About St. Anthony of Padua Church · Fairport Harbor, Ohio
St. Anthony of Padua Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Cleveland, serving the village of Fairport Harbor in Lake County, Ohio. Established in 1887 as a mission parish, it is today a welcoming territorial parish of more than 600 families with a Mass schedule that includes a Saturday Vigil and two Sunday Masses, daily Mass on Monday and Wednesday, Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesdays, and Saturday confessions. Ministry life is broad — a choirm, PSR (Parish School of Religion), OCIA, a Food Pantry, a St. Vincent de Paul presence, a Youth Group, Adult Bible Study, a Men's and Women's faith formation group, and a generous roster of liturgical and social-justice ministries — all coordinated today by Deacon George Malec as Parish Life Coordinator with Fr. Greg Schaut as Presbyteral Moderator and lay pastoral associate Debbie Kacsala.
- Established
- 1887
- Patron
- St. Anthony of Padua
- Rector
- Fr. Greg Schaut (Presbyteral Moderator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Cleveland
Why belong here
St. Anthony of Padua is a small but mission-driven parish that takes its identity as a 'Lighthouse of Faith' seriously. Worship is rooted in the Eucharist and strengthened by Wednesday Eucharistic Adoration and a robust PSR, OCIA, and youth program for parish children, teens, and adults. Outreach runs through an ecumenical food pantry Wednesdays and Saturdays, a St. Vincent de Paul presence, a Good Samaritan Fund, Jail Ministry with sister churches in Lake County, and a long list of liturgical and pastoral ministries — a place where 600-plus families from across Lake County find real ways to put their faith into service.
Mass times at St. Anthony of Padua Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–3:45 PM
Adoration times
- Wednesdays 3:00–7:00 PM (unless otherwise noted)
History of St. Anthony of Padua Parish
St. Anthony of Padua was established as a mission parish of the Diocese of Cleveland in 1887 by Bishop Richard Gilmour. In its first decade Mass was celebrated in parishioners' homes, until 1898 when land for a church was approved (the lot came from an anonymous donor) and 1899 when the foundation was laid for the original pure-Gothic church seating 220 people. The earliest Catholic community was a mix of Irish and German families, many of whom later moved to Painesville; the parish was subsequently built up by Hungarian and Slovak Catholics, and on January 5, 1903 received its first Hungarian pastor, Fr. Anthony Hegyi, becoming a Hungarian National Parish. A school staffed by the Sisters of the Divine Redeemer opened in 1926 with 273 students in just 240 families. The original Gothic church was demolished in the early 1940s after the parish had already moved worship into a chapel built within the school building, which remains the current worship space. The school closed in 1986 and the Sisters retired in 1997. In 1947 the Diocese declared St. Anthony's a territorial parish, a status it retains today even as more than 600 registered families come from across Lake County.
- 1887 — Mission parish established by Bishop Richard Gilmour
- 1898 — Land approved; anonymous donor provides the lot
- 1899 — Foundation laid for the original Gothic-style church (220 seats)
- January 5, 1903 — Fr. Anthony Hegyi becomes first Hungarian pastor; parish declared a Hungarian National Parish
- 1926 — School built and staffed by the Sisters of the Divine Redeemer (273 students)
- Early 1940s — Original Gothic church demolished
- 1947 — Parish declared a territorial parish by the Diocese of Cleveland
- 1986 — School closed
- 1997 — Sisters of the Divine Redeemer retire; convent later rented to Harbor Care assisted living
- Today — More than 600 registered families, mostly from across Lake County
Mission and Identity
St. Anthony's mission statement calls the parish 'A Lighthouse of Faith' — a family of God's children bound together by His divine presence and love for one another. The parish describes itself as a welcoming Catholic community called by God to live out the message of Christ in love and service to all people, proclaiming the Gospel of Christ 'in word, deed, and charity.' Members are encouraged to use their God-given talents to worship, to educate, to evangelize, and to respond to the spiritual and human needs of the parish, the deanery, the diocese, and the wider community.
