About Scioto Catholic - Holy Redeemer · Portsmouth, Ohio
Holy Redeemer is the historic English-speaking campus of St. John Paul II Scioto Catholic Parish, a unified Catholic parish formed in 2024 in Portsmouth, Ohio, by the Diocese of Columbus. Worshiping at 1325 Gallia Street in an Italian Renaissance church dedicated in 1908, Holy Redeemer is one of four active worship sites in the parish (along with Holy Trinity, St. Mary, and St. Peter in Chains), which together carry on the legacy of seven former Scioto County parishes. The campus hosts Sunday Masses in English and Spanish, a Saturday morning Latin Mass, weekly confessions, and serves the surrounding neighborhood at the heart of the river city's Catholic life.
- Established
- 1853 (parish); 1908 (current Italian Renaissance church)
- Patron
- The Most Holy Redeemer (Jesus Christ)
- Rector
- Rev. Stephen Smith, KHS
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus
Why belong here
Holy Redeemer offers the rare gift of worship in a beautiful 1908 Italian Renaissance church in the heart of Portsmouth, with a Sunday morning English Mass, a Sunday evening Mass in Spanish, and a Saturday morning Mass in the Extraordinary Form (Ad Orientem, N.O. Latin) — something few parishes in the region can match. As one of four active campuses of St. John Paul II Scioto Catholic Parish, it shares in a vibrant community that runs a year-round Religious Education program, a school-age faith formation program, a Youth Ministry with a dedicated coordinator, perpetual Eucharistic Adoration at the St. Mary campus, a Sacred Music program with four choirs, and a Sacramental Emergency line available around the clock.
Mass times at Scioto Catholic - Holy Redeemer
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 7:00–7:45 a.m. (Holy Redeemer Campus, English)
- Sunday 6:10 p.m. until complete (Holy Redeemer Campus, in español)
- By appointment (parish-wide)
- Note: Confession is also heard at the parish's other campuses — Monday 11:30 a.m. (St. Peter), Tuesday 11:30 a.m. (St. Mary), Wednesday 12:30 p.m. (Hillview Retirement Center), Thursday 5:00 p.m. (Holy Trinity), Friday 5:00 p.m. (St. Mary), Saturday 3:00–3:45 p.m. (Holy Trinity) and 5:00–5:45 p.m. (St. Peter in Chains).
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament at the St. Mary Campus (administered by Howard Robinson, [email protected])
About St. John Paul II Scioto Catholic Parish
St. John Paul II Scioto Catholic Parish is a unified Roman Catholic parish established in 2024 in Portsmouth, Ohio, by the Diocese of Columbus. Worship takes place across four historic churches — Holy Redeemer, Holy Trinity, St. Mary, and St. Peter in Chains — which together carry the legacy of seven former Scioto County parishes, including Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady of Sorrows, and St. Monica. The parish is named for St. John Paul II, who 'often spoke of unity, courage, and the call to holiness in everyday life' and 'called the faithful not to cling fearfully to the past, but to step forward with confidence in Christ.' Today the parish is centered on the Eucharist, committed to forming disciples, dedicated to Catholic education and lifelong faith formation, and devoted to serving those in need with compassion and dignity. The parish's tagline is: 'We are a parish that remembers.'
- Established 2024 by the Diocese of Columbus
- Four active worship campuses: Holy Redeemer, Holy Trinity, St. Mary, St. Peter in Chains
- Legacy of seven former Scioto County parishes
- Mission: Centered on the Eucharist, forming disciples, Catholic education, lifelong formation, service to those in need
History of Holy Redeemer Campus
Holy Redeemer was organized in 1853 as the English-speaking Catholic parish of Portsmouth, when Father Gilmore led the Irish congregation to separate from the German-speaking faithful of the Nativity. The first Holy Redeemer was a tall Gothic church (70×40 feet) on Sixth Street east of Gay, dedicated July 14, 1855. Dominican teaching sisters arrived in 1871 to staff the parish school. The original church was gutted by an accidental fire shortly after Christmas 1905; while repairs proceeded, the parish worshipped in the former Evangelical church on Fifth Street. The cornerstone of the present church on Gallia Street at Glover was laid in 1905 and the Italian Renaissance building was dedicated on October 25, 1908. Monsignor J. E. McGuirk, pastor from 1889, served the parish for more than 40 years and oversaw the new construction.
- 1853 — parish organized by Father Gilmore
- 1871 — Dominican sisters arrive to teach
- 1889 — Monsignor J. E. McGuirk becomes pastor; serves 40+ years
- January 1905 — fire destroys interior of Sixth Street church
- 1905 — cornerstone laid for the present Gallia Street church
- October 25, 1908 — current Italian Renaissance church dedicated
- 1915 — former Stockham homestead at 805 Offenere Street purchased as convent for Sisters of St. Francis
- 2024 — Holy Redeemer becomes a campus of St. John Paul II Scioto Catholic Parish
Holy Redeemer Campus — Building and Architecture
The Holy Redeemer church is an Italian Renaissance-style structure on the north side of Gallia Street at Glover in central Portsmouth. It replaced the earlier Gothic building after the 1905 fire and has been in continuous use for more than a century. The interior is described in parish coverage as featuring 'stained glass walls' and an 'elegant tabernacle, altar, ambo, and shrines.' The Italian Renaissance building, according to the Catholic Record Society's study of Scioto County churches, 'is still in use today.'
