About Saint Mary, Queen of Missions · Waverly, Ohio
Saint Mary, Queen of Missions is a Roman Catholic parish located at 407 South Market Street in Waverly, Ohio (Pike County), within the rolling Appalachian foothills of southern Ohio. Historically a mission church served from Chillicothe, the parish was canonically suppressed in 2024 when the Diocese of Columbus merged it with St. Mary's Chillicothe and St. Peter Chillicothe to form the new tri-site parish of Our Lady, Queen of the Apostles (olqaparish.com). The current brick church building on Market Street, dedicated in 1953, still serves as a worship site offering Sunday Mass and Wednesday evening Mass, along with weekly Eucharistic Adoration and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Saint Mary, Queen of Missions is also known in the diocese for a growing devotion to Our Lady of Kibeho and the Seven Sorrows Rosary, brought back from Rwanda by one of its parochial vicars.
- Established
- 1863
- Patron
- Saint Mary (Blessed Virgin Mary), under the title 'Queen of the Missions'
- Rector
- Monsignor Frank Lane
- Diocese
- Diocese of Columbus
Why belong here
Saint Mary, Queen of Missions offers a small, close-knit Catholic community in the heart of Pike County where everyone knows one another, with an accessible Sunday morning Mass and a Wednesday evening Mass that fits working and family schedules. Weekly Eucharistic Adoration (Wednesday evenings) and a robust Sacrament of Reconciliation schedule support a prayerful sacramental life, and the parish is home to a distinctive and growing devotion to Our Lady of Kibeho and the Seven Sorrows Rosary on the 15th of each month — a rare Marian devotion in this part of Ohio. As one of three church sites of Our Lady, Queen of the Apostles, members benefit from the wider parish's faith formation programs (Catechesis of the Good Shepherd ages 3–9, junior high and high school 'The Well' youth ministry, Confirmation preparation, RCIA), the parish school (Bishop Flaget, PS–8), and outreach through the True Vine food pantry and St. Vincent de Paul Society — all while keeping the warmth and intimacy of the historic Waverly worship site.
Mass times at Saint Mary, Queen of Missions
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 5:30 PM – 6:15 PM (at St. Mary Waverly)
- Saturday 9:00 AM (at St. Mary Waverly, per OLQA parish schedule)
Adoration times
- Wednesday 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM (at St. Mary Waverly)
History of Saint Mary, Queen of Missions
The Catholic mission in Waverly, Pike County, was organized in 1863–1864 under Father Feldhaus, and its first church — Immaculate Conception, a fine 80×40-foot brick edifice with a tower and spire on Walnut Street — was built in 1865 by superintendent Joseph Myers. Plagued by unpaid construction debt, it was lost at a 1873 sheriff's sale to local builder James Emmitt, who in 1875 converted it into 'Emmitt's Opera House.' The present lineage of the parish dates to 1878, when Michael Flanigan negotiated a South Market Street lot from Emmitt, sold to Archbishop Purcell on September 3, 1878 for $500. The 27×50-foot brick Saint Mary's, designed by Frank P. Richey, was completed in July 1880 for under $2,300 — that 1880 building still stands as the Parish Hall. The current church was dedicated in 1953, the same year the parish received its first resident pastor; in the late 20th century it took the formal title Saint Mary, Queen of the Missions. A definitive parish history, 'History of the Catholic Community, Pike County & Vicinity,' was published in 1986 by parishioner George Roger Higgins.
- 1863–64: Catholic society organized in Waverly
- 1865: Immaculate Conception Church built on Walnut Street (lost 1873 to James Emmitt)
- 1878: Lot purchased from James & Louisa Emmitt for $500
- 1878–1880: New brick St. Mary's built on Market Street; designed by Frank P. Richey; completed July 1880
- 1880 church still stands as the Parish Hall
- 1953: Present church dedicated; resident pastorate begins
- Late 20th c.: parish formally takes the title Saint Mary, Queen of the Missions
- 1986: George Roger Higgins publishes parish history
- 2021: Father Jacob Stinnett brings Our Lady of Kibeho devotion from Rwanda
- July 1, 2024: Decree of Suppression merges the parish into Our Lady, Queen of the Apostles
Our Lady of Kibeho & Seven Sorrows Devotion
In August 2021, then-parochial vicar Father Jacob Stinnett traveled to Rwanda to attend the ordination of his seminary classmate Fr. Emmanuel Ingabire in the Diocese of Gikongoro. Bishop Célestin Hakizimana gifted him a statue of Our Lady of Kibeho — the title under which the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared in Kibeho, Rwanda, beginning November 28, 1981. Father Stinnett chose to place the statue at Saint Mary, Queen of Missions because the parish already honored Mary under a missionary title. Beginning in September 2021, on the 15th of each month (or the closest Wednesday), parishioners stay after Mass to pray the Rosary of the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady and the Litany of Our Lady of Sorrows. The devotion has grown steadily and is one of the parish's signature spiritual offerings — a rare connection between a small Pike County, Ohio, Catholic community and contemporary Marian devotion in East Africa.
