About St. Anthony - St. Francis of Assisi Parish · Canton, Ohio
St. Francis of Assisi Parish is a merged Roman Catholic parish in south Canton, Ohio, formed on July 1, 2023, by combining the former St. Anthony/All Saints and St. Mary/St. Benedict parishes. The parish serves two worship sites — St. Anthony Church (1530 11th St. SE) and St. Benedict Church (2207 Third St. SE) — and traces its roots in south Canton back to 1899. It belongs to the Diocese of Youngstown (Stark 1 Deanery, Parish Code 507) and worships in both English and Spanish, with a robust Hispanic Ministry led by Sister Karen Lindenberger, O.S.F. The parish's patron, St. Francis of Assisi, was chosen to honor the Italian, Polish, Slovak, and Hispanic roots of its constituent communities and to express its charism of mercy toward the poor and marginalized.
- Established
- 2023 (parish in current form; predecessor communities date to 1899 and 1908)
- Patron
- St. Francis of Assisi
- Rector
- Very Rev. Kevin Peters, V.F.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Youngstown (Stark 1 Deanery, Parish Code 507)
Why belong here
St. Francis of Assisi Parish is a bilingual, multicultural Catholic home in south Canton with deep roots going back to 1899 and a clear mission of mercy. Whether you worship in English at St. Benedict Church or in Spanish at St. Anthony's 11:00 a.m. Sunday Mass, you will find active ministries for every age — Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and CCD for children, a youth ministry, a Hispanic Ministry with sacraments, faith formation, ESL summer school, and cultural celebrations such as Our Lady of Guadalupe and Las Posadas, plus a Food Pantry, Social Concerns outreach, Bereavement Ministry, and Parish Nurse Ministry. It is a parish that explicitly welcomes new faces, returning Catholics, and visitors, and invites everyone to share their time, talents, and treasure.
Mass times at St. Anthony - St. Francis of Assisi Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:15 PM – 3:45 PM at St. Anthony Church
- Sunday 7:15 AM – 7:45 AM at St. Benedict Church
- Sunday 10:15 AM – 10:45 AM at St. Anthony Church (available in Spanish)
- By appointment — call the parish office
About St. Francis of Assisi Parish
St. Francis of Assisi Parish is the merged Roman Catholic parish of south Canton, Ohio, established July 1, 2023, by the Diocese of Youngstown. It is the combined community of St. Anthony/All Saints Parish and St. Mary/St. Benedict Parish, and proudly states that it has been 'serving families in Canton, Ohio since 1908.' The parish operates two worship sites — St. Anthony Church (1530 11th St. SE) and St. Benedict Church (2207 Third St. SE) — and is bilingual, with regular Mass celebrated in both English and Spanish.
- Parish Code 507, Stark 1 Deanery, Diocese of Youngstown
- Established July 1, 2023 (in merged form)
- Two worship sites: St. Anthony Church and St. Benedict Church
- Bilingual: English and Spanish
Our History
The parish's roots run through four predecessor communities. The oldest, St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, was founded in 1899, with parishioners laying the cornerstone on October 1, 1899, and opening a school of more than 200 pupils within a year. St. Anthony was organized in 1908 by Fr. Adolph Cascanelli for south Canton's Italian immigrants, with a frame church at 918 Liberty St. SE; the present St. Anthony complex at 1530 11th St. SE was built 1925–1927 under Rev. Joseph Riccardi on land donated by widow Edith M. Albert and dedicated December 11, 1927. All Saints was founded in 1919 for Polish immigrants, and St. Benedict was established in 1923 under the Benedictine Fathers of St. Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, PA. St. Mary merged with St. Benedict in 2011, All Saints merged with St. Anthony in 2011, and the two resulting parishes were formally united in 2023 as St. Francis of Assisi Parish.