- Style: Italian Renaissance
- Location: 1325 Gallia Street, at Glover
- Built: 1905; dedicated October 25, 1908
- Notable interior features: stained glass, tabernacle, altar, ambo, shrines
Clergy and Parish Staff
The unified parish is led by Father Stephen Smith, KHS, who was appointed by the Diocese of Columbus effective August 1, 2024 and formally installed by Bishop Fernandes in a celebratory Mass at the St. Mary campus. Father Michael Fulton, KHS, serves as Parochial Vicar. Three permanent deacons — Jim Sturgeon, Chris Varacalli, and Terry Acox — share in pastoral ministry, with Deacon Varacalli additionally serving as Coordinator of Parish Outreach. Father David Glockner, G.H.M., is retired and 'in holy service.' The Little Handmaids of the Lord (LIHM) religious community has a strong presence: Mother Assumpta Tangan is the local LIHM Superior, Sister Chiara Francisco is Director of Religious Education, and Sister Laura Austria Estrano serves as LIHM Postulant Directress and religion teacher.
- Rev. Stephen Smith, KHS — Pastor (appointed Aug 1, 2024; installed by Bishop Fernandes)
- Rev. Michael Fulton, KHS — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. David Glockner, G.H.M. — Retired, In Holy Service
- Rev. Mr. Jim Sturgeon — Permanent Deacon
- Rev. Mr. Chris Varacalli — Permanent Deacon; Coordinator of Parish Outreach
- Rev. Mr. Terry Acox — Permanent Deacon; Retired, In Holy Service
- Mother Assumpta Tangan, LIHM — Local LIHM Superior
- Sister Chiara Francisco, LIHM — Director of Religious Education; Religion Teacher, NDHS
- Sister Laura Austria Estrano, LIHM — LIHM Postulant Directress; Religion Teacher, NDES
- Tim Paul — Director of IT
- Carolyn Paul — Finance Manager
- Kathy Bartolomucci — Administrative Assistant, Finance
- Rose Turner — Secretary
- Chris Ponzio — Facilities & Maintenance Supervisor
- Mary Anne Hughes — Community Life Director; Kindergarten Teacher, NDES
- Marissa McCormick — Assistant Director of Religious Education; Evangelism and Wedding Coordinator
- Patrick Torsell — Director of Sacred Music
Faith Formation, Religious Education, and Schools
The parish's Religious Education program is led by Sister Chiara Francisco, LIHM, with Marissa McCormick as Assistant Director. Faith formation classes serve children and youth across the unified parish, with catechists teaching at both Notre Dame Elementary School (NDES) and Notre Dame High School (NDHS). The parish recently posted a job for a part-time Youth Ministry Coordinator to oversee social opportunities, retreats, service trips, weekly youth ministry nights, Damascus Mission Campus connections, and social media for parish youth.
- Director of Religious Education: Sister Chiara Francisco, LIHM
- Assistant Director: Marissa McCormick
- Notre Dame Elementary School (NDES) — parish-supported
- Notre Dame High School (NDHS) — parish-supported
- Youth Ministry Coordinator (part-time, open posting)
- Diocesan connections: Damascus Mission Campus, Catholic Youth Summer Camp
Sacred Music and Liturgical Ministry
Patrick Torsell serves as Director of Sacred Music for the unified parish. Four parish choirs participated in the 2024 installation Mass of Father Smith, accompanied by an organ and a brass quartet. The parish maintains online Liturgical Ministry Schedules covering lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, and altar servers across all four campuses. The 2024 installation Mass alone used 34 altar servers.
- Director of Sacred Music: Patrick Torsell
- Four parish choirs across the campuses
- Liturgical Minister Schedules posted online for all four campuses
- 34 altar servers participated in the 2024 installation Mass
Parish Outreach and Community Life
Deacon Chris Varacalli serves as Coordinator of Parish Outreach, and Mary Anne Hughes is the Community Life Director, also teaching kindergarten at NDES. The parish describes itself as 'a multicultural parish, encompassing the entirety of Scioto County on the banks of the Ohio River,' and seeks to 'serve those in need with compassion and dignity.' Holy Redeemer's Spanish Mass and Spanish confession are part of that outreach to the wider Scioto County Hispanic Catholic community.
- Parish Outreach: Deacon Chris Varacalli
- Community Life: Mary Anne Hughes
- Spanish-language Mass (Sunday 5:00 p.m.) and Confession (Sunday 6:10 p.m.)
Contact, Office, and Practical Information
The parish business office, where all mail should be sent, is located at 514 Market Street, Portsmouth, Ohio 45662, separate from the Holy Redeemer campus at 1325 Gallia Street. The Sacramental Emergency line (740-981-9555) is reserved strictly for Anointing of the Sick cases of imminent danger of death and is not a financial-assistance line. Parishioners can schedule a meeting with the pastor, Father Smith, through the office.
- Parish Business Office: 514 Market Street, Portsmouth, OH 45662
- Phone: (740) 354-4551
- Sacramental Emergency: 740-981-9555 (Anointing of the Sick only)
- Email: [email protected]
- Pastor email: [email protected]
- Website: sciotocatholic.org
- Diocese: Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus (columbuscatholic.org)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Stephen M. Smith2024–present
Appointed by Bishop Fernandes effective August 1, 2024; previously Pastor of Church of the Ascension Parish, Johnstown. Formally installed at a Mass at St. Mary with 34 altar servers, three deacons, four choirs, and a brass quartet.
- Rev. Peter GideonAdministrator, through August 1, 2024
Concluded his service as parish administrator when Fr. Smith was installed.