About Our Lady of the Rosary · Dayton, Ohio
Our Lady of the Rosary is a historic Roman Catholic parish in Dayton, Ohio, located in the Old North Dayton neighborhood at the corner of Notre Dame Avenue and Hart Street. Founded in 1887 as a German-speaking congregation and home to the first Catholic church in North Dayton, the parish has anchored the community for over 135 years. Today it forms part of the St. Gabriel the Archangel Family of Parishes within the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, sharing its pastor with neighboring churches in Northeast Deanery Family 10. The parish operates a co-educational grade school (K-6), offers Mass in English and Spanish, hosts the Dayton Catholic Young Adults' Candlelight Mass, and is recognized for a 1918 Romanesque Revival church building featuring a Venetian-campanile bell tower, rose window, and a 1928 white-marble high altar with a 33-foot baldacchino.
- Established
- 1887
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Rosary (Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of the Holy Rosary)
- Rector
- Rev. Kyle E. Schnippel (Pastor of St. Gabriel the Archangel Family of Parishes, which includes Our Lady of the Rosary)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Cincinnati (Metropolitan Archdiocese of Cincinnati)
Why belong here
Our Lady of the Rosary offers the rare combination of a landmark 1918 Romanesque Revival church, a 137-year-old Catholic grade school, and an unusually active bilingual (English/Spanish) liturgical life in central Dayton. As part of the St. Gabriel the Archangel Family of Parishes it now shares priests and programs with four neighboring Catholic communities, giving parishioners access to strong religious education (K-6 school, religious ed, youth ministry), a quarterly Dayton Catholic Young Adults Candlelight Mass with social, a 2019 Perpetual Adoration chapel, weekly and monthly Spanish-language Masses, a parish-based St. Vincent de Paul conference serving the 45404 zip code, and a place long associated with the Archdiocese of Cincinnati's outreach to North Dayton's immigrant communities.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Rosary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 5:30 PM (Spanish)
- Tuesday 6:00 PM (Spanish, before 6:30 PM Mass)
Adoration times
- Tuesday 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Spanish)
- Perpetual Adoration in the chapel created from the former baptistry in 2019
History of Our Lady of the Rosary
Our Lady of the Rosary traces its origin to December 12, 1887, when Archbishop William Henry Elder sanctioned the organization of Holy Rosary Parish in Dayton to relieve overcrowding at Holy Trinity and shorten the dangerous walk to school for North Dayton's Catholic families. Father John B. Frohmiller led the parish from its founding, with Rev. George H. Meyer as his assistant. Construction of the brick and Dayton-limestone chapel began in April 1888; the first Mass was celebrated on Christmas Day 1888, and the building was dedicated by Rev. F. J. Goetz on May 26, 1889. The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur arrived in 1890, and the wooden Stations of the Cross and statuary still in use today were acquired in 1896. An 1899 addition increased seating by a third and expanded the school to eight classrooms. In 1903 the Brothers of Mary arrived to teach the upper-grade boys, and the territory of Polish families was carved off as St. Adalbert Parish. A Lithuanian national parish was later similarly created. During the Great Flood of 1913 the church and rectory served as a refuge on high ground; Archbishop Henry Moeller sent $6,000 in aid. In 1914 architect W. L. Jaeckle was engaged to design a new, larger Romanesque Revival church, which opened in 1918 with stained glass, faux marble pillars, carved wood, and an apse mural of Our Lady of the Rosary. The current white-marble high altar with its 33-foot baldacchino was consecrated on June 28, 1928, by (then) Msgr. Henry Moeller, with relics of saints sealed inside. Subsequent decades brought a 1958 school addition (now the principal classroom wing), absorption of students from the closing St. Adalbert School in 1980, the 2015 merger of St. Stephen Parish into OLR, and entry into the Archdiocese of Cincinnati's St. Gabriel the Archangel Family of Parishes on July 1, 2022.
