About St. Adalbert · Berea, Ohio
St. Adalbert Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Berea, Ohio, founded in 1873 by Polish immigrant sandstone cutters who had come to work the famous Berea quarries. The parish is part of the Diocese of Cleveland and is recognized as the oldest Polish Catholic church in the state of Ohio, with a continuous ministry to its community for over 150 years. The parish is served by a pastor, a permanent deacon, a Benedictine weekend associate, and a full lay staff, and offers daily and Sunday Masses, Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration, faith formation for children and adults, and a robust calendar of parish events.
- Established
- 1873
- Patron
- St. Adalbert of Prague (Wojciech), Bishop and Martyr — patron saint of Poland, Bohemia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Prussia
- Rector
- Rev. Charles "Chuck" Butkowski
- Diocese
- Diocese of Cleveland (Catholic Diocese of Cleveland)
Why belong here
St. Adalbert offers a deeply rooted Catholic community with daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, First Saturday devotions, and a robust calendar of faith-formation opportunities for children and adults. Parishioners can join choirs, the men's group, VBS, a Bible study, the Catholicism series with Bishop Robert Barron, and frequent social events like the parish picnic and fish fries held in Keller Hall. As the oldest Polish Catholic parish in Ohio with 150 years of continuous ministry, it offers both a strong spiritual home and a welcoming, multigenerational community in Berea.
Mass times at St. Adalbert
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 5:30–6:15 PM
- Thursday 5:30–6:15 PM
- Saturday 3:00–4:00 PM
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Tuesday 9:00 AM – 6:15 PM (Eucharistic Adoration in Church)
Parish History
St. Adalbert was organized on December 4, 1873, by Father Victor Zareczny with about 100 Polish families from St. Mary Church. The first church was built in 1874 and dedicated on September 26, 1875, making it the oldest Polish Catholic church in Ohio. The parish's hand-carved altars, originally shipped from Poland, are still in use today, and the original church organ from 1902 is still played.
- 1873 – Parish organized by Fr. Victor Zareczny with ~100 Polish families
- 1874 – First church built ($6,000); cornerstone laid June 29; school began in choir loft December
- 1875 – Church dedicated September 26 (oldest Polish Catholic church in Ohio)
- 1876 – First school built
- 1878 – First rectory built
- 1886 – Church spire and sacristies added
- 1891 – New brick school built ($11,000)
- 1892 – Convent built; Felician Sisters arrive from Detroit
- 1898 – Current stone rectory built ($6,000)
- 1902 – Current church organ purchased ($1,500)
- 1920 – School expanded to 8th grade
- 1924 – Golden Jubilee; parish debt-free
- 1937–1938 – Current church built ($55,000); first Mass Easter Sunday 1938
- 1974–2008 – Fr. Gerald Keller serves as 19th pastor
- 1977 – Polish classes added after school; Carillon bells installed
- 1997 – Pre-school added
- 2003 – Keller Hall (7,000 sq ft multipurpose building) opens
- 2018 – Fr. Charles Butkowski installed as 21st pastor
- 2023 – Parish celebrates 150th anniversary with Bishop Edward Malesic
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish runs faith formation programs for children from Pre-K through grade school, along with active adult formation. The Director of Family Faith Formation coordinates sacramental preparation, while the parish offers a long-running Bible study and the Bishop Robert Barron 'Catholicism' series on Wednesday mornings and evenings in the John Paul II room.
- Faith Formation for children, Pre-K through grade school
- Adult Bible study (Wednesdays 9:00 AM & 6:30 PM)
- 'Catholicism' adult formation series with Bishop Robert Barron
- Vacation Bible School for children entering K–Grade 6
Music & Liturgy
Jennifer Broeren serves as Director of Music, leading the parish choir. The choir rehearses on Wednesday evenings and provides music for weekend and holy day liturgies. The parish's historic organ, purchased in 1902 for $1,500, continues to be played, and the choir regularly sings in Polish to honor the parish's heritage.
