St. Agnes

About St. Agnes Parish

St. Agnes Parish in Orrville, Ohio was established in 1879 and belongs to the Diocese of Cleveland. The community gathers at 541 Spring Street for daily and Sunday Mass in both English and Spanish. The parish describes itself with the words "Loving Christ, Loving Others" and welcomes all who come: "whoever you are and from wherever you have come, you are welcome in God's house." The parish mission is to carry forward the work of the Church through Worship through Liturgy, Education of each person in the Faith, and Service to others as a means of Christian witness. The current Administrator is Father Ronald J. Turek, working alongside Deacon Steven K. Knox and a lay staff including the Catechetical Ministry Director, Administrative Assistant, and Bookkeeper.

Our History

Saint Agnes Parish celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2004. To mark the occasion, parishioners compiled a commemorative booklet recounting the history of the parish and gathering reminiscences of long-time members. The parish has made this booklet available online through its website so that newer parishioners can learn the parish's past and longtime members can be reminded of their roots. The parish's Society of St. Vincent de Paul Conference — one of its signature outreach arms — was established in 1980, and has served the poor and needy of Northern Wayne County ever since.

Sacraments

Information on the celebration of the Church's seven sacraments is available through the Parish Office, with specific procedures for Baptism, Marriage, and the Pastoral Care of the Sick listed on the parish website.

• Baptism: following the last Mass on Sunday; contact the Parish Office in advance
• Marriage: call the Rectory at least six months before the intended wedding date
• Pastoral Care of the Sick: home, hospital, and nursing-home visits for Communion and Anointing of the Sick — contact the Parish Office
• Confirmation: preparation for parish youth; ceremony held at St. Mary's of the Immaculate Conception in Wooster
• First Communion & First Penance: preparation classes run September through May

Religious Education & Faith Formation

Faith formation is described by the parish as a vital element of Catholic life, open to all ages. The Parish School of Religion (PSR) is the center of faith formation for children, and Confirmation and First Sacrament preparation extend that ministry to older youth. The 2025-2026 PSR year ran from September 21, 2025 through May 10, 2026. A Safe Environment program, "Empowering God's Children," is presented each March.

• Parish School of Religion (PSR), Grades K-8
• Confirmation Preparation using the 'CHOSEN' series; bi-weekly Sunday evening classes
• First Communion & First Penance preparation (September–May)
• Safe Environment program 'Empowering God's Children' (presented each March)
• Director: Mary Jude Stoll, DRE ([email protected])

Music Ministry

Music ministry is a long-standing tradition at St. Agnes. The Parish Choir leads sung prayer at the Sunday 9:00 AM Mass and at other liturgical celebrations from mid-September through early June, with Wednesday evening rehearsals. The parish has historically supported a blended style of music — drawing from traditional and contemporary repertoire — and has at various times offered traditional, contemporary, folk, children's, and blended choirs. Children and youth can join the Joyful Noise Choir.

• Parish Choir (Sunday 9:00 AM Mass; Wednesday evening rehearsals)
• Joyful Noise Choir (children and youth)
• Cantors and instrumentalists
• Choir Director: Suzi Lorson

Parish Life & Ministries

St. Agnes describes the heart of parish life as the Eucharist, with the parish family forming the body that makes the community unique and vibrant. The parish offers a wide range of liturgical, social-justice, and fellowship ministries for getting involved — including liturgical roles (choir, lector, altar server, Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist), outreach (visiting the homebound, food pantry, St. Vincent de Paul), and community groups (youth ministry, men's and women's groups, the annual parish bazaar).

• Liturgical ministries: choir, lectors, altar servers, Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist
• Social-justice ministries: homebound visits, food pantry, St. Vincent de Paul Society
• Youth ministry
• Men's and women's parish groups
• Annual parish bazaar

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

St. Agnes' St. Vincent de Paul Conference was formed in 1980 and has been helping the poor and needy of Northern Wayne County ever since. The conference serves Orrville, Dalton, Marshallville, Apple Creek, and Smithville. Members — called Vincentians — meet those in need person-to-person in a spirit of justice and charity, often helping with utility bills, providing groceries from a nonperishable pantry stocked by parishioners, and connecting people to other community services. Volunteers staff the parish office on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:00–3:00 PM.

• St. Agnes SVDP Conference, est. 1980
• Service area: Orrville, Dalton, Marshallville, Apple Creek, Smithville
• Office hours: Tuesday & Thursday, 1:00–3:00 PM (Parish Office, 330-682-2611)
• Grocery pickup: Thursdays 1:00–2:30 PM
• Pantry of nonperishable items and occasional ground meat
• Diapers collected through the parish

Parish Staff & Contact

St. Agnes is led by a small team of clergy and lay staff. Office hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and Wednesday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. New parishioners are invited to register by calling the Parish Office.

• Father Ronald J. Turek — Administrator (Rectory 330-682-3606)
• Deacon Steven K. Knox
• Deacon Nathan Frankart
• Mary Jude Stoll — Catechetical Ministry Director / DRE ([email protected])
• Suzi Lorson — Choir Director
• Maria Hostetler — Administrative Assistant ([email protected])
• Melissa Rosenbaum — Bookkeeper ([email protected])
• Rectory: (330) 682-3606
• Parish Center: (330) 682-2611
• Office Hours: Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri 9 AM–3 PM; Wed 9 AM–12 PM