- December 12, 1887 — Parish established by Archbishop Elder; Fr. John B. Frohmiller founding pastor
- 1888 — Brick-and-Dayton-limestone chapel built; first Mass on Christmas Day
- May 26, 1889 — Chapel dedicated by Rev. F. J. Goetz
- 1890 — Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur arrive to teach
- 1896 — Wooden Stations of the Cross and statuary acquired (still in use)
- 1899 — First major addition: seating +1/3, school expanded to 8 classrooms
- 1903 — Brothers of Mary begin teaching boys; St. Adalbert (Polish) and a Lithuanian parish carved from OLR territory
- March 1913 — Great Dayton Flood: OLR is the only parish in North Dayton above flood waters; used as a shelter
- 1914 — Architect W. L. Jaeckle commissioned to design a new church
- 1917-1918 — Present Romanesque Revival church erected on Notre Dame Avenue
- 1928 (June 28) — High altar with 33-foot baldacchino consecrated by (then) Msgr. Henry Moeller
- 1957-1958 — 'New' classroom wing added; school becomes a 23-room complex connected by breezeway
- 1958 — Brothers of Mary leave OLR to teach in Catholic high schools
- 1980 — OLR School accepts students from the closing St. Adalbert School
- 2015 — St. Stephen Parish merged into Our Lady of the Rosary
- 2019 — Perpetual Adoration chapel created from the former baptistry
- July 1, 2022 — OLR enters the St. Gabriel the Archangel Family of Parishes (NE-10) under pastor Fr. Kyle Schnippel
Architecture & Sacred Art
The present church, built 1914-1918, is a Romanesque Revival design by Dayton architect W. L. Jaeckle. Its red-brick facade is dominated by a rose window above a portico of six columns and seven arched openings sheltering three sets of recessed double doors. The signature exterior feature is a detached bell tower, modeled on the campanile of St. Mark's Basilica in Venice. Inside, the nave is articulated with painted barrel vaults, faux marble pillars, ornate carved wood and marble, two banks of stained glass windows, and an apse crowned by a mural of Our Lady of the Rosary presenting the rosary to St. Dominic and St. Catherine of Siena, with five small murals of the Joyful Mysteries in the arch. The 1928 high altar is carved from white marble, fronted by cream-marble steps with a gray-and-yellow geometric inlaid predella, the IHS Christogram and the Greek alpha and omega, and a 33-foot baldacchino. The original 1896 wooden Stations of the Cross and devotional statuary remain in use. The original 1888 chapel (50 × 100 ft, brick and Dayton limestone) is preserved on the parish campus and now serves as the school building and gym.
- Architect W. L. Jaeckle (1914 design)
- Romanesque Revival style; red brick with limestone trim
- Rose window over six-column portico with three recessed double-door entries
- Detached bell tower after St. Mark's Venice campanile
- Painted barrel vaults, faux marble pillars, carved wood and marble
- Apsidal mural: Our Lady of the Rosary with St. Dominic and St. Catherine of Siena
- Five small Joyful Mysteries murals in the apse arch
- Two banks of stained glass windows
- 1928 white-marble high altar with 33-foot baldacchino, IHS, alpha and omega, sealed relics
- 1896 wooden Stations of the Cross and statuary
Mass, Sacraments & Devotions
Our Lady of the Rosary celebrates Mass in both English and Spanish each week and offers the sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick. Confessions are heard Saturday at 5:30 PM (Spanish) and Tuesday at 6:00 PM before the Spanish evening Mass. Perpetual Adoration is offered in the chapel created from the former baptistry in 2019, and a weekly Spanish Holy Hour follows the Tuesday evening Mass. The third Thursday of each month brings the Dayton Catholic Young Adults Candlelight Mass at 6:30 PM, followed by Confessions and a parish social. OLR School students attend weekly Thursday Mass during the school year, with classes taking turns as lectors and gift-bearers.
- Sunday 9:00 AM — English
- Tuesday 6:30 PM — Spanish
- Wednesday 7:30 AM — English
- Thursday 9:00 AM — school-day Mass
- Thursday (3rd) 6:30 PM — Candlelight Mass with Dayton Catholic Young Adults
- Friday 7:30 AM — First Fridays
- Saturday Vigil 6:00 PM — Spanish
- Confessions: Saturday 5:30 PM (Spanish) and Tuesday 6:00 PM (Spanish)
- Perpetual Adoration chapel (opened 2019)
- Tuesday 7:00 – 8:00 PM Spanish Holy Hour
- Sacraments: Baptism, Reconciliation, Eucharist, Confirmation, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick
- RCIA coordinated through St. Gabriel the Archangel Family of Parishes
Parish School (K-6)
Our Lady of the Rosary School, founded in 1888/1889 and first taught by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, serves children in kindergarten through sixth grade as a co-educational Catholic elementary school. The original 1888 chapel is preserved on the campus and continues to house classrooms and gymnasium space; the 1958 classroom wing is the principal academic building. Students attend weekly Mass on Thursdays during the school year and may train as altar servers beginning in fourth grade. The school is now partnered with nearby Chaminade Julienne (CJ) for middle-school faith and academic programs, with seventh- and eighth-grade confirmation preparation continuing at the parish level. Principal Kara Burkett leads the school and OLR is currently accepting registration for the 2026-2027 academic year (937-222-7231).
- Founded 1888/1889 by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur
- Co-educational, K-6
- Original 1888 chapel reused as part of the school (now houses gym)
- 1958 principal classroom addition (linked by breezeway)
- 1980: absorbed students from closing St. Adalbert School
- Weekly all-school Mass on Thursdays; altar-server training in 4th grade+
- Principal: Kara Burkett ([email protected])
- Phone: (937) 222-7231
- Address: 40 Notre Dame Ave, Dayton, OH 45404
- Partnered with Chaminade Julienne for middle-school faith formation
Religious Education, Youth & Music
Religious education and youth ministry at Our Lady of the Rosary are coordinated across the St. Gabriel the Archangel Family of Parishes. Joy Blaul and Elise Sas serve as parish religious-education coordinators; Jeanne Fairbanks and Elena Pope are youth ministers. Andrea Parker serves as the parish's pastoral associate and music minister, supporting the parish choirs and the worship music for the school and weekend liturgies. OLR has an active community of altar servers drawn from fourth grade and up and an active student liturgical-preparation program in which each class takes a turn preparing the weekly Thursday school Mass.
