About Our Lady of Angels · Cleveland, Ohio
Our Lady of Angels is a Roman Catholic parish in Cleveland's West Park neighborhood (44111), within the Diocese of Cleveland. Its roots stretch back to the arrival of Franciscan friars of the Province of the Sacred Heart around 1900, when a small frame chapel built by 1905 was dedicated as Our Lady of Angels on July 13, 1906. The parish was canonically established on November 26, 1922, with Father Columban Valentin, O.F.M. installed as its first pastor on December 3, 1922. The parish combines a parish school (preschool through grade 8), a combined PSR program with neighboring St. Mark Parish, a perpetual Adoration Chapel, livestreamed Sunday Mass, and a full sacramental life administered today by its 11th pastor, Father Robert C. Ramser.
- Established
- 1922
- Patron
- Our Lady of Angels
- Rector
- Rev. Robert C. Ramser
- Diocese
- Diocese of Cleveland
Why belong here
Our Lady of Angels is a century-old Franciscan-rooted parish with an active sacramental life, a parish school (preschool-grade 8), and a combined PSR program with St. Mark Parish that walks children and families through Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation. Parishioners are welcomed into a wide range of devotional practices — daily and Sunday Mass (livestreamed at 11:00 AM), a perpetual Adoration Chapel open roughly 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM daily, Miraculous Medal, St. Joseph, and Sacred Heart novenas, weekly rosary before weekend Masses, and a monthly Holy Hour. It's a neighborhood parish where families are encouraged to participate in ministries, parish programs, and weekly stewardship, all under a pastor who grew up in the pews.
Mass times at Our Lady of Angels
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:30 pm – 3:45 pm (before Vigil Mass)
- Sunday 8:30 am and 10:30 am (before Masses)
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration Chapel: Sunday–Saturday 5:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- 10:00 PM – 5:00 AM access by calling the parish office during business hours for the keypad code
Parish History & Franciscan Roots
Our Lady of Angels is rooted in the work of the Franciscan Province of the Sacred Heart, which bought property on Riverside Drive (now Rocky River Drive) overlooking the Rocky River valley around the turn of the 20th century. By 1905 the friars had built a small frame chapel with living quarters; it was rededicated as Our Lady of Angels on July 13, 1906, and the adjoining seminary opened in 1907 to train friars — at one point about 100 friars lived on the campus. The parish was canonically established on November 26, 1922, with Father Columban Valentin, O.F.M. installed as the first pastor on December 3, 1922 by Bishop Joseph Schrembs. The Franciscans staffed the parish until 1987, when it was returned to diocesan care; it has since been led by a succession of diocesan pastors.
- Frame chapel dedicated as Our Lady of Angels — July 13, 1906
- Seminary opened on the grounds — 1907
- Parish canonically established — November 26, 1922
- First pastor installed — December 3, 1922
- Franciscans administer parish until 1987
- Diocese of Cleveland assumes pastoral care — 1987
- 100th anniversary Jubilee Mass — December 3, 2022
The Present Church Building
Because of continual growth, in 1940 the parish decided to build a new, larger church. Ground was broken March 19, 1941, and the new church was dedicated on December 8, 1941 — the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, the day after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Midnight Mass was celebrated in the still-unfinished building on Christmas Eve 1941, the beloved old frame church was razed after Easter 1942, and the present building has served the parish ever since.
- Ground broken — March 19, 1941
- Dedication — December 8, 1941 (Feast of the Immaculate Conception)
- Midnight Mass in unfinished church — Christmas Eve 1941
- Old frame church razed — after Easter 1942
Pastor Succession
Father Columban Valentin, O.F.M. served only about a year before Father Linus Koenemund, O.F.M. took over as a supposed 'temporary' pastor for 30+ years. After the Franciscans left in 1987, three diocesan pastors preceded Father Robert C. Ramser, who was installed as the parish's 11th pastor on May 12, 2024.
- Father Columban Valentin, O.F.M. — 1922-1923 (first pastor)
- Father Linus Koenemund, O.F.M. — Dec 1923 – summer 1954 (30+ years)
- Father John Cregan — 1987-2010 (first diocesan pastor)
- Father Jerome Duke — 2010-2013
- Father Russell Lowe (late) — 2013-c.2024
- Rev. Robert C. Ramser — installed May 12, 2024 (11th pastor)
Mass & Devotions Schedule
Our Lady of Angels offers a daily Mass schedule centered on a Saturday Vigil and two Sunday morning Masses — the 11:00 AM Mass is livestreamed each week on the parish YouTube channel for those unable to attend in person. Weekday Masses are celebrated Monday, Thursday, and Friday evenings at 6:00 pm, and Wednesdays at 9:30 am during the school year (6:00 pm in summer).
- Saturday Vigil: 4:00 pm
- Sunday: 9:00 am and 11:00 am (livestreamed)
- Monday, Thursday, Friday: 6:00 pm
- Wednesday: 9:30 am (school year) / 6:00 pm (summer)
- Holy Days: see bulletin
Novenas, Rosary & Holy Hour
A rich devotional life surrounds the Mass schedule at OLA: the rosary is prayed before the Saturday Vigil and Sunday 9:00 am Masses, three weekly novenas follow weekday Masses, and a Holy Hour is held twice a month on Monday evenings.
- Rosary before Saturday 4:00 pm and Sunday 9:00 am Masses
- Miraculous Medal Novena — after Monday 6:00 pm Mass
- St. Joseph Novena — after Thursday 6:00 pm Mass
- Sacred Heart Novena — after Friday 6:00 pm Mass
- Holy Hour — 1st and 3rd Monday of the month, 7:00 pm
OLA Catholic School
Our Lady of Angels Catholic School educates children in preschool through eighth grade under the authority of the Diocese of Cleveland and is accredited by the Ohio Catholic Schools Accrediting Association. The school exists 'to provide an education rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ where Catholic doctrine and values, as well as academic excellence prepare each student for a life of faith, service and integrity.' Religion is taught daily and infused throughout the curriculum; the school welcomes students of all faith backgrounds and participates in the Cleveland Scholarship Program and the Ed Choice Expansion Program. Students attend weekly all-school Masses, prayer services, and faith activities, and engage in service projects throughout the year.
- Preschool through Grade 8
- Accredited by the Ohio Catholic Schools Accrediting Association
- Diocese of Cleveland school
- Daily religion classes, weekly all-school Masses
- Participates in Cleveland Scholarship & Ed Choice Expansion programs
- Open to students of all faith backgrounds
- Interim Principal: Miss Katherine Stary; Vice Principal: Mr. Bradford Dorland
- School Office: (216) 251-6841
Spirituality & Parish Membership
The school emphasizes that enrolling a child at OLA means becoming part of the worshiping community of Our Lady of Angels parish — encouraging weekly Mass attendance, participation in ministries and volunteer activities, and weekly financial contributions.
- Weekly all-school Masses and classroom prayer
- Service projects throughout the school year
- Encouraged to register as active parishioners
Parish School of Religion (PSR) & Sacramental Prep
Our Lady of Angels partners with neighboring St. Mark Parish to offer a combined Parish School of Religion for grades 1 through 8. Beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year, regular PSR classes are held on Mondays from 6:30 to 7:30 pm on the St. Mark campus (15724 Montrose Avenue, Cleveland 44111), while sacramental sessions for Reconciliation, First Eucharist (2nd grade) and Confirmation (8th grade) are still held at Our Lady of Angels on designated Sundays. Students must be enrolled and attend PSR the year before receiving a sacrament.
- Combined PSR with St. Mark Parish (2026-2027)
- Regular classes: Mondays 6:30-7:30 pm at St. Mark campus
- Sacramental sessions at Our Lady of Angels
- First Reconciliation / First Eucharist preparation — grade 2
- Confirmation preparation — grade 8
- Contact: Mrs. Jeanette Puckett, (216) 226-7577 x106, [email protected]
Sacraments for the Parish Family
Beyond the Sunday and weekday schedule, Our Lady of Angels celebrates all the major sacraments. Families are asked to call the parish office to begin preparation for Baptism, Marriage, the Anointing of the Sick, or any other sacrament, and the parish website includes dedicated pages for First Holy Communion and the school- and PSR-based preparation programs.
- Baptism — call parish office
- Marriage — call parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — call parish office
- First Reconciliation & First Eucharist (grade 2)
- Confirmation (grade 8)
Parish Staff & Directory
The parish and school share a tight-knit leadership team led by Father Robert C. Ramser, pastor. Deacon Mark C. Yantek assists, and Father John P. McNulty is listed in residence.
- Rev. Robert C. Ramser — Pastor ([email protected])
- Deacon Mark C. Yantek ([email protected])
- Rev. John P. McNulty — In Residence
- Mrs. Eileen Maier — Bookkeeper ([email protected])
- Mrs. Erin Eyink — Office Manager ([email protected])
- Mr. Josh Arbogast — Marketing & Communications ([email protected])
- Mr. Dillon Spear — Maintenance Manager ([email protected])
- Miss Katherine Stary — Interim Principal, OLA School ([email protected])
- Mr. Bradford Dorland — Vice Principal, OLA School ([email protected])
- Mrs. Tina Garmback — School Secretary ([email protected])
- Ms. Marie Toth — Director of Music & Liturgy ([email protected])
Contact, Office Hours & Location
The parish and school share a campus on Rocky River Drive in Cleveland's West Park neighborhood, with separate parish and school offices and phone lines.
- Address: 3644 Rocky River Drive, Cleveland, OH 44111
- Parish Office: (216) 252-2332 | Fax: (216) 252-2383
- School Office: (216) 251-6841
- Parish Email: [email protected]
- Rectory Office Hours: Mon 9:00 am–6:00 pm; Tue–Fri 9:00 am–3:00 pm; Sat/Sun Closed
Livestream & Online Mass
The 11:00 AM Sunday Mass is livestreamed weekly on the parish YouTube channel via a 'Video Masses' link on the homepage, and the parish also lists diocesan and national outlets (EWTN, Fox 8, AM 1260 The Rock, Word on Fire daily Mass, WINT 1330 AM, the Diocese of Cleveland on-demand video) for those unable to attend in person.
- Sunday 11:00 AM Mass livestreamed on YouTube each week
- Diocese of Cleveland on-demand video (dioceseofcleveland.org)
- EWTN broadcast schedule listed on parish site
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Columban Valentin, O.F.M.1922-1923
First pastor; read the founding document to the people on November 26, 1922 and was installed by Bishop Schrembs on December 3, 1922. Resigned after one year.
- Father Linus Koenemund, O.F.M.Dec 1923 - summer 1954
Intended as a six-month 'temporary' pastor; served 30+ years, the longest tenure in parish history, until transferred to Riverton, Illinois.
- Father John Cregan1987-2010
First diocesan pastor after the Franciscans returned the parish to the Diocese of Cleveland in 1987.
- Father Jerome Duke2010-2013
Diocesan pastor.
- Father Russell Lowe2013-c.2024
Late; preceded Father Ramser as pastor.
- Rev. Robert C. RamserInstalled May 12, 2024 (11th pastor)
Son of the parish; installed by Bishop Edward Malesic on the Solemnity of the Ascension / Mother's Day, closing the centennial year.