- Director of Music: Jennifer Broeren
- Choir rehearsals: Wednesday evenings
- Historic organ in use since 1902
Parish Groups & Fellowship
St. Adalbert runs an active calendar of men's, women's, and family fellowship groups. The parish picnic, Lenten fish fries, and seasonal celebrations take place in Keller Hall, the 7,000-square-foot multipurpose building opened in 2003.
- Men's Group (monthly Saturday meetings)
- That Man Is You (TMIY) — Friday mornings
- Magnify 90 — women's group, Saturdays
- Parish picnic and fish fries held in Keller Hall
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Pastor Fr. Charles "Chuck" Butkowski, with a permanent deacon, a Benedictine weekend associate, and a pastor emeritus still involved in parish life. Lay staff oversee music, faith formation, communications, business, facilities, events, and cemetery operations.
- Pastor: Fr. Chuck Butkowski (ext. 100)
- Permanent Deacon: Deacon Edmund Gardias (ext. 104)
- Weekend Associate: Fr. Michael Brunovsky, OSB
- Pastor Emeritus: Fr. Gerald J. Keller
- Director of Music: Jennifer Broeren (ext. 701)
- Director of Family Faith Formation: Jodi Forst (ext. 103)
- Communications Coordinator: Caitlin Joseph
- Business Manager: Richard Breudigam (ext. 102)
- Secretary: Andrea Krueger
- Facilities Manager: (staff listing)
- Events, Rentals, Cemetery: Darlene Heigl (ext. 105)
Our Patron Saint
The parish takes its name from St. Adalbert of Prague (born Vojtěch, c. 956), a Bohemian-born bishop, missionary, and martyr. He became Bishop of Prague in 983 and is venerated as a patron saint of Poland, Bohemia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Prussia. He was killed on April 23, 997, while attempting to convert the pagan Prussians, and was canonized in 999 — making him one of the first Slavic saints. His feast day is April 23.
- Born c. 956 in Bohemia
- Bishop of Prague from 983
- Martyred April 23, 997 near Gdańsk, Poland
- Canonized 999; first Slavic saint
- Patron of Poland, Bohemia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Prussia
- Feast day: April 23
Facilities & Campus
The parish campus on Adalbert Street in Berea includes the present church (built 1937–1938, retaining the original 1870s Polish-carved altars and 1902 organ), the 1898 stone rectory, Keller Hall (2003, 7,000 sq ft multipurpose building), and a parish school with a preschool. A parish cemetery was established in 1874 on Bagley Road, and inquiries are handled through the parish office.
- Church (1938) with original Polish-carved altars and 1902 organ
- Stone rectory (1898)
- Keller Hall (2003) — 7,000 sq ft multipurpose, used for fish fries, picnics, and meetings
- School with preschool
- Parish cemetery on Bagley Road (established 1874, 4 acres)
- Carillon bells (installed 1977)
Visit & Contact
Parishioners and visitors are welcome at St. Adalbert, located at 66 Adalbert Street in Berea, Ohio. The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and can be reached at (440) 234-6830 or [email protected]. Reconciliation and Mass times can change on holy days and holidays — the parish recommends checking the most recent bulletin online for the current schedule.
- Address: 66 Adalbert St., Berea, OH 44017
- Phone: (440) 234-6830
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (closed on holidays)
- Website: www.saintadalbertparish.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Victor Zareczny1873–188?
Founding pastor; organized the parish on December 4, 1873, with about 100 Polish families from St. Mary Church. Oversaw construction of the first church (1874), the first school (1876), and the first rectory (1878).
- Fr. Gerald J. Keller1974–2008
19th pastor. Keller Hall, the parish's 7,000-square-foot multipurpose building opened in 2003, is named after him.
- Fr. Charles (Chuck) Butkowski2018–present
21st pastor; installed 2018. Led the parish through its 150th anniversary celebration in December 2023.