Worship and Sacraments
- Weekend Masses: Saturday Vigil 4:00 PM; Sunday 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM
- Weekday Masses: Monday 6:00 PM; Wednesday 8:00 AM
- Holy Day of Obligation Masses: 8:00 AM and 7:00 PM
- Confessions: Saturdays 3:00–3:45 PM
- Eucharistic Adoration: Wednesdays 3:00–7:00 PM (unless otherwise noted)
- Baptism Preparation class required — call 440-354-4525
- First Reconciliation, First Holy Eucharist, and Confirmation preparation through PSR
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation) — Mondays 6–8 PM, September to Easter; director Debbie Kacsala
- Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and other sacramental needs handled through the parish office
Faith Formation and Religious Education
The Parish School of Religion (PSR) meets Sunday mornings September through May from 11:00 AM to 12:15 PM, with catechists who are passionate, practicing Catholics. Students put on a Christmas Pageant each year, lead Stations of the Cross during Lent, and take part in service projects such as making cards for the homebound and healthcare workers, making blankets for shelters, and collecting food for the Food Pantry. Children also spend time in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament each week and participate in Confession twice a year. Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation are woven into the PSR program.
- PSR — Sundays 11:00 AM–12:15 PM, September–May
- First Reconciliation (2nd/3rd grade) and First Eucharist (3rd/4th grade) preparation
- Confirmation Preparation
- Christmas Pageant, Lenten Stations of the Cross, and ongoing service projects
- Weekly Adoration and twice-yearly Confession for PSR students
- Catechists listed by grade include: Ms. Sherry Marushack (K–1), Mrs. Kelly Knaus, Mrs. Tammy Arcaro & Mrs. Ally Arcaro, Ms. Mary Jahn & Mr. Phil Young (5th/6th), and Mr. Bill McCabe & Mrs. Yvonne Parker
Children, Youth, and Family
Beyond PSR, the parish runs an annual Vacation Bible School open to children from Pre-K through Grade 5 (e.g., June 29–July 2, 9:00 AM–noon), a Children's Liturgy of the Word at the 10:00 AM Mass, and a Youth Group for students in grades 6–12 that meets on scheduled Sunday evenings 6:00–7:30 PM (currently on hiatus). The parish calendar also lists a Parish Picnic after the 10:00 Mass in late June with hot dogs, hamburgers, drinks, desserts, games, and music — a family favorite.
- Vacation Bible School (annual, Pre-K – Grade 5)
- Children's Liturgy of the Word at 10:00 AM Mass — dismisses children during the Liturgy of the Word
- Youth Group — grades 6–12 (currently on hiatus)
- Annual Parish Picnic (late June) and December Harbor Holidays raffle
- PSR Christmas Party and parish family receptions
Adult Faith Formation
Adults at St. Anthony's are supported through several ongoing groups. The Adult Bible Study meets the 1st Wednesday of each month at 7:00 PM in Room 103 of the school (with additional topic studies such as 'Finishing the Gospel of Matthew' held in the Social Hall). Men's Faith Formation and the women's group 'Daughters in Faith' (contact Barbara Bagdonas) provide smaller communities of formation and fellowship.
- Adult Bible Study — 1st Wednesday of the month, 7:00 PM, Room 103 of the school
- Men's Faith Formation group
- Women's Faith Formation — Daughters in Faith (Barbara Bagdonas, 440-488-6958)
Music and Liturgical Ministries
Liturgical life is supported by a Music Ministry under Music Director Debbie Fitzgerald. Those interested are invited to join the choir by calling 440-251-6820 or stopping by the choir loft before or after any weekend Mass. Lectors, Cross Bearers, Ushers, Youth and Adult Altar Servers, Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist (Communion at Mass and to the sick and homebound), and Children's Liturgy of the Word ministers all serve under the coordination of Deacon George Malec.
- Music Ministry / Parish Choir — Music Director Debbie Fitzgerald (440-251-6820)
- Lectors (Scripture proclamation)
- Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist (Mass and homebound)
- Ushers
- Youth and Adult Altar Servers (grade 3 through adult)
- Cross Bearers — adult men and women in procession at Masses, funerals, and holy days
- Children's Liturgy of the Word
Outreach, Charity, and Justice
St. Anthony's runs an Ecumenical Food Pantry that provides food for those in need in the Fairport Harbor area, open Wednesdays and Saturdays 5:00–7:00 PM (440-357-6414). A St. Vincent de Paul Society conference and the parish's Good Samaritan Fund extend the parish's charity to neighbors in crisis. In cooperation with other Lake County churches, the parish also brings the Word and Holy Communion to those incarcerated through the Jail Ministry coordinated by Certified Pastoral Minister Dee Trepal.