- Statue of Our Lady of Kibeho enshrined at the Waverly church
- Monthly Rosary of the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady on the 15th
- Litany of Our Lady of Sorrows prayed after Mass
- Founded in September 2021 by Father Jacob Stinnett
Parish-Wide Ministries and Faith Formation
As part of Our Lady, Queen of the Apostles, the Waverly site benefits from a robust menu of faith-formation and youth programs. Catechesis of the Good Shepherd serves ages 3–9; traditional Faith Formation covers grades 4–6; junior high and high school youth are served by 'The Well' youth ministry; Confirmation preparation, First Reconciliation, and First Holy Communion are coordinated by Andrea McLean, Director of Religious Education. The Totus Tuus summer catechetical program is offered parish-wide. Adult formation includes RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) and a vocations page on the parish website.
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (ages 3–9)
- Faith Formation (grades 4–6)
- The Well — High School Youth Ministry
- Junior High Youth Ministry
- Confirmation, First Communion, First Reconciliation preparation
- Totus Tuus summer program
- RCIA / Vocations resources
Outreach: St. Vincent de Paul, True Vine, and Food Pantry
Our Lady, Queen of the Apostles continues the parish's long tradition of outreach to the poor of Ross and Pike Counties. The St. Vincent de Paul Society (Tuesdays 11 AM – 2 PM) provides monetary and food assistance. The True Vine Assistance line (740-772-2061) and the parish food pantry — open the 3rd Saturday of the month at the parish office (285 W. Water St., Chillicothe) — help families facing food insecurity. Members from all three sites, including Waverly, support this work.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — Tuesdays 11 AM–2 PM
- True Vine Assistance — 740-772-2061
- Food Pantry — 3rd Saturday of the month at 285 W. Water St., Chillicothe
Pastorate Succession
For most of its history Saint Mary, Queen of Missions was not a standalone parish but a mission attended from Chillicothe. The first recorded pastor was Rev. Fr. Feldhaus (c. 1863–c. 1871), who built the original Immaculate Conception Church on Walnut Street. After the loss of that building, Rev. John B. Murray of Chillicothe St. Mary's resumed care of the mission (c. 1871–c. 1883) and together with his brother Rev. Jeremiah A. Murray of Washington Court House oversaw construction of the 1880 brick church on Market Street. The mission was then served by Rev. Ernst Windthorst (1883–1885), Rev. Thomas Boulger (1885–c. 1890, again 1893–1894), Rev. John F. Hickey (1887–1889, assistant), Rev. Patrick J. Shea (1891), and Rev. Alfred D. Dexter (1895–1899). From 1900 to 1922 the mission was attended from Greenfield and then Chillicothe St. Peter's, and continued without a resident pastor until 1953. Waverly has had resident pastors only since 1953, when the present church was dedicated. Following the 2024 consolidation, Monsignor Frank Lane is pastor of the unified Our Lady, Queen of the Apostles Parish, with Father Jacob Stinnett (a former parochial vicar credited with the Kibeho devotion) among the recent clergy.
