About St. Ambrose · Brunswick, Ohio
Saint Ambrose Catholic Parish is a Roman Catholic community of faith located at 929 Pearl Road in Brunswick, Ohio. Founded in 1957, it serves approximately 16,000 members in roughly 5,000 families, making it the second-largest parish in the Diocese of Cleveland and the largest Catholic parish in Brunswick. Centered on Jesus Christ, the parish runs more than 150 ministries and programs and operates a parish day school (with a Littlest Angels Preschool) and one of the largest Parish School of Religion (PSR) programs in the diocese. Its mission statement calls its members to be 'the Hands, Feet and Heart of Jesus Christ' in the Brunswick community and beyond.
- Established
- 1957
- Patron
- St. Ambrose (of Milan)
- Rector
- Rev. Robert G. 'Bob' Stec
- Diocese
- Diocese of Cleveland
Why belong here
Saint Ambrose welcomes new members into one of the largest and most active parish families in the Diocese of Cleveland, where more than 150 ministries, a K-8 day school, a large PSR program, and a robust youth and young-adult ministry give every age a place to belong. Parishioners gather around an unusually rich liturgical schedule (five Sunday Masses plus live-streamed broadcasts) and then take that faith outward through Catholic Works of Mercy food distributions, the CARES care-and-compassion team, mental-health support resources, and active outreach to seniors, youth, and families in Brunswick and the wider Medina and Cuyahoga county region.
Mass times at St. Ambrose
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays before the 4:30 PM Vigil Mass (per parish's published Reconciliation information on stambrose.us/Welcome)
Adoration times
- Outdoor Summer (Grotto) Masses — 6:00 PM on selected evenings, dates posted to stambrose.us (summer only)
About Saint Ambrose Parish
Saint Ambrose Catholic Parish was founded in 1957 in Brunswick, Ohio and today counts about 16,000 members in 5,000 families — the largest parish in Brunswick and the second-largest in the Diocese of Cleveland. Its mission statement calls the parish to be 'the Hands, Feet and Heart of Jesus Christ,' an identity it lives out through more than 150 ministries, a parish day school, a preschool, one of the largest Parish School of Religion programs in the diocese, and active outreach to those in need. The Welcome page invites newcomers to Mass, the sacraments, faith formation, and parish life, with the assurance that 'each member of our parish community is special.'
- Founded 1957
- ~16,000 members, ~5,000 families
- 2nd-largest parish in the Diocese of Cleveland
- 150+ ministries and programs
- Campus includes church, day school, preschool, parish offices
History
Established in 1957 to serve the Catholics of Brunswick and surrounding communities south of Cleveland, Saint Ambrose grew from a single parish into a multi-building campus. Over the decades it added a parish school (which continues today as Saint Ambrose Day School serving K-8), a preschool (Littlest Angels), and an extensive PSR/CCD program. Generations of Brunswick-area Catholics have been baptized, married, and buried under its pastoral care, making Saint Ambrose one of the defining parish institutions of Medina County.
- 1957 — parish established
- Growth from single parish to 16,000-member community
- Added day school and preschool on campus
- Built out large PSR / Faith Formation program
Clergy & Pastoral Staff
The parish is led by Father Robert G. 'Bob' Stec as pastor, with Father Daniel M. 'Dan' Samide serving as parochial vicar. Three permanent deacons — Matthew Harley, Thomas Sheridan, and Frank Weglicki — assist with liturgy, weddings, baptisms, and pastoral care. A large lay pastoral staff coordinates faith formation, youth ministry, music, marketing, care-and-compassion outreach, parish events, business operations, school advancement, and front-office reception.
- Father Bob Stec — Pastor (330-460-7333, [email protected])
- Father Dan Samide — Parochial Vicar (330-460-7324, [email protected])
- Deacon Matt Harley ([email protected])
- Deacon Thomas Sheridan ([email protected])
- Deacon Frank Weglicki
- Caitlin Arbogast — Youth & Young Adult Ministry / RCIA (330-460-7387)
- Diane Heilman — Adult Faith Formation
- Lisa Homady — Care and Compassion / Service (330-460-7315)
- Travis Jurgens — Music Ministry (330-460-7337)
- Helen Lanzarotta — Music Ministry / Parish Life / Wedding Coordinator (330-460-7343)
- Kim Nemet — Baptism / Family Ministry (330-460-7316)
- Gayle Oboy — Future Full of Hope / Spiritual Life (330-460-7322)
- Brandan Bizzi — Catechesis & Formation Coordinator / PSR (330-460-7325)
- Teresa McCombs — Junior High Ministry Coordinator
- Rebecca Kaaikaula — Marketing & Communications (330-460-7334)
- Ryan Harrington — Athletic Director (413-320-3472)
Live-Streamed Mass
Saint Ambrose live-streams its Masses for parishioners who are homebound, traveling, or otherwise unable to attend in person. Streams are available both through the parish website and on its official Facebook page.
- Streamed at StAmbrose.us/WatchMass
- Streamed at Facebook.com/StAmbrose.us
Faith Formation & Education
Faith formation at Saint Ambrose spans cradle to adult. The Parish School of Religion (PSR) is one of the largest in the Diocese of Cleveland and offers classes on multiple days and times to fit family schedules; the program is coordinated by Brandan Bizzi with secretary Deb Houdek. The parish also runs Vacation Bible School each summer, Junior High Ministry (Teresa McCombs), Youth & Young Adult Ministry (Caitlin Arbogast), R.C.I.A. for adults seeking full initiation, and an Adult Faith Formation track (Diane Heilman).
