About Our Lady of Mount Carmel · Wickliffe, Ohio
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Wickliffe, Ohio, in the Diocese of Cleveland, serving the Lake and Geauga Counties area. Founded in 1923 from a mission started by five local men in 1920, the parish grew from a storefront congregation into one of the largest parishes in the Cleveland diocese, with roughly 3,000 registered families. It offers a PreK–Grade 8 parish school (Mater Dei Academy), a 24-hour Adoration Chapel, and a wide range of liturgical, faith-formation, and outreach ministries. The parish marked its centennial in 2024.
- Established
- 1923
- Patron
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel
- Rector
- Fr. Alexander V. Clark (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Cleveland
Why belong here
OLMC welcomes parishioners and visitors as part of a vibrant Catholic family of about 3,000 registered households in the Diocese of Cleveland. The parish offers daily and weekend Mass in the church and rectory chapel, a 24-hour Eucharistic Adoration Chapel, a robust sacramental life (Confession Saturday afternoons and First Fridays), and a PreK–8 parish school (Mater Dei Academy). Dozens of worship, faith formation, and outreach ministries — from Music Ministry and Altar Servers to Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and Ministers of Welcome — make it easy to plug in, and the parish actively invites new members to join.
Mass times at Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM (Church)
- First Fridays 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM (Rectory Chapel)
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration Chapel open 24 hours a day, every day of the year (Rectory), except Good Friday and Holy Saturday
About Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Wickliffe, Ohio, in the Diocese of Cleveland, serving the Lake and Geauga Counties area. Founded in 1923 from a 1920 storefront mission, the parish has grown into one of the largest in the Cleveland diocese with about 3,000 registered families. The parish offers daily and weekend Mass, a 24-hour Eucharistic Adoration Chapel, a PreK–Grade 8 parish school (Mater Dei Academy), and a wide range of liturgical, faith-formation, and outreach ministries.
- Diocese of Cleveland parish
- Located in Wickliffe, OH (Lake and Geauga Counties)
- Est. 1923
- Approximately 3,000 registered families
- PreK–Grade 8 parish school on campus
Parish History
Early in 1920, five young men from the Wickliffe community purchased a lot with monies solicited by the townspeople, recognized the spiritual needs of their town, and requested Episcopal approval to build a church. Bishop Joseph Schrembs appointed Fr. William Nash of Immaculate Conception in Willoughby to begin the mission, with first Masses in a storefront at 29526 Euclid Avenue. A cornerstone was laid in June 1923 and the first Mass in the new church was celebrated on Christmas Day, December 25, 1923. Fr. Ralph McMonagle became the first resident pastor in 1934, and the parish grew from 112 families in 1936 to 345 by 1945.
- 1920 — five local men petitioned the Bishop
- 1923 — cornerstone laid; first Christmas Mass in new church
- 1934 — first resident pastor (Fr. Ralph McMonagle)
- 1937 — rectory completed
- 1948–1949 — Fr. Thomas F. Barry served as pastor until his death
Building the Present Campus
Under Msgr. Andrew A. Andrey, the Bishop directed the parish to build a new church and school. Property was purchased in 1950, groundbreaking took place in fall 1954, the cornerstone was blessed the following spring, and Cardinal John Kroll celebrated the first Mass in the new 800-seat church on December 18, 1955. The school opened in September 1955 staffed by the Vincentian Sisters with six grades in nine classrooms; an east wing begun in June 1956 brought the school to 32 classrooms and 1,300 pupils, and a convent for the Dominican Sisters was completed in 1962. The church was renovated in 1984, the convent was converted to the Rectory/Administration Building in 1979, and the original church/rectory property was sold and demolished on November 1, 1989.
- 1950 — property for current church/school purchased
- 1954 — groundbreaking for new church
- December 18, 1955 — first Mass in new 800-seat church
- September 1955 — school opens with Vincentian Sisters
- 1962 — convent completed for Dominican Sisters
- 1984 — church renovated
- 1989 — original church/rectory property demolished
Centennial Celebration (2024)
On July 14, 2024, Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost joined Our Lady of Mount Carmel parishioners for a procession, Mass and reception marking the parish's 100th anniversary and feast day. The diocesan centennial article notes Bishop Woost shared the origins of devotion to Mary, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and the beginnings of the parish named after her — taken from Pastor Michael Troha's column in the Sunday bulletin.
- July 14, 2024 — centennial Mass with Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost
- Parish traces origins to 1920 petition by five Wickliffe men
- First Christmas Mass in new church was December 25, 1923
Worship Ministries
The parish's worship ministries support every aspect of parish liturgy — from music and the spoken Word to the care of sacred vessels and the welcome at the door.
