About St. Angela Merici · Fairview Park, Ohio
St. Angela Merici is a Roman Catholic parish in Fairview Park, Ohio, in the Diocese of Cleveland, serving approximately 3,200 families from Fairview Park, Rocky River and the surrounding western suburbs. Founded in May 1923 by Father Francis J. Stanton with just 80 families meeting in the Fairview Village Town Hall, the parish marked its 100th anniversary in 2023. Today St. Angela's supports a parish elementary school (designated a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in 2011 and a STEAM school by the Ohio Department of Education in 2019), a Parish School of Religion (PSR), the Youth of St. Angela (YOSA) high school ministry, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, RCIA, and many other parish groups. Daily Mass is offered Monday–Friday, three Sunday Masses are celebrated, and the parish live-streams its 8:30 a.m. weekday and 9:30 a.m. Sunday Masses.
- Established
- 1923
- Patron
- St. Angela Merici
- Rector
- Fr. Michael J. Lanning
- Diocese
- Diocese of Cleveland
Why belong here
St. Angela Merici welcomes people of all faiths and all walks of life into a vibrant Catholic community of about 3,200 families in Fairview Park and Rocky River. The parish combines a strong sacramental life (daily Mass, Saturday Vigil, three Sunday Masses, Saturday confessions, and live-streamed liturges) with a nationally recognized parish school, faith formation for every age (PSR, RCIA, First Eucharist, Confirmation), a robust high school youth ministry (YOSA), and active outreach through the St. Vincent de Paul Society and the Social Justice Commission. Joining means becoming part of a 100-year-old western-suburban parish with deep roots, multiple ways to serve, and a clear commitment to Catholic education and the surrounding poor.
Mass times at St. Angela Merici
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
- Other times by appointment
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration: 8:30–10:00 p.m. on Holy Thursday (per parish Holy Week schedule)
Our Parish
St. Angela Merici is a suburban Roman Catholic Parish in the Diocese of Cleveland that has served Fairview Park, Rocky River, and the surrounding western suburbs for 100 years (since 1923). The parish describes itself as serving approximately 3,200 families involved in various aspects of Catholic life, and it supports Catholic education through its Parish Elementary School, Parish School of Religion (PSR), and Youth of St. Angela (YOSA). People of all faiths and all walks of life are always welcome; the parish invites anyone interested in joining to complete a Parish Registration form, drop it off at the Parish Center, or email it back to [email protected].
- Approximately 3,200 registered families
- Welcomes people of all faiths and backgrounds
- Sponsors parish school, PSR, and YOSA
- Diocese of Cleveland parish
Parish History
St. Angela Merici was founded in May 1923 by Father Francis J. Stanton, who gathered the first 80 families for Mass in the Fairview Village Town Hall. The parish school opened the same year, and by the early 1950s a complete plant — new church, school, convent, and rectory — had been built. Over the following decades the parish expanded its school plant (a major addition in 1994 added six classrooms, a library, a computer room, a cafeteria, and the Rini Multi-Purpose Center), renovated the former convent into the Parish Center (1988), and installed a unifying crucifix (2010). On August 27, 2023, the parish celebrated its 100th anniversary as a community of faith, with Bishop Edward Malesic celebrating the centennial Mass.
- 1923: Founded with 80 families; first Mass in Fairview Village Town Hall
- 1924: Original frame church and school dedicated
- 1947–48: New brick church built and dedicated
- 1951: Village of Fairview officially became the City of Fairview Park
- 1960: Marble sanctuary dedicated; nave expanded to seat 1,100
- 1973: Golden Jubilee celebrated under Monsignor Robert C. Wolff
- 1994: School addition dedicated (Rini Multi-Purpose Center)
- 2023: 100th anniversary Mass celebrated by Bishop Edward Malesic
Pastoral Leadership
Eight priests have served as pastor at St. Angela Merici across its first century, beginning with founding pastor Father Francis J. Stanton in 1923. Father Michael J. Lanning is the current and eighth pastor, having taken office on February 15, 2004 after being named by Bishop Anthony J. Pilla.
