About St. Charles Borromeo · Parma, Ohio
St. Charles Borromeo is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Cleveland, located at 5891 Ridge Road in Parma, Ohio. Founded in 1923 by Father Nicholas Monaghan with just thirteen families, it grew into one of the largest parishes in the state of Ohio, now serving around 3,700 families with a parish school, a wide range of ministries, and a robust sacramental life. The current church, built in the American Romanesque style in 1954, anchors a campus that also includes Corrigan Gym, the parish school, and gathering spaces for an active community that celebrates its Catholic heritage through faith formation, outreach, and long-standing devotion to Divine Mercy.
- Established
- 1923
- Patron
- St. Charles Borromeo
- Rector
- Rev. Sean P. Ralph
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland
Why belong here
St. Charles Borromeo offers the sacramental and community life of a large, established parish with deep Parma roots and a one-hundred-year tradition. Families benefit from an on-site day school (PK–8), the Parish Catholic Religious Formation program (PCRF) for catechesis, plus youth ministry, scouting, athletics, and the OCIA process for adults entering the Church. Outreach runs through St. Vincent de Paul, Mission Outreach, the November Canned Food Drive, Lenten Fish Fries, and a Dismas Ministry, while devotional life is anchored by weekly Adoration, Confession and Praise, the Divine Mercy Prayer Group, and Holy Mary's Rosary Makers — making it a parish where faith is practiced, taught, and shared across every age and stage of life.
Mass times at St. Charles Borromeo
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
- Saturday: 5:00 PM – 5:30 PM
- Thursday before First Friday: 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
Adoration times
- Adoration, Confession & Praise (weekly Eucharistic devotion — schedule published by the parish)
Parish History
St. Charles Borromeo Parish was founded in 1923 by Father Nicholas Monaghan with thirteen families, making it one of the earliest inner-ring suburban parishes of the Diocese of Cleveland. A wood-frame church, brick rectory, and eight-classroom school were in place by 1928, and the Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland arrived in 1924 to staff the school. The Great Depression tested the young community, but postwar growth in Parma was explosive: the current American Romanesque church was built in 1954 to replace the original frame church, and by 1964 the school topped 2,400 students, making St. Charles the largest parish in Ohio. The parish marked its centennial in 2022–2023, opening the year on April 24, 2022 with a Mass celebrated by Father Jack Carlin and closing on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 16, 2023 with Bishop Edward Malesic, who praised St. Charles as a 'cradle of priests' — sixteen men from the parish have been ordained in its first hundred years.
- 1923 — Founded by Father Nicholas Monaghan with 13 families
- 1924 — Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland arrive to teach
- 1928 — Frame church, rectory, and eight classrooms completed
- 1949 — Original frame church moved to Ridge Road & Charles Avenue
- 1954 — Current American Romanesque church built
- 1964 — School enrollment peaks above 2,400
- 2022–2023 — Centennial Year celebrated
- 2025 — Father Sean P. Ralph installed as fourth pastor
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is currently served by a pastor, two parochial vicars, a weekend associate, two deacons, and a lay staff that includes school, faith-formation, music, youth, and counseling ministers. The parish school, St. Charles Borromeo School, is led by Day School Principal Eileen M. Updegrove.
- Pastor — Rev. Sean P. Ralph
- Parochial Vicar — Rev. Michael F. Garvin
- Parochial Vicar — Rev. Regalado Tiongson
- Weekend Associate — Rev. Anselm Zupka, O.S.B.
- Deacon — Rev. Mr. John Talerico
- Deacon — Rev. Mr. Daniel M. Galla
- Pastoral Associate & School Campus Minister — Brian G. Pelcin
- Day School Principal — Eileen M. Updegrove
- Religious Education Coordinator — Paula J. Leigh
- Youth Minister / Evangelization — Hailie Jester
- Minister of Music / Business Manager — Thomas E. Holzheimer
- Professional Counselor — Luke Brown, LPCC
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at St. Charles spans childhood through adulthood. The Parish Catholic Religious Formation (PCRF) program provides catechesis for parish children who do not attend the parish school, and the school itself offers daily religious instruction. Adult initiation is served through OCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults), and Special Religious Education supports children with learning differences.