- PSR — one of the largest in the Diocese of Cleveland
- Vacation Bible School (VBS)
- RCIA
- Adult Faith Formation
- Youth & Young Adult Ministry
- Junior High Ministry
Saint Ambrose Day School & Preschool
On the same campus as the church, Saint Ambrose operates a parish day school (K-8) and Littlest Angels Preschool, serving families in Brunswick and the surrounding Medina and Cuyahoga counties. The school is led by Principal Lisa Cinadr (Head of Schools) with assistant principal Tom Krebs; preschool director Catherine Mitchell; administrative coordinator Maryellen Newrones; institutional advancement director Breanne Logue. The school's stated philosophy is that 'Jesus Christ is EVERYTHING' and that students are 'best prepared for high school and beyond.'
- Principal — Lisa Cinadr (Head of Schools, 330-460-7350)
- Assistant Principal — Tom Krebs (330-460-7347)
- Littlest Angels Preschool Director — Catherine Mitchell (330-460-7361)
- Administrative Coordinator — Maryellen Newrones (330-460-7353)
- Institutional Advancement — Breanne Logue (330-460-7318)
Music & Liturgical Arts
Music is central to the parish's liturgical life, with two full-time music staff and a dedicated Performing Arts Minister coordinating choirs, ensembles, and parish-wide performances.
- Travis Jurgens — Music Ministry (330-460-7337)
- Helen Lanzarotta — Music Ministry / Parish Life / Wedding Coordinator (330-460-7343)
- Michelle Cha — Performing Arts Minister (330-460-3320)
Outreach & Charity
Outreach is organized around Catholic Works of Mercy food distributions and the CARES Team (Care and Compassion), with additional support for seniors, the bereaved, and those experiencing divorce or mental-health struggles. The parish maintains a dedicated Mental Health resource page and encourages anyone in crisis to call the parish office or email [email protected] to speak with a priest.
- Catholic Works of Mercy / Food Distributions (Jeff Trush, 330-460-7303)
- CARES Team — Care and Compassion (Lisa Homady, Jennie Porco, Gabby Moss)
- Rt. 66 Senior Ministry (Joyce Osowski, Jim Rauschenbach)
- Mental Health pastoral resources — call 330-460-7300 or email [email protected]
- Bereavement and divorce support (referenced in parish FAQ)
Sacraments
Parishioners can prepare for Baptism, Marriage, Reconciliation, First Eucharist, Confirmation, and the R.C.I.A. process through the parish. Baptism preparation is coordinated through Kim Nemet; weddings are coordinated with Helen Lanzarotta; adult initiation is coordinated by Caitlin Arbogast. Reconciliation is offered before the Saturday Vigil Mass; full schedules and forms are published under the Welcome, Sacraments, and Faith Formation tabs of stambrose.us.
- Baptism / Family Ministry — Kim Nemet (330-460-7316)
- Wedding Coordinator — Helen Lanzarotta (330-460-7343)
- RCIA — Caitlin Arbogast (330-460-7387)
- Reconciliation — Saturdays before the 4:30 PM Vigil Mass
Parish Events & Summer Festival
The Saint Ambrose Summer Festival is the parish's signature annual event: four nights of family fun, rides, live music, food, games, a grand raffle, and a fireworks finale. The parish also publishes a full calendar of seasonal events at StAmbrose.us/Summer and through its 'Summer Updates' page, with parish events coordinated by Chrissy Balentine and Melissa Plute Levine.
- Saint Ambrose Summer Festival (rides, music, food, raffle, fireworks)
- Vacation Bible School
- Seasonal faith, community and service events — see StAmbrose.us/Summer
Parish Leadership & Councils
Lay leadership includes the Parish Pastoral Council (Marian Badaczewski, Mary Jo Halenar, Barbara Ortiz, Sheri Ricciardi), the Parish Finance Council (Bryce Rausch), and the School Advisory Board (Frank Gati). The Business Office (Luda Galinas, Jacki Fink, Lynn Rogers, Mike Schetz) handles accounting, payroll and HR; the front-office team (Lori Betz, Pam Cashman, Deb McCready, Kathy Pearl, Kathy Rupp, Nancy Wojciehowski) handles reception and parish-wide communication.
- Parish Pastoral Council
- Parish Finance Council
- School Advisory Board
- Vision 20/20 (Bob Cebula, Tom Serafin, Kevin Yaugher)
- Business Office / HR team
Visit, Get Involved & Giving
Newcomers are welcomed through the 'New to our community' page on stambrose.us, and the parish invites everyone to find a ministry suited to their gifts. The parish publishes its mission, its vision, and year-round opportunities in service, prayer, and community — including the Saint Ambrose Summer Festival, RCIA, youth and family ministries, and the CARES team.
- Newcomer welcome — see stambrose.us 'New to our community'
- 150+ ministries — 'Find a Ministry' on stambrose.us
- Summer Festival volunteering and parish events
Location, Directions & Contact
Saint Ambrose is located at 929 Pearl Road (US Route 42), Brunswick, Ohio 44212, easily accessible from I-71 via Route 303 (exit 226) from the south, or Route 82 (exit 2B) and Howe Road from the north. The parish campus is easy to spot from Pearl Road, near the Burger King on the corner. The main office can be reached at (330) 460-7300.
- 929 Pearl Rd., Brunswick, OH 44212
- From I-71 South — Route 303 (Exit 226), left, then right on Pearl Rd.
- From I-71 North — Route 82 (Exit 2B), left on Howe, left on Boston, onto Pearl Rd.
- Main office: (330) 460-7300
- Pastor's email: [email protected]
- Website: https://stambrose.us/