- Music Ministry — musicians, choir, and cantors who exhort, uplift and encourage the body of Christ through song
- Sacristan Ministry — care of linens, altar supplies, vestments, and the sacristy
- Altar Servers — open to any child in 4th grade or older; training sessions offered; adult practicing Catholics welcome
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion — assist priests/deacons at Mass and bring Communion to the sick
- Ministers of the Word (Lectors) — trained by the parish to proclaim Scripture
- Ministers of Welcome (Ushers) — greet parishioners/guests, take up the collection, pass out bulletins
Clergy & Parish Staff
The parish staff is committed to creating and maintaining a community of faith inspired by the Holy Spirit. The office can be reached at (440) 569-1436, Monday–Friday 9:00 AM–4:00 PM.
- Fr. Alexander V. Clark — Administrator
- Fr. Joseph O'Donnell — In Residence
- Fr. Gregory F. Schaut — In Residence
- Fr. David G. Baugh — In Residence
- Mary Brown — Business Manager
- David W. Krizan — Music Minister Director
- Jackie Cachowski — Bulletin Editor & Administrative Assistant
- Morgan Jacksonbey — Administrative Assistant
- Frank Mielnik — Maintenance Department
Parish School — Mater Dei Academy
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish operates Mater Dei Academy, a PreK through Grade 8 Catholic school sharing the parish campus. The school opened in September 1955 with the Vincentian Sisters staffing six grades in nine classrooms; subsequent expansion of the east wing brought the school to 32 classrooms and an enrollment of about 1,300 pupils at its largest.
- PreK through Grade 8 parish school
- Opened September 1955 with the Vincentian Sisters
- East wing expansion completed in the late 1950s
Visit, Contact & Office Information
The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The mailing address is 29850 Euclid Avenue, Wickliffe, Ohio 44092; the rectory is located at 1730 Mount Carmel Drive, Wickliffe, Ohio 44091. The parish phone number is (440) 585-0700.
- Church: 29850 Euclid Avenue, Wickliffe, OH 44092
- Rectory: 1730 Mount Carmel Drive, Wickliffe, OH 44091
- Phone: (440) 585-0700
- Office hours: Monday–Friday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. William Nash1920–1934
Appointed by Bishop Schrembs from Immaculate Conception, Willoughby to begin the mission parish; first Masses celebrated in a storefront at 29526 Euclid Avenue.
- Fr. Ralph McMonagle1934–1948
First resident pastor of OLMC; oversaw the completion of the rectory in 1937 and growth from 112 to 345 families.
- Fr. Thomas F. Barry1948–1949
Appointed July 1948; died February 3, 1949 after six months as pastor.
- Fr. Bernard Wigand1949–1950
Assumed pastoral duties after Fr. Barry's death until Fr. Andrey's appointment.
- Fr. Andrew A. Andrey (Msgr.)1950–
Purchased the property for the present church/school in 1950; oversaw construction of the new 800-seat church (first Mass Dec. 18, 1955) and the school opening in Sept. 1955.
- Fr. Ernest C. HepnerSeptember 1977–January 1987
Assigned September 1977; became pastor January 1978. Oversaw renovation of the church in 1984 and conversion of the convent into the Rectory/Administration Building in 1979.
- Fr. James E. SheilJanuary 1987–
Became pastor January 1987 after Fr. Hepner's transfer; oversaw the sale and demolition (Nov. 1, 1989) of the original church/rectory property.
- Fr. David L. McCaffertySeptember 15, 1989 – June 30, 2008
Broke ground in August 1995 for a new community center; Bishop Anthony Pilla dedicated it May 19, 1996. Retired June 30, 2008.
- Fr. Thomas Behrend2008–July 1, 2020
Named Administrator June 2009; named Pastor October 30, 2009. Transferred to St. Rita's, Solon effective July 1, 2020.
- Fr. Joseph O'DonnellJuly–September 2020
Administrator Pro tem after Fr. Behrend's transfer.
- Fr. Michael TrohaSeptember 1, 2020 – September 2021
Administrator from September 1, 2020 until September 2021.
- Fr. Gregory OlszewskiSeptember 15, 2021 – September 2022
Named Administrator September 2021 and officially took over the role September 15, 2021; later transferred to St. Joseph Parish, Strongsville.
- Fr. Michael TrohaSeptember 2022 –
Re-appointed Administrator in September 2022; hosted the July 14, 2024 centennial Mass.
- Fr. Alexander V. Clark
Current Administrator of the parish, listed by the Diocese of Cleveland directory and the parish staff page.