- St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception: founded 1899, school opened 1900 (closed 1982)
- St. Anthony: founded 1908, current church/school dedicated December 11, 1927 (school closed 1980)
- All Saints: founded 1919 for Polish immigrants, merged with St. Anthony in 2011
- St. Benedict: founded 1923 under Benedictine Fathers of St. Vincent Archabbey, school closed after 1978
- Formal merger as St. Francis of Assisi Parish: July 1, 2023
St. Anthony Church (Worship Site)
St. Anthony Church, the larger of the two worship sites and home of the parish office, sits at 1530 11th St. SE, Canton, OH 44707. It hosts the Saturday Vigil Mass, the Spanish-language Sunday Mass, Friday weekday Mass, and a substantial share of the parish's faith formation, Hispanic Ministry, and outreach activities. Its office is open Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM.
- Address: 1530 11th St. SE, Canton, OH 44707
- Established 1908 (Italian-Polish-Hispanic-Slovak heritage)
- Phone: (330) 452-9539 • Fax: (330) 452-4870
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
St. Benedict Church (Worship Site)
St. Benedict Church is the parish's second worship site, located at 2207 Third St. SE, Canton, OH 44707. It hosts the 8:00 AM Sunday Mass and the Tuesday 8:30 AM weekday Mass, and is the location of the early Sunday Reconciliation time before Mass.
- Address: 2207 Third St. SE, Canton, OH 44707
- Established 1923 (under Benedictine Fathers of St. Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe, PA)
- St. Benedict Church Choir Director: Diane Snyder
Our Patron — St. Francis of Assisi
St. Francis of Assisi was chosen as the patron of the merged parish because, as the parish itself says, he is 'a fitting tribute to our merged parish community. Both Saint Anthony and Saint Benedict are inner-city churches. We follow the attributes of Saint Francis by caring for the poor and marginalized and appreciating the beauty of all creation and living the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.' The parish's charism is mercy — 'reaching out the needs of others and responding with compassion, understanding, and love.'
- Patron: St. Francis of Assisi (feast day October 4)
- Parish charism: mercy
- Guiding quote: 'Therefore welcome one another, as Christ has welcomed you.' (Romans 15:7)
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Very Rev. Kevin Peters, V.F., and is served by a parochial vicar, two permanent deacons, two parish pastoral associates, a religious sister, and a lay staff handling religious education, youth ministry, Hispanic ministry, music, facilities, finances, and parish communications.
- Very Rev. Kevin Peters, V.F. — Pastor
- Rev. Frederick 'Fritz' Schlueter — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Alfredo Aguirre — Permanent Deacon / Parish Pastoral Associate
- Deacon Dave Kenney — Permanent Deacon
- Pattie Condello — Parish Pastoral Associate
- Maggie Connor-Spitale — Coordinator of Religious Education
- Cristina Hernandez — Coordinator of Youth Ministry
- Sr. Karen Lindenberger, O.S.F. — Coordinator of Hispanic Ministry / Pastoral Associate
- Shawn Roush — Parish Pastoral Minister
- Janella Mazzocca — Organist
- Diane Snyder — St. Benedict Church Choir Director
- Mary Puskarich — Bookkeeper
- Brenda Jones — Secretary / Safe Environment Coordinator
- Mark Leghart — Facilities Maintenance
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Francis of Assisi Parish offers the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd faith formation program for children ages 3 through Grade 8, and CCD classes (Grades K–8) at St. Anthony Church for Catholic children who do not attend a Catholic grade school. Classes run from September through April, with dedicated catechists. The Diocese of Youngstown requires two consecutive, well-attended years of catechesis before a child may receive the sacraments, and attendance at all sacramental preparation events is mandatory.
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (Ages 3 – Grade 8)
- CCD Religious Education (Grades K–8) at St. Anthony Church
- Sacramental preparation classes for First Communion, Reconciliation, and Confirmation
- Spanish-language Formación de Fe for children, Sundays at 9:15 AM
- Coordinator of Religious Education: Maggie Connor-Spitale
Hispanic Ministry (Ministerio Hispano)
The Hispanic Ministry, coordinated by Sister Karen Lindenberger, O.S.F., is one of the most distinctive features of parish life at St. Francis of Assisi. Mass in Spanish is celebrated every Sunday at 11:00 AM at St. Anthony Church, and the parish celebrates the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, First Communion, Reconciliation, and Matrimony in Spanish, along with the celebrations of Presentación del Niño/a and Quinceañera. A Liturgia de la Palabra para Niños (ages 6–11) takes place during the Sunday Spanish Mass, and Formación de Fe classes meet Sundays at 9:15 AM.
- Spanish Mass: Sunday 11:00 AM at St. Anthony
- Phone: (330) 268-1226 — Hermana Karen
- Sacramentos: Bautismo, Confirmación, Comunión, Reconciliación, Matrimonio
- Presentación del Niño/a and Quinceañera
- Formación de Fe — Sundays 9:15 AM
- ESL Summer School (6 weeks, for children entering Kindergarten; only 10 spots for individual attention)
- Cultural celebrations: Epifanía, Día de Las Madres, Día de Los Padres, Peregrinación a Windsor, OH, Día de Los Muertos, Fiesta de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, Las Posadas, La Nochebuena
Youth Ministry
The parish's Youth Ministry is coordinated by Cristina Hernandez and serves the faith, fellowship, and service needs of the young people of the merged parish. The parish website invites teens and young adults to find a place in the life of St. Francis of Assisi alongside its other ministries.
- Coordinator: Cristina Hernandez
Outreach & Parish Ministries
Outreach is central to the parish's identity as a St. Francis of Assisi community. The Diocese of Youngstown profile lists the parish's outreach as Hispanic Ministry, Food Pantry, ESL Summer School, and Social Concerns Ministry; the parish website adds a Bereavement Ministry and a Parish Nurse Ministry. The parish also hosts an annual Memorial Mass in remembrance of deceased loved ones.
- Food Pantry
- Social Concerns Ministry
- ESL Summer School (Hispanic Ministry)
- Bereavement Ministry (bereavement luncheons and support)
- Parish Nurse Ministry
- Memorial Mass (remembrance of loved ones)
Safe Environment
As a parish of the Diocese of Youngstown, St. Francis of Assisi follows the diocesan Safe Environment Policy for the protection of children and vulnerable adults. All who work with children or vulnerable adults — including those who take Communion to the homebound — must review and sign the policy, complete a VIRTUS training session, and pass a background check. The parish's Compliance Officer is Brenda Jones, reachable at (330) 452-9539.
- Parish Compliance Officer: Brenda Jones — (330) 452-9539
- Diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator: Mr. Dominic Colucy — (330) 744-8451 ext. 298, response line (330) 718-1388
Visit, Newcomers & Getting Involved
The parish's 'I'm New Here' page greets visitors warmly: 'Thank you for your interest in our parish. Whether you're just visiting us for a brief time, looking for a new parish home, are returning to the practice of your Catholic faith or are interested in finding out more about the Catholic Church, you are welcome at St. Francis of Assisi Parish.' It invites newcomers to join in 'song-filled worship, community, and service' and to explore its organizations, ministries, and events.
- New Parishioner registration available through the parish office
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM
- Phone: (330) 452-9539
- Email: [email protected]
Contact & Visit
The parish can be reached by phone, fax, email, or in person at either of its two worship sites. The parish office (and St. Anthony Church) is at 1530 11th St. SE, Canton, OH 44707; St. Benedict Church is at 2207 Third St. SE, Canton, OH 44707.
- Parish Office / St. Anthony Church: 1530 11th St. SE, Canton, OH 44707 — (330) 452-9539 — Fax (330) 452-4870 — [email protected]
- St. Benedict Church: 2207 Third St. SE, Canton, OH 44707
- Ministerio Hispano: (330) 268-1226
- Parish office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM
- St. Anthony Church office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Adolph Cascanelli1908 (founding)
Organized the Italian mission parish that became St. Anthony, at the assignment of Bishop Ignatius F. Horstmann of the Diocese of Cleveland.
- Rev. Joseph Riccardi1925–
Led the construction of the present St. Anthony church and school complex at 1530 11th St. SE, dedicated December 11, 1927.