- Religious Education: Joy Blaul ([email protected], 937-237-3516) and Elise Sas ([email protected], 937-898-3542)
- Youth Ministry: Jeanne Fairbanks ([email protected]) and Elena Pope ([email protected], 937-898-3542)
- Pastoral Associate / Music: Andrea Parker ([email protected], 937-898-3542)
- Altar Servers — training for students in 4th grade and older
- Weekly Thursday school Mass with class-by-class preparation (lectors and gift-bearers)
- Third-Thursday Dayton Catholic Young Adults Candlelight Mass hosted at OLR
Outreach & Charity
Our Lady of the Rosary runs its own St. Vincent de Paul Society conference, one of 24 neighborhood-conference ministries across the Dayton District Council of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. The OLR conference serves neighbors in the 45404 zip code with person-to-person help with utilities, rent, food, clothing, medicine, and household items, accompanied by home visits. The parish also hosts the third-Thursday Dayton Catholic Young Adults Mass and social, and it cooperates with the St. Gabriel the Archangel Family of Parishes in its parish-school and faith-formation outreach. The parish's longstanding presence in immigrant North Dayton (originally German, then Polish and Lithuanian) continues as bilingual (English/Spanish) ministry to today's Latino Catholic community in Old North Dayton.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society conference for zip code 45404 (937-222-5555 ext. 600)
- Person-to-person assistance: utilities, rent, food, clothing, medicine, household items
- Home visits by Vincentian volunteers
- Dayton Catholic Young Adults host site (third-Thursday Candlelight Mass)
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) pastoral outreach to Old North Dayton
- Cooperative outreach through St. Gabriel the Archangel Family of Parishes
Clergy, Staff & Parish Leadership
Our Lady of the Rosary is pastored within the St. Gabriel the Archangel Family of Parishes by Fr. Kyle E. Schnippel, who was appointed Pastor of Dayton Pastoral Region XII effective June 29, 2021, and confirmed as pastor when the family was officially formed on July 1, 2022. He is assisted by Parochial Vicars Fr. W. Robert Hale and Fr. Andrew J. Smith, Hispanic Parochial Vicar Fr. Carlos Moreno, and Priest in Residence Fr. Joseph Kindel. Parish staff includes Pastoral Associate / Music Minister Andrea Parker, Religious Education coordinators Joy Blaul and Elise Sas, Youth Ministers Jeanne Fairbanks and Elena Pope, and Office Manager Victoria Hammermeister. OLR School is led by Principal Kara Burkett. The parish forms part of Northeast Deanery Family 10 of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati's 'Beacons of Light' initiative.
- Pastor: Fr. Kyle E. Schnippel ([email protected])
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. W. Robert Hale
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Andrew J. Smith
- Hispanic Parochial Vicar: Fr. Carlos Moreno
- In Residence: Fr. Joseph Kindel
- Pastoral Associate / Music: Andrea Parker
- Religious Education: Joy Blaul, Elise Sas
- Youth Ministry: Jeanne Fairbanks, Elena Pope
- Office Manager: Victoria Hammermeister
- OLR School Principal: Kara Burkett
- St. Vincent de Paul Conference contact: Emilee George
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John B. Frohmiller1887 – c. 1909 (founded and led the parish for at least 21 years per 1909 county history)
Founding pastor; organized Holy Rosary Parish on December 12, 1887 under Archbishop William Henry Elder; oversaw construction of the 1888 brick chapel, opening of school in 1889, arrival of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in 1890, and the 1899 addition. Recorded sacramental acts (e.g., the 1889 Jergens-Abele marriage) as pastor.
- Rev. F. J. GoetzMay 26, 1889
Dedicated the original chapel on May 26, 1889.
- Rev. George H. MeyerAssistant pastor under Frohmiller, listed c. 1909
Capable assistant pastor noted in the 1909 'History of the City of Dayton and Montgomery County.'
- Rev. Anthony CutcherListed as pastor on legacy parish directories (CatholicMassTime, JoinMyChurch)
Email [email protected]; listing precedes the 2021 Family of Parishes reorganization.
- Rev. Michael J. TonkinPrior pastor of Dayton Pastoral Region XII, before June 2021
Listed as Parochial Administrator of Dayton Pastoral Region XII (which then included OLR) ahead of the June 2021 reassignment.
- Rev. Kyle E. SchnippelEffective June 29, 2021 – present
Appointed Pastor of Region XII (St. Peter, Huber Heights; Our Lady of the Rosary, Dayton; Holy Cross, Dayton) in June 2021; confirmed Pastor of the St. Gabriel the Archangel Family of Parishes (NE-10) on July 1, 2022 alongside St. Christopher, Vandalia and St. John the Baptist, Tipp City.