About St. Anthony of Padua · Lorain, Ohio
St. Anthony of Padua Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Cleveland located on the East Side of Lorain, Ohio, overlooking Lake Erie. Founded in 1923 and staffed from the very beginning by the Conventual Franciscan Friars, the parish today is home to roughly 400 registered households. It maintains an active parish school (Preschool through 8th grade, founded 1925, serving over 250 students), a Parish School of Religion for public-school children, an Adoration Chapel, a choir, and outreach ministries such as the St. Vincent de Paul Society. On July 1, 2010 the parish transitioned from Franciscan to diocesan administration, and in 2023 it marked its centennial year with a closing Mass celebrated by Bishop Edward Malesic.
- Established
- 1923
- Patron
- St. Anthony of Padua
- Rector
- Rev. Edward J. Smith
- Diocese
- Diocese of Cleveland
Why belong here
St. Anthony of Padua offers a tightly-knit Catholic community of about 400 households on Lorain's East Side, with both a parish school (Preschool through 8th grade, founded 1925, serving more than 250 students) and a Parish School of Religion for public-school students. Parishioners can worship at a Saturday Vigil Mass and a Sunday Mass with a thriving Adult Choir, spend time in a daily Adoration Chapel open Monday through Friday, and serve neighbors through the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Parish Events Team, the Marian Guild, the Senior Sociables, and a full set of liturgical ministries (ushers, lectors, sacristans, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, altar servers, and art & environment).
Mass times at St. Anthony of Padua
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 pm (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- Adoration Chapel: Monday – Friday, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
About St. Anthony of Padua Parish
St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Lorain, Ohio is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Cleveland witnessing to the Gospel on the East Side of Lorain since 1923. The parish is home to about 400 registered households and includes an active Catholic school (Preschool through 8th grade) and a Parish School of Religion for public-school students. Named for one of the most famous Franciscan saints, it was served from its founding by the Conventual Franciscan Friars and became a diocesan parish on July 1, 2010.
Parish History
Founded April 17, 1923, by former members of St. Mary Church in Lorain under Conventual Franciscan Father Isidor (Isodor) Rafferty, the parish began with the first Mass and about 250 parishioners. A few days later a mysterious fire destroyed the original church; the men of the parish built a small replacement known as 'the shack,' and the current church was constructed in 1959. The Conventual Franciscan Friars led the parish continuously from 1923 until withdrawing on July 1, 2010 due to declining numbers. In April 2023 the parish celebrated its centennial, and Bishop Edward Malesic celebrated the closing Mass on June 13, 2024.
- Founded April 17, 1923
- Founding pastor: Rev. Isidor (Isodor) Rafferty, OFM Conv.
- Original church destroyed by fire shortly after founding; temporary 'shack' used as worship space
- Current church built in 1959
- Conventual Franciscan Friars served the parish 1923–2010
- Became a diocesan parish July 1, 2010
- Centennial celebrated April 23, 2023; centennial closing Mass June 13, 2024 with Bishop Malesic
- More than 20 pastors across its history
Pastoral Staff
St. Anthony is currently served by a diocesan pastor together with two Benedictine weekend and resident priests and one deacon. Parishioners may reach the parish office at (440) 288-0106.
- Rev. Edward J. Smith — Pastor
- Father Thomas Sanders, OSB — Weekend Associate
- Father Ken Katricak, OSB — Priest in Residence
- Deacon Paul Heise
- Diana Lesiecki — Business Manager
- Kathleen Obermiller — Bulletin Editor / Pastoral Council Liaison
- John Kowalski — Music Minister
St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School
Founded in 1925 and nestled on the banks of Lake Erie, St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School & Pre-School serves over 250 students from Preschool through 8th grade. Its mission is to cultivate a community of learners prepared to face the future with faith, knowledge, and integrity.
- Founded in 1925
- Preschool through 8th grade
- Over 250 students
- Principal: Julio Alarcon
- School phone: (440) 288-2155
- School address: 1339 East Erie Avenue, Lorain, OH 44052
Parish School of Religion (PSR)
The Parish School of Religion supports parents in handing on the Catholic faith to their public-school-age children. Classes meet Monday evenings from 6:15 to 7:30 pm, October 21 through May 5, with doors opening at 6:05 pm.
- Class Time: Monday evenings, 6:15–7:30 pm
- Doors Open: 6:05 pm
- Runs October 21 through May 5
- Registration form available online; payment via Venmo (@StAnthony-Lorain), mail, or drop-off
Sacramental Preparation
Programs are offered for children, teens, and adults preparing for the Church's sacraments.
- First Reconciliation & First Communion — 2nd grade year (in-school for St. Anthony students; in PSR plus evening classes for others)
- Confirmation — 8th grade or high school; classes every other Sunday 8:15–9:45 am beginning in October, followed by 10:00 am Mass
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — for adults becoming Catholic
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners are invited to share their gifts in the Liturgical Ministries, which include the Adult Choir that sings at the 10:00 am Sunday Mass during the school year and on special occasions. Both species of Communion (bread and wine) are offered at St. Anthony.
- Altar Servers — Alan Brailer
- Art & Environment — Linda Mathewson
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion — Marybeth Brailer
- Lectors — Nadya Cole
- Sacristans — Mike Darby
- Ushers — Fran Stack
- Adult Choir — sings at 10:00 am Sunday Mass during the school year
Parish Organizations & Outreach
The parish supports a range of social and service organizations that bring parishioners together through fellowship, faith, and care for those in need. The St. Vincent de Paul Society is a key outreach ministry providing food, clothing, and basic necessities to neighbors in hardship.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — assistance line (440) 434-2092 (confidential)
- Parish Events Team
- Marian Guild — supports vocations; offers scholarships for seminarians and religious
- Senior Sociables — men and women age 50+; meets 3rd Thursday at 12:30 pm at a local restaurant, September–May
Join the Parish
Catholics interested in registering at St. Anthony of Padua may complete the Parish Registration Form and submit sacramental records. Registered parishioners receive contribution envelopes by mail; anyone who was registered as a child with their family and is now over 25 must re-register as an individual. Adults interested in becoming Catholic are invited to participate in the OCIA process.
- Download the Parish Registration Form from the parish website
- Submit forms in the Sunday collection basket or in the silver mailbox by the side door of the Parish Office
- Adults interested in becoming Catholic: call the parish office at (440) 288-0106
Contact & Visit
The parish office is open Monday – Thursday, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm. The campus is located on East Erie Avenue overlooking Lake Erie on Lorain's East Side.
- Address: 1305 E. Erie Avenue, Lorain, OH 44052
- Mailing Address: P.O. Box 2199, Sheffield Lake, OH 44054
- Phone: (440) 288-0106
- Fax: (440) 288-0143
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.stanthonylorain.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Isidor (Isodor) Rafferty, OFM Conv.1923–
Founding pastor; Conventual Franciscan under whose leadership the parish was established on April 17, 1923.
- Rev. Joseph West, OFM Conv.
Conventual Franciscan; led the parish at the time of the 2009 announcement that the Franciscans would withdraw.
- Rev. Christian Moore
Former diocesan pastor; returned to lead the centennial Mass on April 23, 2023.
- Rev. Edward J. Smith
Current pastor; hosted Bishop Malesic for the June 13, 2024 centennial closing Mass.