- Parish Catholic Religious Formation (PCRF)
- Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA)
- Special Religious Education
- Children's Liturgy of the Word
- Summer Bible Fun
- Rainbows (peer-support for children of separation/divorce)
Youth, Scouting & Athletics
Young parishioners from elementary through high school are served by a robust set of programs, including grade-school and high-school altar servers, junior-high and senior-high youth ministry, Life Teen, a youth choir, junior-high music ministry, and the Catholic Youth Organization (C.Y.O.) for athletics. Scouting is represented by Boy Scouts Troop 221, Cub Scouts Pack 73, and Girl Scouts.
- High School Youth Ministry
- Junior High Youth Ministry
- Life Teen
- Altar Servers — Grade School and High School
- Youth Choir / Junior High Music Ministry
- C.Y.O. Athletics
- Sports Boosters Club
- Night at the Races (Sports Boosters)
- Boy Scouts Troop 221
- Cub Scouts Pack 73
- Girl Scouts
Adult Spirituality & Devotions
Adult faith and devotional life at St. Charles is rich and varied, anchored by the weekly Adoration, Confession & Praise devotion and a strong Marian and Divine Mercy spirituality. Multiple men's and women's groups offer formation, fellowship, and service.
- Adoration, Confession & Praise
- Divine Mercy Prayer Group
- Holy Mary's Rosary Makers
- Spiritual Women In Faith Together (SWIFT)
- Magdala Young Adult Women's Group
- St. Charles Catholic Men's Group
- Catholic Men & Women Connection
- Knights of Columbus / Cor for Men
- Post Cana
Outreach & Charity
St. Charles Borromeo has a strong outreach tradition, with the parish's St. Vincent de Paul Conference and Mission Outreach coordinating parish giving to those in need. The annual November Canned Food Drive, Lenten Fish Fries, and a Dismas Ministry serving the incarcerated are all parish-wide efforts. The parish also raises money for tuition assistance through the Angel Scholarship Fund, which lets Ohio taxpayers direct a portion of their state taxes to Catholic education.
- St. Vincent de Paul Organization
- St. Charles Mission Outreach
- November Canned Food Drive
- Lenten Fish Fries (PTU)
- Dismas Ministry (prison outreach)
- Angel Scholarship Fund (Ohio tax-credit scholarship for Catholic education)
- Pickleball for Seniors
Sacraments & Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners can prepare for and celebrate all seven sacraments at St. Charles, from Baptism through Anointing of the Sick. A monthly Mass of the Anointing of the Sick is offered, and the parish provides ongoing liturgical support through its acolytes, ushers, music ministry, and 'Ancient Acolytes for Funerals' who serve at funeral liturgies.
- Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation
- Marriage preparation and witness of Matrimony
- Anointing of the Sick (Monthly Mass)
- Funeral Ministry — Ancient Acolytes and Dismas Ministry
- Ushers
- St. Charles Music Association
Parish School
St. Charles Borromeo School is a parish day school (PK–8) serving families on and beyond the parish. The school is staffed by a lay principal and supported by a Pastoral Associate & School Campus Minister, with active parent engagement through the Parent Teacher Unit (PTU), Sports Boosters, and an Alumni Association that connects generations of graduates.
- Day School Principal: Eileen M. Updegrove
- Pastoral Associate & School Campus Minister: Brian G. Pelcin
- Parent Teacher Unit (PTU)
- Sports Boosters Club
- Alumni Association
- Angel Scholarship Fund for Catholic education
Community & Parish Life
Beyond Mass and ministry, the parish runs signature events that bring the Parma community together. The annual St. Charles Summer Carnival opens its grounds at 6:30 PM (vendors at 5:30 PM), and the parish holds a yearly Living Stations of the Cross on Holy Thursday. The Parish Council and Parish Guidebook organize lay involvement, and the parish regularly hosts pilgrimages such as the Marian Pilgrimage to the Our Lady of Victory National Shrine Basilica.
- St. Charles Summer Carnival (annual)
- Living Stations of the Cross (Holy Thursday)
- Marian Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Victory National Shrine Basilica
- Parish Council
- Parish Guidebook (online reference for organizations and groups)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Nicholas Monaghan1923–(founding pastor)
Founded the parish in 1923 with thirteen families; oversaw construction of the original wood-frame church, rectory, and school.
- Rev. John 'Jack' Carlin1987–2025 (38 years)
Third pastor of the parish; appointed at age 38, retired June 30, 2025 after 49 years as a priest. Led the centennial celebration in 2022–2023 and oversaw renovation of every building on the parish campus during his tenure.
- Rev. Sean P. Ralph2025–present
Fourth pastor; installed by Bishop Edward Malesic on August 9, 2025. Previously served as rector of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist.