About Our Lady of Mercy / Our Lady of Grace Parish · Dayton, Ohio
Our Lady of Grace Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Dayton, Ohio, served by the Spiritans (Congregation of the Holy Spirit / Holy Ghost Fathers). It was canonically established on September 15, 2014 by decree of Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr through the merger of Corpus Christi Parish (founded 1911, Five Oaks neighborhood) and Our Lady of Mercy Parish (North Riverdale neighborhood). Both historic churches remain active as co-equal worship sites of the unified parish, which is one of five Dayton-area parishes under Spiritan pastoral care in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.
- Established
- 1911
- Patron
- Our Lady of Mercy / Corpus Christi (Blessed Sacrament)
- Rector
- Father Francis Tandoh, C.S.Sp.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Why belong here
Our Lady of Grace welcomes anyone seeking a historic, mission-driven Catholic community in Dayton's urban northwest. The parish is unique in keeping two beautiful co-equal worship sites alive — the architecturally notable 1911 Mission Revival Corpus Christi Church and the longtime Our Lady of Mercy Church — while uniting their congregations under Spiritan leadership. Members find a tight-knit African-American Catholic heritage, joint ministries with sister parishes Queen of Martyrs, St. Benedict the Moor, and St. Mary, vibrant liturgical music, RCIA and faith formation, evangelization outreach, and a Bereavement Committee. Visitors are warmly invited to attend Mass, meet the priests by appointment, and join in the parish's Gospel-centered work of worship, service, and evangelization.
Mass times at Our Lady of Mercy / Our Lady of Grace Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
About Our Lady of Grace Parish
Our Lady of Grace Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Dayton, Ohio, served by the Spiritans (Congregation of the Holy Spirit). It was canonically formed September 15, 2014 by the merger of Corpus Christi Parish and Our Lady of Mercy Parish. Both original churches remain in active use as co-equal parochial worship sites under the unified parish, in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.
- Two worship sites: Corpus Christi Church (527 Forest Avenue) and Our Lady of Mercy Church (533 Odlin Avenue)
- Pastored by the Spiritans (Holy Ghost Fathers / C.S.Sp.)
- Archdiocese of Cincinnati, under Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr
Parish History
The parish traces its origins to 1907, when northwest Dayton Catholics — including Joseph Wenz, George Pflaum, and John Foose — petitioned for a new parish to serve the Riverdale and Dayton View areas. Archbishop Henry Moeller granted the request in 1909. Corpus Christi Church was designed by William E. Russ, with groundbreaking July 10, 1911, first Mass at Smith's Hall on Easter Sunday 1911, and formal dedication on Christmas Eve 1911. Our Lady of Mercy Parish served the African-American Catholic community under Spiritan care from 1928 onward and was united with Assumption Parish in 1999. The two parishes merged in 2014 into Our Lady of Grace.
- 1907 – Petition for new parish in Riverdale / Dayton View
- 1909 – Archbishop Moeller grants Corpus Christi congregation
- 1911 – First Mass at Smith's Hall; Corpus Christi Church dedicated Christmas Eve
- 1928 – Spiritans assume Dayton African-American apostolate
- 1999 – Our Lady of Mercy united with Assumption Parish
- 2014 (Sept. 15) – Corpus Christi + Our Lady of Mercy merged into Our Lady of Grace
- 2014 (Nov. 16) – Inaugural Mass celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Joseph R. Binzer
- 2023 – Major exterior renovation of Corpus Christi, including replica pressed-metal roof
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Spiritan (C.S.Sp.) priests with the support of two permanent deacons and a small regional staff shared with the sister Spiritan parishes of the Dayton region.
