About Our Lady Help of Christians - Jesus Our Teacher · Lodi, Ohio
Our Lady Help of Christians (OLHC) is a unique rural Catholic parish in the Diocese of Cleveland consisting of four worship sites — Litchfield, Lodi, Nova, and Seville. The Lodi worship site is known as 'Jesus Our Teacher' and serves Catholics in and around Lodi, Ohio in Medina County. Established in 1976 by Bishop James Hickey, the parish covers roughly 500 square miles across Medina, Ashland, Wayne, and Lorain counties and was originally run by a pastoral team of three priests, vowed religious, and the first pastoral minister in the diocese. Today it is led by its pastor, Father Edward F. Suszynski, with Deacon Michael F. Jervis and a pastoral associate, and it serves as a gathering place of disciples of Jesus Christ for families spread across the rural southwest corner of the diocese.
- Established
- 1976
- Patron
- Our Lady Help of Christians (Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title Help of Christians)
- Rector
- Rev. Edward F. Suszynski
- Diocese
- Diocese of Cleveland
Why belong here
Our Lady Help of Christians is the spiritual home for Catholics scattered across 500 square miles of rural Medina, Ashland, Wayne, and Lorain counties who otherwise would have no nearby parish. The parish welcomes families and individuals into a friendly, vibrant community of disciples through Sunday and weekday Mass across its four worship sites, ongoing adult faith formation and Bible studies, a parish food pantry serving local need, and the wider diocesan Catholic Charities Appeal. Joining OLHC means becoming part of a lay-built community that has shaped and maintained its own worship sites since 1976.
Mass times at Our Lady Help of Christians - Jesus Our Teacher
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- First Monday of the Month, 6:30 PM – 7:00 PM (Lodi – Jesus Our Teacher, after daily Mass)
Adoration times
- First Friday, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Litchfield site), followed by 7:00 PM Mass
Parish Overview
Our Lady Help of Christians (OLHC) is a single Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Cleveland with four worship sites serving rural Catholics in Medina, Ashland, Wayne, and Lorain counties. The four sites — Litchfield, Lodi ('Jesus Our Teacher'), Nova, and Seville — collectively cover roughly 500 square miles. The parish was founded in 1976 and prides itself on being a friendly, welcoming, and vibrant community of disciples of Jesus Christ.
- Four worship sites: Litchfield, Lodi, Nova, Seville
- Footprint covers 500 square miles across four Ohio counties
- Diocese of Cleveland, Roman Rite
Worship Sites
Each of the four worship sites has its own character, reflecting the parish's grassroots origins. The Litchfield site serves as both a worship site and the parish's administrative center, housed in a repurposed former Catholic Charities property. Lodi ('Jesus Our Teacher') and Seville were built as multi-purpose brick buildings with the help of parishioners. Nova is the oldest, an 1874 church originally built for the United Brethren community.
- Litchfield – 9608 Norwalk Rd, Litchfield, OH 44253 (parish offices)
- Lodi 'Jesus Our Teacher' – Buffham Road, Lodi, OH 44254
- Seville – Seville, OH
- Nova – 240 State Route 511 at U.S. 224, Nova, OH 44859 (historic 1874 church)
History of the Parish
Our Lady Help of Christians was created in 1976 by Bishop James A. Hickey to serve Catholics scattered across rural stretches of the Diocese of Cleveland. The first Masses were celebrated the weekend of June 26–27, 1976, initially in improvised venues — homes, town halls, school cafeterias, and rented churches — until the four permanent worship sites could be established. From its founding, the parish pioneered a team-ministry model combining multiple priests, vowed religious, and the first pastoral minister in the diocese. In June 2021, Bishop Edward Malesic visited all four worship sites to mark the parish's 45th anniversary.
- Established 1976 by Bishop James A. Hickey
- First Masses: June 26–27, 1976
- Pioneering team-ministry model (three priests + vowed religious + pastoral minister)
- 45th anniversary marked with bishop's visit in June 2021
Clergy and Staff
The parish is currently led by Father Edward F. Suszynski, who has served as pastor since December 2017. In addition to OLHC, he was appointed Presbyteral Moderator of St. Stephen Parish, West Salem, in June 2022. He is assisted by Deacon Michael F. Jervis and pastoral associate Sandra Lynn. In 2021 the parish team also included parochial vicar Father Curt Kondik.
- Pastor – Rev. Edward F. Suszynski
- Deacon – Michael F. Jervis
- Pastoral Associate – Sandra Lynn
- Parochial Vicar (2021) – Rev. Curt Kondik
Faith Formation and Bible Study
OLHC runs an active Young Adult & Adult Faith Formation program. The parish supports the Ascension Press 'Catechism in a Year' and 'Bible in a Year' programs that parishioners can start anytime, and hosts seasonal Bible studies — the 2026 Spring Bible Study on the Gospel of Luke began March 5, 2026.
- 2026 Spring Bible Study: Gospel of Luke (began March 5, 2026)
- Catechism in a Year (Ascension Press)
- Bible in a Year (Ascension Press)
- Young Adult & Adult Faith Formation offerings
Outreach and Charity
Outreach is a core part of OLHC's identity as a rural parish. The parish operates a food pantry (with Lodi pantry information regularly publicized) and participates annually in the Catholic Charities Appeal. The Knights of Columbus Council 4168 — which serves St. Francis Xavier, OLHC, and Holy Martyrs parishes — partners with OLHC's food pantry through regular check presentations and feeding initiatives.
- OLHC Food Pantry (Lodi)
- Medina County Food Pantries and Support Services directory
- Annual Catholic Charities Appeal
- Pregnancy Care & Resources referrals
- Knights of Columbus Council 4168 partnership
Parish Life and Communication
OLHC keeps parishioners connected through an online bulletin, the Flocknote parish communication system, online giving, and parish-wide events. One of the parish's signature gatherings is the annual Spring Rummage Sale hosted by the Seville worship site, which is the parish's biggest fundraiser of the year.
- Online parish bulletin
- Flocknote parish communication
- Online Giving
- Annual Spring Rummage Sale (Seville site)
Getting Involved / Become a Member
The parish invites newcomers and returning Catholics to register as members, attend Mass at any of the four worship sites, and explore ministries that match their gifts. Volunteers maintain the spacious grounds and buildings at each site, and the parish regularly gathers members from all four sites for shared functions.
- Join our Parish / Become a Member (online registration)
- Volunteer opportunities at all four worship sites
- Cross-site fellowship events
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Edward F. SuszynskiDecember 2017 – present
Currently pastor. Also appointed Presbyteral Moderator of St. Stephen Parish, West Salem, in June 2022 in addition to OLHC.