About St. Bernadette · Westlake, Ohio
St. Bernadette Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Westlake, Ohio, serving the western suburbs of Cleveland in the Diocese of Cleveland. Established in November 1950 as the first Catholic parish in Westlake, it was placed under the patronage of St. Bernadette Soubirous by its founding pastor, Rev. Joseph C. Dempsey, who had just returned from Lourdes. The parish operates St. Bernadette Catholic School (Preschool–Grade 8), live-streams its Sunday Mass, and runs a wide range of parish ministries from its campus at 2256 Clague Road. Current pastor Fr. Philip G. Racco, with parochial vicar Fr. Joseph D. Menkhaus and Deacon Jeffrey Stutzman, leads a community that in 2025 marked the closing of its 75th anniversary year with a Mass celebrated by Bishop Edward Malesic.
- Established
- 1950
- Patron
- Saint Bernadette Soubirous
- Rector
- Fr. Philip G. Racco (Bishop Malesic has appointed Fr. Joseph D. Menkhaus as Administrator effective July 1, 2026, as Fr. Racco retires from administration)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland
Why belong here
St. Bernadette is a long-established parish with deep roots in Westlake — the city's first Catholic parish, founded in 1950 — and a vibrant campus that includes a National Blue Ribbon school (Preschool through Grade 8), live-streamed liturgies, a full Music Ministry with adult, youth, and children's choirs, an OCIA program for adults seeking full initiation, a youth ministry (EDGE for middle-schoolers), and ministries that reach out through C.A.R.E. and bereavement support. Visitors are welcomed warmly by a pastor who speaks openly of the parish's 'wonderful generosity and hospitality,' with convenient Saturday Vigil and Sunday Masses, daily weekday Masses, and Saturday Reconciliation.
Mass times at St. Bernadette
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00–4:45 PM (Summer Schedule: April–September)
- Saturday 3:00–3:45 PM (Winter Schedule: October–March)
- By appointment — call the Parish Office at (440) 734-1300
Parish History
St. Bernadette was founded in November 1950 as the first Catholic parish in Westlake, Ohio, by Archbishop Emmet M. Hoban, who appointed Rev. Joseph C. Dempsey as its first pastor. Father Dempsey, fresh from a pilgrimage to Lourdes, proposed St. Bernadette Soubirous as the patron. About 250 founding families came from St. Angela and St. Christopher parishes and worshipped in the Dover School auditorium for 18 months until St. Bernadette Hall (a five-room school plus gymnasium serving as a temporary church) opened on September 8, 1952. Rapid growth led to three school expansions: St. Joseph Hall (1954), St. Pius Hall (1956), and Mount Carmel Hall (1958).
- Founded November 1950 — first Catholic parish in Westlake
- Founding pastor: Rev. Joseph C. Dempsey
- Patron chosen by Dempsey after his return from Lourdes
- Mass first celebrated in the auditorium of Dover School
- St. Bernadette Hall opened September 8, 1952
- School expansions: St. Joseph Hall (1954), St. Pius Hall (1956), Mount Carmel Hall (1958)
- 75th anniversary closing Mass celebrated by Bishop Edward Malesic on November 16, 2025
Leadership & Parish Staff
The parish is currently led by Pastor Fr. Philip G. Racco, with Fr. Joseph D. Menkhaus serving as Parochial Vicar. Deacon Jeffrey Stutzman assists with diaconal ministry. Bishop Edward Malesic has appointed Fr. Menkhaus as Administrator effective July 1, 2026, as Fr. Racco retires from administration to continue priestly ministry at St. Basil the Great in Brecksville. Parish Office staff include a Financial/Institutional Manager, a Director of Music Ministries, an Associate for Parish Family Ministries, a PSR Principal (Sr. Donna Marie Bradesca, O.S.U.), a School Principal (Elizabeth Hajduk), and pastoral associates for C.A.R.E./Bereavement.
- Rev. Philip G. Racco — Pastor
- Rev. Joseph D. Menkhaus — Parochial Vicar (Administrator effective July 1, 2026)
- Deacon Jeffrey Stutzman
- Sr. Donna Marie Bradesca, O.S.U. — PSR Principal
- Elizabeth Hajduk — School Principal
- Mary Beth Sullivan — Director of Music Ministries (parish)
- Brook Benedict — Associate for Parish Family Ministries
- Maria Nicaise — C.A.R.E. Ministry / Bereavement
- Denise Feyes — Pastoral Associate
- Mary Egan — Financial / Institutional Manager
Parish School of Religion (PSR) & Faith Formation
St. Bernadette's PSR, led by Sr. Donna Marie Bradesca, O.S.U., provides Catholic religious education for parish children who do not attend the parish school, preparing them for the sacraments of Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation. The parish school (Preschool–Grade 8) supports daily faith formation with weekly all-school Mass, religion-certified teachers, prayer partners, and community-service projects. Adult formation is offered through OCIA and other ongoing programs.
