About St. Benedict - St. Francis of Assisi Parish · Canton, Ohio
St. Francis of Assisi Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in south Canton, Ohio, in the Diocese of Youngstown. It was established on July 1, 2023, through the merger of St. Anthony/All Saints Parish and St. Mary/St. Benedict Parish, joining two historic inner-city communities that trace their roots back to 1899. The merged parish is served from two worship sites — St. Anthony Church (est. 1908) at 1530 11th St. SE, and St. Benedict Church (est. 1923) at 2207 Third St. SE — and is known for its strong Hispanic Ministry, bilingual Mass, food pantry, ESL summer school, and social concerns outreach to the poor and marginalized.
- Established
- 2023
- Patron
- Saint Francis of Assisi
- Rector
- Very Rev. Kevin Peters, V.F.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Youngstown
Why belong here
St. Francis of Assisi Parish welcomes anyone — visitors, returning Catholics, or those curious about the faith — into a bilingual, multicultural community with deep roots in south Canton dating back to 1899. The parish lives out the spirit of St. Francis through its Hispanic Ministry, food pantry, ESL Summer School, Social Concerns Committee, and Parish Nurse Ministry, while gathering for worship at two historic church sites (St. Anthony and St. Benedict) with both English and Spanish Masses. With a dedicated team of clergy, deacons, religious, and lay staff, plus active youth ministry and religious education programs, it is a place where families of every background can grow in faith and serve their neighbors.
Mass times at St. Benedict - 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
Our Story: Four Communities Become One
St. Francis of Assisi Parish was established on July 1, 2023, by Bishop David J. Bonnar of the Diocese of Youngstown, uniting two long-standing inner-city parishes in south Canton: St. Anthony/All Saints and St. Mary/St. Benedict. Each of these had its own rich ethnic heritage — Italian, Polish, and broader Catholic — going back more than a century. Bishop Bonnar chose the patron St. Francis of Assisi from three names proposed by parishioners, writing that the new parish should follow his example in 'caring for the poor and fostering dialogue among diverse cultures and peoples.' The parish describes its charism as mercy: 'reaching out to the needs of others and responding with compassion, understanding, and love.'
- St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception founded 1899 (oldest community)
- St. Anthony Parish founded 1908 to serve Italian immigrants
- All Saints Parish founded 1919 to serve Polish immigrants; merged with St. Anthony in 2011
- St. Benedict Parish founded 1923 under the Benedictine Fathers of St. Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe, PA
- St. Mary merged with St. Benedict in 2011, forming St. Mary/St. Benedict
- Formal merger of St. Anthony/All Saints and St. Mary/St. Benedict effective July 1, 2023
Worship Sites
The merged parish continues to worship at the two historic church buildings, each retaining its original name in keeping with Catholic tradition. The parish office and mailing address is at St. Anthony Church.
- St. Anthony Church — 1530 11th St. SE, Canton, OH 44707 (est. 1908)
- St. Benedict Church — 2207 Third St. SE, Canton, OH 44707 (est. 1923)
Clergy & Staff
The parish is served by a pastor and parochial vicar, two permanent deacons, religious sisters, and a team of lay staff and pastoral associates. Fr. Kevin Peters also serves Holy Family Parish in Navarre and Brewster and is the Diocesan Director of Rural Life and Ministry.
- 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
- Sr. Karen Lindenberger, O.S.F. — Coordinator of Hispanic Ministry & Pastoral Associate
- Maggie Connor-Spitale — Coordinator of Religious Education (CRE)
- Cristina Hernandez — Coordinator of Youth Ministry
- Brenda Jones — Secretary / Safe Environment Coordinator
- Mary Puskarich — Bookkeeper
- Mark Leghart — Facilities Maintenance
- Shawn Roush — Parish Pastoral Minister
- Janella Mazzocca — Organist
- Diane Snyder — St. Benedict Church Choir Director
Hispanic Ministry & Bilingual Life
Hispanic Ministry is one of the signature outreaches of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, reflecting the diverse cultural makeup of the merged community. The 11:00 AM Sunday Mass at St. Anthony Church is celebrated in Spanish (en español), and the Sunday 10:15–10:45 AM reconciliation session at St. Anthony is also available in Spanish. A dedicated Hispanic Ministry phone line (330-268-1226) and the work of Sr. Karen Lindenberger, O.S.F., coordinate this vital pastoral care.
- Spanish-language Sunday Mass: 11:00 AM at St. Anthony Church
- Spanish reconciliation: Sundays 10:15–10:45 AM at St. Anthony
- Hispanic Ministry line: 330-268-1226
- Coordinator: Sr. Karen Lindenberger, O.S.F.
Outreach & Social Concerns
Living up to the spirit of St. Francis, the parish operates a Food Pantry, runs an ESL Summer School, and supports a Social Concerns Committee that educates parishioners in Catholic Social Teaching and organizes responses to local needs. A Parish Nurse Ministry provides another layer of pastoral care to the community.
- Food Pantry
- ESL Summer School
- Social Concerns Committee (Catholic Social Teaching awareness and action)
- Parish Nurse Ministry
- Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration
Faith Formation & Youth
Religious education for children and youth ministry for teens are coordinated through the parish office at St. Anthony. Programs are run by the Coordinator of Religious Education and the Coordinator of Youth Ministry.
- Coordinator of Religious Education: Maggie Connor-Spitale
- Coordinator of Youth Ministry: Cristina Hernandez
Music & Liturgy
Music ministry at St. Francis of Assisi Parish includes a parish organist and the St. Benedict Church Choir, supporting the sung liturgy of the Mass.
- Organist: Janella Mazzocca
- St. Benedict Church Choir Director: Diane Snyder
Devotions & Parish Life
Beyond the regular Mass schedule, the parish gathers for seasonal devotions including Lenten soup and Stations of the Cross, the annual Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration, and the parish feast day Mass for St. Francis of Assisi on or near October 4, at which the Bishop of Youngstown typically presides.
- Soup and Stations of the Cross (Lent)
- Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration
- St. Francis of Assisi Feast Day Mass with Bishop Bonnar presiding (around October 4)
Visit, Join, or Contact Us
Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed. The parish office at St. Anthony Church is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM (4:00 PM at St. Anthony). To register, schedule a baptism or marriage, or request a Mass intention, contact the parish office by phone, fax, or email.
- Parish Office / Mailing: 1530 11th St. SE, Canton, OH 44707
- St. Benedict Church: 2207 Third St. SE, Canton, OH 44707
- Phone: (330) 452-9539
- Fax: (330) 452-4870
- Email: [email protected]
- Hispanic Ministry: 330-268-1226
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM (St. Anthony: until 4:00 PM)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Very Rev. Thomas Kraszewski, V.F.through June 2023
Shared pastor of St. Anthony/All Saints and St. Mary/St. Benedict parishes before the 2023 merger; reassigned to a new ministry in the Diocese of Youngstown.
- Very Rev. Kevin Peters, V.F.July 1, 2023 – present
First pastor of the newly merged St. Francis of Assisi Parish; also serves as pastor of Holy Family Parish (Navarre and Brewster) and as Diocesan Director of Rural Life and Ministry.