About Saint Sylvester · Zaleski, Ohio
Saint Sylvester Catholic Church is a small historic parish located at 119 N. 2nd Street in Zaleski, Vinton County, Ohio. Founded in 1867 and named in honor of Bishop Sylvester Rosecrans (the first bishop of the Diocese of Columbus and an auxiliary bishop of Cincinnati), it is the only Catholic church in Vinton County. Today the parish is part of Divine Mercy Parish, a consortium of three churches (Saint Sylvester in Zaleski, Holy Trinity in Jackson, and Saints Peter & Paul in Wellston) served by a single pastor. The parish serves Catholics in Zaleski, McArthur and surrounding communities, and welcomes the many visitors who vacation at nearby Lake Hope State Park in the heart of Ohio's Appalachian foothills.
- Established
- 1867
- Patron
- Saint Sylvester (named in honor of Bishop Sylvester Rosecrans)
- Rector
- Father Thomas Herge
- Diocese
- Diocese of Columbus
Why belong here
Saint Sylvester offers a small, historic Catholic community in the heart of Appalachian Ohio — the only Catholic parish in all of Vinton County. Visitors and parishioners are warmly welcomed at Sunday Mass, can join parish-wide scripture study, rosary gatherings and service projects, and benefit from the devotion of a retired priest in residence alongside their active pastor. Its quiet setting near Lake Hope State Park, its 1867 roots, and its role as part of the three-church Divine Mercy Parish consortium make it an ideal spiritual home for families in Zaleski, McArthur, Wellston and Jackson as well as summer visitors to the state park.
Mass times at Saint Sylvester
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 1/2 hour before all Masses
- By appointment
- Wednesday 5:00–5:30 PM
- Sunday 10:30–11:00 AM
Adoration times
- Thursday 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM (adoration listed for Saint Sylvester site on catholicchurch.directory)
History of Saint Sylvester Parish
Saint Sylvester was founded in 1867 by German, Irish and Welsh Catholic immigrants who came to Zaleski with the construction of the Marietta & Cincinnati Railroad in 1857. The cornerstone of the church was laid on October 8, 1863 by Auxiliary Bishop Sylvester Rosecrans — for whom the parish is named — and a frame church was begun in 1867. The first resident pastor, Father J. E. McSweeney, oversaw completion of that first building. Fire destroyed the frame church in 1929, and the present brick church was erected on the original site in 1931. A second fire destroyed the rectory in 1938 and it was rebuilt the same year; in 1965 a parish hall was added to accommodate holiday crowds and the influx of Catholic vacationers from Lake Hope State Park. The parish celebrated its 150th anniversary on November 5, 2017 and in 2021 became part of the new Divine Mercy Parish consortium.
- Founded 1867; cornerstone laid October 8, 1863
- Named for Bishop Sylvester Rosecrans, first bishop of Columbus
- First brick church built 1931 after 1929 fire destroyed the original frame church
- Rectory rebuilt 1938 after fire
- Parish hall added 1965
- 150th anniversary celebrated November 5, 2017
Divine Mercy Parish Consortium
Since July 13, 2021, Saint Sylvester has been clustered with Saints Peter & Paul Church in Wellston and Holy Trinity Church in Jackson as part of Divine Mercy Parish, served by a single pastor (Father Thomas Herge) and a shared parish staff. The parish office for the consortium is located at 229 S. New York Ave., Wellston, OH 45692 (phone 740-384-2359), and is open Tuesday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
- Pastor: Father Thomas Herge
- Retired priest in residence: Father David E. Young
- Deacon Bart Supino
- Parish Secretary: Mrs. Carol Boll
- Bookkeeper: Mrs. Pam Downard
- Mission Director: Rain Hendricks
- Parish office: 229 S. New York Ave., Wellston, OH 45692
Faith Formation, Ministries and Outreach
The parish community offers opportunities for ongoing faith formation including scripture study, communal rosary, Bible study and parish-wide service projects. Religious-education classes for children are held in the parish hall, which also serves as the social center of the parish and is rented out for community events and family reunions.
- Scripture study
- Rosary prayer group
- Bible study
- Religious-education classes (parish hall)
- Parish-wide service projects
- Parish hall rental for community events
Worship and Liturgy
The parish celebrates the Roman Rite in English. Special holy-day and Christmas schedules are published in advance (e.g., Christmas Eve 2024 Mass at Saint Sylvester was celebrated at 6:30 p.m.). The parish hosts an annual Day of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament for an increase in vocations coordinated by the diocesan Vocations Office.