- PSR Principal: Sr. Donna Marie Bradesca, O.S.U.
- School Principal: Elizabeth Hajduk
- Weekly all-school Mass
- Sacramental preparation: Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation
- OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (Tuesday evenings, 7:00 PM, Parish Office)
OCIA — Becoming Catholic
St. Bernadette warmly welcomes new members through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA). The local process typically begins in September and continues through Pentecost Sunday, with proclamation of the Gospel, catechesis, public and private prayer, and sponsorship. Sessions meet Tuesday evenings at 7:00 PM in the Parish Office; the journey culminates in the celebration of the initiation sacraments at the Easter Vigil. Contact Fr. Philip Racco at (440) 734-1300 for more information.
- Tuesday evenings, 7:00 PM, Parish Office
- Begins in September, runs through Pentecost Sunday
- Catechesis, prayer, and sponsorship provided
- Initiation sacraments celebrated at the Easter Vigil
Music Ministry
The parish Music Ministry, directed by Mary Beth Sullivan, leads sung prayer at weekend and seasonal liturgies. The program welcomes cantors, choir members, and instrumentalists. The adult choir serves the parish through the liturgical year with anthem-style repertoire; cantors undergo audition and participate in monthly rehearsals and ongoing formation through the National Association of Pastoral Musicians.
- Adult Choir
- Cantors (audition; monthly rehearsals)
- Instrumentalists
- Director of Music Ministries: Mary Beth Sullivan
Youth Ministry — EDGE
EDGE is the parish's middle-school youth ministry program, gathering teens weekly during the academic year for fellowship, faith formation, and service. The parish has described EDGE as a gift for the teens, volunteers, and families involved, walking alongside middle schoolers as their friendships and love for the Lord deepen over time.
- EDGE — Middle-school youth ministry
- Weekly gatherings during the school year
Pastoral Care & Bereavement
The C.A.R.E. Ministry and Bereavement ministry offer pastoral support to parishioners experiencing illness, loss, or other life difficulties. Coordinated by Maria Nicaise, the ministry provides outreach, prayer, and accompaniment consistent with the parish's mission to be 'instruments of healing in our families and in our community.'
- C.A.R.E. Ministry
- Bereavement support
- Coordinator: Maria Nicaise
St. Bernadette Catholic School
St. Bernadette Catholic School has educated parish and community children since September 8, 1952, growing from five classrooms to a Preschool through Grade 8 program. The school describes itself as 'a Christ-filled learning community promoting faith, acceptance, service and peace,' with all teachers holding religion certification from the Diocese of Cleveland's Office of Catechetical Formation and Education. The 25-acre campus includes air-conditioned classrooms with Promethean ActivPanel displays, a Science Lab, and an Innovation Lab opened in 2022. The school has been recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School and now serves multiple generations of the same parish families.
- Preschool–Grade 8; on-site preschool
- Enrollment of approximately 431–433 students
- 25-acre Westlake campus
- National Blue Ribbon School
- Innovation Lab opened in 2022
- All-school weekly Mass
- Sacraments of Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation prepared and offered
- Virtus / Safe Environment screening for all adult volunteers
Visit & Contact
Visitors and parishioners are warmly invited to worship, learn, or stop by the Parish Office. The parish campus is located at 2256 Clague Road, Westlake, OH 44145, easily reached from Center Ridge Road (Route 20) or from the south via Clague Road north of Westwood Road. Parish Office hours are Monday–Friday 9:00 AM–4:30 PM (closed for lunch 12:30–1:00 PM) and Saturday 9:00 AM–2:00 PM.
- Address: 2256 Clague Road, Westlake, OH 44145
- Phone: (440) 734-1300
- Fax: (440) 734-1584
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM–4:30 PM; Sat 9:00 AM–2:00 PM
- From the North: Clague Rd south past Center Ridge Rd — 0.1 mi on the right
- From the South: Clague Rd north — 0.3 mi on the left past Westwood Rd
- Online Giving available via the parish website
- Weekly bulletin posted online; parish podcast available
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Joseph C. Dempsey1950 (founding)
First pastor; had just returned from Lourdes and chose the parish's patron.
- Fr. James O'…
Listed on the parish 'About' page among past leadership (name partially truncated in search result).
- Fr. James F. Kramer
Listed on the parish 'About' page among past leadership.
- Fr. Thomas L. Weber
Listed on the parish 'About' page among past leadership.
- Rev. Philip G. Racco
Current pastor; appointed Administrator Fr. Joseph D. Menkhaus to succeed him effective July 1, 2026.