- Fr. Francis J. Stanton: 1923–1937
- Fr. Michael Stevenson: 1937–1956
- Monsignor Francis J. McGlynn: 1956–1960
- Fr. James P. Brennan: 1960–1972
- Monsignor Robert C. Wolff: 1972–1989
- Fr. Richard E. Hudak: 1989–1999
- Fr. Douglas M. Proehl: 1999–2003
- Fr. Michael J. Lanning: 2004–present
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Pastor Fr. Michael J. Lanning with the assistance of Fr. Rich Samide (Administrator) and Fr. Dunson. Two permanent deacons — Deacon Jim Agrippe and Deacon Erick Lupson — serve the parish. Lay staff include a Business Manager (Ed Doubrava), Director of Religious Education (Patti Horner/David Becker), First Eucharist Coordinator (Patti Horner), Confirmation Coordinator (Caitlin Smith), Youth Minister (Maureen Adler), Head of Parish and School Music Ministry (Danny O'Brien), Bulletin/Communications/Development (Suzanne Weber-Quinn), Lead Sacristan (Catherine Wunch), Bookkeeper (Sue File), Parish Nurse (Jennifer Fitzpatrick), Office Assistant (Therese Whitmore), and Data Processor. The Parish Center offices are open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at (440) 333-2133.
- Pastor: Fr. Michael J. Lanning
- Administrator: Fr. Rich Samide
- Deacons: Jim Agrippe, Erick Lupson
- Business Manager: Ed Doubrava
- Director of Religious Education: Patti Horner / David Becker
- Youth Minister: Maureen Adler
- Confirmation Coordinator: Caitlin Smith
- Head of Parish and School Music Ministry: Danny O'Brien
- Parish Nurse: Jennifer Fitzpatrick
St. Angela Merici School
St. Angela Merici School is a parish-sponsored Catholic school on Lorain Road offering Preschool (age 3 through pre-K), Lower School (grades K–5), and Upper School (grades 6–8), with special emphasis on faith formation, community, and leadership. The school was named a national Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Education in 2011 and was designated a STEAM school by the Ohio Department of Education in 2019. Liturgical life for students includes morning prayer, daily prayer routines, All School Masses, Class Masses, Reconciliation, Eucharistic Devotions, Living Stations, Stations of the Cross, May Crowning, and seasonal prayer services; students in grades 6–8 may serve as Altar Servers, and grades 1–6 may join the Children's Choir. Tuition assistance is available for families who qualify. For more information, call the school office at (440) 333-2126 or email [email protected].
- Preschool, Lower School (K–5), and Upper School (6–8)
- 2011 U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon School of Excellence
- 2019 Ohio Department of Education STEAM designation
- School office: (440) 333-2126
- Financial aid available
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at St. Angela Merici spans early childhood through adulthood. The Parish School of Religion (PSR) welcomes children in grades 1–8 and meets on Mondays either from 4:00–5:00 p.m. or 7:00–8:00 p.m. Sunday School for preschoolers is held during the 9:30 a.m. Mass on the first, third, and fourth Sundays from September through April. Sacramental preparation is offered for First Eucharist and Confirmation, and the RCIA Team walks with adults entering the fullness of the Catholic faith on Sunday mornings after the 9:30 a.m. Mass, September through April.
- PSR (grades 1–8): Mondays, 4:00–5:00 p.m. or 7:00–8:00 p.m.
- Sunday School (preschool) during 9:30 a.m. Mass, 1st/3rd/4th Sundays
- First Eucharist and Confirmation preparation
- RCIA for adults seeking initiation
Youth of St. Angela (YOSA)
YOSA (Youth of St. Angela) is the parish's comprehensive Youth Ministry program for high school teens (and 8th-graders), designed by teens for teens to keep young adults connected to their faith, the parish, and their friends through social, service, and spiritual events. YOSA meets on the 1st Sunday and 3rd Thursday of school months, and offers service activities such as Food Bank support, Sunday Mass lectoring, and other parish leadership opportunities. The group is open to all high school teens regardless of parish or high school, and meetings typically ask a $1 donation for pizza.
- Meets 1st Sunday and 3rd Thursday of school months
- Open to all high school teens + 8th-graders
- Service, social, and spiritual events
- Contact: Caitlin Smith, (440) 333-2133 ext. 108; [email protected]
Parish Groups & Ministries
St. Angela Merici offers a wide range of parish groups and ministries to help parishioners live their faith in community. These include catechists and substitute catechists for PSR, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Social Justice Commission, Merici Moms (a rosary prayer group), the Parish and School Music Ministry and Children's Choir, lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, altar servers, collection counters, the Pastoral Council, the Finance Council, and a Parish Nurse ministry.
- Catechists (Religion Teachers)
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — meets 1st & 3rd Thursdays at 7:00 p.m.
- Social Justice Commission — meets 3rd Monday at 7:00 p.m.
- Merici Moms — rosary on 2nd Tuesday at 9:30 a.m.