- Ecumenical Food Pantry — Wednesdays & Saturdays 5:00–7:00 PM, 440-357-6414
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Good Samaritan Fund
- Jail Ministry — inter-parish with other Lake County churches (Dee Trepal, 440-382-1889)
- Visiting the homebound and serving the poor through social-justice ministries
- Bereavement Support Ministry and Bereavement Lunch Committee for funeral hospitality
Parish Life and Fellowship
The Parish Life group provides the ministry of hospitality across the year — receptions following the sacraments, the PSR Christmas Party, the Annual Parish Picnic, and the December Harbor Holidays raffle. Other community-building touchstones include the Altar & Rosary Guild (rosary on the 1st Tuesday of each month, Sept–May, 2:00 PM), the annual Parish Bazaar, Vacation Bible School, and the Jubilee Year feast-day celebration with outdoor Mass, picnic, music, and ice cream social.
- Parish Life hospitality team
- Altar & Rosary Guild — 1st Tuesday of each month (Sept–May), 2:00 PM
- Annual Parish Bazaar
- Annual Parish Picnic and December Harbor Holidays raffle
- Vacation Bible School
- Patronal Feast Day Mass and picnic (near June 13)
Parish Staff and Leadership
Pastoral leadership today is shared among ordained, diaconal, and lay ministers. Fr. Greg Schaut serves as Presbyteral Moderator. Deacon George Malec is the Parish Life Coordinator and also serves the Diocese of Cleveland as Director of Permanent Diaconate Formation. Deacon John Zarbo serves as Parish Deacon. Debbie Kacsala is a Certified Lay Ecclesial Minister serving as Pastoral Associate and OCIA Director. Debbie Fitzgerald directs the Music Ministry. Long-time pastor Fr. Pete Mihalic retired in 2020 and was honored at the Jubilee Year feast-day picnic for 50 years of priestly ministry.
- Fr. Greg Schaut — Presbyteral Moderator
- Deacon George Malec — Parish Life Coordinator; Director of Permanent Diaconate Formation (Diocese of Cleveland)
- Deacon John Zarbo — Parish Deacon
- Debbie Kacsala — Certified Lay Ecclesial Minister; Pastoral Associate; OCIA Director ([email protected])
- Debbie Fitzgerald — Music Director
- Fr. Pete Mihalic — Pastor Emeritus, retired 2020; 50 years of priestly ministry
Parish Buildings and Facilities
The parish operates from two closely related campuses in Fairport Harbor. The Parish Office is at 316 5th Street; the church itself is at 521 Plum Street. The current worship space is the chapel within the 1926 school building (still in use after numerous renovations). The former convent building is now rented to Harbor Care, an assisted-living facility. PSR and Adult Bible Study meet in Room 103 of the school, while Parish Life gatherings and Bible Study series use the Social Hall.
- Parish Office — 316 5th Street, Fairport Harbor, OH 44077
- Church — 521 Plum Street, Fairport Harbor, OH 44077
- 1926 school building — houses the current worship space, PSR classrooms, and Social Hall
- Former convent — rented to Harbor Care assisted living
Visit, Contact, and Practical Information
The Parish Office is open Monday and Tuesday 10:00 AM–3:00 PM, closed Wednesday, and open Thursday and Friday 10:00 AM–3:00 PM. The parish encourages visitors and pilgrims — especially during the Jubilee Year, when the parish has welcomed many guests with pilgrimage passports to sign the parish guest book. Visitors are invited to attend Mass, spend time in prayer in the church, and enjoy the warm welcome of the parish family.
- Parish Office: 316 5th Street, Fairport Harbor, OH 44077
- Phone: 440-354-4525
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.stafh.org/
- Office Hours: Mon & Tue 10–3; Wed closed; Thu & Fri 10–3
- Designated Jubilee Year pilgrimage site, Diocese of Cleveland
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Anthony Hegyi1903–
First Hungarian pastor; received January 5, 1903, when the parish was declared a Hungarian National Parish.
- Fr. Pete Mihalicuntil 2020 (retirement)
Former pastor; celebrated 50 years of priestly ministry and attended the Jubilee Year feast-day Mass and picnic in 2025.