revival building designed by Franz Ignatz Erd measures 142 by 66 feet with a 170-foot steeple topped by Cincinnati's oldest church clock. The prefix "Old" was added to the parish name in 1904 after a new St. Mary's was founded in Hyde Park.
- Architect: Franz Ignatz Erd
- Style: Greek Revival
- Dimensions: 142 ft long, 66 ft wide, 170 ft (steeple)
- NRHP listed March 13, 1976 (ref. 76001439)
- Part of Over-the-Rhine Historic District (since 1983)
- Steeple clock: Cincinnati's oldest, installed 1842
- Austen Organs second organ donated 1929
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Clemens Hammer1842–1860
First pastor; Bohemian-born priest, ordained in Prague 1836; previously assistant at Holy Trinity.
- Rev. B. Elkman1861–1881
- Rev. B.J. Menge1881–1897
- Rev. Bernard Moeller1898–1915
- Rev. Joseph T. Duerstock1916–1941
- Very Rev. Jon-Paul Bevak, C.O.2016–present
First Oratorian pastor; led the parish's 175th anniversary celebrations.