- Pastoral Council and Finance Council
- Collection Counters, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Altar Servers
Outreach & Social Justice
Outreach is centered in two active groups. The St. Vincent de Paul Society promotes the spirituality of its members and serves as an advocate for the needs of the poor in the local community, meeting on the first and third Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. and collecting non-perishable food items on the third weekend of each month at all Masses (via the blue containers in the Lorain Road vestibule). The Social Justice Commission, rooted in Catholic social teaching, seeks to promote justice, uphold the dignity of every person, and foster solidarity with the poor through prayer, reflection, education, advocacy, and action; it meets on the third Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m. in the Parish Center West room and partners with the Social Concerns group of cluster partner St. Christopher Parish.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society: 1st & 3rd Thursdays, 7:00 p.m.
- Monthly food collection: 3rd weekend of the month at all Masses
- Social Justice Commission: 3rd Monday, 7:00 p.m., Parish Center West room
- Cluster partner: St. Christopher Parish
Becoming Catholic & Joining the Parish
The parish welcomes anyone interested in becoming Catholic to learn more through its Becoming Catholic page and the RCIA Team, which accompanies Candidates and Catechumens from September through April on Sunday mornings after the 9:30 a.m. Mass. Anyone wishing to register at St. Angela Merici can download the Parish Registration form from the website, drop it off at the Parish Center, or email it to [email protected]; registration forms are also available in person at the Parish Center, located on the east side of the church on Lorain Road.
- Parish Registration form available online and at the Parish Center
- RCIA Team: Sunday mornings after 9:30 a.m. Mass, Sept.–April
- Parish Center office hours: Mon–Fri, 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Sacraments
St. Angela Merici celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments on a regular schedule: Reconciliation every Saturday from 3:00–4:00 p.m. (or by appointment), Daily Mass Monday–Friday at 8:30 a.m., Saturday Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m., and Sunday Masses at 7:30, 9:30, and 5:30. First Eucharist and Confirmation are prepared for and celebrated through the parish's religious education programs, with dedicated coordinators for each sacrament. The parish also welcomes inquiries about Baptism, Matrimony, and Anointing of the Sick through the Parish Center at (440) 333-2133.
- Reconciliation: Saturdays 3:00–4:00 p.m. or by appointment
- First Eucharist preparation (Coordinator: Patti Horner)
- Confirmation preparation (Coordinator: Caitlin Smith)
- Baptism, Matrimony, Anointing of the Sick — by request through Parish Center
Centennial Celebration (2023)
In August 2023, St. Angela Merici marked 100 years as a community of faith. The weekend celebration included Welcome Back Sunday (with schoolchildren meeting teachers, a uniform exchange, and information tables), an outdoor picnic lunch, a climbing wall, games, and fellowship, and culminated in Mass celebrated by Bishop Edward Malesic. Father Jim Lynch, a Maryknoll missioner serving as the order's procurator general and vicar general, preached at the centennial, reflecting on the eight pastors and many families — past and present — who built the parish across its first century. Pastor Father Michael J. Lanning noted that during the parish's first 100 years there had been eight popes, eight parish pastors, and the transformation of Fairview Park from village to city.
- Centennial Mass celebrated by Bishop Edward Malesic, Aug. 27, 2023
- Homilist: Fr. Jim Lynch, Maryknoll missioner
- Welcome Back Sunday with school activities, picnic, climbing wall, games
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Francis J. Stanton1923–1937
Founding pastor; organized the first 80 families for Mass in the Fairview Village Town Hall.
- Fr. Michael Stevenson1937–1956
Second pastor; blessed the first six classrooms of the new brick schoolhouse in 1940.
- Monsignor Francis J. McGlynn1956–1960
Parish census counted 1,350 families in 1956; oversaw dedication of the new marble sanctuary in June 1960.
- Fr. James P. Brennan1960–1972
Appointed fourth pastor in August 1960.
- Monsignor Robert C. Wolff1972–1989
Appointed in October 1972; led the parish through its Golden Jubilee in May 1973.
- Fr. Richard E. Hudak1989–1999
Led capital drive for the 1994 school addition with six classrooms, library, computer room, cafeteria, and the Rini Multi-Purpose Center.
- Fr. Douglas M. Proehl1999–2003
Associate pastor since 1996; seventh pastor; served until November 2003.
- Fr. Michael J. Lanning2004–present
Named by Bishop Anthony J. Pilla in January 2004; took office February 15, 2004; led the parish's 100th anniversary in 2023.