About Ss. Philip & James Catholic Church · Canal Fulton, Ohio
SS. Philip & James Catholic Church is a small, welcoming parish in Canal Fulton, Ohio, rooted in Catholic life along the old Ohio & Erie Canal and now part of the Diocese of Youngstown. The community traces its origins to an 1817 Mass said in a local home by Dominican Father Edward Fenwick — the future Bishop of Cincinnati known as the 'Apostle of Ohio' — and was formally established with its first resident pastor in 1862. Today the parish serves its families through weekend and weekday Masses, perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, a K–8 Catholic school (founded 1875), and a tight-knit group of ministries ranging from the Knights of Columbus to a women's crafting circle and a Kentucky mission trip.
- Established
- 1862
- Patron
- Saints Philip and James (the Apostles)
- Rector
- Very Rev. John E. Sheridan, J.C.L., S.T.L., V.F.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Youngstown (Stark 2 Deanery, Parish Code 505)
Why belong here
SS. Philip & James is a small Canal Fulton parish where the Eucharist is genuinely at the center of daily life — the church is open for Adoration every day of the week, with perpetual overnight Adoration from Thursday into Friday morning. Families benefit from a parish-based K–8 school (SS. Philip & James Catholic School, founded 1875), strong religious-education and youth-ministry programs, and a faithful calendar of groups — Knights of Columbus, Altar & Rosary, Women's Crafting Group, Men's Fellowship, Bereavement Support, Widow/Widower Support, the Saltbox Meal Team, and an annual Kentucky Work Week Mission. Add in a clear parish vision — 'to Become an Evangelizing People, Joyfully Proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ to our Families, our Parish and our Community' — and visitors find a warm, traditional Catholic home in the heart of Stark County.
Mass times at Ss. Philip & James Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM (in the prayer chapel, before the 5:00 PM Vigil Mass)
Adoration times
- Monday 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Peace Chapel)
- Tuesday 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Peace Chapel)
- Wednesday 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Peace Chapel)
- Thursday 9:00 AM through Friday 9:00 PM — perpetual Adoration, concluding with Benediction on Friday (Peace Chapel)
Welcome & Parish Vision
The parish's stated vision is to 'Become an Evangelizing People, Joyfully Proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ to our Families, our Parish and our Community.' The website greets visitors with current Mass, Confession, and Adoration times and invites them into the rhythm of a small, family-oriented parish rooted in the Eucharist and in Catholic education.
- Parish Vision: 'Become an Evangelizing People, Joyfully Proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ to our Families, our Parish and our Community.'
- Parish office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Online Giving available through the parish website
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is served by a pastor, parochial vicar, and permanent deacon, supported by a small lay staff handling parish administration, finances, facilities, and faith formation.
- Pastor — Very Rev. John E. Sheridan, J.C.L., S.T.L., V.F.
- Parochial Vicar — Rev. Travis Seagraves
- Permanent Deacon — Deacon Rick Hull
- Secretary — Maddy Halter
- Financial Director — George Datsko
- Facilities Manager — Michael Lipinski
- Religious Ed. & Youth Ministry — Jackie Prosise
Parish History
SS. Philip & James has roots that reach back to 1817, when a small group of Catholic canal workers along the Ohio & Erie Canal welcomed Dominican Father Edward Fenwick to celebrate Mass in their homes. From a wooden chapel in 1831 to a frame church dedicated in 1847 to a brick church dedicated in 1869, the parish's story mirrors the growth of Canal Fulton itself. Its present church was rebuilt in 1948 after a lightning-sparked fire destroyed the 1869 building; miraculously, the marble altar, consecrated hosts, and original cornerstone were all salvaged.
- 1817 — First Mass in Lawrence Township (Stark County) by Dominican Father Edward Fenwick
- 1830 — Pastor of St. John the Baptist, Canton, begins serving the area
- 1831 — Temporary wooden church built
- 1847 — Frame church dedicated by Archbishop John Purcell of Cincinnati
- 1862 — Parish receives its first resident pastor
- 1869 — New brick church dedicated
- 1947 (June 13) — Lightning strikes the steeple, destroying the church by fire
- 1948 — Rebuilt church dedicated (fireproof lumber, lightning-rod steeple)
- Former religious orders serving the parish: Dominican Order of Preachers (OP) and Sisters of Notre Dame (SND)
Patron Saints: Philip and James
The parish takes its name from Saints Philip and James (the Lesser), two of the original Twelve Apostles of Jesus. They are celebrated together on May 3 because their relics were brought to Rome together in early May of 560 A.D. and interred in the Basilica of the Holy Apostles. Both saints are named in the Roman Canon (Eucharistic Prayer I), and the parish's patronal feast falls each year on May 3.