- Rev. Fr. Feldhaus (c. 1863–c. 1871)
- Rev. John B. Murray (c. 1871–c. 1883, Chillicothe)
- Rev. Jeremiah A. Murray (Washington Court House)
- Rev. Ernst Windthorst (1883–1885)
- Rev. Thomas Boulger (1885–c. 1890; 1893–1894)
- Rev. John F. Hickey (1887–1889, assistant)
- Rev. Patrick J. Shea (1891)
- Rev. Alfred D. Dexter (1895–1899)
- Various Chillicothe/Greenfield priests (1900–1953, mission status)
- First resident pastor (1953–)
- Monsignor Frank Lane (pastor of OLQA, 2024–)
- Father Jacob Stinnett (parochial vicar, c. 2021–c. 2022)
Worship Site Facilities
The Waverly church property at 407 South Market Street includes the present sanctuary (dedicated 1953) and the historic 1880 brick church, which now functions as the Parish Hall. The two buildings together embody the parish's full 145+ year history. Parking is on-site. For accessibility or tour inquiries, contact the parish office at (740) 947-2436 or the consolidated OLQA office at (740) 774-1407.
- Present church — dedicated 1953
- 1880 brick church — now the Parish Hall
- On-site parking
- Accessible from Route 23 to Market Street
Getting Involved — Sacraments, Volunteering, and Parish Life
Whether you are a lifelong Catholic, a returning parishioner, or new to the area, Saint Mary, Queen of Missions (as part of Our Lady, Queen of the Apostles) offers many ways to participate. Families preparing children for Baptism, First Communion, Reconciliation, or Confirmation should contact Andrea McLean, Director of Religious Education. Adults seeking the sacraments of initiation should inquire about RCIA. Those called to marriage should contact the parish office at (740) 774-1407. Anointing of the Sick / Last Rites is available 24/7 by calling (740) 701-2552. The parish-wide Ministry Scheduler manages lector, extraordinary minister, and altar-server assignments; the Prayer Chain accepts prayer requests by email. The parish also actively partners with Bishop Flaget School (PS–8, Chillicothe), the diocesan Catholic elementary school.
- Andrea McLean — DRE: amcleanOLQAParish.com
- Parish Office — 740-774-1407
- Last Rites / Anointing — 740-701-2552
- Bishop Flaget School (PS–8) — 570 Parsons Ave., Chillicothe — 740-774-2970 — bishopflaget.org
- Prayer Chain email on parish website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Fr. Feldhaus (Felthouse)c. 1863–c. 1871
First pastor of the Waverly mission; oversaw construction of the original Immaculate Conception Church on Walnut Street (lost 1873 to James Emmitt).
- Rev. John B. Murrayc. 1871–c. 1883
Pastor of Chillicothe St. Mary's; resumed care of Waverly mission after Feldhaus left; solicited bids and oversaw construction of the 1880 brick St. Mary's on Market Street; offered Mass at Waverly on the fourth Sunday of each month.
- Rev. Jeremiah A. Murray1878–c. 1883
Brother of John B. Murray, based in Washington Court House; jointly responsible for the new Waverly church.
- Rev. Ernst Windthorst1883–1885
Of Chillicothe St. Peter's; took over the Waverly mission.
- Rev. Thomas Boulger1885–c. 1890, and again 1893–1894
Based in Chillicothe; traveled by railroad to attend Waverly, Frankfort, and New Vienna.
- Rev. John F. Hickey1887–1889
Assistant at Chillicothe St. Mary's; likely assisted Father Boulger with the Waverly mission.
- Rev. Patrick J. Shea1891
Pastor of Waverly and New Vienna; unclear whether he resided at Chillicothe or Waverly.
- Rev. Alfred D. Dexter1895–1899
Pastor of Chillicothe St. Mary's; personally took responsibility for Waverly; had performed some baptisms there as early as 1890.
- Various Chillicothe/Greenfield priests1900–1922
Mission attended from Greenfield and then Chillicothe St. Peter's; no resident pastor.
- Various Chillicothe priests1922–1953
Continued mission status under Chillicothe clergy.
- First resident pastor of Waverly1953–
Beginning of resident pastorate coinciding with dedication of the present church in 1953. Name(s) not verified in online sources.
- Monsignor Frank Lane2024–present
Pastor of Our Lady, Queen of the Apostles, the consolidated tri-site parish formed 2024 by merger of St. Mary Chillicothe, St. Peter Chillicothe, and St. Mary, Queen of Missions Waverly; presides liturgically at the Waverly site.
- Father Jacob Stinnett2021–c. 2022 (parochial vicar)
Parochial vicar who brought a statue of Our Lady of Kibeho back from Rwanda and began the monthly Seven Sorrows devotion at Waverly.