- Pastor — Fr. Francis Tandoh, C.S.Sp. (ext. 1002; [email protected])
- Parochial Vicar — Fr. Benoit Mukamba, C.S.Sp. (ext. 1009; [email protected])
- Deacon Ken Stewart (937-855-2289)
- Deacon Osagie Victor Obasuyi (937-268-6697)
- Facilities Manager / Sacristan — Natinka Siwecki
- Regional Assistant — Liz Gadola
- Music Director — Michael Kastner
- Bookkeeper — Marty Phillips
- Office Volunteer — Wanda Hollinger
Spiritans in Mission (Holy Ghost Fathers)
The Spiritans (Congregation of the Holy Spirit) have served Ohio since 1872, when Fr. Steurer arrived at St. Patrick's in Troy and Fr. Ott at St. Boniface in Piqua. The order's first Provincial, Fr. Strub, arrived in 1874. In 1928 they assumed ministry to African-American Catholics in Cincinnati (St. John the Baptist) and Dayton the same year. In Dayton today the Spiritans serve five parishes: Corpus Christi, Our Lady of Mercy (Our Lady of Grace Parish), Queen of Martyrs, St. Benedict the Moor, and St. Mary.
- Spiritans in Ohio since 1872 (Troy and Piqua)
- First U.S. Provincial: Fr. Strub (1874)
- Dayton African-American ministry since 1928
- Currently serve 5 Dayton-area parishes
Parish Office & Contact
The Regional Parish Office / Parish Center is located at 533 Odlin Avenue, Dayton, OH 45405 (Our Lady of Mercy Church). Office hours are Monday and Tuesday, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM. The office is closed on many national holidays and during inclement weather or staff retreats.
- Mailing Address: 533 Odlin Avenue, Dayton, OH 45405
- Phone: 937-274-2107
- Office Hours: Mon & Tues, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- General Email: [email protected]
Ministries & Outreach
Our Lady of Grace Parish maintains an Evangelization Ministry ('Preach the Gospel') led by Fr. Benoit Mukamba, a Bereavement Committee that comforts grieving families and helps with funeral planning, and a Parish Council. The parish is part of the Archdiocese's SafeParish™ child-protection program and publishes a weekly bulletin, the 'Sheep & Goats Gazette.'
- Evangelization Ministry (Fr. Benoit Mukamba)
- Bereavement Committee (937-274-2107 ext. 3002)
- Parish Council (president Judy Martinson, at 2014 merger)
- Sheep & Goats Gazette (weekly bulletin)
- SafeParish™ child protection training
Frequently Asked Questions
The parish publishes practical answers to common visitor and parishioner questions — appointments with the priests, office hours, how to reach specific staff, and funeral-planning contacts.
- To see a priest: call 937-274-2107 ext. 3001 or email [email protected] / [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday & Tuesday, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (closed on many national holidays)
- Funeral planning: Bereavement Committee, 937-274-2107 ext. 3002
- General inquiries: [email protected]
Worship Locations
The unified parish uses two co-equal worship sites plus regional partner parishes for additional Mass and community opportunities.
- Corpus Christi Church — 527 Forest Avenue, Dayton, OH 45405
- Our Lady of Mercy Church — 533 Odlin Avenue, Dayton, OH 45405
- Queen of Martyrs Parish — 4134 Cedar Ridge Road, Dayton, OH 45414 (www.QMDayton.org)
- St. Benedict the Moor Church — 519 Liscum Dr., Dayton, OH 45417 (https://unitedinhope.org)
- St. Augustine Parish — 6939 Weaver Rd., Germantown, OH 45327 (www.catholicsmart.com)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John T. Gallagher1911–
First pastor of Corpus Christi Parish (originally called St. Joseph's), appointed March 19, 1911 immediately after the dedication of the new church; led the parish at the April 16, 1911 first Mass in Smith's Hall and the Christmas Eve 1911 dedication of the Corpus Christi Church building.
- Fr. Joshua Otusafo, C.PP.S.2014
First parochial administrator of the newly-merged Our Lady of Grace Parish (then affiliated with the Missionaries of the Precious Blood / Spiritans); concelebrated the Nov. 16, 2014 inaugural Mass with Bishop Joseph R. Binzer.
- Fr. James Schutte2014 (at merger)
Concelebrated the Nov. 16, 2014 inaugural Mass of Our Lady of Grace Parish as one of the Spiritan priests.
- Fr. Del Staigers2014 (at merger)
Concelebrated the Nov. 16, 2014 inaugural Mass of Our Lady of Grace Parish.
- Fr. Francis Tandoh, C.S.Sp.present
Current pastor of Our Lady of Grace Parish (Spiritans / Congregation of the Holy Spirit).