About Our Lady of Victory · Andover, Ohio
Our Lady of Victory Church is a Catholic parish church located at 481 South Main Street in Andover, Ohio (Ashtabula County). The church was built and blessed in 1949 after the local Catholic mission achieved parish status in 1948. Since March 17, 2022 it has been united with neighboring St. Patrick Church in Kinsman as the merged Our Lady of Hope Parish within the Diocese of Youngstown. Weekend and weekday Masses, confessions, Eucharistic adoration, faith formation, Knights of Columbus outreach, and parish fundraisers (such as the annual Spaghetti Dinner) all continue to be offered across the two worship sites. The parish office, staffed Monday through Friday, sits at the Andover (Our Lady of Victory) location.
- Established
- 1949 (church blessed Nov. 6, 1949; mission status 1944; parish status 1948)
- Patron
- Our Lady of Victory (parish name until 2022 merger; merged parish now under patronage of Our Lady of Hope)
- Rector
- Rev. John Ettinger
- Diocese
- Diocese of Youngstown
Why belong here
Our Lady of Victory offers small-town Catholic community life rooted in over 75 years of Andover history, with Mass every Saturday evening and on rotating weekday mornings. The parish supports families through Faith Formation programs led by Director of Religious Education Lindsay Fuentes, partners with the Msgr. Vismara Council 3725 of the Knights of Columbus for outreach and service, and gathers for Eucharistic Adoration before Tuesday Mass and for community events like the annual parish picnic and Spaghetti Dinner. As part of the merged Our Lady of Hope Parish sharing worship with St. Patrick in Kinsman, the parish blends deep local tradition with the renewed spirit of Our Lady of Hope.
Mass times at Our Lady of Victory
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–3:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Victory Church, Andover
- Tuesday 5:15–6:00 p.m. before Mass at the scheduled Mass location (except 1st Tuesday)
Adoration times
- Tuesday 5:15–6:15 p.m. before weekday Mass at the scheduled location (except 1st Tuesday)
- First Tuesday of the month: Adoration 5:15–6:15 p.m. at Our Lady of Victory Church, Andover, followed by 6:30 p.m. Mass
About Our Lady of Victory Church
Our Lady of Victory is a Catholic parish church in Andover, Ohio, serving the local Catholic community of Ashtabula County within the Diocese of Youngstown. The church was built and blessed in 1949, growing out of a small mission that began in 1944. Today it operates as the Andover worship site of the merged Our Lady of Hope Parish, which also includes St. Patrick Church in Kinsman. The Andover location at 481 South Main Street serves as the parish office as well.
- Established 1949 (church blessed November 6, 1949)
- Diocese of Youngstown — Ashtabula Deanery
- Parish Code: 201
- Worship site of Our Lady of Hope Parish since March 17, 2022
Parish History
Our Lady of Victory grew from a small mission that began in 1944 with ten Catholic families in Andover, who gathered for their first official Mass at the home of the Ejbl family. It was served by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate Fathers from St. Joseph Parish in Jefferson, achieved parish status in 1948, and saw its new church building completed and blessed by Bishop James McFadden on November 6, 1949. After the Oblates departed in 1984, diocesan priests of the Diocese of Youngstown took over pastoral care.
- 1944 — first Mass at the Ejbl family home
- 1948 — mission becomes a parish
- 1949 — church building completed and blessed by Bishop McFadden
- 1957 onward — shares a pastor with St. Patrick Parish, Kinsman
- 1984 — diocesan priests take over after Oblates depart
- March 17, 2022 — merged with St. Patrick to form Our Lady of Hope Parish
- July 23–24, 2022 — new parish name formally announced
Clergy and Parish Staff
Our Lady of Hope Parish, including Our Lady of Victory Church, is led by a pastor who also serves Saint Joseph Calasanctius Parish in Jefferson, supported by permanent deacons and lay staff. A retired pastor continues in the role of Pastor Emeritus.
- Rev. John Ettinger — Pastor (since July 2022; also pastor of St. Joseph Calasanctius, Jefferson)
- Rev. Michael Mikstay — Pastor Emeritus (Retired)
- Deacon Michael Gardner — Permanent Deacon
- Deacon Edward J. Heinz — Permanent Deacon (Retired)
- Lindsay Fuentes — Director of Religious Education ([email protected]; 440-650-4463)
- Cheryl Hall — Administrative Assistant ([email protected])
- Eileen Croce — Bookkeeper ([email protected])
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith Formation is coordinated across the merged Our Lady of Hope Parish together with Saint Joseph Calasanctius Parish in Jefferson, with Lindsay Fuentes serving as Director of Religious Education for the cluster.
- Director of Religious Education: Lindsay Fuentes
- Faith Formation contact: [email protected] — 440-650-4463
Parish Ministries and Outreach
The parish supports community life through outreach ministries and active organizations such as the Knights of Columbus. Festivities and fundraisers help sustain parish life and bring parishioners together across both worship sites.
- Knights of Columbus — Msgr. Vismara Council 3725, partnered with Our Lady of Hope Parish since January 2014 (Grand Knight Keith LaDuke)
- Outreach ministries
- Monthly coffee and donut social at St. Patrick Church
- Annual parish picnic
- Spaghetti Dinner fundraisers (e.g., May 2, 4–7 p.m.)
Parish Office and Contact
The parish office is located at the Andover (Our Lady of Victory) worship site on South Main Street. Office hours are posted on the parish website and through its partner site at jeffersoncatholic.com.
- Address: 481 South Main Street, Andover, OH 44003
- Mailing: P.O. Box 669, Andover, OH 44003-0669
- Phone: 440-293-6218
- Fax: 440-293-7778
- Email: [email protected]
- Fr. John Ettinger: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Sacraments and Devotions
Beyond Mass, confession, and Eucharistic Adoration, the parish accepts Mass Intentions and Sanctuary Candle offerings as acts of prayerful remembrance for the living and the deceased.
- Mass Intentions ($10 stipend) — request via the parish office or collection basket
- Sanctuary Candle ($5 weekly stipend) — request via the parish office or collection basket
- Eucharistic Adoration — Tuesday evenings (5:15–6:15 p.m.)
- Confession — Saturday afternoons and before Tuesday Mass
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (Fathers)1949–1984
Served the parish from its earliest mission years until the Oblates departed the region in 1984 due to a shortage of priests.
- Rev. Michael MikstayThrough July 2022 (retirement)
Served as the last pastor of Our Lady of Victory Parish before it merged with St. Patrick Parish; now Pastor Emeritus of Our Lady of Hope Parish.
- Rev. John EttingerJuly 2022–present
Succeeded Fr. Mikstay upon his retirement; also serves as pastor of Saint Joseph Calasanctius Parish in Jefferson.