About St. Bernard · Beverly, Ohio
St. Bernard Catholic Church is a small Roman Catholic parish in Beverly, Ohio, located on Seventh Street in Washington County. A member of the Diocese of Steubenville and part of the Visitation Deanery, the parish serves the Beverly and Waterford area along the Muskingum River. The parish's motto, 'Love God. Love Neighbor. Make Disciples.,' captures its simple, missionary character. Weekend Masses are offered Saturday evening and twice on Sunday morning, with a daily Mass schedule through the week and a regular confession schedule before most Masses.
- Established
- 1946
- Patron
- St. Bernard of Clairvaux (parish name 'St. Bernard'; specific patron saint not explicitly stated on parish site)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Steubenville (Visitation Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Bernard is a tight-knit country parish where the priest still knows his people by name, weekday Mass is offered multiple times, and confession is readily available four times a week. Parishioners sustain a robust Religious Education program serving around 150 students from preschool through 12th grade with about 20 catechists, and they run the Beverly-Waterford Food Pantry that serves neighbors in Waterford, Watertown, and Center Township. It is a small parish with a clear mission — to love God, love neighbor, and make disciples — set in the heart of the Mid-Ohio Valley.
Mass times at St. Bernard
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 6:30 PM
- Sunday 7:00 AM
- Sunday 9:00 AM
- Friday 8:30 AM
About St. Bernard Catholic Church
St. Bernard Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Beverly, Ohio, in Washington County. It belongs to the Visitation Deanery of the Diocese of Steubenville. The parish worships at 309 7th Street and gathers under the banner 'Love God. Love Neighbor. Make Disciples.' It offers a full weekly schedule of Masses and confessions and runs both a parish Religious Education program and a community food pantry.
- Diocese of Steubenville
- Visitation Deanery
- Motto: Love God. Love Neighbor. Make Disciples.
History
Catholic worship in Beverly dates to 1919, when the Diocese of Steubenville purchased the old Beverly College and the first Mass was celebrated there. For years, however, Beverly was not a true parish — priests came down from St. John the Baptist in Churchtown. The parish was officially established in 1946 when a priest was assigned to Beverly. Work on the present church began soon after and was completed in 1953; the original college building was then demolished. The parish added a hall next door in 1993 and completed a major interior renovation in 2013, including a new wooden sanctuary floor, new carpeting, and a re-centered tabernacle.
- 1919 — Diocese of Steubenville buys Beverly College; first Mass celebrated there
- Pre-1946 — Beverly is served from Churchtown (St. John the Baptist)
- 1946 — Parish officially established with its own resident priest
- 1953 — Current church building completed; old college building demolished
- 1993 — Parish hall added next door to the church
- 2013 — Sanctuary renovation (wooden floor, new carpet, tabernacle moved to center)
- Ongoing — Window restoration (new insulating glass and re-leading)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Bernard runs an unusually strong Religious Education program for a parish of its size. As of 2014, approximately 150 students from preschool through 12th grade were enrolled, served by about 20 catechists. Classes are held on Sundays from 10:30 to 11:45 AM and follow the full teaching of the Catholic Church, with topics ranging from salvation history to creation.
- Approximately 150 students, preschool through Grade 12
- Around 20 catechists
- Sunday class time: 10:30–11:45 AM
- Curriculum covers the fullness of Catholic teaching
Outreach: Beverly-Waterford Food Pantry
St. Bernard is home to the Beverly-Waterford Food Pantry, a community food ministry that serves residents of Waterford, Watertown, and Center Township. The pantry operates out of the parish and is staffed by parish volunteers.
- Tuesdays 5:00–7:00 PM
- 2nd and 4th Thursdays 9:00–11:00 AM
- Service area: Waterford, Watertown, and Center Township
Clergy & Staff
The parish's most documented pastor is Monsignor Robert J. Kawa, who served from 1995 until his retirement in 2017 and continued to make his home in Beverly until his death on June 6, 2021. He was ordained in 1969, studied at the North American College in Rome, and previously served as pastor of Our Lady of Mercy in Carrollton (1982–1992) and Blessed Sacrament in Wintersville (1992–1994). Yvonne Huck has served as a parish member and Director of Religious Education.
- Monsignor Robert J. Kawa — Pastor 1995–2017 (ordained 1969; deceased 2021)
- Yvonne Huck — Director of Religious Education
Contact & Location
The parish can be reached by phone, email, or mail. It is located on 7th Street in Beverly, the seat of Washington County along the Muskingum River.
- Address: 309 7th Street (mailing: PO Box 331), Beverly, OH 45715
- Phone: (740) 984-2555
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: stbernardbeverly.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Monsignor Robert J. Kawa1995–2017
Ordained May 17, 1969; later studied at the North American College in Rome. Previously pastor of Our Lady of Mercy, Carrollton (1982–1992) and Blessed Sacrament, Wintersville (1992–1994). Retired from active ministry in 2017; died June 6, 2021 in Marietta, Ohio.