About Our Lady of Peace · Cleveland, Ohio
Our Lady of Peace (often called OLP) is a Roman Catholic parish in Cleveland, Ohio, located in Cleveland's Shaker Square neighborhood on the city's southeast side. Founded in 1919 by Father James F. Cummins — an Army chaplain returning from World War I — the parish is one of the most diverse in the Diocese of Cleveland and welcomes worshipers of many national and cultural backgrounds. The parish serves roughly 500 registered families, offers daily and weekend Masses both in-person and via livestream, and is known for its strong tradition of outreach to the surrounding community.
- Established
- 1919
- Patron
- Our Lady of Peace (the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of Peace)
- Rector
- Rev. Gary D. Chmura
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Cleveland
Why belong here
Our Lady of Peace is one of the most intentionally diverse parishes in the Diocese of Cleveland, a fact the parish considers a direct continuation of its founder's vision. Worship is supported by a full daily Mass schedule — including Saturday Vigil and two Sunday morning Masses, all livestreamed — plus scheduled Sunday Masses in Igbo (last Sunday of the month) and the Syro-Malabar Catholic rite (third Sunday of the month). Beyond the liturgy, OLP runs a robust social-outreach ministry: a weekly food pantry feeding at least 40 families, hospital and home visits to the sick, faith formation for children, ministry at the Juvenile Justice Center, refugee welcome and orientation, a partnership with Edwins (which helps formerly incarcerated men and women rejoin society), and mission support for a church and infirmary in Africa. For anyone seeking a parish where prayer flows directly into service, OLP is hard to beat.
Mass times at Our Lady of Peace
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM
- Anytime by request
Adoration times
- Monday–Friday 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM (church open for private prayer and adoration)
History of Our Lady of Peace
Our Lady of Peace was founded in September 1919 by Father James F. Cummins, a Cleveland priest who had just returned from serving as a U.S. Army chaplain in World War I. Bishop John Farrelly assigned him to create a new parish for the Catholics of Cleveland's far-east side and the growing community of Shaker Heights. Father Cummins named the parish for the Blessed Mother and for peace — a direct reflection of the post-war moment in which it was born.
- 1919: Parish founded by Father James F. Cummins
- 1919: First Masses celebrated in the billiard room of Luna Park
- 1920: First church built at Buckingham Avenue and East 121st Street; Ursuline Sisters arrive
- 1921: Property purchased on Shaker Boulevard
- 1923: Combination school/chapel completed at East 126th and Shaker Boulevard
- 1949: Land cleared between East 126th and East 127th Streets for a new church
- September 1951: Present-day Shaker Boulevard church completed and dedicated
- September 22, 2019: Centennial Mass celebrated by Bishop Nelson Perez, with parish picnic across the street at Cummins Hall; papal blessing received for the anniversary
Clergy and Staff
Our Lady of Peace has been led by Father Gary D. Chmura since 1992. A diocesan priest ordained June 10, 1978, Father Chmura is only the sixth pastor in OLP's history and was also named pastor of St. Adalbert Parish in Cleveland in 2012, a dual assignment renewed for another six-year term in July 2024. The parish is currently home to two priests in residence — Father Charles Chuwa and Father Severine Minja — who assist at OLP while often pursuing graduate studies.
- Rev. Gary D. Chmura — Pastor (since 1992); also Pastor of St. Adalbert Parish, Cleveland (since 2012); ordained June 10, 1978
- Rev. Charles Chuwa — In Residence
- Rev. Severine Minja — In Residence
- Matthew Fodor — Music Director, composer of 'We Bow Down'
Liturgy and Music
Music ministry at OLP is led by Music Director Matthew Fodor, whose original composition 'We Bow Down' is performed in the parish's beautiful church. Weekend and weekday Masses are broadcast live on the parish's YouTube channel so that homebound parishioners and the wider community can take part in the liturgy from anywhere.
- Music Director: Matthew Fodor
- Featured piece: 'We Bow Down' (composed by Fodor for the parish)
- Weekend livestreamed Masses: Saturday Vigil 4:00 PM; Sunday 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM
Parish Ministries and Outreach
Outreach is at the heart of Our Lady of Peace's identity. The parish runs a weekly food pantry that feeds at least 40 families, sends ministers into hospitals, nursing homes and private homes to visit the sick, ministers to young people at the Juvenile Justice Center (often with cookies baked by parishioners), welcomes and orients newly arrived refugees, and partners with Edwins to support men and women re-entering society after incarceration. The parish's prayers and giving also extend overseas, supporting a church and infirmary built in Africa through OLP's generosity.
- Food pantry (serves at least 40 families per week)
- Visits to the sick in hospitals, nursing homes, and homes
- Children's faith formation
- Juvenile Justice Center ministry
- Refugee welcome and orientation
- Partnership with Edwins (formerly incarcerated reentry)
- African mission support (church and infirmary)
Sacraments
Our Lady of Peace prepares parishioners for and celebrates the full range of Catholic sacraments, including Baptism, First Reconciliation and First Communion (through faith formation), Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and Reconciliation. The parish also welcomes those preparing to enter the Catholic Church and accompanies the sick and homebound through pastoral visits.
- Baptism
- First Reconciliation / First Communion (via faith formation)
- Marriage preparation
- Anointing of the Sick / pastoral visits
- Reconciliation (Saturday 3:30–4:00 PM and by request)
- Funeral rites
A Diverse, Mission-Oriented Community
From its founding, Our Lady of Peace was conceived as a parish 'for all people' — a deliberate departure from the ethnic-national parishes common in early-20th-century Cleveland. Today the parish describes itself as one of the most diverse in the Diocese of Cleveland: on any given Sunday worshippers of European, Indian, Filipino, other Asian, African American, African, and Latin American backgrounds kneel together, alongside parishioners of differing economic means and faith journeys, welcomed with genuine affection. That diversity is reflected even in the worship schedule, with regular Masses celebrated in Igbo and the Syro-Malabar Catholic rite.
- Sunday Mass in Igbo (last Sunday of the month)
- Sunday Mass in the Syro-Malabar Catholic rite (third Sunday of the month)
- Annual diaspora of backgrounds represented at Sunday liturgy
Visit, Give, and Stay Connected
Visitors are warmly welcomed at all Masses. The parish uses Faith Direct for secure online giving and accepts prayer requests through its website. Weekend and weekday Masses are livestreamed on the parish's YouTube channel, and the parish office can be reached by phone or email for baptisms, weddings, sick visits, and other pastoral needs.
- Online giving via Faith Direct
- Online prayer request form on olpchurch.com
- Livestreamed Masses on YouTube
- Parish office: 12503 Buckingham Ave., Cleveland, OH 44120-1498
- Phone: (216) 421-4211
- Email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James F. Cummins1919–1928
Founding pastor; WWI military chaplain; conceived the parish as a diverse community 'for all people.'
- Rev. Edward Reilly1940s–1951
Shepherded OLP through construction of the present Shaker Boulevard church, completed in 1951.
- Rev. Gary D. Chmura1992–present
Sixth and current pastor; also appointed pastor of St. Adalbert Parish, Cleveland in 2012 (renewed 2024).