About St. Andrew Bobola · Kingsville, Ohio
St. Andrew Bobola Parish is a small Catholic parish in Kingsville, Ohio, rooted in the Polish immigrant community of Sheffield Township. Founded in 1936 and now part of the Diocese of Youngstown, it ministers to a rural Ashtabula County congregation with Sunday Mass, a combined faith formation program, and active outreach including a pro-life committee and youth ministry. The parish carries the name of Saint Andrew Bobola, a 17th-century Polish Jesuit martyr and patron of Poland, honoring the heritage of its founders.
- Established
- 1936
- Patron
- Saint Andrew Bobola (Polish Jesuit missionary and martyr, 1591–1657, 'Apostle of Lithuania'; declared patron of Poland in 2002)
- Rector
- Rev. Connor Hetzel
- Diocese
- Diocese of Youngstown (originally erected in 1936 within the Diocese of Cleveland); parish sits in the Ashtabula Deanery, Parish Code 212
Why belong here
St. Andrew Bobola offers a small, tight-knit Catholic community where the Polish Catholic heritage of Sheffield Township is still remembered and honored through the patron saint's name and the handmade cross above the altar. Active parishioners can get involved in a pro-life committee, youth ministry, St. Vincent de Paul charitable drives, music ministry, and a faith formation program run jointly with neighboring Corpus Christi Parish in Conneaut. With approachable clergy—a pastor, parochial vicar, sacramental minister, and permanent deacon—and a single Sunday Mass that draws the whole community together, it's the kind of rural parish where families can be known by name and put their faith into practice.
Mass times at St. Andrew Bobola
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 1st Sunday of the month: 8:30 AM (Diocese of Youngstown listing)
- 2nd and 4th Saturdays: 9:00–10:00 AM (catholicchurch.directory listing)
Parish History
St. Andrew Bobola Parish traces its roots to Polish Catholic immigrants who settled in Sheffield Township in the early twentieth century. In the early 1930s the community was contacted by the Polish National Catholic Church about forming its own congregation, and in 1935 the group purchased a former Baptist church and renamed it All Saints Church. On March 15, 1936, Bishop Schrembs of Cleveland welcomed the community back into full communion with Rome, established the parish under the patronage of Saint Andrew Bobola, and appointed their first pastor. Polish was still used for Mass as late as 1940, and within a decade a rectory and social hall had been added.
- Polish Catholic immigrants settle in Sheffield Township, early 1900s
- 1934/1935: former Baptist church purchased and renamed All Saints Church
- March 15, 1936: accepted into the Diocese of Cleveland under Bishop Schrembs; renamed St. Andrew Bobola
- Polish Mass celebrated through at least 1940
- Rectory and social hall added during the decade of growth
- Old wooden church burned on the evening of the Ascension to clear site for new church
- New stone church: first Mass December 12, 1960; dedicated 1966
- 2008: begins sharing a pastor with St. Joseph Calasanctius Parish, Jefferson
The Church Building
The current church is a stone building erected in the early 1960s after the original wooden church was burned on the evening of the Ascension to make room for it. The first Mass in the new building was celebrated on December 12, 1960, and the church was formally dedicated in 1966. Its signature interior feature is a handmade 15-foot cross hanging behind the altar, which was crafted by the parishioners themselves — a tangible expression of the community's labor and faith. The parish has continued to receive renovations and upgrades through the 2000s and 2010s.
- Stone construction replacing the original wooden church
- First Mass in the new church: December 12, 1960
- Formal dedication: 1966
- Handmade 15-foot cross behind the altar, built by parishioners
- Ongoing renovations and upgrades through the 2000s and 2010s
Patron Saint: Andrew Bobola
The parish takes its name from Saint Andrew Bobola (1591–1657), a Polish Jesuit priest known as the 'Apostle of Lithuania' and 'hunter of souls.' For nearly twenty years he preached throughout the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, converting whole villages and teaching catechism to children; he also ministered to prisoners and the sick, including during plague outbreaks in Vilnius. Captured by Cossacks in 1657 during the Khmelnytsky Uprising, he was brutally tortured and killed after refusing to renounce his Catholic faith. He was beatified by Pope Pius IX in 1853 and canonized by Pope Pius XI on April 17, 1938 — almost exactly when the Kingsville parish bearing his name was being established. The Bishops' Conference of Poland declared him a patron of Poland in 2002. His feast is celebrated on May 16.
- Polish Jesuit priest, missionary and martyr (1591–1657)
- Known as the 'Apostle of Lithuania'
- Killed by Cossacks at Janów on May 16, 1657, after refusing to apostatize
- Beatified 1853 (Pope Pius IX); canonized April 17, 1938 (Pope Pius XI)
- Declared patron of Poland in 2002
- Feast day: May 16
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently served by a team of clergy and lay staff based at the parish office on State Route 193. A parochial vicar, sacramental minister, permanent deacon, diocesan pastoral associate and music director support the pastor in ministry to the Kingsville community. Faith formation is shared jointly with Corpus Christi Parish in Conneaut.
- Pastor: Rev. Connor Hetzel
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Francis Muriithi
- Sacramental Minister: Rev. Philip Miller
- Permanent Deacon: Mr. Nicholas Iarocci
- Diocesan Pastoral Associate: Mr. Nicholas J. Perkoski
- Music Director: Ellen Darby
- Faith Formation: combined with Corpus Christi, Conneaut, Ohio
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation for children and families is administered jointly with neighboring Corpus Christi Parish in Conneaut, allowing the small rural parishes to share resources and programming. Families can reach the Religious Education office at 440-599-8570.
- Faith Formation combined with Corpus Christi Parish, Conneaut, Ohio
- Religious Education office phone: 440-599-8570
Parish Ministries & Outreach
Despite its small size, St. Andrew Bobola sustains several active ministries rooted in Catholic social teaching and parish life. The pro-life committee witnesses to the Church's commitment to protecting the unborn, while a youth ministry engages younger parishioners. St. Vincent de Paul charitable drives reach out to those in material need in Ashtabula County, and a music ministry under Music Director Ellen Darby supports sung worship at the liturgies celebrated each week.
- Pro-life committee
- Youth ministry
- St. Vincent de Paul Society (charitable drives)
- Music ministry — Music Director: Ellen Darby
- Combined faith formation with Corpus Christi, Conneaut
Visit, Contact & Connect
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. Andrew Bobola Parish by phone or email, follow updates through the parish's Facebook page, or find full diocesan information on the Diocese of Youngstown website. The parish mailing address is on State Route 193 in Kingsville, Ohio.
- Address: 3700 State Route 193, Kingsville, OH 44048
- Parish office: 440-224-0987
- Religious Education office: 440-599-8570
- Email: [email protected]
- Diocesan website: https://doy.org/saint-andrew-bobola-parish/
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/StAndrewBobola
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Connor Hetzelpresent
Current pastor; parish has shared a pastor with St. Joseph Calasanctius Parish in Jefferson since 2008
- (earlier pastors not published in an online succession list)
Corpus Christi Parish's history page notes that Bishop Schrembs appointed the first pastor in 1936, but a full list of successors is not publicly available online