- Roman Rite, English
- Sunday and weekday Mass schedule
- Christmas and Thanksgiving Mass schedules
- Annual diocesan Day of Adoration for vocations
Facilities: Church, Rectory and Parish Hall
The present brick church was built in 1931 on the original Second Street site donated by the Zaleski Company in 1863, replacing the frame church lost to fire in 1929. The adjoining rectory was rebuilt in 1938 after a separate fire, and a spacious parish hall was attached to the church in 1965 to handle holiday overflow and the summer influx of Catholic visitors from nearby Lake Hope State Park. The hall serves as the parish's social center, hosts religious-education classes and Bible study, and is rented out for community events.
- Brick church built 1931
- Rectory rebuilt 1938
- Parish hall added 1965
- Used for worship, social events, religious education, Bible study and community rentals
Parish Cemetery
The Catholic cemetery of Saint Sylvester is a 100-by-400-foot parcel donated by the Zaleski Company in August 1863 adjacent to the town's burial ground, located about half a mile from the church. Bishop Rosecrans blessed the cemetery in procession immediately after laying the cornerstone of the church on October 8, 1863. A replacement parish baptismal register was begun in 1939 after a fire destroyed the original register.
- Donated by the Zaleski Company, August 1863
- Blessed by Bishop Rosecrans, October 8, 1863
- Located about half a mile from the church
- About 1.5 acres, originally enclosed by a substantial board fence
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Philip McMahon1859 (from Minerton, before resident pastorate)
Mission priest from Minerton; lived in Zaleski in 1859, also attended Chauncey and Jackson.
- Rev. Timothy J. Tierney1860s
Cared for Zaleski Catholics from Minerton; offered the first Mass in Mike Ryan's log cabin on Christmas Day 1861 and began the parish building fund.
- Rev. J. E. McSweeneylate 1860s
Newly ordained first resident pastor; collected additional funds and directed the building of the first frame church of Saint Sylvester.
- Rev. William O'Reilly1871 (Jackson and St. Sylvester's, Zaleski)
Listed in the 1978 diocesan priest directory as serving Jackson and Saint Sylvester, Zaleski in 1871.
- Rev. J. J. Slevin1871–1884 (Zaleski station 1882–1884)
Long-serving pastor; oversaw construction of a $600 frame church building under his direction at Zaleski.
- Rev. James H. Cotter1884–1889
Provided the only complete surviving census/membership record of the mission.
- Rev. Peter Gladu1889–1891
Mission priest stationed at Zaleski.
- Rev. J. B. Mattingly1891–1893
Mission priest stationed at Zaleski.
- Rev. F. E. Clarke1893–1896
Mission priest stationed at Zaleski.
- Rev. Louis Grimmer1896–1898
Mission priest stationed at Zaleski.
- Msgr. Tony Frecker
Former pastor of Saint Sylvester (listed in 2017 anniversary article).
- Father Stephen Metzger
Former pastor of Saint Sylvester (listed in 2017 anniversary article).
- Father Jeffrey Coning
Former pastor of Saint Sylvester (listed in 2017 anniversary article).
- Father David Gwinner
Former pastor of Saint Sylvester (listed in 2017 anniversary article).
- Father Joseph Trapp II
Former pastor of Saint Sylvester; Father Richard Engle was in residence at Saint Sylvester for many years during his pastorate.
- Father Richard Engle
In residence at Saint Sylvester for many years during Father Trapp's pastorate (not the pastor).
- Father William Hahn2017 (as part of consortium with Chillicothe St. Peter, Waverly St. Mary, Washington C.H. St. Colman of Cloyne)
Pastored Saint Sylvester as part of a four-church consortium; assisted by parochial vicars Father Sean Dooley and Father Michael Hartge.
- Father Nicola Venturauntil July 13, 2021
Pastor of Ss. Peter & Paul (Wellston), Holy Trinity (Jackson) and Saint Sylvester (Zaleski) before being reassigned to St. Cecilia, Columbus.
- Father Thomas HergeJuly 13, 2021–present
Appointed Pastor of Ss. Peter & Paul (Wellston), Holy Trinity (Jackson) and Saint Sylvester (Zaleski); leads Divine Mercy Parish consortium.
- Father David E. Youngongoing (retired)
Newly retired diocesan priest in residence at Saint Sylvester under Father Herge.