- Saint Philip — one of the first Apostles called by Jesus; born in Bethsaida in Galilee; tradition holds he was crucified at Hierapolis
- Saint James the Lesser — a cousin of the Lord; became the first Bishop of Jerusalem; author of the Epistle of James; martyred in 62 A.D.
- Shared feast day: May 3
SS. Philip & James Catholic School (K–8)
Founded in 1875 and marking 150 years of Catholic education in Canal Fulton, SS. Philip & James Catholic School (SPJ) serves students in Preschool through 8th grade and draws from across Stark and Summit Counties — including Akron, Jackson, Massillon, and North Canton. The school is staffed by state-certified lay teachers and offers a full curriculum that includes Spanish, Library, Gym, Art, Music, Band, Drama Club, and Sports. Class sizes are kept small (about a 1:15 ratio) so each child can be known personally.
- Established 1875; celebrating 150 Years Strong
- Preschool and Transitional Kindergarten offered in addition to K–8
- Principal: Mrs. Lisa Eberhardt
- School Secretary: Karlie D'Amico
- Address: 532 High St. NE, Canal Fulton, OH 44614
- Phone: 330-854-2823 / Fax: 330-854-7081
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.starkcountycatholicschools.org
- Specials: Spanish, Library, Gym, Art, Music, Band, Drama Club, Sports
- 1:15 student-to-teacher ratio; Title I tutoring and speech services through Northwest Local Schools
- Before- and after-school care available
- Busing available from Manchester and Northwest Local Schools
- School resource officer and safety program in partnership with the Canal Fulton Police Department and Northwest Local Schools
- Scholarships and EdChoice available
- Children of all faiths are welcome — Catholic enrollment is not required
School Heritage
The Sisters of Notre Dame played a pivotal role in the school's development, staffing SPJ from 1883 to 1885 and again from 1941 to 1975. The original school building was eventually replaced to serve the growing student body, a second floor was added for additional classrooms, and an additional section was constructed as enrollment expanded.
- 1875 — School opens with 12 boys and 16 girls under a single lay teacher
- 1883–1885 — Sisters of Notre Dame teach at SPJ
- 1941–1975 — Sisters of Notre Dame return and teach at SPJ
- Today — Staffed by highly qualified, state-certified lay teachers
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
Faith formation at SS. Philip & James is coordinated by Jackie Prosise (Religious Ed. & Youth Ministry) and reaches children during the Sunday 9:30 AM Mass through the Children's Liturgy of the Word, which is open to children from Pre-K through 4th grade. Older students are prepared for the sacraments through the parish Religious Education program, which feeds into Confirmation preparation at the diocesan level.
- Religious Education & Youth Ministry — Jackie Prosise
- Children's Liturgy of the Word during Sunday 9:30 AM Mass (Pre-K – 4th grade)
- Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation
- Online Giving supports faith-formation programming
Parish Ministries, Groups & Fellowship
The parish lists an unusually rich roster of small groups and committees, ranging from spiritual and devotional societies to outreach, support, and fellowship organizations. The Community Committee has organized parish fellowship since 1922, and the parish continues an annual mission tradition through the Kentucky Work Week Mission.
- Knights of Columbus
- Altar and Rosary
- Women's Crafting Group
- Men's Fellowship
- Bereavement Support Group
- Widow Support Group
- Widowers Group
- Saltbox Meal Team
- Kentucky Work Week Mission
- Community Committee (fellowship since 1922)
Outreach & Charism
Outreach at SS. Philip & James is rooted in concrete, hands-on service. Parishioners travel annually to Kentucky for a work-week mission, support one another through bereavement, widow, and widower ministries, and feed neighbors through the Saltbox Meal Team.
- Annual Kentucky Work Week Mission
- Bereavement Support Group
- Widow Support Group and Widowers Group
- Saltbox Meal Team
Festivities & Fundraisers
Family-friendly fellowship events — including school-hosted gatherings open to all families in the community — are organized by the parish Community Committee, a tradition that has continued since 1922.
- Family fellowship events hosted at the school
- Open to all families in the wider Canal Fulton community
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors are welcome to call or stop by during office hours. The parish office handles inquiries about Mass intentions, sacramental preparation, school enrollment, facility use, and general parish life.
- Address: 412 High St., N.E., Canal Fulton, OH 44614
- Phone: 330-854-2332
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.spjcanalfulton.com/
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Diocese: Catholic Diocese of Youngstown (Stark 2 Deanery, Parish Code 505)